Post by zackiriah on Dec 24, 2008 23:54:59 GMT -6
~Having spent month near the lands, Captain Gantry had been enjoying his time ashore, mingling with the villagers. Having purchased enough goods, it was time for him and his crew to sit sail to the lands of ice up North. There was a great market there for ivory and blubber. Blubber was very resourceful in cooking with as well as making soap and candles. Making his way down the pier, he would soon be getting into his row boat. Grabbing the oars, he would venture out towards his ship...The Cardura. Once he had reached the sailing vessel, his crew would lower the roap ladder down so that he may climb up onto the ship. Then tossing over the ropes to attach to each end of the row boat so that it may be pulled up onto the ship. Once each rope was attached, Zack would climb up the rope ladder til he was aboard. Afterwards, the crew would pull up the row boat and tied it off as ir reached the railings.:: Alright men....lift anchor...drop the sails. We have a trip to make and little time to make it there. ::Making his way up on top of the cabin, he would move to the wheel as he took a firm grasp upon the strong wooden circular mechanism.:: A storm be a brewin lads and rumor has it...its gonna bring much more then winds and rain. It's gonna be bringing us trouble. I can feel it in me bones.
::A week later the Cardura would find its halt upon an island far up North. Having dropped the anchors and sails, the men would go abouts on shore to do their drinking and wenching.::
Aidan set out from the Green Ivy that morning, intent on finding a present for the queen that was also a new mother. Twins - something that was certainly not a foreign concept to her, having a set in her own family named Ewan and Owen. Dreamers, those two were, always sharing a secret between them by the hearth or in a dark corner, chomping at the bit to leave home and make their dreams a reality. She missed them, sometimes, as she missed all of her family if only because they were familiar. Maybe she could find a present for these twins that would inspire their dreams? After spending several hours in the marketplace and not seeing anything that caught her fancy, she decided to take a walk down to the docks. Perhaps if she could catch something just coming off a ship before anyone else did, she might find just the right gift? Turning her feet down the road that would carry her toward the port of Eldyn, her thoughts were lost and not on the road under her feet or any that happened to pass by her. She'd never been to the docks, or any docks for that matter, and figured that it would be just as civil and metropolitan as the marketplace she walked through every day. How could anyone in Eldyn wish her harm? Coming upon the bustling waterfront, her eyes widened for a moment but she kept walking right into the heart of the action. Wandering aimlessly, she was unaware of eyes that watched her - she was a woman, obviously well bred, and all alone. Despite the hunting bow and quiver slung over her shoulders, she looked quite defenseless. How could she possibly reach for those in time if someone snuck up behind her?
A few of Captain Gantry's men were returning from a local pub, all three of them drunk as a skunk when they would start to come upon the back of the young delicate figure up ahead. Each man looking to one and then the other, thinking she was walking way too proper to be a commoner. The gold coins flashing in their eyes as the wheels turned in their heads. It was quite obvious all three were thinking the same thing...and how their captain would be so proud of them. Soon their steps would start to pick up, even into a skipping as they approached the young Aidan. One would move up to slide an arm around her, clinging to her side. While distracting her, another would come up from behind as he used his dagger to cut the linen of her bow in half. Now she was without weapon. “ ‘Ello doll, how are you today?” said the one with his arm around her. “ ‘Tis nae a good thing for a dove like yourself walking the piers alone ye know?” said the other coming up from the other side of her, possibly now having her glance back and forth between the two on each side of her. “Awww...look boys...a bloomin’ lass in deep distress. Let us help her,” said the third coming up from behind as he slid a potato sack over the top of her, then scooping her up over his shoulder as the other two started to tie the sack around her so she couldn’t get loose and have free arm movements. Sure she could kick, but that was all she had. Being placed over the heavy set guy's shoulder, the other two would follow side by side, as they all three carried her down the pier and onto the row boat while no one was watching. Then the two free men would take the oars and started rowing out towards the large ship fifty yards away from the pier.
