"I swear, my Lord, I haven't lied to you! That forest… it truly is a nightmare!"
The village elder knelt on the cold, uneven floor of the house, his body trembling like a leaf in the wind. His wrinkled hands clasped together as he kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead thudding against the wooden planks as he begged for mercy.
Baron Casoles sat back in his worn but regal chair, his eyes narrowed in disdain. His hand made a dismissive wave toward the cowering man before him.
"Enough," Baron muttered with growing impatience, "I've heard more than enough. Get him out of my sight."
At his command, two servants moved swiftly, seizing the old man by his arms as his desperate sobs filled the room. The elder's voice cracked as he was dragged out, his pleas fading into the distance.
With a grunt of irritation, Baron reached for the leg of lamb that had been brought to him earlier. He adjusted his position in the chair, sinking into its cushions as he tore into the meat, the juices running down his fingers.
As he chewed, his thoughts wandered to the dilemma that lay before him. This wretched place. The locals referred to the woods to the south as the "Nightmare Forest." If the rumors held any truth, this cursed forest might very well be the same as the Ponros Forest, the one that bordered Mamor County to the west.
Baron's jaw tightened as he contemplated his next move. With Orland's forces chasing from the east, there was no choice but to venture northwest, skirting the edge of the forest and into Brink County. Only then could he double back south toward Kantadar; if they were lucky, they could slip past Orland's patrols.
His frustration boiled over. He bit into the mutton more forcefully, as if the act could somehow ease his growing rage.
"Curse that treacherous old fool, Aviut!" Baron growled, spitting out a gristly piece of meat. "If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be in this mess. He promised reinforcements, and where are they now? Gone. Disappeared without a trace!" His curses echoed in the room, his fists clenching around the bone.
The knights and servants standing by kept their heads low, pretending not to hear their lord's open insults of the king. They had long grown accustomed to such outbursts, especially since Orland's invasion had taken everyone by surprise. Baron's humiliation was palpable. His lands, once prosperous in Mamor County, were now overrun by Orland's forces, and he was forced to flee like a common criminal.
If the Orlanders seized control of everything, he thought bitterly, would he be reduced to running some insignificant estate in the south? The idea gnawed at him, a relentless itch in his mind. A man like him, a baron, brought low to that?
Before he could stew any longer, there was a knock at the door.
"Master, Lord Luke has arrived. He's brought the girl with him," came the voice of one of his guards.
Baron's thoughts snapped back to the present, and for a moment, his foul mood lifted.
"Let them in," he said, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
The girl. A rare prize indeed.
She had been an unexpected find in this desolate, forsaken land, a diamond in the rough. Blonde-haired, young, with a beauty that was hard to match, and most intriguing of all, she was a warrior. There was strength in her that few could see, but Baron had noticed it right away. With the right polish, she could be worth a fortune.
Baron wiped the grease from his lips, using the napkin handed to him by one of his attendants. He straightened in his chair, composing himself. The corners of his mouth curled upward in a sly grin.
If he played his cards right, he could return to Kantadar with her as his ace. Presenting this girl to Aviut, his devious king, might just be enough to secure more funds and soldiers. With the proper support from Count Mamor, he could rise again, reclaim his lands, and exact his revenge on Orland.
First, though, he would take his own pleasure in this unexpected treasure. After all, a reward like this was not something he would let Aviut have without sampling it first.
The door swung open, and Baron's personal knight, Luke, strode in. Behind him, flanked by a few soldiers, was the girl.
Baron's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he took in the sight. Yes, this would do nicely.
The girl stood before them, her hands bound tightly behind her back, her once fiery spirit seemingly dimmed. She was without a weapon, stripped of the tools she once wielded with such confidence.
Baron Casoles, leaning casually in his chair, eyed her with a mixture of surprise and satisfaction. He hadn't expected her to submit so quickly.
"Well, well," he said, turning his gaze to Luke, the knight standing by with his halberd and axe. "Luke, I'm impressed. Did you manage to talk her into surrendering? What did you say to make her give up so easily?"
Luke, with his spear resting against his shoulder, chuckled and shrugged. "Not quite, my lord. This little one knows how to make a choice after she's had a decent breakfast." He spread his hands nonchalantly, as if the girl's submission was a mere afterthought.
Behind Olivia, Brandon; a young squire standing off to the side, felt his heart skip a beat at the remark. Don't ask, don't ask, don't ask, he silently prayed, his palms growing damp with sweat. Breakfast? The word echoed in his mind, filled with ominous implications he dared not explore further.
Baron raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes. Breakfast? It seemed his subordinates had been more thoughtful than he gave them credit for.
"I see," Baron muttered, nodding. "I had planned to starve her for a few days, but it looks like you've taken a gentler approach." He glanced at the girl, then back at Luke. "Seems a little kindness goes a long way, doesn't it?"
Baron stored the observation for later. So, a bit of coaxing might prove more effective than brute force, he mused. This could come in handy for future captives.
"But," Luke continued, his tone shifting slightly, "she does have one request, my lord. She wants us to release her father."
Baron's eyes shifted to the girl. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his expression hard to read.
"You want me to release your father?" Baron spoke slowly, switching to the Feru language, his voice steady but probing.
Olivia lifted her head, her blue eyes locking onto his with a calm resolve. She responded without hesitation, her voice firm but devoid of emotion. "You only need me, don't you?"
