Andrea Before the Bandit King

The next morning, Andrea moved aside her furs and called out to her coachman. She grabbed her ivory brush and silver mirror and began to stroke her long blonde hair. It would take hours of work before she was ready to see the Duchess. The duchess was beautiful, and Andrea wanted to look as good or better than she. She called for the coachman again. No answer.

She poked her head out the window, and to her surprise there were eight mounted men and another man with a buckboard wagon waiting outside. They didn't speak.

Andrea accosted them. "Who are you, and where is my coachman?"

Then the tallest one, a large, well dressed man on a beautiful black horse, spoke. "I am the Bandit King. You owe us a toll to pass through this territory."

Andrea paused. "What do you want? Gold?"

The Bandit King smiled courteously. "Please, get out of the carriage."

Andrea timidly complied. One of the men dismounted his horse, came to her, and tied her hands behind her back. She struggled, but was overpowered and gagged. Then the man with the buckboard rolled his wagon along side of the carriage. The other men dismounted and began to strip the carriage of everything of value--brass handles, precious wood panelling, furs, jewels, coined money, personal belongings, silverware, silk upholstering, her trunk with its brass hinges, even the brass wheel covers--all went in the wagon. The men worked professionally and were careful not to damage anything.

As they worked, the coachman came up to the Bandit King, who presented him with two bags of hard currency to place over his horse's back. Andrea scowled at her coachman. She felt violated that she let him touch her beautiful body. The Bandit King laughed. "Had you treated him well, he would not now work for me. You are a valuable young lady, and will fetch a fair price." The man who bound her put a bag over her head and put her in the wagon with her things. When she awakes:

1. She is in a small jail cell.
2. She is with the Bandit King at dinner. He is dressed as a prince.
3. She is in a lavishly decorated bedroom. Her bonds are removed.
4. She is being unloaded from the wagon.

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree