“I’ll tell you when you’re home,” he whispered.
Home.
“Ari, girl—”
The noise of the Noble’s wife startled her. A deep gasp entered her lungs, and she shook herself out of the daze she’d been in. She let go of him, turning around, and she gave the woman a short bow.
“Your Grace,” she said, not meeting the woman’s glare. “I thought these fabrics the trader has brought would interest you. Some are of the finest cottons and linens, perfect for the warmer weather we’re due for in a few weeks.”
Shae’s eyes darted between them. “I see…” Her gaze narrowed, and Nyssa fixated her eyes on the ground, waiting for the woman to speak. “Well. Let’s see them, trader,” she demanded. “I don’t have all day.”
As Nadir showed Shae the fabrics, Nyssa could see the bite back of his grimace, his forearm tightening with his fist. She knew one look over this woman, and all Nadir could see was the lashing on her back, and it was taking everything in him not to cut off her head.
Nyssa didn't get to tell him goodbye this time.
Shae ordered Quinn to take her back to her room before Nadir had wrapped up with her. Nyssa hadn't met Nadir's gaze as she was carted off, knowing if she did that, he might do something neither of them could come back from. She gave Quinn the bag of goods she'd bought for him as he left her in her room.
Nyssa sank onto the floor and pulled her knees into her chest as she waited on the wife to come for her. But as she sat there, the weight of sleep took over her exhausted body.
A bucket of water to the face startled her out of the dreamless nap.
It was dark outside.
And the wife was standing over her.
"Get her off the floor," she demanded the two Porters.
Nyssa limped as dead weight. The Porters pulled her up, and she was strapped to the familiar chair, hands tied behind the back of it.
Shae stepped over her, the sneer shadowed in her features. “You think I didn’t see the way you looked at that trader?” she asked.
Nyssa didn't speak.
Shae nodded to the guard. Nyssa's seat was tilted back, and she held her breath. Water poured onto her, deliberately, to the point that her lungs fought back, and her entire body trembled beneath the weight of it.
Her chair slammed back onto the ground. Nyssa coughed and gasped, chest heaving.
"My husband may be an idiot, but I am not," Shae seethed. "Again."
Nyssa had hardly caught her breath, and she was forced to hold it once more.
Her chair hit the ground.
"Tell me who he is," Shae demanded.
Coughing, Nyssa remained firm and refused to speak a word.
Shae's fingers snapped.
Chair back, water over her head. Her muscles fought. She could feel that ash threatening her body, her core trying to keep her safe. But she fought against it just as she fought for breath.
"Speak, girl," the woman demanded.
Nyssa blew the water from her mouth and glowered at Shae through her matted hair. "I cannot speak if youdrownme," she finally snapped.
Shae grabbed the hair on the top of her head. Nyssa was yanked back, front chair legs lifting off the ground again, and the wife held her there and pulled her head so she was looking up at her.
Nyssa refused to wince.
