Realms of power

The chariot carrying Sarah and Constance rattled and swayed as it made its way to the palace. Sarah's eyes narrowed, her mind consumed by thoughts of her mother's wrath.

"Constance, I'm worried about you," Sarah said, her voice low and urgent. "You spoke back to Mother, and I fear for your safety. She's not a person to be trifled with."

Constance's expression turned pale, but she stood her ground. "I couldn't just stand by and watch her scold you, my lady. You're a kind and gentle soul, and you deserve better."

Sarah's gaze turned stern. "You should not have done that, Constance. Mother is a vengeful person, and she will hesitate to punish you for your insolence. She will find an alarm xc"

Constance's eyes dropped, but Sarah could see the fear lurking in their depths. Sarah's heart went out to her loyal maid, and she reached out to pat Constance's hand.

But before she could say anything else, the chariot hit a bump, sending the ladies tumbling forward. The chariot creaked and groaned, its wooden frame shuddering as it came to a stop.

Sarah signaled to Constance to investigate, and the maid hurried down to ask questions. She returned, her face pale.

"What is it, Constance?" Sarah asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Constance hesitated before answering. "It's one of the horses, my lady. It's...it's dead."

Sarah's eyes widened in surprise. "How could that happen? My family has the best horses, the best of everything."

The chariot driver, a grizzled old man with a bushy beard, came to apologize, his eyes downcast. "I'm so sorry, my lady. I must have been careless in selecting the horses."

Constance scolded him on behalf of her mistress, but Sarah intervened, her voice gentle. "It is all right, Constance. We will step down from the chariot for a while and rest."

The chariot driver's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, my lady."

As they disembarked, Sarah spotted an inn nearby, its sign creaking in the gentle breeze. "Let us go in, Constance. I could do with a cup of tea."

Constance nodded, and they entered the inn, the warm glow of the fire pit and the murmur of conversation enveloping them like a warm hug.

Sarah ordered the servants who had been following the chariot to wait outside, and they obeyed, leaving only Constance by her side.

Constance ordered Sarah's favorite drink, a delicate tea infused with rose petals, and they sat down at a small table by the window.

As they sipped their tea, Sarah noticed a group of men eyeing her lustfully from across the room. Constance followed her gaze and whispered, "My lady, I think those men are trouble."

Sarah's eyes never left the men. "I see them, Constance. I think if I mind my own business, they will leave me alone."

But the men had other plans. They rose from their chairs, their faces twisted into leering grins, and began to stroll over to Sarah's table, their eyes gleaming with bad intentions.

As the men approached, their faces twisted into leering grins, they began to call out to Sarah, their voices dripping with malice. "Hey! sweetheart! Hey! beauty! Come and give us a show!" They used words that made Sarah's face burn with shame, words meant for prostitutes and women of ill repute.

Constance, Sarah's loyal maid, stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "How dare you!" she spat, her voice trembling with indignation. "Leave my mistress alone!"

But the men were undeterred. One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, pushed Constance away, sending her tumbling to the floor. Constance scrambled to her feet, her face pale with fear, and rushed outside to call for help.

But when she reached the courtyard, she found that all the servants were gone. The chariot driver, the footmen, everyone had vanished. Constance's heart sank, and she felt a cold dread creeping up her spine. She rushed back inside, her eyes scanning the room frantically for any sign of her mistress.

Meanwhile, the men had circled Sarah, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of lust and cruelty. But Sarah remained calm, her eyes flashing with a fierce inner light. "Back off," she warned them, her voice low and steady. "If you don't want trouble, leave me alone."

The men mocked her, their laughter echoing through the room. "Oh, we're shaking in our boots," one of them sneered. "You think you can cause us trouble? You are just a pretty little thing, good for our enjoyment. Nothing more."

Sarah's face remained serene, but her eyes flashed with anger. She knew that she had to keep her wits about her, to stay calm and focused if she was going to get out of this situation alive. But as she looked around the room, she realized that she was completely alone, surrounded by men who seemed determined to harm her.