<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>~ Another Stabled Filly ~ </strong></span><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=81673.msg3646635#msg3646635">Quote from: Remiel on 17-09-2010, 23:26:11</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">He was waved on to the stables, and there he dismounted, letting the hostler tend to Lady and detach the cart from her tack.  He threw one leg over the cart rail, and leaned down to untie the rope that secured Briallen's ankle.  "We're nearly there," he told her, casually.  "And then you will be no longer my concern.  A brief stop to eat, drink, and do your business; then we dress you up, make you look presentable.  And then--the King."<br/><br/>The last bond was undone, allowing her to stand up.  Standing on the edge of the cart, Brand pointed to an empty stall, one of the stalls used normally for the horses.  "In there you will find a bucket.  Use it to relieve yourself; I'll be in shortly with some food and drink."<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Unbound, she stood wincing and scrambled away several steps as wide fearful eyes took in the stable and the curious glances of beast and boys alike, assessing the situation.  Probability for escape decreased dramatically when the cart rolled through the heavily guarded gates.  The woods, though far from the familiar forest and swamp of home, held her best slim chance.  Briallen had grown exhausted from struggling against his ropes and the rocking of the wagon, so turned her mind to imagining it.  If only he'd let down his guard she might have managed it.<br/><br/>Now when her chances were mostly nil, finally, he was leaving her alone.<br/><br/>The man hadn't given her much respite on the journey so she should be happy to be rid of him.  Only, after the faces of leering guards, she'd caught sight of dark castle peaks and sensed a heaviness in the air, her pert nose wrinkling at the foulness of it.  The sounds of activity and people on this scale was strange to her ears, only adding to her simmering terror.<br/><br/>Left bruised, aching, and thirsty from the journey she turned her eyes on him and croaked , "Please..."<em>don't leave me here!</em>Blue eyes pleaded silently; she learned in their short time together that begging and protests fell on deaf ears.  "my... things...   "<br/><br/>Briallen, half naked in the nasty sack dress , didn't have any shame about her body.  She never learned such useless things at the hand the old midwife.  And while her own simple clothes would be more presentable, it was the leather pouch she wanted, remembering Mabyn's words.<em>Keep this with you always, Briallen.  It might save your life someday.</em><br/><br/>"What...  "  The saliva leeching sack he'd had stuffed in her mouth gave off a taste of dank dust, that coupled with a throat raw from muffled screams and ignored protests had her struggling to speak at all.  "... does the king want with me?"<br/>