Three days.
It had been three days since my entire world, life, existence had plummeted into the abyss.
Coming back from a solitary hunting trip, the life had been torn from my very soul at the sight of my family home burnt to a decrepit pile of smoking ash - my brothers' bloodied bodies lying strewn across the blackened earth. I had spotted my father, his body cold and lifeless on the ground. My entire family, mutilated and slaughtered. Marauders had a nasty habit of doing that sort of thing.
The worst thing was that in my shocked and grief-stricken state, I hadn't even waited around long enough to give them a proper burial - I had just run. My clothes blackened from the charcoal of my home, my face bloodied from the remains of my family, I had run.
And now here I sat hunched over myself in the back of a small, dark, slave wagon, surrounded by two other girls, and an old man who muttered nonsensically to himself. I had been picked up by the slave traders two days ago, wandering aimlessly around the moors, and they had obviously felt that I had been free for the taking.
So I was sitting in the back of a wagon, no idea where I was going, but knowing only that I was going to spend the rest of my pathetic, broken life in slavery. But despite knowing what hardships had past and were still to come, I could not cry. I just felt...numb. I was a broken and tattered boat, drifting aimlessly across a sea of misery. I could not cry. I would not cry. I wouldn't let anyone see my pain.
I don't know how long I had been in the back of the wagon, time seemed to stretch endlessly here. Not that it mattered. What did anything matter now?
On my third day in the wagon, I think, I finally lifted my head from my knees when I heard distant voices coming from the front of the wagon, and discovered that it was one of the slave traders speaking to his companion.
"The city is just over the rise ahead." I caught a glimpse of him vaguely gesturing in the direction we were heading.
"Been too long since I've had a nice Asgardian wench on my lap. I'm looking forward to this," he remarked with a chuckle.
Despite my misery, my eyes widened slightly. Asgard? Were we headed to Asgard? My heart started to pound in my chest. I had never been to the capital, though my father had spoken of the grand city many times. The other trader turned to his comrade.
"How much do you think we'll get for this bunch?" he asked and gestured over his shoulder with his thumb as if we were a pack of cattle. His companion glanced back at us and I ducked my head away from sight. He shrugged and made a thoughtful expression.
"A pair of lasses, an old man, and a boy? Not much, but the palace is always looking for new servants."
My heart stopped dead this time. Not only were we going to Asgard, the most powerful city in all of the nine realms, I was to be sold to the palace? To serve royalty? My fear began to rise, I had heard the stories of what happened to female slaves in the palace. It was unpleasant, to say the least...
Hang on, did he just say 'boy'? He thought I was a boy? Despite my terror and grief, I couldn't help but feel slightly insulted. How could I be mistaken for a boy? But when I looked down and took in the sight of my attire, I immediately understood the case of mistaken identity. My long, dark hair was coiled and concealed beneath the worn cap I always wore when hunting, my clothes were baggy, dirty and hid any trace of femininity, and I could only imagine the state of my mud and blood covered face. He was right to presume that I was a man.
Suddenly, a faint idea reared its head in my mind; if I had fooled the traders into thinking that I was a man, who else could I deceive? If I could successfully make people believe that I was a boy, I could work peacefully in the kitchens, or if I was lucky, as a servant of a Lord. If it worked, I could go unnoticed, protected from the advances of male eyes. But would it work? Could I actually pull off this sort of deception? There was only one way to find out. Lowering my head, I took a deep breath as the wagon rumbled its way to its destination and attempted to think up some semblance of a plan.
An hour later, we had finally entered the gates of the city, but I still didn't have the courage to look up. Were cities always this loud? I closed my eyes, feeling more and more positive that this would never, ever work.
The loud noises of the city surrounded the wagon for at least another hour before it began to down a little. Confused, I finally looked up and peeked out of the canvas tarpaulin. I tried not to gape at what I say ahead, but I couldn't help myself. The palace.
Stretching for over a mile high and gleaming a bright gold, it dominated every inch of my vision. I continued to stare up at it dumbly as the wagon veered to the right and circled the tall walls until finally entering through a small iron gate that led to the back of the palace. Stone pillars and arches surrounded us, more beautiful than I could have possibly imagined.
Eventually, the driver called the horses to a halt in the centre of a large dirt courtyard. A thousand smells of food drafted through the wagon, and I assumed that the kitchens must be nearby. Servants and traders milled around the yard and wagons lay strewn across the entire area, this must have been where goods and produce were delivered to the kitchens.
I heard the traders jump down from their seats at the front and a second later the tarpaulin at the back of the carriage was ripped open beside me. I tried not to cower as the trader raked his eyes over the four of us and then stepped aside, beckoning for us to come out. When nobody moved, I stood slowly with trembling legs and jumped down from the wagon, turning to help the rest when they followed.
After this, we were roughly instructed to stand in a line, heads down and hands behind our backs. We complied begrudgingly and a few moments late a third pair of boots walked into my line of sight.
"Right, what have we here?" The mystery man asked, rubbing his hands together gleefully.
They perused the line until he had decided what to make of us; firstly, sending one girl to the kitchens and the other to the maids quarters, and then the old man to the stables where he would tend to the horses. Finally, it was my turn. Taking a shaky breath, I tried not to tremor under their heavy gazes, and instead wrung my fingers nervously behind my back.
