<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=81673.msg3667808#msg3667808">Quote from: auroraChloe on 22-09-2010, 15:31:36</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">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/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Brand rolled his eyes.  "What any absolute tyrant wants to do with any decently pretty girl he lays his eyes on," he quipped.  "Or maybe he just wants to have tea and cookies with you.  What do I care? It's no concern of mine."  Scowling, he turned his back to her, concerning himself with unpacking Lady and seeing to it that she was rubbed down and fed.  He had no fear that she'd try to run away; she wouldn't get far.  At this time of day, the stable was full of hostlers and stable boys, all of whom would be glancing at the half-naked young woman out of the corner of their eyes.  Any of them would<em>love</em>an excuse to tackle her to the ground beneath them.<br/><br/>Don't think of them as human beings, Brand had learned early on.  Don't try to sympathize with them, or commiserate with their plight.  Think of them as the means to a pouchful of gold, and nothing more.  The girls he trapped were a meal ticket, a paycheck; nothing more.<br/><br/>"Look," he said, sighing.  "It's not a bad lot in life, all things considered.  From what I've heard, King Cormac treats well those he looks favourably upon, those who please him.  If you're a quick learner, and you learn what does please him, you'll do well."<br/><br/>He listened for the tinny sound that meant she was using the bucket to go to the lavatory.  "If you're going to do it, you'd better do it now.  You'll not get another chance."<br/><br/>And then, he heard the sounds of alarm bells, ringing loud, all throughout the city.  People began shouting, and rushing to and fro.  He looked startled for a moment, but then his expression turned dark.  "Bloody hell," he swore.  "Someone's attacking the city."<br/><br/><br/>