“You heard me. There are rumors of children disappearing all over the refugee camps outside of the city. I know that you came from a well-off place. You were bragging about your husband being a soldier who is coming back for you. Is he really coming? Do you think that he is going to look for you somewhere like this.”

  Lot swallowed. Her voice was choking in her throat.

  “I know you have a healthy body and a healthy son. You have opportunity, Lot. You don’t belong here with us.”

  “I’m trying to use those benefits for good.” Lot said finally weakly. “I got run over by a carriage, but the color, it’s probably headed for the castle.”

  The other woman snorted. “Saying like there is going to do for you. Go up there then, beg for mercy. Those gods, probably will help you instead of us.”

  Lot looked at her and thought of stepping closer, but she saw that the girl was feeding the pregnant girl a bowl of the strange meat soup. She took a step back and then turned putting her arms tightly around Komi.

  She looked up at the castle in front of her and she felt her stomach drop as it gurgled in hunger. She knew Komi was hungry too as he looked up at her. He was silent as he felt her discomfort. She felt the small bag of coins that she had been hiding from others, now that she had been kicked out of the encampment, it was probably time now to make use of what she had available.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  It felt precarious then as she tore off the clothes that had been distributed to the refugees and put on her own clothing. She kept the sling that she had made for Komi before she walked to the inn.

  As she opened the door, the guardsman pushed her back. “We don’t serve your kind here.”

  Lot shook her head. “Whatever do you mean? I’m a married woman. I worked as a barmaid in a village. I’ve come here for–”

  “All the more reason that you should seek accommodation elsewhere. Maybe you should find your husband and then come back here with him. Then your son can have himself legitimized. I see woman like you all the time thinking that they can get a hand on our lord.”

  Lot looked up at the guardsman incredulous.

  He smirked and looked across the street.

  Lot followed his eyes and her jaw hung open as she saw the establishment that he was implying that she take a job at. “You have no shame at all.”

  “I’m not the one trying to get into where the Duke himself is lodging.”

  Lot stood back and looked up at the humble inn. “He’s here? Why not at the castle that his possession by law. That’s a much nicer home then . . .”

  “You’re not from here truly?” The guardsman raised an eyebrow as Lot heard a carriage behind them stop abruptly and the sound of a whip as she flinched. The guardsman caught her injured hand and then looked at the young missus who had got down from the carriage. Of course, it was the same blue carriage.