The Captive (Secrets, Choices and Redemption)

by Shannon Peel

  "So the dead rises after all. Welcome back to the land of the living." Raif's voice.

  I immediately pounced ready to scratch his eyes out, crush his manhood and inflict whatever damage I can. I don't make it all the way to him before a collar around my neck jerks me back. I pull at it to get a breath.

  "Now that you are awake we'll start your training. First, your name from now on is Mary, understand?" A different name is the least of my worries. "Good you will learn how to serve properly. After you have mastered being a serving girl we will start working on teaching you how to cook the proper types of dishes and then go from there." I try to catch my breath, not really hearing him or caring what he says.

  My baby is gone and I couldn’t do anything to stop it from happening. I failed, lost and don’t know what to do. I can’t get close to the man I want to kill. I am helpless. With that realization I become numb and start to fall deep down into myself where something has shattered into thousands of tiny pieces. Everything around me is surreal, it is like I’m here, but I’m not at the same time.

  "Rosa bring her the serving girl clothes and show Mary how to put them on right." Rosa materializes from the back of the tent with a large bundle in her arms. “Clean her up first.” Rosa leaves. I am in the tent alone with the man who destroyed my life. I want to scream. I can’t. I am unable to move. I’m not really here. I’m no longer in the tent.

  I’m in the village. With Brathoid. I hold onto him. I am safe in his arms. “Drela.” Brathoid is holding me. I am safe here with him. “I love you.”

  I snuggle into his warm embrace.

  “I love you too.”

  “You are a strong woman. You are my woman. You are the mother of my children.” “They took Dre. Brathoid they took Dre.”

  I look up into his eyes and they are filled with anger. Not at me. Never at me. He kisses me. Kisses my nose, my eyes, my brow, the top of my head and holds me close. I am safe here. He will protect me. No one dares to hurt me.

  “You will get her back. I know you will. Protect Josiah. Protect my son. Go deep inside Drela. Stay with me. Survive. Come Drela. Come where it’s safe and stay with me.”

  “I will.”

  He is fading. The village is fading. At first it’s there and then I can see through him, through the huts, past the fields. Everything is dull. It’s gone. My home. My love. My baby girl. All gone.

  "Mary, Mary," Raif’s voice. I don’t want to hear his voice. Rosa slaps me. "Mary turn around."

  I say nothing. I just stare at him. I’m naked. I am wet. I am numb.

  “Mary. What the hell is wrong with her?” Rosa asks.

  “I don’t know.” Raif’s voice.

  My body is too tired to move. I want to go to sleep and to never wake up. Emotions turn circles inside me, wrapping around me separating me from the world. The pain. The humiliation. The anger. The grief. All twist and turn bringing me inside myself, deeper and deeper. Bringing me to my love, my husband, my man.

  “Mary. Raise your arms.” I raise them. “Turn around.” I turn around. “Step into the skirt. That’s it.” I step into the skirt. “At least she’s doing what she’s told.”

  “I can’t sell her like this.” Raif’s voice again. He sounds like a fly buzzing in my ear. I try to swat it away. “Mary can you hear me?”

  I don’t hear him there is too much noise inside me, pulling me down deeper inside. My hair is pulled back hard.

  “Talk bitch.” Rosa’s voice is like poison in my ears.

  “Mary. Say yes sir.” Raif says.

  "Ya sa" I say.

  “There you just have to know how to talk to the whore.” Rosa says.

  “She isn’t a whore.” Raif says. "Say y e s s i r.". Raif sounds out every sound slowly.

  "Yes sa" I say and Raif looks at me and nods. I try again. "Yessia" We keep at it, going back and forth a number of times until I get it right. "Yes sir.”

  “Looky there you got her talking.” Rosa says. “She’s like a puppy. Fetch Mary.”

  “Stop it Rosa. You’re not helping.”

  “OK. I’ll help.” She hits me. “Do what your told.”

  All afternoon they teach me how to speak their way, not my way. Every time I don't respond either Raif or Rosa hits me. The whole afternoon seems not real. I am becoming a different person. I am someone called Mary and not Drela. Drela is in too much pain. She has lost too much. Drela is deep inside me hiding, healing, waiting. Mary feels nothing at all. Mary cares about nothing. She does as she’s told. She is a shell.

  Logan

  I stretch my legs out towards the fire and look up at the stars into the night sky. The cool air is crisp and fresh. It’s our last night on the road. The whole week has been hot and dry, perfect travelling weather. Even the weather doesn’t dare upset Aleesa’s plans.

  “Ah good the fire still burns hot.” The Captain of the Patrol sits down across the fire from me, warming his hands.

  “Everything quiet?”

  “Yes. Yes. My men are at their posts.”

  “It’s been an uneventful trip. I thank you Captain.”

  “Tomorrow you will in Terra and then on to the North.”

  “Some ale Captain?”

  The man nods and I throw my ale skin over the fire to him. He takes a long swig from it and then tosses it back with a ‘thanks.’

  “Do you have a wife and kids Logan?”

  “Nope. Just me.”

  “I have a younger sister, a beautiful maiden.”

  “She doesn’t look like you then?”

