Redfork Menace

Best laid plans pt 2

Shanda sputtered and coughed, gagging on the leaves and mud as she lay confined on the ground. Her shoulders were throbbing from the force of being pulled backwards and her wet cloak began to chaf around her neck. Benjicot was heavy against her back as he let her struggle for air. All she could think was, Martyns going to kill me. Which was somehow morbidly funny to her considering, the real threat was here, now.

"I knew you'd come back." He muttered, his voice soft against her ear.

He removed the knife from her neck and using her hood, pulled her head up mercifully allowing her to finally breathe. Her airway clear, she gasped. Rain splattered against her upturned face, as she watched the needles of moisture falling. From this angle the rain seemed infinite, the expanse of clouds another kingdom of its own. She decided if he was going to kill her, this was as good of a view to die to as any. She could feel his warm breath against the side of her face. And for a moment they both just lay there, breathing heavily.

"Who are you?" He demanded at last, painfully squeezing her wrists and pulling sharply making her shoulder scream out in agony. But she did not budge, she bit the inside of her cheek as hard as she could to keep from crying out. She knew her best shot at turning this situation around meant he had to let go of her. Telling him anything was out of the question though, instead she planned to piss him off enough for him to try and cart her off to Raventree. She was a wanted 'criminal' after all. If he loosened his hold even a little bit, she could work with that.
  He snaked the arm he'd used to pull her head up tightly around her exposed neck and began to squeeze. Her heart pounded in her ears, blood rushing to her face as he slowly began to cut off her precious air supply again. She struggled against him but it was a fruitless effort, her vision wavered. He was really going to kill her, she thought as the world around her grew dimmer. Then just as quickly he released his hold, and she panted sucking air in anew.

"That's it, breathe."

Shanda shivered barely hearing the continued stream of dialogue he was cooing at her. She was too busy trying to orient herself, her head was spinning. And when she settled into a semi normal breathing pattern, he started again.

Whispering in an infuriatingly sweet voice he said, "Who are you?"

She groaned frustrated and tried again to pitch her body away from him. The heir continued babbling while she wore herself out attempting to break free.

"Come on, it's an easy question. Or have you forgotten your name already?"

His soft tone was at odds with the arm slowly crushing her windpipe again. The heir to Raventree was fucking insane she decided. He continued to talk to her, mocking as she felt her consciousness falling away. Her whole body was tingling from lack of oxygen and she felt like laughing.
  This time when he allowed her to breathe a pathetic whimper escaped her. She felt weaker, chest heaving and horribly vulnerable in a way she never had before. And she began to suspect he had no intention of killing her.

"What about now hm?" He hummed using his hand to delicately stroke her neck.

It seemed as if he were the only person in existence. Her head was swimming and she couldn't remember what he'd even asked her.

"Just your name, that's all. You can do that can't you?"

Unwilling to let him choke her again she blurted her name out.

"Shanda."

No harm there, it wasn't an unheard of name in the river lands and she's already exposed her gender last night. It was her last name she needed to keep under wraps.

"You can speak, that's wonderful. Good job."

Her mind was sharpening back up and she bristled at his response.