A Bite of Treason

My finger throbbed with every heartbeat. It felt alive. Angry. Punishing. The crude splint placed around it by the camp medic looked less like medical treatment and more like a threat made from wood.

I sat alone behind the Bloodroot Tavern. Rainwater dripped from wooden rooftops. My stomach twisted violently. I had not eaten since arriving at Crimson Vale. Not properly. Not unless one counted being punched in the face as nourishment. Which, admittedly, the elves seemed to.

I stared at the tray prepared for Captain Hannah's midday meal. Perfect roasted pheasant. Steamed vegetables. Fresh dark bread. Honey-glazed fruits. And a small silver cup of wine.

My stomach growled so loudly one of the nearby tavern maids laughed. Pathetic. I looked around. No one seemed to be paying attention. The kitchen workers were busy. Rangers shouted across the tavern. Steel mugs slammed against tables. No one was watching me. At least...I thought no one was watching me. Did they even care if I starved, they didn't offer me anything at all.

I stared at the roasted pheasant. Then at my shaking hands. Then back at the pheasant.

"She deserves worse," I whispered.

I tore off a tiny piece. Then another. Then another. Warm juices filled my mouth. I nearly cried. It tasted better than anything I had ever eaten. Starvation turns even stolen scraps into divine miracles. I swallowed quickly. Then drank a tiny sip from her wine. Just enough to be petty. Just enough to feel victorious.

I carefully adjusted the food. Moved vegetables around. Rotated the pheasant slightly. Perfect. No one would know. I smiled for the first time since arriving. A dangerous mistake.

I arrived outside Hannah's chamber precisely on time. This time early, even. I smirked to myself. Learned my lesson, to handle these beasts. I entered.

Captain Hannah sat reviewing military reports. She didn't look up.

"Place it down."

I obeyed. She continued reading. Took her fork. Cut into the pheasant. Then paused.

My heartbeat stopped.

Slowly…very slowly, she lifted the fork. Examined the meat. Then set it down. She sniffed the wine. Then looked at me.

I attempted innocence.

She stood. Terrifyingly calm.

"How hungry were you?"

My soul left my body.

"I don't know what you mean."

She walked closer.

"There are exactly seven kitchen staff who prepare my meals."

Step.

"Three tasters."

Step.

"One brewer."

Step.

"And one obsessive tavern mistress who arranges portions identically every day."

Step.

She now stood inches from me.

"You removed precisely three bites."

I began sweating.

"That's impossible…I" trembling.

She grabbed my broken finger. Hard. I screamed instantly.

"Lying."

She squeezed harder. I nearly blacked out.

"I was hungry!"

She released me. I collapsed to my knees screaming. The room echoed with my breathing.

Hannah crouched before me. And for the first time…she looked almost curious.

"They are starving you?"

I looked up in confusion.

"What?"

"The tavern."

Her face darkened.

"They are withholding your food?"

I hesitated. And made the catastrophic mistake of telling the truth.

"No…"

Her expression changed instantly. Back to cold amusement.

"You simply lacked discipline."

She stood.

"Well."

She rang a small silver bell. The door opened instantly. Two female rangers entered.

"Yes, High-Captain?"

Hannah pointed at me.

"Take him to the Rain Hall."

My blood froze.

"What is the Rain Hall?"

No one answered. That was somehow worse. Just dragged violently.

The Rain Hall was enormous. Ancient stone. Towering carved pillars. Steam rising from warm pools. And above, an enchanted ceiling that endlessly poured soft rainfall into the chamber. Hundreds of female rangers bathed openly. Talking. Laughing. Relaxing.

Then they saw me. Silence spread. I was pulled forward. Humiliation burned through me.

Hannah entered behind us. Calm. Elegant. Terrifying. She addressed the entire hall.

"This human stole from his commanding officer."

The hall erupted in laughter. I wanted death. Hannah pointed to the wet stone floor.

"He claims hunger clouded his discipline."

She handed me a brush.

"Then he may earn tonight's dinner."

My voice cracked.

"What?"

She smiled.

"You will scrub this entire floor."

I stared at the endless massive chamber.

"No…"

Her expression vanished.

"Until I can see my reflection."

The entire hall burst into cruel laughter.

And that night, while the beating rain fell endlessly from the ceiling. While elite elven assassins bathed around me. While they mocked me, splashed me, kicked soap toward my face..I scrubbed. And scrubbed. And scrubbed. Hungry. Humiliated. Broken. And hating Hannah Icetear more than I had ever hated anyone in my life.