by Stevie Woods
While my attention was on Antell, the leader of the invaders had come up behind me and, with a grip of iron on my shoulder, turned me to face him. I didn't have time to shield my emotions.
"You have a spark of fire in your eyes. You are older than I usually take, but your spirit is that of a warrior, not a shepherd."
Close up I saw for the first time he was quite an impressive specimen himself. He grasped my biceps and it took all my willpower to let him, understanding if I didn't continue to impress him I would most certainly be left behind when they took away Liander. I flexed my muscles and drew myself to my full height, making him look up to meet my eyes, challenging him with my gaze.
"Nor a sheep," he continued. "Pair him with that one," he instructed one of his men, indicating another young villager.
I turned to look at Liander only to see him and Fortil being propelled toward the door at the other end of the hall. He was looking over his shoulder at me, and when he saw a manacle being placed on my ankle, I saw a quick flash of relief in his eyes, soon replaced by consternation. Emotionally, he wanted me there with him; logically, he wanted me free. He didn't understand my only freedom lay in his company.
Chapter 3
I had an idea about who these raiders were, but I hoped I was wrong. I had never seen them, of course, but their raids on our coastal villages all along the western parts of our lands were a constant thorn in our side and my father had the seas constantly patrolled there. What we had never expected was they might raid this far south, but I believed it could be the only answer.
They made us walk in pairs, chained together at our ankles, and once we were outside the hall they placed a thin chain around the waist of one of each pair--me in our case--and ran a chain through a large ring attached to the side of the waist chain. Thus, each pair of prisoners was attached to all the others. I noticed the end of the long chain was secured to a thick belt worn by one of our captors who stood at the head of the line.
I tried to speak to Fortil to see if he was of the same mind. Unfortunately, he'd been rudely thrust into sobriety and wasn't reacting well. He snarled at me to shut up when I asked if he recognized the raiders, and I was shocked when he shoved me roughly away. I almost fell and it was only one of the two men chained together in the line behind us who stopped me from falling.
"Are you well, my prince?" one of them asked.
"Please do not use my title," I murmured, eyes darting to our guards.
The man blushed. "Of course not. I apologize," he murmured.
I saw no point in trying to talk to Fortil any further and took the opportunity to converse with the pair behind me instead.
"Have these people ever raided your village before?"
One of them was beginning to respond when one of the guards pushed me back into line with Fortil. As he did so the villager behind called out, "No!"
He received a sharp slap to the side of the head for his trouble. "Keep your mouth shut!" the guard ordered.
I glanced over my shoulder at the man again as we were herded forward. Are you all right? I mouthed at him, and he nodded. I was relieved; I hated the idea of causing even more trouble for my companions in our predicament.
I knew Hollis and his partner were somewhere toward the back of the line of captives. I did my best to try to see where Hollis was. I was relieved I could pick him out due to his height and, though I couldn't see his face, his hair was distinctive. Hollis was a few years older than me, not as much older as he tried to pretend, though I have to admit the distinct streak of gray hair at his right temple did add a distinguished air to his looks. I knew I should wish Hollis was still back inside the meeting hall, left behind in safety, but the truth was all I felt was relief at his presence. Part of me wanted to scream at him for putting himself in danger for me; another part was touched that he felt so strongly about me.
It was then I also saw about a dozen young women chained together in their own separate group. It explained some of the screaming we had heard while they gathered the men they wanted from the hall. I hoped those women who hadn't been chosen had been left behind safe and sound in their homes. The leader of the raiders had told Antell his men wouldn't harm anyone if the villagers obeyed, but the women outside wouldn't have heard that or known what was happening. They would've been in small groups, maybe even just individual families. And there was no one more protective of her children than a mother. I prayed no mother had been hurt trying to protect daughters the raiders had chosen to take.
I twisted around again trying to see Hollis, trying to catch his eye if it was at all possible. I could see his position, but with the others between us and with the guards walking up and down, I couldn't get a clear line of sight and I doubted he could see me either. Did he know exactly what was happening here? Probably, I acknowledged. Hollis' profession was based on threat assessment and if this wasn't a threat, what was? The odds were he knew what was going on from the moment the leader asked for--how did he word it? Oh yes, the young, strong and healthy. I hadn't put two and two together then, but damn, was it any clearer that these men wanted slaves?
They probably wanted strong workers. What about the women, though? Servants maybe? Of course, my mind then went on a trek for the possible different uses for slaves, female and male. The ones which jumped most forcefully into the front of my mind were not workers or servants, but slaves for sexual practices.
To my consternation, my body reacted to the unexpected--but not unwelcome--vision that popped into my head of Hollis shoved up against a wall with me plastered all over him. That was actually one of my less interesting fantasies involving the man who had become my best friend. I savagely shut out any others as my cock was uncomfortably constricted by these suddenly too tight excuse for trousers I had agreed to wear just for the pleasure of seeing Hollis in his.
I was brought back to my precarious situation by a bark of harsh laughter and turned to see Fortil staring at the evidence of my thoughts. He leaned over and said in that rough manner of his, "Share those thoughts when we're alone, and I can make you scream as you come. You'll never have anybody better than me shoved up your backside."
