There are guards everywhere around the courthouse.
"Are we killing all the guards? I've never killed before. I don't think I can," I say.
"Of course not," Master replies. "Killing guards will only escalate the situation. If it's just a jailbreak, the Bhis will spend less effort to find her."
I sigh in relief. Glad to hear that. I thought my first visit to Lhen would be my last one.
"But how are we getting through all the guards?"
"We just need to get around the building to his personal quarters. Bhi keeps her in his own dungeon," Master Kar replies.
This prince is much more disgusting than I thought. Creepy.
I fake a gag.
"So what is my job?" I ask.
"Be our hostage."
"Huh?" I blink.
But before I could even process what she meant, they'd already knocked out two guards on the side. Definitely not Shin masters.
They tie the guards up and strip off their armor.
Naked men!
I turn away from the scene, but I know they are putting up the guard armor.
"Why can't I be the guard?"
"I'm too old for Prince Bhi's taste. And definitely not Master Kar. The prince is not into men," Master explains.
"What do you mean by his taste?"
.....................
"Where should we send her?" Master asks a guard.
"His Highness wants her personally," Master Kar adds.
"Another one? His Highness's taste is getting younger every day."
They tied me up and presented me like a gift.
I'm so asking for payback after this...
The guard points us in the right direction.
We enter a house with two guards outside.
Inside the house is a small dungeon. Five to six cells, one woman in each.
Seeing the scene makes my body shiver.
My spine tenses before I can breathe again.
I whisper, "Can we save the others as well?"
"Of course, we are." She counts the number. "We need seven more pieces of armor to get through this."
Master Kar rushes to the cell at the end. "Chih Rhu!"
She is too weak to speak, and dehydrated. Apparently, they tried to break her spirit with this.
He kicks the gate open and kneels beside Chih Rhu like she's the only thing left in the world. His hands are shaking as he lifts her.
Master kicks the other gates open after untying me.
"Be our watch while we heal them."
I nod, but my hands are still shaking.
I glance back—weak light glows from Master's palms as she kneels beside one of the women. Still no response from Chih Rhu.
I move up closer to the entrance, preparing for scouting, not that I know how to, so I just look around, pretending I know what I am doing.
I can hear the guards outside chatting.
"What do you think about the new one?"
"She's got potential. Still a bit young for me. But hey—His Highness has his right to have his tastes."
"Don't worry, I'm not snitching."
"Let's hope this one breaks faster. I hate having to bruise up the pretty ones."
"Me too, but orders are orders."
To them, I'm livestock.
I clench my fists.
I want to knock them out so badly.
"Anyone?" Master asks as she heals the last woman.
"Just the two outside."
"Great."
She leads the women in a line.
"Stay behind us."
Master Kar and my master walk out casually.
Thump! Thump!
Two guards fall to the ground.
"Amateurs," Master exclaims. "Hurry up, we need to avoid the elite guards arriving."
They quickly gear four of the women up in the armor. "I guess we just have to fight our way out."
As we run out to the courtyard. A noble woman stands in our way.
"Shi Khu Jhi, you are really bold to come here," she says.
"I'm always up for some heroism."
"You are not getting away with that setup."
I whisper to Master, "Who is she?"
"Princess Bhi Zhu Khi. His sister."
This is death. We're exposed. Cold sweat slides down my palm, but I hold Softlight tighter.
Then—
She throws seven sets of armor at us.
"Can you be more careful? I can't always be your backup. You know you're wanted."
"Sorry, a force of habit."
We throw on the armor.
"I relocated the backgate guards somewhere else," Princess Bhi says.
"Say thank you, Your Highness," Master turns to us.
I nod, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Wait, why is this my job? It's her bad planning.
My eyes jab at her.
I've never seen a woman command a room like Princess Bhi Zhu Khi.
Why couldn't she have been the prince instead of that monster?
We head towards the back gate and finally leave the courthouse.
The women don't know Shin. They run really slow. We have to keep our pace to make sure everyone is safe.
"So, where are we heading?"
"Your warehouse."
Master...
I purse my lips.
"Don't be so upset. I'll teach you my dagger skills as soon as we get back."
My mood lightens up. She has refused to teach me that for years. It's always, "You're not ready."
"But what then?"
"We'll ask a trader to smuggle them out to Uxiospea."
"Will they agree?"
"We can only hope."
"Can I go, too?"
"Uxiospea? No, you have a good life here. Don't waste it. It's not easy to start a new life. They have no choice, but you still have one."
She can see I'm sad. Maybe I'm frowning.
"Just enjoy the time you have here. Having a family... It's a rare luxury. One most of us don't get to keep."
We settled the women and Chih Rhu at the armory warehouse of our trade.
As soon as we're done, I sprint to the residence and scale the window. A close one. I climb in.
What an eventful night!
I untie the band to loosen my dress and let go of my ponytail.
I want a bath.
I lie on the bed. My muscles ache, but I feel lighter. I made it.
Then—a light.
Brother with a lamp.
"Where were you tonight?"