Ava groaned as the cart passed over another deep bump in the road, sending her crashing into the sharp edge of the box she had been leaning against. She struggled to remain in an upright position, fearing she might not be able to find the strength to climb back up if she was to fall over. The young girl attempted to stretch her legs out, wincing when she found them incredibly cramped.

In that single fatal moment while her attention was on her aching legs, the cart passed over another bump in the road and Ava toppled out. She landed sharply on the hard ground, still wrapped in a thin, tattered blanket, the only thing she possessed. For a moment, the girl just lay there silently, trying to decipher what had happened. Then she let out a mournful cry, fresh tears slipping down her cheek.

She reached out with her dirty hands, all but clawing at the ground in an attempt to get to her feet. She could manage no more then to roll over onto her stomach. Letting out a sigh of despair and whispering for the cart to stop, to come back, Ava lay there, helpless and far too weak to get up. Soon the cart disappeared from her vision, and all that could be heard was the quiet of the night.

Ava closed her eyes, accepting defeat. No one would be out at this time of night. There was no one that could save her. For a long time, the girl faded in and out of consciousness, the cold of the night penetrating her skin, chilling her to the bone. However, it was a certain noise that brought her to full alertness. She listened carefully...

Yes, there it was again.  It sounded like...hoof beats?  Someone was heading this way, but were they friend or foe?   Ava attempted to roll over, to climb to her feet.  Pain shot through her wounds.  Swallowing, she tried to ignore the agony.  The hoof beats drew closer.  She prayed that the cart would reach the city before they noticed she had fallen out.  Once they knew she was gone, they would certainly get on the network and search for her.

Now she could hear more than just the clatter of horseshoes on stone.  A faint light drew closer and the heavy breathing of livestock was discernible.  Just before the light touched her the horse drew to a stop.  The sound of soft boots hitting the road filled the night.    Cautious footsteps advanced and stopped.  She was bathed in lantern light.  The light grew brighter as the stranger approached.  A click of metal greeted her ears and she winced.  It was a sound she recognized all to well.  Had they come for her after all?  Well death would be a blessing rather than returning to that horrible place.

"Who goes there?"  Came a strong masculine voice.  Was it her imagination or was there a hint of apprehension in that voice?  Ava was not going to beg, she would simply lie there silently and await her fate.  They would not have the satisfaction of taking away the one thing she still possessed, dignity.

"Identify yourself or I will shoot."  The voice came again, this time a little stronger.  She could hear the sound of the stranger drawing closer.  "I haven't got gold, I am but a humble messenger."  The voice continued. 

Ava suddenly understood.  This man wasn't hunting her he was simply a traveler.  Her spirits lifted.  But would he help her?

"Please sir."  She began shakily.  "I have been injured.  I am no highwayman and I am unarmed."  She heard his sharp intake of breath.  He could probably tell from her voice that she was harmless.  The light grew brighter until all around her was bathed in a cheerful glow.  The stranger leaned over her.  There was a gasp as he saw her wounds, the scars and fresh marks laid across her back.  Her tattered clothes.  The thin blanket she had managed to hang on to was between her and the road.

"You have been beaten."  The man exclaimed.  He helped her sit up and saw her filthy tearstained face.   "You are but a child."  She could feel the sympathy pouring from him.  He set the lantern down and disappeared into the darkness, returning with the reins of a chestnut quarter horse.  He lifted a canister from a saddlebag and brought it to her.   "It is water."  He said, "Drink it."  She eagerly accepted the flask and swallowed as much as she dared, which was little more than a few mouthfuls.  Her stomach growled; it had been days since she had last been fed.

"Are you able to stand?"  The stranger asked her.  "The road is not safe, especially for one such as you."  He recognized her then.  Ava shouldn't have been surprised; there were few that wouldn't recognize a face like hers, even this close to the city.  She accepted his arm and allowed herself to be pulled to a standing position.  Her legs and her muscles screamed in protest, but she ignored them this time.  She stood shakily, swaying back and forth; it was his hand that steadied her.  He looked around, listening intently.  "Come, I will take you somewhere where you will be safe."  He led her to the horse.  Each step was torture, but she made it.

"Do you know how to mount?"  She shook her head.  He mounted then reached for her shoulders.  "Place your left foot in the stirrup."  He directed.  She steadied herself, summoning up every last bit of energy she had and raised her foot to the stirrup. 

"Now lift your right leg up and over, I will steady you."  He promised.  She did as she was told and found herself nestled uncomfortably between the pommel of the saddle and the man.  Her back stung, but she bit back the pain, determined not to let it get to her anymore.  She had nothing but the word of a stranger to go on.  If he was honorable and told the truth she might be saved.  If he lied there was nothing she could do about it.

They started off at a trot; Ava felt each bone jarring movement throughout her whole tiny frame.  She had never traveled by horse before; she had always been designated to carts or wagons.  She had never been considered good enough to travel on the back of an animal.  The horses were too expensive to waste on slaves.  She found that even this small victory did not make her feel much better. 

After a short time at this pace, the man nudged the horse to go faster.  Ava was jarred around even more, her whole body feeling like it was on fire.  It seemed like forever before they turned off the main road and made their way through the trees.  When the horse stopped moving Ava, who was only semi-conscious almost fell to the ground, weeping.  The stranger and the light both disappeared.  When they returned there was another.

