-22-
As cold rain made it's way through the canopy of limbs overhead a small figure stumbled, catching itself just before falling. A heavy fog moved over the earth reminding Niera all to clearly of her recent experience. Not as though she could forget, not with that... thing in the back of her mind. It was perhaps midday and Niera had been moving for the past eight hours, she had now reached the last limits of her endurance and no longer even cared if anyone found her. She was beyond even caring what had happened to her. Her body was numb with exhaustion the only feeling that made any impact on her was hunger which gnawed unceasingly at her stomach. Dragging herself under the gnarled roots of a large tree she collapsed, passing out of this world for the time being.
Meanwhile a small group of men ran easily through the thick trees, their armour laid aside for better time. If Niera had known how close they were to her she might have found a last reserve to attempt to hide herself but oblivious to the waking realm she slept, her body curled up to keep as much warmth as she could, raindrops splattered persistently creating a soothing tempo.
A stag, walking placidly through the forest, eating here and there spotted the human figure with vague interest. Moving closer it sniffed Niera's body, then it's ears moved forward, it's head lifting and with a sudden flick of it's tail it dashed off through the undergrowth. Several minutes later the cause for the stag's behavior made their appearance.
Niera's first conscious feeling was the strange presence in her head, the thought of it brought all other memories clearly to mind. And sitting up groggily she opened her eyes. What she saw was nothing that pleased her.
It was nearly six hours later when... face tightened with fear, Niera watched as several priests were ushered out of the dwelling before her. Niera blinked as daylight penetrated, her eyes already darting about for inspiration. She had woken from her sleep to find herself once again captive, with a slight change. Agamemnon had switched ownership with Achilles. The warrior was still gone, hunting her. She didn't know what was happening but it was best to find some alternative than what was chosen for her. The small company of fellow captive priests were being herded along through the camps before her, a guard pushing her along. Only then, walking through the countless camps did Niera begin to understand how many people 'thousands' were. Despite the size of the shelters Niera noticed a significant lack of activity, where were all the soldiers? A few minutes more brisk walking quickly answered her, a great throng was gathered down at the shoreline where a huge fire had been erected, it's flames reaching eagerly for the sky. Niera shivered without knowing why, something felt wrong, more wrong than just being prisoners.
None of the priests were showing any concern, or for that matter any emotion. The conscious ones acted half trance-like. Not able to take the suspense any longer Niera plucked the elbow of a prisoner beside her, "Where are we going?" She asked urgently, keeping her voice low. The man looked quietly at her before shaking his head, as if pronouncing woe. All to soon they reached the fire, where a lone shape stood out from the rest, a long curved knife held firmly in one hand. Niera quickly recognised, with a flash of hate, Agamemnon. With a burst of understanding Niera turned, trying to run through the gap in the line. The nearest soldier caught her quickly, dragging her along with the others.
Blinded with her need to get away, she struggled uselessly, wasting her energy in kicking and pulling. Later she cursed her panicked fighting, but what we may plan at one time seems to desert us in the moment of action. Her movement almost frozen in horrid fascination Niera watched as dagger bearing man lifted his hands, as if in invocation, and began to speak. With sudden surprise Niera realised she couldn't understand him. So far in all her dealings with this past she had understood various tongues fluently, why not this one? She didn't have much time or motive to consider the question for long as the first priests in line were hauled roughly forward, they put up no protest and let themselves be taken towards the menacing figure, now chanting fervently.
Watching in stricken fascination Niera couldn't bring herself to look away as the Agamemnon, his dagger held firmly with one hand pulled back the neck of his first victim, with a twisting slash he cut the man's throat watching in silence along with the rest of the assembly as the former priest gave a decrepit gurgle, his life substance pouring from him. Niera could make no noise and was envisioning herself in the place of that priest. By the time the bodies had grown, lying there in a heap before the sacrificing leader, Niera had pulled together what wits she could and was casting about for an escape route, as unlikely as the possibility could be she couldn't give up until every last option had been exhausted. The whole while the soldier near her had kept a firm grasp on her bound wrists, just when she was seriously considering knocking herself out she was shoved forward, toward the thirsty and bloodstained dagger. Waiting for that cold steel to meet her flesh Niera involuntarily closed her eyes, hating herself while she did so. As she did so a voice cut through her mind, softly but with clarity that couldn't be missed.
"Your Power!"
Opening her eyes Niera caught the flash of the blade coming towards her, her hands bound behind and her body held stiffly by her guard she couldn't move. Not physically. Forgetting everything but those words that still pounded through her head she seized ahold of her power, all tentativeness she'd had before vanished. Filled with that pulsing energy and almost not knowing what she was doing Niera sent a wave of force towards Agamemnon. Like a shock tremour Agamemnon and anyone else within a twenty foot radius was knocked backwards. Struggling to their feet eyes wide and staring they saw what Niera herself could not. A pale blue glow immolated from her body, lingering here and there in indistinct flashes. Taken up by the feeling of power and strength Niera snapped the ropes that tied her hands. With a sudden draining feeling she slumped, so tired she could barely hold herself up she stumbled before falling. What had happened? Gazing vaguely out of blurred eyes Niera saw Agamemnon point, his voice high with fear and rage.
"Seize her!"