Keona's eyes widened when Iridessa shouted. "Keep quiet," she snapped as she pulled Iridessa out of the little house. Sure enough, just as the girl had stated, they were at the edge of the woods - and, blessedly, close to the meeting point that she and Lenandel had decided upon. She figured that once he'd finished with the guards - and disposed of the bodies - he'd have headed there, so with Iridessa in tow, she started in that direction. "You just had to run and mess up a perfectly good plan," she said, shaking her head slightly. "My brother's gonna be pissed."
Iridessa looked at him with the deadest expression and watched him leave. "I am so happy at least you have a pretty face." She said and sat on a rock near a tree. "Gives me something to look at, I guess." Iridessa mumbled and rested her cheek in her hand as she closed her eyes. How she managed to keep up with them was a mystery, but she did so and she was happy. The brother wasn't ugly, he was actually quite handsome, but he was a tool, a barbarian, and a piece of shit so he was a turn off. Who would WANT to fuck that? She thought and then she got wide eyed and looked at his sister.
Keona leaned against the tree by which Iridessa's rock was, watching the girl closely. "If you weren't business for us I'd be half-tempted to start training you. You've got a good mouth on you and you're fast. You've definitely got the potential to be something pretty fierce," she told Iridessa, her words genuine and earnest. Of course, training Iridessa along the way was a bad idea - if the girl managed to get free, it'd be a whole lot trickier to catch her again. "Maybe once we get close I'll teach you a thing or two. Then after we drop you off, you'll have all the tools you need to escape," she added with a slight smirk. Of course, if Iridessa escaped, she and Lenandel would probable be tasked with retrieving her again, which would mean even more money... but more hassle too.
Iridessa looked up and smirked a bit, "My father, an idiot that he is, knew of the dangers I might be in. So he made me study and learn the land, hideaway spots, land... shit like that. Then after it was politics.. which just means I learned how to trick people. And then I just run fast, can thank my mom's side for that." She said before watching some men pass by, look at the woman, then her and smirked before walking away. But jokes on the woman, she had her own plans. She was going to learn whatever she could on the way there and hopefully get away or die before they met their destination. "You won't tell me exactly what this person wants me for, will you?" She asked and looked back up.
Keona raised an eyebrow as she listened to the girl outlining her skills. It sounded like the mayor had done a good enough job teaching his daughter to hide and escape, though it certainly would have been useful for him to teach her about fighting. "And how far out do you know the land? I have a feeling your knowledge of hideaway spots won't be helpful for much longer," she said with a slight smirk, though she was definitely impressed with what the girl had to say. "And believe me, you don't want to know what they want you for. All I'll tell you is that if you escape and come find me, I'll teach you to be a damn good fighter and no one's ever gonna snatch you up again, kid."
Iridessa smirked, "Mmm if I tell you that it would make my disappearing act so lame. I need you to be real surprised." She said. "But it goes out a good bit, since a lot of the tunnels were created so important people could escape or some shit. It has been a good couple years since I have been in them. My father doesn't like when I run away." She shrugged. A chill ran through her when she said that Iridessa didn't want to know what she was going for and yet here they were... bringing her in. So she took the woman's sweetness with a grain of salt and keep to her plan. "Have you been to the floating islands yet? Seems like you two travel a lot."
Keona raised an eyebrow slightly, looking towards the girl. "When you run away? Is this something you do often?" she asked slowly. A slight smile came to her lips when she asked if they'd been to the floating islands yet and she nodded. "Yes, we went once a few years back. Not for work, though, for pleasure. My brother had been invited by some associates to come visit," she explained. The floating islands up above had been truly beautiful. Keona had never mentioned it to Lenandel, but she wouldn't be opposed to going back and visiting again some time.
Iridessa nodded, "Often enough that my father flooded one of the main tunnels because he was so mad. All I wanted to do was sing and perform. 'Singing and dancing is a hobby, Iri.'" She said in a mocking way of her father. "I really hate politics, find them extremely boring, but it comes in useful when you need dirt on people or some shit that helps me." She sighed before listening to Keona. A small smile came upon her lips as she talked about going, "Lucky." She said and then whatever smile was there had gone and she looked away when her brother returned.
Keona didn't really get a chance to comment on Iridessa's remark about the flooding of the tunnels and her desire to perform, though it definitely brought some ideas to mind. If she was good at singing and dancing, then she and Lenandel could probably use that to their advantage to earn some pocket money along the way. Lenandel was coming back, though, and accompanying him he had a small, nervous-looking man - probably half-dwarf, judging by his size - who was pushing a large wheelbarrow with a blanket in it. Lenandel smirked as they reached the women. "The plan is a go," he said before looking at Iridessa. "Climb on in, princess."
