A/N- Kyrette did this chapter under protest but since he gets the day off tomorrow I ignored him. So the disclaimer first: Misty Lackey owns everything here but Shadowflame ('Flame), Ayren, and Darkfire. They belong to me. Also, any mistakes you see are mine. So... now time is passing. Starfall is coming and 'Flame is still unconscious.
On with the story...
Chapter 12- The End of Torment
Outside of Healer's time went on. It had been three weeks since Shadowflame had collapsed and there was nothing about her to indicate that she might wake. Watches continued on her room. Kero had returned and took a turn as well as Alberich and Dirk. Starfall was on his way and should reach them anytime now. Talia continued to give reports in council about 'Flame. Firesong had returned to council, offering his opinions when they were asked for. Silverfox had indeed been able to get into see 'Flame and spent at least an hour every day with her. He had begun massage on her to keep her muscles warmed and working. The Healers had at first objected, but seeing that Darkfire and Ayren had no objection, they kept quiet.
No one had any ideas left where it concerned her. Since Darkfire had given them that revelation that she was hiding inside her mind from them, nothing had changed. She apparently was still hiding. Darkfire had assured them that he would inform all of them the moment he made contact with her.
Ayren was not nearly so calm. He had become more and more fretful as time went on. His feathers had become dull and lackluster from neglect. He would no one to groom him. Even Darien had offered and been rebuffed and almost clawed. Ayren let them bring meals to him instead of hunting them for himself. He simply ate and sat on his perch, never leaving the room now. The animal Healers were worried about him but couldn't get close enough to help. Darkfire allowed people to groom him but couldn't convince Ayren of the same. As time had worn on, Ayren had become more and more fretful. He hated not being able to reach her. No one could convince him to let them help him. One Healer had made the comment that they might pull 'Flame through but could possibly lose Ayren.
~~~~~~~~~~~
'Flame dried her tears, having finally worn them out. She had stopped at times only to look up at Starfall and begin again. Now she felt drained, numb. She let the image of Starfall fade and looked at herself, bound in the tent. She knew that if she was ever to go back she'd have to see this. Gritting her teeth she let the memory play in front of her.
She lay in the awkward position they had left her in. Her arms were pulled painfully up over her head and her hands were beginning to go numb. She wondered how long she would have to wait until they were ready for her to do whatever it was they wanted her to do. Since no one had told her anything and indeed save for that one man none had spoken to her, lists of horrible fates had been running through her mind ever since she'd been captured.
The one thing she could say with relief was that she had not been raped. She was sure of that. In her travels she had seen one woman who had been, and she bore none of the injuries that would mark it. True she could have been Healed but why waste the energy. 'Flame knew they were going to kill her anyways. She had resigned herself to that after she had awakened and seen her surroundings. But why did they continue to put it off? Why wait all this time, when the end result would be the same?
She sighed and tried to move into a comfortable position that wasn't standing. There really wasn't one but she tried anyways. There were noises coming from the camp as men moved around. She heard horses and the wagons leaving and wondered what was going on. Had they just left her here. No. Her ears picked up the definite sound of people moving around and about outside her tent. They didn't have the same sound as the guards that had been on her door before. No, these all sounded like soft boots, overtoned with the swishes of mage robes. Could it possibly be that all the soldiers she'd seen had left leaving only the twelve mages?
This was becoming more and more bizarre as she thought about it. Why have all those soldiers and then have them leave before she was dead? 'Flame was working on the assumption that the mages were planning on working bloodmagic. Why else would they need her? But if they weren't... if they needed her for something else. But what? What could they possibly need her for? And why had she been asked if she was Tayledras? What difference did that make? What could they possibly be doing that makes whether she was Tayledras or not?
'Flame pondered all these questions as she tried to ease the strain on her arms. Soon she could steps approaching her tent. She attempted to look totally at ease before they confronted her. She didn't want them to know that they had her cowed at all, let alone as terrified as she truly was. She stood to face whoever it was. Locking her knees so they wouldn't tremble, she stood, with lifted chin, ready to face her captors.
The first through the tent flap was the man who had spoken to her before. If anything he was even more filthy than before. With him was an older man who was perhaps a bit cleaner but looked a great deal more disreputable than the other. They conversed softly for a few moments in Valdemaran which they incorrectly assumed she didn't understand. She couldn't really make out what they were saying but she caught a word every now and again. Finally they turned to face her. The one who spoke Karsite spoke. "You are most honored, my dear woman. At sunset tonight your part in our plan will be fullfilled. The senior Adept has decided that you are to be told what your part is. So I will untie you so that you may sit comfortably and listen to your fate." He came over and untied her hands and moved the iron ring lower so that she could sit and not have her arms go numb.
