The crescent moon shone in the sky along with stars. The night eerily silent with only a few insects chirping outside.
The door creaked open as Ayla clad in shawl stepped out of her room. She took a deep breath as she stood in the hallway. She remembered how the maids acted, walking with their head lowered, back a little hunched and covering their face with corner of shawl as they encounter a male.
She mimicked them, and seamlessly exited the third floor. Their were rarely an male guards around her room which facillitated her escape.
The maids mostly have gone back to servant quarters and a few were kept for night watch.
Over the past week, she have remembered the maids and their duty post. She had the thought even if someone discover her, she would just say she was hungry and got lost.
Her eyes twinkled and breathing hurried. The adrenaline shooting in her body unsure whether it's from fear of getting caught or excitement of freedom.
The dark corridors were lightened by candles and the wide open verandas pouring natural moonlight.
She reached the second floor and saw a few guards and maids patrolling. She tiptoed on the stairs and hid in the corner. The guards talked to each other in native language with maids and left after a while. She waited for a while then calmly existed behind the noise of guards.
" The chief is having a bonfire. Everyone is enjoying. Have the maids prepare some food and drinks and sent them there."
" Right away. We'll call you when it's ready. You can take it to Mardana then."
The maids on duty scrambled to the kitchen and left the corridor.
" The chief hasn't held a bonfire in a while. I heard he pardoned most of the people in dungeon. He seems happy."
Ayla heard them whispering but couldn't understand much from distance.
Second floor had a massive dining room with a large dining table in the middle. She passed the room, hiding in shadows, meticulously avoiding going in light.
Luck seemed to be in her favor today. Everytime she encountered someone they were called away. She could hardly believe she had passed all the floors and reached the garden.
Thrilled by her smooth escape in the mansion, she adopted the same strategy to exit from the back entrance. It would be locked now.
The back had less maids and two days ago, while loitering she discovered a low hanging window. She figured she could escape from it. A guard noticed her in the mansion going towards back at this hour and called her out.
Her heart stopped. She pretended not to listen and existed out. Clearly feeling the guard still following her she had no choice, she looked right and left and found that window.
The guard neared and in her panic, she placed her hand on the broken glass and cut a deeply. She gasped but didn't make a sound until the guard reached two steps from here. She lowered her head like other maids and tried to hide her face.
" What are you doing here at this time ?" The guard inquired.
' Damn it'
Ayla understood somewhat but she couldn't answer. She looked downwards and then hesistantly showed him her hand dripping with blood and then pointed to a well outside.
" How did you get hurt? Going to wash by the well ?"
She nodded timidly.
" Why were you sneaking from the window then ?" His suspicion grew. He suspected some maid has stolen something and was escaping.
She gestured towards the door lock and exasperatedly moved her blood dripping hand. Her demeanour showed she was in pain.
The guard sighed. Men and women were bound by propriety and he couldn't force her too hard, it might become him harassing a lowly young maid.
He unlocked the door but still following her to the well, clearly suspicious.
Ayla inwardly cursed. Her hand was cut and the guard still refused to leave her. She went by the well. The cool breeze blew in the summer night but she was sweating heavily.
Staring at the well, she didn't knew how to manevour one. She tried but fearing this might expose her looked at the guard uncomfortably.
She gestured her hand, and the well. I can't extract water because I am injured. The guard was now truly irritated.
How troublesome. Usually maids were adept and this little injury was no big deal. But it was nighttime. Staying alone with her at this time could bring unnecessary trouble to both of them.
He dropped the bucket in well and then pulled the ropes until a bucket full of water was hoisted up.
Ayla poured the water on her hand and instantly gasped. The water was biting cold and the pain sensation in her hand doubled. She had to endure. This little pain is not worth ruining her plan.
The guard kept distance but studied the maid, trying to remember if he had seen her before. He was about to ask her name so he could report her later but suddenly she looked up.
In the vast sky filled with the stars and moon, the light shone in her face. Her blue eyes gleamed in the dark night like emitting rays.
The guard was baffled. Colored eyes were not uncommon here but he had heard no maids with blue eyes were selected. But the foreign girl, the chief brought back was rumored to have blue colored eyes.
His breath hitched. This woman had strange mysterious relation with lord and she was here sneaking looking like a regular maid. She was still in the back garden. He had to alert the chief.
He backed from there and entered the mansion. He blowed a inconspicuous whistle and a shadow guard descended. He could not leave his post but informed the shadow guard to immediately deliver this news to the lord.
" There is a girl with blue colour eyes trying to escape from the back garden. I saw her by the well. She looks like the girl chief brought back. I'll keep a watch at her. You go inform the Lord."
The shadow guards forever adept, ran to Aghan , who was enjoying some respite, to inform him.
" My lord, the young madam is escaping from the back garden."
Ayla unaware of the dynamics ran as the guard left. She had a hunch he might have noticed something and before someone came she had to escape. There is no turning back now.
Unbeknownst to her, every tree outside the mansion was littered with tens of shadow guards.
Escape was just a fantasy.