Page 18 of The Lost Child

“It wasn’t like that,” I tried to argue, even though the words sounded weak to my own ears. “I just wanted to help him.”

I could tell by the expression on my father’s face that it didn’t matter how many battles I won or how many men and resources I’d brought to the company. All he saw (and all he ever would see) was a small, weak-minded woman.

And in that moment, I felt like one.

My father stood and walked around his desk to loom over me, his hands behind his band. “Now as to the matter of his punishment.”

“H-hispunishment?” I repeated dumbly, not entirely sure I heard him right.

A nasty smirk crawled up his mouth. “Of course. He was the one who managed to loosen his chains. He was the one who voluntarily ate the food you brought. Canavar is a warrior. He knows better. I shall help him regain his discipline. Now run along.”

My mouth went dry. I couldn’t admit I’d been the one to loosen them. I couldn’t. He’d kill me. But Canavar didn’t deserve to take the blame for what I’d done either.

“Canavar didn’t do anything wrong,” I tried again, attempting to keep my voice down so the others didn’t hear.

“Get his name off your tongue, or I’ll punish that as well,” Father snapped back, clearly in a foul mood. “Did you not hear me? Get. Out.”

Oh no. I’d really fucked up this time.

My feet automatically took me out of his office, and my brain screamed at me to just go. Father had neverlet me off from a punishment so lightly before, and part of me was in shock. The other part was angry and afraid for Canavar, but what could I do?

What you should have done to begin with, my brain chastised.Nothing.

So I didn’t go back and argue. I kept my gaze down on the rotted, wet wooden planks that served as a walkway connecting each of the old, hollowed out ships that served as our home.

And I tried not to think about the wounded man below my feet, alone in the dark suffering and possibly about to be beaten because of me.

I stopped. I couldn’t let that happen.

I bumped hard into a shoulder, not watching where I was going.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, but Hai was watching me carefully, for once without his twin brother Kai.

“You’re about to do something foolish,” he said sagely, eyes calm and wise.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides and I kept walking, brushing by him. Just because something was stupid didn’t mean it was wrong.

There had to be another way into the caves besides the one my father was likely now having watched. I would find it.

Eight

CANAVAR

Master came back to check if I had passed the test. I sat carefully on the ground, wanting to prove that even though my chains were loose that I was obedient and wouldn’t move unless he commanded it. I already felt stronger and more clear-headed with the small amount of food his female had given me.

I didn’t like the smell of the pastes on my wounds, but I had to admit it hurt less. It was odd to be in less pain and be able to think. What would it be like to have an entirely full belly and no wounds?

Impossible. I couldn’t even begin to imagine it.

Master looked angry as he stalked toward my bars. I froze, wanting to be as good as possible. He carried no food, but that was OK, since I had just eaten.

“Stupid, miserable creature.”

I blinked at his harsh words. He paused at the crank next to my cage’s bars and glanced at me as if waiting for my reaction. I didn’t tense up or twitch when he put his hand on the crank.

With such fury, he put all his weight on it, curling up my chains until they dragged me back on the ground. I didn’t move. I wasn’t allowed to.

Confusion flooded me. I didn’t understand. Had I failed the test then?

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