Once she was seated, he took a stool from outside and sat down as the older mage left. He sat down and cleared his throat. A servant came in and placed a small pitcher of wine on a small table that another had brought in. The mage poured himself a glass and wet his mouth and throat before he began his tale. He began when she had begun to think he was teasing her. "You see we found out through the uses of magic, that you Hawkbrothers were gathering all the leylines to yourself, creating nodes that you can control. Now, we can't have all the power in your hands, now can we? So tonight at sunset, the twelve of us will be using you to create our own node." He grinned wolfishly. "We are using you as a channel because quite frankly you can't expect s to use one of our own when they might not survive now can you? So my dear, you'll be our channel and concentrate all our magic in the spot we've decided, creating our own node for our own use." He stood and immediately the servants came back in removing the table and the wine. "Have a good afternoon dear. It'll be the last one you ever have." He swished out of the tent, flinging the flap aside, leaving her alone.
'Flame didn't move for a long time. When she did, no tears were allowed to fall. Instead she just bowed her head and prayed to the Star-Eyed Lady. "Please, Lady, allow me to die with honor. Allow Ayren not to grieve too deeply for me. Lady, I pray thee, let me die with honor at sunset."
She prayed and prayed. At sunset, two of the burlier servants came for her. They untied her and pulled her unresistingly to her feet. Since her feet weren't bound, she was allowed to walk as they pulled her along with them towards the horses. She could see all the others already mounted and waiting for her. The servants threw her belly down, over Darkfire's saddle. They tied her hands and feet under his belly.
They soon had her tied and off they went, one of the mages leading Darkfire. The trip as not pleasant for 'Flame who was jostled on Darkfire's back. They were soon climbing again and 'Flame was in misery. The ride was short however, shorter than she'd thought. As she looked around, trying to locate where they were, they were brought to a halt. She was dumped off of her horse and dragged over to a staked out spot. She didn't resist as they tied her to the stakes they had implanted in the ground there.
They used leather thongs instead of the rope they had been using. The leather cut deeply into the raw spots on her wrists. She gasped as the leather thongs bit into her. The mages didn't take notice. Instead they tied her tight and left her there, staked to the ground. She looked over head as the sky darkened. Stars began to shine and 'Flame blinked back tears.
Around her, the mages began chanting. They swayed back and forth the cadence of the chanting grew louder. 'Flame now let the tears fall. They leaked out of her eyes to fall down the sides of her face as she began to feel the mage energies gather.
Then it occured to her. She FELT the energies collecting. Whatever block had been on her was now gone!
Quickly centering herself, she began to draw her own energies, slowly so that the others would not notice it. Quickly she used the energies to build a shield over herself so that mayhap she could save herself. The other mages never noticed.
The one thing she did notice was that not far off was a Storm. As she gathered more energy to her she knew it was a Mage Storm. Being caught outside during one was almost sure death. And here she was strapped to the ground, completely helpless and at the Storm's mercy. 'Flame felt real fear now. What would happen to her now?
The mages seemed oblivious to it and that really bothered her. She wove her shields a bit tighter and a bit more subtle, hoping against hope that it would save her. She watched the Storm come closer and closer. The mages kept up their chanting, beginning to pool their energies through 'Flame. Resolutely, she held onto her concentration and kept gathering her energies and weaving her shield.
Soon the Storm was upon them and the mages released their spell. 'Flame held her shield, barely. Wild Magis whipped about her and over the other mages. She saw a lance strike Darkfire who squealed and went to his knees. She closed her eyes feeling the energy whips ripping at her shirt and at her bonds. One wrist and one leg cam free, rolling her onto her back, lashing the skin raw and finally drawing blood. She rolled back over, hissing as dirt hit her wounds. her shields had been shredded apart and she lay totally exposed to the fury of the mage storm. More and more lashes hit her and ripped her belly to shreds. She saw a few more strike Darkfire and amazingly the stallion was still alive. He let ou squeals as the magic lashed him.
When she looked at the other mages, she almost vomited. The other mages had been torn limb from limb and the flesh scoured from their bones. As the Storm still raged and lashed at her, her last sight was of Darkfire strugglign to his feet and trying to reach her. She then fell into the black void waiting for her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N Ok so what do ya think. Kyrette is feeling neglected by you guys and Scaretta is begininng to gloat that I'm going to use her soon. So it's the fight of the muses here and unless you guys solve it by reviewing I make no guarantees about anything!
