Alina dropped her face. “I just. I need it. Please.”

She rolled her eyes. “I think I have had enough of you tonight. Just use the blanket I gave you.” She slammed the door shut.

“No! Wait!” Alina yelled and tapped on the door as Maria worked on the lock. “My cloak. Please wait. I really need it. Mistress? You promised me. Mistress, please.”

Maria banged back on the door. “Just shut up. Haven’t you caused Master Cotiso enough trouble for one day?”

The guard yelled as well, “Shut up and go to sleep.”

Maria and the guard left while Alina kept banging on the door and the walls, begging for her cloak.

“So, what do you make out of this?”

Corina hummed back, “Out of what?”

She was in Tati’s tent, seated on a small seat minding her looks in a silver mirror on a wooden frame. A couple of Beeswax candles burnt on either side, softly illuminating her fair face and infusing the chill air with their lovable honey-scent.

Tati spoke again from where he lay on the mattress. His big belly heaved up and down with every breath. “The girl Cotiso bought.”

“She’s an idiot.”

“You don’t like her?”

“Only if we were the ones who bought her, then yes, I would’ve liked the profit we’d make out of her. A girl of her age and looks can be worth a lot in the right market.”




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