Chapter 12 Treat Me Like Your Woman

• I dismissed Tabitha from my mind the instant Elder Zu started with the training. I was going to confront her with questions later.
• But right now, I needed to focus on the goal which was— surviving.
• That was the key thing now.
• “You.”
• Elder Zu let out.
• I arched my brows, looking around to check who it was but was startled when I saw everyone looking at me.
• “M-me?”
• I stuttered. “Yes, you! Why are you holding a sword that way?”
• He questioned, with an alarmed look on his face. Immediately, I looked down to the sword in my hands. It was bent down to the floor, like I was nervous and scared of this entire thing.
• And I was.
• Gosh I really was…
• What if I didn’t make it? What if died too, like those girls?
• But I had to be strong. For mum, for Moses and lastly, for Piper…
• “Sorry sire!”
• I exclaimed, correcting myself that instant and bowing in respect to him. Elder Zu rubbed his dark and grey moustache, looking at me closely. His face wore a stern look.
• Please don’t disqualify me…
• Please, please. I swear not to make this mistake again.
• I silently prayed.
• “Be warned, Ava.”
• He stated.
• I blinked my eyes countlessly on how he knew my name. I mean, we were 25 and introduced ourselves. He must be really smart to have remembered all of our names; really.
• “Y-yes, Elder Zu. I’m sorry.”
• “And no stuttering! This goes to all of you here. Once you’re in this battle ground, there is no fear.”
• He exclaimed, with a brave look.
• “Courage, bravery, valor. A female warrior should be daring.”
• “When others go back in retreat, she goes forward. She fights till the end, even if it means dying like a hero.”
• Elder Zu added, walking around us with gallantry, saying. The girls were all attention, with their swords up high.
• “Are we clear on that?!”
• He exclaimed firmly.
• “Yes, sire!”
• All the girls chorused in response.
• We began training immediately. Surprisingly, he told us to keep our sword inside its sheath.
• In spite of the scene he made from earlier, today’s training didn’t involve it.
• Instead, it was all about strength.
• Elder Zu made us carry buckets of heavy water, telling us to run after him. He made us climb mountains with heavy loads on our backs.
• And all through, some people cheated.
• Tania and Satandra did.
• They took short cuts while we fetched water. While we ran on the mountains, with heavy loads, they took short cuts in the bushes.
• “Did you see that?!”
• Emily breathed out, the instant we finished our jobs. Tania and Satandra got there before us. Myself and Emily were the second.
• “See what?”
• I asked. “Tania and Satandra. Elder Zu is going to know of this.”
• She said, pressing her lips firm while they gave us a mischievous look. I could thank God they weren’t even in my room. Who knows what is going to happen?
• “Stop, Emily.”
• I said, holding her hands back. “Don’t.”
• “Why?”
• She asked, looking at me confusingly. “Why shouldn’t I?”
• “We certainly don’t know how Elder Zu would react. If you noticed, around here, things we think would be punished for, are let go.”
• “And then, little things get punished for…”
• I trailed out, evaluating it with a tired smile.
• “Give it time, karma would soon catch up with them.”
• She agreed as we rested on our backs, so tired from all of the work we did today. I had assumed we would retire for today but that didn’t happen.
• “Alright, time to train your strength with some lifts!”
• “Huh?”
• I looked at Emily, giving her a surprised look and so did she. The girls weren’t having any of it.
• Different murmurs echoed the training grounds instantly.
• “Quiet!”
• He stated. “We’ll start with 50 lifts for today.”
• “Is that amount necessary?”
• One of the girls asked.
• I noticed it was Tabitha. She looked sort of pale and a bit sickly. Maybe it was just because of the work out and I was imagining things.
• “We might as well faint after we do it, milord…”
• “Then faint!!!”
• Elder Zu shouted at the peak of his voice in a thunderous tone. He was really harsh but I knew he meant well.
• All these…was teaching us to survive.
• Without mastering it, surviving might be very difficult for us.
• …
• Towards evening, the 100 of us were having dinner in a separate room. However, the chairs we sat on, were so much different…this time.
• The 75 had a lower chair and less meal, while the remaining 25 who passed the tests, had larger meals and high seats.
• P-piper…
• “Hey.”
• I called out to her, pouring the food I hid under my cloth to give her. She discreetly took it.
• “Thanks Ava.” she muttered.
• “How are you faring?” I asked. “How are things around here?”
• “Some of the girls are really nice. One did my hair. She said I reminded her of her little sister.”
• Piper said with a pout. But she didn’t seem happy.
• “That’s good then.”
• “Are you okay? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
• I rubbed her head, saying in extreme worry.
• “Some girls bully me!” she cried out.
• “They say I’m too small and undernourished and will never get a chance with the beast.”
• “I don’t want a chance with the beast..”
• “..I want to go home…” she purred softly, holding my gown close.
• “Hey, hey.”
• She looked at me, and I gave her a re-assuring look.
• “Just try to bear with them for now. I’ll talk to Lady Lydia about it, don’t worry.”
• I encouraged. “I have to go now, would talk to you later, Piper.”
• I moved to go but she held my gown in her small, feeble hands. “Ask her if I can move in with you,”
• “Piper…”
• “Please! Since I’m small, nobody values my opinions here.”
• She begged. “Okay, I will.”
• I smiled, saying. I moved to go but she let my gown more firmly again. “Promise?”
• “Promise.”
• ….
• Night fell afterwards. Today had been fast and I suspected it was as a result of the trainings.
• As I attempted to sleep, I was a bit restless. Thus, I decided to go out to the gardens, to have a glimpse of the moonlight. And perhaps, think of my life.
• “Seriously?”
• A low baritone let out.
• Startingly, I looked back only to see Jaskier.
• “What are you doing here?”
• “I’ve been trying to get to you all day, but you didn’t see any of my signals, did you?”
• “I um—”
• How was I supposed to tell him my head was in the clouds?
• “The beast requested for Lady Francesca’s presence. I suspect it’s to warm his bed.”
• “What?” I let out in fright.
• I was really working towards having a place in the castle and this? This was so unfair…
• “I’m afraid so, milady.” he answered. “In fact, she just left his chambers.”
• “Take me to the King.”
• Jaskier looked at me like I had just said absurd.
• “Are you sure? You might not want to do that..”
• “Now!”
• I exclaimed, with fury and rage growing in me.
• He didn’t say anything anymore. Instead, like I requested, he took me to the King’s chambers.
• “I do not have a hand in this.”
• He stated, before leaving the front of the door and walking away.
• Taking deep breaths, I opened the door, closing it behind me and walking in.
• I knew this was a taboo. Coming to the King without being summoned, was unaccepted and I could have my head cut for this.
• But it was all about risks…
• “Ava.”
• More of a statement. He looked tired. But I could smell her scent in his room. That really hurt.
• Did she also lay on his bed?
• “You said this was real, milord?”
• I stated.
• “What are you—"
• “That I’m your mate, if I’m correct?”
• “Yes, I did say that…Ava”
• “But coming here in the middle of the night, knowing the complications—"
• “Let’s talk about the humiliation instead.”
• I let out bitterly.
• “Why did you bring another woman in, after you told me I was your mate?”
• I said, in hurt…batting off tears.
• Seemed like my heart was beginning to get drawn to this creature.
• “Ava…”
• “What do you want?”
• He asked, reaching out for my chin. I moved two steps back, away from him.
• “Respect.” I gritted out.
• “I want that respect as your woman. As your mate.”
• I moved towards the door, walking out of his presence the minute I stated that.
• Walking to the room, I removed the heavy clothes till I was in my underwear.
• I cried a lot under the cover cloth, till my eyes were sore.