Ashlyn laid still on Baron Stephan's massive bed for a good deal of time before her eyes went to the iron manacle that encircled her small wrist. Could she get out of it? Experimentally she tugged against it and found it very snug. She took her untethered hand and compressed the bulge of her thumb against her palm. She pulled again, applying consistent pressure, this time the manacle painfully slid a couple inches over the bulk of her hand. A moment of excitement pulsed through her, she knew she could likely escape this manacle! Then these thoughts came to a rude halt. If she did escape where would she go? Her home was burned to the ground and she was in an inner chamber of a castle that was so massive she wasn't sure exactly how to exit. Most of the kitchen staff and many other servants of the castle had already seen her and would recognize her. Would any of them risk Lord Stephan's wrath and assist her? If she did get back to the village who would be willing to help her there? What did she know of other places than the village she had grown up near and the family that her Lord had destroyed in gaining her? She had never traveled more than a half day's walk away from where her mother had birthed her.
She felt like her heart was breaking as she slid her hand back completely within the manacle. She was surrendering to the hopelessness of this abrupt change in her life. Is it worth fighting something when you are truly helpless to change your circumstances? What small measure of personal pride she had always had in her life came from the hard work that her family did and the small bit of land that, while they didn't own, had been cared for by her family for generations. All of that was gone now. She was alone and would have to function within this new reality.
The light in the room waned and no sound filled the room except the occasional gurgle of Ashlyn's stomach as it asserted its need for food to her. She had not eaten in more than 24 hours now and she ached from it. Finally the silence was broken by the heart stopping sound of the lock being turned in the door. The door opened and soft light permeated the hall as Robert stepped into the room holding a candelabra. He walked forward and Ashlyn saw that behind him followed Baron Stephan DeMark the 2nd. Lord Stephan was a large and powerfully built man. To the common girl who had only seen him a few times before now he seemed a different breed of person than the peasants she grew up with. His stature and bearing was that of a God to her. His dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and strait muscular frame all called to mind some vengeful God of ancient times. One of those Gods that was now forbidden. The sort of Deity that demanded worship with fire and sacrifice of blood. The thought make Ashlyn shudder and she curled her body into the corner of the bed, trying to cover her nudity, as Stephan watched her.
Robert moved to start a fire in the hearth, and Stephan walked forward to the end of the bed, intent upon the small vulnerable girl tethered to the top right post.
"I am far from disappointed now, the girl cleans up well Robert." Stephan remarked in a dry and almost disinterested tone.
"Yes my Lord, her face is pleasing, and her body is tight and young. Just wait until my Lord's hands stroke that soft skin of hers and feel the firmness of those round little breasts." Robert responded to this while finishing his task at the fire. His words made Ashlyn gasp and begin to shake.
"Robert please bring some bread, cheese, and mulled wine to us. After that your services will no longer be needed tonight." Stephan ordered, still never taking his eyes from the cringing girl. He was already feeling his cock twitch and rise as he thought of the fun he would have in breaking this girl to his needs.
Shortly after there was a tray of food beside the bed and Stephan sat at the foot of it drinking a glass of wine, still not having spoken any more to Ashlyn. He watched her as she watched him eating.
After a few moments of this she softly murmured, " Mi' Lord, may I please have a bit of bread? I haven't eaten in a very long time and I am weak with hunger."
Stephan smiled at her as he said, " Yes, I would imagine that you are indeed hungry. You can't have eaten a bit since I brought you here. What is your name girl?"
"Ashlyn, My Lord." she replied in a whisper.
"Ashlyn is a wonderful name, it sounds like a flower. Well Ashlyn before I feed you I must teach you a little about the workings of the world. You see, no one in this world has possessions or eats food that does not earn that comfort. Those like me earn the comforts I have by providing protection, leadership, and care to those who serve me. In return I am able to take what I want from life. The servants each provide a service by which they earn a keep in my household. The serfs farm my lands and provide me with the bounty with which to take care of my vassals. Your father for example was unable to provide service to me adequately so I demanded a different sort of payment from him."
