A fuzzy, greenish light shone above Amber's head.
"An emerald," she thought, and tried to grasp it, desiring to examine the gem. But stones weighed on her hands, and she couldn't lift them above her head to reach it. The stones were hurting her arms, dragging her underwater. She tried to swim to the surface, crying out for the sea elves to save her, but they only circled overhead, laughing at her.
"Help me!" she cried to them.
But their faces were changing, swimming in and out of focus, and melding together to form one face, the face of a human.
"Nightmares, half-elf?" the face said, its accent not of Havenost.
Amber blinked, and she realized she was huddled in the corner of a small boat, which was floating along in a clear river. Amber could tell they were still in Havenesti, and greenish sunlight filtering down told her they were in the forest, but she didn't recognize the area. A human male was sitting opposite her, dressed like one of the soldiers from the old stories, stories about the outer lands.
The outer lands!
Amber sat bolt upright, preparing to clamber out of the boat, but she couldn't move her hands, and, noting the stinging pains in them, she realized they were bound behind her back.
The soldier chuckled.
"No, I can't have you running off now, My Lady. That wouldn't be very prudent, to go off to your fabled city and find out that you'd ratted all of us out and all you and your mates had run off into these accursed woods. So I am sorry, but you are going to stay with me."
It took a few seconds for his words to sink in. Amber couldn't believe that anyone would want to attack the beautiful city, nor could she believe that he could call the wood accursed when it was so full of life and pure magic. Yet she was careful not to let her shock or utter horror show in her face. Until she could escape, she might as well use the situation to Havenost's advantage.
"You're all alone, but you think you can storm our city? You're mad!"
He laughed, a rich, full laugh that seemed to come from deep inside him.
"Alone? No, little maid, it is you who is mad if you think I would ever come alone."
"Well, you were alone, until you caught me, and I don't even count as being un-alone, because I would never storm the city with you. And if you think there are others with you, then you are most definitely hallucinating, and are undeniably out of your mind."
The soldier laughed again.
"I like your wit, half-elf maid," he said. "What's your name?"
"My name should mean nothing to you." Amber replied. Thinking quickly, she added,
"Tell me your name first, sir. I'm afraid I don't tell my name to strangers." She paused. He had begun chuckling again.
"Yes, you definitely have wit, Lady. Alright, you win, I shall tell you my name." He smiled wickedly. Amber hated it, but she liked his smile. It was slightly crooked, and full of happiness and mischief. Despite herself, she began to smile too. "You can't tell anyone what my name is though, ok? I mean, if you were ever to escape, I don't want them to know my name. Lord Am--, I mean, my lord would have me killed for telling you my name and then letting you escape. It would be a double offense and would earn me a death sentence." He leaned towards her as if about to divulge a life-altering shred of gossip. "My name is Commander Ryland Blaze, and I am the commander of the entire Covdiem Forces, second only to the Lord Amali himself." The commander grinned. "I wasn't supposed to tell you that, so just pretend you don't know, alright?"
"Why would I ever do anything to help you?" Amber demanded, her smile vanishing. "You have invaded my home, a home that my ancestors built with their own toil, sweat, and blood, and a land that we have loved for centuries. We never bothered you. Why are you going to take that away from us?"
Ryland shrugged. "Why not?"
Amber glared. "Well you must have a reason of some sort. Or maybe not. You of the outer lands have always been twisted and evil, with no good reason. I suppose you just like to see suffering."
Ryland raised an eyebrow. "We aren't all evil. I'm not evil; I just like having power above others. Most people have to please hundreds of lords who are above them, and constantly fear for their lives. I only have to answer to one, and fear one: Lord Amali. And he might be evil, but he treats those under his command fairly. I live this way to keep myself safe and rich enough to survive. No, Lady, I am not evil. I just know what I want, and this is the best way to get it."
Amber couldn't believe her ears.
"So you and all your people just allow yourselves to be oppressed, and go along with whatever an evildoer commands because you are too cowardly to stand up for what you believe to be right? Why don't you all rise against him if you are all so scared? Surely one man, no matter how evil, is no match for all of you? Or why don't you flee to Havenost and ask for refuge?"
Ryland's face darkened. "As if your people would ever let us in! There have been those in the past who have tried, but they were turned away. And it is not just one evil lord, there are quite a few, Lady, and you have no idea of fear or evil, or what it can do to someone, because you have never had to face it."
He turned away from her, his face dark and brooding. Amber sighed, lookind around at the trees, trying to think of a way to escape. An odd feeling was tugging at her, one she could not understand. It had been such an odd day, with such odd happenings in such a short time, and she had heard that those from the outer lands were despicable and horrid, yet Ryland didn't seem so, and although she didn't know why, Amber knew she would miss him once she had escaped. Not wanting to admit this to herself for more than a few moments, Amber decided that she would try to find out as much about the scout's plans and the plans of his troops. With this thought fresh in her mind, Amber settled back into the boat and began contemplating what exactly to find out.