The Tale of the Huntress

23. Change in Plans

It was the smallest and coldest room on the whole ship but at least the soldiers didn't bother them. Not even they wished to visit the souls whose torment brought them so much pleasure. It had been a few days at least that the ship had been traveling but time was not something that they had access to in their enclosure. Though dark and filled with more people than there was room, Nova was glad that she could rest and heal in peace. The small wound that Shei had inflicted in her stomach had healed up quickly since it was a shallow cut but her back still pained her whenever she moved.

"I've brought water," Iridian announced as he approached. The huntress struggled to sit up as her eyes clamped shut in response to the agonizing movement. Once sitting, her eyes met his and she nodded.

"Thank you," came her whispered words before she was handed the bowl of water that they were to share. She took a few sips before passing it to Gemini who sat in a separate cage from the rest of the room filled with prisoners. The Dracon lifted her head from being curled up as her glowing eyes glanced between the offered bowl and the face of the huntress.

"Ah Nova, I won't ever understand how you can be so selfless after all that the gods have put you through," the horned woman croaked while taking the bowl. Nova looked down at her calloused hands, rough from wielding weapons and handling skins for so much of her life. She clenched her fists and felt her pulse after a few seconds.

"It is exactly because I have been through so much that I feel the need to help others." A smile graced the lips of the Dracon woman as the bowl was once again handed back.

"Your speech is identical to my mate, Cassius," her eyes closed and with it the little light in their immediate area vanished as well. "I do hope they haven't hurt him."

To this statement Nova and Iridian shared a look. Not only were they thinking about whether or not Cassius might be alive but also on Queen Mathilda and how she was faring. Lilium might have been sent to her death or preferably the Queen would be alive and take care of their daughter. Only Nova had the courage to voice her question as Iridian was quite intimidated by the demon-like woman.

"How do you know that he is even alive?" She asked in a whisper as if softer words would be less upsetting to her. The glowing eyes blinked back open and her clawed hand rose up to her heart.

"As my mate, once his heart stops, mine will also cease to beat," Gemini replied and the three went silent for some time. The only interruption to the gloomy atmosphere and quiet chatter among the prisoners was a soldier that stumbled down into the dark pit. Everyone backed away as the human dragged his whip across the wooden floors to keep anyone from even thinking of attacking him.

"Whisperer, Captain wants to see you," yelled the guard into the darkness and Nova didn't acknowledge him. She could barely sit up let alone stand without reopening her wounds. He growled before slapping the whip into the floor boards causing the people surrounding him to scramble to corners. "Come on, or I will tear the skin of your feet as well and you really won't be able to walk," he threatened. The huntress's eyes narrowed to slits as she peered through the darkness at the same man that had caused her such pain. Her teeth gritted knowing that there was nothing that she could do but rise and follow orders for the time being. Even if she could fight him, there was no way to defeat all of the other soldiers on the ship much less any way to escape when they were in the middle of the ocean.

Iridian understood the look on her face immediately and helped her rise to her feet as she leaned most of her weight on him. As she straightened, she felt the ripping of skin on her back as the dripping of blood onto the wood below broke the silence. Nova gave Iridian one last glance before complying and making her way to the soldier.