Chapter 37
Rose tried to sleep that night, cold and sore in the snow. Her captor's had given her a piece of stale bread and water to drink but still her stomach growled in hunger. She felt nauseous as the pains in her stomach increased, and she gagged as her stomach churned. Leaning against the tree, she closed her eyes and let out a soft moan as the cramped muscles of her neck and back protested the slight movements. A breeze blew up and she shivered, her breath a plume of smoke in the air, "Ylva…" She thought, "Please help me be strong."
Suddenly a figure appeared from the tent, "You may release the woman now."
Rose's head shot up and winced, "Ralon…"
The boa constrictor came from the tent and watched as Rose was untied from the bonds, wrists held tight by another thief. "Easy boys," Ralon smirked, "She's a rare delicacy, this one." He walked over to her, as her gag was removed, and traced a finger along her jawbone. His touch was oddly warm for a man so cold. "Yes…a rare delicacy indeed." The tone of his voice made Rose shiver, not from cold, but from fear.
Ralon chuckled softly, "Bring her to my tent for proper food and drink. She is after all a princess!" The prospect of proper food, made Rose almost want to follow the thief, but better judgment told her to stay in the cold. Ralon took her arm and led her to a large tent where a small table sat with a steaming roast, biscuits and a tankard of sweet wine. Her bonds were released and yet Rose did not bolt like a frightened deer. She instead stood, still as a statue.
"Come. Sit at my table, your Highness." His offer was dripping with gentlemanly sarcasm and Rose basked in the warmth of the tent for a few precious seconds before slowly making her way to sit at one end of the table.
Persistent hunger pains made Rose eat some of the roast and thirst made her drink some of the berry-flavored wine. She never once looked up to meet her enemy's gaze, yet he kept staring at her through his lashes. The food soon made her sleepy and yet ready to throw up: she had accepted to get herself into this situation and there was no way out now.
Silently, she stood and in a flash Ralon held a dagger to her throat, "I'm not letting you get away that easy, my little Rosie."
Her nerves stretched taut as he threw the dagger to the side and grasped her wrist, "I get my pleasure and you'll get your freedom…soon enough." Rose struggled in his grip and her breathing quickened in dread as her heart pounded painfully in her chest.
Ralon threw her on the bed and pinned her wrists to her sides. He nuzzled her neck and grazed the pale skin at her collarbone. Bending close to whisper in her ear, she tensed as he whispered, in a heated tone, "Soon enough, girl, soon enough."
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Nyesh crept out of the tent, violet eyes scanning the fading horizon. Closing his eyes a moment, he took a deep breath of the winter air and shifted into the sleek form of a wolf, bounding off into the wood. Fear made his muscles hurry on and his chest construct with every breath, yet he knew he must find her.
Shifting back into human form, he turned around as the rustling of branches met his ears. "Nyesh?"
Even in the scant moonlight, Nyesh saw the porcelain-smooth skin, ebony hair and golden eyes that were the wyvern princess'. He stood there in the middle of the clearing and watched as she made her way to him, cheeks flushed, "I know where to find her." She said, her voice also carrying a hint of exhaustion.
Chu'si dragged him through the woods and Nyesh had a feeling that her motives were not good.
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Wrists pinned behind her back, Rose whimpered as Ralon untied the laces of her shirt and his cool hands brushed the skin of her collarbone and breasts, a quiet moan escaping his lips, "So, the rumors of your beauty are true…"
Rose sucked in slow, ragged breaths as she trembled in fear, all strength gone. "Please…" she whispered. "Don't hurt me."
Ralon laughed, "You are wilted, little Rosie. Wilted like a flower." "But you're such a pretty one…"
Rose closed her eyes and bit her lip as the boa constrictor laughed at her weakness and raped her, Rose silently weeping in shame.
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Nyesh wrenched his arm from Chu'si's grip and faced her, "You don't know do you?"
Chu'si averted her gaze, "Would that be a problem?"
Nyesh glared, "A great one, princess."
Chu'si's jaw dropped, "Why you—I come to help and this is the treatment you give me?" When the man didn't answer, she spun on her heel, "Fine then…rot here if you like."
Nyesh scowled and turned away, running in the direction of Ralon's camp.
Chu'si glanced back and grinned, "You're in for it now, boy." She murmured, disappearing into the shadows.
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Rakab woke with a start as someone shook his shoulder, Bialas stood over him, blue eyes worried. "Nyesh is gone, Rak."
Rak shot up, "What?"
"I said: Nyesh is gone." Bialas repeated.