Iridessa looked at the wheel barrow and knew exactly what it was for. She rolled her eyes and stood up, her feet now screaming, but she showed no sign of discomfort. Fuck him, he doesn't get this satisfaction. She thought. Iridessa walked to the wheelbarrow and looked up at him, "How many times do I have to tell you, that YOU are the pretty princess. Sheesh.." She said and smiled gently at the scared little man before getting in and hiding under the covers.
Lenandel rolled his eyes slightly at her comment, though Keona smirked a bit. She folded her arms over her chest while her brother moved forward and arranged the blanket to make sure it would completely cover the bound girl, and then he nodded towards the scared little man, who nodded back. They started walking. It was still dark, so the siblings figured they'd have had no problem just taking Iridessa to the man's house with them as she was, but they'd rather be safe than sorry. They headed to his house, going around to the back door since it was sheltered, and while the man unlocked it, Lenandel gathered up Iridessa - blankets and all - into his strong arms to carry her inside, not bothering to say anything before he started to pick her up.
Iridessa said nothing when they began to walk and was happy to have been in the barrel. Her feet were killing her. She knew someone was going to be watching her as the other slept an she hoped the woman was the first so she could rest somewhat. Like hell she was going to fall asleep with dick flinging dipshit. They had stopped and she was about to pop her head out when she was picked up. A small yelp came from her before she realized what was happening. "You think if I rolled out of your arms and hit my head I would die? Seems like a good bit distance to the floor." She muffled in the blankets before popping her head out.
Lenandel ignored her words. She really seemed intent on dying - but, then, it made sense, since death was a far better fate than what his buyer had lined up for her. He carried her inside before setting her down on the ground. Keona followed them in while the small man locked the door behind them. "Do you need to rest?" Keona asked. It had been a long walk, and she couldn't be certain whether Iridessa was accustomed to traveling such long distances.
Iridessa was shocked he didn't just drop her. She glared at him for a bit before looking over at the woman. "If I say yes, would I actually rest... now that is the question, but yes. If I can I would like too." She said softly and looked around a bit. She wondered what the man did to be in dept with these kind of people. She felt bad for a bit an then looked over at the girl, ignoring her brother now.
Keona nodded slightly, looking towards the small man. "You have a guest room?" she asked, and the man quickly nodded. He began to lead them upstairs, and Keona took Iridessa by the elbow and began to follow him. He led them to a small room at the far end of the hall with no window, which was a relief to Keona, who let go of Iridessa's elbow and nodded towards the bed. "You rest," she said, and then looked at the man. "If you have some water I'll take some, and then anything she wants to eat or drink," Keona said, and the man looked towards Iridessa.
Iridessa followed like a good girl and when the got to the room she went straight to one side of the big bed. "No thank you." She said. "I will just sleep." If she slept now she would have some kind of rest and hopefully wake up when her stupid brother came to creepily watch over her.
Keona nodded slightly. She was surprised that the girl wasn't thirsty in the least bit, but didn't say anything, instead simply sitting down in the armchair on the far side of the room from the bed - the chair was near the door, thankfully - to keep an eye on her. She wasn't sure what Lenandel was up to, but hoped he'd use this time to get some sleep too - she knew she would be once he came to watch her. The sun was finally starting to come up and Keona wasn't certain how long it would take Iridessa's people to realize that she was missing, or to get out here to start asking about her, but it shouldn't be a problem. Nobody had seen them leave, nobody had seen them arrive, and Lenandel seemed to trust that they'd be safe here.
Iridessa realized she had her dirty dress on and stripped. She didn't care if the woman saw her undergarments since she dressed in front of women all the time and then went back into the bed before curling up under the covers. She thought of how she was going to get away, either by slipping away or death, before she fell asleep.
Keona sat there watching Iridessa for a while. This was one of the things she disliked about her job since watching targets sleep was so utterly boring. She couldn't even ask their host for a book or something to entertain herself since she refused to take her eyes off the girl - she'd had some targets before who'd been quite meek and had been easy to subdue, so Keona had been able to read while she watched them, but Iridessa was quite the opposite of meek. After a while, Lenandel came in and tapped his sister's shoulder, and Keona breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness," she said. "I'm exhausted." Lenandel chuckled a bit. "Well, there's a room just down the hall you can sleep in," he told her as she stood up. Keona nodded, starting towards the door before turning around and looking at him again. "She's only in her undergarments under those blankets, by the way. Better let you know ahead of time so she doesn't blindside you," Keona said with a smirk before she left, leaving Lenandel in the chair now to watch over Iridessa.
