He gestured towards a wooden bucket that stood next to the fireplace and left the tent with three powerful steps.
I was shaking for a few minutes, fighting against the nervous breakdown threatening to overtake me.
When I had more or less composed myself, I crouched down next to the bucket, the stars were reflecting on the water's surface. I scooped some of it up with my cupped hands, hoping that washing my face would actually help me get a better grip on myself. It was pleasantly warm against my forehead and indeed helped me to calm down a bit.
There was a cloth and a bottle containing some kind of liquid next to the bucket. I picked up the fabric and recognized the same spicy scent I had smelled on the towels we used for cleaning our hands before eating.
I beheld the bottle. It was beautiful, with a delicate pattern of plants and leaves cut into it in a way that made it sparkle in the reflection of the fire light. I opened the glass plug and poured some of the golden liquid onto my uninjured palm. It wasn't soap like I had expected, but seemed to be some kind of oil. It smelled wonderful, like warmth and some kind of plant, and, I realized, a little bit like the General. He must also use this for washing. Or after washing? I had no idea and decided to stick to only water for today.
I flinched a little. The broken skin on my sore wrists burned as I carefully ran the towel over it, but still, it was heaven to wipe away the sweat and dirt, and who knew what else?
And the blood. I clamped my eyes shut, ashamed for a moment, thinking about how absurd it was that after years of waiting, in the end, it had been him who had taken my virginity. It was not like I had some religious reason or that I placed a lot of value in the concept. I had done plenty of other things with my former boyfriends, but it had just never felt right to take the final step.
'It did feel right with the General though,'
said an unwelcome voice deep in the back of my mind. Not the first time, of course, when he had hurt and violated me, but the second time when he had driven me so wild that every moment of not having him inside of me was akin to torture.
That had been I even knew who he really was or what he had done. That had been before I knew that he planned to keep me as his personal slave and mark me as his like cattle.
I needed to get out of this! I looked around the tent as if I hoped some kind of emergency exit would magically appear, but of course there was only the door that led me right to him. And even if I somehow managed to get out another way, I would still be in the middle of the war camp. Surrounded by his guards and soldiers.
With shaking hands, I tied the blanket into a dress again. I couldn't bring myself to go outside and walk to my doom, so I was stalling. My hair was getting pretty tangled and unruly anyway, so it would be good to do something about that. In search of some rogue scrunchie or elastic, I went through my bag. And then I remembered that I had promised to switch my phone on once a night.
I knew it was a bad idea, but I felt so lost and alone and wanted nothing more than to connect with somebody who cared for me. I lifted one side of the tote up so I could look at the screen while keeping it hidden inside. There were three messages. One from Tim, one from another friend, and one from my mom.
Julia asked about you.
Tim's message said in German.
I had to come up with something and told her that you had to go to your parent's house because of some sick relative. I think it's better if we stick to the same story and words don't get out what has really happened. I'm looking into solutions. No news from the police. Anything new on your side? Something more about this curse? I really hope everything is okay!
For a moment, I thought about telling him about the marks and the binding, but somehow even thinking about typing out the words made me nauseous.
So I just wrote as quickly as possible:
No news. I'm fine. Thank you.
My mom's message was in all caps.
How are you?
I could feel the reproach practically dripping through the phone. And I thought that I should better answer her as well. I agreed with Tim that the less people knew about what had happened, the better if I ever wanted to have a normal life again once I had escaped.
Everything is fine. I am having a little trouble with my phone, and might be hard to reach. I'll let you know when it's fixed. I love you!
Tears filled my eyes again as I typed the last words and hit
send
. But I had no time to dwell on how much I really wanted my mom right now because the door opened with a gust of summer night, and I jumped up in panic, dropping my bag to the floor.
I quickly held up the pink scrunchie I had found and tied my hair into a ponytail. The General glared at me, grabbed me by my arm, and pulled me out of the tent behind him towards the car. Apparently, being tardy had made me lose my privilege of walking alone with dignity.
I silently cursed myself for being so reckless. Not only had I risked my only means of communication with the outside world, but there was also no doubt in my mind that it would not end well for Tim if the General ever found out.
He yanked the door open and practically shoved me into my seat. We rode in the same convoy as last night. I was relieved to see the translator again, but didn't dare greet him, not with the angry General next to me. I could practically feel the darkness of his mood radiating from him, and I almost wished he would tease or taunt me again to distract me from my growing panic as we took the same route as the night before.
On the way, I tried to read some more of the election posters, but my worried mind was not able to focus, and all I saw was a flurry of colors and unknown faces. No women; I registered. There was not a single female candidate in the upcoming elections.
