THE HATE HE HAS FOR HERKarandy stayed in his bedroom, nursing his wounds. That bitch, Danika, almost beat him to death. That bitch. Rage filled Karandy. If not for a servant who found him, took him back to his house, and called a medicine man for him, he would have died.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Raging wouldn’t help him now at all.
The king’s guards had come earlier in the day. They’d paid him a visit. Apparently, Danika told the king everything.
“That bitch!!” he cursed angrily as he got up from bed. He never knew she had it in her. He never knew she’d tell! Also, he didn’t know that the king would ever believe her.
He’d underestimated that bitch.
“Shit,” he groaned.
The worst part was that the guards returned and summoned him to the palace. “The king wants to see you,” one of them said.
The king would surely punish him if he admitted that Danika’s allegations were true. Hell, the king might order his execution. Other kings did that.
As Karandy prepared to be confronted by the king, he raged. That bitch didn’t know him at all. There was no way he’d admit that her allegations were true. He would also make sure that the king ended up betrayed for even trusting her a little and believing her.
He would make sure that Danika was the one that got punished. Publicly.
Danika reached the underground bedroom to see Baski walking out of the door with a bowl of water and closing the door behind her.
Baski saw her coming, taking in the fear on her face, her swollen eyes, the tentative way she walked, and the red mark on her arm.
“Please, how is Sally?” Danika asked, her heart in her throat.
She was most surprised when Baski’s eyes teared up.
“Oh, Danika.” She dropped the bowl of water to the ground and walked to her. It shocked Danika when Baski wrapped her arms around her. “You made him sleep. He slept because of you. You don’t know how happy you made me!” Baski cried in a whisper.
Stunned, Danika remained still until the older woman pulled away from her.
She had a smile on her face as she looked up at her. “I checked on him twice, and he was still sleeping,” Baski said with awe.
“Um, does it mean that the king doesn’t sleep so well?” Danika asked, confused. “I know he’s awake most of the time, but I thought it was his choice.”
Baski shook her head. “It was never his choice. The king hasn’t slept well in fifteen years.”
“Oh, no!” Danika’s eyes widened. That’s a long time for a person not to sleep well. Guilt joined when she knew it was because of her father. She didn’t bother to ask.
Baski nodded her head sadly. “He could sleep last night. I’m so happy about that. I’ve made so many potions.” She took a deep breath and stared up at her. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you potions for the aches and sore muscles.”
Danika nodded gratefully. “Thanks, Baski.”
Baski wiped her eyes and composed herself. “I bet you must be famished. Uyah brought in your food and Sally’s food early. Come on; let’s go in. We wouldn’t want more people to know we’re here and why.”
Danika dug into her heels, forcing her to stop. “What a-about Sally, Madam Baski?” she asked again, her voice fearful.
“She’s holding out fine. Opened her eyes hours ago and looked for her princess. Then she closed them again.”
“What?” Danika’s heart squeezed guiltily in her chest. “She looked for me and I wasn’t h-here?”
“Don’t go about beating yourself up. She’ll be awake again,” Baski consoled. “But until she is, you have to eat, take your bath, and freshen up.”
Danika agreed, but she still needed to see Sally. She followed Baski inside the room and stood at the door, looking at Sally on the bed. Sally’s sleeping position had changed, and now she lay on her side. There was a towel on her head; her eyes were still closed.
Danika watched her labored breathing to satisfy herself that Sally was still alive before she took the food from the table and ate. Then she entered the bathroom. She bathed and came out of the bathroom to see her new clean clothes folded on the bed. Uyah brought them in.
Baski finished mixing another concoction, which she forced Sally to drink. The concoction reminded Danika of something important. She waited until Uyah went out on the errand Baski sent her to, then went closer to Sally’s bed. She took Sally’s hand into hers, squeezing lightly.
Baski was stirring the small pistol vigorously, mixing her herbs. She threw her a glance. “I’m making the potions. I also added herbs that tighten up those overused muscles too. I’ll be done soon.”
Danika cleared her throat. “Um, Ma’am Baski, can you make me potions that will prevent a baby? You know, the one you made me before?”
Baski’s hand paused, her face paling. For a few seconds, anger and resentment crossed the older woman’s face as she stared at Danika. Then she looked away.
The question hung in the air, tense and uncomfortable.