  “No.” The man laughs. “No. She is a looker my sis. I need to find a good man for her. One who will take care of her proper and all. I like you Logan. I think she’d make you a good wife. I know you’d make her a good husband.”

  I throw the ale skin back to him and pretend like I’m thinking seriously about his offer. No way am I getting married, ever. I’ve been around women enough to know I don’t want to be saddled with one. All my married charges make their husband’s lives a living hell, emptying their bank accounts, and stepping out on them behind their backs. I’m positive most of the heirs to the noble houses do not have their daddy’s noble blood pumping through their veins.

  Whores. Give me a whore. I like whores. I don’t need any other woman. Well, except my charges, a man needs to make a living. I stop and think on that for a moment. Noble women pay me to escort them, protect them, and basically follow them around. Some, I’ve even bedded. Guess I’m a whore. I start laughing.

  “You think my offer is funny?” He sounds offended.

  Shit.

  “No. No. Just thinking about my career choice, not you sister. I’m sure she’s a beautiful woman.”

  “She is. Well mannered too. Pleasant to be around.”

  He throws the ale bag back to me. I take a long swig while he tells me his sister’s virtues. I am sure she is a wonderful woman. I don’t want to insult the man. It’s not like I could marry her even if I wanted to. Oh fuck it.

  “Captain. Do you know my name?”

  “Logan.”

  “My last name?”

  “I don’t believe I do.”

  “Reachie. Logan Reachie.”

  The man’s eyes are orbs and his face is blushed with embarrassment. He struggles to stand and bow at the same time, offering up his sincerest apologies. Blah. Blah. Blah.

  “Captain. Captain. Sit. Sit. I’m not my father, nor am I my uncle. Sit. I’m no one. I’m honoured you offered your sister to me. It’s just that I can’t marry her.”

  “If I’d known. I am so sorry my –“

  “Don’t say it. The name is Logan.”

  “Logan. I apologize. I can’t believe. If I’d known I never would have.”

  “God man. Settle down. Have a drink.” I throw him my ale bag. “In fact finish it, looks like you need it.” He bows while sitting and I cringe. “Do that one more time and I’ll kill you. I’m no one. I’m just Logan. Fuck man. Forget I said anything.”

>   “Logan then.”

  That’s better. I smile at the poor guy. If I was smarter, politer, a better man, I would have found a better way to refuse his offer. Hell, if I was a better man I wouldn’t be here and he wouldn’t be offering. I smile at him again trying to put him at ease.

  “Are you married Captain?”

  “Yes. Wonderful woman. She’s given me four children, all boys.”

  His face lights up and I ask after them. He’s not as chummy as before, still he seems to be grateful to have something to talk about. Wow. He is one proud poppa.

  “A very practical woman my Maggie.”

  I am certain he’s lying about that part. Women are anything but practical. Well, except maybe my mother, but she’s different.

  “You almost make me want to run out and find me a bride and make some kids. Not going to happen.” I wink. He laughs.

  “Well. I am lucky. My Maggie is one of a kind.”

  “Sounds like it. Most all the women I know are like Aleesa, though I think she takes the prize for the biggest pain in the ass.” We both laugh. “Speaking of which, I should go check on said pain in the ass. Women. Let’s just say I’m glad I won’t be marrying one. You poor sap.”

  “You’re ale bag My, erm, Logan.”

  “Keep it. I’ll get Aleesa to buy me a new one.”

  She has a candle burning. I can see the glow through the tent’s wall. If I know Aleesa and I do, she probably fell asleep without blowing it out. I open the flap and walk in.

  “Aleesa, it’s Logan, decent?”

  “Shouldn’t you knock?” Her voice is annoyed.

  “Kinda hard to knock on a tent flap. Hello Private. I have a feeling your Captain would flog you if he knew you were here.”

  “Ah. Yes Sir. No Sir. Yes Sir.”

  The young soldier is scrambling for his clothes and Aleesa is pissed. She gets out of bed, completely naked. I study her round breasts and decide they are, well, breasts with fabulous nipples, hard and pointed at me.

  “Don’t you go anywhere.” She says to the Private. “Logan, how dare you. We are busy here.”

  “I can see that.” My eyes wonder down her slim waist to where her legs come together. “Is he doing a good job of it?”

  “He was until you came in.”

  “Private. Get. The. Fuck. Out of this tent. Now.”

  The poor boy is tripping over himself trying to get dressed and outside as fast as humanly possible, maybe even a little faster. I walk over to a chair where her robe has been thrown. I touch the silk. It’s smooth. Smooth as a woman’s tits. I adjust myself. Women.

  “Put this on Aleesa.” I throw the robe to her.

  “What? You aren’t interested Logan?”

  “A Private Aleesa? A fucking commoner? What are you thinking? I can’t get you any Tansy tea out here. I wouldn’t know where to look for it.”

  Tansy tea is illegal. Not hard to find if you know the right person, still illegal. I don’t know anyone in Terra, let alone someone who deals it or I trust enough to sell me a safe enough batch. Mix it wrong and it can kill you or do nothing and nine months later out pops an itty bitty baby.

