Thanks once again to all those who took the time to review. LTF (you know who you are) thanks heaps lots many for helping me fix up my mistakes.
KEL
For Kel time had lost all meaning. Her ever-diligent stomach told her it had been some time since she had eaten, but she could not be sure if it was day or night.
A cut on her arm was red and angry looking. Small red spider webs came from its centre. The poison from the infection made it difficult for Kel to concentrate. All of the colour seemed to have seeped out of the room. Shadows became larger than normal. Sounds magnified to unbearable levels or became so soft she had to strain to hear them.
All Kel wanted to do was sleep. At times her eyes felt so weary she felt sure that blissful slumber would soon envelop her. But each time her eyelids began to close she jerked to wakefulness. Her body, tense with fear would not let her rest.
Vinson had returned many times. A pattern formed. First would be conversation. Pleasant chit chat. She never spoke; he did not seem to mind. Then he would begin his litany of accusations. She was the crux of all his problems. She had caused Joren's death. She was a common whore. The themes never varied. His breath, laced with the pungent odour of stale liquor filled her senses. It made her stomach heave and her eyes sting. He would pause catching his breath. Then the beatings would begin. His fists and feet beat a vicious tattoo upon her flesh. When he tired he would climb the stairs, never once looking back.
When Kel heard the now familiar sound of his boots upon the stair, she willed her eyes to meet his. As she tried to raise her head the room began to spin. A fog invaded her eyes distorting the images before her. When Vinson spoke his voice seemed far off. It was as if he was yelling to her from a mile away instead of the few feet that separated them.
She felt his fingers cup her chin. A hand slid down her bruised and torn flesh, stopping briefly at her breast. She could not be sure, but a soft chuckle seemed to fill the air. She could feel the heat from his body centimetres from hers. When he began to speak it was not in a voice he had used before. The sound of his voice oozed into her mind.
"My dear, dear girl. All the fight seems to have left you. It won't be long now. Funny, I have enjoyed our time together so much. You know this holiday has done me the world of good. Perhaps I will stay in Tortall for a while longer. Extend my stay. Maybe I could catch up with some of my other old friends. Hmmm, let me see. There is a pretty little seamstress in the Capital I would love to meet up with again. Last time we met she was so playful. I bet she would enjoy seeing me again. We could go for a little walk late one evening. Does she still smell as sweet as I remember?"
Kel tried to move; to make him stop talking but her body would not obey her.
"After that I think I would love to see one of those pretty Yamani ladies again. Queenscove married one did he not? Yuki is her name I believe; I imagine she is as pretty as her name. I understand these foreign girls are a little feisty. I do so love a challenge."
Kel's head swam with the effort to speak. Her lips were swollen and cracked. All that emerged from her throat was a soft croak.
"What was that my dear. Stormwing got your tongue? His voice was teasing. "Who else would I like to spend some time with? I know. What about those children you went to all that trouble across the border for. I could bring them sweets. Have my men tell them bedtime stories. Perhaps take them on a little holiday. Carthak is beautiful this time of year you know. The slave pens of Zarnecki are a sight to behold."
"No!" Kel voice was barely a whisper.
"You will have to be louder than that my dear girl. What is it you are trying to say? Vinson his voice full of mock concern leaned closer toward her.
"No", she repeated.
"Who do you think will stop me? After all I got to you did I not. The famous Lady Knight was no challenge to me."
Kel could feel the tears of despair trickling down her cheeks.
"Now the tears start. Gods, all women are the same. No threats, no murderous insults. No curses upon my children's children. Just tears. I might have known. You were never fit to live in a Knight's world. Underneath it all you are just a weak, pathetic woman. They always cry you know." As he spoke he took a small dagger from his belt. Grasping the rope that tied Kel's hands he cut through the rough hemp twine.
Kel fell to the ground. A small cloud of dust rose, caking her many wounds with dirt and grit.
