I wake up to sunlight invading my vision and when I try to pull the blanket over my head it was stolen from me. With a groan I grab a pillow and use it, but that too is striped from my grasp.
"Why" I groan as I crack my eyes open to see Izana holding the items that I have been denied.
"We have to leave soon" Izana says as he drops the items onto the floor. "When I went to get some food for when you would get up Mei wouldn't stop questioning me about you and our fake child" he says and that had me up on my feet.
"This is all your fault" I growl lowly and he takes a step back.
"Stay calm" he says just seconds before a knock resonates through the room, snapping our attention towards the door.
"Who is it?" I ask cautiously.
I am instantly awake and on guard. At this time in the morning Alois and his family should be working and we don't know anyone else in this town. I grab the closest weapon to me, which just so happens to be Izana's sword, as quiet as I can. Sending a look in his direction as he grabs my bow that is resting near the table, where I set it after rummaging through my bag yesterday for the slave for my side.
Without hesitation he cocks an arrow and aims it at the door. I take a quick glance around the room as yet another knock penetrates the door this time more aggressive. My eyes land on my daggers, the belt they are hung on is slung over the knob for the bathroom door. As silent as I could possibly be I make my way over to it. The knocking getting louder the longer the door remains shut. Whoever is on the other side clearly has no intention of identifying themselves. Or leaving.
As soon as I reach my belt I strap it as best I can around my waist as quickly and quietly as possible. Then I make my way over to Izana, who hasn't moved an inch, to strap his sword around his waist. Which was kinda awkward, to say the least. Once that was done I drew my twin daggers and position myself on the other side of the door. That is now shaking under the pressure coming from the person on the other side.
Just as I was about to say something the door caves, slamming down hard on the floor and 3 people are standing in the doorway. Two holding swords and one holding a crossbow. I recognize one from a village raid I assisted in three years prior and my heart sinks to the pit of my stomach as I realize what is happening.
"Come quietly" the one with the crossbow demands. Izana spares a glance at me before slowly lowering the bow.
"Good" the one who knocked down the door says and the other rushes forward, grabbing the bow in his hands before turning to me. "Tell the girl to back down" he demands Izana.
"Honey please" Izana says staying calm as the guy presses his sword against his neck because I was talking so long to comply with his demands.
"Ass" I mumble under my breath as I drop the daggers, a split second later I am grabbed by crossbow man.
"Take them to the group outside and escort them all to the others." Sword guy says and leaves.
We are roughly shoved down the stairs of the inn, through the tavern and out into the morning sunlight, where everyone from the inn was clustered together. Being rounded up by raiders. Without a word the raiders start leading us like livestock towards the center of town. Not wanting to lose Izana in the growing crowd as other groups are merged with ours, I grab and hold tight to his hand. His own hand taking a firm grasp on my own, his eyes darting around the crowd no doubt trying to figure out what is happening.
"Raiders" I say just loud enough for him to hear, as we finally stop moving, having joined the main group. His gaze landing on me. "I've had dealings with this group once before" I add.
"And your telling me this now" he says in irritation.
"Well I couldn't tell you in the room. Especially because the main man who barged in didn't seem to recognize me" I say.
"Ok so what do we do?" he asks but before I could answer a scream fills the clearing making it become silent.
"Listen up you mangy dogs" The man from before yelled over the courtyard we are clustered in. "I am Jackal and you all belong to me now" he cackles and fear starts creeping its way into the crowd.
"I'm going to do something stupid" I state before releasing my grip on Izana's hand and slipping through the crowd before he could utter a single word.
I weave through the people packed into the courtyard typically used to host the markets. Trying to get as close to Jackal as possible before carrying out my plan. Hoping it will be enough for them to focus all their attention on me.
What I had in mind suddenly flew out the window as Jackal started sending his men into the crowd to find young maidens for his enjoyment. The air is filled with screaming and yelling as girls are stripped away from their families.
"Your coming with me girly" a man says and grabs me from behind.
Pinning my arms to my sides before lifting me off the ground so I can't attempt to run off. But that doesn't hinder me in attempting to escape his grasp even though I already know it is impossible to do so.
"Alex" my name enters my ears and my eyes land on Mei and her boys about ten people away from me.
"Pretty name for a pretty girl" the man says as he tosses me to the ground, now outside of the crowd and venerable to attack at all sides.
"Go to hell" I growl.
"Feisty I like that" he licks his lips and my blood suddenly grows cold.
"I'll take that one" jackal states pointing in my direction.
"As you wish" the man in front of me grumbles before throwing me to the ground at Jackals feet. "Submit" he says as I regain my footing, all eyes trained on us.
"I don't submit to cowards" I growl earning a slap across the face which on adds fuel to my smoldering inner flame.
"Leave her be" Izana's voice rises about the crowd and I curse under my breath at his idiocy.
"Oooo little miss fire has an admirer" Jackal states with amusement. His grin widening as his eyes make contact with my left hand. "No a lover" he says with amusement. "Grab him"
"NO" I yell but am held back by two men as I watch him being dragged towards us. Struggling in vain against my captors.
"You're going to watch as I ravish her lovely body" Jackal states as Izana is dropped to the ground.
"Demon" I growl.
"In the flesh" jackal responds with a sneer. An idea suddenly popping into his head and his twisted grin widens.
"First I think you could do with a few pretty marks" he states, pulling out a skinning knife from his belt.
The next moments happened as if in slow motion. Jackals knife penetrating Izana's skin, blood beginning to pool around the metal as he cut a deep jagged line slowly down his forearm. Izana's pain filled cries filling my ears as I watch on in horror.
Then I snapped.
My mind set on one thing.
Save Him.
YOU ARE READING
Ragged Royal
FanfictionNo longer writing Alex, is a young woman who wishes for nothing but freedom to come and go as she pleases. Never having to settle in one place for longer than she sees fit. The only family she has is now spread out, creating families of their own...
