“What do we do with her until then?”
Lindsey’s head came up sharply, but all sheheard were hoots of laughter and several crude comments.She feltthe first stands of rope begin to unravel and continued to workfeverishly on her bindings.By now she was immune to the pain.Fearand determination drove her.
She listened to the words of farewell fromthe others as a horse and rider departed.Who had gone?And why?There was an odd silence, and though she could not see, Lindseyfelt a prickle of alarm.She sensed that the strangers were staringat her.She lay very still, not daring to move, not even daring tobreathe.
Within a few minutes she could smell meatroasting over the fire.The distant voices told her that the menhad once again drifted away.She returned to the task of cuttingthrough her bindings and felt the rope unravel further.She knew itwas just a matter of time before she would be free.If only shecould manage to keep the attention of these villains away fromher.
She heard footsteps approaching and foughtdown a sense of panic.
“You will not be needing this now,” came arough voice as the rag covering her eyes was torn away.She blinkedagainst the light of the fire.Already the sky to the east wasrimmed with ribbons of light.
The man who knelt beside her was the man whohad attacked her in camp.He leaned close, peering at her with anevil grin, his single dark eye glittering like a raven’s.
“You are even more comely than Ithought.”
Lindsey struggled to hide the fear andrevulsion she felt.She could not take her gaze from the bloodypatch that covered his other eye.The man reeked of sweat and ale.His clothes were unwashed.He had a hungry look about him that hadnothing to do with a need for food.
“Why have you brought me here?”sheasked.
“Mayhap you were brought here for mypleasure.”He ran his hand along her throat, then caught her chinin his hand, lifting her face for his inspection.
She recoiled at his touch.
The man threw back his head and roared as theothers gathered around.“We have been told yours is a wealthy clan.Your father even has the friendship of the queen.That makes you anheiress, my fine lady.And since ours is a poor clan, dependentupon the goodness of others...”This brought a burst of laughterfrom the men who had gathered around displaying gaudy jewels andfine silk so out of place among this ragged band that they mustsurely have been stolen.“We wager you will be worth a great dealto us.”Her captor caught her by the arm and drew her close to hisface.“What do you think your father will pay to get you back?”
Lindsey swallowed back her terror.She mustshow no weakness to these men.
With a sneer she scoffed at the man whoseface glowed with greed.“I will be worthless to you if you harm me.For I know that my father will then pay you nothing.”
At her boldness, he glowered at her a moment,then released her.She was pleased to note that several of theothers glanced nervously at one another, then moved back, as ifafraid to get too close.
“The lass is right, Argus.”
Argus.At last, Lindsey had a name from amongthis clan of monsters.Growing bolder she turned to her captor.“Why did you cover my eyes when we first arrived?Was theresomething or...someone...I ought not to see?”
He scrambled to his feet and snarled, “Ithink you ask too many questions, my fine lady.”Stalking to thefire, he tore a piece from the meat that had been roasting over thecoals.A lamb, stolen from a nearby farmer, Lindsey surmised.
As the others drifted toward the fire, sherenewed her efforts to free her hands and was rewarded when therope fell away.Once loose, she picked up the strands of the ropeand folded her hands behind her back to give the illusion that shewas still bound.
She studied the camp for the best means ofescape.The horses were tethered near a stand of trees.But howcould she cover the distance without being seen?
Argus began to walk toward her, and she felther heart begin to pound.All would be lost if he discovered thather ropes had been cut.She swallowed her terror and cautionedherself to show no emotion.
In his filthy hand was a strip of meat, whichhe held out to her.
“Eat.”
“Nay.I cannot.”She turned her head awaywhen he lifted it to her lips.
“This is all the food you will get, my finelady.Eat.Or shall force it down your lovely throat.”
She thought about the knife at her waist andfought back the temptation to reach for it.With a feeling of rageand helplessness she allowed him to feed her and struggled not togag.She must not draw undue attention to herself, else all wouldfail.By sheer strength of will, she managed to swallow themeat.
Satisfied that he had managed to dominate hisprisoner, Argus swaggered back to the fire.
“You see.Already the lass is eating out ofmy hand.’Twill be only a matter of time before she succumbs to mycharms.”
At his continent the others burst into coarselaughter.