So R&R folks and let me know if you want me to continue or give this up for Scaretta's fic
Have a good one!
Cat
On with the story...
Chapter 12- The End of Torment
Outside of Healer's time went on. It had been three weeks since Shadowflame had collapsed and there was nothing about her to indicate that she might wake. Watches continued on her room. Kero had returned and took a turn as well as Alberich and Dirk. Starfall was on his way and should reach them anytime now. Talia continued to give reports in council about 'Flame. Firesong had returned to council, offering his opinions when they were asked for. Silverfox had indeed been able to get into see 'Flame and spent at least an hour every day with her. He had begun massage on her to keep her muscles warmed and working. The Healers had at first objected, but seeing that Darkfire and Ayren had no objection, they kept quiet.
No one had any ideas left where it concerned her. Since Darkfire had given them that revelation that she was hiding inside her mind from them, nothing had changed. She apparently was still hiding. Darkfire had assured them that he would inform all of them the moment he made contact with her.
Ayren was not nearly so calm. He had become more and more fretful as time went on. His feathers had become dull and lackluster from neglect. He would no one to groom him. Even Darien had offered and been rebuffed and almost clawed. Ayren let them bring meals to him instead of hunting them for himself. He simply ate and sat on his perch, never leaving the room now. The animal Healers were worried about him but couldn't get close enough to help. Darkfire allowed people to groom him but couldn't convince Ayren of the same. As time had worn on, Ayren had become more and more fretful. He hated not being able to reach her. No one could convince him to let them help him. One Healer had made the comment that they might pull 'Flame through but could possibly lose Ayren.
~~~~~~~~~~~
'Flame dried her tears, having finally worn them out. She had stopped at times only to look up at Starfall and begin again. Now she felt drained, numb. She let the image of Starfall fade and looked at herself, bound in the tent. She knew that if she was ever to go back she'd have to see this. Gritting her teeth she let the memory play in front of her.
She lay in the awkward position they had left her in. Her arms were pulled painfully up over her head and her hands were beginning to go numb. She wondered how long she would have to wait until they were ready for her to do whatever it was they wanted her to do. Since no one had told her anything and indeed save for that one man none had spoken to her, lists of horrible fates had been running through her mind ever since she'd been captured.
The one thing she could say with relief was that she had not been raped. She was sure of that. In her travels she had seen one woman who had been, and she bore none of the injuries that would mark it. True she could have been Healed but why waste the energy. 'Flame knew they were going to kill her anyways. She had resigned herself to that after she had awakened and seen her surroundings. But why did they continue to put it off? Why wait all this time, when the end result would be the same?
She sighed and tried to move into a comfortable position that wasn't standing. There really wasn't one but she tried anyways. There were noises coming from the camp as men moved around. She heard horses and the wagons leaving and wondered what was going on. Had they just left her here. No. Her ears picked up the definite sound of people moving around and about outside her tent. They didn't have the same sound as the guards that had been on her door before. No, these all sounded like soft boots, overtoned with the swishes of mage robes. Could it possibly be that all the soldiers she'd seen had left leaving only the twelve mages?
This was becoming more and more bizarre as she thought about it. Why have all those soldiers and then have them leave before she was dead? 'Flame was working on the assumption that the mages were planning on working bloodmagic. Why else would they need her? But if they weren't... if they needed her for something else. But what? What could they possibly need her for? And why had she been asked if she was Tayledras? What difference did that make? What could they possibly be doing that makes whether she was Tayledras or not?
'Flame pondered all these questions as she tried to ease the strain on her arms. Soon she could steps approaching her tent. She attempted to look totally at ease before they confronted her. She didn't want them to know that they had her cowed at all, let alone as terrified as she truly was. She stood to face whoever it was. Locking her knees so they wouldn't tremble, she stood, with lifted chin, ready to face her captors.
The first through the tent flap was the man who had spoken to her before. If anything he was even more filthy than before. With him was an older man who was perhaps a bit cleaner but looked a great deal more disreputable than the other. They conversed softly for a few moments in Valdemaran which they incorrectly assumed she didn't understand. She couldn't really make out what they were saying but she caught a word every now and again. Finally they turned to face her. The one who spoke Karsite spoke. "You are most honored, my dear woman. At sunset tonight your part in our plan will be fullfilled. The senior Adept has decided that you are to be told what your part is. So I will untie you so that you may sit comfortably and listen to your fate." He came over and untied her hands and moved the iron ring lower so that she could sit and not have her arms go numb.
