A pungent, putrid stench pervaded the dungeon. The walls around were wet, the icy water was constantly oozing out, and the sound of dripping water played a desperate tune in the silence. The air around was so oppressive that it was suffocating, and every breath was like inhaling the breath of death.
Dolly crouched in the corner, the darkness wrapped around her. Two rats squeaked as they passed behind her, a sound that seemed to mock her present situation.
When the soldiers threw her into the dungeon, she never returned. She did not know now how much time had passed, nor when she would get out of this.
Now at last Dolly understood what the steward in the back kitchen had warned her about. Their king, indeed, was not a benevolent monarch.
Now Dolly could only pin all her hopes on Emily. She prayed that Emily would put in a good word for her with the king, so that he would let her go.