She was in a good sleep when she head the talking. Once the door closed, Iridessa sat up and hugged the blankets to herself. She glared at him. Sleep still lingered, but she was too awake to go back to sleep. Plus she didn't trust him not to do something. It was a matter of if she should taunt him or not. Iridessa decided she would just watch him like he was watching her.
Lenandel didn't take his eyes off Iridessa, watching her sit up and hug the blankets around herself. He didn't move, simply watched her. After a few minutes he realized that she was just going to do the same thing the entire time, and a smirk started to spread across his lips. "Shall we have a staring contest?" he asked her after another minute or so of silence.
Iridessa rolled her eyes, "I have to make sure the pretty princess doesn't hurt himself. If you wanna have a contest go right ahead, but please shush and let me do my job, okay sweetheart?" She said and hugged her knees to her chest and rested her cheek on them. He was good looking so staring wasn't hard and she could day dream if she needed, since she done it so much during class.
Lenandel smirked slightly as he heard her words. "You sound like you've been talking to my sister too much," he said, not taking his eyes off her. Staring at her, he was noticing all the small details that he'd not yet had the time to notice. The light dusting of freckles that graced her pale skin, the stunning lavender colour of her eyes... He had to admit, she was quite a beauty and definitely a prize. He was starting to wish they'd wanted her only for her looks and not for her purity, because if she'd just been another pretty girl he could have had his way with her. Instead, though, he was forced to just sit here and silently stare, admiring her beauty without taking advantage of it.
She scuffed, "You sure talk a lot for a man." She said before going back to thinking to herself. List the things you like about his body, Iri. She thought to herself. His tats. His hair. Tan skin. Brown eyes are eh. His beard his nice. His muscles are nice. He is tall... yeah that is about all he has going for him She sighed. He talked and acted like a barbarian. Iridessa thought maybe some girls would like that, but she much rather his sister. Who was tall and tan, tough yet kind of gentle. That is who she wouldn't mind being if she had a choice. She rolled her eyes at the thought of her father and how he wanted her like this. Her mother was a different story and now she couldn't help but miss her.
Lenandel decided not to dignify that with a response, instead opting to sit in silence and watch her. He couldn't help but to wonder what was going through her head. She was so much calmer and more composed than he'd expected, so much calmer and more composed than anyone else he'd kidnapped before. They usually screamed. A lot. Iridessa seemed almost...resigned to her fate.
Iridessa smirked when he got quiet. She wiggled and had a little proud moment. He liked to stare, they both did, but she was like an ant to this guy yet he was on high alert. Was she that much of a hassle. She giggled and swayed. She would have to do more research but she was pretty sure that she could easily die or escape on the trip.
For a long-ass time, Lenandel and Iridessa just sat there with their eyes locked together. The sun was high in the sky when Lenandel heard a knock downstairs. His brown eyes widened and in one swift movement he leapt to his feet, hurrying straight to the bed. He grabbed hold of Iridessa, one arm winding itself around her upper body and the other clamping down on her mouth. "Don't you dare move or make a single sound," he said, his voice a low growl.
Iridessa jumped when he got up and held her and her mouth. She wasn't expecting him to do it and she didn't even hear the knock on the door since she had kind of been in and out of her daydream state. Iridessa was blushing and she had no idea why the fuck she would when he wanted to take and break her and also sending her off to god knows where. He was warm, she took note of that. When the person down stairs left and the door closed she looked up at him.
Lenandel released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding when he heard the sound of the door closing. He waited a moment before releasing his hold on Iridessa. He said nothing before standing up and walking to the door. "Who was it?" he called in a low voice. The small man from downstairs came up with a frown on his face. "Some man asking about a girl from Nen Othrond who fits her description," the small man said, nodding towards Iridessa. "What have you dragged me into?" Lenandel chuckled a bit at the man's question and shook his head. "That's none of your concern, my friend - unless, of course, you'd like that debt of yours raised to accommodate the inconvenience of having to get out of here while they're still looking for her," he said, but the man frantically shook his head, telling Lenandel that wouldn't be necessary before retreating back downstairs.
Iridessa rolled her eyes, "You know if you... do this who aggressive thing too much. All you have to do is give him a look and he would have pissed his pants. You can't even be a villain right. Tis tis." She said and hurried to get dress before he turned around and saw her in her under garments. That had to have pissed him off. She hoped.
Lenandel turned around, surprise to see that Iridessa was fully dressed. He went and sat back down in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. "He knew better than to question. I have no doubt I could have just given him a look, but figured verbal affirmation would work just fine," he replied.
Iridessa shrugged, mentally sighing that he didn't get upset. "Exactly he KNEW, yet you have so much doubt in yourself that you had to give a verbal affirmation.... which is why you lack in being a leader. If anything you are just muscle and your sister is the brains... and fast... and have nice legs." She said and shook her head. Hurting his ego should work.
