Faerie Faerie

21-Diamond Ships

21: Diamond ships

Lyle had Phoenix on the same horse as him, her hands and feet bound with heavy iron shackles. She sat sidesaddle, and he had his arms holding the reigns around her. She didn't say anything until they were in the confines of the castle.

On of Lyle's men reached up and helped her down from the perch. Phoenix turned to Lyle.

"Unshackle me." she said, reaching up with little difficulty and pulling her hood off.

Lyle shook his head, "I can't do that Phinny and--"

She pushed passed him and leaned against a wall. She put her arms around her head, her hands on the wall and faced the ground. She coughed a few times, then vommitted. Phoenix spat on the ground when she was finished and walked back to him.

"Do you have water." she asked. Lyle held out the pouch and she washed out her mouth, and once again spat on the ground.

Lyle saw a few of his men squirm. She was so.... unfeminine. He waved his hand, dismissing them and gathering the chain that served as a leash, secured between her shackled hands.

"Can you at least take off the anklets? They're heavy." she grumbled.

"You'll run." Lyle glanced back at her. "Shackles didn't stop you in Lamouria, and cuffs didn't even slow you down on the West Isles."

"You had a ball on the end of my chains, you left me to drown." Phoenix rolled her eyes. "These, are over kill."

Lyle looked back at his cousin. Phoenix shrugged her cloaked shoulders, then looked pasted him. Five large wolf hounds tore out the main house and ran up to them. They encircled Lyle, licking their young master's hands and face before doing the same to Phoenix. They nuzzled into her pockets and took the small bits of food she had.

"Hey!! she tried to snag the bread back, but in two bites the large dog made it disappear.

Lyle watched as the dogs nuzzled and licked her. "You act as though you won't be fed."

"Last time I was in the graces of a King, he ordered me burned at the stake and my ashes in an unmarked grave." She rubbed a dog's head affectionately. "Excuse me for being a little hostile, Sir."

Off in the distance, someone blew a whistle. The dogs tore away from her, darting back inside. Lyle lead his cousin inside and every sideglance he stole she didn't look too upset. Her brow knit at some point, but she didn't frown, scowl or give any sort of noise. He did how ever, notice how her eyes darted from fixture to portrait around the castle.

He had not been there for the seige, but he knew all the banners, and ensignias of Her Ladyship were gone. The telling blues, silvers, and purples were gone, replaced with harsher greys and greens. Unicorns and water sprites that had been carved into the marble walls and painted in with plaster were painted or gorged out of their fixtures. The place was still under construction, and many were just draped with His Majesty's war flags.

They passed a hallway, and she paused to look down it. It was a pathway that lead to the open garden and fountain. It had been the place where Her Ladyship had baptized Phoenix into her new roll, cleaning up her cuts and burns, and officially adopting her into her court. Phoenix was disgusted to see the entire garden was destroyed. The fruit trees, uprooted, the pavement smashed, and the fountain with the musical fawn and his nymphes, rubble. Braskish water filled the holes were trees and shrubs used to be.

"....What happened to the servants and handmaidens." Phoenix asked after a long moment.

Lyle looked on ahead, holding her lead, but not forcing her forward. "Slavery. To the west."