When Luke woke the second time, he was keenly aware of bound to a wall. He tried moving his hands, but they only moved a fraction due to whatever metallic binders bound him. His head was swimming, the voices around him were distorted and loud. But he could tell that it was not the voices, but his sensitivity which caused the outrageous headache. His ears tuned into the voices, and could clearly make out a man and a woman. They were arguing – oddly enough, about him.
"What are we going to do with him? When the Guardians find out that you've kept him like a prisoner, they'll have a fit" a female voice shrieked.
"They're not going to find out, are they Douleia? Not unless you run your mouth about it." the man replied.
"My mouth? Have you forgotten, my dear Therizo, that we are outlaws? As soon as the Captain finds out, she will have all of our heads! She has been looking for a reason to put you in the dungeons ever since her brother was captured by you. She won't be as forgiving this time, she's older, and more mistrusting – thanks to the other side of the river" Douleia finished this softly.
"Do I look like I care what the Captain does?" Therizo hissed, whoever this Captain was; it was obvious to Luke that she was feared. "She is sickly, they say she won't survive the next war, she's so weak. And now that there is unrest over the river, all cause of that crash, I don't think she'll be very worried about us. We're perfectly safe" Therizo declared.
"Are we?" Douleia repeated, "Do you not think that she has spies all through the Pelagia forest? The beaches of the Eridanus are not as silent as you think. She will know, that Captain at the capitol, and she will come for us."
Luke heard a slapping sound, followed by a thump. Apparently Therizo had truly lost his temper, "Do not talk to me of the Captain, woman! I am tired of listening about how the Captain is almighty, and how she will destroy us all. She is not all-powerful. I have spies too, and they tell me that she is busy. The Guardians cannot worry about us small wanderers. Outcasts."
"You grow far too proud, Therizo, and your pride will be your downfall" Douleia replied softly.
The sound of a door opening broke through their fighting. "Will you two quiet down? Your argument can be heard in Cairn Corness!"
"That's impossible Damanius, Cairn Corness is a good hundred an' fifty miles off" Therizo replied.
"All the same, can you quiet down? For I would like to keep my head on my shoulders. You know that the Captain has spies everywhere." Damanius asked.
"They don't behead you in Cairn Corness, Damanius, they simply put you in servitude for seven years." Therizo said.
The door closed, as it was clear that Damanius had left. "You heard him, Douleia, quiet down." Therizo ordered gruffly.
"I heard my brother, you don't need to tell me." Douleia replied quietly, shuffling over to where Luke lay.
"What are you doing?" Therizo asked.
"I'm checking on our little guest, he's been sleeping for far too long." Therizo humphed, and stood from his chair, "Very well, you do that. I'm going over to Mikaius' I'll be back in a few hours" Therizo said, the door opened again, then slammed.
"Of course you'd go there. Leave me with a potentially dangerous person, whilst you go gallivanting around. If the Captain comes and raids, then you thoroughly deserve it" Douleia grumbled, shuffling around the room.
Luke heard water being poured into a container, for what use, he wasn't sure. But he didn't wonder for long, as he soon felt a cool cloth brushing his face. "I can't believe he let him get so bloody, beads and beadsteads Therizo, you ought to leave your prisoners somewhat recognizable. I'm surprised he has all of his teeth" Douleia muttered, as if she were talking to Therizo himself.
The rag's cooling effect was rather comforting for Luke, his face very grateful for the relief. He gingerly opened his eyes, and for the first time looked at his surroundings. Douleia however, was the first thing he saw.
She had red hair, frizzed in such a way that she looked electrocuted. A bruise was forming to the right of her right eye, obviously where she had just been struck. She was an older woman, possibly 35, portly, with green eyes which had a look of insanity about them. "Ah, you're awake" she said, noticing that the blue of his eyes could be seen through his lids. He muttered something which could be said as, "Yes"
"Well, how are you feeling?" her voice was surprisingly soft, as if she was truly caring about his wellbeing.
"Terribly." Luke said hoarsely, "I'm thirsty" Douleia nodded, 'of course' is what she said as she stood, moving over to a table, and pouring him a cup of water. She returned to him and brought the cup to his lips, he drank greedily, for he had not drank for – he didn't even know how long. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice less scratched.
