Well this is my newest project. I haven't gotten that much typed out. Its mostly in my notebook, so I'm going to try and get it all typed out.
Its only been mildly edited, so point out any grammar mistakes, (I'm not the best grammar person.)
Chapter One
Silent as ever, Kristelle sat in the raft as it smoothly surged down the river. Her hands were tied behind her back so she couldn’t move. Her face was beaten and dirty--unrecognizable from its former beauty, her hair dirty and stringy. Her once clean gown was now ragged and filthy. Her body had been beaten and broken, her beauty marred, family taken away, but she still had her pride and ever burning desire to destroy those who held her captive.
Callum sat on his cushioned chair at the front of the raft. He was pleased with himself because he had captured a good lot of young woman that he could sell at the slave market in the city. He knew that he would be able to make a good amount of money off of them for they were all beautiful and young, and he hadn’t allowed any of his men to lay a hand on them. They had only had trouble from one named Kristelle-- she was the most desirable of all the woman, but she was deadly. When they first captured her she had knifed one of his men killing him instantly and injured another; she couldn’t be beaten into submission, and there was an eeriness about her that worried Callum. Freeing his head of thoughts about her he grinned thinking of the profits he would make in a few hours time.
“Koby!” He called to the man in charged of sailing the raft, “how long ’till we hit the city?”
“About two hours,” was the answering shout. Excellent, he thought, soon I’ll be able to enjoy myself again.
Callum walked out to find the woman, Orona, who made sure that all of his slaves looked to be in the best possible shape. She always did her job thoroughly and well because she feared him and had a dominating personality that she exercised over the slaves.
“Orona there’s work to be done! We arrive at the city in a few hours time!” Callum yelled knowing that she would answer.
“Yes milord, its already been started,” she called from near the back of the raft where all the girls were strung together.
Kristelle ignored the woman who was going around with damp rags telling all the girls to scrub their faces and arms clean. She let the rag tossed at her fall to the ground, and just looked straight ahead not giving any indication that she knew it was there.
“Girl,” Orona said, “you have to get cleaned up or else you’ll have another beating in line for you.”
“I can’t,” Kristelle said coldly not looking at Orona, “my hands are tied behind my back.”
Giving her a hard look, Orona picked up the rag and began scrubbing the layers of filth off of Kristelle’s face, neck, arms and hands. She didn’t stop until Kristelle’s face was raw and pink.
“There now dearie doesn’t that feel nice,” Orona said in a sardonic voice. Kristelle didn’t reply, but gave her a cold glare.
Orona walked away now tossing combs at all the girls barking at them to brush the tangles out of their hair. Soon she was back at Kristelle harshly yanking out any offending knots in her hair. She didn’t try to be gentle at all and Kristelle’s eyes began to water.
After all of the girls were cleaned up, two men came around tossing them there daily ration of bread, dried meat and mug of water. One of them came to Kristelle and knelt in front of her to untie her wrists. He let his hands linger on her neck and arms.
“If I had a knife you would be dead,” she said cold rage dripping from her voice.
“Except you don’t wench, you’re hands are tied behind their back and you don’t have any weapons.” He growled in her ear, “and if you try anything you’ll have another beating.”
Kristelle didn’t reply because she knew that the man’s words weren’t just an empty threat.
She didn’t know how long she could take all the pain and fear, and how long she could keep her cold indifferent mask in place. Normally she was cheerful and kind, how she was acting now was the exact opposite of her real personality, and she knew she was growing weaker.
As soon as the guards had left she began chewing down her food ravenously. They hadn’t fed her yesterday because she had attempted to escape. She had failed in the escape, but to her delight managed to kick one of the guards hard enough in the head for him to pass out.
As soon as the food was in her belly, Kristelle felt contended. Slowly she drifted off to sleep, and dreamt of fire and fear.
