Post by Lady Katerina on Oct 5, 2008 7:13:41 GMT -6
Katerina sat in the carriage and watched as the colorful Scottish scenery passed by. The carriage rocked and swayed on the roads in a lulling fashion if one was inclined to be able to sleep. Across from her sat her parents who chatted about this and that. She smiled they were so in love and one day she hoped to find that for herself. The sun was beginning its slow descent from the sky to be replaced by the moon soon.
Thomas and Lissette talked of the last time they had come to Scotland to visit her kin Katerina had been one and twenty at the time and huge ball had been planned in honor of her birthday. As they continued their chatter Katerina let her mind drift as she looked out the window. They had six of her father's best Knight's with them not to mention that Marcus the driver was skilled with a sword as well. They took no chances hearing of the recent upheavals in these part of the world. news had reached London of the bloody battles fought and won by the Scots. Though born in England she carried the blood of a long and proud line with the MacKinnon's as kin.
Suddenly shouts broke through her thoughts and the carriage lurched into a faster pace. " BANDITS!" came the warning as arrows sunk into the side of the carriage... WHOOSH! THUD! THWACK! Hoof beats of the mounted Knight's echoing in the silence of the waining time between day and dusk. Thomas instantly pulled back the covering on the window to see that they were being chased by riders... and they were outnumbered. He looked at his wife and daughter with pale grey eyes silently... his face all they needed to know... they were in trouble.
Marcus did what he could to keep the carriage moving as a few of the Knight's broke rank to slow the bandits while the carriage tried to make an escape. The clash of metal on metal rang through the air. Lissette grabbed her husband hand as if seeking solace from the contact. Katerina just sat there frozen in fear and praying silently they would get away. It was no use soon enough the carriage came to a sudden stop catapulting Katerina forward into her mother who was now crying and her father who was reaching for his sword.. it was then the door was thrown open and he was yanked out, followed by his wife and then Katerina. Faces covered with masks surrounded them and large beefy arms held her as she squirmed for freedom " STOP!" a single command from the man that held her caused her cease her actions. Two men held her father and another held her mother who was a pale as death right now. Her father's voice was the next things she heard " I am Thomas Matheson Earl of Baldreagan... why have you stopped us?" the only reply he got was a large fist to his mid section causing him to double over with a grunt . " We care naught who ye be Englishman... we want yer valuables... and perhaps a taste of yer women he'e." the man chuckled his voice deep and raspy.
Katerina began to tremble " Nay, leave him be . We have done nothing to you. Take what you will but leave us alone." the slap came from nowhere and her mouth filled with the metallic taste of her own blood, from her now split lip. " Eh ye be a feisty wench alri't I think I will ha'e ye first and make them watch no'?" he laughed and it made her stomach lurch in distaste. Her mother broke free and ran to her side " Leave her alone!!" she screamed as she hit the many with tiny fists. He looked down and laughed as he caught her by the hair " Ye shall be first, Connall come take yer prize brother." he threw her mother to another large man that had stepped forward. Catching Lissette Connall smiled wickedly " Wit' pleasure whate'r be left the men can ha'e" with one quick pull her ripped Lissettes dress in twain " NAY!! NAY!!"came her cries as the man threw her mother to the ground. Her father was being restrained and beaten as they forced them to watch Connall rape and kill her mother. She could smell the blood in the air as her sapphire eyes looked at the gaping wound where he viciously slashed Lissette's neck open. He stood pulled his pants on, laughed and then spit on her. Duncan laughed as well as one of the men holding her father drew his dagger across his neck as well .... the gurgling sounds he made filled her ears. She was frozen there as she looked at her parent's lying dead before her... a deep voice shocked her back to herself " Keanan do wha' ye will wit' her and meet us back at camp." Duncan said as he and the others mounted their horses and left. Keanan looked at the small woman in his arms and then licked his lips" Ahh lovey I will be easy wit' ye any worry." his words were slurred as his hands roamed her body then coming to rest on a breast which he squeezed so hard she cried out in pain. He tossed her to the ground ripping at her dress and fumbling to free himself of pants... it was then she saw the dagger on the ground next to her. Slowly she reached out her hand to grab it as she fought to keep him from taking her. WHACK! WHACK! the mans hand met her face the burn made her vision blur yet she continued to reach for the blade. Almost got it! she thought to herself. Small fingers coiled around the hilt as Keanan lifted her gown and his face buried in her bosom. His touch made her skin crawl, just as he was about to plunge himself into her body she tightened her grip on the dagger and thrusted it into his neck with such force it came out the other side. He fell off her frame and stared at her in horror as he reached up and felt the blade in his neck "Ye ha'e killed me." he whispered in gurgled tones before he fell over dead next to her.
