Lifelight: Calypso Returns

19.

The sentry was careful not to move at his post on the Bleeding tree. He no longer fought the awe that struck every time he saw her. The Sithera's trips to the forest had become a frequent occurrence.

Once or twice she walked beyond the witch's protection charm but at each of those times a member of the guard was close by. This day was different. The air sprite was off in the mountains with Balthur. The guard was distracted by the royal couple's journey to the Court.She was alone.

He saw her for what she truly was. The life light of the goddess was a halo around her. But she was more than a second soul, her light glowed as well. She sat beneath her tree and frowned. As usual the rest of the world was lost too her. She bore so much for one so fragile.

He felt a flutter of conscience as Bebe readied her bow. This was sacrilege. Sithera felt the prick but it was too late when realization dawned. She fell asleep in moments and his guilt was forgotten. Calypso should never have made herself so weak.

***

Hera did not open her eyes when she became conscious. Her hands were tied to a bed post. The bed was thin and the mattress worn. The back of her neck where they shot her was itchy. It was raining outside, she had never seen rain in Saira.

She would never hear the end of it. Just that morning she had promised not to go too far into the forest after being told that it was not safe about 400 times. It would be used against her forever. When the distaste at being wrong and Thur being right was set aside, a bigger problem presented itself. The summer solstice in Saira was ten days away.

She opened her eyes to find a rail thin man watching her. She twisted and turned until she sat up with her side against the head board. The room only had a bed. Its walls were brick and the floor looked like it was made of clay. There was a low hum which she thought was the sounds of the city far above them. The man whistled but kept watching her.

A man and woman walked in, they were Saires. They looked shabby and rough. There was an excited gleam in their eyes. Bounty hunters or contract killers.

"Your holiness, so glad you are awake." The man said.

"I'm sure." Hera said.

"You must be wondering what is going on." The woman said.

"Actually,I was wondering if I could get a glass of water." Hera said.

Her guard left the room and came back with a mug. Hera drank slowly.

"You were saying..." Hera said

"We are business people, specialists in the sale of precious that is to say highly valued commodities." The woman said.

"And what could be more valuable than the keeper of Calypso's lifelight herself?" The man said.

"You kidnapped me so you could sell me?"

"Yes,to the highest bidder. That is to say that the Sithera is going up for auction." The woman said.

Her uncle was a sadist. He relished the pain of others. The woman had that look in her eye. The man was just greedy.

"Of course this does not mean that you will be in any danger. I am certain the king or the council of witches will buy you back." The man said.

"When is this auction?" Hera said

"In two days, at midnight." The man said.

"You should have made it sooner." Hera said.

"Why?"The man asked.

"The draught we gave you will keep your power in check. And if you think the guard is coming for you, you should think again." The woman said.

"Well then, I guess you have nothing to worry about." Hera said.

They left her in the room with the thin man. He did not look nearly as uncomfortable as the other two.

"You are a thairn. The poison was from you."

He did not acknowledge it, barely moved. Exhausted and fuzzy from the dart, Hera fell back to sleep. She knew that Kairu and Yuli were coming. Yuli would wipe the smirk off of that woman's face.

It was the soreness that told her too much time had passed. The members of the guard always turned up wherever she was, she just assumed they could track her. She started to worry.

"Get up." The woman came in, "Eat."

She untied her from the bed post but bound her hands in front of her. The bowl of soup was placed on the floor and the woman stepped back.

"I'm not hungry." Hera said.

The slap to the face was so sudden Hera was not sure what had happened for a few seconds.

"I said eat." The woman said.

"I'm not hungry." Hera said.

She was backhanded again. The copper taste of blood filled her mouth.

"You will eat."

"I'm not hungry."

The blows were coming faster now. Hera was getting tunnel vision. She relented, knelt on the floor and drunk the soup. The woman left without another word. "This is how they condition POWs." Hera thought.

She was miserable with pain. Her jaw ached and her whole body was stiff.She was just conscious when the Thairn moved her from the room. She was washed and ointment put on her wounds. She was dressed in new, roomy robes like she had seen at Laevros.

Hera was guided into a large room full of gadgets and screens, the devices were humming. The man was the only one in the room and he seemed to be in his element. Hera's hopes sunk as it dawned on her that the auction would be electronic and anonymous. He had been right, if they wanted her, they would have to bid on her.

Hera was seated on a stool on a large metal disk which rotated and produced a 3D image of her on the screens. The man squealed in excitement.

"This is your moment your holiness." He said.

Voices came through the radio to confirm their participation. Hera lost count of them as they called in. She felt exhausted and hopeless. The last bidder called in and she felt even worse. It was Ardan's voice on the other end..