Chapter Eleven: No words to speak...
Be brave, little one.
Keep your spirit from harm.
Be brave, little one.
Lady Tamaida of Ninequor to her daughter when she was a baby.
"You should be resting, Sir Domitran." Teirra insisted once again as she helped steady the horse she had found for him. It was the arrogant stallion that had come to assist them in the woods in their last adventure.
"Nonsense. You had to bring him?" The big knight motioned toward Jak, who was settling the knight's saddle.
"He was keeping the horses. If we left him behind he would inform Wyhon who would alert the Lioness. We can't have that." Teirra patted the horse's neck.
"You'll need help if you run into trouble. Three heads are better than two." Jak pointed out.
"I hope we don't run into trouble." Teirra conceded, vividly remembering their previous experience. She didn't want to see that happen again. In fact, as much as she wanted to find Grufford, she would prefer to remain at camp as she was told.
"We won't. We're just doing some scavenging and scouting work. You do it all the time. Mount up, Riders." Domitran shifted in his saddle as the horse turned about.
Teirra cast a worried glace at Jak who merely shrugged in reply. There would be no help from his direction. Jak clearly wanted some action of any kind. A part of her sympathized with that. She followed behind her friend and mounted Prancer.
It took them a bit of time to circle around to the rear of Slate Coast. Domitran kept them away from direct sight to avoid being mistaken as the enemy, though he displayed his shield in any matter. Teirra was used to sneaking about. They kept to the forest trees, focusing on any tracks they could find. Their hunch was that if Grufford went to and from the castle frequently, there may be a hidden path. It made sense.
"Here." Jak stopped and slipped from his saddle smoothly. He went and knelt near the ground.
Teirra followed suit and went to Jak's side, but remained standing to keep a watch on foot. It also allowed her to see the path more clearly. "A path. He didn't have the sense to hide it."
"I don't see much." Domitran admitted, coming up beside them on horseback.
"The flattened blades of grass here and the brush moved aside over there. Not much, but something." Jak pointed out.
"Alright, let's tie up the horses and follow." Domitran suggested, then caught Teirra's glance. "We'll be quiet."
"You will?" She raised a bow and almost smirked.
Domitran flashed a smile, catching her teasing tone. "I will."
Teirra sighed, still apprehensive, but did as she was told. Domitran was a superior officer and was giving an order, honor told her to obey.
She tied Prancer to the tree in the best knot she could. She didn't want the horse to come running after her. Teirra assured the worried horse that no harm would come. He would be safe there and she would be safer without him following her into the woods.
"Let's go." Domitran waved to her as he and Jak started into the woods. They were already well on their way when she started after them. She still wasn't sure about this trip. She glanced over her shoulder almost expecting Alan to see marching after them, angry and disappointed that she disobeyed.
She was committed into following them now and did so with her full attention. She became as she was trained to be, a scout and the best in her group. Teirra glanced around her and watched the corner of her eyes for any movement that was out of the ordinary. The forest seemed quiet, as if they knew trouble was brewing only a few miles away and they needed to stay hidden. It was just as well for Teirra.
"Teirra!" Domitran whispered to her harshly and she hurried to his side so he didn't have to talk louder than necessary. "Up head. Jak came back and reported a camp. I think that's our best shot."
Teirra stiffened. "Yes, I suppose it is. Just, I beg you sir, don't step on any twigs. I want to get back before Sir Alan does. He'll be furious." She nearly winced at herself. It sounded far too like her brother.
Domitran smiled and patted her shoulder gently. "Don't worry. It will be fine. I'll stay back here if it helps."
Teirra smiled in return. It was hard to stay tense with Domitran's easy nature so close. "Alright."
Slowly, she crept up as close as she would dare to the little camp. There, several, if not a dozen men sat together. They talked, much too low for Jak or herself to hear much and motioned toward the ground. Teirra guessed it was a make-shift map. Near the center sat Grufford, comfortably speaking Scanran from the looks of it. Teirra's blood stirred hot with anger. This man sat so comfortably while others died for him and because of him. She had to bite her tongue to keep quiet.
Jak motioned to her that the Scanran's were discussing the battle going on. Teirra was grateful that Jak knew some of that language. At least one of them wasn't completely in the dark as to what was going on.
"One of them is scrying." The voice came from behind as Domitran snuck up.
Teirra turned her head to look at him. "I thought you were going to stay back, sir."