I stared at him and then down at my now disappeared erection and smiled back at him. "Obviously, that is patently untrue."
He snarled at me again and raised a hand. I lifted my arm to block the blow I could see coming from the anger in his eyes, but the arm never fell. One of the guards grabbed Fortil's arm and twisted it behind his back, making him yelp.
"Punishment is my prerogative," said a sharp voice behind us, and I turned to see the leader. He looked at me, but his words were for Fortil. "Touch my property and you will suffer for it. Especially this one," he added, his voice quieter, calmer.
He moved nearer to me and stared at my face for a moment before allowing his gaze to peruse my figure. He slowly allowed his eyes to trace the lines of my body clearly visible through the skintight clothing. I felt hot and uncomfortable under his gaze, embarrassed as I felt the heat fill my face.
"What is your name?" he asked. His voice was low and silky, and I swear I could feel the words stroking the skin of my arms.
I shivered.
"Lian," I replied, abruptly cutting off the second half of my name, deciding on the spur of the moment not to use my full name. I had no wish for the raider to consider the possibility he had captured a prince of the royal house. I would have to make sure the rest of the villagers used the shortened version.
He stared at me, but made no comment. I prayed none of my father's subjects would reveal who I really was. I purposely didn't look at Fortil, hoping his anger at me wouldn't bring about my betrayal. Still, I wanted to forestall any more questions. I looked at the leader and suddenly, the words unbidden, I asked him, "What's your name?"
He laughed. "Why would you care? We Diolis take you at our whim, so knowing my name cannot help you."
"Then it can't harm you to tell me, can it?" The man had answered more than I asked when he confirmed
he was a Diolis.
He laughed again. "Perhaps you should've been paired with the tall one? You have his nerve, I think."
My heart fluttered at the comment. I waited, hoping he would put us together, but he just stared at me. Then he frowned.
"You were the one," he said thoughtfully, and I knew he'd recognized Hollis had drawn attention to himself because of me. "I am Cor'lyn. I might buy you myself," he added almost casually as he turned away.
As he left, Fortil grabbed my arm and said angrily, "Why would you want to know his name, Lian?" He curled his lip as he said the new version of my name. "You can only call him master now."
"I call no man master," I snapped back, pulling out of his grip.
It seemed obvious the Diolis had extended their raiding area, and I wondered if they had ever raided along the south coast before. It seemed unlikely, for surely the villagers from the south would have asked my father for help. Still, any information would be useful. It was worth one more try.
I tugged on Fortil's arm. "I need to know. Have they raided your villages before?"
* * * *
We were heading for the next bay where the fishermen kept their boats docked. I had been surprised when we first arrived at how deep the water was along this section of our southern coast. Antell had explained the Lords of Creation had gifted them with an excellent natural harbor with water deep enough to take one of my father's large patrol ships. He'd smiled as he'd added it also teemed with fish of all shapes and sizes.
I brooded we had been damned unfortunate to be at the particular village when the Diolis had chosen to extend their raiding this far south. Our west coast had long been their prime target, being the closest to Dioland. King Morus would never have allowed Liander to come to the southern coast if he'd believed there was the slightest threat to his son's safety.
I wondered what had happened to Andim. He was of an age he wouldn't have been taken by the Diolis. As it was unlikely he would've sustained injury during the remarkably bloodless attack, I imagined Andim would get word to the king as soon as he could, but it would take days and it would be too late to stop Liander and I being taken to Dioland.
I saw some commotion farther down the line and I recognized that dumb fuck, Fortil, right in the middle of it, which meant, of course, Liander was involved. Damn, why had they chained me at the end of the line? I had tried to get nearer to Liander, but they shoved Ledo, the young villager I was linked to, and me to the end of the line and chained us there.
I managed to drag Ledo out to the side of the line as far as the chains would allow and I could see one of the guards having words with Fortil when the leader strode down the line. I couldn't hear what was said, but I saw him, the good-looking, tall guy with the long, flowing, dark hair, standing very close to Liander, and they were talking pretty animatedly.
I got a really bad feeling about this. Liander was doing it again--ingratiating himself with the locals--but that guy was no fucking local. He was a slaver and, knowing my charge, the guy would be panting for him already. Fortil had a rival. Hah! Damn, damn, damn.
Liander, you'll be the death of me. Wouldn't mind if you had your cock shoved up inside me at the time and you were fucking my brains out. Don't want to die saving your virtue from some other bastard, though. I'm enough of a bastard for you, Liander, if only you knew it, and I want to live to show you.
I had this sudden vision of Liander pushed up against a wall. I'd grabbed him and shoved him there because I couldn't wait another minute to get my hands on him. I imagined he was just as desperate for me and held me tight against him as he kissed me with such passion I forgot how to breathe. I pulled away, gasping, and almost tore his shirt from his body so I could touch him before falling to my knees and unlacing his pants to rub my face into his groin. I needed to feel his skin against mine and inhale his aroma deep inside me. Liander...I needed Liander so much.
