I tilted my head, not responding.
/More foolish than watching a rebel's rally? More foolish than announcing my political views in public? What could he possibly be implying?/
Whatever it was, I didn't like the sound of it. I began to rise from my chair.
"I don't know what kind of woman you think I am, but--"
"No, wait--" Bastian said, quickly raising a hand.
"Sir, you mistake me if you think that I would do anything dishonorable, even for the likes of you!" I hissed at him.
He paused, a deep, puzzled frown taking over his face.
"What exactly do you think I'm asking you?!"
"I--I don't know! But--"
"Well for Gods' sakes then, woman, would you let me elaborate?" He sighed in exasperation.
He'd grabbed my wrist. Firmly, but not so tight as to cause pain. He looked up at me from his chair, and his dark eyes bore into mine. I couldn't resist.
"Alright. Please do," I gestured with my free hand as I sat down again. Bastian released my wrist, but continued leaning in close to me.
"You spoke quite freely of your disapproval of the kingdom. What if I told you there was something you could do about it?"
"I'm not sure I would believe you," I answered honestly.
"It is too dangerous to fight from within," he admitted, "but a neighboring kingdom has been harboring Prince Sedrick for some time now, and there have been whisperings that they are preparing to--shit."
He stopped suddenly.
I raised an eyebrow and opened my mouth to make a sarcastic comment about the strange end to his sentence, but the look on Bastian's face stopped me. He was no longer looking at me. Instead he was looking out the window, eyes narrowed and jaw clenched.
"I have to attend to something rather urgently. Will you wait for me?"
Before I could even respond, he was out of his chair and striding out the door into the rain.
"...as if I have a choice," I muttered, sinking back into the cushions with a small huff.
I stared into the fire, thinking about what this mysterious man might have been getting at. I absolutely hated it when conversations became interrupted before the point had been made. My mind was racing with possibilities.
Prince Sedrick, the king's younger brother, had been banished from the kingdom days before he was old enough to inherit the crown. He would have had no right to it unless King Alaric died, but there was speculation that the king feared that possibility and banished him to prevent any hopes of an uprising. A prince banished was a prince permanently stripped of their power and money. A prince banished was no longer a threat to a king. Technically, a prince banished was no longer a prince. So what could Sedrick possibly be planning?
The owner returned with my soup while I waited, and I acquired a room for the night, pocketing the key for later. I sat there, fiddling with a loose string in the weave of my skirt while the minutes dragged by. Eventually I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Finally! I was beginning to give up on you!" I chided with a small smile, turning in my seat.
My face fell when I saw the man standing behind me. It wasn't Bastian. It was an enormous man in an emerald and white uniform. One of King Alaric's soldiers.
/That fucking bastard! He's turned me in!/
I barely had time to panic and curse Bastian's name before this new unwelcome man began to speak.
"Aw come now, don't give up on me, beautiful," he slurred, "I'm here now. Let me show you a good time."
The soldier winked at me and gave my shoulder a too-tight squeeze.
/He's drunk!/
For a moment I was relieved that Bastian had not betrayed me. Then a new realization hit me: a drunk soldier taking an interest in me was not exactly a good situation to be in, either. What I /wanted/ to do was tell him to go to hell, but I knew I would have to handle this more delicately than that. I smiled up at him in a way I hoped was friendly without being inviting.
"I'm here with a companion already, but thank you."
"Where would this companion be, then?" The soldier scoffed and raised his hands in mock confusion.
"He must be a dim-witted fellow to leave such a fine creature alone for even a moment. I treat my playthings much better, I promise."
I suppressed the urge to bite his massive hand as he leaned over and caressed my cheek. Instead I pulled my face away and stood up, trying to put more distance between myself and this disgusting man.
"Please, sir, it is not proper," I said firmly.
His eyes darkened warningly.
"...for a soldier of our fine kingdom to go without drink! Please, allow me to purchase one for you to express my gratitude for your sacrifices," I added hastily, holding out a coin.
The soldier blinked at me for a moment, then grabbed the coin.
"Aye. Thank you."
I waited until he was across the room. I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. As soon as it was safe, I hurried from the room, up the stairs and down a hall to where I'd been told my room was located. I fumbled for the key in my pocket. My hands were shaking badly from the close encounter and my frayed nerves. It took several attempts for me to get the key into the lock. Just as I was going to open the door, a loud slam caused me to jump.
In my peripheral vision I saw a pair of massive hands appear, one on either side of the door frame. Trembling, I turned around. The soldier. He had followed me. Despite being rather tall myself, this man dwarfed me by comparison. He leered down at me.