Gentle arms lifted her from the dirt and carried her inside.  She was laid on something soft, on her stomach.  Twisting her head to the side, she tried to see what was happening, but her eyes were blurred from tears and dust.  She passed out as she felt the first bout of pain shoot through her already wounded back.

 

Ava awoke, disoriented and confused.  A light brighter than anything she had known in a long time filled her.  She tried to move, expecting to be bound but found she wasn't.  Pain filled her as her aching muscles protested the movement, but it was a dull pain, nothing compared with what she usually faced.  Her eyes began to focus and she saw colorful tiles before her eyes.  She blinked.  The swirling red pattern returned when her eyes opened once again.  Her brain began to orient itself.  She was looking at the floor.  Slowly she turned her head and felt something soft brush her ear.  The walls were painted white.  Painted, not whitewashed.  Something was wrong. 

Now she chanced it to roll onto her back.  There was dull pain, but not what she expected.  After a lashing it was usually unbearable to lie on your back.  The ceiling was paneled with white tile.  Bits of silver in the tile sparkled as they reflected the light.   It was soothing.

Ava held her breath and slowly braced her bruised arms underneath her, pushing her to a sitting position.  She lay on a bed.  A bed!  Her eyes wide in wonderment took in everything in the room.  It was small, but clean and bright; cheerful.  At the opposite end of the room was a dresser.  There was a small mirror, but Ava didn't dare peer into it.  On top of the dresser was a basin and beside it, a jug.  A beautiful clear jug.  It held water. 

Ever so slowly, Ava rolled to the edge of the bed and laid her bare feet on the floor.  It was then that she noticed she was wearing a clean white night dress.  The contrast against her dark skin almost made her squint.  She touched the material.  It was cotton. That much she could tell simply by touch.  Quickly she withdrew her hand; she would rather be naked than wear cotton.  Fumbling with the buttons, she weakly pulled the nightgown off and let it fall to the floor.  She shivered.

Stepping over to the basin, she poured water into it and washed her hands.  The water did not change colour.  She stared at it in wonderment.  Risking a peek into the mirror she saw herself for the first time.  Her skin was dark, but not dirty.  She carefully touched her cheeks, her lips, and her hair.  Her hair was smooth and she had no trouble pulling her hands through it.  She stared in wonderment at her reflection.  'Is this really me?' she thought.  She watched as a tear made its way down her cheek.

A knock came at the door.  Ava's heart almost skipped a beat.  If they caught her washing herself, looking in the mirror...The door opened a crack and she shrunk back into a corner, whimpering.  "Excuse me."  A woman's voice said.  It was a soft voice, like the honey she had seen her master pour on bread.  Her hair was the colour of the corn that grew in the Eastern fields; it was covered with a beautiful green scarf.  She was not carrying a whip, but it did not matter.  Ava watched as the woman closed the door behind her.

"Ma'am"  Ava said, not looking her in the face, instead lowering her eyes to the red tiled floor.  She felt ashamed.  The woman crossed the floor and slouched, trying to look Ava on the face.

"Please."  She said in that honey voice.  "Please look at me."  She repeated.  "I am not going to hurt you, I want to help you."  It sounded too good to be true.  Ava had too much experience to fall for this trick.  If she looked up she would be beaten.  She felt a gentle yet firm pressure as the woman raised her chin.  Tears ran down Ava's face.  It wasn't fair.

The woman pressed something soft into her hand.  Looking down Ava saw that it was a green handkerchief.  It wasn't made of cotton; it was a softer, smoother material.  It felt nice but out of place in her hard, callused hand.  She tried to give it back, but the woman wouldn't take it.

"Please Ma'am."  She said shakily, "I'm not worthy to touch this."

"Yes you are."  She replied firmly.  "And I won't have you talking or thinking otherwise."  She said softly.

"Yes Ma'am."  Ava replied robotically.  She had been trained to always agree with white people, no matter what they said.  She could see the woman looking at her, her face was sad, but she didn't know why.  Perhaps she wanted the handkerchief back.  Ava held it in a gesture of offering.  This seemed to make the woman even sadder.  Suddenly she realized that the woman probably wanted her to launder it.  Slowly she stepped towards the dresser and neatly laid it there.  Then she inclined her head towards the woman.  "I will do it immediately, Mistress."  She said robotically. 

The woman let out a huge sigh, and then she saw the nightdress on the floor.  She picked it up and turned to Ava.  Ava flinched.

"You do not like this?"  She inquired gently.  Ava said nothing, just bowed her head, expecting a beating.  A flicker of understanding struck the blond woman.  "Of course" she muttered.  "I apologize, I should have known.  I will bring you something else."  She crossed the room and opened the door, closing it softly behind her.  Ava listened for the sound of a lock being turned, but there was nothing.  She was left alone and she was confused.

 

Ava was sitting woodenly on the bed, staring at the patterns in the floor when another knock came at the door.  She shot to her feet as the same woman entered, carrying a bundle.  She carried it to the bed and lay it down.  There were two dresses and some underclothes.

"Please choose which dress you want, I'm not sure if they will fit...â€