Erk holds the whip, praying that the young woman's malnourished body will be able to withstand the whipping, knowing that it was the only thing she lacked, already having a strong mentality.

Heartbreaking screams were heard that day in the fort causing all the refugees to tremble outside the gates. The screams continued and did not stop until they were repeated fifteen times.

Permission papers were signed and sealed beside him on the candlelit desk, the windows behind him closed against the chill of the autumn night while the fire in the fireplace kept it at bay.

"Deliver this to the merchant in the morning, tell him he can come in as soon as the gates open." Erk takes the paper folding it like parchment and closing it with a red string.

“Yes sir.” The young soldier with tired eyes nods taking the scroll.

“That's all for this day, you can retire.” Seeing the tiredness of his subordinate, he can estimate the time he was working and decides that it is enough.

“Thank my Lord.” He nods again and leaves, closing the door softly.

“Ahh ... Two days since I arrived and the work seems to never end. I definitely need to hire a knowledgeable assistant.” He corrects his uncomfortable posture in the chair thinking about what to do next since he was not sleepy.

“Two days? I suppose she still won't be able to move?” Erk remembers the unpleasant screams and the sensation of the whip as it ripped through the flesh.

That day he had no choice, a clear attack on a member of the army was punishable by death and they wouldn't even say anything if she was tortured before that. His weak body withstood the fifteen lashes, although his voice and response faded near the end, Erk knew that if he didn't diminish his strength she would die. But his men intuited forgiveness thanks to the multiple experiences listening to how the whip hit others.

They didn't say anything anyway and maybe that was worse, Erk knew from experience the hell it was for a captain not to have the trust and loyalty of his subordinates. All these were speculations, he would see how to act in the future.

The old and discolored wood creaked when stepped on in the corridors dimly lit by a few torches, Erk follows them until reaches the stairs that descended to the basement that was part warehouse and dungeon.

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He greets the guard, who is caught in the middle of a late dinner, and approaches the only currently occupied cell. The light coming from the guard post was the only one and Erk didn't want to use more for fear of waking her up, she was sleeping face down exposing her back full of wounds filled with medicine. Her long golden hair fell to one side almost touching the ground, the first time Erk was surprised to see her after the light bath that the maids gave her. Once the dirt was removed, a stoic beauty was revealed.

At that moment, Erk understood that the flash that had caught his attention was her hair reflecting the light. Since that day they did not speak to each other due to the work that occupied him and the fever that tormented her.

He keeps looking at her for a few minutes trying to figure out his own feelings. Something attracted him to her, it wasn't love, it wasn't lust either. Pity? Compassion? Guilt for the death of that child and the other people? No, it wasn't the first time he had seen blood and he did everything he could do. Something was drawing him without knowing what caused it.

He leaves after a while and when he does, the young woman's eyes open and then close again.

The days go by tormenting people with thoughts of the imminent arrival of winter. During these days Erk visits her several times to see her recovery, they exchange words for the first time when she is able to move freely.

“You have two options. Work as a maid or go back to where you came from.” He doesn't waste saliva in embellishing his words.

She looks into his eyes, but doesn't answer.

"Can you read and write?" Remembers his urgency need of an assistant.

“Read, I have trouble writing.” She speaks for the first time in a flat but soft voice.

"Okay, that works for now. I can teach you what’s needed. So... what is your choice?”

She doesn't speak after at least a minute.

“I agree.”

“Perfect, then- " He is interrupted in mid-sentence.

“On one condition.” At no point does she take her gaze from Erk's.

“Condition?” Erk laughs to himself wondering if she knows the insolence of his words. In any case, he keeps quiet, waiting to know the proposal, being sure that it would be something interesting.

“I want to learn to fight.”

“Why?” The humor within him fades, replaced with seriousness.

“Revenge.” She answers.

"To whom?" The short, nondescript words she said bothered him. He had his hand close to the sword to use depending on the answer.

“Your men. The ones who killed my brother.” His voice comes cold from his lips.

Erk pulls his wielding hand away despite the intentions she didn't bother to hide.

“What's your name?”

“Anna.”

“Anna. At that time there were more than ten arrows in each volley, when you are worth more than ten soldiers... at that time, you will have my permission to carry out your revenge. Until then, do as I say.” Erk says it without knowing where those words came from that went against his task as leader.

Anna never takes her green eyes off his, a few seconds pass before she nods without saying a word.

Erk leaves without further ado up the stairs to leave the dungeon half warehouse. As he climbs them, he doesn't notice the involuntary smile that crosses his face.

At that moment his life acquires a new goal or, better said, a hobby. Now he's eager to see how far this blonde beauty with stoically controlled emotions can go.