Page 32 of Upon Buried Embers
What a barbarian.
“You’re scared of a cock?” he rumbles. I stay silent.
He laughs.
A splash comes next, then a sigh, and I peek from under my lashes as he relaxes back in the tub, not threatened by me in the slightest.
I wouldn’t be either.
“Do not try to run, Elf. If you do, my men outside the tent will have you tied to a cart in the snowfall to freeze. Understand?”
“Yes.” I shuffle my bare feet. Rohan takes notice.
“So small,” he hums, looking at my feet before trailing his eyes up my legs. “And so easily bruised.”
I look down to my legs peppered with bruises, scrapes and cuts. I do bruise easily, but what does he expect?
“I was thrown into The Pit, and then I ran for my life and was attacked by wolves… one would assume bruises are bound to happen,” I mutter, then bite my lip.
I don’t make it easy for myself.
“Hmm,” he eyes me. “Anything life-threatening?”
I shake my head.
I’m hurt in many places, but I won’t die.
Unfortunately.
I stand awkwardly while he soaks in the tub, my eyes going to the table with cloth and small jars with different colors in them. Soap is there, and a comb rests next to it, piquing my interest along with the small, leather bands.
“Wash me.” My head whips toward him, but his eyes are closed. “You’ll earn the food I put in your belly, the clothes on your back. The warmth of my bed.” He opens an eye. “No one slacks-off in my clan, you earn everything here. Including respect and honor.”
I wonder if I can refuse, but I’ve been ordered to do far worse for a man than simply wash him. And if washing him will get me the things I need until I can leave…
The respect and honor part, I don’t need that. I just need to stay out of trouble.
I nod, shuffling to the table and grabbing a cloth. Tentatively, I stand next to the bath. If I kneel, it would be hard to wash him, if I stand, my back will feel like it’s breaking by the end of it.
Nothing I can do about it.
I dunk the cloth into the water, pulling my hand back, hissing at the heat of it.
“Ahh, Elf, it’s only warm.”
It’s like lava! How is it so hot?
Steeling myself, I dunk more slowly, getting used to the heat, then rub the soap into the cloth until suds appear.
I start with the arm closest to me first, trailing down from his shoulder and over his forearm. I swirl the cloth briefly over a large scar. I then wash his chest, his abdominal muscles hard and firm, a scar trailing down to his hip and the hair trailing even lower below his navel.
I clear my throat and move to the other side. All the while, Rohan keeps his eyes on me.
“Starting today, you are to feed the horses and groom them. Then you will check Serah’s wound. After that, we’ll eat at home.”
Where is home?
“You will help in any other way my clan asks of you.” I wash his hand, making sure to get in between his fingers as he spreads them for me. “You will not dishonor my mercy for keeping you alive by disrespecting me and my clan.” A pause. “Or my dragons, in any way. Understand?”
