“We’re in a tight spot,” Abe said, glibly. This was one time Piro’s patience ran thin. She gave him a cold glare before turning her eyes to the ground. Their arms were tied behind them while another rope around each of their necks allowed their captors to pull them along as they wound their way back north.

She’d heard of the sharp eared folk of the deep wood, mythical sprites who were to be avoided. At least she no longer had any chastity to be stolen, but she shivered whenever they looked at her. She especially didn’t like the attitude of the female who seemed to be sizing her up for some nasty business.

Piro had considered suicide but had been surprised when Abe surrendered immediately. She had to follow despite her reservations. The strange folk had taken all their weapons, rifled through their meager supplies, and confiscated most of their wealth although they had missed some of the gems sewn into her clothes.

Despite clearly not liking the metallic items, they wrapped up the valuables for carriage. Items could still be exchanged, Piro assumed. The corpses were similarly stripped for anything worth carrying. They spoke in short bursts but mostly did not converse with the prisoners. When they spoke the common tongue, they seemed to despise it, like they were chewing worms.

Once it was clear they weren’t going to be tortured or killed immediately, Piro began assessing their captors. Physically, they seemed weak, with thin arms and legs that Piro thought could be snapped easily, yet they moved with a confident grace and lifted the heavy packs without sign of strain. All of them were taller than either Piro or Abe, or even the average human of the territory. The woman was the shortest, yet still had a couple inches on Abe. Their strange eyes were the most unusual feature, as well as their slightly elongated ears, but otherwise their features were human enough.

One of the males was clearly the most dangerous. His wide eyes, strangely luminescent, had a piercing shine that disturbed her, as he always seemed to be aware whenever she turned his attention to him. He had a wicked looking long knife that was as white as bone, and probably was. They were mostly dressed in dull colors of the earth and plants which reminded her of the camouflage uniforms of the elite warriors of her people. The clothes seemed finely woven but much lighter than the items Abe and Piro were wearing. The chill did not seem to bother them.

Piro envied the bows carried by the scouts who were rarely visible as they ran ahead or stayed hidden in the trees even when they stopped to rest. The weapons were master crafted, she presumed, wishing she had been able to see them in action. It was clear that they were silent and deadly. If they ran, she doubted they’d make it far before an arrow found its way into their backs. Although the three took orders, from what she could discern, they kept to themselves. Perhaps they were from a different tribe, she wondered.

Finally, the woman was the apparent leader. She had an arrogant curl to her lips that Piro disliked immediately. However, the female “elf” as Abe called them was clearly a beauty. Piro could tell that her companion was reacting to it. In contrast to Piro’s deep black locks, the other woman’s hair was like that of spun white gold. Her clothes were more traditionally human but quite expensive, made of tanned leather and fur in multiple layers including a tight bodice that failed to hide her ample chest. Unlike the males, she was full bodied with only her wrists sharing the willowy characteristic of the others. Piro suspected that she was of mixed heritage, as her eyes, while wide, were not the almost alienating ones of the menfolk. The woman’s outfit was completed by a full cloak with a fur-lined hood and a pair of tall boots.

The men’s feet were shod in some delicate moccasin, further illuminating the difference between them and the woman. From their behavior, it was clear there was no love lost either.

After a few hours, there was an opportunity for a break, as the trio went ahead, leaving just the two captors. The woman excused herself to take care of her business while the male stood guard. He didn’t seem to care when Abe and Piro decided to talk although it was clear he could hear them. He kept his head turned in the direction of where the woman had gone.

Piro hissed, “They must have been the presence I felt earlier.”

Abe nodded, “I guess they have the equivalent of the East India Company out here, and the natives aren’t happy about it.” When he realized that was just puzzling her, he said, “Basically, hired goons: mercenaries, privatized soldiers. And the elves are Mohicans in this picture though she’s a lot easier on the eyes than Daniel Day Lewis.”

“Understood,” she nodded, although not to the last part. “In my country, those without lords do the same. They work for coin protecting merchants from bandits and such.”

“That reminds me, we never discussed your rates,” he joked despite their predicament.

Piro replied with all candor, “You are my liege, I am bound to you and you to me. My future is under your protection, and grace, if you should give it.”

