11 - A new morning
As thin rays of light worked their way laboriously through slits in the entrance-way to the tent Niera opened her eyes blearily. Looking around her in odd abandon it was not until her eyes came to rest upon the form of Achilles, lying stretched out upon his pallet of furs, Niera wouldn't have called it a bed, that memory was restored to her. Last night's proceedings came back to her with a rush and with a rapid blink of her lashes Niera's last re-collation was a back-handed fist coming her way. Trying to shake her head to wake herself thoroughly Niera, despite herself, groaned. A throbbing pain rushed to take it's place in the side of her forehead. Wishing desperately that she could take back those words last night, the same words that now earned her this nauseating pain, Niera pushed herself slowly up on one arm, an arm that was now unbound. She was lying on a fur skin, Niera would have been the last to know what type of animal it was from, over to one corner of the tent, just opposite of Achilles. It took several minutes of continued thinking for Niera to actually realise that both her hands and feet were free, that she could escape. Head pounding Niera rose slowly to her feet, sand cushioning against any noise. With bated breath Niera reached to push back the flap of the tent. At that moment a casual voice interrupted Niera's bright plans for escape.
"I would not try that if I were you."
Scowling despite the pain Niera turned back again, her hands crossing firmly under her chest. Niera glared at the form of Achilles who was still lying prone on his bed, light eyes open and watching Niera with languid interest.
"Why wouldn't you be doing this" The tone was that of burning sarcasm and exasperation. She hated being toyed with! A lazy smile rose to Achilles strong-jawed face as he answered,
"My men surround this tent. Thirty and five myrmidons who have not touched a women since we sailed from Greece."
The voice was like the smile, lazy and laughing as if exulting in Niera's helplessness. Niera's hands sprang to her sides, fist clenching and unclenching, with a voice quivering with barely controlled anger Niera spat out,
"You think that frightens me"
Rape had never really entered her mind. Death yes, but the other... Niera shivered suddenly, through her anger feeling that same wave of fear that was only just held at bay. Despite her words she did feel fear. Well, in any case, even if Achilles men did ever manage to catch her while she was escaping she could put up a fairly good account of herself. Rape! The word rose up like bitter bile in Niera's mind. Such a thing was indeed present in the modern world but here... Here it could be done out in the open of any place to a slave and no one would take the least bit of notice. Chest now heaving from her thoughts, from the helplessness of everything, Niera tried to calm herself, to get a grip of everything. She lost her head to quickly when it came to this man and his words, she let him have to much of an effect on her. With a resolved grimace Niera whirled to return to her pallet and instantly wished she hadn't been so abrupt. With another groan and just missing falling from the dizzy flight of colours that collided with her senses, Niera stumbled onto her pallet, her knees drawn up and her hands cradling a fiercely aching head. Achilles observed her for a moment, the small smile fading as he intently watched Niera's reaction to his words. He knew fear when he saw it and there was fear in the girl but it was held back by anger. Achilles had always retained his self-posture, he thought of himself as a smoothly trained warrior, killing coldly. He also knew his capacity to anger but it was usually kept away by his own rigorous control. Here however, the girl's anger seemed to sustain her rather than wear away at her. Stating merely what he saw he answered her question after watching her, with even more interest, stumble to her furs.
"I see fear within you. A fear that whispers despair into your heart, that speaks of your own undoing, that fore-knows your own end. I know my death, my end and am content. Will you be so with your own"
Niera, despite herself, felt her body tremble, the fear was pushing hard now, almost breaking through the anger barrier that held it. She shut her eyes quickly, not now caring if Achilles saw her reaction. She was alone. No one would help her. She wanted to lie down and forget everything, she wanted to sleep, to return to the dream world that had cast her into this unknown world. Into this ancient time. Clenching her jaw, eyes still shut, hoping to block out Achilles presence, Niera refused to answer the warrior. Minutes passed and as they passed so abated Niera's sense of despair that had been brought on by Achilles dooming words. Hunger pains gnawed agonizingly at her belly. She needed food. As if reading the thought and realsing that Niera would not answer Achilles rose from his bed, his tunic hanging about his body in loose folds.
"Eat then. There is food."
Niera's eyes flashed open at the mention of food and at Achilles gesture her gaze alit upon a silver platter that lay upon a chest in the corner. Catching up a oblong loaf of bread Achilles tossed it to her. Niera's eager hands grasped the loaf possessively and was about to sink her teeth into it when she looked up at Achilles who was still standing there, watching her. With a surge of stubborn pride Niera knew she wouldn't taste that bread until Achilles at least looked away. He was not about to see her tear away at the food like a hungry animal. There was a silent pause for several minutes before Achilles shrugged and catching hold of the tent flap, drew it back, just ready to duck outside his head turned and looking into Niera's steel eyes he said quietly.
"Remember my words. It will not be upon my head if my men catch you out of my tent."
With those last words and earning a desperate glare from Niera he strode quickly out onto the beach. Leaving Niera to her food.