Chapter 22
"I don’t want to hear another word against it. Is that understood?" he snarled, shoving her back.
"yes."
"good." he smiled, though the girl could tell it was forced. "now, i have realised i have lost my manners. You know my name, but i have failed to ask for yours."
"astria, my name is astria."
"it is a pleasure to meet you astria."
The girl scoffed, "i couldn’t say the same."
"now there is no need to be rude, i have been nothing but generous towards you. You should think yourself lucky."
"lucky? You must be foolish to think so. You stole me away in the middle of the night for your own personal gain. I would not say i was lucky that it has occurred like this."
Tarian shrugged, "think what you like, you won't escape me."
She sighed, he was right, she couldn’t escape; and even if she did, she wouldn’t know where to go. She had no inkling of where her father was, or how to get there, let alone her mother. She was trapped with the bandits, with no way out. Forcing back tears, astria looked towards the horizon, wondering where the stranger's men had run off to; he had said there was more of them in the woods. Yet she could see no one.
"there were more men that came with the law man. Where have they gone?" she murmured, searching the trees.
Tarian frowned. "i see. That isn't good."
"what do you mean?"
"i mean that they may have gone for reinforcements and should that be the case we need to move. Now."
"alright." the girl agreed, not wanting to face more men that wished to kill them.
Tarian took her by the arm, leading her towards his horse as the other men followed, each one hoisting themselves up in seconds. The camp that they had built would look abandoned to anyone who passed by, giving them the impression that trouble was close by; which astria assumed was a good thing, it would steer people clear of the area whilst they had a chance to escape.
The white-haired man she had saved smiled down at her from his horse as they shifted into a run, attempting to get out of range of the human law men. Tarian hoped they would reach his camp before they caught up, giving him his army to work with, surely that would mean his victory?
"will his men follow us?" astria asked, nervous as he wrapped his arms around her stomach once more, ensuring she wouldn’t fall from the horse.
Tarian smiled down at her, "i hope they do, once we reach my camp i will have all my men behind me, i would like to see them try and take you from me. It would be a glorious fight."
"but many people would die in your glorious fight. Is that a price you are willing to pay?"
"yes."
"you are cruel at best."
"no dear astria, i am not cruel. I am a survivor and to survive this world one must kill, despite their personal feelings."
"if you want me to kill for you; then you will only be disappointed, i won't do it."
"have you not realised your current predicament yet? I am afraid that you do not have a choice." he growled, tightening his grip on her waist.
Astria shook her head in irritation, "i won't do it."
Tarian laughed, saying nothing else on the subject. She would find out soon enough what it was like to disobey him, and then he would have her under his wing.
****
Astria groaned in her sleep, her head leant against tarian's shoulder, though she hadn't realised that yet as she squirmed; the world around her growing louder. She blinked rapidly, jumping up once she realised who she was with, her heart racing in reckless motions against her chest. When had she fallen asleep? She couldn’t quite remember when she had drifted in the land of dreams and nightmares, grateful that her mind was not plagued with her greatest fears.
The girl looked around, noticing that most of his men had disappeared, leaving only a small few to protect her and tarian. What would they do should they run into the law again? How would they fight them off with only three men?
"where is everyone?" she asked bravely, turning back to look at tarian as he shrugged.
"they are scouting ahead, is that a problem?"
"what if we get ambushed?"
"that wouldn’t matter now, look." he smiled, pointing to the left.
Astria followed his hand with her eyes, noticing a large camp much like the fera village, huts and tents set up in a large square. The people of the camp were all talking amongst themselves as they approached, the half-breed knowing that it was about her; they were curious about her and who she was. Which she supposed was only natural to be cautious when your leader returns with a stranger in tow.
Tarian forced the horse into a run, fast approaching the camp as the girl fought for breath, she had heard of bandit tribes and what they did to prisoners and she was utterly terrified. Would they stone her whilst she was tied to a tree? Cut off her fingers or ears? What could she expect once they got there?
In a complete panic, the half-breed jumped from the horse when her capture was distracted, plummeting the short distance into the ground as he snarled. She rolled into a puddle, the mud soaking into her cloak as she cried out, her ankle twisting. Wasting no time, she jumped to her feet, careful not to put too much pressure of her right legs as she shot into the nearby trees; hiding from view.
"after her!" tarian commanded, the girl shocked when over fifty men all began to rush towards her; their swords drawn.
She looked around in shocked-horror, using what little time she had to think of an escape plan; though her mind was blank. Instead, the girl turned on her heel and ran, pushing herself to the limit as she screamed in terror. The men were faster than her and were closing in fast, she looked back to see tarian still on his horse, barking orders to his men. Astria was more petrified than she had ever been, her heart racing in reckless motions as she prayed for her legs to move quicker.
She squealed in frustration and panic when someone she couldn’t see tackled her into the ground, their bulky weight crushing her. Taking raspy breaths, the girl struggled against the man that only pushed her further into the mud, attempting to throw him off. Though it was already too late, she was surrounded.