He sobered a bit, realizing that she was deadly serious.

Being a captive again, of sorts, meant she had more time to contemplate the past few days. She had been focused on survival too much to think much into things. The fact was, she had been feeling quite lonely and being with Abe had been a great solace: she was using him as much as he was using her. There were a lot of things they did not know about each other. He seemed inordinately playful, even childish, at times, yet at others, she could see his inherent calm, and self-assurance. She didn’t know exactly the moment she had fully vested her entire future, indeed her life, to him, but it had happened.

The recent bloodshed did not appear to phase him, although, neither did he seem to revel in it. She’d known people who did, and did not trust their type. All in all, she realized that his innate confidence had rubbed off onto her, and this present circumstance did not fill her with dread, at least not as much as it might have under different circumstances.

When the woman returned, she announced in common, “We will make camp soon before we lose daylight.”

The other shook his head, not pleased, “This is still clan territory, as I warned. It is too dangerous to stop in the mountains, we should find a fort near the river to take shelter for the night.” This speech was intended for more than one audience, as his eyes darted to the prisoners.

“If you are frightened, you may leave,” she chuckled at her own joke. Piro and Abe looked at each other, confused and alarmed. This could be an opportunity, or some kind of trap.

“I made a oath with Mrs. Gong, and you know I cannot break it,” he spat.

She sighed, like a petulant teenager, “Why does everyone listen to my grandmother, but treat me like shit? We’re camping. I am tired of all this and I can’t sleep in trees with one eye open like you owlish lot.”

This was news to the captives. Abe’s eyes widened.

When they met up with the trio there was an argument in their tongue that lasted for a few moments. As this was longer than any previous conversation, Abe assumed it was their version of a heated diatribe. With sour expressions, the three disappeared once more to take watch from the trees as the others made camp in a rocky grotto that was familiar to Abe and Piro.

Piro blushed as she realized it was one of the places they had made love during their excursion. She hadn’t expected that they’d ever return to the spot.

A fire was started. The male elf hobbled them but cut their hands loose so they could eat and rest. They took the hint that if they made any attempts to escape that death would be swift. Abe rubbed his wrists as he watched Mrs. Gong’s granddaughter head for the spring to gather water and freshen herself. She paused to stare at Piro with a contemplative expression on her face. She pulled up the smaller woman by grabbing her collar, saying, “You stink. Come with me. If you cause trouble, they will kill your so-called lord. They don’t care about my life, so if I die it will only mean you and your man will join me, very painfully.”

Loosened from her restraints, Piro meekly followed the woman to the interior of the grotto. There was a small pool carved into the rock, and during the summer it would probably be comfortable, but the spring water was freezing at this time of year. As if daring her to try anything, the woman set her long knife aside (her pistol having been secured at the campsite) and motioned for Piro to assist her in disrobing. Humiliated, Piro helped tug loose the various strings tying the woman’s clothes together until the tall woman was naked in the fading light.

Even Piro had to gasp at her beauty. Ignoring her, Senua put her feet into the shallow water, suppressing the shock from the cold. She splashed water carefully without drenching herself but the stunning cold was almost invigorating. She unrolled a precious bar of soap from her pack, and beckoned to the captive.

Sighing, Piro took off her own stinking clothes, relieved to have an opportunity to clean herself as well despite the circumstances. Once again, she played the role of the slave girl.

At the fire, Abe thankfully bit into a slice of meat as the male elf watched. He said, “Sure you don’t want to sneak a peek? You like the boss lady, I can tell.”

The male just stared at him with the same stony expression.

“You don’t seem the talkative sort, I get it. But all due respects, I think I am your long lost king. Oberon? Ring any bells.”

Leaves pulled out his long knife, “No human is a king of ours. You’re a pitiful lord, with only one follower.”

“I aim to expand. I’m hiring, if you’re interested.”

This managed to generate a small laugh from the captor. He said, “I’ll follow you if you manage to protect your slave from what’s coming to her. Mrs. Gong is interested in you, but the girl will be sold to make back some of the losses you have cost her.”