The night was young, and there were more people on the streets this time. A group of men was walking around laughing, probably looking for some bar that was irresponsible enough to stay open after sundown.
When they saw the General's emblem on our car, they froze. One of them yelled and turned around; another dove to the ground as if he were expecting to be shot at. The rest just stared at us, their eyes wide open in shock. I couldn't blame them, even if I resented their freedom to still walk around at night, all because of their gender. All because of the stupid Treaty. All because of the man sitting by my side. A shiver ran over my spine. I felt my stomach twist and had to look straight through the windshield to keep the nausea down.
When we arrived at the embassy, the General pulled my door open without saying a word, and I was grateful that this time he let me walk by myself.
I saw that the Counselor was already waiting for us on the other side of the little bridge when we stepped through the magic dome. He was not alone. An elderly figure stood to his side, probably the conduit that Suchil Tem talked about last night.
Being used to seeing our otherworldly occupiers mainly as soldiers, I had never met an old Veril. I studied them with interest and almost halted when I realized that she was a woman. Perplexed, I realized that the fact that there were no
young
women didn't mean that there were no female Veril at all.
How old was she? I still had no clue how aging worked with them. I didn't even know the General's age, but she looked ancient. Her beautiful face was winkled with hundreds of fine lines, especially around her kind golden eyes, like from a life full of laughter. Her white hair was tied into a loose white braid that hung over her shoulder and down all the way to her thighs. Many strands of hair had fallen out, framing her round face and pointy ears. Over her simple dress of dark purple wool, she wore a black cape with a grey collar, onto which hundreds of blinking stars were stitched with golden thread.
Despite her age and short size, she stood straight and tall, emanating an air of warmth and dignity that made even the impressive Suchil Tem to her side fade into the background.
When we had reached the other side of the bridge, the General and all his soldiers bowed down on one knee in front of her, lowering their eyes to the ground. I followed suit; it just felt natural to do so in front of this mysterious woman.
When we got up again, she graciously inclined her head and smiled. She stepped in front of us, and to my surprise, pinched the General's cheek between her thumb and index finger. I almost laughed out loud at his dumbfounded expression.
"Shenik Tsul, the Conqueror, the Protector," she said to him in Veril, which I understood thanks to my dutiful translator. "It is an honor--a great, great honor--to finally meet you in person!" She smiled, and her golden eyes sparkled.
"The honor is all mine, Great Conduit," the General replied, back to his composed self, and gave her one of his most winning smiles.
She patted his shoulder and turned directly to me. "And this must be woman number thirteen, then."
She looked at me kindly, and I inclined my head as soon as I had heard the translation of her words. I was infinitely thankful that I had been able to wash the smell of sweat and sex off me before I met this woman.
"I see, I see. So you are the one for whom the great Conqueror gave up his favor with the Counsel," she said, gently taking my wrist into her hands.
Her skin felt warm and thin like paper, and for the first time, I was not instantly scared of a Veril, though I had the suspicion that she might be one of the most powerful beings in this city at the moment.
When her eyes fell on my bruises, she clicked her tongue in disapproval and said something to the General that my interpreter did not dare to translate, but that made a smug smile appear on Suchil Tem's face. The General just nodded sternly.
With that, she turned around, and after the General and his warriors had saluted the Counselor, we all followed her in the direction of the white building of the embassy.
She stopped at the door and turned around, giving us all a stern look before she entered. The soldier behind me, being a good interpreter, gave me a short explanation.
"No weapons, no shoes," he said. "Tonight the embassy is a ceremonial building consecrated by the Conduit for your binding ceremony."
I nodded. That was easy for me since all I was wearing was a bed sheet. The General, however, took off his boots and handed his ridiculously big arsenal of weapons to one of his Shadow Guards before he stepped to my side and gently placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me inside.
The torch-lit embassy hall looked the same as it had the night before, but somehow it felt more elemental, like the serene energy coming from a waterfall or a cave in a mountain. It was also completely empty, with no guards around the walls; only the old lady stood on the other side of the water basin, just where the Counselor had been at our last visit.
I tried not to meet the disapproving eyes of the old human queen's statue atop the platform in front of us. When the sound of the closing door echoed through the hall, I turned to look behind me. Only one of our soldiers had followed us on Suchil Tem's side. Maybe warriors counted as weapons and were forbidden as well? Unfortunately, the soldier was not my translator, but Vik Ichel, the leader of the General's Shadow guard. I turned back quickly. The two walked up to us. Vik Ichel to the General's left, and Counselor Suchil Tem to my right. I tried not to startle at standing so close to the powerful politician and kept my eyes focused straight ahead.
