The Forgotten Tales

chapter three: the revelation

        This was not the way I had planned on visiting Utra. I had hoped it had been on my own accord, and on an air-conditioned train with Antonio by my side. I had hoped it would have been with a glass of wine in hand as I admired the country landscape through the windows and let the soft wind run through my hair. 

I was surely not planning to be visiting in a humid sealed wooden cart with my hands and ankles tied together and on the brink of being thrown in jail for the rest of my life. The cart did not have any windows and it surely did not have refreshments. The women had led me away moments after my arrest to the end of the street, strictly advising Antonio not to follow. They sat me down in the small carriage and after they had got in, it had moved rather quickly off into the distance. I was beginning to wonder what was powering the cart. I also began to wonder why my stupid brain was not producing any words. I may have been weak, but it almost felt like something was holding my tongue.

One of the women was staring at me, furiously. She was younger than the rest of them and seemed restless. I stared back, lazily. However, I noticed that she was holding a small satchel. She noticed my glance and snapped, "It's the book. You know, the one you stole from our queen?"

My head went fuzzy. I felt disorientated. Almost as if I couldn't remember why I was here. What was happening to me? My thoughts were rapid and scattered, almost as if I had two voices in my head. I was not even surprised that they didn't speak as my head lulled onto the side of the cart, my eyes lazily scanning around each of their dull faces. The young woman scoffed and mumbled something about me being guilty.

"Do not get angry at the prisoner, Elizabeth," the eldest one said. She seemed more composed, her hands folded in her lap. Her posture straightened, "She will die soon enough. Especially with the queen's orders." The woman glanced at me and squinted her eyes.

Find her and find that book! 

The words almost yelled in my head. My chained hands flew to my face, as I felt my stomach flip. Nausea spread all over my body and chills ran up my pale arms. My loose fingers were crawling to scratch the skin on my person. I felt a pair of hands on my wrists to restrain myself, yet it was no use. I was going to be sick. I started to retch. 

"Stop!" I heard a scream and the cart came to a crashing halt. The older woman leaned over to open the door. I felt a wave of fresh air as I leaned over to vomit.  I sputtered and coughed. Losing my footing, I fell back out the cart and onto the soft, moist grass. My loud groan of pain, luckily muffled by the fall. 

"I guess we are stopping for the night," I heard behind me. A stifled groan came from inside the cart.  I blinked rapidly, staring up the bright stars above me. Coughing once more, my head lolled to the side. I could already feel small insects peck my skin, as well as hear the loud sounds of wind, slamming the branches against each other. Dizzy and feeling sleepy, I felt like I could stay there forever. Even with the burnt feeling in my throat. 

My small dream was interrupted by a strong pair of hands grabbing my wrists and pulling me up. I was shoved forward, where I found the older woman was laying down a large mat and wood, the other woman, one I had not spoken to yet, was handing her logs from the back of the cart. As I was now standing, I could feel a small drop of blood fall from my nose once more. I quickly lifted my arm for my bicep to catch it. I didn't want any more suspicion raised about me. 

The last woman ordered me on the mat and stared at me, as the other two started to build a small fire. I sat down, my legs extended out. It was an awkward position, and I silently hoped they would remove the chains around my ankles. They were extremely itchy.

I threw up again. As if on cue, I felt a surge of anger boil through me. Why on earth was I being arrested for owning a book that was at a certified antique shop? Why on earth did my nose keep bleeding? Why did I just throw up? And most importantly, where was I?  It was like my thoughts were mine again.