"I was." He smiled. "But I couldn't keep myself still."
Teirra nodded silently and turned her attention back to the camp where Grufford sat. "Scrying?"
"Yes. It's what the Gifted ones do. We'd best be careful. They could be looking for us." Domitran whispered, then moved away to take a position on one side of the camp. It was much the same formation that they had used with Alan in their last scouting mishap. It was eerie to Teirra.
Men! A warning from Prancer sounded in her head like a huge bell. Teirra nearly jumped out of her very skin before she relayed the message to her friends. Jak nodded in reply and slipped into the foliage as if he were some woodland nymph. Domitran on the other hand, merely backed the way he had come. At least he was much quieter than she would have hoped.
Teirra slowly backed away and turned, still eyeing the camp. When her eyes snapped around, they caught the sight of a large, dirty Scanran, who growled a welcome. He raised a large hand to hit her, but she ducked under and made a run for it.
The Scanran was quicker than his bulk suggested and he turned in time to catch her arm and fling her to the ground roughly. It was a clumsy fall that left Teirra struggling to pull herself to her feet in time to avoid another swinging grasp.
She reached into her belt to grab one of the knives she had stuffed there when she was so angry. Teirra maintained a careful distance from the man. The man raised his arm to hit her and she raced in to slash at the incoming arm, cutting a shallow, but painful cut. But she had used too much of her own momentum to get herself back into a balanced stance in time and he grabbed a hold of her belt and swung her around until she fell.
Struggling to put her feet beneath her, a man came from behind and placed a knife to her throat and grabbed her wrist that held her own knife. Teirra froze on instinct.
"Drop the blade, lass." Whoever the man was, he spoke without a Scanran accent. Teirra reluctantly obeyed. "Now, to your feet, without a fuss." He pulled her up.
Prancer! Please, help! She cried feebly, knowing that the horse couldn't pull free of his restraints. She kicked herself for doing such a good job at the knot. Teirra could have used his help about now.
"Walk." The voice ordered.
Teirra locked her knees, determined not to move, no matter how afraid she felt. She wasn't going to be a willing prisoner. Her honor would not let her give in. Be brave, she told herself sternly.
"Walk!" A knee came up to her back in a sharp pain that made her wince.
When she opened her eyes, Grufford stood before her, smirking. "It must kill you not to know how I got here, my lady."
Teirra glared daggers at the man before her who was the cause of so much of her anger and her drive to get to the place she was. "You are dishonorable, I am sure you found some horrible way to escape. Unfortunately, I don't believe you will be walking free for long."
Grufford laughed lightly. "Ever your mother's daughter, I see. You're father would never waste words." Then he looked beyond her to the man keeping her captive. "Bring her to camp. You, set up the field. I don't want her friends scrying for her and finding her. I believe we have found a wonderful tool that could lead to our victory."
Teirra's mouth dropped in alarm, though no words came out for a few, long moments. "I will not be a 'tool'. I will not help you."
"Of course you won't, my lady. I won't expect you to corporate. You won't have to, pretty little horse-girl. They'll come looking for you." Grufford smirked at her as she struggled against the man that held her.
"It would be easier to kill her." The man behind her grumbled.
"In time. Gag her and let's move." Grufford turned on his heel.
A rough cloth pulled tight around her mouth, muffling anything she tried to say. She was half-dragged, half-carried, back to the camp she'd been spying on, her heels digging into the ground whenever she could to stall. Finally, the man, frustrated, threw her to the ground in a wind breaking fall. She didn't see much else, when her world went dark. Teirra's best guess was that the cloth had some chemical in it. Teirra hated that.
Author's note: Deep breathe… I only hope this chapter fits with the rest. I have a plan, don't worry, but then again, I had a plan before than changed. I do have at least the next two after this planned, so that should help things. Let's all hope I know what I am doing. I just hate how late this update is. This chapter has been written for at least two weeks, but you know how new computers are and switching files over has been consuming. But good news, I plan to update regularly until this is finished, whenever that may be. Deep breathe… I only hope this chapter fits with the rest. I have a plan, don't worry, but then again, I had a plan before than changed. I have at least the next two after this planned, so that should help things. Let's all hope I know what I am doing. I just hate how late this update is. This chapter has been written for at least two weeks, but you know how new computers are and switching files over has been consuming. But good news, I plan to update regularly until this is finished, whenever that may be.