Lenandel raised an eyebrow slightly as he heard her words, a slight smirk toying at his lips. He slowly stood up, taking a few steps towards her. "You think my sister is the leader here?" he asked slowly, the look in his eyes almost daring her to say yes.
Iridessa mentally prepared for him to strike, but she gave him the same smirk, "Isn't it obvious? If your giant ass was to chase me you would have lost me in those woods. Then you doubt that she could have taken me... tis... it is clear she is the leader." She said.
Lenandel's smirk widened into a dark grin as he heard her words. He couldn't even be angry with her. He backed up to the door, opening it and glancing out into the hallway. "Sister," he called sharply, "come here a moment." He glanced back towards Iridessa, watching her as he waited. It took a minute, but a groggy-looking Keona soon appeared at the door, her dark hair loose and sleep in her eyes. "What do you want?" she asked, looking up at her brother. Lenandel smirked, sliding an arm around his sister's shoulders. "We were just talking about our plans for the next couple of days," he said to her calmly. "You remember the plan, right?"
Keona paused thoughtfully, then shrugged. "I remember part," she said. "This man has a cart and horse we're gonna borrow. You didn't tell me anything else," she told him, and Lenandel smirked. "Well," he said, "we're going to ride the cart for another couple of towns. The kindly gentleman downstairs will be needing it back, though, so we'll be taking a new one in a couple of towns from an old friend of mine." He waited a moment and it was clear that the gears were turning in Keona's mind, and suddenly her eyes went wide and her expression turned to one of disgust. "Pete?" she asked, looking up at him, and he nodded. "Yeah. Pete," he said.
Keona was quick to shake her head. "No fucking way. Pete's not gonna let us borrow his carriage. We've repaid our debts and he's repaid his; we don't owe one another a damn thing," she said, and Lenandel chuckled.
"That may be," he said, looking down at her, "but we have something that Pete's wanted for a long time, something that we can trade for the use of that carriage."
"Absolutely not," Keona said, her eyes widening even further before she looked away from him. "I'm not sleeping with that fucking creep to-"
Before she could continue, Lenandel grabbed her chin and turned her head to face him, glaring coldly down at her. "Sister," he said, his voice low, "I'm not asking."
There came a long pause, and then, finally, Keona sighed and nodded. "Fine," she said, pulling away from him slightly. "But once we get the pay-off from delivering her, we're never doing business with Pete again," she said. She honestly looked like she was about to cry, turning and storming out of the room before Lenandel had a chance to respond. He smirked, shutting the door and turning towards Iridessa, folding his arms over his chest.
Iridessa raised an eyebrow and watched him call his sister in. She looked so tired and wanted her to go back to bed, but then the conversation started and by the end of it was pissed. There was no way she could let that happen. Iridessa pressed the front of her body on the wall that was also facing the outside. She could hear people outside, a good it. "I don't think so... funny thing about houses like this and thin wood.... if I scream people will hear." She smirked. "Either you figure another way to get him to give you that damn cart or I scream. You step towards me... I scream, you got that? I can easily talk my father into thinkin that your sister was forced to join in..." She said, her lavender eyes glowing.
Lenandel raised an eyebrow, surprised by her response. He hadn't expected her to be so adamant that he reverse his decision. "Why does it matter to you...?" he asked slowly, a little confused as to why she seemed fine with them getting the cart as long as it was by other means, or why she'd be willing to convince her father that Keona had been forced to help him - not that her father would believe it, of course, since doing some digging on her would probably reveal a track record miles long - and he was genuinely curious as to why it mattered to her. Was it some sort of silly sisterhood thing? Thou shalt not let another woman be forced into having sex with someone she finds repulsive?
Iridessa looked at him like he was completely stupid, "All muscle no brains... why it matters? Because it is clear she doesn't want to. She shouldn't be forced to have sex with someone because YOU are too stupid to find another way... that isn't being a LEADER... that is being a STUPID COWARD." She said. "If you though this was going to prove you as a leader..." She laughed, "You are sorely wrong." She spat as if it was fire.
Lenandel's lips curled down into a frown. He was becoming thoroughly annoyed with this girl. Delivering her to his buyer was going to bring him great pleasure. "I could find other ways. Pete's a slimy little man, he's easy to win over," he said, his tone even and calm despite his annoyance with her. "She may not want to, but her desire for the money you'll bring us is stronger than her distaste for him. She'll survive, but if you're so insistent on screaming, I can talk with her about other ways to get the cart."
Iridessa nodded, "Good." She said and moved away from the wall and sat back down on the bed. It was annoying that this man could call himself a leader and yet not have a fucking brain. He was just trash and trash belong in the garbage. Iridessa felt bad when she had to escape or just die, but it was as much as she could do for her.