Distracted as she was, staring at the ships a bit longingly, dreaming of sailing over the limitless oceans on grand adventures, a strange man approached her reeking of alcohol. Wrinkling her nose, she was about to shove him off of her when another approached her from the other side, cooing at her grotesquely, his fetid breath making her gag. "How dare you...." she began, about to give them a thorough tongue lashing, one hand reaching up to grab at the bow that now lay on the ground, cut and unnoticed, when her vision went black. Something was pulled over her face and shoulders, one arm caught in its upraised position and now pinned against her shoulder, the other tucked down her side. Frozen for a moment in pure shock and surprise, she felt herself being lifted and it broke her from her reverie. Letting loose as loud a scream as she could muster through a throat closed in fear, she thrashed wildly even if it wouldn't do her any good. She didn't want to go down without a fight, Archer's words echoing in her ears to fight tooth and claw - and she did. Wailing like a banshee, desperate hope blossomed in her chest that someone would come to her aid, some good citizen wouldn't let these animals kill her...or worse. Lateral movement was felt...was she going...down? And then the rocking of a boat, no doubt...was she being taken aboard some ship? Oh gods oh gods oh gods, her mind frozen, too afraid to consider the possibility that she was about to disappear from the face of Eldyn and no one would be the wiser? How could this be happening? Fighting tears, Aidan tried to keep her wits about her, but terror was closing in on her.
That row boat would ride up and down those small tides that fought against it, but those four arms in motion were no match. “Come on men...we’re nae much further. Row, row. We get her back soon enough, perhaps we can have a bit o’ fun wit her before the capt’n shows up.” Then came that hearty evil laughter, soon joined by the other two. “But how would we explain the torn clothes?” “We just tell ‘em that she ripped them while trying to get her back. How hard she fought.” “Very good idea. I get ‘er first though,” smirking evilly as he nodded his head like the first child to open a gift up at Christmas. “Hey, I saw her first, I get her first.” “No, no, no...it was my idea, I get first dibs.” By the time they reached the ship, too busy arguing to not pay mind to the rope ladder being dropped down to them, a deep voice would call down to them. “Wha’ the bloody hell ye three scurvies fighting over this time? Hmm?” All three sets of eyes would glance straight up as if the voice of Gawd called down to them. “Capt’n Gantry? Oh such good, good news, Capt’n.” “Very good news, indeed. We brought ye a grand prize oh glorious captain.” “Aye...we found a lassie in the wrong neck of the woods, smackin’ the poor folk around.” “She called them her slaves, Capt’n. A very, very pregnant dogy one she's be.” All three heads nodded in unison as they all three worked on carrying her up that ladder, for surely she would be a squirmer. “Very fine jobs lads. Gawd how I hate a bloody sheep herder who think she’s the right hand of Gawd, able to boss all those around of lower standards. Take her to the chambered room. There be no windows or means of escape.” “Aye, aye, captain.” The heavy set male would throw her over his shoulder once more as he was escorted by the other two down the stairs and to the chambered room below. The two untying the ropes that were around her, as the heavy set guy would toss her into the room like a sack of flour. Slamming the door as they locked her up in the dark room with no light, no window, nothing but just an empty locked room.
The rocking motion coupled with the blatant talk of ravaging her, passing her back and forth between the three of them, caused the bile to rise in her throat and she had to clamp her teeth together so hard it made her head throb just so she didn't lose her breakfast inside the potato sack. She couldn't bear to listen anymore and tried to block out the sound of their voices as they plotted her downfall, though she was quite sure they would stay with her forever. The motion underneath her slowed and a fourth voice called out - would her humiliation know no bounds? Apparently not, listening to the vicious lies they were telling about her. "That's not true!" she shouted, struggling once more as she was not carried upward. "I would never hit anyone, I'm innocent!!" Were they confusing her with someone else? Was that the reason for this? "Whoever you think I am, there has been a mistake! Please let me go so that we can correct it!" panic edging into her voice, but her cries went unheeded. Screaming hysterically, she was carried to the inescapable room and thrown to the floor, landing painfully on a shoulder and hip. Her head bounced against the floor, silencing her for the time being. Tearing off the sack, she scrambled backward until her back hit the wall. Throat raw and her arm throbbing, the tears were finally allowed to flow.