For a moment, Baron pondered her words. He had no real desire to release the old blacksmith, her father. Letting him go now could be dangerous. If he escaped and alerted their enemies, the entire operation could fall apart before they even made it back to Kantadar. And then there was the girl; if she decided to take her own life in defiance, that would be a waste, especially before he had the chance to sell her off to King Aviut.
Baron's gaze darkened. No, letting her father go now wasn't an option. But the girl didn't need to know that.
"Not yet," Baron finally said, his voice smooth as silk but laced with a hint of danger. "I can't risk your father running off to warn our enemies. Not while we're still in Orland. But," he added, softening his tone ever so slightly, "once I'm safely back in Kantadar, I'll release him. You have my word."
Of course, his promise meant nothing. Baron had no intention of letting the blacksmith go, but the girl didn't need to know that. Not yet. First, he had to make sure she was fully in his grasp. And besides, as long as he held her father captive, he held the upper hand.
Olivia regarded him with an expression that revealed little. She took a breath, her mind racing, but outwardly, she remained calm. She knew better than to trust a word this man said, but she needed to play along, for now.
"It's a deal," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.
Baron's lips curled into a smirk. "Ah, a wise choice," he said with mock sincerity. "I promise, you won't regret this." Rising from his chair, he moved toward her with slow, deliberate steps, the smug satisfaction clear on his face.
"You see," Baron continued, his tone shifting into something almost patronizing, "if you obey me, I'll make sure your life is far better than it's ever been. You'll be transformed, from a wild bird into a glorious phoenix."
His grin widened as he approached, his eyes gleaming with cruel intent. Olivia's stomach churned, but she held her ground, her expression betraying nothing. She knew what kind of man Baron was. He had plans for her, and none of them involved keeping his word.
But Olivia had plans of her own.
In Baron's mind, he wasn't lying to himself. If King Aviut truly took a liking to her, wouldn't it be a remarkable rise for a mere village girl to become the king's favorite mistress? It would be a far better fate than anything she could hope for in her simple life. The thought filled him with a twisted sense of accomplishment.
With a satisfied smirk, Baron gestured lazily to the soldiers encircling Olivia. "Put away your weapons. What do I have to fear from a girl who's already bound herself hand and foot?"
The knights, gripping their halberds, hesitated only briefly before lowering their weapons and stepping back. Even Leon and Brandon, who had been standing tense with swords drawn, sheathed their blades and silently retreated to the shadows of the room.
Baron's voice took on a sickeningly sweet tone as he opened his arms wide, his eyes gleaming with self-satisfaction. "Come now, come into my arms. Show me the charm that's got everyone so enthralled."
Conquering a girl like Olivia; a fighter with strength and spirit; gave Baron a thrill that no compliant, broken woman ever could. He savored the thought of breaking her in himself, taking pleasure in watching that fire in her eyes extinguish.
Olivia, standing before him, could feel the revulsion rising within her. The man's greasy expression, his outstretched arms, and his mocking tone made her skin crawl. But she swallowed the bile in her throat, her face lowering as if in submission, concealing the hatred that burned in her heart.
She bit her lip, forcing her voice to tremble, making it sound weak. "Let them… go. All of them."
Baron hesitated for a brief moment, but then his eyes flicked to her bound arms and a wave of smug confidence washed over him. What threat could she pose? he thought. He waved dismissively at the knights and servants around him.
"Very well, all of you. Out! I'll call for you when I'm finished."
The men exchanged knowing glances, their lips curling into lewd smiles as they shuffled out of the room. Even Nur, one of Baron's personal knights, couldn't resist a grin as he gave a nod of understanding to his comrades. They slipped through the door, leaving Baron alone with Olivia.
Leon, standing toward the back of the group, made sure to keep his head lowered respectfully, following the other squire knights out. But as they filed out, he deliberately slowed his pace, hanging back just enough to stay within sight of Olivia.
Baron turned back to the girl, grinning like a wolf ready to pounce. He stepped closer, arms still wide, a sickly gleam in his eyes. "There. Is this better? No one to disturb us now. I've been waiting for this moment for far too long."
Olivia turned her head slightly, glancing toward the doorway to make sure the others had fully left. Her eyes caught Leon's figure lingering at the door, and at that moment, a flicker of something; something almost triumphant, flashed across her face.
Her lips curled into a smile, one that made Baron's grin falter for a split second.
"Yes," she said, her voice suddenly calm, steady. "This is exactly what I've been waiting for."
In an instant, Olivia spun on her heel. Her skirt billowed as she moved with the grace of a dancer, and with a single fluid motion, she slipped her hands free from the ropes that had only been loosely tied.
"Leon!" she called, her voice sharp and clear as steel.
Leon whipped around, his hand already reaching for his sword. In one smooth motion, he drew it and tossed it toward her. "Catch!"
The sword flew through the air, spinning end over end. Olivia's fingers closed around the hilt with a firm, practiced grip. In one fluid motion, she pushed back with her right foot, grounding herself, then launched forward with the speed of a falcon diving on its prey.
Baron barely had time to react. His eyes widened, the shock freezing him for a split second before he scrambled to draw his own blade. His hand fumbled at his waist as he staggered back, just managing to unsheathe it in time to parry her strike.
Clang!
The sound of steel meeting steel rang through the room. Baron's sword wavered under the force of her blow, and for the first time, the look in his eyes was not one of arrogance; but of fear.