Silenced
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 60469
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The chilled, blue logic of Fred washed over his burning guilt at
imprisoning this young maiden. There was little room for chivalry in dark
caverns such as these. Ignoring her pleas, he began to push the small
cloth inside her mouth. She resisted at first, clamping her teeth tightly
shut, but when Fred reached for her nose with his fingers, she moaned
with fear and allowed the cloth to be placed at the back of her throat.
Her cheeks were bright red and wet from the ongoing deluge of tears as
Fred bent down and ripped a strip of cotton from the bottom of her dress.
This he bound tightly around her head, securing the cloth inside her
mouth. Her nostrils flared as she struggled to compensate for her now
impeded breathing.
"Now." began Fred, staring into the woman's wide, unblinking eyes. "You will walk by my left hand side, neither behind nor ahead of me. If you try to run at any point, I have more twine in my possession, and I will be happy to bind you more securely if I feel it necessary. These caves are dangerous. Any time I call 'halt', you are to stop walking and sit down against the nearest wall, out of the way. This you will do without hesitation. Do you understand, 'Diana'?" A moment's pause. When she did nod her assent, several strands of her bright hair fell into her eyes, causing them to blink furiously. Fred gently brushed the hairs away, and she shuddered at his touch. "In a few hours, we shall search for a suitable campsite, at which point I promise I will have more questions for you. The difference this time, will be that you will answer truthfully." She blinked twice, and her head bowed slightly. A half-dried tear lost its tenuous grip on her chin and fell to the earth. For the best part of an hour they travelled along the dank passages of the caves. Diana, for her part, did not fall behind nor attempt to call attention to their presence in any way. Occasionally she would stumble on a loose rock or small outcrop of weeds, but Fred's hand was always there to steady her. She had stopped crying now, and seemed content to stare into the way ahead. Fred could sense a sideways glance every now and then, though. Her background story, in particular her claims to be a child of royalty (albeit a somewhat bastardized royalty) had been riddled with inconsistencies, and Fred believed himself right not to trust her. If she was an agent of the Dragon in cast of a human body, she would soon reveal her true form. Illusionary magic seldom lasted long without repeated casting, and with her hands bound and voice silenced, it would only be a matter of time before any spell that might be concealing her true nature would dissipate. They had been walking for a full two hours when.....
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11/18/2007 11:47:40 AM
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