Chapter 5

A steady beat served to rouse me away from my exhaustion-induced sleep. Wincing at the pain in my cheek, I rose to find the source of the noise. Glancing around, the world seemed the same as before, except this time, a yellowy mist had appeared on the horizon. Shaking my head several times to clear away the last of the sleep, I glanced back towards the light smudge, sure that it was just the after effect of some dream. Yet it was still there, rolling ever closer with each passing second.

Sudden joy overtaking my senses, I hastily scrambled to my feet and bounded towards what I presumed was my last hope of survival. Tired yelps escaped my mouth, hurt by the hunger pangs forming in my stomach and a night in the desert without water. Soon into my stumbled run however, I realised that it really was no use. Whoever it was, was too far away to hear my cries or even spot me. My only option was to continue forward and hope to intercept their path.

Sighing, I slowed my body into a fast walk, the brooding knowledge of what could happen if I never met the travellers weighing on my mind.

Raising my hand tentatively towards my cheek, I flinched as my fingers grazed the bloodied cut there. I guess falling asleep standing really isn’t a good idea, I thought dryly.

I dreaded to think what I looked like. I wandering girl, wild hair and dirtied skin, a long cut running down her face, attempting to receive help from some passer by. Perhaps they would be scared, believe me to be some sort of crazy child, and race onwards.

Moments dragged into minutes, until I was positive an hour must have passed since I first spotted the dust on the horizon. Turning my dry eyes towards the last spot I had seen the approaching travellers, I noted they had come much closer, now barely a hundred metres away.

Shock pushed my body forward as I realised that if I continued on at my lumbering pace I wouldn’t meet them on their path. They would just pass me by, leaving me with no more hope in the world. Slipping occasionally, I finally came in contact to where I pleaded they were to cross and began frantically throwing my arms in the air, shouting wildly, to get their attention.

What had first appeared to be a few men on foot now became a group of well-armed men riding horseback. Behind them was an elegantly decorated carriage, drawn by a further three steeds. Noticing me, the trail stopped, about ten metres away from where I was standing.

The front man dismounted and began walking towards me. As he came loser I began to make out the intricate carvings on his metal armour. It spun a story of intelligent man and glory over a nation, the dull red colours dancing in front of my eyes. As he moved closer, I felt my will dissolve. I collapsed onto my knees, relief overwhelming me. Glancing up once more the man now stood still before me.

“Oh thank God,” I whimpered. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you.”

A sudden shout back to the carriage silenced my grateful sobs. I turned my eyes behind him before finally resting on the man’s incoming fist. The silver gauntlets were all I saw before my world went black once more.

A gentle rocking motion awoke me. It was a few seconds before I realised I was in the back of the carriage I had seen behind the guards. The guards, I winced, rising a hand gingerly to my forehead, to where the blow had been placed. Confusion then shock over ran me as I felt, not the bruising skin of my head, but a gruff material covering my face.

Gasping as I realised that my presumed saviours had kidnapped me, I hastily attempted to pull the sack off of my face. A loud shout stopped my hand still.

“Don’t do that,” a deep, gravely voice warned me simply.

“What do you want with me?” I groaned, feeling my throat hoarse with no use.

“No need to know that yet sweetie,” the man answered sardonically. “But don’t worry. I’m sure your little games will come to an end soon.”

“What games?” I whispered.

“Don’t play innocent with us!” he yelled, his voice grinding against my frayed nerves. “Now you shut the f*** up w****, or I’ll give you another walloping!”

Immediately falling silent, the fearful tears that streamed down my face served as the only movement that my body made save for the rocking the carriage forced it into.

Soon after this though, a sudden jolt signalled the stopping of the carriage and the loud movements that came afterwards proved we had reached our final destination. Sure enough, moments later I felt myself being dragged gruffly from my sitting position and thrown heavily onto the floor. I then suppressed continual grunts of pain as I was pulled over the stony ground, afraid any noises would cause another beating.

Only seconds later was once again dropped back to the floor and a mumbled conversation took place between my tormenter and an unseen human. Finally grunting in agreement, I was pulled to my feet and I felt my hands tied roughly behind my back. Being pushed forward, I stumbled to the place that would serve as my home for the next few months.