Jess? What did Anya mean by that? However, Jas was unable to ask, as the compulsion urged him to suck on his thumb for comfort while the rebel examined him.
"She does look like you. Very well. You may join the other servants," the rebel said. Anya hurried out of the room, following the servants that had been allowed to leave. Jas found himself unable to do anything but suck his thumb as they were marched through the halls. Once out of the palace, Anya headed for the Eastern Gate of the capital city. Luckily, it was still open, and they were able to depart through it. The streets, however, were littered with bodies. Jas whimpered at the sight. Anya covered his eyes with the shawl.
Outside the city walls, Anya veered off the main road, down a side one where no one else was traveling. Eventually, the compulsion disappeared, and Jas was able to stop sucking on his thumb for comfort.
"Why did you call me Jess?" he asked. "And claim I am a girl child?"
"Because, my sweet prince, you now are one," Anya said. She pulled down Jas's diaper just enough for the former prince to see his manhood had disappeared.
"Why did you do that to me?!" Jas, or rather Jess, squeaked.
"I did not do it. The amulet did it, when you opted to use it again despite being safe in my arms," Anya said, her tone scolding. "I hope this serves as a warning for you. When I am with you, you need not use the amulet. I will protect you. Do you understand?" Jess nodded. "Good. What the amulet does can be unpredictable. I do not wish to have to deal with that while we travel."
"How long until Wind's Grove?" Jess asked.
"It is in the Eastern Hills, so it is not a short journey. But the length depends on if I can find a horse or wagon to speed us." Anya's face brightened. "In fact, I see a cart up ahead. Hopefully, they can take us for at least a short while."
"Wait-" Jess started. She could feel a pressure building in her abdomen and wanted to ask Anya to let her relieve herself somewhere. It was too late, however. They had gotten close enough that the compulsion took hold. There was a soft hiss as Jess wet herself. Jess blushed in embarrassment.
Anya caught up to the cart and spoke to the man driving it. He was more than willing to take them to the nearest safe town. As such, Anya and Jess climbed on. There were a few people also on the cart; a young woman with a nursing babe, a teenage boy, and a young girl.
"My name is Anya," Anya said to the other passengers. "This is my daughter. I'll let her introduce herself."
"I Jess," Jess squeaked. The woman and girl giggled at her adorable way of speaking. Jess turned to Anya. "Mama, I pee-pee."
Humiliation coursed through Jess. She had been reduced to this? A toddler girl wetting herself and calling her favorite concubine "Mama"? Well, she supposed it was better than being dead. Anya stuck her finger down Jess's diaper.
"You did pee-pee, but I don't think you need a change just yet, sweetheart," Anya replied. She set Jess on her lap. As Anya and the young woman conversed, the girl would not stop staring at Jess, clearly enthralled by the adorable toddler girl. Jess stuck her thumb back in her mouth to suckle for much-needed comfort. Yes, it was better than being dead, by not by much.