As if woken up from a trance, the man stood to his full height to tower over me and for a short while, I forgot that I could do the same, since I was no longer bound. When I pushed my weight into my heels and stood to my full height however, I was humbled.
This man was at least a full foot and a half taller than me, and I wasn’t even the shortest woman in my town. He was absolutely massive, and I couldn't believe I hadn’t realised it sooner.
Sure, I’d always been restricted to sitting, squatting or lying down in his presence, but I must have severely underestimated his stature from just looking at him, because right now, when I was standing by his side, I felt like a human pygmy.
“Please, follow me,” he invited and turned towards the direction of the exit.
Not losing a moment to trail his steps, I moved to follow him, and when the tent flaps opened and I could finally see the light of the sun, I almost wanted to cry. It took my eyes a bit to adjust to the harsh rays of the morning and discover all the details, the noise and the commotion happening around.
I had, of course, imagined what camp life must have looked like, but not in my wildest dreams had I understood the size of where I was. Where I had been taken to.
There must have been hundreds of smaller tents camped around the large one we had just left, bonfires burning, and thousands of people spread out on a surface of over two square miles. At least.
I didn’t even know this space existed, let alone that it held such capacities and provided for such a large gathering. Camp. Army.
They truly were an army.
An army heading towards the North, towards my town.
We wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Sylam will be your companion for today,” Dahr summoned one of the men who had carried breakfast for me with a flick of his hand.
“Grannicus,” the man stopped in front of Dahr and lifted his fingers to touch his forehead as he bowed slowly towards my captor, until he formed a perfect ninety-degree angle. I remained surprised at the reverent gesture, but did not comment on it, too preoccupied with taking as many details in as I possibly could.
“I don’t need company,” I immediately said, careful not to offend the man and make another enemy as well as the one I had just self-proclaimed minutes before, but also strong enough to make my point.
“You are a prisoner, March. As you pointed out. You don’t expect to be let out by yourself into the enemy camp, do you?” Dahr twisted his torso to turn towards me, giving me a full view of his sculpted abs that made my chest heave.
“Nora,” I pressed again, sick of this game.
“It’s either this or back to the rope,” Dahr turned fully to me this time, disregarding the man that was still waiting fororders, should Dahr suddenly change his mind. I pursed my lips, unwilling to give him a response, and he took my gesture as confirmation.
“Take her to Karisha, she’ll know what to do,” Dahr addressed the man again.
“If there are any difficulties?” Sylam asked, shifting a threatening gaze towards me.
“If she tries anything,” Dahr raised his voice to be heard by all those around us, who instantly quieted in his presence, “she is to lose a finger for every misstep,” he replied with a snarl, his threat earning nods and comments of admiration by the spectators. With a lower tone, he focused his full attention on me.
“Is that understood?”
“What do you mean a finger for every misstep?” I immediately jumped to protest. “I am a sculptor! I need my fingers!!!” I shouted at him. I heard everyone around me gasp, and even spotted a few of them cover their mouths in shock as though I had committed some sort of sacrilege.
“Then you better make sure you keep all ten by the end of the day, March,” Dahr growled at me displaying perfectly white teeth, obviously sick of my presence.
I opened my mouth to reply but he didn’t wait for my answer as he started walking towards a group of men who were waiting for him, all of them tall and strong-built warriors.
I didn’t expect him to just leave, especially not after the threat on my life he’d just pulled in front of the entire camp, but I also did not want him back.
For whatever reason, he’d been persuaded to offer me at least a little bit of freedom, and I wasn’t going to squander this chance away. Especially as I didn’t know if a second one would be coming soon.
I awkwardly looked at the man who was ordered to be my guard and took him in. He was wearing the same sort of leather vest laced at the side as I had seen Dahr do many times and leather pants, with a belt to hold two knives on each side. He only had to move his wrist enough to be armed in a split second, and observing how annoyed the man was, I didn't have to think too hard to know that he wouldn’t have a problem hurting me.
Shivers ran down my spine and the urgent need to make myself scarce overtook my legs, making my toes twist inside the shoes I had been constantly wearing for what I estimated was a week.
I wouldn’t get far, that much I knew.
Was it worth even trying?