"On his own?" Rakab hastily changed into a shirt and breeches and checked the sheaths at his side and in his boots as the viper nodded. "I thought he was going with someone…trust him to be foolish!" Stumbling from the tent, he looked around the camp and found Senka and Elita with her twin already searching.
"Branwyn, Ginger and Sheila have already gone ahead." Explained Bialas.
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Nyesh hid in the trees watching Ralon's camp with narrowed eyes. The camp was eerily silent, save for the shouted curses coming from one large tent. Nyesh recognized the voice and growled, "Ralon…"
Suddenly a woman was thrown from the tent. In the firelight, Nyesh could see a ripped blanket covering her from the cold as she sobbed, lying in the snow. Pale, bare skin shone in the dim moonlight, covered in bruises. The thief winced as Ralon raised a stick and clubbed her.
Ralon paused, stick still raised; "You are no better then a whore."
"Please Ralon," she begged, "What ever did I do to you?"
Before Ralon could beat her again, Nyesh charged in his panther shape and knocked him aside. He ducked as Ralon swung the stick and, unexpectantly, drove his knee into the soft flesh of his enemy's stomach.
Winded, Nyesh was pushed aside and Ralon stood, grinning. "You are weak. The both of you." Standing over Rose again, the princess flinched before the blow was delivered.
Suddenly, battle cries erupted around the camp and from the trees; a crow, two sparrows, and a raven flew to land in the snow. An emerald boa, a red rat snake, a jaguar, and a white viper slithered from the bushes with a black wolf in the lead. The members of Sheeva Intre had come.
Two of Ralon's followers drew knives and the other nine shifted into their Demi-forms engaging in a bloody battle. A newly found strength and rage grew, causing Nyesh to lash out, panther claws unsheathed. With a roar, Ralon stumbled back, clutching his face and Nyesh rolled out of the way as Ralon fell back inside his tent.
Nyesh quickly hurried over to Rose and cradled her in his arms, as she held onto him with trembling hands, sobbing into his shoulder. "Oh, gods Nyesh…" she whispered in-between sobs, "It was horrid..."
"Shh…Rose it's alright…" "I'll get you out of here." Nyesh wrapped the blanket securely around her and lifted her from the snow. Nyesh looked up from Rose to be met by the sharp, golden gaze of Chu'si.
"Well, well, well whom do have here?" Chu'si's voice dripped with undisguised mockery. "Hm, just as I expected…my cousin and her lover have…" she trailed off and a quiet laugh escaped smirking lips.
"Step aside." It was clearly an order.
But Chu'si did none of that sort. The wyvern princess instead just circled them, golden eyes watching the pair closely. "Couldn't wait could you, thief?" Another quiet laugh bubbled up, "You might be condemned to death…" Chu'si drew a dagger from her waist and, in a quick movement, cut a shallow line across Nyesh's cheek as Rose gasped.
"You drew blood from my lover, and so I draw blood from you." The wyvern princess then ran to Ralon's side as he emerged from the tent, face streaked with drying blood. "Tell mother…tell her I'll not be back for a while."
Nyesh didn't reply, instead stood and, at the shouted order of his father, began hurrying away with a shivering Rose in his arms. Suddenly he broke into a run and disappeared into the trees, back to Wyvern's Court. No one was in sight, so he took her inside, silently, quickly explaining to a guard who had stopped them and then let them pass.
Walking along the halls, the man brought Rose to her chambers and laid her in bed. Quickly kissing her cheek, he rushed to find a healer. The female healer later told him she had better rest and eat to get her strength back and other then that she was fine. When the healer left, he walked back into the room and sat by her bed.
Nyesh noticed that Rose had put on clean clothing and her face was shining with new tears that glinted in the candlelight. Taking her hand and squeezing it comfortingly, he whispered, "Tell me."
Rose faced him with tears in his eyes, "H-He raped me, Nyesh…"
Nyesh held her close as the tears continued to flow. "I'm sorry." He whispered, rubbing her back soothingly. "I'm sorry."
The princess took comfort in his presence and rested her head on his shoulder; drawing back suddenly she noticed the bandaged cut on his cheek. "It is I who should be sorry, dragging you out like that to rescue me," she whispered, "Though I'm glad you did."
"Don't thank me, love." He murmured, stroking her cheek with a thumb. "Just rest."
Rose lay back into the blankets, a deep sigh escaping her. "You'll be here won't you?"
Nyesh smiled, "I will."
"Good." Turning to face Nyesh, she took his hand in hers and closed her eyes sleep overtaking her.
"Goodnight Rose." Nyesh whispered, wondering if Sheeva Intre had been able to end the fight and gotten back safe and sound.
He saw her smile in her sleep.