Hours would pass and the sun had set. The moon hung over the black sky as the ship was at sea. Off in the distance a roar could be heard as a nasty storm was a brewing. It would be hours before it hit them, so Zack had time to go down below to check on their hostage. Stopping by the kitchen, he would grab a mug of dark ale and a slice of fresh bread. Heading to the locked chamber, he would use the skeleton key as he turned the knob and opened it. Then sitting down in front of the doorway, looking over to where she was up against the wall, a good 8 feet from him. Tossing the slice of bread to her, then placing that thin wooden mug upon the wooden floor between them. “My name is Captain Zackiriah Gantry. And as you know now...you are a hostage upon the Cardura. I have no idea who you are, nor do I care. All I know is that you are some little wealthy goody goody, thinking you can abuse those of lesser standards around you. As if they were dogs. Now before you say another word...remember...you can claim that my men are lying, but put yourself in my position. To trust my own brothers...or trust some cute lil thing in a skirt that I never met before. Hard decision I am sure,” chuckles as he shakes his head. “Now...you have two options. You can do as I say and I shall make sure no harm comes to you ‘til we get our money for your return. Or...you can try to escape, or ...” bursts out laughing now as he slaps his own leg, “try to kill one of us....and you shall end up in the belly of sharks. I shall allow you to make that decision my dear.” Zack was far from a bad guy, but having been born a prince and given over to the vikings to save his own parents wealth....well....he despised the wealthy. In his eyes...they were all evil. But if one showed enough respect, they would be treated nearly as if they were royalty. That was left up to the stranger upon his ship.
She didn't know how long she sat in that dark room, didn't know if the sun had set or if the moments were merely dragging into eternity because she couldn't go anywhere and was at the mercy of a stranger. Eventually she started to doze, but when her eyes would close she would shake herself awake, afraid that she would come to with some man over her, tearing at her clothes. A reason kept trying to present itself for the reason she had been abducted, but nothing came to mind. Had she offended someone unknowingly? Had one of those sailors drunkenly assumed she was someone else? The mystery gnawed at her almost as much as her captivity. Finally, the door opened and she squinted against the sudden burst of light, each hand tensely gripping an arrow as those were her only weapons left. She listened silently as the man spoke, introducing himself and letting her know why she was here, even though it made no sense. She could only shake her head as he went on, blond curls bouncing across her shoulders as she denied what he said vehemently. "How about you put yourself in my position? I am at your mercy, a woman alone, and I know what your men want to do to me," her lip curling with disgust, trying not to show the abject terror such a thought inspired. "You expect me to submit myself willingly to you? Perhaps the belly of a shark would be a better resting place for me," her eyes narrowing at him so that the tears didn't spill over. "As for a ransom, you would be hard pressed to find anyone that would pay for my lowly self. I am not wealthy nor am I a noble nor am I a ward of any court. I am a lowly archer, you think a kingdom would pay for someone as expendable as a member of the infantry?" God, she hoped someone would pay to get her out of this, but she was trying to buy some time, maybe get him to talk more while she tried to figure a way out of this.
Having no idea that three of his men did want to do something with her, he could only burst out laughing, shaking his head. “Lonely and crazy if you ask me? None of my men would want anything to do with ye, other then collecting their gold or feeding you to the sharks. You are high maintenance dear and by far one spoiled wench if you go about striking those less fortunate. As for me...you are a cute li’l porcelain doll no doubt, but...a bit scrawny and most likely nothing more then a dried up twig unable to bare children. Nope...I would prefer the gold myself.” Standing up as he grabbed her by the wrist, yanking her off that little butt of hers. “Come.” He would jerk her by the wrist all the way up the stairs and out upon deck. It was starting to drizzle a bit as the storm was growing closer. “You see...I could care less if you wish to be more humble towards my offer or a peace offering towards the finned ones below.” He would continue to jerk her scrawny butt over to the rails of the ship. “Look down there. Look at the ones who have gathered for the feast. You see...when a storm approaches...it’s like a dinner bell to these demons. They know accidents do happen and wait patiently for such.” He would have her front half hanging over the rail, his hands to her hips to hold her firmly. “Just say the word, my love...and in their bellies you shall find yourself.”