“Damn, is she some kind of Don Corleone of this world? To be fair, none of this really belongs to her in the first place. Possession is nine-tenths of the law. What does the old hag have on you that you have to follow her orders?”

There was a long pause before there was an answer to this. The male leaned forward, “It’s not her, but her son-in-law, and the father of the crazy one. He married outside of the People, breaking a lot of tradition but he was our appointed king. The real king, not some shaggy human with a big mouth. Once he made a compact with the old bitch, we had no choice.”

“What’s keeping you from breaking those compacts? Just get a new king.”

“The law is what keeps you alive, fool. Humans have no honor. They lie and they keep no compacts, but we’re not like that. The People only live by the law so, no matter how much we hate it, we must follow. The fool has cursed us and we don’t expect to survive much longer. Our People will be the last in these territories soon enough.”

“Sad story. Honestly, I think that sucks. I’m not kidding because I know what it is like to have to follow an obligation I don’t even believe in,” Abe replied bitterly. “Call me Abraham, leader of no one.”

The eery eyes bored into Abe for another long spell. Finally, he responded, “That is fair, and I sense that you speak true enough for a human. I am called Leaves in your tongue, and do not pester me with your puns, for I have heard them all.”

The mood was more cordial, at least until the two women returned, warming themselves next to the fire.

Piro was a bit red-faced while the tall female, now known to Abe as Senua Gong, had a look of satisfaction. Piro did not elaborate at what had happened during the break, allowing her feet to be tied once again without a word.

Abe noted the scent of some kind of soap,and wished he’d get a turn as he scratched himself. He was probably pretty ripe by this time. If Senua could look any better than before, somehow she did. She positively glowed and she’d left her top much looser than earlier. Abe had to struggle not to stare. Piro’s hostile glare of her own helped as motivation.

Senua unpacked a selection of preserved food that she shared with belated generosity. Languidly, she leaned back after filling herself, “Your slave girl is well trained. It’s too bad her fate is sealed otherwise I’d keep her for myself.”

Abe offered, “I hear that you are royal blood. You’d be welcome to join my household.”

She guffawed, amused rather than offended by the foolish human, “You are an interesting one. Abraham? A strange name that I do not recognize. Yes, my father is considered a king of the People, but it is a weak nation with no territory.”

“My situation is somewhat similar, so I’d say that is a perfect match.”

She looked him over with appraisal, “You would have to take my name, such is the tradition. Also, only the head of the family can form an engagement, so my grandmother will have to make the arrangements. But I may not have any objections, if you survive that long.”

Abe didn’t have to look around to note the objection on the faces of both Piro and Leaves who did not like this turn of conversation.

Senua laughed, “I’m not being serious of course.” Somehow, the others did not seem appeased by this. Abe forced himself not to appear disappointed. Piro appeared ready to kick him if she could by this point.

He tendered, “So, why is Mrs. Gong interested in a stranger with no land nor possessions? You’ve taken back everything else.”

“That is a good question. It may have something to do with her arrangement with that witchy woman you murdered.”

Piro burst out, “We didn’t kill her. She did that to herself.”

Senua shrugged, disinterested, “That doesn’t matter to me. Your flight makes you guilty. Of course, if you had stayed to plead your case, you most likely would have been found guilty. I do not fault your attempt, it just wrecked my plans of relaxing. I am planning on having your slave girl recompense me in full before she is sold off.”

Piro reddened. Abe finally began to lose some of his detachment. He said slowly, “If you hurt her, I’ll do everything in my power to destroy you.”

“At last, the little lord bares his fangs,” Senua raised an eyebrow. “I’m shaking in my boots. I was going to have her warm my bedding tonight, but I’ll let you keep her for now.”

As darkness fell, Leaves stayed on watch as the rest prepared for sleep. The three bowmen didn’t make a reappearance, presumably resting in their own perches as they secured the perimeter out of sight.

Abe managed to fall into a fitful sleep while Piro curled up next to him. Senua was snoring as soon as she slipped into her bedroll. Once again, Piro didn’t know what the future held for her. She must have slept, because she vaguely recalled terrible dreams later on but she wasn’t sure she hadn’t just confused them with memories.

When the attack came, it didn’t matter much what the source of her terror was.