A group of guards carried a crude looking bed into Eilownia's cell and placed it against the wall.
It was mostly unsanded with a terribly thin mattress sitting on top. The legs were uneven, causing it to tilt at a angle and shift when weight was redistributed on it.
Marix held Eilownia tightly by the wrist as he led her back to her cell. She limped lightly, slightly bent over to help relieve the ache in her back and on her butt.
Despite the flogging that had just occurred, and her slow gait, Marix made not move to rush her. He walked in step with her, allowing her to go at her own pace.
When they got back into the cell, she stared at the bed.
"What is that?" She asked quietly, "Is it for me?"
Once the cell door closed behind them, Marix let go of her wrist.
"Lay on it."
She smiled and slowly walked over to it. She sat down and it shifted underneath her. She put her hands out to balance the unexpected movement.
Then, she slowly laid down, paying heed to its shifts.
As she did, she felt something press into her back.
"It's uncomfortable. There are nails that are poking me."
Marix nodded as he tied a rope to her wrist and attached it tightly to the wall so she couldn't leave the bed. Surprisingly, it wasn't made of the thick, rough rope he used while interrogating her.
"This is where you'll sleep from now on."
"Why can't I sleep on the floor?"
"Because, I think you like it too much."
Once he departed, she was left to think about this new bed of hers. Her mind drifted off to time with her father many years ago....
The scent of death filled her nostrils as she hung towards the floor. Her arms were bent at a painful angle as the thick, heavy rusted chains wrapped around her wrists were the only thing holding her up and tied to the stone wall.
Her vision swam as she stared at the floor. She could see her sweat and blood dripping off her face, contributing to the red puddle beneath her.
"Have you learned your lesson yet?" Lord Evans stood just outside the pool of blood, lest it stain his shoes.
She nodded slowly in response, her breath ragged.
He slammed his cane against the floor, causing her to flinch.
"ANSWER PROPERLY!"
Her body trembled as she took in a deep breath.
"Yes...I have....please....forgive me...."
He laughed and smacked her against the side of her head with the cane, sending a ringing noise through her ears as pain exploded throughout her skull.
"A proper answer, I said."
Eilownia inhaled again; her ribs sent sharp electric bolts through her torso as they expanded.
"I have....learned the valuable.....lesson of never...…meeting with one.....of the maids....ever....again.....thank you for.....teaching me...…..my loving...…father….."
When she finished, she gagged, the pain in her body almost too much to bear.
He smacked her in the stomach with his cane.
"Uh-uh. A proper lady doesn't wretch in the presence of others. So help me if you contribute to the filthy mess you've already made here, I will scar this face of yours too."
Eilownia took in a deep breath, gulping hard and loud as she tried to force the feeling down. Her stomach was a bubbling pit of acid and aches, her body but a vessel of pain.
She looked up at the ceiling of her cell inside of Marix's dungeon and smiled to herself. 'Yeah. Life's pretty good right now.'
Briggs strode into the military camp. It was full of men in their military gear running laps and participating in numerous forms of training.
As he walked through the camp, those he past would stop and salute him.
He entered into the war room, which was full of high ranking officers standing around a table with a large map on it.
They were focused intently on the map and moving the different colored figures around.
"And if they use this strategy, we'll send Units C and D here while Units A and B will filter in through here. Archery Units will go here, ballista unit will serve as a support while Unit E remains as defense."
"If they go through here unexpectedly?"
"Reroute Units D and B."
"What if they come through here?"
"Until we get enough recruits to create a new unit, we'll have to split up Unit A."
"What about Unit E?"
"We must not sacrifice any personnel from the defense unit under any circumstances!"
Briggs cleared his throat. They all turned to him and saluted.
"Sir!" They said in unison.
"I need someone from intelligence immediately, General's orders!"
"Yes sir!" One of them said, before rushing out of the room.
Soon after, a small group of soldiers marched into the room, their steps in sync with one another.
After everyone exchanged their salutes, Briggs handed them a few of the coins.
"Infiltrate Sola. Remain discreet, avoid military and altercations at all cost. Ask around the city: civilians, merchants, servants, etcetera. See if anyone recognizes or knows about these coins. Go, now!"
The men nodded and each took a coin, rushing off to partake in their task.
Briggs returned home late that night, exhausted. He pulled his boots off in the mudroom and placed them neatly on their wooden shoe bench before yanking off his gloves and tossing them on the nearby table.
When he walked into the kitchen, a little boy with bright blue eyes and hair as black as the night let out a high-pitched squeal.
He was a little over 1 year old and ran up Briggs, waddling, his arms held out to balance himself.
"DADA!!!!"
Briggs scooped him up and hugged him tight. "AUGH! My boy! You seem to have gotten bigger and stronger since I left this morning!"
The little boy's feet wiggled up and down as he rested his head on Briggs' shoulder.
"What's for dinner Tara? It smells great!" He said, walking over to his wife and kissing her on the head.
Her long blonde hair was pulled up into a bun and her green gingham apron was covered in flour, sauce, and other stains.
She held her finger up in his face and stared up at him, "Don't try me, Bridge. My nose works just fine!"
He playfully nipped at her finger, but she pulled it back just in time to gently tap him on the cheek with it instead.
"How many years have we been together now? You still call me Bridge, and bully your loving husband who comes home after such a hard and dangerous day at work."
He kissed their son, Taron, on the temple and pointed at Tara, wagging his finger, "Do you see how your mother treats me? I hope you find a woman that isn't as vicious as she is."
Tara smiled and gently pushed his arm. "Of course. Why would I change my nickname for you? It's not everyday you meet a handsome man and fall so hard so fast that when he tells you his name is Briggs, your heart is thumping so loud in your ears you hear 'Bridge'."
She then turned her attention towards Taron, who she heightened the pitch of her tone for, "And mama doesn't bully your dada, no she doesn't~ No she doesn't~"
Briggs laughed and nodded towards the pot, "You didn't tell me what you're cooking."
"I'm making your favorite. Beef stew."
His face fell. It most definitely did NOT smell like beef stew.
He peeked into the pot, tilting his body so Taron was at a safe distance. Inside looked like pure water with potatoes, carrot chunks and some unidentified black chunks.
"Tara." He said with an awkward smile as he tilted his head to look at her.
She shot him a nervous look then slowly smiled.
"You should be happy that your wife took the time to cook for you after birthing your child and taking care of him all day."
Briggs tsked her teasingly.
"You're the one who wanted to raise him without any maids and wanted to be this 'housewife' thing."
"Well, that's what we did where I was from, we didn't have things like maids to do everything for you."
He set Taron down and grabbed the pouch out of his pocket.
"Speaking of where you come from, I need you to check these out and tell me if they look familiar to you at all."
After she took the pot off the stove and put out the flame, he led her over to the table and poured the coins out.
Tara's gaze darted between Briggs and the pile of coins.
"What do you need me to look at them for?" She then leaned over and gently perused them, flicking them around with her finger.
"You lived on the outskirts most of your life. Surely you met many travelers from many different kingdoms, a different continent who stopped by your town."
Tara nodded, "I did, they were very common on the boarder."
Briggs nodded as well, "Right. Do you recognize these coins at all?"
She glanced up at him and sucked on her bottom lip, then leaned closer to the table as she examined them closer.
"Nope. Nothing like these. As far as I know, jade comes from up north, doesn't it? We didn't have any of that in the south."