Her Master

Staza: (keeping a sharp eye on the trail as they travel on, pulling his horse back down to a walk to let him cool off from the hard gallop)

Arissa: (glancing over, slowing her horse down to match his gait, her muscles stiff and tense from the long hours of riding)

Staza: (looks over at her, his face drawn from the long day of battle, and the long night of riding, the moonlight glinting off his blond hair) Try to sleep, Arissa. We'll keep pace at a walk for a bit. I'll watch over you.

Arissa: (pushing her discomfort out of her mind, refusing to make one complaint, not wanting to hinder Staza in any way) I don't need sleep..  (her words in sharp contrast to her weary voice)

Staza: (softens) Arissa.... (pulls his horse to a stop)

Arissa: (blinks a few times, stopping her horse along side his, quickly scanning ahead and behind him) Yes Staza? Is someone coming?? 

Staza: I'll need to rest as well. So please, rest your eyes now, then you can keep watch as I rest. We're mere hours from the river. Mount up behind me and you can rest against my back.

Arissa: (nodding solemnly) I won't need much rest at all, then you can rest.  (slipping down off her horse, her boot clad feet making nary a sound as she moves over and swings up behind him)

Staza: (ties the reins of her horse to his saddle)

Staza: (waits until she settles on, then lets his horse walk forward)

Arissa: (blushing slightly as she leans up against his back, his warmth comforting)

Arissa: (closing her eyes, telling herself she will just rest her eyes for a short while)

---- the slow steady clop of the horses hooves drones on -----

Staza: (finds his own eyes growing heavy as they move down the path, her warmth against his back)

Arissa: (is in a deep slumber before she knows it, her breathing soft and even as she snuggles to his back)

---- eyes follow their movements from the wood, running parallel with them as they slowly move down the path ----

----- the yellow eyes narrow, burning with hunger and hate ----

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----- Jaeger has been gone for two hours and the moon is on it's way back down from the apex of the night sky -----

Imari: (her entire body aching, having to keep jerking her head up as it falls from exhaustion)

Xavier: (scans carefully to make sure no one is watching, then slips into the tent)

Imari: (jerks her head up as she hears movement, straining her eyes to focus, becoming instantly alert, hoping she has enough energy to keep fighting)

Xavier: (slips up behind her, unsheathing his knife) Shhhhh

Imari: (whimpers softly, ashamed at how relieved she is to see him)

Xavier: (saws through the rope holding her arms above her head, slipping one arm around her waist to catch her as the rope cuts through)

Imari: (collapsing against him, her arms aching intensely from having held her weight for so long)

Imari: (her heart beating frantically, wondering what is to happen to her now)

Xavier: (lifts her in his arms, holding her against his chest) Not a word, Princess.

Imari: (nodding, but keeping silent, embarrassed at her nakedness, forcing herself not to squirm against him)

Xavier: (moves to the tent entrance, peering out before silently moving through the camp, holding her to him)

Imari: (her eyes darting around the camp, afraid Jaeger will spring out at them at any second, holding her breath, praying)

Xavier: (winds through the darkened camp, weaving between tents, steering carefully clear of the bonfire burning at the center, where several of the men are gathered)

Jaeger: (his dark laugh drifting to them as he stands at the bonfire)

Imari: ((is he letting me goo??))  (stiffens, recognizing that laugh, fear lancing through her)

Xavier: (moves to the far edge of the camp and slips into one of the tents there)

Imari: (her eyes peering inside, afraid to speak)

Xavier: (sets her down on her feet within the tent)

Imari: (stands shakily for a moment before regaining her balance, tilting her head so her hair falls forward to cover her, looking up at him with big, green eyes, wondering how mad he is at her escape attempt, wondering why he retrieved her, wondering what will happen next)

Xavier: (looks her over) Aren't you a mess... (turns toward the wash basin that he already washed up in and carries the wet rag toward her)

Imari: (taking a hesitant step back) Yes...I am.   (grateful to be away from Jaegar, yet suspicious of his motives)

Xavier: (dabs at the dirt and smears of blood on her shoulder, and then her face, studying the welts there) He used the whip on you, did he?

Imari: (nods jerkily) I wouldn't be in this mess if you heathens had just let me be.  (unable to muster any real heat to her words)

Xavier: (shifts his eyes to hers as he swipes at the welts cleaning her up) You wouldn't be in this position if your father had stifled his boastings at the Eastland summit. Funny isn't it.. how the vanity of kings is paid for by the flesh and blood of others, not themselves.

Imari: (gasping as he touches the welts, her skin sensitive to the touch) And is the ego so sensitive, thy honor so tenuous that one marches untold hours across land....to pillage and burn over mere words?  Tis senseless and stupid..

Xavier: Being the one who is tasked to march across such lands, I couldn't agree more. Be that as it may, (lowers the rag) the King, vain as he may be, pays me well to do so.

Imari: You did not come for land, you did not come for revenge, you did not even come to conquer.....you are nothing but a hired sword....(eyes glittering) you are nothing....

