Chapter 14

"You have sharp eyes," the Lady said as she removed her bit-gag. "You saw the man trying to hide his prize. Well done."

"Thank you, my Lady," Audrey whispered. Maybe she wasn't in trouble after all.

"It seems you have adjusted to life here quite well. I knew you would come around quickly. Tell me, would you like to be able to walk around freely without this on?" the Lady held up her gag.

Audrey felt her face light up at the mere thought of such freedom, and wondered why she felt that way. Why would that make a difference? She wouldn't be able to do anything to warn potential new theows anyway, with how heavily they were guarded. Or, if she tried, all she would accomplish was to get more people restrained back here and herself with them, like last night. She tried not to think about that as she saw the thief struggle to get out of his chains. But she would take any advantage she could, to survive. That was what she had to do, in her current position.

"I would be delighted, my Lady. What must I do to prove I am worthy?"

"You have already done half. I heard you trying to explain to our newest theow last night how things work here. You have realized that this is your life. It takes some of them weeks, sometimes months to get to that point. You are truly special. What was your name?"

Audrey had only vented out her anger, not trying to explain anything. The journalist would see that for herself soon. But again, she didn't dispute it. If the Lady thought she had accepted this way of life, all the better. If that led to less restraints for her, she would take it.

"I am Audrey, my Lady."

"Audrey? That is perfect. Do you know what that name means, Audrey?"

"No, my Lady." She had never been into the origin of names or places, but knew that names often had more meaning, in older times.

"It means servant. It seems you really were destined for this life. I usually give my theows new names, more suited to their new life, but I cannot think of a more fitting name for you than the one you already have. So, Audrey, are you ready to begin your work in earnest?"

"Yes, my Lady."

"Then swear to me."

Audrey knelt and repeated the words the Lady said. It was in Old English, so she didn't understand most of it, but she knew enough to understand that she had just pledged her life to this Lady that seemed to like to hurt people for fun. But what other choice did she have? She wouldn't survive at the bottom of the ladder for long.

"Ædven, please remind me to record the name of our newest member. Audrey, this is Ædven. She is in charge of all the theows, if there is anything you need to do your work, tell her. And an order from here is as good as an order from me. Is that understood?" the lady said as one of the churls removed the fetters from her feet.

Audrey had already guessed as much, so she just nodded as she gave another curtsey.

"Now, Audrey, what is your specialty? I've noticed that you seem to have a good hand with the animals." the Lady continued.

"Yes, my Lady. I grew up on a farm, so I have some experience in that field. I will serve the Lady where she pleases, but that is where I am most likely to be of use."

"Excellent! We are still missing a proper helper for the husbandry section. The others have taken turns, but none of them have a lot of experience. Let it be so. You will be in charge of milking the goat, keeping the pigs well fed and otherwise making sure that they are thriving. I think the sow is near to giving birth. Have you any experience with that?"

"I have seen it happen once, my Lady, but I was quite young. But sows in labour are quite easy to take care of, they do most of the work themselves."

The Lady seemed quite pleased with her knowledge, and she was told to go familiarize herself with the animals at once. Audrey was delighted that she would be able to work with what she knew and not have to be punished for not knowing how to make linen. But hadn't she sworn to herself that she would never work on a farm again? She couldn't quite remember why. She was good at it, why wouldn't she want to work with the animals?

***

I remember why I had said that now. How could I have forgotten my family in such a short time? But it was as if the world outside truly didn't exist, in the burh. They are dead, but I should still remember them. No one else is alive to do so. But I can't go back now and say I don't want to work with husbandry anymore. I need to work with them and remember them that way. My father was the one who taught me most of what I know anyway. It was his words that came to me, even when I had trouble remembering them. The sow did give birth just a few weeks later. The hardest part for me was to clip their teeth, luckily some of the churls were more than happy to help with that, once I had shown them what needed to be removed. They later did the castrating of the male piglets too. I never really liked that part of the husbandry. My brother also didn't like to do that, but our father made him help anyway.

The man that was caught stealing got quite a harsh punishment. It was over a week ago, yet it seems he still hasn't learned anything. He keeps struggling, every chance he gets. Right now, he is in the Lady's wagon, tied up in every way the executioner could think of. I saw them walk him over to her wagon, yet instead of the simple captive tie the rest of them were subjected to, he was in a full box-tie and still seemed to try to break free of it. I don't even want to imagine what she is doing to him in there, with no one around to stop her. He has already been branded as a thief, yet the mark didn't seem to subdue him at all.

I look at the theow sitting right next to me. Kaneez. Lucky for her, the damage to her tongue hasn't made it impossible for her to speak. Most of us are able to understand her now. She notices my gaze, and narrows her eyes.

"You spoke condescendingly to me on purpose, that first night." Kaneez says accusingly. It was the first thing anyone had said since we were locked in here. I see no point in denying it.

"Yes, I did. Since you got me back into that blasted stretch-neck, I was going to use the chance I was given. By talking like I had accepted my fate and like I blamed you, I got out of being in fetters. Tell me in a month's time of this treatment, you wouldn't have done the same. Besides, I wasn't wrong. You aren't getting away from here, and you don't have anyone on the outside that knows where you are. I know no one misses me either."

"Why do you think that?"

"My whole family died just a few months before I came here. I have nothing to go back to. Maybe this is better than the outside anyway."

"Do you really believe that this is better? This slavery, this abuse?"

"What else is there? Either I have a fellowship here, like the Ædven and the Lady keeps saying, or I will die from the abuse before long. It doesn't matter much to me. I have little to go back for."

Kaneez goes silent after that. I have nothing else to say to her either, so we go back to the silence. None of the others seem to want to speak either.