Briseis chatted gaily with the priestess who was leading the expedition and glanced back at the many girls behind them. They were riding in pairs of two, with happy chattering running up and down the line of maidens on horseback. The five guards rode at discreet distances away- three in front and two in the back- and couldn't make out the words, but smiled at the noise coming from the excited girls.
The attack was without warning. Briseis had just repeated a question the head priestess that had been passed down the line when a sudden scream made her jump. Her head snapped up in the direction of the shout and saw horsemen swooping down upon them. They came from the sides and quickly overpowered the guards and surrounded the girls.
"Go after them!" one of them shouted, gesturing to the back of the line. Briseis twisted around and was able to make out a small group of girls fleeing from the fight. Gods, give them speed, she prayed. Her thoughts were then interrupted as she watched the interchange between the aged priestess and one of the bandits.
"It is a dishonorable man that would take captive the gods' servants."
"Lady, there are others who will serve the gods. Women were created as a gift to men and should be treated as such."
The priestess stiffened and Briseis barely managed to keep from suffering. "As you say, we are gifts, not prey to be taken by force," the priestess replied softly.
"You would dishonor the gods? Even Zeus himself forces women, as does his son Apollo," the man mockingly replied.
"But then, you are not a god are you?" she replied, the spark in her eyes the only outward display of anger.
"We poor men can only hope to emulate their great actions. I am happy to report, in this instance we seem to have succeeded."
Briseis could hold her tongue no longer. "You'll never succeed, Hector will come for us."
"Briseis, hush," the priestess said softly. The man ignored her and instead turned to the royal maiden.
"I am disheartened to have to be the one to report this, but no one will be coming. The prince- and you'd do well to address him as is proper- is currently lying dead, wounded by a poisoned dagger."
"You dare speak to me of showing respect when you admit to having killed him?" Briseis' cheeks flushed in anger.
"I did not kill him, it was one of my men," he replied cruelly. "But enough talk, we depart now."
He gave the order to move and the party slowly made their way through the dense forest. The priestess turned to Briseis and spoke so softly that none could hear her words except Briseis.
"Do not reveal your identity," she ordered, and then turned back around before anyone had seen her movement.
Briseis used the enforced silence as a time to try to get her bearings. She carefully watched the way they traveled and concluded that they were journey directly towards Mount Ida. The forest cleared and they soon came to a plain full of hills, difficult to navigate. As they slowly made their way through the small passes- just large enough for a single horse to fit through- a barren, rocky plain stretched out in front of them. Briseis pursed her lips as she tried to reason where they were going. Horses would have a difficult time passing through the rocks, but the answer soon came. They suddenly bore sharply right, and Briseis realized that the bandits were leading them into a different area than she supposed. The horses' footprints would be lost on the rocks and no one would be able to find them. Thinking quickly, she closed her eyes and pretended to fall off her horse in a dead faint. She nearly cried out at the impact when she hit the ground but she bit the inside of her lip and forced herself to remain still. The other girls quickly brought their horses to a stop to avoid trampling her and Briseis felt her heart flutter at the sound of hooves stomping all around her.
The leader turned around, irritated at the delay. "What happened?"
"She fainted," the priestess replied calmly. "And no wonder. We've had no water and we've been riding for hours, she's probably famished."
The leader frowned. "She'll not have long to wait, we're nearly there. Go around her," he ordered the maidens before calling to the two men in the rear of the line. "Mathius, you take her horse and Jason, you carry her on your own. I want no further delays." He started the procession and the maidens fearfully followed, looking down sympathetically at the fallen Briseis. Briseis felt a shadow fall over her face and heard her horse being led away. A moment later she was picked up and set in front of a muscular body, and felt the horse start forward.
No one noticed the small hair clasp left behind.
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The priestesses were separated from the young girls and Briseis was set down amongst them. She did not move until she heard the door of the small hut close and then she opened her eyes. The other girls were gazing at her worriedly and all gave a collective sigh when she sat up.
"We were afraid you were sick," Damaris explained. "Or that you were injured in your fall."
"It was in pretense, I left a small clasp behind to point the way to us," Briseis said in a whisper.
A flicker of hope appeared in their eyes and Damaris spoke again. "Will they see it?"
"Hector will," Briseis said confidently. "He'll find us."
"The man said they'd killed him," Manora said. Briseis cast an irritated glance at her.
"Hector isn't dead," she said firmly and Damaris quickly shushed the girl. "He'll come for me." He always does.
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It was nightfall before someone finally came to bring them food and water. The eight girls were huddled together for warmth, for the air in the region was cold at night. Behind the manservant came the leader, who critically gazed at the girls huddling together.
"I am called Liander, so if you need anything inquire for me."
"What do you want with us?" Briseis called out defiantly. Liander's eyes fell upon her and a spark of recognition dawned in them.
"Feeling better?" he inquired cockily. "And we want you for no special purpose, just the same of any other woman."
Half the girls closed their eyes at this but Briseis frowned at him. "We are maidens sworn to the gods."
"Not yet," he replied pointedly. "There are eight of you- for the priestesses we would never dishonor and the others managed to escape- and you will be handed out to those I deem worthy. Any questions?"
"Apollo will strike you down for your arrogance," Briseis hissed. "We are his servants and he will deal out justice."
"Whether you believe it or not, I do honor the gods. The priestesses will not be touched, but you are not priestesses yet. You have not sworn an oath, and many of you never would have. Frequently maidens reject the service of the gods in favor of love."
"If your words are true, then Apollo does not yet care about us. But we are under the protection of Artemis, and he takes offense at insults to her. Taking a maiden by force dishonors her," Damaris spoke up.
"We will not take you by force, you are to wed us," Liander informed them. "I repeat; our intentions are not dishonorable. You will have one husband, and no other man shall harm you. Some of my men are still in various parts of this area; they'll come in tomorrow and make their decisions, and you'll be wedded by nightfall."
"Against our wills," Briseis cried out angrily. "You have no right."
"But then, I do not ask for that right," Liander pointed out. "I simply take it. Goodnight."
And with that, he stepped out and left the girls alone. A few started sobbing, crying out for Artemis to protect them, but Damaris turned to Briseis.
"Will he come?" she asked earnestly, her eyes begging for Briseis to offer her hope.
"He will," Briseis said firmly, not a doubt in her mind. "He always does."