Chapter 6

DECLAN

"What do you mean she's not here?" I heard myself asking again as if to be sure they were telling the truth.

"My lord, she was resting when I left her minutes ago but had gone when I came back." The healer replied.

My face formed into a small frown and I nodded slightly, waving him off with my hand. He understood and walked back into his chambers whilst I exited the place in search of the slave girl.

I stopped over some rooms but there was no sight of her so I extended the search to the camp, hoping I would find her there but it appeared to be as futile as the rest.

But I didn't stop, a part of me kept pushing me to keep looking until I found her, she might be in trouble.

Urgh….

I groaned inwardly, running my eyes everywhere. Honestly I don't understand why I would be this troubled and searching fruitlessly for a girl I have nothing on. I shouldn't be bothered if she's hurting or finds trouble adapting to this harsh environment.

It really shouldn't be something I should ponder on but here I am doing what I hate doing; worrying over a princess that just became a slave.

Maybe I feel a sense of responsibility because I took part in inflicting her pains…

"Where in the Dragons name are you, clumsy girl" I exhaled sharply, stopping to catch my breath.

Let's just search the last one. I assured myself one more time and moved to the last tent. My hands pulled the covers open, a hiss ruffled out of my lips as I stared at the young boy clinging tight to a corner.

He was so thin and unkempt, when his eyes met mine I saw it, the fear hovering all over his being. He must be so scared. Holding my urges of asking him if he was hungry, I hurriedly shoved the covers close and stepped back.

"Are you disappointed?"

My eyes sprawled to capture the owner of the voice and beheld the young boy standing right before me.

My brows creased, "why?" I didn't get him.

"Cause I'm too skinny and can't do any work, I… get that alot.. you shouldn't be"

"Hold on, what are you talking about?"

"Ain't you a wealthy wolf in need of a servant?"

Confusion washed down my face as I stared at the small boy who probably just wanted to feed. "Have you seen a girl, blonde hair and this tall?" I explained her features to him and his expression went even paler.

"Some men took her away, they claimed to be from Lord Deforest." He revealed. I didn't know when I took a step forward and headed straight to the palace.

Deforest?

His name lingered on my mind as I took hasty steps heading to his room. My mind wasn't at peace, knowing how my brother was and what he must have planned I couldn't keep my head straight.

"Deforest!" I growled lowly, jerking the door open.

And just as I imagined, the slave girl was cringing in fear, halfly naked. Her fingers dug into her tunic and she clutched it tightly to her chest fighting for her pride. Deforest was kneeling close to her trying to drag it out of her hands.

He wasn't even bothered by my presence as he continued with what he was doing, not even sparring a second to check who it was.

Without thinking twice I towered into the room and the first thing I laid hands on was the tacky garment Deforest was wearing. I dragged him down pulling him with me.

"What– Declan?" He managed to yank my hands off, sending me an abashed frown.

Ignoring him I helped her down and threw a cloth to her shoulder to cover up. She sobbed quietly and held her gaze to meet mine, her eyes pleading at same time appreciating me for saving her.

"The fact that we are brothers doesn't guarantee you badging into my room and meddling with my business." He spoke rashly, anger swelling up to his chest.

"You must be tired after the day's work" I moved closer to him, extending my hand to his shoulder, giving him a small pat. "Go to sleep."

Pulling back I smiled nonchalantly, even when seeing how crumpled up his face was. It must have been really hard for him to not argue and just watch me ruin his fun, I'm sure he knows better than to pull a fit especially in a situation like this.

I turned to the girl and started walking away without saying a word but she followed anyway. As we walked I noticed through the shadows that she was leaping, did Deforest lay hands on her?

I slowed down on my walking steps so she could keep pace with me. That way we could walk side by side and I would get to observe her closely.

She soon kept pace and I adjusted to her walking style, though it was night time but I could still get to see her face due to the dim lights hung at both sides of the corridor.

We walked lengths into the dark corridor and successfully arrived at the servants quarters. I led her to one of the servants' rooms below the stairs but noticed she was still clutching hard on her tunic.

How much did the situation get to her?

As I looked at her face I realized how shaken and frightened she was. She was still held on to what Deforest tried to do to her. I couldn't imagine how death driven that must have made her feel.

Which brought me to calm her, "you're safe now, no harm would come to you," I assured her.

She muffled in a cry, drawing the back of her palm over her nose to stop the mucus forming on her nose from dropping.

Tears pricked down her chaste lips as she fought back the urge to cry. "Where am I?"

