Chapter 3: Prisoner of Ancar
Isis awoke once more, this time more connected to the world around her than before. She gasped as she tried to stand, her leg gave out beneath her, throbbing painfully, what was going on? Where was she? And most of all, why did she hurt so badly? There was the sound of drunken laughter nearby, and the light from a relatively large campfire brought her to her senses, who were these drunken men? "Skybolts would've been annihilated if it hadn't been for that stupid girl figuring us out we'd have 'ad them…" One said scathingly, glancing Isis's way, "well… the damned girl is awake… wonder what Ancar wanted with her in the first place, she's just a scrawny wench that needs to be taught a lesson with interfering in a man's work!"
"Zaralak, no… Ancar wants her untouched." A smaller man said, "he- he'll kill you if you mess with her."
"To hell with Ancar!" The one called Zaralak exclaimed, leaping out of his seat.
Isis gasped and turned her head away from the cruel man, staring at the ground, she concentrated hard and was rewarded with a small rumble as the ground broke beneath Zaralak; he was plunged down upon many sharp roots. His body was skewered beyond recognition none of his friends wished to join, thus they kept their distance from the girl. The skewered man had only breath enough to moan as life left him. Isis watched fearfully as the fire was put out and the men lay down, she stared at the sleeping forms as she tried to stand once more, failing miserably. She waited until dawn, drifting off every now and then, hoping that somehow she would see Kero and be rescued, but somehow she knew that this would never happen, if she was to escape it had to be on her own… Isis had no idea how deep into enemy territory, and she didn't want to find out. Just after sunrise the men rose simultaneously and were ordered to continue on at a gruelingly fast pace- Isis was forced to walk and walk she did, she didn't care to show them her weakness t the moment and put on a false front, she wouldn't allow these pigs the satisfaction of seeing fear or pain on her face. So thus she hid her emotions behind a mask of pure hatred, her mind seethed with anger, how was she going to get out of this predicament? There was a flash of white nearby and a strangely soothing thought came to her, she would escape and they couldn't stop it, none of them could stop her from doing so either, but just then she was to weak to do more than to walk, she was kicked from behind, "Hurry up, wench!" A voice said angrily, "You're slowing the lines down!"
Isis stopped and turned to him, feeling her bonds tighten as one attempted to pull her forward, "I'll move when I'm good and ready!" She shouted angrily, feeling the earth shake as her mind became one with it, "Try and stop me, I dare you!" She said in a voice that wasn't quite her own, "You know what'll happen, you saw for yourself what I could do last night!" Isis wrestled to regain control of herself, but the earth was very powerful and wasn't willing to give up just yet, "I'll cut off you masculine organs and throw them to the wolves, we'll see how much you think to order me around then!"
Isis finally regained control and nearly collapsed in exhaustion, but she held herself defiantly, looking into the man's terrified and shocked eyes, his hand slipped slowly to his crotch and he held it protectively. The earth stopped shaking and Isis was yanked off her feet, she gasped as she hit the ground, her breath was pushed from her, "You bastard!" She shot venomously at the one behind her, she paced a blood covered hand upon the earth and stared blankly before her, eyes growing a deep green, "seldeen fo eht htrae!" She exclaimed, thousands of wood shards shot out of the ground and pierced the men, there was an exclamation of fury and Isis collapsed as if a heavy fog now covered her mind, she was no longer able to control her body and slipped into an inky blackness.
Their speed was unhindered; they simply lifted the unconscious girl and continued walking tirelessly throughout the day and far into the night.
What's going on? Isis thought numbly, why is it so dark? Then, where am I!
:Relax child…: A soothing voice whispered in her mind :I chose you, you are my companion, all we have to do is get you away from them, my name is Sera:
:Sera?: Isis asked softly, :Why do you choose me?:
:Your heart is full of pure intensions, it called out to me, and so I seek you out.:
Isis gasped painfully, :Do you know where I am?:
:No, I had a glimpse of you a few days ago and then I lost you… sorry.: Sera said apologetically, :that was quite a show you put on though…:
Isis stared into the darkness, :How come I can't see you?:
:Because you are not awake… escape and find me, as soon as you have opportunity.:
:But I can barely walk…: Isis said, :My leg was pierced with a sword when they killed Wobniar…:
She heard Sera intake a sharp breath, :that was not anticipated… try anyway, use your abilities to protect you.:
The voice faded and Isis was left alone again, in the darkness, :Sera!: she called as she was dragged back into reality, she had been thrown to the ground and left there, they obviously figured she couldn't get away and were being cocky about it. She let out a hushed sob and sat up slowly, dizzily and realized why she had simply been thrown to the ground, while she had been dead to the world around her they had come to their destination, they were now on Ancar's land. The men had disappeared, and in their place stood a figure dressed in black robes, he removed his hood and stared at her with the blackest eyes she had ever seen, "You are the one who slaughtered my men nine years ago…" He whispered, "How did you kill so many in such a short time, and at such a young age to?"
Isis kept her mouth shut and dimly thought, what is he talking about? "Answer me!" The man said angrily, causing Isis to fall back with the wave of power he sent at her.
Yet Isis still refused to answer, she turned her head away and stared at the tall walls around her, the only way out was to either climb or- her earth powers! She could tear a hole under the wall and escape through that! The man looked even more irritated than before, "I could tear you apart in seconds!" He said angrily.
Isis turned to him, eyes full of fury and hatred, "How would I remember!" She snapped, "I was seven dammit!" The very earth shook as she spoke, cracking open in some places.
The man spoke, "You have the Earth gift… you tricked my men into following a false horse trail and killed them with plants!" He scoffed.
Isis concentrated on the shaking ground, bringing forth a large root that wrapped around her waist and pulled her underground, the last thing she saw before the darkness closed over her head was the man's look of surprise and fury, he had to be Ancar… She was thrust above ground about a mile away from the fort, she stood and limped as fast as she could away from that horrible place, hoping to overcome Sera before her strength left her completely, if that happened she would call upon the earth to hide her from her enemies. The day didn't exist here, a thick fog veiled the land from the sunshine that would have warmed her. Finally she called to the earth and was buried below it's surface, with a small hole for the air to reach her weak and tired form, she drifted into that same place where she had spoken to Sera before and called out, :Yes?: The companion asked softly.
:I've g-gotten away Sera, but I can't go any farther, I'm so exhausted… I was in his territory, Ancar's I mean…: Her voice drifted away and the companion was worried for a minute before continuing on her search for the child.
A/N Okay, there is chapter 3 for you all, hope you enjoy, anyways, gotta go… might do up chapter 4 soon… who knows. R&R please!!