"On second thought, I was able to think of a better way for you to show your gratitude."
The suggestion in his voice sent a shiver down my spine.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TRIGGER WARNING: attempted rape. I will put another row of exclamation points at the end of the section.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I gulped. I was trapped against the door, cornered like a mouse.
"No. It's time for you to go now," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.
He just laughed and leaned in closer to my face. Close enough for me to smell the stale stench of ale on his breath. One of his hands slid lower on the side of the door.
Click!
He'd reached down and turned the unlocked knob. I tumbled backward through the open door, sprawling onto the floor with a thud. The soldier quickly followed me in, locking the door behind him. It was dark in the small bedroom. A single lantern provided the only illumination. I leapt to my feet and looked around frantically, hoping to see something--anything--I could wield against this monster. He closed the distance between us in three strides. I let out a shriek when he grabbed me roughly by my hair, but it was quickly silenced by his lips smashing down over mine.
/No! This can't happen!/
I raised a hand and dug my nails into his face, pulling down in a clawing motion. He released me with a roar. Even in the dim light I could see three glistening streaks of red on his cheek. Suddenly, I was on the floor, dazed. My own cheek felt as if it was on fire, and tears had risen in my eyes from the force of his slap. I scrambled across the floor, but a mammoth hand wrapped around my ankle and dragged me back.
I flipped onto my back and kicked, hoping to strike my attacker in the face with the heel of my foot. He was too quick. Too strong. He caught my foot and now that he held an ankle in each hand, he pulled my flailing body under him. Terror and rage overtook me in equal measure as he began reaching a vile hand under my skirts. With his other hand he was pinning one of mine to the floor, but I still had one free. I grabbed his arm.
"ADURO!" I cried.
Immediately I felt his skin grow hot below my hand, a sizzling sound rising the longer I held on. Once again he roared in pain, releasing me as a burn in the shape of my handprint appeared on his arm. His eyes widened.
"Witch!" He howled, clutching his burnt flesh. I took my opportunity and fled, knowing I would not get another chance.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!END OF T.W. SECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I made a mad dash for the stables. The rain was heavier now and I was thoroughly soaked, my boots squelching in the mud as I ran. I thought I heard splashes in the puddles behind me.
/Don't look, just run!/
My lungs were burning as I entered the stables. Even here there was no escape from the rain; the dampness permeated everything, seeping in through the walls and dripping from the thatched roof. As I pushed my sodden curls back from my face and attempted to catch my breath, I scanned the stalls looking for Starlight.
/There--at the back./
It seemed luck was determined to not be on my side this evening; I'd managed to find an efficient and reputable stable. When I'd paid to board her overnight, the stable boy must have promptly gone to work removing Starlight's gear and brushing her down. There was no time to fiddle around with a saddle or anything else. I'd have to attempt to ride bareback and pray that she would comply. As I went to hop onto Starlight, I felt my body yanked back viciously.
"Oof!"
I was slammed into the stable wall. All the air was knocked out of me. I crumpled to the ground, gasping.
/Shit./
Before I could regain any composure, I was hoisted into the air and slammed against the wall a second time. This time, I did not fall. I was being held up by my neck. My feet kicked uselessy in the air. I clawed desperately at the hand clenched tightly around my throat, but to no avail. At the other end of the massive arm was the soldier from the inn. The bloody gashes on his cheek were still dripping. Fury seemed to radiate from his eyes. I'd angered a bear, and I was going to pay dearly for it.
"You stupid Praecant bitch!" He snarled at me, tightening his grip to the point I worried my windpipe would be permanently crushed.
"Hazakar, bind her hands," he barked. I could not move my head, but my eyes darted to the side, where a second soldier was standing.
He approached, having grabbed a length of rope from a hook on the stable wall. My vision was blurring at the edges. My attempts to beat the choking arm away were growing more feeble by the second. The man named Hazakar easily grabbed my wrists and bound them in front of me.
"You'd better put her down, Joesef, she's turning purple."
"I don't care if she dies."
"Perhaps you don't, but King Alaric and Lord Balliol will."
I was unceremoniously dropped to the ground. Unable to catch myself, I fell forward, coughing and wheezing as I tried to get as much air into my lungs as possible.
"You should have just let me have my way with you back at the inn," Joesef chuckled darkly. "It would have been so much easier for you." His voice held endless cruelty. I'd never heard anything like it. It terrified me.
I started to lift my eyes to his, but never quite made it. The last thing I saw that night was the black blur of his boot as it connected with my head. Then the world went dark.