I woke up hours later to darkness. Slowly, I sat up, as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. The moonlight streaming from outside my window was the only source of light in the room.
How long had I been out? Why had no one awoken me? I felt a chill wind caress my skin, causing goosebumps to rise over it. I shuddered.
I rose from the bed, and turned toward the window, finding it open. Of course that was the source of the cool air. The Medira Kingdom was much colder than Adavi, my father had mentioned that in the one hour he had dedicated to teaching me of the kingdom he had sold me to.
Yes, I had only gotten one hour of teachings to serve me for months of my life at least.
I walked over to the window, and reached out to lock it when I found it open. The soft click of the lock filled the room, and then blissful silence.
"I was wondering when you'd wake up." I yelped at the male voice that cut through the silence, recognising it as Hannon's. I turned towards the bed, and found his large form watching me with amusement in his eyes.
"My Queen..."
I opened my eyes to find Niasse's soft blue gaze. She stepped away quickly once she saw I was awake.
The brightness of the room told me it was daytime. How long had I slept? And what was that...? I immediately sprang from the bed, turning toward the opposite end wildly just in case Hannon was in it. The sigh of relief that escaped my lips when I noticed it was empty could be heard three rooms away.
I turned to Niasse once again, and found her staring at me in concern, "My queen, are you well?" She asked.
I had a retort hanging at the tip of my tongue. How could I be well? I was in a strange land, surrounded by people who looked nothing like me, with pale skins and coloured eyes, people who did not share my culture. I did not have a familiar face to look to or a familiar voice to calm me. How could I be well?
"How long was I asleep for?" The retort would have to wait, as well as her question.
"You slept through what was left of yesterday and the entire night." Niasse responded, "The king asked us to let you rest, that is why I didn't come to let you know of dinner." She said with a soft smile on her face.
I wondered if she expected me to express gratitude for the king's thoughtfulness. I wondered if she knew her king was a foul-mouthed creature. Her innocent smile was an indictment of her poor knowledge in just how vile that man I had seen was.
His words echoed in my mind. I was his bedmate, brought to satisfy his sexual needs and bear him children.
I planned to do neither. Hannon would learn that I wasn't the average princess. He would suffer for addressing me the way he had in the presence of all those strangers.
"So, why are you here now?" I asked.
She stared at me like I had asked a foolish question, "My Queen, you have not had a meal since yesterday. I'm here to invite you to breakfast. It is being set up as we speak, you will also need your bath."
Breakfast? Usually, the thought of food filled me with excitement, but I had a feeling this breakfast would not be served in the privacy of my bedroom. If this kingdom was anything like mine, there would be a whole table of guests...maybe even some of those who had witnessed Hannon humiliate me yesterday.
"I'd rather not be part of that breakfast." As soon as the words left my lips, my stomach cried out in protest.
Niasse glanced at my stomach, and I wrapped my arms around myself in embarrassment. Such great timing.
She smiled softly, reminding me of my mother's smile whenever she thought I was bluffing, "Let me take you to the bath house first. We can talk about breakfast once you have cleaned up."
I couldn't argue with Niasse on the idea of having my bath. I was curious to see what this bath house looked like, and the thought of warm water against my skin rather appealed to me right now.
*****