"What about this one then?" the man asked.
"Dunno, odd one he is," the trader replied, "Found him roaming the moors a few days ago. Never gave us any trouble, just kept to himself."
"Hm, what are you, boy?" he asked, speaking directly to me.
I swallowed and attempted to lower my voice a few octaves, "A mountain elf, sir."
"Age?"
"I have 600 years, sir."
"Ah, so you're already a man?"
I nodded. "Yes, sir."
"And your family?"
I paused for a beat. "Dead, sir."
After a moment of silence, he continued, "Do you have any fighting experience, boy?"
I shrugged, my brothers had taught me some. "A little, sir."
He turned away from me, focusing his attention back on the trader. "He's too small to be enrolled in the guard, but he would make a capable squire." He paused. "In fact, I believe the Prince is needing a replacement, his last one was slain in Vanaheim." After another moment's thought, he turned back to me. "All right, boy, you're to go get cleaned and dressed and return here where I will inform you of your duties, understood?"
"Yes, sir, I replied shakily. Had he said...Prince?
The man called someone over and a second later a young female servant approached.
"Take this boy up to the servant's quarters and have him cleaned up. And give him a set of new clothes, will you?"
"Certainly, sir," the woman replied and turned away.
Assuming that I was dismissed, I followed her, still too nervous to raise my eyes from the dirt covered ground. The woman remained silent as she led me past the busy kitchens, up a small flight of stone stairs, and into a small room at the end of a long corridor. I tried not to let my fear consume me, but with every passing second, my breathing became more and more shallow. Once inside, the maid picked up a large jug and poured the clear water into a wash basin by the window. Picking up a washcloth, she reached out with it towards my face.
I stepped back involuntarily and cleared my throat, hoping that I hadn't offended her, "Um, sorry, Miss, I'd like to do it myself."
After a pause, the woman handed me the washcloth, "As you wish, I will get your clothes," she said, exiting the room.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I dipped the washcloth in the cool water and began to clean the thick layer of grime from my face and neck. It was surprisingly refreshing, and I couldn't help but feel a little relaxed, letting the memories ease away.
A few minutes later, the woman returned with a pile of clothes and a pair of black leather boots in her arms. Unfortunately for me, she had arrived the second after I had taken off my cap, letting my long hair tumble down past my shoulders. I turned to her and froze at the sound of her startled gasp.
Her mouth agape, she pointed a finger accusingly at me, "You're a..."
"Girl, I know," I said, finishing her sentence. I stepped forward, my hands wringing my cap nervously, "Please don't tell anyone. I'm begging you, I just want to serve here in peace." She looked sceptically at me as I held my hands together in prayer, "Please, Miss?" I pleaded one last time.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she sighed and nodded, "All right, I'll help you. Stay here," she commanded and I nodded, letting the breath rush out of my lungs. That was close. Too close. Gods, I hadn't lasted ten minutes without someone finding out. Maybe this wasn't such a great plan after all.
A few minutes later, she returned as I was replacing my hair underneath my cap, and walked towards me.
"Turn around," she commanded briskly and I obeyed. "Take your shirt off."
After a beat of a pause, I pulled my soiled shirt up over my head, leaving my chest bare. I felt my cheeks redden despite the fact that I had my back to her. I had never undressed before someone.
Picking up the washcloth, she gently cleaned away the dirt from my back and neck before beginning to tie a long strip of linen tightly around my chest to flatten my breasts. Although it was very tight at first and I was finding it difficult to breathe, my body soon became accustomed to it and relaxed a little. Turning around to face her, I let her inspect her work. Although my chest was far from being flat, I hoped that a baggy shirt would be able to conceal it.
With a purse of her lips and her hands on her hips, the woman nodded and handed me the pile of clothes, "That will have to do, put these on and I will wait outside."
I nodded as she opened the door to leave, "Thank you," I said simply before she could leave. Giving me a small smile, she closed the door.
With a sigh, I looked down at the garments in my arms, wondering when the last time I had new clothes was. Although they were far from luxurious, they were much finer than the tattered robes that had been handed down to me by my brothers. After I had dressed in the pale linen tunic, matching brown leather vest and trousers, and knee-high boots, I looked down at myself. The tunic sleeves were a little long so I rolled them up to my elbows, however, the rest fit surprisingly well. I glanced up at the small mirror beside the wash basin. Although my features were far from masculine, I hoped that if I kept my head down and my cap low, it would be enough to fool everyone.
After adjusting my cap one last time and bracing my nerves, I opened the door to the woman. She looked down at me and smiled.
"Not bad, you make a handsome boy." I grinned at her approval and followed as she escorted me down and back to the courtyards.
"Look, you should be fine," she consoled, "Just keep your nose clean and don't draw any unwanted attention to yourself." I nodded shakily, trying to take her advice.
Just before the entrance to the courtyards, she turned to me and smiled, "My name is Kari, come find me if you need anything. Good luck."
I smiled, despite my terror, "Thank you," I whispered sincerely and she turned away from me, leaving me to face my fate alone.