Miklian's heart pounded in his chest as he looked down on the pale creature that stood before him. Her skin was smooth as sea glass and her hair, though tied up, was dark as coal.
"Human, what business have you being in here?" He tried to use the most commanding tone he could muster, but seeing her shivering as she tried to hide her body from him made his heart ache. Glancing around quickly, he assumed one of the other captains, or perhaps his brother had put her in here as a prank. After all, if he couldn't please a giant, perhaps humans were better suited to him. A common joke among those he called friends.
"Please, don't hurt me! I'm sorry! They said to stay here until you got back! I'm sorry! Please! Please don't hurt me!" Her panicked voice was soft, trying to not give herself away as she begged and pleaded for his mercy. Her eyes would not meet his, and in all ways he could not blame her. She was indeed much smaller than he, only coming up to his belt if he had to venture a guess. Kneeling down to match her level, he reached out a hand to try to comfort her.
"Be quiet. I am not going to hurt you. Who brought you in here-Gah!" He had left his guard down just enough that she was able to grab the knife from his boot, which for her was easily a sword, and bring it up to nearly cut his throat. The sound of surprise was all he had time to make before she kicked hard into his exposed groin and brought him toppling to the ground. In a flash, she was straddling his neck with the knife aimed at his eye. If he moved, she would kill him.
A slow silence permeated the tent as if she were making sure no one was listening, but it gave him a moment to look at her.
She was stunning. Strength showed through in delicate muscles that were hidden beneath a supple layer of just enough fat that she looked harmless, but in reality she had felled and taken hostage a giant with such ease, it was simple to assume she had done so before. Her body was curved and plush in such a way as he was mesmerised.
"Stop staring or I'll kill you." Her voice had changed, all fear was gone and in its place was a ferocity that sent shivers down his spine. He opted instead to stare up at the ceiling of the tent, seeing as the blade right before his eye was rather difficult to focus on. "You are the new captain, yes?"
"Yes, I am Captain Miklian." He kept his voice down, not entirely sure why he didn't shout or make sure someone heard them. Even if his life was forfeit, why was he letting her get away with this?
"Good. If you cooperate, you get to live. If you refuse, I kill you right here and now." The dominance in her tone and posture left his palms sweating profusely.
"What are your demands?" Why was he giving in to her? What kind of spell was this? Did he really value himself so lowly that a mere human was able to speak to him in this way? And why did he want to stare at her for hours on end?
"Our demands are simple: Stand down. You don't know what they're trying to find here. Don't listen to the warlocks. They're going to kill us all. Do you understand?" She held the knife in both hands, as though the weight of it was beginning to test her endurance and if he dared look at it he could see the blade wavering just barely.
Thoughts briefly flitted through his mind about taking the blade from her and using it against her instead. How dare she threaten a giant! How dare she stand there with nothing to cover her beautiful body! How dare she shamelessly flaunt such brazen amber eyes! When did he look at her eyes?
"Do you understand, captain?" Her voice was more firm, as though readying herself to plunge the knife into his eye.
"I understand. I will stand down should anything happen. I assume this means something is going to happen, though." She slowly moved the knife away from his eye and moved to stand upright, no longer straddling his neck though still holding the blade towards him at the ready. "To be honest, I hope it's for the best whatever happens."
An eyebrow raised curiously as she glared at him, though when he made no move she stooped to grab a small bundle of cloth and rushed out the tent, leaving the blade just outside the tent entrance.
Miklian sighed, conflicted. If he was to stand down should an uprising happen, he would be court marshalled and probably killed outright. Gods knew his mother had been looking for an excuse ever since he joined the army. If he fought against an uprising, he would just be doing his duty, right? Just following orders. No one could fault him for that. Right?
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Wynessa ran quickly though the darkness of the early morning as she dodged patrols and lights before finding a quiet spot to put her dress back on. Even overhearing that this new captain had "strange appetites" she hadn't expected the rumours to be true. What if he had- No. Stop thinking that way. She had the upper hand the entire time. Didn't she?
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" She muttered to herself as she righted herself before moving to continue back towards the hidden entrance to the ruins they had been excavating. Luck had been on their side that while digging out the ruins, a semi-collapsed tower had shown them a way out and off the mountain plateau. This was her passage in and out of the slaves' camp where her father waited patiently for her return.
Ducking behind the guards as they passed, she easily made her way back to the hut and ducked in through the floorboards without anyone having seen her. This was usual for her, it was why she met with the resistance messengers rather than anyone else.
"Wynnie?" her father whispered, quietly certain that it was her even in the consuming darkness that was the small hut.
"It's me, papa. Don't worry. That new captain won't be an issue from now on." She silently crept to his side, stepping over the sleeping rolls she knew were occupied as they always slept in the same places every night. It was routine.
"Did you kill the monster?" The elderly man's voice was full of pride as he waited to hear of his daughter's first kill.
"Erm... No. I told him to stand down, and he agreed." Her voice wavered slightly, she knew she had gone against the plan but seeing the giant actually try to comfort her as he guessed why she was there... "Something about him is different from the others."
"There is no difference! They are all monsters who took our homes and killed your mother!" His voice did not raise in volume, but the intensity of his words were enough to make her flinch away from him. He sighed and laid down, rolling away from her. "Sleep now, Wynnie. Tomorrow is important."
"Rest well, papa." Tears quietly rolled down her cheeks. She knew she had failed. This was the only time he had asked her to kill, and she had failed. If she had just an ounce more courage, she could have easily put that sword through his stormy grey eye. So why didn't she?! Ugh!
The frustration was almost enough to keep her awake, but once she did fall asleep she found herself dreaming again of his eyes. Deep, soulful grey, like a rain cloud waiting to let loose the droplets that would cast a rainbow across the sky.
The next morning she woke in a fervor, unsure why she had dreamt such things.