Chapter 38: Chapter 38

It was late in the night when Galene finished cleaning the stable. She was exhausted from working for hours without food or water.

The guards came to check n her every hour to make sure she does the work and whenever they caught her resting, they would hit her face.

She had been working non-stop without rest and now that she was finally done, her breath was almost leaving her.

She sat down on a stone and awaited the arrival of the guard who came to check on her.

It has already been an hour since he last came and she mustn't Leave the stable if he didn't approve of her work hence she would have to start all over again the next day.

She was so weak and her whole body aches, her stomach was also rumbling out of hunger.

Galene closed her eyes in tiredness, deciding to rest her mind while waiting for the guard, she slept off.

The next morning, Galene stirred and woke up to find herself still in the stable and sitting in the stone she sat while waiting for the guard.

She couldn't believe she had slept there and no one woke her up. It seems the guard didn't come again and even if he did, he might decide to leave her there.

She gently stood up, her waist hurt terribly and her backaches like she had been carrying loads of it.

She stretched herself looking around the stable. The horses were all staring at her. They might be wondering who it was that slept in their stable.

Galene's hands were chilly from the cold that enveloped her throughout the night.

She stared out of the stable to see the guard approaching. She sighed in relief and awaited his arrival.

The guard got in and for a moment, he stood shocked staring at his formal master's wife. He couldn't believe she was still here and it seemed she slept there looking at her exhausted face and dirty clothing.

"He blinked his eyes in pity, he knew she was pregnant and didn't deserve such treatment but he had no choice but to obey his New master's orders.

He doesn't want to have his head on a platter yet. His eyes wandered on each stall, shaking his head in satisfaction, he turned to Galene.

"You can now go, your punishment is over," he said with a hard tone and Galene nodded and sauntered out of the stable at a slow pace.

Her body was entirely aching and her legs too heavy to lift so she dragged it along slowly till she got to Diana's room.

Since she had been chased out of her husband's chambers which she shared with him, it's obvious she had to share a room with Diana henceforth.

She got into the room looking like a shadow of herself. Diana who has been dead worried about her working in the stable overnight rushed her alongside Luciana.

They held her in time before she could fall. They both assisted her to the bed and gently laid her down.

"My waist Diana, it hurts badly" Galene managed to mutter. Diana signaled Luciana who rushed out to look for a balm.

She found one and together, they both began massaging Galene's waist.

The heavy pain she felt began subsiding and soon, it got better.

"Thank you" she muttered. "I need food Lucy, my stomach hasn't had anything for the past four days," Galene said with tears in her eyes.

"I will go get you something to eat now but you have to take your bath and get rid of the dirt on your body," Luciana said and Galene nodded before she walked out of the room to get food for her master's wife.

"I will help you bath" Diana saw how tired her friend was offered.

"Thank you" Galene smiled as Diana helped her stand. Guiding her waist, Diana helped her into the bathroom.

She had earlier fetched a bucket of water for her friend but when she didn't return last night, the water remained there.

"Would you be able to use cold water?" Diana asked dipping her hands in the bucket of water.

It was so cold and she doubt if her friend could use it having passed the night under the cold.

Galene dipped her hands inside the water and although it was cold, she could manage it.

She doesn't want to wait for them to bring hot water for her if at all she would be allowed to use any.

If Robin can hit her and get her punished, then he would do anything to hurt her and her baby the more.

Now that he was planning on taking over the clan's leadership, Galene knew if her husband didn't get well on time her child's life would be in danger.

But before she would put to bed for them to know the sex of her baby, she strongly believe her husband would be back by then.

Only the physician, her husband, and she knew that her unborn child would be a male and her husband made the physician swear an oat of secrecy so she wasn't afraid of anyone finding out.

"I would manage the water," Galene said and began to take off her clothes with the help of Diana who kept sighing at intervals.

After the dirty clothes were off her body, Galene began taking her bath. She was too tired and hungry to scrub herself so Diana assisted her, scrubbing her back thoroughly.

She rinsed her body when she was done foaming it. Diana asked Galene to sit bend a little which she did and Diana began washing her hair.

Particles of horse dung and dried grass were all over her hair and Diana did a good job washing them off.

Galene dried her body after they were done. She wrapped her body with the body towel and they both walked back to the room.

Having taken her bath, she was a little rejuvenated and could now breathe properly.

Diana went to Galene's clothes which the guard had packed and brought to her room when she was still in slumber.

The number of clothes was limited and Diana knew Mariam must have taken the beautiful and expensive ones because inside the folded wrapper were a few fewer quality clothes and underpants.

Picking out a suitable one, Diana helped Galene to put them on and urged her to lay down while she awaits Luciana.

Galene obliqued and laid on her side, her eyes fixed on the wall as she thought about everything that had happened these few days.

She feared for the life of her unborn child. What if he couldn't bear the torture any longer and decided to leave her too?

"Of course not, my husband was a strong and tough man so you my child must be a replica of your father" she muttered rubbing her hands around her stomach, and just as if her child heard her, he kicked.

Galene smiled widely. Even in her pain, she's still happy and fulfilled to have a little one kicking in her belly.

