Marietta's POV
I was the only child of my father, it was my duty to start partaking in the affairs of the village from a tender age. My father left no stone unturned in teaching me about politics and leadership.
At the age of sixteen, I started traveling out on official assignments. I have lived my entire life doing all I can to make my father proud. I understood the lack of a son worried him even though he never said so.
So I took it upon myself to make him never wish for a son. I wanted to prove to him that with me he did not need a son.
It was winter. My father had sent me out to a neighboring pack on an official assignment. I was given four escorts.
I usually go with Thomas and two or three men of his choosing but after the kidnap incident, my father said it was better to keep them off the grid until the issue had died down completely. Although it's been over two years.
I prepared to leave immediately. According to Ford, one of the guards I was traveling with, the journey will last four days on horseback.
At first, everything seemed fine but as we rode deeper into the dense forest, my heart became heavy with apprehension
I have never traveled through this path before. The path we traveled through was treacherous, with gnarled roots jutting out of the ground and twisted vines blocking our way. The forest was thick, and the canopy above us blocked out most of the light. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl.
I wanted the journey to be over as soon as possible so we rode all day only stopping for a few minutes to water the horses and take our lunch. After that we don't stop until it gets dark then we get a haven to rest for the night.
Ford advised against over-stressing the horses but I paid no attention. The first two days of the journey were hitch free.
There were times when the cloud formed and we thought it was going to rain but to my relief, the cloud would disperse.
On the third day, we took our breakfast quickly as usual and in no time we were already on our way.
Towards noon the clouds gathered. As we rode on, the skies grew darker, and soon enough, we were caught in a torrential downpour. The rain was so heavy that it obscured our vision, and we had to slow down our pace.
Ford wanted us to stop and seek shelter but I insisted there was no time. There was something about this road that made me uncomfortable but I couldn't explain it to them. Not like they would understand anyway.
I heard him curse under his nose. I don't know what he said but it was definitely not something I would like to hear.
The thunder that accompanied the rain was so loud that it felt like it was shaking the very ground beneath us.
We all covered ourselves in our cloaks to protect ourselves from getting cold. I was uncomfortable riding under the rain but it felt safer to keep going.
As we rode on, two men on Horseback jumped on the road ahead of us. We stopped.
Then we heard horses neighing behind us. Startled, I look behind to find three men also on horseback.
"It's an ambush! Ford exclaimed, unsheathing his sword. His counterparts followed suit.
"I know something felt off about this road," I said to myself.
The men were rough-looking and wore ragged clothes. They were brandishing crude weapons and looked like they were ready to attack us at any moment. Ford and his men quickly took up defensive positions leaving me in the middle. I could see the fear in their eyes or was it a shock?
I was terrified too, but I knew that I had to remain calm. I had been trained in combat by my father, and I knew that I had to keep a clear head if I was to survive this ordeal.
The kidnappers charged at us, Ford and the other men fought bravely. They swung their swords and shields, trying to fend off the attackers. The sound of clashing metal filled the air, and I could see sparks flying as the weapons clashed.
But the kidnappers were too many, and our guards were outnumbered.
I couldn't help but wish I had come here with Thomas and his men. Then I would be certain that we would survive this.
Not that these men aren't fighting well but they are nothing compared to Thomas and his men.
One by one, I watched as the men fell to the ground, their blood staining the muddy earth. I watched in horror as they were cut down, one after the other. The way they growled in pain each time a blade is stuck into them scared the hell out of me.
I held my sword tight but my hands were shivering. I have seen real fights a couple of times but from a distance and not in an ambush.
The last guard standing was a burly man with a bushy beard. He fought with all his might, swinging his sword with deadly precision.
To be fair, he fought really well. He even managed to kill two of the attackers and injured one. But he too was soon overwhelmed by the attackers.
I was left alone, surrounded by the kidnappers. They closed in on me, their eyes gleaming with malice. I knew that I was in grave danger, and I braced myself for the worst.
If I was going to die, I would not give them the pleasure of dying so easily.
"Stay back" I yelled pointing my sword at them.
"Oohh this one is tough," one of them said.
"Now isn't that sexy? I love it when they try to act tough" another man said and they all laughed.
I tried to guess who they were or who might have sent them but I couldn't. They all look too shabby and irresponsible.
They could be bandits just making a living by robbing people of their hard-earned money.
"What do you want?" I fluttered. If it's money I have got some here with me. Take my money and let me go." I said almost begging.
"Not so tough after all" the first man said and they all burst into laughter.
"We will take your money but we will take you too for our boss," another one said.
"This one looks so fresh. The boss will be so pleased."
"He might even hand us an extra buck for a job well done," the dark one among them said.
I felt irritated at the way they were talking about me like I was some commodity.
"Enough talking," the tallest one among them said. His voice is deep and commanding authority. He is probably the leader.
"Grab her, let's get out of here." By now the rain had stopped.
The dark one came forward asking me to climb down from my horse.
Just as he was about to grab me, I nicked him with my sword and he staggered back letting out a painful howl.
I drew the reign of my horse, trying to run away but I was surrounded. The leader jumped on my horse and before I knew it he grabbed me pushing me off the horse.
I fell on the ground violently hurting my wrist. He walked towards me and struck me in the face. It was so hard that I saw stars.
My hand was bound together with a rope and I was taken away.
We walked for a few miles then I saw a carriage. I was forced into the carriage.
Inside it were two other girls whose hands were also bound with rope. I knew there and then that I had just been captured by human traffickers.