<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=81673.msg3813881#msg3813881">Quote from: Remiel on 25-10-2010, 07:14:21</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Damned if I know, but it doesn't sound good," muttered Brand.  <br/><br/>Producing a pair of manacles and a length of rope, he approached the girl.  "Give me your hands," he commanded.  His tone brooked no argument; the brusqueness and sense of urgency in his voice communicated quite clearly that any display of rebellion or stubbornness would not be tolerated.  His green eyes were cold, but not cruel.  He did not particularly enjoy this line of work, but it was lucrative.  <br/><br/>Assuming she let him shackle her wrists together with the manacles, he secured them, by way of the rope, to his glove.  It was demeaning, a little bit like a dog on a leash, but he had learned long ago not to take any chances.  Show them a bit of compassion, a bit of mercy, and he would certainly regret it.  "Walk," he commanded.    Taking up stride behind her, his voice took on a more conversational tone.  "Usually at this point we would visit a friend of mine to get you all prettied up; the King prefers his girls to look exotic, clad like the Southern harem dancers.   We don't have a lot of time, though.  We'll need to find you something to wear--" he picked at the dingy, dirty sack she wore--"and then we'll have to go straight there.  Perhaps we'll find you something to eat on the way, if you're good."<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>The clamor was jarring to a girl who knew nothing but the deep quite of a forest and subtle sounds of nature.  The green eyed man - she had refused to put a name to him even in her thoughts - looked grim.  The expression didn't bode well for her already tremulous future so she did her best to gather her wits.  There had to be a way to slip away from him, or at the very least get back her own things.<br/><br/>"Give me your hands."  She pulled them back instinctually with a quick shake of her head.  "Please... no..."  The wide eyed whisper fell once again on deaf ears.  As his nimble fingers worked the shackles, Briallen leaned in close to his frame, tipping her head to search the lean and swarthy face, seeking eye contact.  "Don't do this thing."  Her voice was level, cool and controlled in the growing chaos.  Experience taught her that panic and screeching only irritated him, so instead she beseeched his better nature.  "Please... Brand..."<br/><br/>Had he told her his name or had she heard it?  It mattered little now, just that they connected beyond predator and prey.  But the green eyes remained cold, distant and then he commanded her, like some beast, to move.  She might have laughed under other circumstances, since he treated his 'beast' Lady quite nicely.  Consistent references to making her 'pretty', coupled with the stable boys earlier sly, knowing remarks were beginning to give her an idea of what the king might want her for.  In truth, she knew little about such things between a man and a woman, but that it was natural and allowed for the birth of babies.<br/><br/><em>Keep your mind focused, Briallen!</em>"Brand?  What of my own clothes?  and other things?" She fought off sounding of panicked, knowing they were going away from the very items she spoke of, and the pouch -<em>Keep this with you always, it might just save your life someday</em>- at the very least those things were a connection to Mabyn and a bit of the her earthy magic.<br/><br/>Coming out from the protection of the stable, the two were brought to a whole new level of noise and confusion.  Burly, loud soldiers kicking up road dust in one direction while villagers - adults and children alike - scattered every other way.  A quick stop and step back brought her up against him, solid and unmoving.  Half turning into his chest, the young nymph who ran wild and dauntless through the woods and swamp of her home was obviously distressed with her introduction to civilization.<br/><br/><em>Take me home, pleeease.</em>She wanted to beg him.  Promise him the moon in the night sky to take her away from this horrible place. This horrible place would never be home.<br/>