Lenandel sat back down in the chair, keeping his gaze on Iridessa. He simply hoped the girl wouldn't wind up turning into more of a hassle than she was worth. Already they'd almost lost her once, and he'd had to dispose of more guards than he'd anticipated. He only hoped he'd be able to make it all the way there without laying a hand on her - no bruises, no scratches, nothing was allowed - and forfeiting the triple payment. She was definitely pushing his buttons, though - almost as if she knew that he wasn't allowed to hurt her.
It was late after noon and shifts were changing. Iridessa was more than happy to see him go but sad that he hadn't got angry enough to kill her. It would be a work in progress. She was laying in bed, listening to her stomach growl, when the woman walked in. She wondered how many times she had to sleep with people she didn't want because fucktard didn't know how to a better solution. Iridessa didn't say anything. She was going to sleep until they had to leave, plus she had to figure out how to get under her brother's skin.
Keona looked thoroughly annoyed when she came in and sat down, folding her arms over her chest. She didn't say anything, simply watched Iridessa lie there. She was irritated that she'd had only enough time to sleep and eat on her break, and irritated that her brother was using this second break of his to go to the local tavern. He'd grumbled something about taking out his frustrations, and she had a pretty good feeling she knew what that was going to entail, but it still annoyed her to no end that she wouldn't get the chance to do anything fun. Next town, though, she was determined to do something fun - especially if Lenandel was going to make her sleep with fucking Pete, the creepy-ass slimeball who'd had a thing for her for years now. It had taken them months to settle their debts with Pete and part ways with him, and she was not at all interested in rekindling their business relationship.
After a while she sat up and looked at the woman, she looked annoyed, "He didn't tell you... or are you annoyed because I went off on him for making you sleep with.... Pete?" She asked. Her stomach was hurting and she couldn't fall asleep and she was getting annoyed that she couldn't figure out a way to get him to kill her unless she tried attacking him. Plus she was still pissed at how much he didn't care for his sister.
Keona frowned as she looked at Iridessa, torn between ignoring her, telling her to shut up, and just talking to her. "None of the above," she said shortly, figuring she'd leave it at that. The little blonde didn't need to know where Lenandel was spending his evening, nor did she need to know what he'd be doing. It was better that way.
Iridessa frowned. "Whatever you say." She said and went back to laying under the blankets. "Was just trying to freaking get you out from having sex with him." She mumbled before curling up. Iridessa was done. The woman could get fucked for all she cared . The leader thing seemed to be a sore spot. Being challenged about it was another. She was going to end up having him kill her, which was enough of a payback. He would lose out on so much money and she would finally be free from people's grips.
Keona raised an eyebrow at Iridessa's reaction. It seemed odd to her that the girl wanted to get her out of having to sleep with Pete. "If you're so intent on knowing, I'm pissed that my brother is off at the tavern having himself a grand old time while I'm stuck here babysitting," she said sharply. "And trust me, I'm not pissed at you for what you did. My brother and I will figure it out once we're on the road. I may or may not have to sleep with Pete. Damn shame we can't just hand you over to him and call it a deal," she said, shaking her head slightly. Pete was definitely going to want to get his hands on Iridessa once he saw her, and whether or not he'd even want to sleep with Keona after seeing Iridessa was debatable.
Iridessa shook her head, "Then go out... you could threatened that guy to watch over me, plus I am hungry so... he could feed me and I will be content. Look... at this point I don't want to run. I don't want to go back home and going to my aunts now... would be stupid because then she would have to let my mom know and... my father would probably come get me and her and my mom would get in trouble. So... whatever... OR you can always make the man go get you beer or whatever the hell your drink and I can sing to you." She said.
Keona listened curiously. She wasn't entirely sure she believed the girl when she said that she no longer wished to run, of course, simply on the principle that she shouldn't. "If you don't mind, can I ask why you were running away in the first place?" she asked. That was one of the things that had totally gone over their heads when they'd been looking into the matter - they had seen that she was running, but they didn't know why, nor had they particularly cared.
Iridessa sat on the bed and sighed, "Because I want to sing and perform. That has always been my passion and my father is a control freak. It has gotten worse over the years too... also I was betrothed to someone and I'm not about that shit." She said and looked up at her. "Why do you so willingly let your brother dictate what you should and shouldn't do?" She asked.
