Thank you all for your reviews. Sorry to leave you so long on that cliffhanger, I wasn't planning to but things got so busy around here that I couldn't get this chapter finished for awhile. I'm a bit busy for this week, so the chapters will be slower. Enjoy!
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Andromache awoke to the sound of rough voices, yelling at each other a little distance away. Her mouth felt dry and she blinked slowly, trying to remember what happened.
"Don't speak or make noise," a low voice said next to her. "I want to hear this."
Andromache squinted at the figure beside her, and slowly Cassandra's face came into view. She nodded slowly, obediently staying quiet as the voices argued. She couldn't figure out what they were arguing about, but she decided Cassandra would fill her in later. Her hair was in her face and she reached up to brush it out, then realized she couldn't move her arms.
She was tied to a pole, under a canopy made of wood and leaves. The rain had stopped, though the ground was still wet, and the sun showed that it was early morning. The loud voices continued and finally a third voice silenced them, telling them to wait until their leader came. Andromache cautiously waited a few minutes then turned to Cassandra.
"Do not attract attention," Cassandra whispered, so softly that Andromache had to stare hard at her lips to understand the words. "I don't want them noticing us."
"What happened?" Andromache whispered back.
"We were kidnapped during the storm. As far as I can figure out, nobody noticed our absence until after we were gone. Don't worry, they'll come looking for us once they realize we're missing."
"Who are these men?" Andromache asked, gesturing to a group nearby. Some of them were awake but most were still sleeping.
"Bandits," Cassandra replied. "Normally they wouldn't dare kidnap anyone in the priestess group, but I suppose they thought that the priestesses would just think some accident befell us in the storm."
"What do they want us for?" Andromache wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.
Cassandra gave her a pointed look. "How many men do you see and how many women?"
"They can't!" Andromache hissed, glancing around nervously.
"That's what they now realize," Cassandra nodded. "Once we were brought into their camp they discovered our identities. That's what they were arguing about- what to do with us."
"Couldn't they just release us?"
"One of them wanted to do just that. The man arguing with him made the point that we now know their hideout."
"No we don't. I was unconscious the whole time."
"But I wasn't," Cassandra replied. "And I remember the way clearly. But no matter, they wouldn't believe me even if I did lie. Then the other man was replying that if they don't return us Hector will come looking for us. His wife and sister being kidnapped isn't something he'll take kindly to."
"Then why are we trying not to attract attention? They should be treating us nicely, so as not to anger Hector."
"Because the one man had the idea that if they kill us and dispose of our bodies, no charges can be brought against them."
"They won't need charges," Andromache scoffed. "Hector would kill them the moment he came upon them. No matter how upset he is with me, he won't stand for someone killing me. Or you, for that matter."
Cassandra smiled. "Yes, we both realize that, but generally men aren't very bright, are they?"
"Hey!" a loud voice shouted out, making both the girls jump. A man came over, a frown on his face. "No speaking. Either be silent or we will make you be silent."
They obediently were silent and Andromache tried to calm her fluttering stomach. He stood over them, looming above them, and Andromache tried not think of what he could do to them.
He cast them one last glance then went off and Andromache released a breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding. His knife had glinted in the sunlight and his body showed a strength that could easily overpower the both of them.
"Cassandra," Andromache whispered, casting a wary glance around to make sure no one was paying attention. "What do you think their leader will decide?"
"I haven't seen him; I do not know," she answered softly. "But he could very easily decide that to kill us would be easiest. Then they could claim no knowledge of us if they were asked."
"Hector will put the clues together, he'll know we were kidnapped. Eclipse would never throw me- Hector trained him himself."
A man walked by and the girls were silent, staring demurely at the ground. He cast only the quickest of glances at them and passed out of view.
"I heard them talking," Cassandra continued. "Their leader is raiding a village half a day's ride from here. He left the previous day, at daybreak."
"Then we're safe until he returns," Andromache answered. "It will take a day for the priestesses to find we're missing and send someone to notify Hector. He will know what happened by tonight. He could reach this area in half a day if he rode hard."
"But it will take him some time to find exactly where we are. I saw where they took us, the path is not easy. We have at least two days before Hector comes to us."
"Then it all depends on how long the leader stays in that village. He'll have to collect all the plunder." Andromache bit her lip, thinking hard.
Cassandra shook her head. "Andromache, we cannot wait those two days. The leader will have reached the village by nightfall yesterday, at the very latest. It's a village, he can spend no more than a day collecting plunder. He'll be back by tomorrow evening."
"And we don't know what he'll decide," Andromache said hopelessly.
"We cannot wait for Hector," Cassandra whispered firmly. "He cannot reach us in time."
"We can't escape on our own!" Andromache hissed. "They will have people watching the border of their camp. We have no supplies and we cannot survive in the wild on our own!"
"Keep quiet," Cassandra warned her softly. "We must escape, there is no other option. We need not survive in the wild, we must only hold out for a day or so. Once we reach the canyon we can wait there, Hector will surely pass by there."
"Ignoring the fact that neither of us have ever spent a night in the woods, how are we to escape?" Andromache asked pointedly. "We are bound to a pole- a very strong pole, I might add."
"They will have to untie us at some point. We must take care of certain needs," Cassandra said exasperatedly.
"They won't untie us at night!" Andromache hissed loudly, then quickly dropped her voice as she realized she was being too loud. "And there is no possibility of escaping during the day."
"We will make them untie us at night," Cassandra said firmly.
"And the guards they've posted to keep watch?"
"The moon is receding, tomorrow night it will not even be out. We still have our dark cloaks from the storm."
"How will we find our way in the dark?"
"I know the way," Cassandra answered.
"Cassandra, can't you just foresee what the leader will decide?"
Cassandra shook her head, laughing softly. "It is not a toy, Andromache, to be used at will. Apollo grants visions as a blessing and he has not chosen to bless me in this instance."
Andromache sighed. "So be it, tonight it is."
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That day was the longest Andromache had ever experienced. The noise of anyone approaching sent her into shivers of fear, expecting the leader to suddenly appear. They were brought breakfast and lunch- both sadly cooked meals that left them feeling a bit ill- and were allowed to take care of their basic need a few times during the day. These trips were carefully studied by both of them. As Andromache memorized the pattern and the place, Cassandra cast careful glances around- trying to see as many guards as she could. They'd counted roughly thirty bandits- though some had gone with the leader to raid the village- and those were only the men that passed by them.
During the hottest part of the afternoon, a large group of men passed by, laughing loudly. Cassandra closed her eyes- there were at least ten new men that she hadn't counted before- but Andromache released a sigh of relief. The leader was not among them. Apparently these men were just coming off guard duty. This fact was carefully noted by both girls.
"Ten guards," Andromache whispered, and Cassandra nodded.
"At least."
The afternoon passed slowly. Though they were in the hills the heat was unbearable. The canopy shielded them somewhat but their tied arms prevented them from swatting away the numerous mosquitoes. They were everywhere and the most the girls could do was shake their head trying to get them to fly away. Andromache was sure that if she wasn't killed she would go mad.
Finally, the sun started to set and a fire was lit. The smoke warded off the mosquitoes and the two of them sighed with relief. Andromache wiggled her fingers experimentally. The bonds were not tight, she had not lost feeling in them, and she leaned back against the pole.
"Three hours after sunset," Cassandra murmured. "That's near to when the guards will change shifts. They'll be the most tired at that point."
Andromache nodded, watching as the sun sank below the trees. Three hours, beginning now, she thought, taking a deep breath. Gods be with us.