Chapter 76 Nun Orgah
Amarien's POV
Velmira's eyes blazed on me with wrath and disgust. She looked leaner than I remembered.
How did she get here? I thought she came from a prominent family that could shield her from the nunnery.
Oh, but the law of the land is absolute. Velmira will be in the nunnery until there is an imperial order from the Emperor or from the Queen herself that she be released.
"The gods do have a sense of humour…" Velmira scoffed. "Look who I bumped into." She leaned in, "I've been searching all corners of this nunnery for you, Amarien. I would have assumed you had fallen into the wall and gotten stuck somewhere. Where have you been hiding?"
I saw malice blaze through her eyes, and I quickly found my feet. "I'm not here for trouble, Velmira." I started for the store, but Velmira stood in my way.
"And you think I am? No Amarien. I would surely love to catch up on old times." Velmira chuckled menacingly. For the first time, I matched her eyes. I saw a permanent scar on her right cheek. The cheek Daevir has slapped. He must have left that mark on her.
I shut my eyes, trying not to think about it. Thinking about him was like a curse. It only brought me so much pain and anguish. I have to survive for my child. For this child, I'd survive!
"What is she thinking about?" Velmira jested, looking at the two ladies who now flanked her. "Oh, the gods, she is crying?" The women burst out laughing and laughing.
I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes and started for the door again, but Velmira's firm grip snatched my hands and threw me to the floor.
The road of laughter surrounded me like cultures in the sky.
"Please, I do not want trouble from Nun Argo," I said solemnly, though my bones ached with pain.
"Did you hear her?" One of the women who flanked Velmira scoffed. "She wants to go do some chores. She dares try to walk out on us."
Velmira's gaze returns to me. "Oh, she won't dare do that. Not until we are done." The women swiftly surrounded me.
And then I saw a brief flash of metal in one of their hands.
A knife! How did they get a knife? No contrabands are allowed. We are not even allowed to feast with cutlery; we only feast with our hands. How did they get a knife?!
They are going to kill me!
"What's going on here?!" A voice blazed through the crowd that had gathered.
The crowd quickly parted at the sound of that voice.
“Nun Orga!” Someone called.
A tall, chubby woman walked into the fight that was about to break out; her frown was evident and intimidating.
Nun Orga. I've seen her in the background of ceremonies and rituals; she works hand in hand with Nun Argo in running the Nunnery. I heard she is not one to be tampered with, as she has a quick temper.
"You're going to beat her to death?" Orga lashes at Velmira and the other women.
Quickly, they hid the knife they had in their tunics. I wanted to screech out to Orga to seize the knife as I knew they would return to use it on me.
What good will it do to them to murder me? Why will they do that?
"The next time a fight breaks out, I'll have all of you stripped, and publicity flogged till you bleed through every pore of your skin!"
The crowd quickly dispersed. I was'nt fast enough. I made to get up, but Nun Orga was already towering over me. "You!" She lashed. "Get up and follow me!"
My heart stirred in discomfort. What's she going to do to me? Before I could ask, she had turned and left. I quickly pushed myself up, following her.
We walked silently for a moment, and I couldn't help but feel the tremor of my heart palpitating against my chest.
These Nuns seem to revel in sadistic rituals, making women the brunt of it all. Is that what Orga is up to? Afterall, they claim she is just like Argos in temperament.
Oh gods! Save me from this ill fate. Save my child!
Orga walked silently, not saying a word to me. She led me down a passageway, shrouded in shadows and dimly lit by a torch. She stopped when she reached a door that was also a dead end.
"Come in," she finally said. Her voice was grim and almost grumbly.
Could this be what I think it is?
Had they long suspected I was pregnant, and this is the trap to lure me in and kill me. Or perhaps this is a torture chamber to make these women revel in their sadistic desires.
I swallowed as Orga disappeared into the room. I wanted to flee for my life, but I slowly followed.
The room was nothing like I expected. It was nothing but a room with a bed in the corner with warm sheets, two small windows to see beyond the nunnery to the dark forest, a torch and some food.
"Help yourself," Orga said grimly and turned to leave.
"Wait!" I said, even more frightened. "What about my punishment?" I looked around the room, shaking. Or is this my punishment? Will something crawl off the wall and torture me?
Orga smiled, and for the first time, she looked less intimidating and scary. "You will stay here till you've recovered from your illness. Right beside the food are some herbs. Eat to your fill and tell no one of this passageway nor the foods you eat."
I gasp. Who is she? Why is she helping me?
When Orga left and slowly closed the door, I fell to the bed and wept. I hadn't cried in months. Because the tears felt heavy in my chest, but they wouldn't just come out.
Everything that has happened has pushed me to the edge. I had lost faith in everything. I wished the gods would end it all.
Yet, this favour from this stranger brought me to my knees. I don't even know her. And she must have learn a great deal about me, most of which is awful.
Why? Why did she help me?
My stomach rumbled, and my baby kicked in response.
I laughed, wiping tears from my eyes. "Of course, we will eat, little one. You must be really hungry."
I rose and ate, not knowing the extent of my hunger and how much I missed good food. Everything was here: meat, fish, veggies. I ate to my fill and lay on the bed, sleeping off almost immediately.