Keona's expression softened somewhat as Iridessa talked about her father being a control freak. An amused smile came to her lips when she mentioned being betrothed to someone. "Arranged marriages are absolute bullshit," she agreed with a shake of her head. When Iridessa asked her why she listened so willingly to her brother, though, she glanced up curiously. "Lots of reasons," she replied softly. "I know he only has our best interests in mind. I trust my brother implicitly - always have always will. Lenandel's all I have. Don't get me wrong, Pete's an absolute creep and I've been very actively avoiding having to sleep with him for ages now, but my brother's right that this is the easiest way to get that cart. The more money we sink into you along the way, the less worthwhile our payout will be at the end," Keona explained with a shrug.
Iridessa nodded when she said arranged marriages were bullshit. They were and she hated seeing how the woman so easily just up and fucked who her brother said to. Then the more she talked the more pissed off she became. "Easiest doesn't mean it is the best fucking plan. I don't need you freaking two to pay for me. Let me sing in places and I can pay for my own shit." She said before gently tugging something under her dress and tossing it to her. "There is more than enough to get that fucking cart and if he still bitches make him shut up. Unless this Pete is a lot stronger and a better fighter than, Lenny." She said.
Keona raised an eyebrow as Iridessa pulled out the coin purse hidden beneath her dress. She should have known that the girl would have stashed some money for the journey. A slight smirk came to her lips. "Looks like we're paying for the cart after all," she murmured before pocketing the money. "Pete's not stronger than anyone, it's his connections that'll get you. I could kick his ass with ease, but would I? Not a chance," she laughed.
Iridessa nodded, "Well I guess that's a thing." She said and laid back. "It isn't about being strong... it is about being smart." She said and her hand reached up. "I knew Lenny couldn't fit between those trees, I knew you were behind me, I knew I needed to make you think I was going away. And I could have gotten away if you were a big ass man." Iridessa smirked. "Sadly... you were a woman..." She looked up and laughed a bit. "Though you are fast... damn your long legs..." She said and then her stomach screamed. "Ignore her... she is an attention hog." She said.
Keona nodded her agreement when Iridessa remarked that it was about being smart, not strong. "Agreed," she murmured, and a slight smirk came to her lips, her dark eyes dancing over Iridessa. "Lenny? Is that what you're calling him now? He'll kill you," she joked with a laugh. When she heard the rumbling of the girl's stomach she frowned slightly. "Are you hungry? There's food downstairs, we can go get something. It's pretty good."
Iridessa looked up hopefully when she said her brother would kill her, "Don't give me such hope, woman." She sighed, "But Imma call him that from now on, since he pisses me off... it would only be fair." Iridessa looked at her stomach. "A bit, but no food means starving and starving means death." She said.
Keona raised an eyebrow. She frowned, beginning to stand up. "You seem really determined to die somewhere along the way," she murmured, moving towards the bed. "What am I gonna have to do to get you to eat, princess?" she asked, concerned now that she was going to have to force feed the girl in her sleep.
Iridessa looked up at her, "Well yeah... kinda done with the being held down by people bullshit. I have accepted my fate..." She said and glared at her, "I am not a princess... I thought we establish Lenny was the damn princess, you were the knight, and I am the warrior." She said and smirked. "And I am not hungry, thank you." She said.
Keona chuckled a bit, glancing towards the door and then back at Iridessa. "I sure hope you haven't called him a princess to her face, warrior, or else I may have to go help him dispose of a body tonight," she said with a shake of her head and a soft sigh. It could be troubling when her brother got like this. "And don't lie to me. I know that you're hungry, warrior, so you'd better damn well eat before we leave this house or I'll force-feed you in your sleep."
Iridessa made an oops face. "My bad... I thought he would have killed me too." She frowned, "But the bastard took it like rain hitting his skin. It was horrid..." She sighed. Iridessa smirked when she called her a warrior and leaned up on her arms and shook her head, "Looks likes you can try to force feed me while I sleep..." She sighed but shook her head. "Am I even allowed out of this room to eat or..?" She asked and looked up at her. Iridessa looked over the woman and blushed a bit.
Keona sighed, shaking her head. "He wouldn't kill you, he has more self-control than that. Which ever poor girl he's picked up at the tavern, though, I can't say the same for her," she murmured with a frown. When Iridessa asked whether she was allowed out of the room to eat, Keona was quick to nod. "Yes, of course," she replied. "You're just here to sleep. If you want to eat, I can take you downstairs."
Iridessa blinked, "So I could have gone to the bathroom this whole time too?" She asked, dumbfoundedly. She had no idea what she could and couldn't do. Princess Lenny never gave her an option to do anything but sleep and stare at him.
