Maji Born

23 - A Break For Freedom

Lavinia stirred as a low gravelly voice asked, "Is it her?"

"Looks like it. The drawing is a good likeness. Look."

There was a rustle of parchment being unrolled and then someone adjusted her chin.

"It's got to be her."

Lavinia stayed as still as possible, pretending to still be unconscious. She had no idea who her attackers were, but she could guess who had sent them. Where was Eirian? She listened intently for any signs of her friend.

There was a slam and a new voice joined the other two.

"Let's go," he said. She could hear the scuffling of feet. Were they standing?

Lavinia felt a rough pressure on her waist as one of the men grabbed her and slung her over his shoulders. She had to fight against her reflexes, forcing herself to stay limp and not fight this turn of events.

Something slammed as they moved through the space. A door? Now a cutting, salty wind burned at Lavinia's exposed limbs. She remembered the smell from their arrival in Everast. 

They had to be in the port. They were going to take her back. Lavinia focused all her attention on staying calm and keeping her body from tensing up. She waited until she was set down roughly, her head banging against what felt like a cold stone wall, before assessing the situation more thoroughly.

Her wrists were bound but her ankles seemed to be free. She could run. It would be extremely difficult. She was disoriented and not being able to see would give her a considerable disadvantage. She could shout for help. It didn't seem like Eirian was here. Lavinia felt her stomach turn over. What if she was dead? She pushed the thought away.

The others had to be looking for her by now. If Eirian was bleeding out of unconscious somewhere, they would find her. She would be okay. Maybe Eirian had been able to escape and get help. She tried to remember what had happened. Lavinia recalled being grabbed and hearing Eirian's indignant cry. She remembered nothing after that. She had been drugged with something she assumed. Her nose twitched at the thought of the pungent cloth they had shoved over her mouth and nose.

Her kidnappers began to talk in lowered voices a few feet from her. It sounded as though their backs were turned. If she could make it back into the city, yelling for help as she went, she might getaway. It was her best chance.

"The ships at the far end, Captains told us to load her into a crate and then we'll stow her below deck," one of the attackers said. Lavinia breathed in slowly, steeling herself to make her move. Quietly and carefully she rose to her feet, listening for any sign that they had noticed her movement. So far they seemed to be inattentive.

She took her first step and felt the world spin. Trying not to cry out she put a hand out for the wall. Once steadied she paused. The wind was moving along the in the direction she faced. She remembered it doing that last time she'd been in the port. If she followed it she might have a chance of getting into the city without being grabbed again. She held her breath and moved as slowly as possible.

"Hey!" One of the merchants had spotted her. She broke into a run, hoping against hope that she wouldn't slam into anything or trip. Her bound hands grazed the wall and when the wall ended she continued up the street. She remembered this. The city was built up. This meant that if she kept going up she would reach the city centre. She shouted at the top of her lungs as she went. Doing her best to draw attention to her situation.

"Help! I'm being attacked! Help me!"

She stumbled slightly and ran into something hard. She was too disoriented to try and figure out what it was. Her heart was racing. She could hear her attackers coming up the street behind her. She needed to keep moving.

"Help, I'm being tak—" She said as she broke into a run again.

She felt a jerk at her waist and a slender hand covered her mouth. She has pulled off her path and into a waiting alley. Lavinia struggled against the light pressure over her mouth and the arm wrapped around her waist. She tried to scream and then attempted to bite the fingers.

"Ouch, Lavinia it's me. Be quiet or they'll hear you."

Lavinia stopped recognizing the voice. Zehara. She relaxed slightly, still intently listening for her pursuers. They stood like that for several minutes, waiting for the danger to pass. Lavinia was acutely aware of the other woman's heartbeat and the feeling over her arm around her waist.

"They've gone past," Zehara said, releasing Lavinia and turning her to face her. "Are you alright?" Zehara began looking her over. "Did they hurt you?"

"I'm alright," Lavinia responded. Now that she was out of danger, the shock was setting in. 

"Sorry for biting you," she added. A slight warmth flushing her face. Zehara didn't notice. The sun was now setting and she could barely make out the other woman in the twilight.

"No harm. It was expected, you were being chased and I did grab you. I don't blame you in the least. It was the correct response."

"Thanks for coming for me," Lavinia said."You found her?" Another voice said from down the alley, panting slightly. "I almost lost you back there Ze."

Who was this person?

"I did. We should head back. Don't want an altercation when they return." Zehara said. She slid her hand into Lavinia's and squeezed it slightly, guiding her out of the other end of the alley. They made their way back to the estate at a brisk walk.

"Is Eirian alright?" Lavinia asked quietly.

"She was hit on the head, but she seemed to be stable. Devarak was looking after her when I left the house," Zehara said.

They reached the estate and entered swiftly, locking the door behind them."Thank heavens."

Lavinia heard the Duke's footfall as he approached them."From now on we are under strict house arrest. We don't want a repeat of this disaster."