Sold Into Freedom by Carole Towriss

Author:Carole Towriss [Towriss, Carole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Four Diamonds Publishing
Published: 2018-12-12T05:00:00+00:00

Tia kept her steps through town light, afraid any noise would attract an owner, a guard, even another slave. Euodia had said to go all the way to the end of the street and turn right, then look for the Marsh Gate. Most of the townspeople were still asleep, so there should be no one out. If she did encounter someone, hopefully she saw them before the full moon’s light allowed them to see her. Maybe she could hide behind one of the shrubs adorning the walls.

When she reached the Marsh Gate, she breathed a sigh of relief and ran as long and as far as she could. Fear of being caught outweighed the pain.

Heading southwest, as best she could figure, was her smartest option. The marshes there would conceal her the rest of the night and tomorrow if she was careful. Then she could head east for Neapolis, try to slip onto a ship headed . . . anywhere.

Every step was sheer agony, every breath a torment. She kept one arm around her ribs, but it provided little comfort. Her bare feet slipped on the damp grass and she fell more than once as she ran through the night. Her feet burned, her knees stung, bruises formed on top of bruises.

She couldn’t keep this up much longer. Her foot hit a wet spot and slid out from under her. Her entire body ended up in the air before it came crashing down hard on the muddy ground. The air was knocked from her chest, and she couldn’t draw any more in for what felt like far too long. Just when she thought she might suffocate, she sucked in a chest full of air with a loud excruciating gasp.

Tia rolled to one side, hugging her midsection. Cuts on her feet, her arms, and her legs all demanded attention. Her back, her ribs, and her knees were sore, and she was beyond exhausted. When was the last time she slept? Or ate?

It would be easy to just give up, go to sleep. Maybe she would starve to death. Maybe some animal would get to her.

Or maybe someone even worse would find her.

It would be hard to imagine someone worse than Cassia and Max, but she’d heard horrible stories . . .

Some warrior she was. She’d already abandoned Tancorix. His death would never be avenged. Should she lie here and take whatever Max and Cassia and Philippi handed her as well? Or would she stand up and fight it like the warrior she was taught to be?

Groaning, she rolled to her hands and knees and sat up. Extending her hands, she felt the ground around her. Damp and somewhat muddy, but not soggy. Wherever there was grass, the ground was less wet, better for walking.

She pushed herself up slowly. Careful to place her feet where the grass grew, she made her way to the center of the marsh. If she could get to where the grass was the tallest and thickest, perhaps she could find a spot that wasn’t too wet, where she could hide until tomorrow night.

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