Keona stared at Iridessa, her mouth falling open slightly at this. "Of course," she said after a moment of dumbfounded silence. "Why would we keep you from using the washroom? All you had to do was ask. That's all you have to do with anything, warrior. Just ask us. We're generally good-natured about these things - if you were some sort of bounty we were hunting down and you were wanted for arrest it'd be different, but you're just a kid and you deserve a little dignity along the way," she said. She'd always found that targets were usually all but begging for little dignities like that - pleading for food or water, sounding desperate to use the washroom, almost as if they thought it was a privilege to be awarded to them and not a right of theirs. Iridessa didn't seem to think that way - but, then, Iridessa didn't seem to think about many things the way other targets usually did.
Iridessa blinked, "Oh... well... follow me to the washroom I guess." She said and walked out with her and found the bathroom. It was awkward to have someone outside of the door waiting for her, but there was a window in there. She looked at it and once she was done she walked out. "Could have jumped out that window... but I didn't." She said and went down stairs where she ate just enough to get her energy back up and her stomach to shut up and then went back to the room. Iridessa had so many ways to escape while down stairs, but she didn't because she knew that man would have paid for it. "See I can be a good warrior." She smirked.
Keona patiently went along with Iridessa, waiting for her while she used the washroom and then sitting with her while she ate. "You'd have hurt yourself jumping from the window," Keona replied calmly. They were high enough up that if she'd heard Iridessa jump, she'd have been able to get downstairs and outside before Iridessa even had the wherewithall to get up and run. She followed Iridessa back up to the room, sitting down in the chair and laughing a bit as she heard Iridessa's comment. "A good warrior indeed. Do you want head pats or treats or something?" she teased gently, smirking. "Pretty sure there's an ice cream place in Pete's town. Damn, could I ever go for some ice cream right now..."
When they got back in the room and the woman asked if she wanted a head pat or treats. Iridessa smirked, "Obvi a head pat. Been waiting forever for one." She said before looking at her. "We had a place back at home that made this kind of ice cream that would just... it was trippy. I know it was laced with herbs, but when my father was being extra cunty I would go to them. Very lovely people. Regular ice cream now just doesn't do it when I need... something extra. But I do like cookies and cream. Hmm what about yours?" She asked before going to strip and then she looked at her dress. "Could you cut my dress around here?" She asked, pointing to just below her knee.
Keona stood up from her chair, walking over towards Iridessa. She lifted a hand, gently patting the top of the girl's head on her pretty blonde hair. "There you go, warrior," she said in a light, teasing tone. "That ice cream sounds amazing. Maybe we should have stopped there before leaving," she said with a shake of her head. "I'm pretty partial to chocolate, though I definitely won't complain if there's peppermint involved," she added, smirking a bit. She raised an eyebrow when Iridessa asked her to cut her dress. She dropped down to one knee in front of the girl, pulling out her dagger before glancing back up at her. "Don't move a muscle, I'm warning you," she said before carefully beginning to cut the dress just below the girl's knee as requested. She made sure to hold the dress out as far from Iridessa's skin as possible so as not to risk accidentally cutting her leg, and to give herself as much reaction time as possible in case Iridessa decided to jerk her knee towards the blade.
Iridessa didn't know why the pat made her heart flutter, but she smiled innocently up at the woman. "Ohh pepermint chocolate sounds amazing. That is my mother's favorite." She said softly and watched her get down on one knee and begin to cut. She stood as still as possible. Iridessa looked away and blushed a bit. {i]What is with you?[/i] She thought. Her mind wandered and wondered how it would feel if the woman kissed up her leg and then she blinked away the thought. Plus she wasn't the woman's type. When the woman was down she looked down and smiled, "Thank you."
Keona smiled as she saw the innocent little smile on Iridessa's lips. It was that little smile that was why the buyer wanted her - not her sharp mouth or her wit, but for the innocent, sweet little exterior that so many men would pay so much to destroy. "Well, then, your mother is a woman of good taste," she remarked, relieved that Iridessa stood still as instructed. She stood up, putting away her dagger and smirking a bit. She reached out with the cut-off piece of the dress and playfully wrapped it around Iridessa's wispy blonde hair like a bandana, hoping the girl wouldn't protest.
Iridessa nodded when she said her mother had good taste, "Just not in men." She smirked. Iridessa didn't protest when she put the cut off piece in her hair. "Aww you gonna make me look pretty. You are too sweet, Knight." Iridessa said softly. She wanted to reach up and touch her tan skin that looked like warmth and her fingers gently touched the skin that wasn't covered up with cloth. Then when she realized what she had down she dropped her hand. "Sorry... just wanted to see if you were as warm as your skin looked."
