Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (28 page)

“What we must do now is find her! All of this courtly talk is doing nothing to recover Cassandra!” Darien ground out.

Nera explained what they had learned from Cassie’s slaves, and it was decided that the entire company would return to Erla and ready themselves for a search and rescue campaign.
 

They rode hard back to the city, and the royals met with Nera to make plans. It was decided that they would take a small company of Erla’s warriors—leaving the bulk of the forces behind to protect the city—and they would scour every inch of the countryside until Cassie was found.

Kara went to Cassie’s quarters and informed the distraught men what was to be done, and they bowed, nodded, and thanked her for the information.
 

The men sat and looked at each other—a plan forming in their heads. They decided—as one—that they would go out and help in the search for their Lady. Garen and Arn were dispatched to the village with a full purse to buy travel clothing, boots, food, and other requisite supplies and equipment.
 

They returned with loaded arms and followed by several of the merchant’s slaves, who also carried their purchases. They decided to wait until the warriors left with the Queen, since they did not want to be caught in the act of disobedience as they were sure to be ordered to stay behind and wait if they were seen.
 

They silently dressed in the leather travel clothing. Each slipped on a wide iron arm band which had been engraved with a stalking tiger, Cassie’s symbol. In female-dominated populations, it would signify her ownership, and while in male-dominated lands, it would appear to be a warrior’s mark.

Nera rushed about her chambers grabbing up things she wished to bring and throwing them into the arms of a waiting slave. “Pack those securely and take them to the wagons. Tell Lady Kara I will be with her in a moment.” The slave bowed and left the room.
 

Nera went to her closet to make sure she had everything when she felt an arm encircle her waist. She barely got out the words, “Not now, Nyles . . .” when a foul-smelling rag covered her mouth and nose, and she fell into oblivion.

Kara sat on her horse with both monarchs and Prince Nall as they awaited Nera. The time passed slowly as they spoke of their plans and both Kara and her horse grew restless. She was becoming concerned when Nera’s slave flew out of the Palace and looked over the assembled warriors until his worried eyes landed on Kara to whom he ran, sobbing out that the Queen was gone.

“What?!” Kara bellowed.
 

The slave quaked and explained he had gone back to tell the Queen that the forces were ready, and it was then that he found the chamber empty. They quickly dismounted and scoured the Palace, but Nera was nowhere to be found.
 

Kara roared in wordless outrage. How could this happen? Two noblewomen abducted under their very noses! It was not to be borne. Her eyes met those of the Kings, Prince Nall, and the warriors surrounding her. They nodded in silent understanding and ran to their waiting horses. As one, they rode out of the city to search for the missing women.

Hours later, six men entered the stable, saddled their horses, loaded their travel gear, and armed themselves with weapons for the first time in their lives as they set off to find their beloved Mistress.

XVIII

Cassie awoke to a screaming headache and a stuffy, musty smell, which was overwhelming her.
 

When she tried to call out for her slaves, she discovered she was gagged and bound. She was unable to move at all. Her hands and her ankles were bound and attached together behind her back.
 

The best she could make out was that she was in some sort of large wooden box. Sunlight filtered through the cracks and as her eyes accustomed themselves to the dim light, she saw Nera lying across from her, bound similarly.
 

The women were lying on their sides on top of some sort of grain bags. Their eyes met, but they had no way to communicate. A sudden jolt and steady rocking made it clear that they were in some kind of covered compartment on the bottom of a wagon.

Cassie’s mind was turning furiously; she was trying to remember what had happened and figure out who did this and for what purpose. The pain in her head throbbed, and she guessed they had used something like chloroform on her. The last thing she remembered was being in the Great of the Palace when an arm came around her and then . . . nothing.
 

She felt a breeze at last break the stuffy interior and noted that the air was chilly. She hadn’t been cold since her arrival in Erla, so wherever they were being taken obviously had a cooler climate. She wondered how long she had been out.
 

Who would do this?
 

Nall?
 

Darien?
 

She would kill any one of them who proved to be behind this. It was the only thing that made sense and the foreign temperature made it seem even more likely that it may be one of them. Cassie worked on the rope tying her wrists, but it was cruelly tight and it dug into her flesh.
 

She wiggled her fingers, searching for something sharp and found nothing. She could tell by the movement across from her that Nera was trying also. After what seemed like hours later, they gave up in frustration. They could hear the sounds of voices outside, but the words were too muffled to be understood.
 

The women were jostled over the roads, but fortunately the grain sacks absorbed most of the shock. The temperature became colder and colder, so the women wriggled into the sacks as much as they could for warmth. Eventually, with the onset of darkness, Cassie saw Nera’s eyes drift closed and not long after, she too fell asleep.

They were awakened by bright light assailing their eyes as the wooden slats above them were removed and the gags were pulled from their mouths. They lay blinking, disoriented, and as cold as ice.
 

The sky above was a vivid blue Cassie saw as she sucked in the welcome fresh air.
 

Strong hands grabbed the women, and before they got a good look at their captors, they were flung over broad shoulders.
 

Cassie’s nose was buried in a stale-smelling fur, and her heels were up in the air—tied to her hands. She turned her head to see Nera looking at her from the shoulder of another man. Cassie caught glimpses of some of the other men, and that did nothing to calm her nerves.
 

They were huge, brawny men, who were covered in furs and leather. They had the look of ancient Vikings on Earth. Long, ratty hair flowed down, and many of their faces were covered with beards.
 

