Simple Servant

Chapter 25 - Rescued

Chapter 25 - Rescued

~~~ Noah

Noah's time spent aboard the ship, Takara, had been rather unpleasant to say the least. Gunther and Tiecus informed the captain that he was a criminal from Jodan and was being taken home for trial. The Takara was a fishing ship, which meant that it didn't have a holding area for criminals.

This meant that Noah spent the entire ten days aboard the ship, tied up in the cargo hold. Thankfully Gunther and Tiecus didn't force another potato sack over his head.

The cargo hold would have been completely dark if pinpoints of light hadn't peaked in from gaps in the floorboards above Noah's head. After a few initial hours of panic, he was able to calm down enough for his eyes to adjust. The cargo hold was rather large, and just like everything else aboard the ship, it reeked of fish.

Being accused of being a criminal meant that the crewmembers were not allowed to converse with him. Noah received a single meal once a day, from either Gunther or Tiecus, and neither of them felt the need to speak with him. Even with the lack of communication, Noah was able to deduce that Gunther had been the gruff voiced person inside of the carriage with him, while Tiecus had tried to drive it.

Overall his time spent on the Takara was rather dull.

When the ship finally docked at the Banli Port in Jodan, Noah sent his thanks to the Sky.

His good thoughts, however, were short lived.

Moments after his feet touch the dock, he was forcefully escorted to a large white building and locked in a small room. That had been several days ago.

His room,  if it could be called that, was completely bare. There was one window for him to look out of, but bars hindered any thoughts of escape. Other than the window, there was a slit in the door for his food tray, and a bucket in the corner if he needed to relieve himself.

Had there been bars on the door, the small room would have an uncanny resemblance to a cell.

He had tried to talk to Gunther and Tiecus only once during his stay with Momma Zoe in Ohrim. When the two guards realized he was looking for information, they noticeably kept their distance. Momma Zoe promised to send off his letter when the mail carrier came, but whether it had reached the right people or not, he didn't know.

He wasn't sure exactly what day it was, or how long it had been since he had seen Annabell's face, other than in his dreams.

She was the reason that he stayed sane during those dark days in the carriage . Memories of the way she felt in his arms, of how her laughter sounded in his ears, of how she fiddled with her skirts when she was nervous, and countless other moments he spent with her; helped him retain his sanity. He remembered the jolt of heat that bolted through him when she kissed him.

Noah desperately wanted to see her again, but he needed to come up with a plan.

He thought back to the bits and pieces of the conversation he had overheard from his kidnappers.

"Are all nobles this stubborn or is it just the one's with a sense of entitlement?"

"...if you die...is ruined."

"Why is he dressed like a servant?"

"believe...was hiding."

"Freddrick...clever...sent him in secret...court the Alminian Princess..."

"...panicked at your new surroundings did you, Mr. Nobleman?"

"Filthy Terrafein,"

And then Noah remembered the name that they had called out when that blasted carriage pulled up in front of the bakery...