The days were going by quickly, yet taking an eternity to pass. Daph had lost the ability to recall just how long she'd been a captive by now. She reckoned it was just as well, since remembering would likely only serve to depress her.
At first, she'd wondered if she ought to protest by refusing to eat or drink, but she knew that would do nothing but make her lose any opportunity of escape. With that in mind, she decided to take care of herself as well as, if not better than, she did before.
She ate and drank. Exercised and slept. When she began to feel dirty, she would bathe in the pond nearby.
Harold had surprised her by setting women around the pond to guard her, rather than himself or his men. He said something about everyone deserving their privacy.
She shook her head. He had always had a set of morals. His own, of course, but he still had morals.
Much more surprising, however, was a familiar face among the women. Not only among, but the only one within earshot.
"Tudy?" The young woman looked different than Daphne remembered. It had, after all, been years since she saw the younger woman.
She would not meet Daphne's gaze, which told Daph that she recalled how she had helped her with her ailing grandmother when she was just a little girl.
"Please...don't...don't say anything to the boss," Tudy said, her voice quivering despite her strong appearance.
Daph got the impression she would rather work elsewhere, and further conversation proved her to be correct. She hadn't known what she was doing until she was in too deep to leave. She still worried for her grandmother, who was not ill at the time, but certainly not strong.
Her words caused a pain in Daph's chest. But, even as this went on, her mind began formulating a plan.
"I need you to deliver a letter to someone next time you leave the camp. Do nothing that would put you in danger. Don't even tell anyone where I am, or let yourself be followed. I don't want you hurt. But I do need you to deliver this, if you are willing." Daph's tone was quietly frantic and she looked around anxiously as she spoke.
The girl seemed to close up, her expression turning unreadable. Daph's heart sank and she finished bathing.
Later that night, when most of the camp was asleep, Tudy stepped into Daph's little cabin. She held a candle and a small satchel.
"Write quickly. I leave tomorrow. I know who you want it to go to." She threw the satchel in Daphne's lap and set the candle on the ground.
Before Daph could speak, she left.
Daphne wasted no time before beginning her letter. She only hoped it would be legible.
