3. Normalcy in Penichros

“Cat? What kind of a name is that?” Theo asked while he sat in front of my cell.

“It’s Caterina, Theodore,” I replied quietly, trying my best not to scratch at the fresh wounds on my wrists.

“I think Mouse fits you better,” he retorted, noticing the plate of untouched bread I shoved to the side. “You’re so tiny, yet you never eat anything.”

“I’m not hungry,” my words were muffled as I buried my face in my dirty, torn skirt. “I’d rather die anyway.”

“Come on, don’t do that,” Theo insisted, reaching his small hand through the cell bars and patting my matted, blood-crusted hair. “You said your birthday was coming up, right? What if I sneak something sweet down here for you, would you eat that?”

“I won’t eat it.”

“Little mouse, you must eat something. At least on your birthday, especially after all the trouble I go through to get something for you.”

I looked up at the strange boy who insisted on visiting me every day since I was taken from my home. Why did he insist on being so generous to a prisoner? Why go through so much trouble for me? I pressed my chapped lips into a thin line, thinking of the last time he’d been caught bringing me food—he was whipped until he fainted right in front of me. I was so upset, I refused to eat anything for three days until he’d recovered enough to see me again. “You’ll bring me something no matter what I say, won’t you?”

“That’s right.” Theo smiled smugly.

“I think I might like berries with cream, if that’s an easy thing for you to grab. I overhear the guards talking about it on occasion.”

“Berries and cream? How about five bowls for your fifth birthday?”

“That’s ridiculous, Theodore.”

“We could do seven for mine since it’s so close to yours anyway.”

“That’s even worse!” I hissed.

Theodore chuckled and flashed a bright smile. “I’m sorry you’re stuck here, but I’d like to do my best to help you, no matter what it costs. Can you trust me to do that, Mouse?”

“I can, Theo.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Cat?” Isobel’s muffled voice said quietly as she nudged my shoulder. “Are you alright? I came to see how your mouth was feeling this morning.”

“Y-yeah, I’m fine,” I said, wiping away the tears that had drenched my pillow. “My mouth is fine.”

“Bad dream?” She inquired as she ran a brush through my tangled hair and braided it.

“I wouldn’t say it was bad. More bittersweet really. It was a memory, one of the better ones I’d experienced before the assassins found me.”

I sighed and laid my head against Isobel’s shoulder the moment she finished my braid. Theo, why did you stay? Why didn’t you leave with me? I thought of the berries and cream he’d given me that year and the stomach ache I’d had after I’d eaten far too much. Then, I thought of the key he gave me for my birthday the following year—the one that got me out of that terrible prison and I still kept after all this time, locked away on a chain far too rusted to wear anymore. I shook my head. He was too far gone; I’m certain of it.

“Ladies,” William said cheerfully, entering the room fully armed and dressed in his training armor. “Why are you both still not ready? Ulfric is going to have our heads if we’re late.”

“Ulfric can kiss my—”

“Isobel,” I warned, though a smile played on my lips. Onyx flew into the room, knocking William’s shaggy, brown hair with her large, black wings before resting herself on my lap. “We’ll be out in a minute, alright?”

“If you’re not ready in two, I’m dragging you both out there in your pajamas,” William warned as he shut the door behind him.

“Come on, we should get dressed. I’m sure Ulfric has a lot for us to do before we leave,” I said to Isobel as I stood and stretched, forcing my muscles to relax after sleeping so hard on the poor excuse we shared for a bed. “Do you think we’ll get to fake being nobles for a bit in the next country? I miss their comfy beds.”

“If we’re lucky,” Isobel giggled as she slipped into her black training attire and loaded her quiver with arrows. “Hopefully it won’t be like in Litore where we all were ‘fishermen’ and had to sleep offshore in those rickety boats that reeked of fish. It took me weeks to get the smell out of my hair.”

“Don’t remind me,” I said, my stomach churning at the thought of the rocking boat and rotten fish. “I was so glad when we finally found an abandoned house to sleep in.”

Once we were both dressed, I pulled the door open and immediately rolled my eyes at William, who had propped himself against the wooden beam just in front of our room and crossed his arms. “It’s about time.”

“Shut it, William,” I chided before walking toward the kitchen, following the delightful smell of Agnes’s cooking. The old woman smiled warmly the minute we approached. Her white hair was pulled back in a tight bun. Her apron was messy and covered in flour, and her toothy grin filled my heart with warmth. “Good morning, Agnes.”

“Good morning, Cat. How is your mouth?”

“A bit sore, but fine overall. May I take a roll?”

“Of course. Just don’t let Ulfric catch you,” she said with a wink.

William went to grab one, but Agnes swatted his hand. “It’s not your birthday.”

“It’s not hers either anymore,” he whined as he rubbed his sore hand.

“She didn’t get her treat from me yesterday,” Agnes explained. “Now, go to training. You can have breakfast when you’re done.”

William groaned and sulked out of the house. Isobel followed close behind, kissing Agnes on the cheek as she left. “Thanks, Agnes,” I said, stuffing the roll in my mouth and ensuring I had no crumbs on me before following my friends.