DISCLAIMER: Nope, still not mine.
Author's note(s): Wow. All three of my ongoing stories have people being kidnapped. Guess I'm just in a kidnapping kinda mood. ^-^ Anyway, onto the fun. . .
None of your concern-Thanks so much for pointing that out! When I wrote that chapter, I checked the back of the book to make sure I had the names right, but I forgot to check to make sure they were still living! ^-^;
Destined
'Prisoner's Life'
****
The ground was shaking.
This was her first semi-conscious thought that day. As she shifted her head slightly, her eyes flew open and a groan escaped her lips.
'This is precisely why I don't drink wine. The hangovers just aren't worth it.'
She heard laughter behind her and turned hurriedly. It was a mistake.
With a wince, she put her hand to her forehead, gingerly rubbing her temples. There was another laugh.
"Awake finally, are you protector?"
Her eyes widened, finally taking in her surroundings.
It looked like a small room, with a couple crates to make chairs. A straw pallet in the corner would serve as a makeshift bed. It wasn't until she noticed the oil canvas 'ceiling' that her brain finally figured out where she was.
"Why am I in a wagon?" she mumbled to herself.
Again, laughter hit her ears. "Awake and talking to yourself, then?"
She turned, more slowly this time. Her hand reached down to finger the sword that was always at her side. They met air. With a curse, she looked down and soon found all her weapons gone.
Her memory suddenly came rushing back to her. She gasped, remembering the clearing and the mage. Suddenly she was worried about Dom's safety and that of his men.
"Did they get out safely?" she wondered silently. She heard a cough.
She looked up, facing the source of laughter. Dark brown hair covered his head and she caught a peek of sapphire eyes underneath. They were still twinkling with mirth. Though he seemed to enjoy taunting her, the twinkle did not look malicious. Shaking her head lightly, she continued her inspection.
Even sitting down, she knew he was tall. His legs were spread out carelessly in front of him as he sat on one of the crate-chairs. His clothes were a deep brown, matching that of the soldiers from the clearing.
"Scanran soldiers," she corrected herself silently.
A ray of sunshine streamed in from one of the small holes. She shielded her eyes from the sudden glint of metal coming from the soldier's side. With a sigh, she realized he had a sword.
"Now if only I can get it away from him."
His sapphire eyes caught her gaze and followed it before she could look away. With a smile, he touched his sword lightly.
"Don't bother trying to get it, protector. You'll just end up hurting that pretty little head of yours."
When Kel set her expression carefully blank, he let out another laugh and stood. Now that he was standing, she realized her assumption had been right. He did indeed tower over her. An accomplishment worth mentioning.
"Why am I here?" she finally voiced.
He motioned towards a chair in the corner. Suppressing a scowl, Kel seated herself. Once she was seated, the man took a seat across from her. She repeated her question.
"You're here because you kill the King's favorite toy," he said deliberately.
"Well that makes sense," she chastised herself in her thoughts.
"And you're supposed to guard me? Make sure I stay in the wagon?" she asked, her voice betraying an ounce of sarcasm.
He shrugged and eyed her. "Before you judge my ability to guard you, protector, perhaps you should judge your ability to escape."
She stifled her sigh, realizing he was right. She was in no place to be escaping.
"Mithros knows I can hardly move my head without collapsing. Let alone try to take a sword from a seasoned soldier," she thought silently.
The two sat in content silence for another moment before Kel managed to voice another question. "What happened to my men?"
She didn't ask whether he had killed them. Though her Yamani training was strong, she knew even her resolve might waver if she had to speak such words.
"Most of your troop was left, still as stone, after Kadar's spell," he paused her for a moment, eyeing her before continuing. "One was taken though-handsome, taller than you, blue eyes? Sound familiar?"
She sat straight up, ignoring her pounding headache. "Dom? You took Dom?"
He raised an eyebrow, obviously amused from her reaction. "That might be his name; I don't know. He's in a wagon nearby."
Kel could hear the blood pounding in her skull. Sure, she understood why they had taken her; As the man had said, she had killed Maggur's favorite toy. But Dom? What involvement could he have?
There was a knock from outside of the wagon. Kel watched as the soldier stood and ambled over to the end of the wagon. Pulling back a piece of fabric Kel had assumed was covering a window, he uncovered a door. He drew a key from his coat and unlocked the door carefully.
From over his shoulder, she could see a second soldier outside. She realized suddenly they had stopped moving.
"Should I try to run for it?" she asked herself. One sound pound of her head and she had her answer.