"Go on beg for you life. Beg for the lives of you friends. BEG ME!" He was ranting. Spittle flew from his mouth. His face twisted with fury.
Kel flinched as he paced around her. Her aching limbs screamed in protest as she curled herself into a ball.
His hands found her shoulders. Roughly he pulled her to a sitting position.
"All you have to do is beg and it will all be over. Just beg me for pain to stop. Beg me for the lives of those you hold dear. Just a few little words and it will all stop." He griped her arms. "If you do not I will hunt then all down. Every person you love will feel my fury. What I have done to you is nothing compared to what I have planned for them."
Slowly Kel opened her eyes. It was so tempting. All she had to do was say a few little words and it would stop. She looked into is eyes. Cold and empty, they stared at her. She had no doubt he would carry out his threats.
As she spoke she felt something inside her break. "Please. I am begging you. Please."
It was such a small word, please. A common courtesy one used a hundred times a day. The taste of it was bitter in her mouth.
Vinson satisfied, let her drop to the ground once again.
Kel rolled to her side. No more tears came. All that was left was relief that it would soon be over.
DOM
Dom and Tobe had been riding for the better part of the afternoon. The sun had passed over them taking its heat and light as it set beyond the distant mountains. A chill filled the air. Winter was indeed near. The hour was not late, but already shadows loomed dark and long.
Dom was agitated. To him their pace was too slow. But Peachblossom would not be hurried. When he ridden alongside the gelding and suggested that Tobe hurry him up he only just avoided being bitten. After that he had kept his opinion of the pace to himself.
As they had left the Fort some hours before, the cankerous gelding had paused. Like a hound he had dropped his head to the ground and inhaled deeply. Snorting he had raised his nose, flicked back his ears and set off. Now and then he would pause to sniff the air about him. Once he had hacked audibly and blown a large amount of green horse phlegm onto a small mound. Grumbling as only Peachblossom could, he had retraced his steps for some time and taken a new path. There had been no other course changes.
As a brisk wind swept through the wood that bordered the road, they came to a small stream. Dom judged they had ridden about twenty kilometres, though he could not be sure.
Tobe dismounted Peachblossom and led him to the water. Dom, taking the cue did the same.
Wordlessly man and boy stood together. A tawny owl hooted in the tree on the other side of the stream.
"We 'ave to stop soon, ere is as good as any", Tobe said. "Peachblossom needs rest and by the looks of it ye do to."
Dom thought he had been hiding his fatigue well. Smiling slightly he realised that Tobe had seen through his bravado. He had not rested since his healing and the jarring caused by their ride had caused his leg to ache. The effort to stay on his horse had taken more out of him than he had realised.
Tobe tethered the two horses beneath the dark green leaves of an old fir tree. He then began to gather kindling for a fire.
Favouring his injured leg Dom took their packs and plonked them down in a small clearing. As Tobe lit a modest fire and fetched water for tea, Dom could do nothing but think.
While he had been riding the strain of staying upright had left him little time to ponder what he and Tobe were trying to do. Now as he sat and drank the tea the boy had brewed, Dom began to really think about what they were doing.
"We will find her you know." Tobe broke the silence between them. His voice was full of certainty. "We will find her. Beat the horse dung out of who it was that took her and string em up. Then we will take her home. She'll tell me to have a wash and go all-gooey eyed over you. You'll see. Them that's took her don't stand a chance. You, Peachblossom and me we are going to find her. "
Dom stood and moved to sit next to the boy. After pausing for a second he put his arm around Tobe's thin shoulders, grasping him in a one armed hug. He felt the silent sobs that racked Tobe's frame.
"I'm not crying", Tobe snuffled wiping a grimy had across his face. Dom felt his own cheeks dampen.
"Neither am I", he said quietly.
Exhausted Tobe curled up next to Dom. After a time Dom could hear his soft snores. As he stared into the dying embers of the fire Dom prayed that Tobe was right. They had to find Kel. What would either of them do without her?
