Arual's head felt as though an explosion had occurred from inside her
brain. Her eyes snapped open, and it took her a few moments to realise she
was on horseback; her makeshift seat jerking up and down, for her eyelashes
brushed the blindfold bound tightly around her head.
She lifted her hand to put to her head, but they were bound together in
her lap. The skin on her arm brushed that of another's, whose was wrapped
around her. She moaned under her breath, and the oh-too-familiar voice
spoke into her ear.
"Don't you struggle, Arual-" He had used her name. "There's no escape,
and I don't want to hurt you anymore than I have, especially with that
headache."
His voice had sounded genuine to her, but she couldn't take chances. She
nodded softly, and rested her head against his warm chest, and slept.
* * *
Arual awoke for a second time since her kidnapping. Her head was now just a dull ache, though it hurt just the same. She checked, and realised the blindfold was still on, and her hands were still bound. She struggled to her feet, and leant on the stone wall behind her for support, her weak knees cocked. The crown of her head touched the wall. "You're awake." Not a question; a statement. "Feeling any better?" Arual didn't answer the man whose voice she could now recognise anywhere. The only sound within the area was her heavy breathing. "Don't worry, Daddy will save you. How could he not?" The though of her father brought heat to her face, and her eyes began to brim with tears. "Who are you?" She muttered, her voice clotted. "My name, to you, shall be Pydathox." "Pydathox," Arual repeated. "That's right." The two, now on name terms, were silent. Both studying one another, though Arual with no sight. "Do you want that blindfold removed?" Arual didn't respond for a few moments, and then gave a quick, sharp nod. The sound of boots. Slight limp to the second steps. Gentle fingers untied the knot behind her, and the cloth slipped over her face, before the man before her gathered in all in one large, thick fist. She studied him with squinted eyes. He was tall, pale and meaty. His long black hair hung over his face as he leant over and dragged a nearby chair over and placed it behind her, holding her up from collapsing as he did so. She fell back into it. She could now find a means of escape.
* * *
Arual awoke for a second time since her kidnapping. Her head was now just a dull ache, though it hurt just the same. She checked, and realised the blindfold was still on, and her hands were still bound. She struggled to her feet, and leant on the stone wall behind her for support, her weak knees cocked. The crown of her head touched the wall. "You're awake." Not a question; a statement. "Feeling any better?" Arual didn't answer the man whose voice she could now recognise anywhere. The only sound within the area was her heavy breathing. "Don't worry, Daddy will save you. How could he not?" The though of her father brought heat to her face, and her eyes began to brim with tears. "Who are you?" She muttered, her voice clotted. "My name, to you, shall be Pydathox." "Pydathox," Arual repeated. "That's right." The two, now on name terms, were silent. Both studying one another, though Arual with no sight. "Do you want that blindfold removed?" Arual didn't respond for a few moments, and then gave a quick, sharp nod. The sound of boots. Slight limp to the second steps. Gentle fingers untied the knot behind her, and the cloth slipped over her face, before the man before her gathered in all in one large, thick fist. She studied him with squinted eyes. He was tall, pale and meaty. His long black hair hung over his face as he leant over and dragged a nearby chair over and placed it behind her, holding her up from collapsing as he did so. She fell back into it. She could now find a means of escape.