No Greater Love

Chapter Five

I longed to see that grinning face of his. 'Perhaps I do like him...NO. That's crazy.'  

"I wish I could see you. Are your hand tied?" I asked.

"Yeah they are. Otherwise I would've untied you by now." He stated.

I pondered how in the world we would get untied. "Maybe there's a sharp rock or something. Ooh! maybe you could stand and turn you back towards me and untie me with your hands!"

"We can try." He chuckled as he got up.

After several stumbles and grunts of frustration, his long fingers finally untied the tight knot. The cotton blindfold slid off of my freckled face revealing my deep blue eyes. "Yes!" I whispered excitedly, "You did it!"

"I did? Great!" He said. "Now do me."

I rose and ripped the rope around my hands off using a protruding rock on the side of the wall. "Alright, ........and there!" I said untying both his blindfold and ropes.

Just then, a light appeared at the end of the dark hallway and slowly came slowly closer. I buried my face in Alexander's side and as the figure arrived at the iron cell door, I realized it was one of lord Amasa's minons. He, with his dark cloak hiding his face, grumbled " 'ey girl. Come on. I've been instructed to take you to master."

Upon hearing this I looked at Alexander distressingly and rose.

"Good luck." he whispered.

I sighed in reply as my hands were tied once again. Promptly following I was prodded along up a set of dirty stone stairs lit by torches. Typical for a dungeon I supposed. At this time my heart was pounding in worry. I felt helpless as we walked down the long corridor whose walls were lined with daunting portraits, lengthy banners and weapons or war. 'God help me. I dont know what to do!' 

   We arrived at the huge gold encrusted door. The minion pounded on the door. As he did the leader's voice was heard saying, "Come in." The door slowly creaked open and before us was a room, apparently the lord's den or office, and in the midst of it was large circular table piled high with rich foods. Two places were set with dinnerware, one of which was occupied by the broad shouldered, intense leader, lord Amasa. As he stroaked his thick, wirey brown beard he summoned me. "Come, princess, sit at my table. I have matters to discuss with you." 

Suspicious by his sudden politeness I kept my eyes upon him as I took my seat in a stuffed mahogony chair. "Thank you." I said solemnly. 

"Yes, yes." He said trwirling his hands as is he were to bow. "Now. Let us eat."

The hour passed painfully and in my anxiety I barely touched my hunk of roast and bread. The lord dove into the food clearing two plates in seemingly split seconds. Sipping on his red wine, he said, "Now. Down to buisness."

I stood up straight like the princess I was and awaited his questioning. "Of course."

"You see, dear one, I have have...troubles....with your kingdom. Do you know what these are?" He said standing to face the three paneled windows lining a wall. 

"No sir." I said looking at my hands which fidgited as I spoke. 

"Well, let me elaborate." He said straightening the cuffs of his soft leather jacket. "You're kingdom...tore ours to bits, destroyed nearly every single one of our navy ships, and banned us to an unknown island said to be infested with dragons. "

"And what does that have to do with me."

He bent over the dining table and pierced me with his icy glare. "Everything." He rose coming slowly around the table. In seeing him approach, I rose from my seat and reached for my nonexistant sword. "Calm down dear. Please, sit." 

"Only a fool would sit when thier captor approaches."

I could see the mockery in his eyes but outwardly, he threw up his hands and went back to his seat. "Fine! But under my leadership....you will tell me where the royal treasury is."

"Hah! Never." I said. I could see the spark of anger in his eyes. 

"We can do this the hard way, or the easy way. The easy way is you telling me where it is and we drop you off softly in your kingdom with no harm. The hard way is torture under a whip and slaveship under me."

I felt the heat rise to my face and the tears well up. 'I can't. But...the whip. But I can't betray my kingdom and my mother.'

"I..." I whimpered through the stream of tears, "Will not betray my family and kingdom."

"So be it." said lord Amasa with clenched fists and deadly eyes. "WHERE IS THE TREASURY!" 

"I will never tell you!" I cried out in sobs. 

"GAURDS!!!" Amasa yelled. Immediately three strong, burly men  with rifles in hand, surrounded me as I curled up into a ball on my chair. 'No, no, no, no..." I repeated under my breath.