Chapter 21

One week had passed since the outbreak of the plague and Kenna was still living at the brothel. A place that she never would have considered as home. But it was a place where she felt safe. Lola and Greer, her friends, were with her, what makes it easier. John and Daniel had become friends. Even though they couldn't go out, the children had found places to play in different corners of the house. The whores also had fun to play with the children. They couldn't pursue their profession, because Greer had strictly forbidden any contact to customers, because of a risk of infection.

Bernadette had stopped struggling with her fate and had made herself useful. She worked in the kitchen. Everything had fallen into place. But still, Kenna longed for her freedom. She had lived a nomadic life for years, and it was not easy for her to stay at one place. She had also far too much time to brood about things. And it was not surprising, that her thoughts were constantly about Bash.

She wondered what he was doing right now, whether he was well and if he had forgiven her, that she had left him. She also thought of Mary and hoped and prayed that the Castle would be spared from the plague. So far, there hadn't been an infection at the brothel. But that could change any minute.

Kenna opened her bag to take out a new dress, when she suddenly heard a pinging noise. She looked to the ground and saw a shiny object rolling under the bed. She bent down and pulled it out from under the bed. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw what it was:

Her wedding ring! The ring Bash had given her after the forced marriage. Bittersweet memories were awakened.

"What's this?"
"A wedding ring. It's modest, I know. It belonged to my grandmother."
"It's just well, why?"
"We're married. We can't be un-married. I thought we'd agreed to at least try."
"Yes, let's try."

And she fell in love with him that same day. From strangers to friends to lovers in a few hours. She didn't know what Bash had felt back then. But this ring, as a sign of their bond, had always been a special meaning for her.

"Should I buy you a new ring, now that we can afford it?"
"No, you fool, you gave it to me. Such a queer feeling, whenever I look at it."
"What's that?"
"A sort of certainty. One I've never felt before. Someone's always going to be looking out for me now, no matter what."

She hadn't worn the ring for three years. Their marriage didn't exist no longer. But her love for him was still the same. She looked at the ring with watery eyes and slipped it over her ring finger. A warm feeling flooded through her. There it was again, that feeling of reassurence. And she recalled the moment, when they had said „I love you!" to each other for the first time.

"I'm so sorry about your father."
"I don't know if my place is here anymore."
"Your place is with me. You don't need your father's name or to slay every dragon to be worth something. You've done enough. You are enough. Now you deserve some happiness of your own."
"I think I found it in you. I love you!"
"I love you, too."

And this love had given her strength. Another memory came to mind, when she was locked up in one of the chambers during another outbreak of the plague. Bash had saved her back then.

"Oh, thank God, you came!"
"I was afraid you were dead. I was afraid we both were. It's over now. You're all right. We're both all right."

A cold shiver ran down her spine. Now she was trapped in exactly the same situation. And this time, Bash wouldn't come to her rescue, because he didn't know where she was.

She rose up sighing and put the new dress on the bed. She had to find Daniel. Startled, she looked up, as the door suddenly opened and Bernadette appeared.

"There is a first case of plague!" she exclaimed nervously. "Quickly! Madam Greer has ordered that we all have to meet in the green chamber, to discuss further measures."

Kenna felt queasy, all of a sudden. That was exactly what she had feared all along. An infected person meant that the plague finally had entered the brothel. And it also meant that it wouldn't stay with one case. At worst, they all would fall ill and die.

"I'm coming." With shaky legs, Kenna followed Bernadette to the green chamber.