Once she was seated, he took a stool from outside and sat down as the older mage left. He sat down and cleared his throat. A servant came in and placed a small pitcher of wine on a small table that another had brought in. The mage poured himself a glass and wet his mouth and throat before he began his tale. He began when she had begun to think he was teasing her. "You see we found out through the uses of magic, that you Hawkbrothers were gathering all the leylines to yourself, creating nodes that you can control. Now, we can't have all the power in your hands, now can we? So tonight at sunset, the twelve of us will be using you to create our own node." He grinned wolfishly. "We are using you as a channel because quite frankly you can't expect s to use one of our own when they might not survive now can you? So my dear, you'll be our channel and concentrate all our magic in the spot we've decided, creating our own node for our own use." He stood and immediately the servants came back in removing the table and the wine. "Have a good afternoon dear. It'll be the last one you ever have." He swished out of the tent, flinging the flap aside, leaving her alone.
'Flame didn't move for a long time. When she did, no tears were allowed to fall. Instead she just bowed her head and prayed to the Star-Eyed Lady. "Please, Lady, allow me to die with honor. Allow Ayren not to grieve too deeply for me. Lady, I pray thee, let me die with honor at sunset."
She prayed and prayed. At sunset, two of the burlier servants came for her. They untied her and pulled her unresistingly to her feet. Since her feet weren't bound, she was allowed to walk as they pulled her along with them towards the horses. She could see all the others already mounted and waiting for her. The servants threw her belly down, over Darkfire's saddle. They tied her hands and feet under his belly.
They soon had her tied and off they went, one of the mages leading Darkfire. The trip as not pleasant for 'Flame who was jostled on Darkfire's back. They were soon climbing again and 'Flame was in misery. The ride was short however, shorter than she'd thought. As she looked around, trying to locate where they were, they were brought to a halt. She was dumped off of her horse and dragged over to a staked out spot. She didn't resist as they tied her to the stakes they had implanted in the ground there.
They used leather thongs instead of the rope they had been using. The leather cut deeply into the raw spots on her wrists. She gasped as the leather thongs bit into her. The mages didn't take notice. Instead they tied her tight and left her there, staked to the ground. She looked over head as the sky darkened. Stars began to shine and 'Flame blinked back tears.
Around her, the mages began chanting. They swayed back and forth the cadence of the chanting grew louder. 'Flame now let the tears fall. They leaked out of her eyes to fall down the sides of her face as she began to feel the mage energies gather.
Then it occured to her. She FELT the energies collecting. Whatever block had been on her was now gone!
Quickly centering herself, she began to draw her own energies, slowly so that the others would not notice it. Quickly she used the energies to build a shield over herself so that mayhap she could save herself. The other mages never noticed.
The one thing she did notice was that not far off was a Storm. As she gathered more energy to her she knew it was a Mage Storm. Being caught outside during one was almost sure death. And here she was strapped to the ground, completely helpless and at the Storm's mercy. 'Flame felt real fear now. What would happen to her now?
The mages seemed oblivious to it and that really bothered her. She wove her shields a bit tighter and a bit more subtle, hoping against hope that it would save her. She watched the Storm come closer and closer. The mages kept up their chanting, beginning to pool their energies through 'Flame. Resolutely, she held onto her concentration and kept gathering her energies and weaving her shield.
Soon the Storm was upon them and the mages released their spell. 'Flame held her shield, barely. Wild Magis whipped about her and over the other mages. She saw a lance strike Darkfire who squealed and went to his knees. She closed her eyes feeling the energy whips ripping at her shirt and at her bonds. One wrist and one leg cam free, rolling her onto her back, lashing the skin raw and finally drawing blood. She rolled back over, hissing as dirt hit her wounds. her shields had been shredded apart and she lay totally exposed to the fury of the mage storm. More and more lashes hit her and ripped her belly to shreds. She saw a few more strike Darkfire and amazingly the stallion was still alive. He let ou squeals as the magic lashed him.
When she looked at the other mages, she almost vomited. The other mages had been torn limb from limb and the flesh scoured from their bones. As the Storm still raged and lashed at her, her last sight was of Darkfire strugglign to his feet and trying to reach her. She then fell into the black void waiting for her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N Ok so what do ya think. Kyrette is feeling neglected by you guys and Scaretta is begininng to gloat that I'm going to use her soon. So it's the fight of the muses here and unless you guys solve it by reviewing I make no guarantees about anything!
So R&R folks and let me know if you want me to continue or give this up for Scaretta's fic
Have a good one!
Cat