“They are safe. My men ensured they got them to one of your towns.”
She looked relieved at his words. For an instance. “How long are you going to keep me here! What are you going to do with me? Fatten me up and feast on me!”
He chuckled, tears running down his face. He had heard that rumors and it humored him every time. “Look around you, we have the forest with an abundance of meat. We have the waters for our fishes. We do not feast on our kind.” She didn’t need to know that there were some sacred sacrifices that required the skulls of dead loved ones.
“Then what do you want?” her voice has raised. “My family is poor. They will pay you no ransom!”
“I do not want your coins,” he said, taking a step towards her.
Her eyes narrowed, and he realized how innocent she must be. It would please him if she was untouched. If he was her first and last, because when he had her, no man would ever be with her.
“You would force yourself on me!” she whispered.
He glared. He had never forced himself on a woman. He was not a brute! She gasped as he pulled her to him.
“Never would I force myself on you. You will want me. You will yearn for me. You will cry out my name while I pound my meat into you. I will never force you, nor will I bring you pain. Only pleasure.”
She gasped as his lips met hers. Her body spilled for a moment then she melted, her lips opening to him. Her lips were soft and sweet of a taste her could not identify. They were plump and he sucked on them, groaning as he grew harder. She intoxicated him. Her warmth. Her scent. She moaned beneath him, her fingers hanging in a fist indecisive of where to be placed.
His tongue slid into her as he took her mouth. His fingers hovered above the hideous dress he couldn’t understand why they wore. Just above her cleavage. And then he teased it, that swell.
“No!” she pulled away from him with unknown strength. She glared at him with anger, her lips swollen from his kiss. “You barbarian! I will never ever lay with you!”
He was shocked by her venom for a moment. He smiled. “You are mine Han..Nah. Soon you will lay in my furs. Naked. Begging for me.” With that he turned around, frustrated as he returned to the camp. His breechcloth covered his groin, and he distracted himself with thoughts.
*
Hannah had never been kissed before. Yet she knew not all kisses were like the one the barbarian chief had given her. This was the sort of kisses that doomed women. The one that left her knees shaking. This was certainly not the kiss shared between her mother and Samuel which always made her roll her eyes. It had been... Possessive.
She took a deep breath. His intentions with her were clear now. He intended to violate her. Why? Bragging rights to his people? To embarrass her and her people? Or maybe he was just a cruel monster who violated young women like the one who had once worn the dress she wore. She was certainly not the first woman he would bring to his home to violate.
For days, she had stayed inside, basking in her situation, hoping that someway she would be saved. She had woken up with a realization today that no one was coming for her. Heck, Samuel would be glad to be rid of her. He had always considered her an extra mouth to feed and would have married her off if not for her and her mother's refusal.
She didn’t know if the barbarian was lying or not about the safety of her family. Regardless, she had to leave here. Otherwise she would be violated and no one would stand up for her.
She had seen the woman around. The one who had been naked in his teepee. She snickered whenever she walked past. She and her friends laughed and pointed towards her direction, and she knew they were talking about her, but she paid them no mind. The woman could have the chief. She had no interest in him. He had threatened her with his words, and with his kiss, but she just wanted to go home.
The forest was all around them. And she had never been one for the outdoors. She had no idea how she could navigate through the dense woods. At night, she heard the howling of the wolves; they would eat her up. She needed supplies for her escape, she had no idea how long she would spend on the run before she got home. And a weapon to defend herself. A blade would do. It was lightweight and she should be able to use it, if the need ever arose.
She had been isolated for way too long. Now was the time for her to save herself.
Aiyana wore an unpleased look when she returned to the teepee. Hannah however wore a smile. She followed the woman without hesitation when they went for dinner. The other women looked at her curiously. She sat beside them, watching what they did. A big pot was over a fire, and the women tossed vegetables in. These vegetables were scrubbed clean in a huge tub whose water had now turned brown with dirt.
Her line of gaze met some of the women who were now returned with clean water from the water hole. She could feel their gazes as she picked a pail, joining the group of women who left. Ada followed her, at a distance.
The women chattered, ignoring her. They might as well be judging her, but she had no idea what they meant. However she heard the mention of Sachem several times and the glances thrown at her. They did not like her. And she did not care. She would be out of their head soon.
Her heart leapt in delight at the lake that ran through. It had a blue hue, that made it more beautiful. Clothes were spread in rows on the grass, with a clear path for the women to make their way through. If she could get to the other side, she was confident she would find her way to the nearest town. It was a great risk, venturing into unknown lands, but it seemed to be her only way. The gates were watched and it would be difficult for her to make her way through the teepees without being seen. This was the only way out for her. She could feel it in her bones.
For the next two days, the chief stayed out of her way and she integrated with the women. She was not new to chores, having done most of the chores back in Kentucky. As she worked, she hid things for her escape. She slid a blade into her gown when the women were done cooking. She wrapped some dried meat around a leaf which she hid in a corner of the teepee. She had to be careful because she was being watched out of distrust but at the same time, she had to leave before the barbarian turned his attention on her. She could tell he was busy as she never saw him around. In the mornings, he rode out of the camp, and returned in the nights. His sister barely bothered with her when he was not around, and she was left to her own whims.
She watched, waiting for the right moment. She knew it was just a matter of time she would have an opportunity, and she would slip away. Back home to be with her family.
Chapter 5
Most of the men went one morning on a hunt. They rode on their horses and left the camp to get fresh meat and do whatever they did. There were still a few men in the village on the outlook to protect the clan, but it was just enough leeway for Hannah to slip away. No one seemed to concern themselves with her.
The women readied for the fresh meat, while the children either ran around, or were kept occupied by their older ones. Fetching her bag from the tree, Hannah placed it in a basket and headed for the stream.