Her guard talked for another few minutes before returning to Kel. He locked the door, pocketing the key. Kel watched carefully, committing it to memory should she get the chance to use it.
"The troops are stopping for lunch," he said simply. "They'll bring us food soon enough."
She nodded lightly. Though she wanted desperately to beg for something to soothe her headache, her pride held her back. She was with the enemy. She would show no pain.
The two stared at each other before Kel spoke. "I'm Lady Keladry of Mindelan. Your name, soldier?"
The man smiled as he settled himself back on a crate. "Tamas, lady. Member of the Northern reach of the Wolf Clan."
She returned the smile briefly. He seemed nice enough, though an enemy. Thinking of the snow covering the southern end of Scanra, she responded, "And do you ever see the sunshine there, Tamas?"
He looked up, surprised to hear joking words from her lips. Slowly he let out a smile. "Occasionally. We have all sorts of festivals when it happens, however."
She nodded and was about to respond when there was another knock on the door.
Once again, Tamas stood and opened the door carefully. He returned, carrying two trays ladled with food. He handed one to her before plopping down on the floor and starting on his tray.
She stood there for a minute, looking at the food.
"Could it be poisoned? Should I eat it?" she wondered. Her stomach shared its opinion with a growl, but her head still protested. She hadn't come this far to be poisoned.
Seeing her indecision, Tamas spoke. "Do you honestly think King Maggur would go to such trouble to get you just to poison you?"
Feeling slightly silly, she joined him on the floor and started spooning some food into her mouth.
Though it was obviously 'on-the-road' army food, she couldn't help but enjoy it. She realized she had no idea how long she had been asleep. Her stomach, however, seemed all too aware of the long period without food.
Within minutes her plate was clean. She sent a glance toward Tamas and saw a pile of vegetables gathered in the corner.
Without thinking, she said, "Eat your vegetables."
He looked up in surprise. Kel fought to keep her own surprise out of her features.
"It's not a good idea to tell the soldier guarding you to eat his veggies," she chastised herself. "What's wrong with me? I'm showing no control whatsoever today."
"You were shot with a poison-tipped arrow and just woke to find yourself in a wagon," answered another part of her brain.
A laugh broke through her thoughts. "Yes, mother," said Tamas.
"Is that the customary response?" she wandered to herself.
With a frown, she walked to her bed and plopped down.
"How many days was I asleep?"
"Three."
She sighed. So she had been poisoned.
"What did that mage give me?"
"Kadar? Who knows? Obviously something that makes you sleep, though," answered the soldier.
"Where are we going, then?"
Tamas frowned at her. "You've just been captured by King Maggur. Where do you think?"
She frowned in return, knowing full well they were going to the capital so he could show off his newest capture.
Her thoughts strayed back to Dom.
"Why would he bring him? Sure, he was there when Blayce fell, but so were lots of men. He wouldn't have Dom taken unless he could use him."
"Can I see Dom?" she asked suddenly.
Tamas eyed her for a minute. "We're under orders to keep you separate until we reach the palace."
She sighed and turned her back on Tamas, settling down in the bed. Though her body had grown used to doing something, she knew nothing could be done at the moment.
According to Tamas, she had slept for days, but her body seemed oblivious to the fact. Her forehead still throbbed and the strange wound on her arm was giving her a strange feeling. As soon as her head touched the pillow, she was back into a deep sleep.
****
"We'll be there within five days, highness," said a timid voice. Though he was carefully timid, Maggur could see he was practically beside himself with pride.
"Good, Kadar. Make sure you don't lose the girl," he said simply.
Before the mage could recount his tale for the forty-fifth time, Magger broke the magical connection. At the same time, a knock disturbed the silence. With a sigh, he strode confidently toward the door.
It swung open, showing a woman with pale white hair and silvery eyes. Her robe was an unforgiving black that surrounded her loosely. Fur hidden on the inside kept her warm.
"Nysa, what a surprise."
Nysa curtsied quickly before striding closer to the king.
"What news? Did they catch her?" Her silvery eyes glowed eagerly.
Maggur nodded with a small smile. "She's on her way here as we speak."
Nysa turned from him, gazing into the distance, her eyes carefully plotting.
"Finally I'll be able to get even with Jonathon."
****
Author's Note2: Well. That was entirely unplanned. ^-^ Guess you'll see what happens in the next chapter. -_- I seem to be losing steam for this story. I've been working on my other stories lately, and just kinda. . . putting this one of. I apologize. I'll try to get the update faster next time.