  “I’m about to be married. I don’t need tansy tea. Besides. He spilled his load on the sheets. Where do you get off telling me—“

  “I’m your sell sword Aleesa. It is my job to make sure men don’t take advantage of poor, innocent you. Although, I’m sure he was the one needing protecting tonight. You could have got the boy killed. If his Captain finds out. Fuck. You have no thought for anyone but yourself.”

  “That’s not true. I thought of you while he was fucking me.”

  “Very funny. Ain’t happening.”

  “Well. Then what do you expect? I’m getting married tomorrow remember.”

  “Yeah.”

  “To an old man, who probably can’t even get it up. He probably doesn’t even remember how to use it anymore.”

  “Oh I’m sure he remembers. Pretend to enjoy it at least. Who knows maybe he’ll surprise you.” I doubt it.

  “You know I could order you into my bed.”

  “You won’t. Even if you did, you know I wouldn’t obey and I’d quit.” She’s pouting now. I roll my eyes at her.

  “It’s not the end of your fun Aleesa. You’ll be back at court with all your boys soon and your husband will be far, far, away at his Estate breeding his horses.” She stamps her foot.

  “I hate you.” She says.

  “I know you do. Now go to bed. Alone. If I catch another man in here I’ll kill him. Then I’ll tell your husband-to-be and your father. No marriage. No horse sales. No lands. No title.”

  “Fine.”

  I nod, leave and go to my tent. Women. How did I get saddled with protecting them?

  Drela

  When I returned to the corral where they keep us locked up, I run to see Josia and hug him so tight. I can feel the tears pouring down my face. I take a deep breath swallowing all my grief down into my stomach. It hurts. I have to stay strong, for now.

  "Ma where is Dre I looked for her but can't find her."

  "Dre had to go away. She..... She ....."

  "She dead like da?" Might as well be. It would probably better if she were.

  "No no, she’s not dead. Some men came and took her to keep her safe for now. She isn’t safe here."

  What did those old men want with a baby girl anyway?

  "Ya na a good place for little girls. She gonna be safe, good! I'll miss 'er but if she safe dat good thing."

  "Ya, she’s safe. I miss her, miss her a lot."

  I hold Josia on my lap, his head on my shoulder and rock him back n forth while I sing old songs. Drela’s songs. Soon he falls asleep. I keep rocking and the tears start falling. An arm comes around and holds me close comforting me while I cry myself to sleep.

  I wake up in the middle of the night restless and hear Basha humming to himself.

  "Basha, Basha, come sit here and keep me company."

  "Hi Chiefta. Canna sleep too?"

  "No long day, too much sad, too many tears. Basha you travel to towns to trade right?"

  "Ya, me walk everywhere to trade for tribe."

  "Where are we?"

  "We near Annaleesa village. Not much der just taverns and roomin houses for travellers goin down from High Flatland to Lowland. Me trade der too."

  "Have you ever seen a couple old men wearing white robes with long white hair and white beards?"

  "Me see lots o white robed men, they are priests of da Church o Balla. Strange men dose priests."

  "Lots of them?" My heart sinks how am I going find the right two if there were lots of them.

  "Ya why ya ask? Ya see Priest in camp? Next time run dey have weird magicks."

  "They took Dre. Took her away."

  "Oh," Basha had a worried look on his face. "Why dey want baby girl? Wait, Sanchie wake up man, Sanchie come 'ere Chiefta need ya."

  One of the bodies rolls over and comes up on his elbows.

  "Wha who called ma name?"

  "Sanchie, come 'ere Chiefta need ta know 'bout White Priests."

  "White priests? Chiefta? Whacha goin on 'bout man?"

  Sanchie gets up and makes his way over to us rubbing the sleep from his eyes and stretching.

  "Sanchie, tell me what you can 'bout White Priests. They took Dre today."

  "White Priests took Dre?" Sanchie is wide-awake now. "Dere be a few reasons. She may be spirit talker, can talk to da spirits. She just a babe, can't tell yet if can talk to spirits. Too little to know if she a seer yet." He sits thinking. "Sorry Chiefta. I do na know wha girls do at Church of Balla besides dat. But, she be safe. Dey take care of special girls, dose with da sight or can talk to da spirits." He patted her foot and gave her a smile. "She be ok with da church men dey don't ha --" and he pointed to his privates area.

  "Ya mean dey have no cock?” Basha says, he looks alarmed. “Wha dey do chop it off?" Basha instinctively covers his crotch with a wincing look of pain.
>
  "Well ya. Dat parta being we de Church, dey canna have sex. Na sure why dou." "I don na wanna be a White Priest dank ya."

  Sanchie laughed, "donna worry self dey wood na take ya, ya too dark. Gotta be white, which why it strange dey take High Flatland baby, we all colour o deer." He shook his head puzzled. "Ba wha I know about Church o Balla? All I know I hear in tavern, drunk."

  I thank them both. Soon we are talking of all the places we will see on the way to the Lowlands. No one dares talk of home. Like the bulk of the tribe, I’ve never ventured too far from our village. It is kind of exciting to talk about the things we will see. It almost helps me forget why we are going there.