Chapter Four

~Thalia~

I woke to a steady pounding in my head with turned to a dull thud as I opened my eyes. The sun filtered lightly through the canopy of material above me and I could see a light blue sky above me.

Biting my lip I rolled over and pulled myself onto my hands and knees. My arms and legs shook weakly at the weight I put on them and I almost fell back onto the blankest of fur. My eyes widened as I looked at my arms. Slim gold rings hung around my wrists and a gold chain connected on to a gold ring on my right ring finger. The ring was pretty the band looked like a spiders web with tiny diamonds woven in. My arms went weak again and I almost let myself fall. A slave bracelet. I'd seen them on every slave of a high family. They were impossible to get off without a key. I looked up and around. I was surrounded by pillows and furs and a small solid wall. One the four corners polls wrapped in gold rope reached up and help the material up and enclosed me in it. I moved to the wall closest to me and pushed back the curtain. I let out a scream and leaped away as best I could on my knees. I buried my head in my arms and held back another scream.

I was above the trees, on the back of a very large gray animal. My stomach began to do somersaults in my throat. I hate heights.

~Adora~

I frowned at the smirk the captain shot me as my friend's cry of horror pierced the air. He had a cruel sense of humor, I found. He called for a stop and handed his horse to a young man. He gestured with his hand and I found myself surrounded be several scary looking men. I rolled my eye and muttered in my native language, "As if I could make it face paces without getting seen. I'm the only girl in the camp on horse back. "

The men around me gave me strange look and I only granted them with my fiercest glare. Which would have sent my brothers running, but didn't seem to unnerve them in the least, which only deepened my frown. I tried to find where our dear caption had gone but his ugly face couldn't be frowned. I began to wonder what kind of place this was. I had several newly acquired bruises thanks to the less the hospitably keeping of my guards. My wrists were starting to swell from the ropes which bit into them every night. As it was my hands were tied to the rains of my horse.

I had no idea why he had insisted on the separation of me and Thalia. She had healed quickly, they had only seen an small line where she had been bleeding and it had caused murmur to go up. I hadn't seen the significance of it. Thalia always healed fast from any wounds she might occur. I chanced a look at the big gray animal that followed us and shuddered. Big was an understatement and while I wasn't afraid of height being on top of that would have turned my stomach. Thalia could be reduced to tears at that height, if she hadn't already.

~Thalia~

She wasn't far off from that. I did cry a tear or two, but as it is crying was always something that linked me as a child and I refrained from doing it. I couldn't keep the quiver out of my chin or rid the water in my eyes. I would have stayed in the fetal position I was in at the middle of the pallet if it wasn't for the kick that rolled me over.

I found myself looking up into the horrible scarred face of the captain and I held back my own angry comment. He looked less then pleased, and I hadn't said anything yet!

He barked something then seemed to remember what language I spoke.

" What is your relation to Calla Te'hani?"

I stood up and winced at the sore spot where he had kicked me. The fabric of my dress slide around me like water and pulled at my feet, obviously they hadn't planed for a five foot guest. The rings around my wrists jingled as a moved.

" I don't know her." I lied, I didn't know how he knew my aunt but I wasn't about to claim relation.

Who knows what she's done. She's made enough people angry I didn't want to take the punishment for what she'd done to them.

He frowned and I saw him eyes drifted down. I refrained from shivering, the lustful look in his eyes did nothing to settle my nerves. I suddenly felt unprotected in the flimsy dress. I looked around, no weapons and I didn't feel any of my daggers on my person. He griped my arm and jerked me towards him. I cried out as pain flared up my arm from my already hurt wrist. His rough calloused hands pushed my sleeve down my arm only exposing my shoulder before my knee connected with his groin. He doubled over and made an odd squealing noise. I backed up and tripped over my dress. I cursed fluently in every language I had ever learned at my bad luck. He glared fiercely at me but limped away. Before he descended a ladder his eyes swept over me again lingering on my exposed side and a look of something close to triumph covered his feature and I held my breath until I felt myself moving again. I shivered and suddenly felt very much like a child. I pulled the sleeve back up and curled into a ball on a pile of pillows before allowing myself to cry.

~Adora~

I watched the captain limp back to his horse and had hide my grin behind a cough. I recognized the limp all to well. My brothers had seen it several times in their life time.

So he saw Thalia, I thought with a smirk. Obviously she wasn't pleased. She doesn't' often try to render a man barren. He through a glare at me before sitting down on his horse. He spoke to his second.

"The mark is on her. He will be most pleased." He said.

"And what of the other?" the other asked.

" We'll keep until she becomes troublesome. She might be useful in convincing the child up there in behaving."

"Will they be put together?"

The captain looked back at me and I glared, "Not yet."

I glared at him for the rest of the day until we broke camp and I was tied to a post inside a camp. A boy of probably only nine years trotted in caring my dinner, no doubt the leftovers of everyone else. Two guards followed him and stood by the door arms crossed and swords loose in there scabbard. The boy loosed my bonds and allowed me to eat. Looking at the state of his cloths something told me he wouldn't be much of a hostage, and I hadn't the stomach to see him killed if they decided to kill me through him.

