Kelly clapped a hand over her mouth in fright and quickly dropped the whip. She threw her arms around her father, Mark. "Dad, what happened to you?"
Tears welled in Kelly's eyes as she stared at the bloodstains on her hands. Her voice broke. "Why... why are you covered in blood?"
All Mark had wanted for the divine blood was a thousand gold coins. With that money, he could escape slavery, take his daughter far away, buy a large plot of land, and obtain freeman status. They could finally break free of the chains that had bound their family for generations. He might even become a merchant or a craftsman. His children and grandchildren would never have to be slaves.
But Mark had never expected to be betrayed. He'd scrambled out a window to escape, only to be stabbed from behind. After hastily bandaging the wound, he'd rushed without pause toward the village where his daughter lived. He'd fled for a full day and night, because the traitor knew he had a daughter here. Mark had to reach her first!
Kelly helped her father herd the sheep back to their pen and their dilapidated shack. There was nothing inside—not even a bed, only a mat spread across the floor.
Kelly helped her father sit on the mat. Mark leaned against the wall, coughing repeatedly. "We can't stay, Kelly. We have to leave now!"
Kelly immediately replied, "Why? We're slaves. Even if we run away, we'll have a hard time surviving. We have no land, and no one will take us in!"
Mark smiled. "It doesn't matter. We have this!"
Mark pulled a golden gemstone from his shirt. A drop of golden-red blood shimmered inside it. His eyes immediately filled with fascination. Kelly asked curiously, "A gemstone! It's so pretty. Where