Xavier: (lifts his chin) And yet.. I am your master.. (pulls her hands up by the rope still binding them and cuts the binds free to examine her brutalized wrists)

Imari: (mentally cringes, wishing she could just keep her big mouth shut for once instead of always spouting out her every thought, shaking her head to deny his words)

Xavier: (turns her palms up to examine her wrists) You'll heal. Though you may scar. (wipes the red and lacerated skin with the rag)

Imari: (whimpers, fingers curling)

Xavier: (drops her wrists and runs his piercing eyes over her naked body) And why was it the Princess of Palicide was out on horseback as the rest of her kingdom was off to battle or locked away safely in their houses?

Imari: (watching him as he tends to her wounds, then blushing furiously as his words set in, squirming under his gaze, her voice a mere whisper) I was not supposed to leave the walls.....but the west bank was so far away....I did not see what harm it could be to take my mare for a run.....I hate being cooped up inside...

Xavier: And so the price of a rebellious afternoon gallop is your freedom.

Imari: You were leaving Palicide, I saw you all marching, crawling back under the rocks in which you came from......WHY did you have to chase me down, WHY???  I was sooo close.....

Xavier: (walking into her, forcing her to back up) Perhaps you would rather be the prize of Jaeger the Dark?

Imari: (quickly) Noooooo   (backing up slowly as he advances) I do not want to be any man's prize!!

Xavier: As it seems.... you don't have much of a choice about that. (backs her to the bedroll on the floor then stops) Did he soil you?

Imari: (eyes widening, realizing she is still naked, reaching down and snatching up a blanket, clutching it in front of her) Can you not just ransom me back to my father? You make war for money....he shall pay dearly, I know he will..... (refusing to answer his question)

Xavier: (catches the edge of the blanket and pulls it to the side) Why would I ransom my prize? (running the finger tips of his other hand down the bare side of her breast)

Imari: (shivers at his touch, trying to back up further, but having no place to go, quickly jerking her gaze back to him) I am but one woman, I am sure you can get many woman who would want to be your prize...  Think of all the money you could have for doing nothing more than returning me....

Imari: (his face so handsome, his body so sculpted and perfect, finding it hard to believe he cannot get any woman he desires)

Xavier: (running a thumb across her nipple) I have no lack of women in my bed. Answer me... did he soil you? (his eyes on her nipple as he draws his thumb across it again)

Imari: (jerks back from his touch, bringing her hands up to cover her breasts, strange sensations coursing through her, wets her lips) He whipped me.....(her voice shaky, unsure of what she should say)

Xavier: So he did not penetrate you? (looking into her eyes)

Imari: (shakes her head no, a blush creeping over her fair skin)

Imari: (unable to pull her gaze away from his)

Imari: ((you should be screaming....you should be running away...))

Xavier: (standing very close to her, lifts his hand again, passing it over her shoulder to run her hair between his fingers as if studying it) Your hair reminds me of home.....

Imari: (blinks, his words taking her off guard, oddly pleased that he likes her hair)  ((he has you CAPTIVE!!!! do not let him WOO you!!!)) I want to go home ...(softly)

Xavier: You'll adapt. (drops her hair over the front of her shoulder) I did. (takes a step back) Lie down.

Imari: I don't want to adapt!! I don't want to lie down!!  (her heart beating faster, looking towards the entrance way, frightened)

Xavier: (extends his foot slightly, hooking his ankle behind her and jerking it back, knocking her feet out from under her)

Imari: (falling back onto the bedroll, shuffling back as far as she can go, her eyes never leaving his)

Xavier: (looks down at her as he unties the wrap around his waist)

Imari: (squeaks, squeezing her eyes shut, panic flooding her)

Xavier: (drops the wrap, wearing a thin cotton covering over his groin, kneels on the blanket then lays down, stretching out) If you prefer to cower in the corner, you'll find it most uncomfortable. (using a rolled blanket as a pillow) And in case you consider running out.... know there is a guard posted outside.

Imari: (peeks an eye open)

Imari: (spies him laying their as if he is going to sleep, her breathing slows)

Imari: (thinking maybe Staza lied to her and all men were not filled with lust...remembering all the warnings she would get not to tempt men by being too bold or showing too much skin)

Xavier: (ignoring her, eyes closing)

Imari: (bites her lip, trying to decide what to do before gently easing down next to him in the bed, keeping as much distance as she can)

Xavier: (reaches out, curling an arm around her middle and pulling her back against his stomach and chest, leaving his arm there like a prison, his body hot against her, but otherwise, his eyes are closed and his body, still)

Imari: (stiffens at first, very aware of his hard body pressed so close against her soft skin, her stomach fluttering as his arm clamps around her middle, relaxing after a moment, strange feeling coursing through her, her skin becoming hot with embarrassment)

Xavier: (his breathing becomes even as he falls asleep, arm going limp around her)

---- the shadow of the Guard silhouettes against the tent in the moonlight and in the distance, Jaeger's laugh rises once more ----

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