She knew her husband would be well soon, Damien is a strong man and he would fight the dangerous poison and come back for her, his child, and his clan.

Luciana, who had gone to bring food, returned with a plate of food. Enough to quench Galene's hunger.

Galene muttered a word of thanks and dug into the food. As Luciana works in the kitchen, it was easier for her to bring food out.

Galene finished eating the food and gulped down the entire cup of water given to her.

"Thank you, Luciana, you just saved my life, and thank you, Diana," Galene said in happiness.

"You are welcome and we will be beside you through thick and thin. This whole thing would come and go and soon Master Damien will be well and take charge" Diana assured.

Galene smiled in appreciation. She doesn't know what she would have done if she had been alone without her friends.

"You need to rest now, you had a very long night working in that stable so lie down and rest," Luciana said and Galene nodded and gently laid down and closed her eyes in sleep.

It wasn't up to an hour when a knock sounded on the door. Diana, who was the only one in the room as Luciana had gone back to the kitchen, stood up and walked to the door, opened it to be faced with a man.

"Yes, how do I help you?" Diana asked, staring at the maid standing before her.

"The New Master's wife asked me to call the old Master's wife," the maid said slowly.

"Well she's asleep now so go tell her she would come when she wakes up," Diana said dismissing the maid and shut the door.

Diana Walked back to the bed and sat beside her best friend who was going through a lot now.

She took Galene's left hand and held it together in both her palms, clasping them together to secure her hand.

She held her hands for a moment as lots of emotions ran through her body.

She couldn't also believe Robin could do something like that to her considering how calm and kind he was when master Damien was around.

Who would ever tell those were a pretentious act, he was a chameleon, a wolf in a sheep's clothing. A beast that doesn't deserve anything good in life and the Mariam? Diana has nothing to say about her.

She has always suspected her calmness and overkind nature. Her eyes always held this emotion in them, no wonder. They both planned the attack that was why she changed overnight.

She sighed and released Galene's hands then proceeded to leave the room and return to her duty.

Robin had Mariam replaced with her so she now feeds the laborers meal once a day as he instructed.

She stood up and drew down Galene's garment which has gotten up to her thigh revealing her inner-wear.

She walked to the door and on opening, she was forcefully pushed back by two guards led by Mariam.

Diana staggered back fighting to regain her stamina which she did in a moment.

Her eyes moved over to the door but they had already walked into the room.

Mariam walked over to the bed where Galene was laying and kicked her hard by the leg.

Galene quickly sprang upon feeling the hard kick. Her eyes widened on seeing Mariam standing before her, her eyes blazing with fury as she stare at her with disgust.

Galene swallowed and sat up properly. "Mariam" she called in a whisper but a slap landed on her face instead.

Diana tried to move forward to protect her friend but the guards kicked her hand on the stomach sending her to the floor.

Galene's eyes flew open as she held on to her burning cheek while staring at Mariam.

What's going on? Wasn't Mariam her friend who was very close to her? Wasn't Mariam the one who always comforted her whenever she was in pain? Why is Mariam suddenly hitting her and making the guards mishandle Diana?

Weren't they all supposed to be friends? Galene couldn't help but ask so many questions which she had no answer to.

"How dare you?" I sent my maid to get you and you have the gut to send her back saying you are sleeping? What gave you such guts?" Mariam shrieked, her eyes blazing hot.

If looks could kill then Galene would probably be on the floor right away.

"She didn't do any of that, I told the girl to tell you she was sleeping and would answer when she wakes" Diana yelled still on the floor.

"And how dare you utter such a word to me?" Mariam yelled and landed a slap on Diana.

How dare the both of you? Do you think I'm still one of you? A slave your husband once used and dumped? Do you think you still have all the powers? Do you even think I was even happy you master Damien choose you over me?"

Have you ever wondered who sneaked in the warriors of the Khran clan to kidnap you?" Do you think I've been your friends all this while? If you ever thought that then you must be low on mentality" Mariam yelled.

"You are part of my abduction Mariam?" Galene asked shocked but instead of an answer, she received a double cheek slap from Mariam.

"Address me by my name again and have one of your ears in your palms.

"I had always had eyes for Damien, I wanted him but he never looked at me even when he satisfy himself with my body, he would cast me out like I'm some piece of trash".

"You came from nowhere and he feels hopeless for you leaving me heartbroken and heart filled with hatred for you".

"Robin noticed and came with his plans. He also hated Damien but had to pretend as a faithful and loyal servant to gain Damien's trust which he did".

"For months, My dear Robin and I had been planning for a day like this to come, when we would take down your stupid husband and take what he cherished the most. finally, luck shone on us and we succeeded".

"Power no longer belongs to you, you will bow for me and I would make sure you go every single pain your presence in this castle made me go through".

Haha, you thought Lydia was the bad person because she was so stupid and desperate that she didn't calculate well before striking, good for her though" Mariam snickered disdainfully.

Galene's mouth and ears were widely opened and Luciana who had come to collect something from the room stood rooted to the ground staring at Mariam as she confessed.