"...larey? Valery?" A faint voice called as I struggled to open my eyes. Failing that I groaned instead, trying to shift onto my side. Unable to move I tried to raise my head, a dull throbbing in my head making me hiss.
"Oww!" I gasped, finally shifting onto my right side. This time I managed to open my eyes, finding a familar face staring at me. "Roshani? Where are we?" I whispered, staring at a patch of dried blood on his neck.
"Captured by Batari. An ambush." Roshani explained, sitting beside me as I sat up the pain in my head making me lightheaded.
"Darn. Should have known she'd come after us...or you anyway. Now we're stuck in here." I grumbled, moving my hands only to find them bound tightly with vines. "Just perfect."
"Not so bad. We are not dead." Roshani replied, leaning close and I leant my head against his. "Not yet." He added and I rolled my eyes, ignoring the dull ache behind my eyes.
"Thanks for that. Still I guess you're right. Maybe someone will find us before Batari does...whatever she has planned for us. Probably sacrifice us to Suxli." I sighed and Roshani turned his head slightly, a frown on his face. "I'm kidding. Maybe she'll just enslave us."
"I am a commander, not a slave." Roshani shot back and I giggled, somehow finding this whole situation funny. Or maybe I had a concussion and it was affecting me.
"Sorry. Not feeling too good right now. Head stings." I told him, closing my eyes. I had only just fallen into a light doze when I was startled awake, a loud voice shouting at us and I snapped my head up to find several masked Izila standing over us.
"Stand up!" A man shouted and I tried to stand, head spinning. I almost collapsed only for Roshani to move to my side, making an attempt to help me to my feet. But the Izila just growled, pushing Roshani away before he roughly hauled me to my feet. Woozy, I didn't fight as he dragged me from the makeshift prison not caring when I stumbled. "Move." He snapped as I stumbled along, Roshani at my side with his hands bound like mine.
Wordlessly we followed the warriors who glared at Roshani, shoving him. Somehow I kept my feet on the ground, despite the pain radiating through my skull as I followed the Izila along a dirt path. After a long walk we came to a hut, one Izila pushing me towards the doorway.
I paused, causing one of the warriors to shove me hard and I fell into the hut smacking my knees on the ground. I yelped and the warriors laughed, Roshani glaring at him before they shoved him inside too before they stood in front of entrance.
"Valery, are you hurt?" Roshan asked as I sat up. Seeing the glare I gave the entrance he managed a weak smile.
"Mostly my pride. We have to escape otherwise..." I trailed off when Roshani grimaced and that brought a tiny smile to my lips. "Well you already know. Any ideas?"
"Wait until nightfall to escape?" Roshani suggested and I nodded, pleased with his answer. And a little surprised too. "Then we wait until then. For now we should find a way to break these vines."
"We need a knife or something. Let's see what's in here." I said, keeping my voice low in case our guards heard us talking. I glanced around the hut, using my eyes only until I saw something in the far left corner of the hut. "Perfect." Climbing to my feet I tiptoed over to a bowl and after a struggle I grabbed it between my hands.
"A bowl?" Roshani whispered, head tilted to one side as I brought the bowl over. "What help will that be?"
"Just watch." I whispered back, holding it just above the floor. With a grin I slammed it as hard as I could on the ground. All it did was make a dull thud and I quickly glanced at the entrance, afraid someone would hear. No one appeared in the doorway and I let out a breath, Roshani still staring at me. Then he grinned, holding out his hands in front and I handed the bolw over.
"Good idea but no strength." Roshani muttered and I rolled my eyes as he lifted the bowl. I had to admit he was right as he smacked the bowl into the floor with more force than I could manage, at least injured anyway. Seconds later the bowl shattered and Roshani grinned, holding a piece of broken pottery between his fingers. Without speaking he leant in and started cutting the vines from my hands, chewing his bottom lip.
I tried very hard not to grin at the face he pulled as he sawed away, cutting through the vines in seconds. Dropping the bowl shard he watched as I retrieved it, taking care as I severed his bindings. Now free I hid the broken piece as Roshani rubbed his wrists.
"Maybe we should leave now." I suggested but he shook his head, obviously set on his idea. Reluctantly I nodded, settling against his side as I waited for night to fall.
I must have fallen asleep, for real this time when a hand shook my shoulder, making me open my eyes to find Roshani staring down at me.
"You fell asleep." He commented, grinning when my cheeks burned. "Do not be embarrassed. You are injured."
"Doesn't matter I couldn't stay awake for a few hours. So is it night yet?" I whispered, lifting my head and he nodded. Taking my hand he helped me to my feet, his hand never leaving mine as he guided me towards the entrance of the hut. Finding our guards gone I followed as Roshani lead me towards the front of the outpost, pulling me back with a quick tug on my arm if we were in danger of being spotted. I let him lead the way, his knowledge of the Izila outposts keeping us alive.
After what seemed like hours we left that outpost, without the alarm being raised but I didn't make a sound afraid that a single word would bring death to us both. It wasn't until we were halfway across the forest, not far from the Wenja village that I heard shouts and I almost screamed when someone grabbed my shoulder a hand clamped over my mouth.
My heart beating wildly I didn't resist as Roshani pulled me into the cover of the trees, watching with wide eyes as a trio of Izila walked past only inches from us. When one paused, eyes scanning the trees, Roshani pulled me close against him and I could feel his heart beating as fast as mine. It wasn't until the Izila left our hiding place that Roshani relaxed, his hand moving from my mouth.
"That was too close." I whispered and he nodded. We took our time heading back, being very careful not to make a sound. Soon we reached the Wenja village and I finally relaxed, glad to be home. Or at the very least as close as I could get. But as we entered the village I began to feel faint, the earlier pain in my head returning with a vengeance and I paused midstep as I shook my head to clear it.
Which only made me feel queasy and I hunched over, holding my stomach. Roshani noticed me looking pained and he moved to my side, offering his hand but I shoved it away when my stomach revolted. Keeping a safe distance away Roshani watched as I threw up into the bushes, trying not to get anything on my shoes or clothing. After a few coughs I wiped my mouth, stomach aching before I took a shaky step towards Roshani who stared at me.
I never even saw him reach to catch me as I collapsed, a sigh escaping before everything went dark.