They came to a stop after three days of travel. It had been a horrendous journey. Liana, her mother and brother had been forced into a cramped, horse-drawn cage along with another dozen or so villagers - mostly women. It had rained for two of the days and the cage had no solid roof. The karrakesh had thrown the prisoners food scraps and half-chewed bones but few had been desperate enough to eat them. The villagers had huddled up for warmth but even so, many were showing signs of pneumonia and had hacking coughs and permanent shivers.
The karrakesh warriors marched alongside the wagons, their powerful builds and incredible stamina allowing them to continue through the night without rest. Three of them had oversized horses - massive beasts with wild eyes and bulging flanks. Even in this miserable cell, Liana couldn't help thinking of Kurn and whether she would ever see him again. In the freezing wind with nothing but dying brushland in every direction, it gave her comfort to remember what it felt like to have him filling her completely.
They had passed out of kingdom territory long ago and had given up hope that the king's knights might catch up and free them. Whispers between some of the more worldly prisoners suggested they were heading towards Ereban - The Bleak City or perhaps to the slave markets at Hatok-Khul. Ereban was rumoured to be a miserable place ruled over by a corrupt lord who had risen to power by deals with a dark being. Liana had really just thought it all to be myths and stories but looking at the grey, rotting landscape around her, she was no longer so sure.
Two karrakesh warriors opened the cage gate, savage axes in their hands. One pointed at Liana, "You. Out. Now."
"No," cried her mother, "take me. Spare her."
"Get out now," snarled the towering brute, "we're taking this one to the city. The rest of you are going on to Hatok-Khul."
"No please," begged Karin, "take all three of us, we're a family. We'll comply, I promise."
"The boss don't want old women and scrawny boys." The karrakesh grabbed the nearest girl's head in his massive hand. "Get out now or I'll slit this bitch's throat."
Liana turned to hug her mother and brother and squeezed them tightly. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I'll come and find you."
Karin's eyes began to tear and Silus just stared, he wished he had the skill and power to defend family but if he tried, he knew he'd be cut down in an instant.
As Liana reached the cage door, the nearest karrakesh grabbed her and roughly slung her over his shoulder. Another set to work tying her wrists and ankles before they slung her over the back of a horse like a sack of grain.
As the cage slowly pulled away, Karin and Silus could only watch as the rider galloped off down a muddy track towards the city of Ereban.
***
The ride took over two jarring hours. Several times Liana considered dropping herself off the back of the horse but she would likely injure herself and the bindings were so tight she'd stand no chance of escape. Liana's view was restricted to the ground flying past and a mass of horse flank so it came as a relief, albeit short-lived, when they came to stop.
"Open the gate." bellowed the rider.
"Opening the gate."
A deep grinding came from somewhere ahead. In a few moments, it stopped and the rider passed through and into the city. Liana struggled to see where she was but all she could make out were muddy tracks and the brickwork of dark, filthy buildings. It had started to rain again and the horse's hooves splashed through the puddles. The rider continued on, down side streets and under arches until it stopped outside what must be the final destination. A voice, not rough enough to be karrakesh spoke. "What is your business?"
"I have a human woman for the Duke."
"I see, is he expecting you."
"Tell him it's Moroch, he'll see me."
