Yspaddaden - Chapter 2

 Yspaddaden

The tunnel did not lead out of the city.

It wasn't even a real tunnel, more of a vertical shaft. Straight down, the opening led to the basement of the building, ladder lining one side of it. It was dark, damp, filled with spiders and other unknown critters. It was quite difficult to carry a full grown woman down the ladder while she was still unconscious. Usually the three flight journey would have taken Yspaddaden but a couple of minutes, but with the baggage he carried, it took him almost fifteen minutes to reach the basement. Once he arrived in the tiny room that hid the doorway to the shaft, he stopped, lay her down on the stone floor and listened. There wasn't a sound in the room beyond. He lay a hand on the handle of the door and slowly swung it open. It creaked loudly, the rusty hinges screaming in protest at being awoken. Yspaddaden grimaced but continued, pushing the door all the way. He stepped out into the room, looking all about. Barrels and crates were scattered, straw was strewn across the floor, the opposite wall supported a large wine shelf, laden with dusty, unmarked bottles. He scanned the room with his eyes, looking for any sign that it was occupied. After a minute of no sound nor movement, he reached back through the door and dragged Kady out.

Slinging her over his shoulder, he made for the stairs that led, seemingly, into the kitchen. With every step he was aware, looking, hearing, smelling, feeling for something or someone to hinder him. He never proceeded forward unless he was certain that the way was clear. He shifted Kady to the other shoulder when he reached the top of the stairs. He was strong, but dead weight always gave the impression of heaviness that did not exist. Why had she been so difficult, why had she not just followed him instead of forcing him to knock her out? She must have seen him as merely a kidnapper, not one who was actually setting her free. This building had no bars on the windows, but it was more of a prison than most real ones. If only the ones incarcerated here knew that, the building would be empty.

He pressed on the door, swinging it open. It did not protest as the other one had. It opened up into a warm room, the smells hitting from all sides. A gigantic fireplace lined one side of the wall, housing several openings to accommodate the various foods that could be cooked. A large spit rotated on its mechanical gears, slowly spinning a decently sized bird over an open fire. The table that sat in the middle of the room was dirty with flour and herbs. Flowers, plants, garlic and potatoes hung in strings or in baskets from the ceiling. A pantry stood to one side, a cabinet housing pots and pans stacked one on another. Yspaddaden took all this in within a second, striding confidently toward the backdoor that would lead out into the alley. He paused just inside, contemplated, then lay Kady over the threshold, unceremoniously. He backed up, grabbing a large burlap sack and started filling it with food, fruits, breads, cooked meats. Anything that would not spoil quickly. He filled it full then went back to retrieve Kady. He grunted as he slung her again over his shoulder. She made not a sound as he did so. He stepped outside, reaching behind him to pull the door shut, accidentally banging her head against the wall. He shut the door, then glanced at her. A trickle of blood fell slowly down her forehead. Oh well. It'll heal. He smoothed her skirt over her legs and gripped her in a position that would keep her from flailing about too much.

As he made his way out of the back garden and down the alley toward a less crowded street, he thought about the men that pursued him. Soldiers of the king generally were not that bright. Men who did nothing but the bidding of their master, never questioning, never asking why. Never wondering if the man they chased was actually innocent of the charges against him. Which he was. Yspaddaden disliked soldiers. He would much rather spend time around a mercenary. They at least were more honest.

He reached the end of the alley and entered the packed street. Even though it was full of strangers, this street was still about half as empty as the one out front of the building. He could blend in fairly easily here. Hopefully. The fact that he was a foot taller than most and had a questionable woman slung over his shoulder might give him away to anyone sober enough to ask. He would have to take that chance. He pushed his way into the throng, pressing his forearm against those he needed to move gently out of his way. Everyone was pushing and shoving so he wasn't really noticed. Not right off. Eventually though, as it was bound to happen, a mild partier happened to glance his way and spotted his strange burden. Yspaddaden saw his look and hurried away in the opposite direction. But the damage was already done.

As he heard yells and the whistles from the soldiers the man had alerted, he became more rough with his escape. Shoving hard now, he thrust people out of his way, aiming for another alley that led toward the city's outer wall. The people in front of him began to hear the whistles and move out of his way. That made his progress better, but it also gave the soldiers a free area to surround him.

Sixteen. He could have swept them out of his way half asleep, but Kady hampered his movements and he could not reach his sword at the moment. Three of the soldiers began to advance on him and he used the only thing readily available to him to attack them.

If he gripped her around the knees and swung so her back hit the midriff of the soldiers, she actually didn't make a bad weapon. Kady swung through the air, unknowingly knocking men to the cobbles. They seemed surprised at his methods of fighting and didn't have time to raise their weapons, so she swung unharmed. The people surrounding the fray looked on with morbid curiosity. It wasn't every day one human would use another as a battering ram.

