A Cold Night To Remember

[5] Ice and Snow

The cold bit at her, her face almost blue. She sat huddled in her mobile prison, wrapped in her blanket and the fur that "not my name Tristan" gave her. She held herself tightly, fighting the cold, praying for their journey to end... she at least was protected from a good part of the wind...

She was not used to this sort of cold, and her head ached from the height of their climb... She felt as though it were getting harder to breath each hour. 

Suddenly the cart stopped... Arovis opened her eyes.

The back of the carriage was opened and her two personal guards escorted her out. To her surprise she found herself in a small village! Smoke billowed from rock carved houses and snow covered the road. 

It was a poor illage, like the ones they had previously passed. 

"What is happening?" She asked, seeing everyone unload their carts. Men from the village came out and began to take things away, payments being exchanged... Selling their belongings?

Tristan then road to the back of their company, right up to her. "Unbind her hands," He ordered.

They hesitated a moment, "I said unbind her!" One of the men took out a dagger and sliced the ropes from her small wrists. 

Tristan then loosed his foot from it's stirrup and extended his arm to her, "Get on,"

She didn't dare hesitate, and took his arm. From there she was placed directly behind his muscular form. He had added a fur coat to his own body as well. 

"Wrap your arms around me," He spoke...she hesitated this time, fearing to touch him... "You'll fall otherwise." 

Arovis delicately wrapped her arms around his abdomen, barely touching his hard body. Her chest and face had to be right up against his back...it was awkward, at least to her.

A momment later her spurred his horse forward, causing Arovis to surge backward. Hurriedly she clung to his solid form, keeping herself in place. He was warm, and soon she did not mind riding behind him. 

They left all their carts and tents behind in that small village, and all transferred to steeds of all sorts. The road ahead would not allow for carts to pass, and the horses themselves struggled with the trek. They moved more up then north now... but it seemed that they were close to their detestation, for there were smiles more often shared, and there was a sense of urgency that returned...like the excitement of getting home...

"Where are we going?" She asked, her face very close to his ear.

"Your new home..." He replied, tugging on the horses reigns. 

"I must find my friend... Lyla. Do you know where they took her?" She had to try... she couldn't just leave her only friend to live a life of slavery. 

"They took her to the east to be sold... There is no way to know where she is now..." He spoke solumbly... "How do you expect to find her anyway?"

A deep sadness filled her heart... she wished there was some way she could get to her friend. In that moment she decided, when, not if, she escaped, saving Lyla would be her first priority. 

"I wouldn't know..." She lied... she was sure he knew her intentions, she had already tried running before, nothing was holding her back now, other than the snow and ice. 

A few minuets passed, then he finally spoke again, the horse slowing and cimbing easier now. They were now far from the group, the rest of the gang still lagging behind on their lesser equiped steeds for the climb. "You sing beautifully." 

It caught Arovis quiet off guard, not expecting this... "What?"

"Your song... the first night you were conscious. It was well sung... you have talent." The horse tripped on a stone and lost it's balance momentarily, causing Arovis to hold tighter to his middle. 

"Ah... yes... My mother used to sing it to me." She replied, her thoughts racing back to her warm home... the land of yellows and reds...not this barren place of gray, white, and black...

"I wish you could have been sparred your misfortune..." He told her, bringing his large steed to a stop. He turned his hooded head to the side towards her, yet still not revealing his face. 

"Why? You don't seem to have a problem with it now..." She retorted, bitter against her captures...

"Do not mistake my actions as voluntary...I am just as much a prisoner as you..." He said quietly, yet sharply... he had an axe to grind as well...He spurred is horse on, tall gray brick walls coming into view.

"How so? When you walk it would seem you give the orders..." 

"You are very perceptive Princess, but that is a story for another time..." He replied as they went under the arch that announced the entrance to the city.

And a fine city it was. So far from civilization yet so populated. The buildings were cut right into the stone of the mountain and ornately carved, not ragged but fine and beautiful. The city was in one large circle, the Town Hall at the far end, and towering over the rest of the city. It would seem all the buildings were built down, instead of up. One would have to be very hearty and tough to live in such a harsh place...

At the sight of Tristan a long ram's horn was blown and shots rung out, "They have returned!" "At last they have arrived!" 

The whole town turned out, and to her immense interest, the people had Yellow hair...and even red. They seemed so alien to herself... Their fair skin and light hair was like that of Lyla's, although shorter and braided. THe men had long beards and the women short, braided hair. They all appeared to be hunters or warriors from build...there is no place for laziness here she thought to herself...

Tristan dismounted then helped her down as well. The rest of their band strolled in and the horses were taken by grooms to unseen stables. 

"Forgive me," He spoke, then pulled a knife from his belt. For a moment she feared for her life...

Am i to be killed just as i am to arrive?!

Her though were folly, for a moment later he urged her forward, keeping the knife at her lower back. She stiffened, slowly moving forward. 

Tristan whispered, "Do not struggle and it will be better for you. There is someone who is anxious to see you for face."  

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