This is the first part of a series that follows the misadventures of a young woman who is taken from her family due to her family's mistakes. It will feature bondage, noncon scenes, lesbian scenes, and possibly some darker stuff. If this isn't your thing, please move on. Critiques are welcome. If you would like to see something in particular for this story, please comment and I may use it for some inspiration.
Chapter One-The Raid
The view was gorgeous, and Hasti hung her head out the window of her carriage to take in the view. The wagon was being pulled up a well maintained, but rocky path through the Gold Mountains. The forest covered slopes overlooking the sparkling blue waters of the harbor were turning to fiery shades of red and orange, a far cry from the perpetually green meadows of her homeland. From this high up, the buildings and ships of the town she had spent the last few days looked like mere children's toys.
"I do need you to pull your head back inside, Miss Onesh. All kinds of wild beasts roam these woods and we don't want to invite them a meal." The voice came from Sheryl, Hasti's personal servant. The older woman had served as Hasti's teacher, sitter, and general caretaker since Hasti was just a little girl. Her parents were very successful merchants, and they were often away from home. However, they felt that life on the road was too dangerous for a child, and they often left their daughter home in the care of the trusted servants.
However, as Hasti had recently turned eighteen, her parents had deemed that she was officially old enough to learn the family business. And so, Hasti put her teachings from private tutors to practical use. It had been easier on the ship. After a day of walking about the ship and taking in the sight of the open ocean, she had managed to mostly shut herself in her cabin and pour over ledgers and documents. The city had proven harder. Everyday, there seemed to be some new event that she desperately wanted to attend. However, her parents forced back to her room at inn to keep working. Back on the road, Hasti felt that she wild get more work done once the wonder of the view and wildlife had settled down. Sure enough, once the road turned away from the water and the trees had closed in around them, the merchant daughter was able to focus on the papers in the carriage. It helped that she had this wagon to herself. Her parents were in the carriage just in front and trailing behind were a half dozen wagons with servants, supplies, and her parents traveling stock of porcelain sculptures, fancy perfumes, and jarred fruits.
Sure enough, Hasti drifted quickly into the numbers. She almost didn't notice when the caravan stopped suddenly. Even through the walls of the carriage, she could hear her father yelling at the workers. "Stay here, Miss Onesh. I'll find out what happened." The old maid stepped out of the wagon. She wasn't gone a minute before returning. "Your father's wagon has broken an axel. We'll be a while before we can get under way again. Go back to your studies."
Hasti returned to work, but she was disturbed again by a scream of pain from outside her cart. She looked up from her books, but Sheryl covered her mouth. "Keep quiet, and get on the floor of the cart." The young girl did as she was told while Sheryl cracked open the side of the carriage to peek out. The sounds of her father's guard joining battle came in louder. "Bandit's," the old woman whispered.
"Bandits?" Hasti repeated. "My father's men can handle them, right?"
"Of course they can." Sheryl reassured her. "And even if one does slip past them, I'll protect you." Hasti noticed that Sheryl had pulled a dagger from somewhere in her skirts. The woman tried to put on a brave face, but she couldn't completely cover the fear.
Footsteps approached from outside. Sheryl raised a blade to strike at any intruder. Nothing happened for a long second, then the door was ripped open. Cheryl lunged at a man in dark leather, but he easily pushed her forearm aside and stuck a blade in her stomach. A quick scream escaped Hasti's lips as Sheryl collapsed to the ground. Her hand futilely grasped at the bleeding wound. "What do we have here?" the bandit said. His voice was as smooth as a cat's gait. Hasti pushed herself back to the other side of the cart, trying to get away from violent man. She didn't like the hard look in his eyes.
"I didn't realize Onesh would have the lovely lady out here. That's even better than I had hoped. Are you going to come out or do I have to drag you?"
"Just leave us alone," Hasti said, fighting back tears.
"Dragging it is," he said as he climbed into the cart. He easily pushed back Hasti's attempts to slap and kick to grab a fistful of hair. He yanked her by the head, pulling another, louder scream out of her. He dumped her out of the cart, and she fell to her hands, dirtying her fancy dress.
Suddenly, Sheryl gathered herself and lunged one last time at the bandit. He side stepped at the last second and the dagger was only able to scratch his leather armor. He responded with a swift kick to the jaw that knocked the woman unconscious. Hasti tried to get to her feet to defend Sheryl herself, but the man grabbed her hair again and pulled back to expose her throat. He leveled the point of his blade warningly, and she noticed he wasn't holding it in his hand. It was his hand, attached to the forearm by a prosthesis of wood and leather. The threatening sight took all fight out of her. The bandit let go of her hair and she fell back to the dirt.
Now that she was able to look around, she only saw four bandits. That's it? she thought. Her father had a dozen men on the caravan. Could four attackers really have taken them all down so quickly?
"Crym! Put this woman with the other prisoners."
"Right, boss." The deep voiced reply came from a giant of a man carrying a massive hammer with the ease of a child's toy. He picked the unconscious Sheryl up with one hand and put her over his shoulder and carried her off.
"Cam, put her with her parents. There is some family business to discuss."
This time his response was met by a thin, bearded man with an eyepatch and a thick beard speckled with grey.
