Captured Series Bundle

by Christina Hale

  “Well, I’m just glad we won’t run into any problems,” I told him with a smile, trying to hide my surprise. Vralius just grinned at me, and we let the next few minutes pass on in silence while we both ate. As the silence stretched between us, I began to think back to the fight. Napius… he had been brave, but he had also been a horrid coward. He had known death – or at the very least, losing the fight – had been near, and he knew it was hopeless. Napius had been unprepared, and much too unskilled. He hadn’t stood a chance, and he’d known it.

  But to think that, rather than sparing his own life, he tossed it away in a vain attempt to get back at Vralius. A cheap shot… I knew that, had I not been present, no one would have alerted Vralius. No one would have stopped Napius. No, they would have cheered him on. The herd, they didn’t care for Vralius – they didn’t care for the man who had tried so hard to better all of their lives, as their second. They were all twisted…

  “Nephele?” Vralius’ voice broke through my dark thoughts, and I looked over at him, startled, as he continued, “Are you alright?” I shook my head, not in disagreement, but to clear it, and I cleared my throat before I answered. “Y-yeah, I… I was just thinking.” I told Vralius, shaking my head again.

  He tilted his head slightly and he asked, “About what?” I forced a smile and said, “Nothing, really… I was just thinking about the fight, about how cowardly Napius really was. It doesn’t matter.” Something in my tone must have told Vralius that I didn’t feel like discussing it, because he nodded and gave me a comforting smile. “Alright,” he told me softly.

  With his meal done, I scarfed the rest of mine, and he watched me, laughing. Once I was done, I stood up. “We should go,” I told him abruptly, taking his hand in mine. His laughter subsided and he frowned, saying, “Go where? Back to your quarters?”

  I shook my head fiercely, and tugged on his hand. He rose to his hooves, and I let go. “No,” I told him, “We should leave here. We should just go now.”

  Vralius’ frown became more pronounced, and he told me quietly, “Nephele… if we leave, it’s desertion. We hunt down deserters – if we leave, they’ll hunt us.” I just laughed harshly and told him, “I doubt that, Vralius. They don’t care about you anymore – they probably don’t want to see you, not now that Napius is dead. And I know they’re tired of me, tired of all the trouble I’ve caused. What makes you think they’ll come after us – or that they’re even going to do the marriage ceremony?”

  My words must have stunned Vralius into silence, because he stopped talking. He heaved a heavy sigh, but then nodded slowly. “I suppose you are right,” he told me after a few moments. He looked around, and then down at me, and I gave him an impatient look. I was ready to go now – not that I needed any preparation. He gave me a sad smile and then told me, “I need to get a few things first. Do you want me to meet you here, or back at your quarters?”

  I hummed a little and then finally decided, “My quarters. I don’t want anyone to find me out here.” Vralius nodded, and he led me off, leaving our empty platters on the floor. It didn’t really feel like it, but I was victorious; I wasn’t a slave any longer, or at the very least, my master was dead. I didn’t have to serve anyone else… and I should have been happy, but I had a bad feeling in my gut.

  Vralius dropped me off with a quick, “I’ll be back soon,” and I holed myself up in my box. It felt more like home, and I wondered about building my own home. I didn’t know if the centaurs had houses or if they just slept outside, but I knew Vralius would be fine with me living indoors.

  I sighed softly, looking around the room. It was still the same, but it felt different. The same hay pile, my bed. The same chair and table, the same window, and the same heavy wooden door. Freedom was bittersweet, and I knew it was because Napius was dead, and I was taking Vralius away from what he knew…

  “Are you ready to go?” I looked around, startled, and found Vralius outside. I left my quarters and then smiled softly, giving him a nod. Slung around his shoulder was a bow, a large quiver of arrows, and sheathed at his side was his great sword. “Where do you want to go?” Vralius asked me softly, stroking my face.

  I smiled slightly, and told him honestly, “Anywhere but here.” He took me by the hand, and we left off heading west, towards the setting sun. I didn’t know what lay beyond the forest… but I was excited to learn.