Promises of Glory

“Beware the watcher”

-Adlin, the God of Mischief

Groggy eyes opened, Rhode yawned, pushing herself up into a sitting position. She takes a breath, ready to release it when the door to the room opened. Rhode glanced over, seeing Alys with more than a couple maids on her heel.

The events from yesterday took hold in her mind, and she tried not to let them show on her face. The demoralizing talk. The whipping. Everything about what she overheard disgusted her.

But she pasted a smile on her face, despite her feelings. She tried to beam at the presence of her grandmother. Inside her mind was ticking away, making plans, changing up existing plans, formulating an escape. For now, escape seemed nonexistent.

“What’s with all the maids?” Speculation told her something big was going down. Rhode didn’t know if she wanted to be a part of it.

“They will be yours.”

“Mine?” Why?

Alys sat on the edge of the bed, grace in even the fluttering of her dress. Answering the silent question, she said. “I don’t want a scare like what happened yesterday.”

“Did I faint?”

A nod. “I’ve assigned these maids to watch over you while you’re here.” Like Rhode could leave whenever she wished, Rhode doubted that was true. “I heard you went to look around the garden. Did you find anything interesting?”

A quick shake of the head. “No.” A liar, she was, and a liar she would be even now. But now she knew the real reason for all the maids, to report back her every move. Alys worried about her secret being discovered. It was far too late for that.

Pursed lips. “Okay.” She thought Rhode was lying, Rhode realized. She tried to smile despite the fear that raced up her spine.

“I did see some lovely flowers. They looked like their petals were made of leather.”

Alys grinned broadly, “Ah, Dragon Fruit. Don’t know why it’s called a fruit when it’s a flower, I’ve never seen the blossoms sprout any fruits in all that I’ve lived.” Which Rhode assumed was a very long time. “Perhaps there’s something more they need to fruit.”

“Perhaps.”

A sigh, she was getting no where, Alys clapped her hands. “Okay, I’ll leave you to rest, and…” she looked around at the maids, counting them with her finger. “I’ll leave nine of the maids with you. To wait on every need you may have.”

All the maids bowed to Rhode, only one scurrying to leave with Alys. Rhode recognized the woman, it was the one that always followed Alys. She wondered what the relationship was between the two. Perhaps her grandmother was even more than she seemed.

The girl slid from the bed.

A maid said with a sharp voice, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Rhode felt like a helpless little girl at the tone directed at her, “The bathroom.”

“Isabelle, join her, make sure nothing happens.” What was she going to do? Strangle herself with her own bathrobe belt?

“Um, no thank you. I can go alone.”

The maid glared, ushering Isabelle towards the girl. “I’ve gotten my orders and I intend to see them through, despite your protests. You’d best allow the maids in here to follow my orders.”

Rhode stared in disbelief, she couldn’t be serious. Did Alys assign the head maid to her?

The girl sighed and resigned herself. Everything she did was going to be reported back to her grandmother, she couldn’t be taking chances when so much rested on her cover. She’d never been under so much stress before, not even through the countless breaking and enterings in her past.