"I listened to your men threaten to have their way with me all the way to this heap of sticks," her outrage and fear giving her courage to voice whatever popped into her head. "They were nearly salivating over it, the pigs," her contempt apparent in her tone, completely ignoring the 'high maintenance' comment which didn't dignify a response in her opinion. "You will get noth-" her words cut off as she grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her toward the door and out into the narrow hallway. Once on deck, drizzle drenching her face and soaking her curls, she was shoved halfway overboard to stare at the choppy water and imagine the man eating creatures that lived beneath. When Zack grabbed her by the hips in a blatantly perverse position, she lost it and let the tears spill over, sobbing and wanting to retch, her bravado gone. Would he take her right here in front of his crew? "Please, I don't know what you want from me...I swear to the gods that whatever your men said isn't true...please...." repeating that last word over and over as she crumpled to the deck, curling into a pathetic little ball.
He surely didn’t mean to make it seem perverted by grabbing her hips, he just assumed she could accidently fall over the rail and he didn’t want that. But he did want her to get a good enough look into that black murky water below. He knew her spirit would break. The spoiled ones always spoke big, but backed down as soon as reality stared them back in the face. As he heard her plea and saw that tear stained face, it would touch him, but just a bit. “Then they shall pay for their crimes, even if it was never committed.” Knowing the crew had heard him and seen him wave his index finger in a circle, the crew would then all gather together on the center of the deck, pulling those three to the very center to face Zack. He would grab her by that tiny wrist and jerked her towards the center where the three members stood. Three barrels would be rolled out before them lined up in the circle. “Men...did you three speak of...taking advantage of our hostage? Remember...if you lie...you feed the sharks.” Oh...they knew when he asked a question and looked you straight in the eye, you had better tell the truth for it would come out sooner or later...and the price would be hell to pay. All three would nod their heads, “Yes, sir.” “Then you know what to do. Each of you kneel before your barrel and hold out that little finger of yours.” He would then nod to one of the other men as they took their dagger from their hip, giving it to Zack, butt end first. Taking it, he would turn and placed the handle in Aidan's hand. “Since the crime was committed against you....you shall take off that finger from each one. That way...if you do anything against my orders...they shall gladly deal with you themselves.” Each man had that finger sticking out over the barrel, trying their hardest not to shake, but they knew it was gonna hurt dearly. Closing their eyes as they waited for their punishment. “Hurry up...do it...or I shall consider you the liar and deal with you myself.”
She didn't pay attention to what went on while she was busy crying buckets, but once he grabbed her by the wrist, she saw her three abductors before her as well as the rest of the crew and she hiccuped softly, trying very hard to stem the flow of tears. Wondering what new humiliation was in store for her, her jaw dropped when she heard what the captain intended, shrinking back from that knife. "I....I can't do that," whipping her head back and forth almost violently. "I am not a liar, but...I can't torture someone like that," voice cracking as tears threatened once more. This had to be a horrible nightmare - yes, just a nightmare and any minute she was going to wake up in the Green Ivy and head to the training arena. She'd only killed twice in her life, both in the name of the kingdom she served, and was loathe to cause pain to these men out of spiteful vengeance, no matter how they'd threatened her. Surely the captain could see the horror in her face? "If they have admitted they wanted to...harm me, could they not also be lying about what they claim I did on the docks?" She did not want to add to their punishment, but she was desperate for Zack to see the truth of this situation. She was the last person on earth that would ever hurt someone needlessly, whether they were a noble or the basest of peasants, it just wasn't in her.
He would just glare at her, shaking his head. “The crime is...they tried to take advantage of you, but failed. I care not who is telling the truth and who isn’t as far as your abusive behavior goes. Respect means a great deal upon this ship. Without respect, one has no control of his crew...therefore bringing the whole crew to their death.” Shaking his head as he watched her continue to back up, the blade back in his hand once more. “You carry arrows, but yet you can’t cut off a simple finger from a man who planned on ruining your body?” He sighs “Fine...so be it.” He would toss the blade as it stuck in the barrel of the first male. “Go ahead...each of you cut off that small finger. May this remind you...we are a crew, here. There are no vigilantes.” With that said and done, each of the three men would cut off that small finger, wasting no time...for they feared worse if they didn’t. “Now go down below and have those hands tended to,” nodding to them as they quickly ran down to the medical room. “Well, it’s obvious you still are going against my commands,” then glancing to a couple of his crew. “Take her back down to the chamber and lock her up. She still has a few manners to learn. d**n weaklings,” shaking his head with disgust, he would start to head for those stairs down below. “I shall be in me room, drinking. Best nae any disturb me.” Then, all in unison they shouted, “AYE, AYE CAPTAIN!” Then two would grab each arm from her, leading her back down the stairs to be locked up, just feet from Zack, as all went below deck.
