Xinye's view

Once he had set his orders, Xin picked me up and carried me up the hill to his horse, which was hiding behind a clump of trees, as if I were a featherweight. Once there, he moved his horse before lifting me on his horse and mounting it behind me, his arms encircling me to hold the reigns.

I could ride, but Xin did not know this. I did not say anything as I needed his skin-ship after the abuse I had suffered the last three days. It was five days in total the Dudo "cared" for me. I was ever so thankful for those four days in the middle of the time when he went to make the tablets for me to contact my future family. At least God had spared me those four days too.

Dudo seemed to enjoy marking my skin even though I did not enjoy it. He did not take my wants or needs into consideration, only his. I guess it was because he was raised with that sense of entitlement that he did this; I do not know, I do not care to know. What I did know was I wanted to get away from this palace of pain and quickly. All I could think about was leaving.

Xin turned the horse to leave when we heard running feet and rocks falling as the movement dislodged them. Sari arrived before us, holding her hand up to indicate for us to stop as she panted, "Mistress," Sari called, "Mistress, Lady Fang, Lady Xinye..." and she stood gasping for air in front of the horse.

We waited for her to catch her breath and speak.

"Please take me with you," she begged as soon as she could talk without gasping, "I want to continue serving you."

"Sorry, Sari," I apologised sadly to the girl as she had been a comfort to me in my time of need here, "I do not need a handmaiden at home."

"PLEASE, madam," she begged, tears falling down her face, and she fell to her knees and kowtowed, "Please let me serve you. I do not need much, just a corner to call my own and food to eat. The dresses I have will last a while, so I do not need clothes. Please let me come with you."

"Why do you want to serve her so badly?" Xin asked as I jumped in surprise. I had not expected him to speak. He hugged me then as if to say, 'It's ok, Xinye, you have nothing to fear now.'

"Because of the power of her God," Sari said, "Never has my prayers ever amounted to anything. If anything, they were ignored. But her God, he answered her. I want to follow her and make her God my God. Where ever she goes, I must go. I must look after her."

"She reminds me of Ruth," I said to Xin quietly.

"Who is Ruth?" Xin asked, sensing it was one of my bible stories that I told him, "I do not think you have told me that story."

"Never mind that," I said, "She is best coming with what she has said." I then spoke loud enough for Sari to hear, "Can you ride a horse, Sari?"

"I can," she smiled, hope shining through her face.

"Go and get Dudo's horse and follow us," I instructed her, thinking it would be the only horse I could take and not be accused of stealing it.

"Yes! Thank you, madam! I will do as you say," and she picked herself up off the ground, dusted her knees, and hitched up her skirts to run and get her things.

"Wait," Xin said, and she stopped to look at him. The expression on her face clearly stated, 'Why?' but she did not say anything. She just stood as she was, foot in the air, waiting. Xin chuckled, "Can you meet us in the next town? Do you know where it is?"

"Yes, and I can," she said, "Why?"

"Meet us there," Xin instructed and took off at a gallop, the movement shocking me as the horse's movement inflamed my hidden bruises.

"Ow," I groaned. Thankfully Xin did not hear me as I genuinely did want to get away from that palace, and Xin must have known by the cracking pace he set.

We arrived at the next town over at sunset, and Xin booked two rooms at the inn for us before taking me off the horse. "Xinye," he said as he lifted me off the now-tied horse.

"Yes?" I asked him.

His face reddened a little as he asked his question, "Do you, Can you sleep with me tonight? Or do you want to sleep with Sari instead?"

"I will sleep with you," I said with little thought to the matter, "I need to sleep next to you."

Xin nodded smiling happily.

My balance was unsteady as I was no longer young and certainly not used to riding horses. My arthritis in my hips and back was screaming at me to lie down. Xin, seeing me stumble, picked me up, carried me to the assigned room, and placed me on the bed.

"Rest now," he said, stroking my hair and kissing my forehead, "I'll move the horse to the stables here, then bring us up something to eat and drink. Hopefully, by then, your maid will have arrived. I have paid for her horse to be stabled by the stableboy here, but my horse is too demanding for strangers to stable."

I nodded and drifted off into a tormented sleep. I knew I was now safe and with the one I loved, but it did not stop the horrible memories from haunting me. "God, please help me to forgive him." I prayed and trusted my God to do just that. I had been taught unforgiveness is a poison to your system, and I wanted no poison to remain in mine. I needed to forgive and forget him not only for my sake but for Xin and my family as well.

That was all I knew for the next fortnight as I suffered through fevers and sickness. I had not been so sick since I had suffered through variolation.

"Xin," I said when I saw his face at one of the times, I saw him. His face and Sari's seemed to be alternating in my fever-ridden sight, "Make sure our twins are variolated and Sari too."

"I will," he promised me, "Just get better, alright?"

I did not answer him as I passed out again, too weak to answer.

A/N If you enjoyed this chapter, please take the time to vote by pressing the star. Please let me know if you see any errors, as this is unedited.