PART II Chapter 3

She must have drifted off, though she was not aware of it, for she was awakened by the sound of the lock on the door snicking open and of a tray of food being set down inside the door. There was, she noted, no candle this time. She stayed where she was until the door was closed again. Rushing the guard bringing food would surely result in increasing her discomfort, and it was hardly likely to lead to her escape. Even should she mange to get out of her cell, where would she go? No, better to stay where she was and wait.


Once the cell door was closed and locked again, Ashanta stood up and carefully made her way across the floor of her cell to the door where the tray of food stood. By the faint light coming in from under the door, she saw that she had again a large hunk of bread, a pitcher of water. There was also, she noticed, standing next to the tray of food, a wooden bucket. Looking into it to see what it might contain, she was almost overcome by the stench of human excrement. Well, she thought ruefully, at least I know what it is for, and 'tis true that I need it. Gratefully, she used the bucket, and then, picking up the tray, carried it over to the table to eat.

There needs to be more to this chapter, but I'm not certain how it's going to go yet, so, I'm going to jump to the next chapter. Stay tuned for more.