::A week later the Cardura would find its halt upon an island far up North. Having dropped the anchors and sails, the men would go abouts on shore to do their drinking and wenching.::
Aidan set out from the Green Ivy that morning, intent on finding a present for the queen that was also a new mother. Twins - something that was certainly not a foreign concept to her, having a set in her own family named Ewan and Owen. Dreamers, those two were, always sharing a secret between them by the hearth or in a dark corner, chomping at the bit to leave home and make their dreams a reality. She missed them, sometimes, as she missed all of her family if only because they were familiar. Maybe she could find a present for these twins that would inspire their dreams? After spending several hours in the marketplace and not seeing anything that caught her fancy, she decided to take a walk down to the docks. Perhaps if she could catch something just coming off a ship before anyone else did, she might find just the right gift? Turning her feet down the road that would carry her toward the port of Eldyn, her thoughts were lost and not on the road under her feet or any that happened to pass by her. She'd never been to the docks, or any docks for that matter, and figured that it would be just as civil and metropolitan as the marketplace she walked through every day. How could anyone in Eldyn wish her harm? Coming upon the bustling waterfront, her eyes widened for a moment but she kept walking right into the heart of the action. Wandering aimlessly, she was unaware of eyes that watched her - she was a woman, obviously well bred, and all alone. Despite the hunting bow and quiver slung over her shoulders, she looked quite defenseless. How could she possibly reach for those in time if someone snuck up behind her?
A few of Captain Gantry's men were returning from a local pub, all three of them drunk as a skunk when they would start to come upon the back of the young delicate figure up ahead. Each man looking to one and then the other, thinking she was walking way too proper to be a commoner. The gold coins flashing in their eyes as the wheels turned in their heads. It was quite obvious all three were thinking the same thing...and how their captain would be so proud of them. Soon their steps would start to pick up, even into a skipping as they approached the young Aidan. One would move up to slide an arm around her, clinging to her side. While distracting her, another would come up from behind as he used his dagger to cut the linen of her bow in half. Now she was without weapon. “ ‘Ello doll, how are you today?” said the one with his arm around her. “ ‘Tis nae a good thing for a dove like yourself walking the piers alone ye know?” said the other coming up from the other side of her, possibly now having her glance back and forth between the two on each side of her. “Awww...look boys...a bloomin’ lass in deep distress. Let us help her,” said the third coming up from behind as he slid a potato sack over the top of her, then scooping her up over his shoulder as the other two started to tie the sack around her so she couldn’t get loose and have free arm movements. Sure she could kick, but that was all she had. Being placed over the heavy set guy's shoulder, the other two would follow side by side, as they all three carried her down the pier and onto the row boat while no one was watching. Then the two free men would take the oars and started rowing out towards the large ship fifty yards away from the pier.
Distracted as she was, staring at the ships a bit longingly, dreaming of sailing over the limitless oceans on grand adventures, a strange man approached her reeking of alcohol. Wrinkling her nose, she was about to shove him off of her when another approached her from the other side, cooing at her grotesquely, his fetid breath making her gag. "How dare you...." she began, about to give them a thorough tongue lashing, one hand reaching up to grab at the bow that now lay on the ground, cut and unnoticed, when her vision went black. Something was pulled over her face and shoulders, one arm caught in its upraised position and now pinned against her shoulder, the other tucked down her side. Frozen for a moment in pure shock and surprise, she felt herself being lifted and it broke her from her reverie. Letting loose as loud a scream as she could muster through a throat closed in fear, she thrashed wildly even if it wouldn't do her any good. She didn't want to go down without a fight, Archer's words echoing in her ears to fight tooth and claw - and she did. Wailing like a banshee, desperate hope blossomed in her chest that someone would come to her aid, some good citizen wouldn't let these animals kill her...or worse. Lateral movement was felt...was she going...down? And then the rocking of a boat, no doubt...was she being taken aboard some ship? Oh gods oh gods oh gods, her mind frozen, too afraid to consider the possibility that she was about to disappear from the face of Eldyn and no one would be the wiser? How could this be happening? Fighting tears, Aidan tried to keep her wits about her, but terror was closing in on her.
