Forgive me forgive me, the babe took longer than I had expected. It was turned around in its mother's womb and took nearly a day to birth, yet I am pleased to say we have another boy who, I hope, will grow to be a fine man in these lands. Last I spoke to you, Falra was captured, trussed up on the back of a horse, with her head covered, if I remember right. Ah what a terrifying thought, already unable to hear things around you and now unable to see. You might wonder how I know so much about this woman known as Falra. I wish I could say I was her daughter, but that was not in the stars for me, nor her. She took me in when no other would and taught me the ways of healing and herbs. Now I see to the poor in the alleys, tend to their wounds and births as she so often did. But it's not me you're here to hear about is it. Yes yes, I'll carry on with the story...
As the men rode hard, Falra had no idea that they would often separate, small groups going different directions in hopes to throw off any pursuers. Sometimes a few would come back, then ride off again, in the end only two horses remained. To the trained eye, much like the one that heard her scream echo in the canyon, the ruse was hopeless. The print of a horse carrying two was much deeper in the soft soil, than that one but one. No, even if they did not ride double, I think this pursuer would have found some way to find her.
As the ride wore on, many things flashed through Falra's mind. She told me that she feared she would never see her friends again, nor the one that had captured her heart. She thought of this man, Acelin he had sent her away, what once she thought was between them broken. Then suddenly the horse she was on stopped and the air knocked from her lungs as she was dropped heavily to the ground. Rough hands grabbed her and she was dragged. She could feel the dry earth below her, yet smell that a river was close by. Soon she was pulled over a threshold of something that smelled of fish.
A man tore the sac from her head and forced her to the ground. She could only see a dim outline of the man, but she could see enough to fight back. She kicked out, connecting in such a way that caused him to slump in pain. This did not last long though and it got her a nasty jump on her left leg for her efforts. Pain raised up her body, she was sure he had broken her left leg.
Pain was nothing new to her though, they had sold her flesh, the men she was sold to weren't always gentle in their ways. She blocked out the pain as best she could and continued to fight back as her dress was ripped from her lithe frame. After what seemed like hours of struggling against this man, something caught her eyes that caused her to stop resisting, dread and memories filled her mind and her body refused to function. Nothing else seemed to be except what had caught her attention. In the man's hand was the very instrument that marked her. The very one that the twin only know as the "Master" used to carve into the flesh of her cheek. She could still remember the pain it caused. It tore rather than sliced and here it was again before her eyes.
She knew the man said something, but knew not what he said, she saw his lips move, then curl in a sneer as he saw her reaction. Then a white hot pain struck her mind and removed all thought. All she can think of was the pain as the crude stone dagger dug into her cheek again. She let out a blood curdling scream, then it was gone. The pain was still there but the dagger was no longer digging into her cheek, instead the man grabbed for her tongue and pierced it. This must have not been part of the contract for the man that had captured her burst through the door and smacked the stone dagger from the man's hands. An argument ensued and her capture left again. She knew her capture as she saw him framed in the light. He was covered from head to toe, only his eyes showing, but she knew well his physique. He was the father of her son.
Before she could think more on this pain burst behind her eyes again. The stone dagger was back in hand and tearing at the scar on her cheek. The rest seemed to go by so quickly. One moment she felt as if she were fighting for sanity, the next there was a sense of relief as the weight of the man was lifted from her small body.
Falra wasn't sure if she was free just then, only that the man sawing at her flesh was no longer there. His weight gone. All she could think to do was curl up and try her best to seem as small as she could. Hope to become invisible.
