His toe struck something. No that wasn't right, was it? The strain on his arms was most annoying. But that didn't seem right either.
Dilandau strained to lift his head. His throat was dry, his eyes swollen, and his body being dragged across some rocky terrain.
He opened his eyes blinking against the sun and found himself in the depths of the enemy's camp. Everywhere there were sights of death and blood. They were the losers, and they were rushing to gather what they could and make a hasty retreat.
Yet still they dragged his battered body towards a very official looking tent.
The sun was suddenly blocked relieving his senses.
"Dilandau," a familiar voice cooed, "Brought down so soon?"
He raised his ruby eyes to see the king of Drujan, Calme, sitting at the opposite end of the table.
"Betrayed," the demon king groaned.
"Well now, that was fast, I must say I'm impressed. Or at least I would be. But then again I know how hard she is to resist," He held out his hand in beckoning.
Phenyana stepped from the shadows her cloak flowing over his shoulders.
"No," Dilandau whispered.
"Oh yes." Calme replied scathingly.
Phenyana's eyes remained downcast burning Dilandau anew. It wasn't true. It couldn't be not this woman.
"You're surprised?" Calme said in wonder. "She is a whore Dilandau, one who should be queen of her home nation. What more did you expect? Don't tell me…" the man's cold eyes widened, "Say it isn't true! You love her!" He exploded with laughter.
Dilandau's blood roared in his ears but his gaze never wavered. Finally she raised her dark eyes to meet his in surprise of this statement.
It was there he saw it. The shock and surprise, but the sorrow and pleading.
"Why?" He demanded softly.
Calme recovered quickly, "Why? Why not? I can stand by your side and watch you fall, then follow. Or I can bring you down and rise to new heights."
"Not you," Dilandau snarled sparing the traitorous king a glare.
Phenyana looked away silently.
"Ah Dilandau, my friend, you'll be sentenced to death, beheading at dawn."
"You're more then insane then I," Dilandau snapped as he was dragged from the enclosure, his eyes flying back to the woman he still loved even now after her betrayal.
She met his gaze once more and mouthed two words.
I'm sorry.
Darkness fell over the camp and Dilandau pondered as to where they were. Far enough to waste a night here with little fear of his disoriented army falling on them. Of course leaderless his men would have no one to follow, no where to go next.
The back of the tent he was bound in opened silently and a shadow entered swiftly.
"Dilandau," Phen said softly.
"You whore," he snarled.
"No it's not what you think, let me explain-"
"Why should I," he demanded softly weary of the guards outside.
"Because I'm here to get you out, please, all I ask is you listen."
Dilandau's eyes narrowed suspiciously. She put him here and now she wanted to let him out.
"I knew what Calme was planning. It was why I was sent to you. This was to be the result yes, but after what you told me, what you said to me last night, I came to take your place. Willingly give myself to his eldest son for your freedom. They had agreed, you were not to be harmed, delayed, stopped if they could but his men could not hurt you."
She stopped to untie his legs carefully aware of the mistrust in his eyes.
"They promised me that dammit. I'm sorry my love that I placed you in this position. I have a horse and supplies awaiting your departure. I didn't mean to betray you. I knew nothing of your plans, no more then they did. I'm sorry," she trailed off freeing his hands.
Dilandau pounced on her pinning her to the ground her words ringing in his head.
"My love…"
Had he heard correctly? Yes he was sure of it.
"Go to the edge of the camp, most are sleeping there is a horse waiting for you but it won't stay there forever, someone will discover it if you don't leave soon. I pray you understand and we meet again, perhaps in another life away from all this." She whispered beneath him, tears spiking her lashes.
"You aren't staying here." He snapped silencing her.
"They will know though. They will come after us if I suddenly go missing. We are three days ride from the pass and your army. Come back for me," she caught her breath at the last bit caught off guard by her own daring.
"I will not come back here. You are coming with me now."
There is only one horse, he won't last if there are two of us."
"Phen you are not that heavy so shut the fuck up and come with me now, my love." He caressed her cheek before digging his fingers deep into her mane, "I'll kill you here and now you traitorous whore for betraying me, but a more fitting punishment is to spend out your days within my bed, now get up now." He released her roughly and stood.
She lay there for a few seconds shocked.
"Phenyana," he snapped pulling her out of her daze. She instantly stood and took the lead pulling back the tent flap to see the two guards who had admitted her.
Dilandau nudged her to get her attention and held up two fingers. She nodded quietly, he in turn struck her in the face and pulled back into the shadows.
The sound snapped through the night and unwittingly one guard entered the tent. Dilandau didn't hesitate, wasn't even distracted by his mistress bleeding from a split lip. He simply broke the man's neck and let him fall heavily at his feet the sound attracting the second walking dead man.
Phenyana stood up as the second man fell more silently. She moved past the silver haired king to peek through the fabric again, then slid out into the night. Dilandau could only follow.
The kept to the shadows, one more successfully then the other. Due to her darker coloring Phenyana all but vanished in the black abyss, but Dilandau's hair shone in the moonlight and made it more difficult for him to move as swiftly as his woman.
"Pretty pretty…" a deep voice cooed and Dilandau froze.
"Leave me be," Phenyana snarled at the seven guards that had seen her last movement.
Dilandau watched her carefully but she didn't even glance in his direction, though the panic in her eyes was growing.
Beyond her he could see the outline of a dark horse. It was so close.
Phen broke away from the pack of men unwittingly clearing the path for the war lord.
"Stop it!" She pleaded as they grabbed at her clothing ignoring all laws they were raised with. She was no longer a virgin, one more men wouldn't be noticed between her thighs.
Dilandau crept out of the shadows ignoring her fear and broke for the mount unnoticed. He mounted silently and cast one look back to the woman who had betrayed him before taking quick account of the supplies she'd acquired for his escape. Food, water, and a blade, a fine made sword. Not his own but one that would pass.
He turned his mount once more ignoring the resounding sound of a man striking a woman, and Phenyana's outcry.
She left him first.