She tried to get to her feet but when she stood everything spun around disoriented she staggered only a few feet before she fell and blackness claimed her.
Thomas and Lissette talked of the last time they had come to Scotland to visit her kin Katerina had been one and twenty at the time and huge ball had been planned in honor of her birthday. As they continued their chatter Katerina let her mind drift as she looked out the window. They had six of her father's best Knight's with them not to mention that Marcus the driver was skilled with a sword as well. They took no chances hearing of the recent upheavals in these part of the world. news had reached London of the bloody battles fought and won by the Scots. Though born in England she carried the blood of a long and proud line with the MacKinnon's as kin.
Suddenly shouts broke through her thoughts and the carriage lurched into a faster pace. " BANDITS!" came the warning as arrows sunk into the side of the carriage... WHOOSH! THUD! THWACK! Hoof beats of the mounted Knight's echoing in the silence of the waining time between day and dusk. Thomas instantly pulled back the covering on the window to see that they were being chased by riders... and they were outnumbered. He looked at his wife and daughter with pale grey eyes silently... his face all they needed to know... they were in trouble.
Marcus did what he could to keep the carriage moving as a few of the Knight's broke rank to slow the bandits while the carriage tried to make an escape. The clash of metal on metal rang through the air. Lissette grabbed her husband hand as if seeking solace from the contact. Katerina just sat there frozen in fear and praying silently they would get away. It was no use soon enough the carriage came to a sudden stop catapulting Katerina forward into her mother who was now crying and her father who was reaching for his sword.. it was then the door was thrown open and he was yanked out, followed by his wife and then Katerina. Faces covered with masks surrounded them and large beefy arms held her as she squirmed for freedom " STOP!" a single command from the man that held her caused her cease her actions. Two men held her father and another held her mother who was a pale as death right now. Her father's voice was the next things she heard " I am Thomas Matheson Earl of Baldreagan... why have you stopped us?" the only reply he got was a large fist to his mid section causing him to double over with a grunt . " We care naught who ye be Englishman... we want yer valuables... and perhaps a taste of yer women he'e." the man chuckled his voice deep and raspy.
Katerina began to tremble " Nay, leave him be . We have done nothing to you. Take what you will but leave us alone." the slap came from nowhere and her mouth filled with the metallic taste of her own blood, from her now split lip. " Eh ye be a feisty wench alri't I think I will ha'e ye first and make them watch no'?" he laughed and it made her stomach lurch in distaste. Her mother broke free and ran to her side " Leave her alone!!" she screamed as she hit the many with tiny fists. He looked down and laughed as he caught her by the hair " Ye shall be first, Connall come take yer prize brother." he threw her mother to another large man that had stepped forward. Catching Lissette Connall smiled wickedly " Wit' pleasure whate'r be left the men can ha'e" with one quick pull her ripped Lissettes dress in twain " NAY!! NAY!!"came her cries as the man threw her mother to the ground. Her father was being restrained and beaten as they forced them to watch Connall rape and kill her mother. She could smell the blood in the air as her sapphire eyes looked at the gaping wound where he viciously slashed Lissette's neck open. He stood pulled his pants on, laughed and then spit on her. Duncan laughed as well as one of the men holding her father drew his dagger across his neck as well .... the gurgling sounds he made filled her ears. She was frozen there as she looked at her parent's lying dead before her... a deep voice shocked her back to herself " Keanan do wha' ye will wit' her and meet us back at camp." Duncan said as he and the others mounted their horses and left. Keanan looked at the small woman in his arms and then licked his lips" Ahh lovey I will be easy wit' ye any worry." his words were slurred as his hands roamed her body then coming to rest on a breast which he squeezed so hard she cried out in pain. He tossed her to the ground ripping at her dress and fumbling to free himself of pants... it was then she saw the dagger on the ground next to her. Slowly she reached out her hand to grab it as she fought to keep him from taking her. WHACK! WHACK! the mans hand met her face the burn made her vision blur yet she continued to reach for the blade. Almost got it! she thought to herself. Small fingers coiled around the hilt as Keanan lifted her gown and his face buried in her bosom. His touch made her skin crawl, just as he was about to plunge himself into her body she tightened her grip on the dagger and thrusted it into his neck with such force it came out the other side. He fell off her frame and stared at her in horror as he reached up and felt the blade in his neck "Ye ha'e killed me." he whispered in gurgled tones before he fell over dead next to her.
She tried to get to her feet but when she stood everything spun around disoriented she staggered only a few feet before she fell and blackness claimed her.