That row boat would ride up and down those small tides that fought against it, but those four arms in motion were no match. “Come on men...we’re nae much further. Row, row. We get her back soon enough, perhaps we can have a bit o’ fun wit her before the capt’n shows up.” Then came that hearty evil laughter, soon joined by the other two. “But how would we explain the torn clothes?” “We just tell ‘em that she ripped them while trying to get her back. How hard she fought.” “Very good idea. I get ‘er first though,” smirking evilly as he nodded his head like the first child to open a gift up at Christmas. “Hey, I saw her first, I get her first.” “No, no, no...it was my idea, I get first dibs.” By the time they reached the ship, too busy arguing to not pay mind to the rope ladder being dropped down to them, a deep voice would call down to them. “Wha’ the bloody hell ye three scurvies fighting over this time? Hmm?” All three sets of eyes would glance straight up as if the voice of Gawd called down to them. “Capt’n Gantry? Oh such good, good news, Capt’n.” “Very good news, indeed. We brought ye a grand prize oh glorious captain.” “Aye...we found a lassie in the wrong neck of the woods, smackin’ the poor folk around.” “She called them her slaves, Capt’n. A very, very pregnant dogy one she's be.” All three heads nodded in unison as they all three worked on carrying her up that ladder, for surely she would be a squirmer. “Very fine jobs lads. Gawd how I hate a bloody sheep herder who think she’s the right hand of Gawd, able to boss all those around of lower standards. Take her to the chambered room. There be no windows or means of escape.” “Aye, aye, captain.” The heavy set male would throw her over his shoulder once more as he was escorted by the other two down the stairs and to the chambered room below. The two untying the ropes that were around her, as the heavy set guy would toss her into the room like a sack of flour. Slamming the door as they locked her up in the dark room with no light, no window, nothing but just an empty locked room.
The rocking motion coupled with the blatant talk of ravaging her, passing her back and forth between the three of them, caused the bile to rise in her throat and she had to clamp her teeth together so hard it made her head throb just so she didn't lose her breakfast inside the potato sack. She couldn't bear to listen anymore and tried to block out the sound of their voices as they plotted her downfall, though she was quite sure they would stay with her forever. The motion underneath her slowed and a fourth voice called out - would her humiliation know no bounds? Apparently not, listening to the vicious lies they were telling about her. "That's not true!" she shouted, struggling once more as she was not carried upward. "I would never hit anyone, I'm innocent!!" Were they confusing her with someone else? Was that the reason for this? "Whoever you think I am, there has been a mistake! Please let me go so that we can correct it!" panic edging into her voice, but her cries went unheeded. Screaming hysterically, she was carried to the inescapable room and thrown to the floor, landing painfully on a shoulder and hip. Her head bounced against the floor, silencing her for the time being. Tearing off the sack, she scrambled backward until her back hit the wall. Throat raw and her arm throbbing, the tears were finally allowed to flow.
