Love Of War

Chapter 3

I woke with a jolt. There was a sound coming from outside.
Someone tripping through the dark. Someone who doesn't know their way through the fort.
I threw the covers off, quickly getting dressed in the leather I usually wore under my armer. It was much better than metal to use for stealth.
I grabbed my sword and quietly slid out of my room, looking around in the darkness. Another noise came from my left, so I quickly went down the passage that way.
After a short while, I was able to make out the outline of a figure in the distance. I krept closer. It was Prince Merek, trying to make his way out of the fort.
I quickly jumped up and held my sword at his neck.
"Trying to escape?" I asked.
"And who's going to stop me?" he asked without turning around. "You?"
"I don't need to hurt you to stop you," I said. "I can shout for backup."
"Maybe."
Before I could shout, a hand suddenly slammed over my mouth. I retracted my sword and started clamoring at the hand, but more hands held me and one took away my sword and handed it to Merek.
"Did you not account for my men?" he asked, sneering at me.
I tried to shout, but the hand was clamped over my mouth so that I could barely make a noise.
"Sire," I heard one of the Anderlians say. "I found some rope."
"Good," the prince said. "Tie her hands behind her back, but keep her mouth shut."
I felt the rope wound around my hands and tried to struggle, but it was to no avail. I was overpowered.
"How do we get out?" Prince Merek demanded.
I glared at him, refusing to tell him.
"We will release you only after you showef us the way out," he said. "Otherwise one of my men will have to deal with you. Do you understand?"
I nodded, still  glaring at them.
"But first we need to make a stop at the kitchen," Merek grinned.
After they had ransacked our food supplies, I was forced to lead them to the stables where they all chose a horse and to the armory to retrieve their weapons. We finally reached the back passage out of the fort.
When we were away from the castle and into a small cluster of trees, the Anderlian finally removed his hand from my mouth.
"There," I spat. "You're outside. Will you release me now?"
"And risk you going back and gathering an army against us?" The prince said. "That sounds dangerous."
"Fine, then kill me right here in cold blood, you liar," I said walking up to him, but I was held back by the rope around my wrists.
"No, we aren't that cruel," he said. "But if we take you with us, you might be worth just as much as we would've been for you."
"No!" I shouted. "I will not allow you to drag me around like some pet!"
"I do not believe that you have a choice in the matter," the prince looked at the Anderlian holding the rope. "Tie her to my horse."
I struggled fiercly, trying to get away from them.
"You lying bastards!" I shouted. "Let me go! I will cut you all into little pieces and feed you to rats! You-"
A hand clamped over my mouth again and I felt the rest of the person trying to restrain me from behind.
I felt on his belt and grabbed the hilt of his sword, pulling it out slightly. He didn't notice, since I was still kicking and screaming.
I quickly sawed my ropes loose and before the Anderlian could stop me, I took his sword out and pulled myself away from him.
It was a much bigger sword than mine, so I held it with both hands in front of me. The Anderlians slowly circled around me, drawing their own weapons.
One suddenly ran at me and lifted his sword to strike at me. I quickly dodged and came from behind him. He parried my blow, but I drove my sword forward and into his chest.
He gasped and fell onto the ground, dead.
"My friend!" Prince Merek shouted in dismay.
"That will teach you to make friends on a battlefield," I snarled, holding my sword in front of me threateningly.
The prince suddenly charged at me, yelling.
I quickly parried his blow. Our swords stood against each other as we faced off.
"That wasn't too smart of you," Prince Merek said as he pushed against my blade. I fought to stay upright. "You know that we cannot hurt each other and still you chose to focus all your strength on parrying my blow."
I groaned under the pressure, my eyes widening.
"Luckily, I do learn from you," he said.
Suddenly, I felt a heavy blow against the back of my head.
I fell to the ground helplessly with the prince lowering his sword, watching me.
The world became dark.