13 - Answers that lead nowhere

Niera was crouching bitterly in her corner of Achilles tent, her dark hair loose and flung over her shoulders, her steel eyes thick with resentment. Her expression could almost have been called childish so sulking was it. Another person might have laughed to see her in such a position but for the seriousness and actuality of it all. Niera had been thinking furiously about Achilles words and would have called it a bluff if not for the dooming realism that he wasn't lying to her about his men and their, Niera's mind inserted the word, problems. The tents were packed to closely together for her to make a clean escape, not in the daylight anyway. Biting her lip Niera's brows contracted, her mind trying to come up with some sort of plan, some way to get free of this horrid Greek camp. An abrupt movement at the entranceway caught her eyes as Achilles strode purposefully into the lodging. Niera stayed where she was, glaring smolderingly at him. Instead of ignoring her presence, as he had done mostly since she had first arrived, the warrior moved swiftly over to her, towering menacingly. Something was wrong, Niera could feel it almost instantly, not only through Achilles hostile actions but in the very atmosphere in the tent.

"Who are you?"

The words were fired quickly, impatiently, their tone leaving no room for dismissal or disobedience in answering. Niera blinked. Ah, not good. The words flashed briefly in her head as her hands raised themselves automatically in a defensive position. Tilting her head to one side Niera's tongue once more set to work doing as much damage and insult as she could.

"Suffering memory loss then? As I already told you, I am Niera."

There was a definite cynical twist to her comment as Achilles blue eyes turned to hardened chips of ice, his face seemed even grimmer than before as he leaned down, his face inches from Niera's.

"You will tell me all you know of trojans, of greeks, of yourself and where you come from, of this war itself. You will speak and you will speak NOW!

Niera, despite her resolve, flinched backwards at the forceful and deadly sound of his statement. He was serious in his threatening, she was sure of that. There was no mistaking the sincerity of his manner, his face was unreadable, set in a mask of un-etchable stone. Swallowing quickly Niera tried to gather her wits to prepare for either intense pain or for the brain-storming work of trying to create a plausible story to satisfy Achilles demands. Neither were options she leaned towards. Another moment passed, Achilles poised dangerously over a grimacing but defiant Niera. Words, thoughts, lies chased each other irritatingly through Niera's mind. She wasn't getting anything! With a shake of her head her eyes went back to Achilles.

"I... You don't.. I can't."

She blurted out lamely, the words stemming from frustration and pure incapacity to know what else to say. Her face creased with the problem of it all Niera tried to reason her words, she couldn't lie to this man without being found out, she very well couldn't tell him the truth, to remain silent was to invite who know what, and... Niera sighed, there really was no way out.

"You don't understand."

She finally spoke again, not knowing how desperate and almost pleading her words sounded. "I can't tell you. It's all wrong.. You can't..."

Running out of words to explain and wishing she could just close her eyes and be away from it all Niera gave up trying to speak. Achilles face was as stern as ever but a new sensation had crept into his eyes. Curiosity. What was it that held the girl so firmly in check, that kept her so guarded, even from his threats that many another person would have wilted under. Even so, he would have the truth from her, reluctance on her part or no.

"You will tell me everything slave. You would do well to remember that I am your master now, I say what happens to you."

The words were meant to be harsh and cutting, meant to bring the girl to her senses and speak. However, Achilles had not counted on them putting the girl's back of even more. With a flash of her eyes Niera drew herself up, her breath coming in quick spurts.

"Slave is it? Let me tell you something Achilles. I am no slave, I never have been and I never will be no matter what you or anyone else says. The minute I can I will get free of this place and happily watch others walk over your grave. Great Achaean warrior!"

Niera spat, her face tightened in intense anger.

"I'll not tell you anything, kill me if you like, you'll get nothing from me!"

Niera was sure she didn't prefer death to talking but her overpowering wrath took control and as always Niera was run by her mouth. Fairly quivering with her emotion the more wiser part of Niera watched apprehensively for Achilles reaction. To her immediate surprise, and perhaps Achilles too, the warrior threw back his head, laughing. Working to keep her mouth from dropping open Niera wondered if the man had gone mad, apparently not as he regained his composure. Still smiling quirkily he faced Niera squarely.

"You are right. You were not born to be a slave, it is not in your blood. You come from high up wherever your country is."

Niera hid the urge to chuckle, high up indeed, middle-class family. Achilles smile faded as he regarded Niera steadily.

"I will find what I need to know small one."

He finally breathed out, his eyes boring her own. With an uncomfortable prickle Niera couldn't help but wonder how he meant to find out. Trying to act non-affected she tried relaxing her position as Achilles, still glancing at her, moved away, to his own pallet.