Talcar and his friends were currently staying at Arthur's house. Arthur's mother and father gladly offered their home to the prince, and he found that though the cottage was small, he felt like he had a family that loved him. They shared all that they had, and Talcar felt terrible that his father's subjects were not being fairly treated. There was little work that could be found for the men, and if there were jobs, they did not pay well.
Talcar did not know where to go, because he doubted that though he had gotten away from Quinn, they would not rest until he was dead. Gideon had asked him if they should hide in the woods until the king had died, and then they could come out of hiding, and Talcar would be able to take the throne, as it would be rightfully his.
"No, I do not want to live like an outlaw, Gideon. Always hiding and fearing that we would be found. It's not my way. I want to fight back, and be were I should rightfully be."
"But you will be killed, Talcar! We must at least have some friends who will help us!"
"I know not of any friends. I fear we are truly alone in this." Said Talcar, growing quiet.
Elena looked out of the window, admiring the red sun as it sunk behind a hill. She hummed to herself as she got her and Tiana's dinner on the wooden table. She cut the bread, and put it in the stew she was making.
"Tiana! Dinner time!" she called, picking up the large bowl of stew and carrying it to the table. She ladled out the chunks of potato stew and poured it into their bowls. Tiana didn't come, and Elena sighed as she thought of the new dress she had sewn for her younger sister. It was a crisp blue dress with white frilly trim around the neck and waist. The bodice was white lined around the hem, and Tiana loved the dress dearly. Elena thought that Tiana must be admiring her new dress. She called again as she made her way to her sister's small room. Opening the door, she saw that she wasn't there. Her dress was gone from where it had lain on the bed, and Elena knew that Tiana must have put it on and had gone to show it off to some of her boy friends. She made her way outside the door and down the street, greeting the people she knew. She finally found Tiana at the home of Tiana's friend, Yovanne. The girls were giggling and talking as they cast shy glances towards the boys that were standing near by, talking. Elena hated to disrupt Tiana's fun, but she was hungry, and it was getting dark. "Come, my sister! Your supper is waiting. You may show your new dress tomorrow in school." Tiana pouted, but she came along with Elena as they walked home. Tiana skipped ahead, her new dress billowing around her. Elena smiled at her sister's youthfulness, glad that she was happy.
Lord Egan watched as Tiana ran inside their small cottage. He waited until she was fully inside before kicking his horse in the side, and galloping towards Elena. Elena heard the horse coming at her full speed, and she could see a man dressed in black on the large horse. His face was covered, and she saw that he was going to either harm her, or some other devilry. She lifted up her skirts, and ran as fast as she could towards the cottage. She heard the pounding hooves behind her, and she knew she wasn't going to make it. "TIANA!" She screamed, stumbling, and falling to the ground. The horse stopped beside her, panting and neighing. As Elena struggled to stand on her feet, she felt a piercing pain go up her left leg, and Elena knew that her ankle must have been either broken, or sprained. Her scream had attracted many people, and lights flickered on in cottages all around them. Tiana had by now come out of the cottage, and was running towards them. Elena felt herself being jerked upwards, and she struck out at the man. She felt her fist make contact with his face, and she heard a small grunt. He heaved her onto his horse, and as he mounted, she kicked him in the face. In turn he punched her, and she nearly fell from the horse as he fully mounted. Tiana had almost reached them, when the man kicked his horse, and they galloped off. Elena could hear Tiana's screams as they rode out of town, and she worried about her sister. Who will take care of her? We have no other family! If I die, then she truly will be an orphan. She just hoped that some of the villagers would take pity on the young girl.
Elena was a fighter, and though her face stung from the punch, and her ankle ached, she was not going to give up. She shouted over the wind at the man, "who are you, and what do you want with me?" She was met with silence, and she fumed silently.
"Though I have no qualms about Believers, I would think that you would treat a woman better, Lord Eagan. Look at her face!" Quinn disgustedly ran his finger along Elena's jaw, looking at a large bruise in the flickering firelight. They were on one of the towers in his castle, and Elena wondered what Eagan was going to do with her. She had been surprised upon seeing the magician, and wondered what he had to do with the Lord Eagan's plot.
"She is mine, Quinn. I may treat her as I wish. You keep her here, and I will go help you kill your prince." Elena tried to digest what she was hearing. What prince were they talking of killing? The only prince in the land was Prince Talcar, and he was away on a journey.
She asked Quinn if this was the prince they spoke of, and Quinn glanced at Eagan. "Perhaps we have spoken too much before this maiden. I will take her to her room."
He called for a guard, and the guard took her chain and pulled her down some steps. Her ankle still ached, and she had a hard time walking. She limped slowly down the steps, and thankfully her guard wasn't cruel. He saw that she was hurt, and walked slowly for her. Soon they reached her room, and Elena was surprised at how beautiful it was. A light pink canopy bed was centered by large oval windows. It did not look like the room was in a dark castle at all it looked as if it were in a large spacious house. The guard unlocked her chains, and closed the door. Elena heard the lock on the door, but she had expected it. She rubbed her sore wrists, and walked over to the bed and sat on it. She lifted up her leg to see her ankle, and saw that it was swollen and bruised. I must have broken it! She thought, worrying. She wondered if there was a way she could wrap it up in something, or if she could clean it. She wandered around the room, looking for some water, or cloth. She saw a closed door on the other side of the room, and she cautiously opened it. Shock and anger filled her as she viewed the contents of the closet. Nightgowns, dresses and under clothes. Elena picked up one of the dresses, and put it in front of her, looking at herself in the closet mirror. It was just her size. She knew now what Lord Eagan had planned for her, and she was furious. She threw the dress down, and paced around the room. Her eye caught site of a beautiful nightgown, laid out of a chair. It was very revealing, and low cut. Elena grabbed the nightgown, and ripped it apart, more angry than she had ever been. How dare he!