had inflicted upon him. The other girls sat around in a subdued silence not knowing quite what to say or how to comfort the new girl.
Annatrice was once again hardened into a silent solitude, her conscious mind bombarded with the well meaning emotion of the others and in equal measure, the relief that similarly violent episodes were not usually inflicted upon themselves. The prolonged aching of her injuries seemed only to heighten her acute sensitivity to her peers every thought and at times, she could extract such fine detail as a vague insight in to where her friends vision was focused, indeed she could almost look through their own eyes and see herself, a battered and beaten body curled up in the corner. More disturbingly, during her tortuous hours with the depraved king, she could not but help be transported into his mind and feel the sensations of control and power that he cruelly exerted. Whilst this curious affliction seemed to be little more than an added torture, she was not so closed off to the moment that she could not find something positive from the experience. If she was to one day right the wrongs that had been so unjustly heaped upon her, then she would need every possible aid in order for her to seek her vengeance. The ordeal had been an insight into the perverted mind of the man, he had little knowledge of Annatrice's intrusion into his psyche but he had revealed details, telling aspects which might one day prove invaluable in his demise.
And so it was that in the days and weeks that followed, Annatrice was offered some respite from the cruelty of the twisted ruler. Whether his fascination with her was at an ebb or it was his longing for variety in his insatiable desires that gave her time to heal, the period of grace allowed Annatrice to attempt to put aside her fears but never forget. Every once in a while and never with any pattern, one of Marianne's ladies were plucked from their slumber and marched to the King's parlour. Annatrice at first could not believe the other girls ambivalence to the ritual abuse, however with time she came to understand that the only way to survive with her sanity intact was to let it wash over her and fade into fleeting, distant memories. It quickly became clear that in order to live with any normality, Annatrice would have to reorder her thoughts and emotions, set them aside and save the feelings of hatred for another day when she could finally turn the tables on her sadistic monarch.
As time rolled on, Annatrice began to thrive in her captivity. Her brash and often dry wit was appreciated by the other ladies; she was a breath of fresh air and had a perspective on life that the others found difficult to comprehend but enjoyed nevertheless. She began to appreciate the opportunities that were presented to her, the camaraderie of the group, the music, the art and the learning. Incarceration at the castle began to feel less restrictive as the months passed and the group were a law unto themselves in many ways.
Annatrice began to enjoy outdoor activities such as riding and falconry. Escorted out to the meadows, the girls would bound across the green landscape feeling the fresh wind upon their faces. They did not care about the dangers of wild animals or desperate bandits, their protection came in the form of professional soldiers, hand-picked from the elite of the Royal Guard. They flirted with the young handsome soldiers who did their best to resist the charms of these untouchable, privileged young women.
Annatrice familiarised herself with the household staff and the soldiers who patrolled the walls or jousted in the compound. Waving furiously to the friendly soldier who had received her at the gates in the midst of the storm, her smile brought joy on a dismal, grey morning. The ladies of Marianne's tutelage were respected and revered by all who trod the halls of the castle; they wanted for nothing and received everything... except for the one thing which eluded them,
Annatrice was once again hardened into a silent solitude, her conscious mind bombarded with the well meaning emotion of the others and in equal measure, the relief that similarly violent episodes were not usually inflicted upon themselves. The prolonged aching of her injuries seemed only to heighten her acute sensitivity to her peers every thought and at times, she could extract such fine detail as a vague insight in to where her friends vision was focused, indeed she could almost look through their own eyes and see herself, a battered and beaten body curled up in the corner. More disturbingly, during her tortuous hours with the depraved king, she could not but help be transported into his mind and feel the sensations of control and power that he cruelly exerted. Whilst this curious affliction seemed to be little more than an added torture, she was not so closed off to the moment that she could not find something positive from the experience. If she was to one day right the wrongs that had been so unjustly heaped upon her, then she would need every possible aid in order for her to seek her vengeance. The ordeal had been an insight into the perverted mind of the man, he had little knowledge of Annatrice's intrusion into his psyche but he had revealed details, telling aspects which might one day prove invaluable in his demise.
And so it was that in the days and weeks that followed, Annatrice was offered some respite from the cruelty of the twisted ruler. Whether his fascination with her was at an ebb or it was his longing for variety in his insatiable desires that gave her time to heal, the period of grace allowed Annatrice to attempt to put aside her fears but never forget. Every once in a while and never with any pattern, one of Marianne's ladies were plucked from their slumber and marched to the King's parlour. Annatrice at first could not believe the other girls ambivalence to the ritual abuse, however with time she came to understand that the only way to survive with her sanity intact was to let it wash over her and fade into fleeting, distant memories. It quickly became clear that in order to live with any normality, Annatrice would have to reorder her thoughts and emotions, set them aside and save the feelings of hatred for another day when she could finally turn the tables on her sadistic monarch.
As time rolled on, Annatrice began to thrive in her captivity. Her brash and often dry wit was appreciated by the other ladies; she was a breath of fresh air and had a perspective on life that the others found difficult to comprehend but enjoyed nevertheless. She began to appreciate the opportunities that were presented to her, the camaraderie of the group, the music, the art and the learning. Incarceration at the castle began to feel less restrictive as the months passed and the group were a law unto themselves in many ways.
Annatrice began to enjoy outdoor activities such as riding and falconry. Escorted out to the meadows, the girls would bound across the green landscape feeling the fresh wind upon their faces. They did not care about the dangers of wild animals or desperate bandits, their protection came in the form of professional soldiers, hand-picked from the elite of the Royal Guard. They flirted with the young handsome soldiers who did their best to resist the charms of these untouchable, privileged young women.
Annatrice familiarised herself with the household staff and the soldiers who patrolled the walls or jousted in the compound. Waving furiously to the friendly soldier who had received her at the gates in the midst of the storm, her smile brought joy on a dismal, grey morning. The ladies of Marianne's tutelage were respected and revered by all who trod the halls of the castle; they wanted for nothing and received everything... except for the one thing which eluded them,
Similar Books
