"You are assigned to the combat grounds," a guard announced to Sofia while she was doing the dishes. Swallowing hard, Sofia paused. The last time she had worked at the combat grounds, it hadn't been a pleasant experience, and she wondered what else she was going to face there now.
"Get going," the guard urged.
Composing her emotions and drawing in a deep breath, Sofia followed him. As she walked, she wondered: Why me? There were other maids who could have worked in the training yard; why must it be her? But then she realized she was the only one they deemed fit for the humiliation.
The combat grounds were filled with the sound of flesh hitting flesh and the heavy grunts of powerful men in motion. As Sofia stepped into the arena, the scent of sweat and testosterone hit her. She stopped in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat.
