The Cruel Prince's Captive

Chapter 6

Tolanda was left bound all day to the cot, Prince Ievos clearly knew she would try to escape. Every opportunity she had she would try to work on fraying the rope against the edge of her cot. The prince seemed to ignore her, but she was left in fear of the prince’s advances, but when night came, he simply climbed into his own bed and rolled over. Perhaps he was spent after his time with Dresna but Tolanda watched him, poised and ready for his attack but he barely moved all night. His long white hair was spread over his pillow, luminescent under the moons glow through the balcony doors allowing her a good view of him throughout the night. Her emotions ranged from terror to sorrow and to anger all throughout the dark hours. Now the sun had arose and the prince stirred, fear gripped her again and as he stood from his fine bed, he leaned upon the golden post of the end and folded his arms. She pulled on the rope and moved away as he looked down at her.

“Oh relax, dog, I want nothing from you,” he said impatiently. “You probably need a wash anyway,” he added. “You must look pretty tonight for the hunters feast,” he said.

“You will not break me, I am strong, you will not break me!” she hissed.

“You can keep telling yourself that, dog, but it will not make it true,” he said and moved to his desk where he prepared some of his medicine. Had he woken up with a headache? Perhaps his affliction would kill him, and she could escape then. If she knew more about it and how it was brought on, perhaps she could use that to try and incapacitate him or perhaps finish him off whilst he was weak but she hoped this affliction would kill him so she wouldn’t have to take a life, even a cruel one such as his.

“I will have servants take you to the oasis where you can bathe and then they will dress you and do your hair but your face… did you not sleep last night?” he asked her.

“No, I did not,” she replied, and he sighed.

“Oh well, I guess your beauty is a little marred by those dark circles under your eyes, humans are so… flawed that one night of bad sleep ruins your looks,”

“Then I hope I am less appealing to you!” she snapped.

“There are different ways to take a woman, slave, I do not have to look upon your face,” he said and turned from her as he lit his pipe.

“Am I your first s*x slave? Are you unsure what to do with me?” she asked mockingly.

He turned and grinned at her and her boldness faltered.

“I showed you yesterday that I know what to do with a woman.” he replied.

“Dresna was willing,” Tolanda spat.

“I have had one s*x slave brought to me by my mother’s guards before when I was bored, she was a beautiful young elven girl taken from the slums but… she did clean up well.” The prince began, “you do not want to know how she ended,” he said and Tolanda’s eyes widened and she made one last pull at the rope of which she had been weakening all day and night and it came loose. She clambered to her feet and bolted for the door he dropped his pipe and caught her in no time, one arm around her slim waste and pulled her back inside, she kicked and screamed thumping her fists down onto him and he tossed her to the ground. Tolanda pulled herself back to her feet using the prince’s bed and ran past him to a wall which she had noticed held a ceremonial dagger upon it and she tore it from the wall holding it out.

“You let me go or I will kill you!” she growled, and he just laughed at her.

“I don’t believe you,” he said mocking her.

“I will!” she cried out, but she did not believe herself. She was terrified and she was done cowering from him.

“You will kill me, will you? Look at your size and look at mine, do you not think I can get that knife from you? I could break your arm easily, dog,” he said as he edged closer, but he took the route of which put him between her and the door. He grew closer still and she swiped the blade to keep him back, he dodged it and closed in once more. She went to swipe but he was faster and managed to catch her arm, he twisted her wrist until she cried out and dropped the dagger, it hit the floor with a clang. Holding her arm he retrieved the dagger with his other hand and then pushed her against a near wall, the dagger to her throat, her eyes were wide looking up into his, she trembled.

“You will kill me, would you?” his tone dangerous, “I can make your life even more difficult, you know,”

“I don’t doubt it,” she replied.

“Then why do this? Are you really more stupid than I thought humans to be?”

“You backed me into a corner, I made a decision,” she said, “I wish to survive,” he smirked at her and then looked down to the dagger now in his possession and resting on her throat.

“This dagger is ancient, you know, it might not look it, but it is. It was used in sacrificial ceremonies; our ancestors would hunt humans and offer them to our gods. It was given to me by my mother. Do you know how many humans this blade killed? I don’t it is likely too many to count,” he snarled and then released her. “Do not force me to make you it’s next victim,” he finished as he walked away from her.

                                                                                            ~~

The prince had decided to accompany Tolanda to the oasis since she had already tried once to escape today. He watched as she grew more nervous the closer they got. Once they arrived he ordered any other elves who were using the oasis to hurry and then leave so they had it all to themselves. They obeyed him, of course. Tolanda hugged herself again.

“You need to bathe,” he said to her once everyone had left, “you cannot do that with your dress on,” she looked about herself and the prince wondered if she was considering another escape attempt for that was certainly what it looked like. She fled and this time got more of a head start but he gave chase immediately and called for guards to stop her. She managed to get as far as the marketplace where she collided with a large built elven male of which the prince realised of course was his brother. Iefyr stood in between them protectively of the girl.

“Please you have to help me!” she begged, clearly recognising him. Ievos noticed the loathing in his brother’s eyes and he grinned at him. Suddenly some guards came up behind Tolanda and seized her, she kicked, and she screamed.

“No! Let me go!” she cried.

“Stop!” Iefyr called out and his mother came running over she stood in front of him and looked to the prince.

“Forgive him, your majesty, whatever he had done, please, he is all I have, please do not take him from me!” she even fell to her knees.

“Oh for goodness sake, woman, get up and calm down!” the prince hissed, “guards take the dog to the oasis, drop her in it and block all exits, she is quite the runner today,” he said and they dragged her away. Iefyr once again, powerless and the prince began to walk away.

“Ievos!” he called, “if she ends up dead…”

“Was that the beginning of a threat?” the prince questioned allowing it to remain unanswered, he followed Tolanda and the guards.

                                                                                       ~~

Tolanda was tossed into the water in her dress and she moved to the far side of it away from the guards who had manhandled her and soon she saw the prince appear. They were not alone as previously desired but Tolanda already knew the prince did not mind an audience if he was to use this opportunity to take her. He stood at the opposing side of the oasis looking at her.

“You have ruined that dress now, slave,” he said to her, but she did not care. She looked around for a rock, perhaps she could crack him over the head if he came too close. He began to de-robe and slipped into the water but remained at a distance.

“Try to relax, that is what the oasis is for,” he said to her and she ducked herself under the water. She felt free for a moment as the water enveloped her, it felt safe and warm. She began to feel the need for air but made no move to rise to the surface. Perhaps it would be better if she simply slipped away, that might be the only way she could escape this horrible kingdom, perhaps death was her escape. She could feel herself slipping now, fading slowly when suddenly strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her up. She gasped as she reached air, coughing and spluttering. She felt light-headed and the body against hers was muscular and in her hazy state she hoped it was Iefyr and the prince was dead, she came around a bit more and realised that would not be possible.

“Did you think you could escape that way, dog?” she heard in her ear and her body went rigid as she could feel his against her, his arms wrapped around her. She tried to prize him away. “You still have some fight in you?” he asked her. “I will have to change that.” He said and dunked her under again holding her there for a moment and then bringing her up again. “Guards, take her to get dressed and have the servants find an appropriate garment for her, and have them make her pretty for tonight but before that, take her to the dungeon and get some shackles for her feet,” he said.