Chapter 14: The Ransom
Anaya
Anaya was once again trapped. Although not bound by chains or walls, she was trapped in her own mind. She sat still in the carriage as the rebels parlayed her from the cottage she had been hidden in to the rendezvous point for the ransom.
"From now on, it's all up to you." The Warlord had declined to go with them and instead sent his right-hand man Vers and practically half of his army to follow through with the deal.
"Should we have tied her hands?" Vers asked his leader.
He snorted. "Where is she going to run off to?"
They were meeting at a place called Half-moon point. It was a dusty ridge that used to be a lake but had since dried up, leaving only sand and bones of fish. Their creaking wheels started turning up dust, and Anaya had a vague memory of mist surrounding her. She pushed the thought deeply away.
"Ok, Princess," the general said his words with acid, "it's opening night."