Author's note(s): Wow. All three of my ongoing stories have people being kidnapped. Guess I'm just in a kidnapping kinda mood. ^-^ Anyway, onto the fun. . .
None of your concern-Thanks so much for pointing that out! When I wrote that chapter, I checked the back of the book to make sure I had the names right, but I forgot to check to make sure they were still living! ^-^;
Destined
'Prisoner's Life'
****
The ground was shaking.
This was her first semi-conscious thought that day. As she shifted her head slightly, her eyes flew open and a groan escaped her lips.
'This is precisely why I don't drink wine. The hangovers just aren't worth it.'
She heard laughter behind her and turned hurriedly. It was a mistake.
With a wince, she put her hand to her forehead, gingerly rubbing her temples. There was another laugh.
"Awake finally, are you protector?"
Her eyes widened, finally taking in her surroundings.
It looked like a small room, with a couple crates to make chairs. A straw pallet in the corner would serve as a makeshift bed. It wasn't until she noticed the oil canvas 'ceiling' that her brain finally figured out where she was.
"Why am I in a wagon?" she mumbled to herself.
Again, laughter hit her ears. "Awake and talking to yourself, then?"
She turned, more slowly this time. Her hand reached down to finger the sword that was always at her side. They met air. With a curse, she looked down and soon found all her weapons gone.
Her memory suddenly came rushing back to her. She gasped, remembering the clearing and the mage. Suddenly she was worried about Dom's safety and that of his men.
"Did they get out safely?" she wondered silently. She heard a cough.
She looked up, facing the source of laughter. Dark brown hair covered his head and she caught a peek of sapphire eyes underneath. They were still twinkling with mirth. Though he seemed to enjoy taunting her, the twinkle did not look malicious. Shaking her head lightly, she continued her inspection.
Even sitting down, she knew he was tall. His legs were spread out carelessly in front of him as he sat on one of the crate-chairs. His clothes were a deep brown, matching that of the soldiers from the clearing.
"Scanran soldiers," she corrected herself silently.
A ray of sunshine streamed in from one of the small holes. She shielded her eyes from the sudden glint of metal coming from the soldier's side. With a sigh, she realized he had a sword.
"Now if only I can get it away from him."
His sapphire eyes caught her gaze and followed it before she could look away. With a smile, he touched his sword lightly.
"Don't bother trying to get it, protector. You'll just end up hurting that pretty little head of yours."
When Kel set her expression carefully blank, he let out another laugh and stood. Now that he was standing, she realized her assumption had been right. He did indeed tower over her. An accomplishment worth mentioning.
"Why am I here?" she finally voiced.
He motioned towards a chair in the corner. Suppressing a scowl, Kel seated herself. Once she was seated, the man took a seat across from her. She repeated her question.
"You're here because you kill the King's favorite toy," he said deliberately.
"Well that makes sense," she chastised herself in her thoughts.
"And you're supposed to guard me? Make sure I stay in the wagon?" she asked, her voice betraying an ounce of sarcasm.
He shrugged and eyed her. "Before you judge my ability to guard you, protector, perhaps you should judge your ability to escape."
She stifled her sigh, realizing he was right. She was in no place to be escaping.
"Mithros knows I can hardly move my head without collapsing. Let alone try to take a sword from a seasoned soldier," she thought silently.
The two sat in content silence for another moment before Kel managed to voice another question. "What happened to my men?"
She didn't ask whether he had killed them. Though her Yamani training was strong, she knew even her resolve might waver if she had to speak such words.
"Most of your troop was left, still as stone, after Kadar's spell," he paused her for a moment, eyeing her before continuing. "One was taken though-handsome, taller than you, blue eyes? Sound familiar?"
She sat straight up, ignoring her pounding headache. "Dom? You took Dom?"
He raised an eyebrow, obviously amused from her reaction. "That might be his name; I don't know. He's in a wagon nearby."
Kel could hear the blood pounding in her skull. Sure, she understood why they had taken her; As the man had said, she had killed Maggur's favorite toy. But Dom? What involvement could he have?
There was a knock from outside of the wagon. Kel watched as the soldier stood and ambled over to the end of the wagon. Pulling back a piece of fabric Kel had assumed was covering a window, he uncovered a door. He drew a key from his coat and unlocked the door carefully.
From over his shoulder, she could see a second soldier outside. She realized suddenly they had stopped moving.
"Should I try to run for it?" she asked herself. One sound pound of her head and she had her answer.
