Lori felt herself being heaved up from the ground again. As if she weighed no more than a feather, she was thrown over a wide shoulder. A well-muscled arm held her legs, stopping her from slipping off.
Lori groaned as blood rushed to her bruised head. She felt sick and dizzy.
“Not a bad view for the journey home though, eh boys?” Her captor laughed. There was a heavy slap on her rear.
Silence fell over the group. The snow whistled ominously.
“...Sorry, Lephas,” her captor mumbled.
“You will be when we get back,” the deep voice – Lephas – said. His tone dripped with anger.
“A bit of professionalism, yeah?” Haros muttered quietly beside them.
“I know, I'm sorry but–” the demon carrying her stuttered.
“Save it for Lephas... And keep your fucking hands to yourself,” Haros snapped.
Without another word she felt her captor begin to walk.
She had been in some scrapes before, but nothing like this. Lori felt a hot tear track down her nose, dripping silently into the snow. She allowed her eyes to close as exhaustion overcame her.
How am I going to get myself out of this one?
CHAPTER THREE
“Thoughts?” Haros approached, walking side by side with Lephas.
The troop had walked in silence for hours, a heavy atmosphere between them. Lephas could still feel anger prickling at him.
“We're going to need to find a spot to camp,” Lephas replied, glancing at the steadily darkening sky. “If we can get back to that farm house we passed, I figure that will be a good spot. We can't be far off it now.”
“Sounds like a plan. She's been unconscious since we picked her up. That head wound needs attention,”
“I'm relieved at leastyouagree with me. It concerns me, Haros. Is it any wonder Hestaesia is in pieces? Even the king's own men are heartless.” Lephas sighed.
“They're just mindless grunts, Lephas. Lowly soldiers,” Haros countered. “You know Zelrus is wholly behind campaigning for peace.”
“Yes, but what use is it if the rest of them hunger for revenge and bloodshed? ...Or worse. I have full faith in Zelrus and his plan. I just hope he can convince the rest of the population to follow.”
“Our people have suffered greatly at the hands of faeries. Hell, even I have struggled with the concept of peace on occasion! I admire you and Zelrus – you make it all sound so easy.” Haros laughed.
“It's the easiest and most difficult thing in the world.” The commander glanced over his shoulder at the subdued demon soldiers following on. The youngest, who was still carrying the comatose princess, avoided his gaze. “They're getting tired.”
“How far from the farm house are we?”
“Not far at all.” Lephas pointed into the distance. Though the snow had finally stopped falling, the frozen forest was now encased in a thick mist. A dark shape loomed ahead – the abandoned farm house.
Haros whistled and turned to address the four soldiers. “We stop ahead.”
“I am loath to light a fire, it’s a bit of a risk but she might freeze to death if we don’t. Besides, I'll need light to look at that head wound.”
“Yes, she's only a slip of a thing, isn't she?” Haros mused. “Not much meat on her to keep her warm. I suppose her ridiculous clothing isn’t much help, either. Honestly, I know faeries aren't exactly known for their outdoor survival skills – why would they need to be, tucked up safe and warm in their castles – but come on...”
“She should be thankful we found her when we did. She'd never have lasted a night out here on her own,” Lephas agreed with a laugh.
“Zelrus's information wasn't wholly correct though, was it? I thought we were out here looking for some child. I'd put her in her early twenties, at least.” Haros continued.
“To be fair, they did say she could be anywhere between thirteen and thirty,” Lephas argued. “I just can't believe it's been that long since the princesses were born. If this one is in fact Lori, the middle Goldwyrm daughter, that means her sisters are around the same age as well. I had it in my mind that they were still children.”
