Thank you all for your reviews and criticisms, I kept them in mind as I wrote this chapter. Enjoy!
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The party was a happy one, the excited girls chattering animatedly while the older priestesses smiled indulgently. The three spectators brought up the rear, enjoying the trip. Andromache even managed to convince herself that everything was fine and so took a greater interest in her surroundings.
They passed guard towers on the way and the men greeted them, fatherly smiles creeping onto their faces at the maidens' blushes. They respectfully nodded to the royalty trailing a little ways behind and Andromache smiled back, feeling safe at seeing Troy guarded so well.
As hours passed the number of guard towers grew less and Andromache squirmed from atop her horse. Eclipse continued along, his powerful muscles bulging beneath the saddle blanket, and Andromache began to wish for a break. Her wish was soon fulfilled, for they came to a small stream where everyone dismounted for an hour's rest.
"Eat and rest up, our next break will not be until dinnertime," the oldest priestess announced. "We will arrive at our destination after nightfall."
Andromache stretched her aching muscles, wishing she could fall asleep. But Eclipse had to be attended to, so she dutifully rubbed him down next to Cassandra, who grimaced at her.
"I've forgotten what it's like to ride for hours," she said, frowning. "Briseis doesn't seem to feel the discomfort, though."
Indeed she didn't. Briseis was smiling and chatting happily with a would-be priestess, describing how she too would someday take this journey as a participant.
"I envy her," Andromache groaned, sinking down onto the soft grass and pulling out a bag of food. "I feel as if I've just been beaten."
"And you would know what that feels like?" Cassandra said, a wicked smile on her face.
"With seven older brothers, getting caught is only a matter of time. I don't think I've ever gotten away with a crime."
"Before you came here," Cassandra pointed out.
"True," Andromache agreed. "I've grown too soft."
Cassandra burst into laughter and Briseis soon joined them, plopping herself down beside them. "I'm starving," she announced, helping herself to some of the cold meat.
"You'd best hurry," Andromache warned her. "We've only got a little time left before we begin our journey again."
The three girls ate quickly, filling themselves up so they'd have energy until dinnertime, and soon the priestesses announced it was time to leave.
Andromache bridled Eclipse and put his blanket on, then hopped up onto his back and rode over to Cassandra, who was waiting in line. Her soreness had let up a bit, but she knew it would be back soon, worse than before. Briseis trotted over to them, chattering happily.
"This is wonderful," she exclaimed as they began moving. "I can't wait until I am able to do it myself."
"You've still awhile to go," Andromache replied. "You cannot begin until you're twenty-one, correct?"
Briseis nodded. "The process begins at twenty-one, that's when one may assist at the temple. Studies must be completed and rituals performed before one finally becomes a priestess. The entire process takes around four years."
"It's not for the weak-hearted," Cassandra remarked. "The road to becoming a priestess is hard."
"But rewarding," Briseis pointed out.
Cassandra nodded, smiling. "But rewarding," she agreed.
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The afternoon passed slowly and everyone was happy when they finally stopped for dinner. The priestesses hurried the meal, looking worriedly at the sky. Ominous clouds were beginning to form and darkness was beginning to fall. Everyone donned their heavy cloaks and quickly remounted, setting off at a brisk pace. They tried to hurry and reach their destination before the rain began to fall, but it was not to be so. It began, lightly at first, but then steadily heavier. As darkness closed in it became more and more difficult to see the person in front and Andromache worried they would get lost. They were riding single-file now, for the path was narrow, and Andromache was last, right behind Cassandra. The two of them had put Briseis in front of them, hoping to keep her closest to the priestesses, and she skillfully led her horse to follow them.
As they entered a canyon, everyone came to a halt as the leading priestesses debated whether or not to go through. The walls were high, extending above their heads, and if a flash flood suddenly came they'd have nowhere to go. The canyon was already filled with water, it reached the top of the horses' legs and everyone was quite nervous. But they had to cross it, they were too far from Troy to turn back now.
"This canyon stretches on for about a mile," the priestess announced loudly. Andromache couldn't hear above the wind that was blowing, but the message was quickly passed down the line.
"The canyon lasts for awhile," Cassandra told her, turning around to look at her. "They're worried about the water rising unexpectedly."
However, the priestesses clearly knew they had no choice and bravely led them on. The canyon was fairly wide, allowing for three or fours horses to stand side-by-side, but no one dared move from the line. The wind was blowing their cloaks and the rain stung their eyes as they squinted to see the person in front of them. Andromache urged her horse next to Cassandra and shouted to be heard.
"What if they get lost?" she said loudly, leaning close to Cassandra.
"They won't!" Cassandra yelled back. "They've been leading this expedition for years, they know the way. Don't worry." She offered a reassuring smile to Andromache and Andromache nodded, falling back into line.
Lightning flashed in the distance and some of the horses danced nervously, but Eclipse stayed calm and steadily kept moving. "Good boy," Andromache murmured, patting his neck. She made a mental note to thank Hector for working with him; Eclipse had been trained for war and was hence fearless of almost everything. Lightening flashed again and Andromache became worried that it would strike near them.
Thunder crashed and most of the horses jumped, though their riders quickly steadied them. Andromache noticed that the most nervous horses seemed to be in the middle. Wise move, she thought, nodding. Lightening flashed, lighting up the sky and the area around them and Andromache glanced sharply at a spot ahead, on top of the canyon wall. She could've sworn she'd seen something, but when the lightening flashed again nothing was there. She shook her head, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her. It must be the rain, she decided. Indeed, the rain was making everything difficult. It was blowing full-force into their faces and all the girls were ducking their heads, glancing up every so often to make sure they were still following the person in front.
Another flash of lightening lit the sky and Andromache squinted her eyes against the brightness, peering out from underneath her cloak and seeing Cassandra's silhouette in front of her. Satisfied, she ducked her head down again, shielding her eyes from the wind and rain.
A sudden impact knocked the wind out of her and threw her off her horse. She landed in the water completely tangled in her cloak, now heavy as the water soaked it. Her hood had fallen down over her face and she threw it back, jumping to her feet. A sudden splash and cry indicated that Cassandra had just fallen as well.
In the darkness she couldn't see anything, but that didn't stop her from leaping forward in the direction of Cassandra's cry. Hands suddenly grabbed her from behind and she tried to scream, but a hand quickly covered her mouth. She kicked and fought, but more hands reached out to quickly restrain her and as another streak of lightening flashed, Andromache saw Cassandra receiving the same treatment.
Panicking, she tried to bite the hand around her mouth but it was too flat. She clawed and kicked, but the lightening showed there to be at least ten men. A hood was quickly yanked over her head and she was roughly carted off and thrown on a horse. Though unable to see her assailants, she still struck out but stopped quickly when she felt the cold feeling of a dagger against her throat. She felt a man climb behind her and wrap an arm around her waist, securing her on the horse, and felt a jerk as they moved forward.
The dagger was still firmly pressed against her throat and Andromache was worried that if the horse suddenly moved, it would cut her. She tried to steady her breathing and not concentrate on how cold she was. The wet wool of her cloak scratched her body and the hood over her face was nearly suffocating her. Andromache felt giddy with fear and her mind was frantically working as she tried to process what was happening. I'm being kidnapped, was her one coherent thought. Then she promptly passed out in a dead faint, her numb body finally succumbing to exhaustion.