Chapter 93: A Servant’s Troubles (Part One)
The stables of Lord Ritchel’s fortress was much smaller than Ashlynn would have expected until she recalled how little use the Frost Walkers had for horses. Unlike a human fortress, there were neither knights nor cavalry, and even horses for messengers and carriages were unnecessary.
Instead, the stable held a few of the largest horses Ashlynn had ever laid eyes on with dark, thick coats and long manes that likely pulled carts or... plows?
"Why are there plows?" Ashlynn asked, struck by the strangely structured plows that didn’t resemble any she had seen before, whether in use by humans or the people in the vale of mists.
"To clear snow from the bridge and roads after storms," Hauke explained when he saw her curiosity. "Now may not restrict our movement much, but if too much of it piles up it becomes impossible to leave through the gates without digging out. Better to clear it away before it grows that deep."
"I see," Ashlynn said, turning her attention back to the carriages where members Clan of the Great Claw were lifting the heavy, darksteel lined daybeds out of their wagons before knocking politely to advise Nyrielle and Zedya that they had arrived.
"My Lady," Heila said, kneeling on the cold ground of the stable in front of Ashlynn with her head bowed. "Today, I failed you. Please punish me as you see fit. I, I’ve brought a lash if you wish," she said, holding up a coiled lash that belonged to one of the carriage drivers.
"Get up, Heila," Ashlynn said, frowning at the diminutive horned woman. "I will not whip you. You did nothing wrong. What I asked you to do was too much, it’s fine that you couldn’t do it. It’s my fault," Ashlynn said, feeling guiltier the more she spoke.
Torsten’s demand to see her mark was both humiliating and infuriating but that didn’t excuse forcing Heila to translate her own barbed comeback. While she was certain that she could have protected Heila should Torsten have tried to take out his anger on the messenger, she couldn’t truly guarantee her servant’s safety.
"My Lady," Heila said, shivering as she knelt on the cold ground. Ever since Lady Nyrielle gave her the opportunity to serve as Ashlynn’s personal servant, she’d tried her best to be worthy of the honor. Sometimes, Ashlynn’s requests were a little odd, like her insistence on styling her own hair most days or her demands for clothing that she could put on herself without the help of a servant, but she never asked anything that was beyond Heila’s ability to do.