Chapter 4

Robyn and her mother had carried their sister and aunt back into in the barn, collected what little of Robyn's things she had and burnt the barn, the flames consuming all and yet the smell of burning flowers in the garden and inside the house made her quick funeral sweet instead of such a harsh memory, covering the smell of burnt flesh. Cyron had gone off to war and knew he would be granted a knew house as every knight would be by the King once they returned successful to the land. Returning to the castle the guard reapplied the shackle to her mother and lead them inside towards the King in the Throne room.
Quietly Robyn followed her mother, nervous of her new surroundings as she had never seen inside the castle before nor what the King had even looked like. Her mother stayed silent and knelt down beside her awaiting the King's entrance.
After a few moments the King entered the room and sat without a word in his throne, chin up proving he was of a higher position than her.
"Natalia, what is this?" He signalled for her to stand and explain why she had come to him with watery eyes and blood stained dress. "Did you not wash your own dress this morning?" He bagan to pronounce his words very clearly but with a harsh tone. Making sure he was well understood.
"Sire, my sister was killed...Claurice Deliquo, we just found her at her home in Eyeria's village." Her voice was low but with full apology bread into it.
"This is Robyn, she had just turned thirteen Sire, she is my daughter." Quickly moving from the subject her mother then wrapped her arm around her daughters shoulder, helping to calm her shaking.
"She has no where else to go Sire, and I know she is a very strong young lady." Promoting her daughter seemed to have worked because the King stood from his throne, lightly dusted her sleeve when standing and walked closer to the little girl in front of him.
"Robyn is it? Well...I don't need no more maids here we are full. Why don't you ask Deisel if he needs one" He chuckled to himself. Deisel being one of the many hounds the King kept in the Kennels in the back of the castle.
"Sire, she is more capable than that if I may intrude" A voice from behind them came bounding in. A young boy no older than Robyn had walked up to the King and shoke his hand. "Father, I've seen her in Eyeria. She's quick, little sure but that always makes it easier not to get caught." He carried on standing by his father's side.
"Then fine it is decided, Robyn Deliqua you will work for me, you will train every day till blood sweat and tears come from you. You will have an hour a day to see your mother but that is only once you have completed all your tasks of that day and only after the sun rises. You will not leave this castle without my permission and you are refrained from speaking to any other maid or knight in this castle. Then once you turn 21 and I have no use for you, I will set you free. You and your mother." He sat back down on his thrown and smiled approvingly, knowing he had already won against her by adding the final words about her mother to the agreement. She could do no more than nod her approval.
"Take her to the Red Cloth" Soon the child found herself being whisked away from her mother and out of the room, a cold and hard shakle being attached to her foot and a hot iron being pressed to her skin with the emblem of a crown burning her flesh and causing her to scream.
Eight years had passed since then.