Chapter 10: Chapter Ten

ADA

I looked around the room for a way to break free, but it was useless. It was cold and dark, and the only way to forget today would be to sleep. I would need my strength if I was to flee at the next opportunity.

I was provided a blanket to sleep on the hard floor, but that was all. I spent the night listening to the sounds of rats crawling around, praying no man would pay a visit.

For the next three days, my captors allowed me to properly wash myself and eat, though I barely had an appetite.

Weylin said I needed to keep up my appearances in case anyone needed to see me before putting in an offer. It was no longer safe for me to sit outside with the other men.

I overheard many offer small amounts of payment to lie with me, but Rankin believed I needed to remain untouched to receive more than five hundred pieces of silver.

By the third day, I had given up on attempting to escape. I was watched so carefully, any attempt now would be too risky.

CAYDEN

The hunt had proven successful. After four days, the group had killed more animals than they could carry. As Cayden neared the farm, he felt excitement inside him begin to grow.

He was ready to be home, to sleep in a bed, and to be with Ada. Their time apart allowed him to see how much he enjoyed her company; how fond he had grown of her.

Arriving back at the farm around mid-morning, Cayden jumped off of his horse, handing the bridle off. The men snickered to each other as he walked away.

They all knew very well that his interest in Ada had grown since being in Kilcoran. Cayden looked around the farm as he went into the house.

“Ada?”

He noticed all the blankets from the bed on the floor, and it seemed out of place. On the table were Ada’s brush and veil.

She would not have left the farm without her veil, he thought to himself. Cayden called to his men; there was something wrong. “Ada…do you see her?”

“No,” Padriac answered. “Is she not in the house?”

Cayden ignored his question and looked about the fields.

“Her horses are still here. Shall I go down to the river and see if she is there?” Caxton asked.

“Cayden,” Padriac nudged him. There was Coll standing nervously in front of him.

“Yes, speak.”

“I know what happened to Ada,” he said, voice shaking. Cayden drew his sword.

“Where is she?”

“Please don’t kill me,” Coll pleaded.

“Tell me where she is!”

“She was taken from here three days ago by three of your men. One of them believed he could sell her for a large price.”

“Where did they take her?”

“That I do not know, but the man had a shaved head and beard.”

“Weylin,” Cayden said. He ran toward the horses.

“Shall we come with you?” Padriac asked, but Cayden’s horse was already galloping away toward the town.

He arrived at the hall to find his uncle and cousin drinking. Cayden did not delay, slamming his fist on the table in front of Weylin. “Where is she?”

“Who?”

“You know who. Where is she?” Cayden pushed Weylin off the bench. He stood over him with his dagger against his neck. Rankin stood up and drew his sword.

“Now, nephew. Is that anyway to treat family?”

“He had no right to come to my land and take my slave from me. Now, where is she?”

“Are you sure she is just a slave to you?”

“What’s going on here?” Barra asked, entering the hall. “Cayden, I thought you had returned to the farm.”

“I have come to collect my slave, who my cousin has taken while we were away.” Cayden stood up but did not break eye contact with Weylin.

Barra did his best to remain neutral in the situation, since he was very partial to his younger brother and nephew.

“Is this true, Weylin?”

“My lord, a slave told me we could sell her for a great fortune. I was only doing what I thought was best for our men.”

“And have you sold her?” Chief Barra asked.

“No, she remains in the dungeon,” Weylin answered. Cayden did not wait for the conversation to finish. He ran down to the dungeon and lifted the piece of wood to unlatch the door.

At first, it did not appear that anyone was in the room. Cayden could feel his body fill up with rage at the thought that his cousin had lied once again.

He was about to turn to leave when he heard a noise to the left of him. There was barely any light, but he could make out the figure of a person curled up in the corner of the room.

ADA

“Ada,” a familiar voice said. I was scared to lift my head and look at the man. My muscles tightened as he stepped closer to me.

“Ada? It’s me, Cayden.”

My body shuddered as he placed his hand on my shoulder. I couldn’t believe he was here. I felt so many emotions at once.

I wanted to fall into his arms and cry, but most of all, I felt anger toward him for abandoning me.

“You. You did this to me,” I said, turning toward him and standing up. “You told your cousin to sell me? You couldn’t even do it yourself? Why are you even here?”

He seemed shocked by both my appearance and my words.

“No. I never told him any such thing.”

I didn’t care what he had to say. I pulled my fist back and punched the man in the face as hard as I could.

Cayden fell back slightly and I tried to run past him out the door, but he grabbed my arm as I passed him.