“Licking makes it worse.”
She leans back. Shoving her off proves fruitless, so I settle for her watching as I prod at the wound. It hurts. Definitely irritated, but it doesn't look infected.
Good.
A gritty film covers my skin, and when I shift my legs, I feel a deep soreness. Damn. Cleaning days of sweat and dirt will likely help stave off some of her fury.
Eneko will be gone at the yards until the early evening, and I have somewhere to visit.
Yanking my dress back down, I find the knife from Ra’Sa and the gem from Estela; I’d been given few precious gifts in my life. I move out of bed. Coco follows.
My wound aches as I lift the mattress and put them in the back corner. It was a kind thing to teach me how to use the weapon, but I’ll have little use for it now.
When I stand, I almost fall back onto the bed. Coco casts me an incredulous look, so I grit my teeth and gesture to the door.
“Go. Watch over the twins,” I say.
She looks up at me with sad eyes, but follows when I cross the room and open the door.
After she leaves, I move to the window to see if anyone is around. I'm pleased to see the backyard empty as my wolf leaves.
Thick trees surround this cabin to give the foreman’s family privacy, and the entire backyard is still dusted with a thick layer of snow. Sadly, I must admit the evergreens look pretty next to the stark white. Rows of wooden dowels are organized between several trees. I use them to hang the family’s washing.
My eyes land on the well I'll use to draw water for a bath, and I take a deep breath. After a few minutes, and no sign of Hibsej or her two terrible sons, I draw up all my resolve and pull a cloak out of my wardrobe.
There are different kinds of comfort women. Some spend their days working as a slave, only to go to their masters when called.
But foremen are typically given comfort women like me—we live in the homes of the masters we serve and help the household during the day. Despite this, my wardrobe is much nicer than the other women in my position. Eneko is favored by the new king, and I’m always carted out to parties. The foreman takes great pride in having both a sturdy wife who gave him two strong sons and a pretty human to warm his bed.
I select my red cloak and slip it over my soiled clothing.
There are two weighted buckets next to the simple metal tub in the corner of my room. Once dressed, I grab them and pull open the door. Limping, I slip into the chilled morning air.
The sun is still just barely sliding past the horizon line, and I sigh, wishing I had rested more. But I’ve always been unable to sleep for more than a few hours despite my soreness weighing me down.
Stepping out of the cabin feels surreal. It’s all the same—the crunch of my boots against the snow, the red clothing, the smokecoming from the front house where Hibsej is no doubt burning bread just for me—but I am different. I have a purpose.
Soon, this will all be worth it.
I can feel the end of this horrible life like a song playing in the wind.
It reminds me of the faint melodies in the Enduar caves. Thea loves music. I can imagine her refusing to sleep, sitting in front of a crystal and soaking up every note it offers. Wren will become cross, insisting that it’s time to play. Perhaps they’ll be able to make friends with the other children, and she’ll be placated for once.
A small smile crosses my face. Then I look down and see several lines of scattered sticks and stones.
I pause, my brows furrowing as I read the message.
Please, rest. I will be near. No one will hurt you.
A tender emotion pricks my heart, only to be replaced with irritation. I kick the message around and scatter the pebbles.
We were only supposed to leave messages for each other if there was an emergency or a need to meet. He shouldn’t be risking our cover to play the hero.
I let out a ‘bah’ as I walk over to the well.
No one will hurt me?
Foolish man.