"You're standing before the room you will be staying in, it's the servants quarters." She nodded feebly and mumbled something I couldn't hear, "go in."

I turned to leave as soon as the words left my mouth but my eyes caught something really disturbing. On the legs of the girl were cuts too deep for a fragile wolf like her to suckle in such pain.

A glint of concern rushed down my spine and I folded my hands behind my back, holding myself back from reaching out to her and checking if her wound was that deep.

But she was gone before I could take a closer look. The walk back to my quarters was done with slow strides, disturbing thoughts sticking to my head like clog and me trying to deflate myself from worrying over the slave girl.

The heavy garment dropped down from my shoulders as I unbuckled the pin that embroidered it to my chest.

Even as I laid underwater, having a cozy bath the thought of her never left me. She must be hurting in silence, I was sure her sniffings would make the other servants have a hard time sleeping.

I walked out of the bathtub, my hand grasped the towel hanging on the wall. I damped my wet body with it and extended into the room, droplets of water falling down from my hair, tainting my already dried skin.

I slipped into my night attire and pushed the door open stumbling unto the two wereguards guarding my door.

"My lord" they bowed, clutching their swords to the right as I had startled them.

"You," I said to the one on my left hand side. "Tell the healers to make an ointment for deep cuts," I relayed. He nodded briskly and hurried off to deliver the message.

My stomach churned in satisfaction. "This would be the last time I interfere. " I murmured to myself, retiring to bed.

My sleep was interrupted with the noises from outside. The palace hasn't been this noisy for ages and I wonder what was causing the sudden noise I was hearing.

I slid out of the covers, throwing my garment on as I walked to the door trying to uncover the nuisance causing the argument.

The door went open before I could even touch the knob, my eyes stared lazing at the guard standing before me.

"What's going on?" I asked, regardless.

"My lord, there's a servant wishing to see you," his face was clouded with frustration and I wondered who had driven him to such a peak.

"Enough to disrupt my sleep, is he fed up on life?" My question must have sent him staggering cause he immediately bowed his head in obeisance.

"I'm sorry to have disrupted your sleep, my lord but she's hell bent on getting her wishes attended to." He pleaded.

A huff rippled out of my lips and I folded my hands to my back, "send her in." I needed no more explanation, it was the slave girl, still as clumsy.

I strode back to my bed and sat on the wooden chair situated at the other end of the room. Shortly after the guard walked in with the girl tottering beside him.

I signaled for him to leave and he bowed and left. My eyes narrowed to the girl and I watched as she fumbled uncomfortably, pinning her gaze to the floor.

Not wanting to keep her in such a position I rose to my feets and pulled out a drawer, brought out wine and helped myself with a cup. The cup touched my lips and she gulped down nothing, watching me from the corner of her eyes.

"The voices I heard a couple of minutes ago sounded adamant and more composed than what I'm seeing now. " I frizzled out the words, taking my eyes away from her.

"I didn't get to thank you last night—"

"You shouldn't have bothered, you were shaken to the core and weren't your best self." She dropped to her knees the instant the words left me.

"Please let me work for you, I promise to abide by any rules you set" her eyes pleaded and yet again I was surprised by her temerity.

"Get back on your feets"

"Lord Deforest said I am his property.. I can't imagine myself around him, please allow me." She deepened. Giving me no choice than to refuse her.

"I owe you no favor, I only did that to stop my brother from laying hands on a child. You should leave now."

"But–" her voice wavered as she raised her chin to look at me. "Please, save me from him. He's a monster." Her eyes paved into mine hoping to find a warm reaction but got a cold one instead.

I knew she was observing my reaction, maybe she would use it against me if she had gotten a warm one.

"He won't bother you anymore, you will feel better once you get rid of the thoughts." I said soothingly, hoping she would grab the little hope and leave.

Tears blinded her eyes but she managed to get herself up, "I really need your help!" She said in an uproar.

"You don't get to say what you expect here!" I had to shout at her, at least it would put her in place. "You are not entitled to anything, neither will you hear the words you're dying to hear. I helped you out of goodwill and that's the extent of it."

She must have thought I have something for her considering the different encounters we've had, I guess it's much of a disappointment on her part.

"Guard," a guard entered instantly and I pointed at the girl, he nodded and walked her out.

She wasn't willing to go at first but after much warnings from the guard she finally succumbed and followed him out.

I slumped to the chair as soon as they left and thought of ways to get Deforest to leave the girl alone.