She gazed around at the snow-covered landscape and shivered violently. She could see Nera’s teeth were chattering, and she saw she was pale with cold as well.

“Let’s get them inside before they catch their deaths of cold,” the rough voice of the man who carried her called out, and the men strode quickly into a one-story stone lodge. Once inside, the warmth enveloped them.
 

They walked through a great room and down a long corridor. A chamber door was opened by a servant girl, and they entered, tossing Nera and Cassie down upon a bed. The men drew knives and cut the binding ropes off of the women, but they had been tied so long that they were unable to move their arms and legs at first. Needles of pain shot through them as the blood returned to their extremities.
 

Rolling onto her back, Cassie sat up slowly, feeling dizzy. Nera had rolled and assumed a sitting position also as the two large men stood, looking down at them indifferently.

“They appear to be no more than normal women. This
Erla
will indeed be easy to conquer if this is the best they have.” The men laughed and left the room, sliding the door’s lock closed as they went.
 

The women quickly rushed to a water pitcher to rinse their mouths before drinking greedily.

“Nera, do you know what happened? Where are we?” Cassie croaked out.

“I do not. Cassie, when Nyles left, you were nowhere to be found. Kara immediately suspected foul play, and she believed Darien or Nall had kidnapped you, so we rode them down. We held the Kings at sword-point while we searched their caravan, but of course, we did not find you. When we returned to Erla to mount a force, I was taken while I was getting ready for the search. They knocked me out with a rag soaked with something which smelled quite vile,” Nera said.

“The last thing I remember is that same foul-smelling rag,” Cassie replied. “Why take just the two of us, damn it?” Cassie had tentatively stood and walked haltingly, getting the blood flowing to her legs again.

Nera stood also and stretched out her legs “I don’t know. It is clear they intend to attempt to conquer Erla. Unfortunately, I know no more than you, I’m afraid. I have no idea who these people are, Cassandra. First of all, we must find out where we are, and then we can figure out how to get out of here.” The women walked around the room, assessing any possible exits or weapons.
 

The room was comfortably furnished. There were furs scattered in front of a roaring fire and two stuffed chairs sat with a table to one side of the blaze. The large bed took up one part of the room, and adjacent to that, there was a door to a privy—of which both women made immediate use.
 

They froze when they heard the bolt slide and the door open. Two male servants brought a copper tub, and they were followed by several others who carried buckets of steaming water. Cassie and Nera stared at each other with perplexed expressions.

A woman entered and shooed the men out after they had poured the water into the tub. An armed guard stood at the open door, assuring the servant’s safety while in the room with Cassie and Nera.
 

The woman turned cold eyes on Cassie and Nera. “You will wash the road filth from yourselves, so you will be presentable when you are before the King.” Her voice was clipped, and it brooked no argument—nor did it invite any questions.
 

Another servant came in with an arm full of clothing which she dropped onto the bed. She then handed each woman a toweling cloth and a bar of soap. The women withdrew, and the guard closed the door and slid the bolt home again.

“Nera, you go first. I will look at the clothing and see what they have brought us,” Cassie said. She went through the garments and found two soft woolen gowns in a russet brown. They were long sleeved and floor length. Two capes in the same color and some furry knee boots completed the pile. The clothing was serviceable, warm, and well made, but it was nothing like what they were accustomed to wearing. Cassie sighed. Anger and frustration burned inside of her, but neither did anything to warm her cold flesh. She moved to the fire and listened to the sounds of Nera washing.

“I am finished, Cassie,” Nera said tightly. The strain of anger was clear on her face as she dried off and wrapped the towel around her before moving to the bed to inspect the garments Cassie had laid out.
 

Cassie slipped out of her clothes and sank into the hot water. The warmth penetrated her, and she wished she could close her eyes and then open them to find her beautiful men looking at her. She sighed again, washed quickly, dried herself, and then joined Nera by the fire as they dried their hair by the fire’s heat.

“Nera, I wish to God I knew what was going on!” Cassie vented.

“I feel we soon will, my friend. Let’s get dressed,” Nera said. They moved to the bed and assisted each other in putting on the foreign clothing. “I wish they had provided some pants; these dresses are ridiculous!”

Cassie agreed and looked at a table next to the bed. Seeing a brush, she deftly palmed it and ran it through Nera’s hair before doing so with her own. Her friend smiled in thanks, and they moved to sit in the chairs near the fire.

“Nera, I will be watching carefully for anything which will help us get out of here. If I die trying, I will see you returned to your rightful place in Erla,” Cassie said.

“We will
both
get out of here, Cassie. We are strong and intelligent women. These barbarians will not best us.” Nera tried to smile, but failed miserably.
 

Their stomachs rumbled, and, as if on cue, a serving girl entered with some bread, meat, and a cold pitcher of a stout red wine. Cassie asked the girl what country they were in and was roundly ignored as the girl left without a word.
 

Nera and Cassie looked at the food skeptically, but hunger won out in the end and they ate. Mentally, Cassie was trying to gauge how long they had been gone from Erla, and her best estimate was at least three days.

They sat by the fire for a long time before Cassie got restless and started pacing. The not knowing was driving her insane.
 

“Give me a sword and an opponent . . . anything but this
nothing
!” she fumed aloud. Nera sighed and joined her in her pacing.