Yspaddaden reacted without really thinking, but somewhere in the back of his mind a small voice was questioning. Are you hurting her right now? What if her head hits one of those soldiers helmets and she dies? Are you going to be able to finish your journey without her? Yspaddaden shut out the voice and kept swinging, though he did so now with a bit more care.

As soon as a path was clear, Yspaddaden slung Kady back onto his shoulder and made for the alley. Half a dozen soldiers still pursued him, yelling and cursing. He sidestepped many people. Most were observing now and seemed unwilling to get in his way. That was fine by him. The less obstacles he had the better chance he had to reach the outside of the city. But he didn't doubt that he would.

He raced down the empty alley, turned left and ran full out toward the large gate that separated him from certain imprisonment or torture and the joy that can only come from pure freedom. He had done well today. Eschewing common conceptions, raging out against authority, breaking the law. It had been a full day.

Only one man stood in his way at the gate, but a well timed skip of the feet and a solid elbow to the chin dropped the man as heavily as if Yspaddaden had dropped Kady on the stones. The soldiers behind him cursed at the fallen comrade and yelled at archers up on the battlements.

Keeping stride, Yspaddaden slung Kady down to cradle her in his arms. He did not need a misplaced arrow to pierce her in the back, ending his quest early. At the moment she was the only thing standing between him and success. Or, lying actually. He still kept his pace and headed straight toward the trees, entering the forrest long before any yeomen could aim correctly at him.

He dodged into the underbrush and dumped Kady to the ground. She landed with a thump and a slight grunt. Yspaddaden looked at her in alarm. She wasn't waking up was she? No, it had only been a burst of air. He crouched behind a large tree and waited as the soldiers blundered around, accomplishing nothing. As they did, he stared at his companion. Her sash had come undone somewhere in the streets and was hanging over her arm. He couldn't be too sure, but it seemed as if a ring or bracelet may have fallen off at some point. The hair piece she had been putting on when he grabbed her hung from a few strands of hair. Thankfully that had not fallen off.

He couldn't help but forget the world and stare at her beauty. He knew what she looked like, but every time he saw her he had been entranced, as he was at this moment. Her blonde hair hung down her back, cascading smoothly over her bare shoulders, blocking her face from sight. Yspaddaden only just realised that Kady sported no shoes. Ah. Well, he'd have to find her some along the way somewhere. She really was quite beautiful. A small bump on her upper left arm accentuated a bruise that was starting to form. Probably from being used as a human weapon.

His thoughts brought him back to the present and he grimaced because of it. Taking her again in his arms, he slung her and the bag of food over one shoulder. The soldiers saw him as he stood up from the brush and shouted to their partners. Yspaddaden sighed and laid a hand on his sword hilt.

He was getting tired of these men.

Kadyriath

Ynwfn, Woods.

Fire. Rage. Screams. Anger. Dirt. Fear. Soot. Chaos. Smoke. Hatred. Ash.

The flames licked at the side of the house. The women who looked on yelled at no one to hurry and save those still inside. The men who observed sat on their chairs and watched. The woman and child still stuck inside screamed for help. The small blue eyes reflected the fire, but also showed immense fear. The girl sat in the corner farthest away from the flames, watching as her mother kicked helplessly at the door. The window was blocked by a large ceiling beam that had fallen. Her small hands gripped at the piece of metal, clutching it so tight that blood almost formed on her palms. She could hear laughter coming from outside. Her mother banged loudly and cursed at the world. The fire ripped into everything it could find, licking at the curtains, the furniture, the walls, the tiny girl. She shimmied away from the corner, trying to avoid the warm wall. Just as her mother kicked the door one last time, the table the girl had crawled under buckled and the top fell, fire and sparks shooting everywhere. She had only time to give a small pitiful scream.

Kady jerked awake, hands gripping at the grass. Headache. She grunted, grabbing her temple with her hand. Oh, why did that hurt so much? The pain took her attention away from the present and it was a few seconds while she waited for it to calm down before she was able to open her eyes and observe.

She was sitting on a sward of grass, surrounded by tall trees. The sky overhead sparkled with the stars, giving enough light to make out her surroundings. There was nothing else around her, save the forrest. She was still dressed in the clothes she had been in…

The strange man! Her mystery kidnapper! She craned her neck to try and see if he was still around. No sign of him. After waiting a few minutes to make sure, she began a physical check to see if he had done anything…weird…to her. Nothing. There was a small cut on her forehead and a bruise on her left arm. Where had those come from? Another bruise on her stomach. A dirty handprint on her…knees? That was strange. Other than that, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. She was still wearing all her clothes, it didn't seem as if they had been tampered with. Her hand went to the side of her head and she breathed a sigh of relief when she touched the ornate hairpiece that still sat there. Thank Adnan.

"We almost lost that."

Kady leapt to her feet and spun, facing the attacker. Obviously, it was her kidnapper. She raised two hands into fists.

"Stay away. I know how to defend myself."

He stood in the shadows, obscured by the darkness. But she could have sworn she heard a chuckle.

"I don't doubt it. However, since you are the one just waking up from a coma induced by myself, I think it's safe to say that I also know how to defend myself."