The boy stared at me while he retied my ropes, as if he was trying to say something with his eyes. I winced at the final tug of the rope and felt a cut begin to bleed a new. With one last look the boy left followed by the guards I knew would wait just outside. With a sigh I leaned back against the post. I closed my eyes to attempt to sleep. How were we ever going to escape this when we're both unable to escape our bounds?

~Thalia~

I glared at the man before me. I bruise had formed on my upper arm where the goon had gripped me several days ago. It seemed now he wanted me off the elephant. I would have gladly descended from the height I had found myself, if it wasn't the fact that the only thing keeping me from plummeting was at the mercy of this goon's goons. They I trusted less the a Centurion with a blade in one hand and a promise in another. As it was he wasn't giving me the chose, my hands where now tied behind me and his thick beefy hand was once again clutching my arm. Which hurt a lot since there was already a bruise there. I glared harder at him. He simply smiled, enjoying the pain he caused me obviously.

He tossed me roughly into the lift. My head hit one of the polls. Stars of pain filled my vision and I groaned, I muttered several names in the four other languages I knew. He barked in laughter sending a thunderous pain in my head. I groaned and rubbed the back of my head. I didn't realize the lift had moved until he lifted me back to my feet and shoved me out. I must have taken to many steps because he reached forward and roughly pulled me back causing me to stumbled and fall back against him. I pushed away with a noise of disgust.

He simply grunted in an ape-ish fashion and pulled me towards a tent. Camp had settled down for the night. Only a few soldiers remained by the center fire. Most could be heard snoring in their tents. I had a hard time staying on my feet. The rocks and twigs cut into my bare feet and fabric of my dress tangled in my legs. By the time we reached the tent I felt like one more good tug would pull my arm out of it's socket.

Again he shoved me none to gentle into the tent. I tripped over the edge of my dress and I went sprawling.

"Thalia?" I looked up.

Adora sat cross-legged her arms tied behind her back on a bed of furs. She didn't look to bad. I saw the healing form of a cut on her shoulder and a few bruises on her knees. She smiled,

"Oh Balezibubs hide Thalia, I'm glad to see you." She looked so relieve I would have laughed if it wasn't for the sudden kick in the side I received. I grunted and rolled away.

"Sit up." He barked.

I glared at him. What was he expecting? My hands here behind my back, and my side now felt like a thousand daggers had sliced it.

He gripped the back of my short cut hair and lifted me up onto my knees.. I bit my lip to stop from crying out.

"Now." He said releasing my hair and walking over to a cloth laid out with our weapons.

He pointed to the weapons, "Why can't I touch them?"

"They don't like you."

That didn't seem to be the right answer. I found myself sprawled on my back and my ears ringing from the blow I had received. It was only then I noticed the other man in the room. The one who had just hit me. I tasted my blood on my lips and groaned, it'd been quite a long time sense I'd received such abuse.

"I'll ask again. Why can't I touch these?"

"She told you the truth. They don't like you." Adora said glaring furiously at the two men.

"Thalia are you alright?" she asked.

I rolled over and sat up on my own. "yeah it's like being back with my mom during my women lessons."

She smiled at my humor.

"What do you mean it doesn't like me?" the man growled, "Are you saying it can think?"

Adora looked back at the man, "No, but it's knows it master. And you sir, are not the person who made it. That's Thalia's, and only Thalia can wield it. The same goes with the long sword and the arrows. They were both made by me, and therefore mine alone."

The man frowned, obviously not liking that answer either since I suddenly found myself on my back and a boot kicking my several times in the ribs then the stomach. I heard Adora shout and the man stopped. It was difficult to breath. Each intake or exhale cause pain. My head pounded to much to hear what was being said. After a while I was rolled over onto my back. I kept my eyes closed and concentrated on not crying out as shaky hands pushed away folds of my dress and pressed down on my sore sides. On a particularly sore spot I moaned and moister began to slide down my cheeks.

"Oh Thalia. I'm sorry. I thought if I was the one talking he'd hit me. I didn't realize they'd beat just on you." I felt her cheek press against mine and realized she was crying not me.

I'd never seen Adora cry. I'd never heard her cry either.

"Adora." I said softly, then hissed, "Your hurting me."

She laughed, it sounded rather forced. I opened my eyes and looked up at her.

She smiled sadly, "They've left."

I managed a small nod, "Yeah, I thought so. There wasn't anymore yelling."

She laid my head back down and moved out of view.

"They cut your hands free?" I asked surprised.

"No." her voice said softly, "A little boy tied my ropes in a way that I was able to escape"

Adora knelt back down beside me, in one hand she held a stone vase I recognized.

"We have our stuff?"

She nodded, "All but the trading iron. They'll never be able to melt it. But by the time they realize that, I plan to be long gone."

I blinked, "You have a plan?"

She grinned, "Yep. Now how do you get this thing off?"

I sighed, "No idea. I wasn't awake when they put it on."

"Can you sit up?"

