It took a surprisingly long time for Adrielle to realise the room was not, in fact, spinning.
In a futile attempt to roll out the ache in her shoulders she very quickly noticed the rope securing both her hands behind her back. Thatch scratched at her pale wrists. There was a sudden crack from her elbows as her arms twisted painfully, evidently tied by an amateur. Her legs, equally unfortunate in their fate, had been secured in largely the same way.
Fuck.
The uneven cobblestone floors snagged at her skin uncomfortably, rigid with abuse. This place had been used for far more devious practices than simply housing captives. The cold hands of fear clung to her body, teasing her skin, seeming like sludge through her heart and lungs. She couldn't panic, no that would just make this far worse, so all she could do was think. Think damnit!
How did she do even get here?
Yes! She'd been ambushed!
The throbbing pulse in her skull forced it's way to the forefront of her mind then. It was a sick reward for remembering, her fearful burst of adrenaline previously cancelling it out. That also most definitely explained the slowing spin that had previously overcome the room. It was a blessing that she had yet to throw up.
Haze gently faded from her eyes, though it did absolutely nothing to clarify where exactly she was. Even with her enhanced vision not a single item in the room took a clear shape.
There was nothing but a musty sort of darkness, threaded with an oddly foul smell that almost bought tears to her eyes.
The only light bled through a slit under the door. Adrielle was at least smart enough to subdue her previously building panic; whoever took her would likely be back.
Then again… Adrielle was never very good with patience.
Slowly the memories of her kidnapping flowed over her mind, waves in a murky ocean. She'd been on a job… removing a troll hoard from near a village! Easy, as it always was, and done in no time. It was when she was leaving the cave that her captors decided to emerge, when she was tired and had let her guard down.
Another fact about her captors.
They were clearly cowards.
The click of a key sliding into a lock caused her ear to give the tiniest nervous twitch.
"Oh Gods." Adrielle winced in time with the light pouring through the newly opened door. Her body instinctively froze, each and every part of her launching into a protective stance. Or, as protective as she could be tied up and only vaguely remaining conscious. The steady flow of blood in her veins became acutely known, due to the magic that joined it's side.
A man took up most of the doorframe. He was freakishly tall, yet his withered skin clung loosely to his frame. The man looked one wrong breeze away from a spinal collapse. Then there was his face itself, glassy eyes only vaguely focussed on her through the greasy grey curtain of his hair. Grand robes pooled across the floor below his feet, ruby red threaded with glimmering gold. Only the crown atop his head indicated any real regal status for the man.
"Oh my, your kind are even more horrifying up close." He sneered, kneeling before her. "I mean surely the only thing that could create you is a curse. Or an act of ungodly cruelty."
"Funny, same could be said for you." The look on his face was more than worth the kick to Adrielle's stomach.
Yellowed teeth revealed themselves when the King grinned at her. "Know your place, Elf. Have you any idea who I am?"
"No. Evidently I do not. So how about you enlighten me, or should I patiently wait until you're done insulting me?" Adrielle knew she wasn't exactly the most… conventionally attractive creature in the world. Especially by the unrealistic standards of humans. That being said, she was also used to the jabs and insults sent her way, gifted by acquaintances, enemies and even complete strangers. In honesty, the King's attempt at insulting her was rather weak in comparison to some.
He had so much more to work with. What, with those inky black marks that bled in lightning-shaped cracks down her face, mirrored beside each corner of her mouth. Or how about the dark blotches that overcame the majority of her eyes. Or, just maybe, her most unattractive feature was her death-purple lips.
Truly, he could have gotten significantly more creative.
But hey, at least Adrielle could walk without fear of a gentle spring breeze.
The man pressed the heel of his shoe to her throat, though his show of strength, or lack thereof in his case, didn't scare her in the slightest.
"My name is King Bartholomew Hunton. And I've gone through the trouble of bringing you here for a job. A quest. You're a well known hero, Adrielle Frostfire, and you will help me." He said it all with such grandeur. Adrielle felt humiliated for him, for she didn't even know there was a King by that name. Yet he acted as though the whole world knew of him.
So he was arrogant and a coward.
"Aye, alright then your Royal Highness. But why," she glowered at him, canines bared, "would I help a pompous arse that decided to kidnap me rather that wait in fucking line like everyone else? And why kidnapping? Send a, I don't know, knight to find me? Or a raven, I accept those." The King went to threaten her again, but Adrielle wasn't finished. "Oh, and then you insult me for no reason! So tell me, you glorified jester, why I would ever help you?"
A knife blade pressed to her throat.
"Alright, that's a pretty compelling reason." The King already gloated in an undeserved moment of victory. "What do you even want from me? Trolls? Goblins? Oh, is it a dragon? It's been so long since I fought a dragon."
"Save my daughter."
"You have a kid? You?" Another kick to the ribs. Is he sure the princess didn't just run away? "Would you stop that? And what am I saving her from? Again, dragon?"
"A neighbouring kingdom." He had a sour look to his expression, like he smelled something foul. It was largely similar to his usual demeanour.
This was not shaping up to be a good day. "So this is political? I don't do politics, sir."
"You do now."
The more words that spewed from Bartholomew the more anger burned through Adrielle's veins. "Fine. What kingdom? And what kingdom am I even in for that matter?"
"This is the kingdom of Ironclaw, and my daughter is being held captive at castle Wolfsbane." Bartholomew waved a hand, guards finally untying her hands. "You have a day."
Add 'delusional' to the list of glowing attributes that made up the not-so-regal King Bartholomew.
"I'll see what I can do." Bones cracked as Adrielle flexed her wrists, trying to dull the aches. "Now give me my stuff and I'll go."
A bag, clearly smaller than her own, was thrown before her.
The King turned to leave, calling over his shoulder. "Most of your belongings were stolen, so all have been returned to their rightful owners. We were kind enough to provide you with replacements for what you lost."
The next thing Adrielle knew she was booted out onto the streets, given no further instructions about the job at hand. As suspected they'd taken everything but her clothes and a knife gifted to her the year prior from a good friend.
"What a prick." Adrielle couldn't help but scoff, quickly realising he'd also robbed her of basically all her gold coins. And the replacements were few and of awful quality.
She was broke, lost and pissed off beyond belief.
What a perfect way to start a quest.
But first, a visit to the cheapest tailor this pisshole had to offer. For, presumably when she'd been kidnapped, her clothing had been torn and tattered. And she had enough self respect to look decent before even thinking of going on.