"I think it's also safe to say that you owe me an explanation. Why did you attack and kidnap me? Where have you brought me? What is your name?"

"You are very inquisitive." He stepped into the starlight and she could see now that he held a pile of firewood. He didn't say anything more as he bent over and began smoothing a place for a fire. Wasn't he going to answer her? She stepped back out of his way. However brave her stance had been, he was quite large and intimidating. Kady stood at least two feet below him at full hight. She wasn't the smallest of people, but next to this brute she could easily be called a midget. He began building his fire and Kadyriath became impatient.

"Did you not hear me? I asked you a question."

He ignored her still and kept on building. She stared at him, indignant that he would not answer. Eventually her fear of his size was overwhelmed by her anger at him and she stepped up to him, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Listen to me you…!"

His hand flicked quickly and grasped her wrist in one deft movement. She fell silent in awe. His eyes pierced hers, and she found she could not look away. The grey orbs seemed to journey back forever. The illusion of depth must mean he had great wisdom, had seen many great things. The look lasted but a moment. To Kady, it seemed minutes. He eventually let go of her hand and resumed his work. It wasn't until he had a roaring flame going that Kady stepped forward again. The dream forgotten and chilliness remembered, she warmed herself. He didn't look at her, just stared at the flames, each one trying their hardest to reach the skies, yet each falling far short of their fateful journey. He seemed so preoccupied that Kady feared breaking the silence. But she had to.

"At least tell me your name."

It took him so long to answer that she began to get angry again. Then, just as she was going to say something more, he spoke.

"Yspaddaden."

She grinned.

"Yspaddaden? Sounds Tabarin."

"No."

His short answers were about to get him into serious trouble.

"Why did you kidnap me?"

He glanced at her. The smile on his face infuriated her.

"I need you for a task."

Chills began to run up and down her spine. Many was the time that that phrase had been said to her. She despised the words and all that they meant. She didn't even notice her arms rising to grip each other, the subconscious hug giving her little comfort. She concentrated on breathing first, then after a minute, answered him.

"Indeed. Have you no other means then forcing me? Anything can be bought at a price you know."

He looked at her again, yet his smile was now gone. Was that…anger? His face was hard, contorted in a familiar shape. Kady looked down and noticed his balled up fists.

"Do you think me such the brute that I would risk my life and reputation for something mere gold could buy? Do not dare impugn my honor by making such rash accusations. Hold your tongue and think before speaking again."

Strange. He was legitimately angry.

"Then why do you need me?"

"A task."

Infuriating.

"What task?"

He simply turned back to the fire, silent, his anger seeming to subside. But as his drained, Kady's rose rapidly. Abduction, then refusal to explain why? Unacceptable.

"If you shall not tell me as to why I have been taken from my home, then I will simply leave. Go back to the city."

"How long?"

"What?"

He turned back to her."

"How long ago was it that you last saw the city? You have been unable to experience your surroundings. Has it been hours? Days? A week? Are you certain we are still in Ynwfn? Maybe I have brought you to the barbaric land of the Minotaurs. Leave if you must. I'm sure your great hunting and survival skills will keep you alive until you can figure out which way to travel. But once you discern in which direction to go, then how far? And was it the right choice in the beginning?"

How could this man do that? Anger and placate her all in the same breath? Though his words made her madder than she ever thought possible, they were also very true. She had no way of knowing where she was, or how far she was from civilization. She literally had no choice but to stay with him. If he did have a journey in mind, eventually he would have to venture near a city or town of some sort. Maybe then she could escape.

"So you are to keep me prisoner by ignorance? You think yourself so great a jailer that there is no need to tie me up? At least if I were bound there would not be the choice of leaving. How dare you humiliate me so!"

"You are not my prisoner. I set you free from that sort of life."

"Kidnapping me to set me free?"

"The life you were living was a prison. No matter what your thoughts of me, that you know to be true. Now be quite. I wish to sleep."

And that was that. He was lying down on the grass in the light of the fire to go to sleep! And she had no choice but to stay with him. Her life had been in the city. She knew nothing else. It was not a large city, but she could not remember the outside, not since she had come there when she was only eight years old. All her life she had lived in the same place, worked with the same women, traveled the same streets. She had no skills to survive in the wilderness. He was right. Her lack of knowledge of the outdoors had not been thought about as being shameful until now. She cursed this man in her mind as he closed his eyes. She longed to thrust a knife through his throat. But the same invisible chains that kept her locked to the small clearing also prevented her from committing murder. For without him, she really was lost. There was nothing she could do except trust him for now. Cryptic though he was.

She vowed to challenge him tomorrow, to command him to give explanation as to why he had taken her, and as to what the meaning of his task was. She had been well schooled in the art of manipulation, and to practice it thoroughly she would need concentration. She had been unconscious for no one knows how long, and despite the headache, she would sit up until the sun rose and figure out a way to get the information she needed.

She must. Her curiosity would not allow otherwise.