Chapter 196 The Madame (2/2)

”Good”.

That was the last word that Ebony heard from the Madame before she was taken below ground once more. Her one reprieve the fact that she would not have to service anyone for the time being.

***

It was not until three days later that Ebony saw Aegin again. And, if the guards and gossipy slave girls she'd been around were to be believed, it was only because he'd threatened to kill the Slave Master's prized gladiators should he not be able to see her state.

Ebony had seen Aegin fight before. Of course she had. But never had she seen him quite so…unhinged.

He looked to be like one of those Barbarians she'd heard about on the western continent. He'd been given new clothes, bland and minimalist as they were. Brown cotton pants and a top. His hair had been shaved at the sides again, and though it had been washed, his brown hair was still plaited from the crown of his head and down his back.

It had only been three days, so he had yet to gain back the weight he'd lost while stuck in the brig at sea, but he never let any weakness show on his face. Not until he saw her.

She was brought to sit at a table opposite him, both of them chained and held away from each other.

”Are you okay?” he asked.

Ebony's eyes skimmed over him, and caught glimpses of the bandages beneath his shirt.

”Are you hurt?”

He sighed, ”I'll be fine”.

He'd clearly taken her answer that she was okay.

”Are they treating you well?”

”We're slaves, Aegin,” Ebony replied, ”They're treating us as such”.

Aegin sighed, ”It won't be for long. We'll find a way. Rassa will come”.

”Rassa?” asked Ebony, surprised, ”Rassa was drowned and then he disappeared. The only thing that tells us he's alive is the tracking charm, and that line fades and flickers more by the day”.

”He'll come, Ebony,” said Aegin, ”He promised. He promised he wouldn't leave us behind”.

Ebony sighed and turned away, then, after a moment, turned back, ”Fine. But I hope you don't set yourself on waiting for him. If he was awake, surely he would have gotten to us by now. If not…well, you know better than I what it takes to wake him back up, and if he's at the bottom of the ocean, it'll be a long time before that comes to him”.

Aegin sighed, then nodded in agreement, ”We stick together. Yes?”

Ebony nodded, ”Agreed. Just…try not to get killed”.

Aegin gave a half-smile back, ”I may have never spoken of my past, Ebony, but I think we both know a little of what the other has lived through. I'll survive”.

There was no promise, but Ebony somehow knew he didn't need it. He would survive this. The question was whether or not they could do it together.