"You're in Drumatober, among the Vogelfrei. My husband, Therizo, brought you here" Douleia answered.
"How long have I been here?" Luke asked.
"Two days, apparently your body is very much in shock. You've slept well - that is, I hope." Douleia said quickly, wiping Luke's forehead, he winced, "Forgive me, but you have a rather nasty cut on your hairline. Just endure" she said, pressing a little harder.
For the next five minutes, Douleia cleaned Luke's wounds. She was surprisingly gentle, after all, it was obvious that the Vogelfrei were not a gentle race. He tried again to use the force on her mind, but all he got was a glare in reply. "I see you have regained your faculties" she growled, he withdrew, he had never met with minds like this.
"Don't try it on me, Hospes. On Tyrn, the Force is well used. By all walks of life" she stood abruptly, and walked to the door. She discarded the water outside, and returned to the table. With one last glance at Luke, she walked out of the room.
Luke then had the opportunity to observe his surroundings. The 'house' – if it could be called that – was rather primitive. His home on Tatooine was more adept at being a comfortable home than this. It was made of a mortar-like component, with no constancy. The corners were irregular, and turned at the oddest angles. The was a hearth, on which a fire was lit. There was one table, with three chairs, made of wood. The thought occurred to him: that this was a temporary home. As if set up to be moved out of at any time.
There was, no doubt, more to the house – but it was beyond Luke's sight.
The corner of the room where Luke occupied, was dark; and seeing as there was various vegetation hanging from the ceiling – he could surmise that this room was kept as a storage compartment. It was cool, and dry. The hooks which held the articles of food, he could now observe, were what held him to the wall. Which (despite its appearance) was actually quite sturdy.
Douleia returned a few moments later, a bottle and a cup in her hand. She poured some of the liquid from the bottle in the cup, and filled it with water. She approached Luke and placed the cup to his lips, "Drink, it will help your wounds" she said.
He did as commanded, as he was in no position to disobey. "There, there. It will put you back to sleep, along with a healing drought. Your body recuperates better when asleep." she told him, he hadn't very long to ponder her words, as he began to drift back to a state of unconsciousness.
The next time Luke woke, he heard the sounds of shouts and screams outside of the door of the hut. He tried with the Force to determine what was going on outside. He could ascertain that there was some kind of battle going on. There were two forces at play here. He could sense Therizo just outside the door, and he saw Douleia quickly enter the room, look at him, and leave the hut. He sensed her running in the exact opposite direction of the house, and knew that something was amiss.
Two men, dressed in some kind of uniform stormed in through the door, on seeing him they crossed the house – untying his hands. Luke was lightheaded as he stood for the first time in days, he felt arms supporting his weary body as he was carried out the door.
Were these the 'Guardians' that Douleia and Therizo were discussing? He didn't know, but he wasn't sure that they knew who he was.
"This must be the one that crashed in the river" one of the men said. Scratch that, they knew who he was. He looked down, his jumpsuit was gone, obviously taken by Therizo.
"I'm sure he is," the other replied, "And I know that their majesties won't be too happy to hear that he was treated as a prisoner in Vogelfrei camp. You know how the Captain thinks of it. She gives leeway to these wanderers, yet she has given too much. I think that this time she'll have to pull the slack – and hard if she wishes to keep the loyalty of the men. Her attachment to them is too great"
"Aye, but her majesty is likely to say something on the matter" the first said.
"True, but not if the Queen Mother gets to her first. She will always listen to her." the second retorted.
"This one's in a terrible state, though. The Captain's not likely to like that" the first said.
"No, I don't think that parliament will like that very much either. They have no love for the Vogelfrei" the second said, hoisting Luke up onto a vehicle of sorts. "I'll take him to Cairn Corness, to the healers, we don't want him dying on us." he declared, revving his engine and taking off.
Luke tried to stay awake, but the blood loss that he had sustained, in addition to the drought and pain that he was enduring – he failed miserably. And was soon asleep again. Hoping that whatever awaited him wasn't too bad. Perhaps he would discover what happened to Prentiss. . .at least, he hoped he would. Speaking of such, where was R2? - That was his last conscious thought.