Destiny Enslaved (editing)

Part 23

hi everyone sorry I've been gone so long but all I can say is life happens... anyway after finally writing this chapter I have had to split it in two- next one will be published tomorrow! 

Enjoy xx

Floki spoke ''he will calm down after his ale- Finehair can't put too much of a price on the slaves' heads. Besides he himself has caused enough trouble in his time.'' He must have noticed how my eyes followed Bjorn's retreating form. I focused on Floki then and smiled- they were kind words though I didn't think even he believed them.

But with that ordeal over with I turned around to look at the faces of the women whom it appeared had suddenly become my responsibility. There were five in total- three concubines and two servants. They were all beautiful and slender- as most of the new slaves would be I imagined. Unconsciously my hands smoothed down my clothes before I noticed Floki's studious gaze which made me aware of the action. I stopped immediately and squeezed my hands into fists before relaxing them.

It was a nervous habit I had picked up which broadcasted my insecurity to the world. I was more muscular than most women in the harems. ''thicker'' was how most of my masters had put it. Of course, I was never in those places to sleep with the men and move up the ladder but... to hear it from a child new to that world – for a time it became an obsession.

When I had comparative freedom in the palace of the emir of Cordoba I was able to wander the halls and explore what was my glorious prison. In those times I was confronted with the beguiling beauty of the women of the court. And as one might have expected as a young woman I wanted nothing more than to belong- to have a position other than a prisoner. So I missed training and meals to try and gain a more feminine figure. It was also in that time of reckless youth that I had a string of lovers who were enthralled with the idea of bedding the emir's pet Oracle. It was one of the reasons I ended up being sold I suppose.

But since that time I was determined to ossify myself against such follies of youth and the disposition of the courts. These people weren't my friends – they were my jailers. That was when I stopped telling them my predictions. That was when they started to hurt me. that was when I started to hurt them.

But we were the same here- all slaves. At least I think I was a slave- just a troublesome one.

So here I was with five people besides myself to take care of- maybe six if I counted tanaruz- exactly the place I didn't want to be. I was now shackled.

''ah... it isn't so bad- train them up and you'll have some good servants when we get back to Kattegat.'' Floki chimed in as if he could hear my thoughts.

But what he said didn't make sense.

I assumed Kattegat was their home or at least their hub. But servants? Me? I looked at the man with an expression of confused concern to which he laughed. A wicked and resounding laugh which scared the girls. when I didn't change my expression apart from an arched eyebrow Floki elaborated.

''you don't think that we can still consider you to be a slave- a witch maybe...'' Floki sighed exaggeratedly at the fact he was having to explain to me that which was so obvious to him. ''when we reach Kattegat the seer shall test you- if you are what we think you are then you shall be by Bjorns side as he leads us- you will be a guide given to us by the Gods.'' He looked up in reverence beyond the skies he saw something- something no mortal sees- at least not when they're sane.

As the Vikings promised there was plenty of ale. And as many had predicted small fights broke out around the camp over slights done during the raid- mainly the claiming of treasure or women.

I sat on guard as the night wore on. The women had felt safe enough to sleep under my watch now that they were fed and watered. Floki had stayed with me for a good hour but eventually, he said he had to report to Bjorn. I hadn't seen him since.