Hours would pass and the sun had set. The moon hung over the black sky as the ship was at sea. Off in the distance a roar could be heard as a nasty storm was a brewing. It would be hours before it hit them, so Zack had time to go down below to check on their hostage. Stopping by the kitchen, he would grab a mug of dark ale and a slice of fresh bread. Heading to the locked chamber, he would use the skeleton key as he turned the knob and opened it. Then sitting down in front of the doorway, looking over to where she was up against the wall, a good 8 feet from him. Tossing the slice of bread to her, then placing that thin wooden mug upon the wooden floor between them. “My name is Captain Zackiriah Gantry. And as you know now...you are a hostage upon the Cardura. I have no idea who you are, nor do I care. All I know is that you are some little wealthy goody goody, thinking you can abuse those of lesser standards around you. As if they were dogs. Now before you say another word...remember...you can claim that my men are lying, but put yourself in my position. To trust my own brothers...or trust some cute lil thing in a skirt that I never met before. Hard decision I am sure,” chuckles as he shakes his head. “Now...you have two options. You can do as I say and I shall make sure no harm comes to you ‘til we get our money for your return. Or...you can try to escape, or ...” bursts out laughing now as he slaps his own leg, “try to kill one of us....and you shall end up in the belly of sharks. I shall allow you to make that decision my dear.” Zack was far from a bad guy, but having been born a prince and given over to the vikings to save his own parents wealth....well....he despised the wealthy. In his eyes...they were all evil. But if one showed enough respect, they would be treated nearly as if they were royalty. That was left up to the stranger upon his ship.
She didn't know how long she sat in that dark room, didn't know if the sun had set or if the moments were merely dragging into eternity because she couldn't go anywhere and was at the mercy of a stranger. Eventually she started to doze, but when her eyes would close she would shake herself awake, afraid that she would come to with some man over her, tearing at her clothes. A reason kept trying to present itself for the reason she had been abducted, but nothing came to mind. Had she offended someone unknowingly? Had one of those sailors drunkenly assumed she was someone else? The mystery gnawed at her almost as much as her captivity. Finally, the door opened and she squinted against the sudden burst of light, each hand tensely gripping an arrow as those were her only weapons left. She listened silently as the man spoke, introducing himself and letting her know why she was here, even though it made no sense. She could only shake her head as he went on, blond curls bouncing across her shoulders as she denied what he said vehemently. "How about you put yourself in my position? I am at your mercy, a woman alone, and I know what your men want to do to me," her lip curling with disgust, trying not to show the abject terror such a thought inspired. "You expect me to submit myself willingly to you? Perhaps the belly of a shark would be a better resting place for me," her eyes narrowing at him so that the tears didn't spill over. "As for a ransom, you would be hard pressed to find anyone that would pay for my lowly self. I am not wealthy nor am I a noble nor am I a ward of any court. I am a lowly archer, you think a kingdom would pay for someone as expendable as a member of the infantry?" God, she hoped someone would pay to get her out of this, but she was trying to buy some time, maybe get him to talk more while she tried to figure a way out of this.
Having no idea that three of his men did want to do something with her, he could only burst out laughing, shaking his head. “Lonely and crazy if you ask me? None of my men would want anything to do with ye, other then collecting their gold or feeding you to the sharks. You are high maintenance dear and by far one spoiled wench if you go about striking those less fortunate. As for me...you are a cute li’l porcelain doll no doubt, but...a bit scrawny and most likely nothing more then a dried up twig unable to bare children. Nope...I would prefer the gold myself.” Standing up as he grabbed her by the wrist, yanking her off that little butt of hers. “Come.” He would jerk her by the wrist all the way up the stairs and out upon deck. It was starting to drizzle a bit as the storm was growing closer. “You see...I could care less if you wish to be more humble towards my offer or a peace offering towards the finned ones below.” He would continue to jerk her scrawny butt over to the rails of the ship. “Look down there. Look at the ones who have gathered for the feast. You see...when a storm approaches...it’s like a dinner bell to these demons. They know accidents do happen and wait patiently for such.” He would have her front half hanging over the rail, his hands to her hips to hold her firmly. “Just say the word, my love...and in their bellies you shall find yourself.”
"I listened to your men threaten to have their way with me all the way to this heap of sticks," her outrage and fear giving her courage to voice whatever popped into her head. "They were nearly salivating over it, the pigs," her contempt apparent in her tone, completely ignoring the 'high maintenance' comment which didn't dignify a response in her opinion. "You will get noth-" her words cut off as she grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her toward the door and out into the narrow hallway. Once on deck, drizzle drenching her face and soaking her curls, she was shoved halfway overboard to stare at the choppy water and imagine the man eating creatures that lived beneath. When Zack grabbed her by the hips in a blatantly perverse position, she lost it and let the tears spill over, sobbing and wanting to retch, her bravado gone. Would he take her right here in front of his crew? "Please, I don't know what you want from me...I swear to the gods that whatever your men said isn't true...please...." repeating that last word over and over as she crumpled to the deck, curling into a pathetic little ball.
