Part 1: Captured!
Saya watched the sun disappear behind the frowning Cimmirian mountains in the distance and sighed deeply. She had been wandering around in the deserted wilderness for the entire day with no sign of life. She reigned in her stallion and urged him onto a beaten track, hoping it would lead to civilisation. The shadows slowly lengthened and the darkness began to creep from the east. She Suppressed a shiver and pulled the cloak around herself. Her eyes looked for a place to shelter for the night, but there seemed to be none.
The entire day had been exceedingly suspicious. Last night, she had been traveling with her bodyguard from Arrock to distant Braeka. War had broken out in Arrock, and her Guardian, fearing the princess would be captured, had started her off for Braeka, hoping she would be safe. Little did the Warlord suspect the treachery that had occurred under the cover of darkness.
Saya awoke completely alone except for her stallion and a sheepskin of water. The guard had disappeared entirely, and she was left to the mercy of the climate, the terrain and the unknown.
She raised her grey eyes at the rock edifice that bore down menacingly at her and shivered. At the foot of the mountains it was dark, and the shadows were long, but the trail she was following curved through a pass in these giants of stone. She slid her hand on her sword, reassuringly and nudged her horse to a canter. There was something about these mountains that she did not trust. It seemed as there was someone watching her.
Saya was not particularly afraid. She was of fine warlike stock, trained to battle from the start. The elegant haughtiness of her manner spoke of the Cimmerian tribe that had turned civil and founded the city of Arrock. Her creamy fair skin, her blue-black hair, and misty grey eyes echoed the lore of the ancient Cimmerians. Saya knew of her haunting beauty, and she knew only a few wielded the two-handed sword better than she.
The horse turned a blind corner and started. It reared suddenly and unexpectedly, catching Saya lost in a reverie, quite off-Guard.
'By Mithra!' she swore, as the reigns slipped from her loose grip and she tumbled off the rearing animal. Quickly she regained her balance and crouched low. She stared straight in the black eyes of a huge, cimmerian bandit. Saya felt fear. She glanced around and counted four more men. One of them had caught the bridle of her stallion and was stroking him calm. They were all leering at her. She gripped her sword and pulled it out. Saya did not know how she was going to fend off these monsters, but she knew she would not give up without a fight.
The first man studied her stance and decided she was a mean swordswoman. He pulled out his own broadsword and swung at her. Saya met him and floundered, the force behind the broadsword no match for her own. She quickly turned around and lunged at him, her speed and agility enabled her to graze the man's flank. He cried out as her blade drew blood. She was about to swing again, when he caught her hand in his own and crushed the sword out of her grip.
"You're a quick little wench!" he exclaimed as he gripped her hand. "Let go of me, Barbarian!" "I have no gold! I wish only to be on my way...there is nothing I can do for you."
Saya struggled against his grip, kicking and lunging. She thought, he would let her go since she had nothing to give but he began to laugh. The others gathered around her, standing with their arms crossed and watching her useless struggles with leering grins. They seemed to be amused.
"Do you have a cunt, woman?" One of the men called out as her immediate captor released her. She could not escape, because they had her surrounded but Saya found herself backing into the mountain wall. She stared at them unbelieving, her eyes wide with horror. The man who had spoken, came nearer, he pushed her against the wall with one hand, crushing her breasts with his palm. "You have no gold, but do you have a cunt, woman?"
Saya fought back her fear, and struggled for a breath. The huge man, his naked barrel chest rippling with muscles, held her pinned with one massive arm. Her lungs were crushed, she could only gasp raggedly. His spread hand almost covered her entire bosom, she looked up at him. He towered at atleast seven feet.
"Please, let me go, Once I arrive safely at home. I shall reward you all well. I am a rich lady, I possess the means to give you all a lot of gold."
The man laughed, 'we have no need for your gold.'