I literally had to shake my head to clear the erotic vision from my mind's eye, wishing it were a reality, a memory rather than a fantasy. It was true I desired his body, but I needed his heart and soul; it was the only way I could be complete.
Concentrating on the here and now, I looked along the line and whatever the disagreement had been about, it was over now. Mr. Tall-and-good-looking was striding off and the line was moving again.
Hang in there, Liander. I'll get us out of here somehow.
It would be a damned sight easier, of course, if we weren't being taken away on a ship. As far as I knew, no one who had been taken by the Diolis had ever returned home. Once we were taken away, we would be on our own. There was only one saving grace to this impossible situation: Liander wasn't alone. I wasn't sure how I'd be able to protect him, but at least I wouldn't be an ocean away.
* * * *
I had my first look at the ship. I hadn't known what to expect. It was tied up at the end of the jetty and made the fishing boats look like toys by comparison. It was a large vessel with high bulwarks, which made it impossible to see the deck clearly, but I thought I could see the top section of what looked like cages. At the rear of the ship, the transom rose high and was lined with intricate carvings of mythical beasts. The whole was meant to intimate, and I have to confess it was working. I wondered what Hollis made of it. Thinking of my Guardian, I again thanked all the Lords of Creation I wasn't alone. As the Diolis dragged us on board it hit me we really were on our own. I couldn't see how anyone could possibly know where we would be taken.
Cor'lyn strode ahead of us, never even looking back as the guard holding our lead chain tugged to indicate we should move up the gangplank. Some of the villagers baulked, and the guards prodded the first pair onto the deck. Once on deck, I had confirmation of what I thought I'd seen. Two large cages made of hard black iven wood took up half the deck.
Once we were all gathered, in essence cowering in the shadows of the bulwarks, the long chains were pulled from the waist shackles. We were separated into two groups, and they shoved half of us to the right and inside one of the cages. The rest of the captives were pushed into the other cage on the opposite side of the deck. Frustratingly, Hollis and I were separated again, but now I could see him more clearly as he forced his way to the front of his cage.
After a few minutes of grumbling and milling around inside the cages, most of the villagers settled down. We were still shackled in our original pairings so I sat beside Fortil, but my eyes were on Hollis.
"He can't help you now," Fortil said, but I didn't acknowledge I had heard him. With a low growl, Fortil lay down, yanking on my ankle as he got as comfortable as he could. I ignored that, too.
I tried to take interest in what was happening on board the ship as they got ready to set sail, but for once a new experience couldn't hold my attention. I kept wondering what was going to happen when we reached our destination. The people of Dioland were still quite a mystery to our citizens. They may have been raiding our lands for some years, but our country was somewhat smaller. Besides, even if we'd had the numbers to invade and take the Diolis to task, we were not as comfortable on the waves as the Diolis were. All we could do was patrol the seas along our coasts and hope to forestall any raids. Sometimes we were successful; far too many times we were not. If they were now extending their raiding area, we'd be in even more trouble.
I wondered what had happened to Andim, ashamed I had hardly given the loyal man a moment's thought since my capture. I prayed he was safe and that in time he could get word to my father of my fate and that of Hollis. I didn't fool myself there was anything my father could do for us. Even if he were capable, the king could not risk starting a war to rescue two men, not even for his youngest son. I would never want that.
I wondered if it were possible any of our patrol ships were in the area. It would be our last hope of rescue. I studied the horizon in every direction I could see, but there was nothing. It was frustrating to be so close yet so far from the only help we would ever get.
I was pulled from my unpleasant thoug
hts by Hollis' voice calling my name--the new version of my name. Thankfully, word had already spread among my people. I was surprised to discover night already approached. One of the guards sauntering up and down between the two cages rapped a heavy wooden club on the sturdy bars of Hollis' cage and demanded silence.
Hollis stared at me, and I met his gaze.
I realized a few of the captives were throwing up, and I was relieved I was a good sailor. I had only traveled by sea once before, but I hadn't been afflicted on that occasion either. I knew Hollis was a good sailor, too; he had been out numerous times with the village fishermen.
A short time later, a couple of cauldrons were dragged on deck, and the guards passed out bowls of what looked like porridge together with cups of water. Knowing I needed to keep my strength up, I ate the food, which proved to be rather bland but filling. I noted Hollis had emptied his bowl as well. It appeared the young man chained to him was not able to eat anything; he was one of the unfortunate seasick captives. From what I could tell, Hollis was doing his best to get the man to drink some water.
A few minutes later, after Hollis had apparently persuaded his companion to lie down, Hollis glanced over at me and he smiled before he mouthed at me what I assumed was, Go to sleep. I shook my head, too wound up to sleep. Instead, I watched him. He didn't sleep either.
From memory I thought the nearest landfall on Dioland was about two days in good weather, though, of course, it was likely the ship was headed for a port much farther south and the journey could take up to six days. And that didn't account for bad weather. Damn, I regretted now I hadn't studied more about the raiders. My interest in the Diolis had always been more related to what little we knew of their history and customs. Hollis probably knew a lot more about the raiding side of things, but I couldn't ask him.
