A Castle in a Forsaken Land(VI)

Water muffled the sound as the noble lady desperately tried to not struggle as she was dunked for the third time. She had never imagined such torture could occur before as to be dunked completely in water. He relatives were not as sophisticated as these dark shadows. A full minute under scalding water was one of the most terrifying things she had ever experienced. 

It was difficult to not taste the strange stickiness present. The bath itself had a brewery like smell that she doubted she would ever forget.  Pressure on her chest left and she was raised out of the water, gasping desperately for air.

"Now than let's get you cleaned and bandaged." With out any say in the mater, Jac (short for Jackie) hoisted the small girl out of the tub and placed her on a stool. Very gently she took a soft cloth and rubbed soap over every surface of the girl, carefully avoiding the wounds. From a long distance relative to Tiffany's position, she could see three baths, filled with gray and blackish water that had come from her. Insects of many sorts floated dead on the surface.

"You should be more careful, you scratched yourself a lot when you came tromping through the woods. Us girls are delicate, so we have to take special care to make sure these heal well." In less than a quarter hour the once dirty traveler had been cleaned and dried. After which bandages with some smelly stinging ointment had been applied to all her cuts.

"What does it mean that I'm employed?" The girl asked as she was handed underclothes to put on. Soft white cotton bottoms plus an oversized shirt with ruffled edges were enough for the small child.

"Your one of us now, servants to the Lady Dyne." Looking through the set if clothes she had she found a large shirt with a few ties at the neck. Pulling it over the noble, the maid resolved to raid the clothing storage for things that would fit her in the morning. 

"Lady? Is she married to the lord of the castle?" Looking at the completed picture, maid Jac was excited. Wispy thing, with big bright eyes and slightly wavy dark hair. Her small face made her look adorably rounded. She was much too small and even more amazing for a child of seven to make it so far on her own. Her heart thumped at the cute child in front of her.

"No there is no Lord, the Lady is the only one remaining of the original noble line of Dyne that came here a few hundred years ago. She employes all of us."

"I thought the land of Dyne was an abandon cursed land." Giggling at the naivety of the child the maid gently corrected her.

"No, the main territory is abandoned however the servants are regularly rescued from the various poor districts in the surrounding lands. Don't worry, basic education will be provided." Taking a moment to evaluate the noble girl she nodded that this would do for tonight.

"Now than I had some soup delivered to your room, let's go." Hoping down from the bench in the changing room next to the baths, the noble got a single step before she was snatched up once again.

"Your hurt, let big sis carry you today." Young Tiffaney displayed an odd duality in her actions.

 Years of instruction made her follow most orders without too many concerns. Alternatively long-term conditioning and human instinct made her flinch in panic in the face of trauma. Sometimes she didn't notice, like in the case of being dressed she didn't react. A case of someone coming close with outstretched arms in a small room. Cowering mess.

"Don't worry I won't drop you; you can rely on all of us. Your one of us and we can't wait to take care of you." It took hours to coax, supper, and place the child to bed in Jac's shared room. Most servants here were orphans or runaways, so immediately apparent to maid Jac was that the girl was a victim of long-term abuse. 

Scars dotted every bit of skin that wouldn't be exposed to sight most of them small and unnoticeable, petty abuses. More recent scars on her back, thighs and calf indicate that the violence had escalated. Most recent were her feet soles, the skin was freshly scared not counting the wear and rubbing made from traveling. She was also wire thin, clearly under fed. She took one of the cloths that she used to mop up her blood to run her genealogy. 

The most broken children were sent far away to homes personally selected by the lady for all the love support and care only an intimate family could provide.

"Finally asleep I see." As expected of the head butler of Castle Dyne, padded perfectly from the shadows.

"Here is her blood, someone is going to suffer for this." Handing the cotton to the man. 

"She is your priority; the report and other things can wait for the lady to return."

"Thank you, Sir Octave." Maid Jac was delighted she got to focus on the poor child rather than everything else required of her. 

"I will see to this." Both gave a short bow and curtsy of respect before they went their separate ways.

Elsewhere-Marewood

Noble districts existed in any major cities, trade cities especially. Mare wood was the main staging point for all grains and farm products, which were then shipped down by caravan a few miles away to the river to barge to ever corner of the land. On the outskirts were a wide variety of inns for the less exquisite guest, important servants, envoys, and others who represent powerful families.

Clean and secure were their selling points and this inn had become far dirtier than it should be.

"Now than child, I expect that you won't make any more trouble. While I am disgusted that the low life's though they could replace even the muck blood of an illegitimate child, there is no question that the lady is no more. No one returns from the lands of Dyne. Wiping a gleaming blade with a towel the knight was dressed in full armor minus a helmet. 

"We will be leaving soon, quickly change while I settle things and come down right after. I believe you know what will happen if I must go searching for you." Cold, with sandy blond hair, he casually stepped over two lumps laying in the center of the inn room.

The small child stood blankly at said lumps, even as the Knight went downstairs. Two men had abducted a slum rat, now six of the six who had chased the noble daughter of Oaken Staff were gone. The last two done in by a knight, blood seeping from two deep sword wounds ruining a carpet softer than any place the young child had slept on in this life.

At the counter the knight of Count Oaken Staff presented his token seal plus a small bag that jingled.

"There is a mess in the room." Empires produced a set of drawings for noble houses that circulated around. Even if it wasn't real the innkeeper knew that it was far wiser to take the coin and never speak of ever seeing this person again. 

"Were leaving immediately." The knight spoke to the girl who finally made it down to the main lobby. As they left the young child was too shell shocked to ask, but the knight answered for her without prompting.

"You will become the new daughter of Count Oaken Staff, be sure to be grateful."