I was breathing with out pain now, did I want to chance sitting up?

"Yeah I think so."

I sat up and hissed, "That hurt."

She frowned," I'm surprised Thalia. Are you sick?"

I looked up at her confused, "I don't think so. Why?"

She shook her head, "You just don't normally hurt easily," she pointed at my arm, "That looks to be three days old."

I blinked, "What are you talking about?"

"You mean you," she shook her head, "never mind, come on lets see if we can get you back into your own clothes and not this layered Haradrim stuff."

Gritting my teeth we were able to pull the dress off of me. I sat there in a blanket while she rummaged through my things for an extra set of clothes. Sitting there I rubbed some of the solve from the vase onto my bruises and soon to be bruises.

"Here." She said, handing me a shirt and pants.

Gratefully I slid into the shirt and pants. I looked over at Adora and she was looking at me in surprise. I looked down at myself to make sure I put everything on right, "What?"

She shook her head, "Nothing, never mind."

I handed her the vase and she put it back in my bag.

"So what's the plan?"

"I'm not sure. We'll just see when something interesting happens that we can slip away quietly without being seen." She yawned and stretched. "Well I guess we'd better get some rest." She curled up on one of the furs. I closed my mouth that had slipped open. Obviously she knew something that I didn't. I sight and laid down beside her.

"'Night," I mumbled.

"'Night," Adora responded, and I drifted off to sleep.

* * * * *

~Adora~

"Miss, wake up. Miss, wake up!" A child's voice said softly in my ear.

"Huh?" I said abruptly sitting up, startled out of sleep.

"Shhh! You need to be quiet!" The voice insisted.

I blinked surprised to see the same young boy, not more than six winters old, kneeling close by me. "Who are you?" I asked, not completely awake and unsure of him.

"Tell you later. Help me get her up." He said pointing at Thalia. "And get your things. I have a way for you to escape."

That got me moving. He'd help me once, hopefully I could trust him. I quickly crawled over to Adora and quietly spoke in her ear. "Adora, wake up. It's time to escape."

She woke in an instant.

"Here," I said putting her pack into her hands.

"Thanks," she said, she shook away the last trace of sleep.

She looked at me in surprise, "Who's the kid?"

I slipped on my backpack, "Our way out, at the moment."

She stood, "How do you know we can trust him?"

I looked at her, "Right now, we don't have much of a choice."

"Com'mon," the boy said with a small grin. "We need to move fast."

"We're ready." I said.

"OK, follow me and be quiet." And with that he slipped out of the front flap of the tent.

"I guess the guards must be out or something if he's leaving that way." Thalia commented.

I nodded my agreement and followed the boy out. The guards were lying on the ground, not moving.

"Over here!" The boy called out from a cluster of trees. We quietly made our way over there, where he pointed out the Mûmakil. "See that?"

"Neda?" Thalia asked.

The boy looked at Thalia in surprise, " How'd you know-?"

"She was my prison for the first few days. She's really nice. She's going to have a baby in the spring."

The boy looked at the Thalia in awe. He shook his head, "Well that'll just have to wait, our goal is to commandeer Neda."

Thalia and I exchanged glances, commandeer was a pirate term.

"What about the guards?" I asked.

"Don't worry, their drinks have been poisoned as well. It's slower so it'll muddle their thinking before they pass out."

"You haven't killed them have you?" Thalia asked.

"No, it's just a sleeping poison. They'll wake up tomorrow with head pains, but that's it."

Thalia nodded, her conscious stated. Getting to the Mûmakil was easier then I expected, it was get onto the animal that was hard. I had to drag Thalia into basket that would take us to the top. She stood stock still griping one of the polls and stared strait ahead the whole way up.

Once inside the litter Thalia relaxed. I turned to the boy and he explained how to command the Mûmakil. Faintly we began hearing the sound of alarm from the tents.

"I must go!." He said suddenly, fear clearly on his face.

"Wait." I grabbed his arm before he escaped, "Why did you help us?"

He looked under my arm at Thalia, "Because I know you will save my mother."

He jerked his arm from my gripe and began lowering the basket.

"Who are you?" I called down, keeping my voice low.

"My name is Joachim. " He called back before disappearing into the darkness.

I turned back to Thalia. She was climbing back over the low wall that surrounded the litter. She sat down on one of the pillows then laid down.

I looked at her confused, "What-?"

A great roar cut me off and the litter began to tilt wildly from side to side. I lost my footing and went sprawling onto my back. Thalia looked as if she had expected this. She sat unruffled in the pile of pillows.

"Thalia—wh-what's going on?"

The sound of breaking trees suddenly reached my ears through the thundering booms outside.

"Neda's helping us. She's going to take us as far as a mountain village, seven days for her. She said she'd run as fast as she could. They'll probably pursue us, but because of how many there are they can't use the other Mûmakil like this." She paused, speaking held the danger of biting off your tongue. "She said she will run until a small oasis; there she will rest for the afternoon."

I could only nod. Thalia's ability was unnerving sometimes, but at the moment it was a welcome gift