I didn't have long to take in all the activity going on around us, as Em'iai again took my arm and led me down the long wooden ramp and onto the docks. Hurriedly we wove our way past the dock workers and through the streets of town. I was soon to learn that this was indeed Britain. Stopping for nothing, we passed shop after shop until we reached a long narrow bridge. On the other side of the bridge stood a building that was larger than anything in Vesper. Dark and forboding. I hesitated, but for a moment, then allowed Em'iai to lead me on.
Nodding to the guards as we passed through the front gates, Em'iai led me to the dark basement of the building. He turned me over to an old woman, dressed in a crisp grey outfit. Her name was Hildegarde. She had been seamstress for Lord Blackthorn, but now worked in a supervisory position over all the younger workers. Em'iai ordered her to clean me up and bring me back to him as soon as possible. I was taken to a bath chamber to scrub the sea grime from my body and given the same type of grey uniform everyone else seemed to be wearing. Hildegarde led me upstairs to a small office like room. Em'iai was seated on one side of a large table and told me to sit in the chair opposite him. I was told that I would be working for Lord Blackthorn now, and was expected to do as I was told, or I would be dealt with accordingly.
Each day was nearly the same. Hildegarde, then later Chloe who took the position after Hildegarde passed away, would ring a bell to wake us before dawn. We'd have barely enough time to wash our faces and dress before eating a breakfast of half cold porridge and warm milk. From there we would be divided into different teams; weavers, spinners, pattern cutters and the like... Some would be taken into town to the Tanner's Shop to work the hides into pieces of armor or other leathergoods used by Lord Blackthorn's army. There were no breaks, save a few minutes to eat a bit of bread and broth near noontime or later and a cold supper of whatever happened to be left over in the kitchens when we returned. Most nights it was quite late when we returned to the sleeping hall. Exhausted and half hungry we would tend to bleeding hands and sore backs before falling into bed.
(Click the picture for a larger view)
Near the end of my twentieth year on this earth, I began to devise a plan to take me from this town and away from Em'iai Saep's rule over my life. I'd gained enough trust from Em'iai and the other tailoring formen to be sent, along with a small group of girls and two guards, to the town of Cove to work on a special project there. On the days that the merchant ships docked in Cove I'd send the guards with the girls down to buy supplies and pick our newest stock of hides. While they were gone I would continue to work but I would set aside, from time to time, a pair of gloves, a gorget or two, or perhaps a pair of finely crafted sleeves.
I had befriended the afternoon Tanner, and after deciding he had earned my trust, I began selling the items to him, a few at a time. Since our belongings in the sleeping hall were subject to random searches, I made an arrangement for him to keep track of what I was owed rather than give me payment each time. It took a long time, three years to be exact, but finally I had saved enough to make my escape. Now all I had to do was figure out when and how. It wasn't going to be an easy task, but I'd been through harder times than this...