morgan; beginning

Chapter 9

Ok i had to do a kind of re write on this chapter as it felt like something wasn't quite right...so ive updated it. Let me know what you think.

Plus a big thankyou to everyone who has supported me so far and to all my readers, let me know if theres something you like or dont like!!!! your inut means a lot to me

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An unbearable throbbing in my head cut through my black, dreamless sleep. Dizzy spells washed over me like waves of a receding tide crashing on the shore, each time making it a little easier for me to regain consciousness. My stomach churned as my body lurched around the wooden planks I lay on, jarring my shoulder and hip against the splintering wood. I let out a groan of complaint which seemed to eminate from my entire body. My wrists and ankles were bound together and they stung from where they had rubbed. I shivered as the cold air seeped through the sheet they had loosely wrapped me in. Jerking forward again my stomach threatened to empty its contents. I had no defence against being pitched around the floor like a sack of potatoes. I closed my eyes after another dizzy spell washed over me and I fought the temptation to slip back into the darkness .

Where am I? Where was Aran?

I tried to listen to the sounds around me. Apart from the constant creaking of wood which I lay on I could hear footsteps. No, not feet, hooves.

Ok, I thought to myself, I must be in a cart of some sort. But how did I get here?

I tried to hear past the horses but all I could hear was the groan of the cart that kept jostling me about.

I opened my eyes looking for a means of escape, if I could just find a loose nail or shard of wood that I could get to maybe there was a chance of escaping. But the dim light of the cart made it almost impossible to see anything apart from dark shapes that loomed over me.

A shout from outside caused our convoy to stop suddenly and my body skidded towards the rear of the cart. The skin on my arm and hip stang as it pulled against the wood. I bit my lip against the pain, it was probably better for my health if they thought I was still unconscious. I knew who held me hostage in this cart, and I knew where they were taking me. The Brotherhood were going to be in for a shock if they thought I was going to go quietly back to their Keep, to be treated like some kind of experiment. To be tortured like a criminal for something I didn't have.

No, I will not go quietly.

I could hear the Brotherhood now as they made the camp ready. I could hear them bustling about getting the tents and fire ready, laughing about their 'catch' like I was some form of prized animal. They had kept one of the men outside of the cart, obviously to keep me guarded.

I wondered why they had done that. They had bound my hands and feet, did they expect me to suddenly just get up and walk away?

One of the Brotherhood called out to the guard, something about not getting too close and he laughed in response. There was something familiar about that deep voice, but I couldn't place it. I lay shivering in the back of the cart clenching my teeth together to stop them from chattering loudly. Nightfall spread quickly over the camp but it made little difference to the already dark cart, it didnt take long for my eyes to adjust to the deeper shades of grey and black. It dropped a few more degrees and my whole body started to convulse in shivers. I wondered if they would just leave me in here to freeze to death. The smell of cooking food drifted in from the fire and my stomach grumbled its annoyance at being left out. At least I had eaten today, I was definately thankful to Arabella and her warm bread and porridge.

The fabric panel from the rear of the cart was abruptly drawn back. The man named Stello and another of the Brotherhood I didn't recognise dragged me out by my arms, their rough hands bruising me as they pulled. I realised it was Stellos voice that had sounded familiar to me before. The sheet they had wrapped me in snagged on something in the cart and I winced as my heels caught the step as they sat me ,naked , on the cold ground. Stello walked away from me back towards the fire and I felt somehow I felt more vulnerable now that I was left with this man. The man I hadn't seen before leered down at me, he had a purple scar that ran across his face, over his left eye and down to the side of his mouth that had healed wrong and left the corner of his mouth in a semi sneer. His eyes darted over my body and I struggled to hide myself behind my knees. He leant over me, supporting his huge frame on the back of the cart.

'There's no point in being scared,' he grabbed my chin with his short stubby fingers,' We aren't allowed to touch you.'

I flinched away from his touch as he walked away laughing.

No, I thought again, I would not go quietly.

My thoughts were cut short as Stello headed back from the fire. His companion was still laughing as they crossed paths and I noticed that once Stello was past him that a scowl formed on his face. He stopped in front of me and I could see he held some clothes in his hands.

'Will you be good if I untie you?' He asked me.

I glared at him.

'I'll take that as a no then.' Stello grumbled as he took a step towards me.