He surely didn’t mean to make it seem perverted by grabbing her hips, he just assumed she could accidently fall over the rail and he didn’t want that. But he did want her to get a good enough look into that black murky water below. He knew her spirit would break. The spoiled ones always spoke big, but backed down as soon as reality stared them back in the face. As he heard her plea and saw that tear stained face, it would touch him, but just a bit. “Then they shall pay for their crimes, even if it was never committed.” Knowing the crew had heard him and seen him wave his index finger in a circle, the crew would then all gather together on the center of the deck, pulling those three to the very center to face Zack. He would grab her by that tiny wrist and jerked her towards the center where the three members stood. Three barrels would be rolled out before them lined up in the circle. “Men...did you three speak of...taking advantage of our hostage? Remember...if you lie...you feed the sharks.” Oh...they knew when he asked a question and looked you straight in the eye, you had better tell the truth for it would come out sooner or later...and the price would be hell to pay. All three would nod their heads, “Yes, sir.” “Then you know what to do. Each of you kneel before your barrel and hold out that little finger of yours.” He would then nod to one of the other men as they took their dagger from their hip, giving it to Zack, butt end first. Taking it, he would turn and placed the handle in Aidan's hand. “Since the crime was committed against you....you shall take off that finger from each one. That way...if you do anything against my orders...they shall gladly deal with you themselves.” Each man had that finger sticking out over the barrel, trying their hardest not to shake, but they knew it was gonna hurt dearly. Closing their eyes as they waited for their punishment. “Hurry up...do it...or I shall consider you the liar and deal with you myself.”
She didn't pay attention to what went on while she was busy crying buckets, but once he grabbed her by the wrist, she saw her three abductors before her as well as the rest of the crew and she hiccuped softly, trying very hard to stem the flow of tears. Wondering what new humiliation was in store for her, her jaw dropped when she heard what the captain intended, shrinking back from that knife. "I....I can't do that," whipping her head back and forth almost violently. "I am not a liar, but...I can't torture someone like that," voice cracking as tears threatened once more. This had to be a horrible nightmare - yes, just a nightmare and any minute she was going to wake up in the Green Ivy and head to the training arena. She'd only killed twice in her life, both in the name of the kingdom she served, and was loathe to cause pain to these men out of spiteful vengeance, no matter how they'd threatened her. Surely the captain could see the horror in her face? "If they have admitted they wanted to...harm me, could they not also be lying about what they claim I did on the docks?" She did not want to add to their punishment, but she was desperate for Zack to see the truth of this situation. She was the last person on earth that would ever hurt someone needlessly, whether they were a noble or the basest of peasants, it just wasn't in her.
He would just glare at her, shaking his head. “The crime is...they tried to take advantage of you, but failed. I care not who is telling the truth and who isn’t as far as your abusive behavior goes. Respect means a great deal upon this ship. Without respect, one has no control of his crew...therefore bringing the whole crew to their death.” Shaking his head as he watched her continue to back up, the blade back in his hand once more. “You carry arrows, but yet you can’t cut off a simple finger from a man who planned on ruining your body?” He sighs “Fine...so be it.” He would toss the blade as it stuck in the barrel of the first male. “Go ahead...each of you cut off that small finger. May this remind you...we are a crew, here. There are no vigilantes.” With that said and done, each of the three men would cut off that small finger, wasting no time...for they feared worse if they didn’t. “Now go down below and have those hands tended to,” nodding to them as they quickly ran down to the medical room. “Well, it’s obvious you still are going against my commands,” then glancing to a couple of his crew. “Take her back down to the chamber and lock her up. She still has a few manners to learn. d**n weaklings,” shaking his head with disgust, he would start to head for those stairs down below. “I shall be in me room, drinking. Best nae any disturb me.” Then, all in unison they shouted, “AYE, AYE CAPTAIN!” Then two would grab each arm from her, leading her back down the stairs to be locked up, just feet from Zack, as all went below deck.