Her guard talked for another few minutes before returning to Kel. He locked the door, pocketing the key. Kel watched carefully, committing it to memory should she get the chance to use it.
"The troops are stopping for lunch," he said simply. "They'll bring us food soon enough."
She nodded lightly. Though she wanted desperately to beg for something to soothe her headache, her pride held her back. She was with the enemy. She would show no pain.
The two stared at each other before Kel spoke. "I'm Lady Keladry of Mindelan. Your name, soldier?"
The man smiled as he settled himself back on a crate. "Tamas, lady. Member of the Northern reach of the Wolf Clan."
She returned the smile briefly. He seemed nice enough, though an enemy. Thinking of the snow covering the southern end of Scanra, she responded, "And do you ever see the sunshine there, Tamas?"
He looked up, surprised to hear joking words from her lips. Slowly he let out a smile. "Occasionally. We have all sorts of festivals when it happens, however."
She nodded and was about to respond when there was another knock on the door.
Once again, Tamas stood and opened the door carefully. He returned, carrying two trays ladled with food. He handed one to her before plopping down on the floor and starting on his tray.
She stood there for a minute, looking at the food.
"Could it be poisoned? Should I eat it?" she wondered. Her stomach shared its opinion with a growl, but her head still protested. She hadn't come this far to be poisoned.
Seeing her indecision, Tamas spoke. "Do you honestly think King Maggur would go to such trouble to get you just to poison you?"
Feeling slightly silly, she joined him on the floor and started spooning some food into her mouth.
Though it was obviously 'on-the-road' army food, she couldn't help but enjoy it. She realized she had no idea how long she had been asleep. Her stomach, however, seemed all too aware of the long period without food.
Within minutes her plate was clean. She sent a glance toward Tamas and saw a pile of vegetables gathered in the corner.
Without thinking, she said, "Eat your vegetables."
He looked up in surprise. Kel fought to keep her own surprise out of her features.
"It's not a good idea to tell the soldier guarding you to eat his veggies," she chastised herself. "What's wrong with me? I'm showing no control whatsoever today."
"You were shot with a poison-tipped arrow and just woke to find yourself in a wagon," answered another part of her brain.
A laugh broke through her thoughts. "Yes, mother," said Tamas.
"Is that the customary response?" she wandered to herself.
With a frown, she walked to her bed and plopped down.
"How many days was I asleep?"
"Three."
She sighed. So she had been poisoned.
"What did that mage give me?"
"Kadar? Who knows? Obviously something that makes you sleep, though," answered the soldier.
"Where are we going, then?"
Tamas frowned at her. "You've just been captured by King Maggur. Where do you think?"
She frowned in return, knowing full well they were going to the capital so he could show off his newest capture.
Her thoughts strayed back to Dom.
"Why would he bring him? Sure, he was there when Blayce fell, but so were lots of men. He wouldn't have Dom taken unless he could use him."
"Can I see Dom?" she asked suddenly.
Tamas eyed her for a minute. "We're under orders to keep you separate until we reach the palace."
She sighed and turned her back on Tamas, settling down in the bed. Though her body had grown used to doing something, she knew nothing could be done at the moment.
According to Tamas, she had slept for days, but her body seemed oblivious to the fact. Her forehead still throbbed and the strange wound on her arm was giving her a strange feeling. As soon as her head touched the pillow, she was back into a deep sleep.
****
"We'll be there within five days, highness," said a timid voice. Though he was carefully timid, Maggur could see he was practically beside himself with pride.
"Good, Kadar. Make sure you don't lose the girl," he said simply.
Before the mage could recount his tale for the forty-fifth time, Magger broke the magical connection. At the same time, a knock disturbed the silence. With a sigh, he strode confidently toward the door.
It swung open, showing a woman with pale white hair and silvery eyes. Her robe was an unforgiving black that surrounded her loosely. Fur hidden on the inside kept her warm.
"Nysa, what a surprise."
Nysa curtsied quickly before striding closer to the king.
"What news? Did they catch her?" Her silvery eyes glowed eagerly.
Maggur nodded with a small smile. "She's on her way here as we speak."
Nysa turned from him, gazing into the distance, her eyes carefully plotting.
"Finally I'll be able to get even with Jonathon."
****
Author's Note2: Well. That was entirely unplanned. ^-^ Guess you'll see what happens in the next chapter. -_- I seem to be losing steam for this story. I've been working on my other stories lately, and just kinda. . . putting this one of. I apologize. I'll try to get the update faster next time.