Keona laughed a bit at Iridessa's comment about making her pretty. She had half a mind to tell Iridessa that she was already pretty, but surely the girl already knew that, so there was no point. When Iridessa's pale fingers suddenly came up and touched her hip, though, Keona's smile was quick to frown. That had been...unexpected. And the touch had felt like fire. Keona quickly took a step back, away from the girl. She was a target. They were delivering her to what was essentially torment. Before she was able to say anything, though, she heard the door downstairs and the muted voices of Lenandel and the homeowner greeting one another. A serious expression came to her lips. "Looks like our princess is back," she said, retreating to her chair and sitting down.
Iridessa knee she fucked up and went sit down in her spot on the bed. She mentally cursed and refused to look at her or princess Lenny when he came in. If she wasn't sure she wanted to die then she was sure if it now. Why did I have to touch her? The fuck I s wrong with you? She was only bored...the woman doesn't know the meaning of nice.
Keona looked up when Lenandel came in. It was a relief that she and Iridessa had ended on such an odd note, because for him to walk in while Keona was cutting her dress or tying up her hair would have been odd. Even as it was, Lenandel raised an eyebrow when he saw Iridessa's blonde hair done up with the cut-off piece of her dress. "Did I miss something?" he asked, looking towards Keona. Keona shook her head. "Nothing important," she replied calmly. "She ate, though, so there's that." Lenandel nodded approvingly at his sister's words. "Good," he replied.
"What'd you get up to?" Keona asked, though she already knew what his answer would be. Lenandel raised an eyebrow, glancing briefly at Iridessa before looking to his sister. "Found a girl at the tavern," he replied calmly, and Keona eyed him closely. "Is she alive?" she asked, and Lenandel shrugged slightly. "Probably. Don't know, don't care," he replied before turning and heading back towards the door. "We'll leave shortly," he said before leaving the room.
Iridessa sat and listened. She felt bad for anyone who had to put up with him. Then she wondered what exactly he did to her and if she was dead... it could have been her. When he went to walk away she smirked, "see ya, Princess Lenny."
Lenandel stopped dead in his tracks in the doorway when he heard Iridessa's words. He hesitated a moment, contemplating whether or not he'd heard her correctly. Slowly, he turned to face her, his brown eyes darkened slightly. "Keona," he said in a low voice, though his eyes looked towards Iridessa, "what have the two of you been discussing?"
"Ice cream," Keona replied calmly from where she sat, folding her arms over her chest. "And you, briefly. She asked why I listen to you."
"And you said...?"
Keona smirked slightly. "I told her that you're the best big brother in the world, of course, and that you only have my best interests in mind. I may have slipped a bit. I just get so caught up in how wonderful I think you are that I don't always think things through before I say them," she said. Lenandel turned to look at her, his gaze a cold glare before he looked back at Iridessa. "It's Lenandel, princess, and if you're going to nickname me you'd better have a damn good nickname for Keona, too," he said before turning and leaving the room briskly.
Iridessa smirked, feeling like she was slowly getting under his skin. Then she thought about her name and how it fit, but she didn't say anything about it. When he came to get them she looked up at him, "So Princess Lenny, I got her a nickname Knight. Like you know... the ones who protect pretty princesses like yourself? Anyway it starts with a K too. Perfect fit since she shave your ass from losing me." She smiled.
Lenandel came back a short while later to tell the girls that it was time to leave. When he returned, Iridessa was quick to tell him the nickname she'd decided on for Keona. He gave the slightest roll of his eyes but otherwise ignored her, nodding towards the door. Keona quickly stood up, going to Iridessa and taking her by the elbow. "Let's go," she said, though she was almost apprehensive about grabbing the girl's elbow after the strange heat from their touch earlier.
Iridessa just nodded and walked with to the cart. She got in and looked at the two. "I gotta lay down huh? No problem the stars are out. Maybe I can read my destiny in them. Oh wait haaaa yeah I end up dead. Ugh silly me." She said and laid on her back. Looking up. " but should the princess be driving? So unlady like."
Lenandel climbed into the front of the cart where the driver was to sit. He shot a glare over his shoulder and then looked to his sister. "If you have to gag her to keep her quiet along the way, I won't complain," he said as Keona threw a few bags of stuff into the back before climbing in. She shrugged. "We'll see," she said to her brother before sitting on the floor of the cart beside Iridessa, not looking towards the blonde.
Iridessa smiled, "Imma sleep. No worries." She said and looked at K, she wondered how mad she was at her that she couldn't even look at her. Iridessa mentally sighed and looked up at the stars as the began there little journey. She hopped someone stopped them so she could hop out and escape.
Keona sat in the back there with Iridessa for a long while, trying to make sense of the funny sensation she'd felt when the little blonde had touched her. She knew that she shouldn't be obsessing over it, but she was. Why had she felt something? What had she felt? Why had she never felt before with anyone else? And why was she so repulsed at the thought of what their buyer had planned for the girl? She'd delivered countless pretty little virgins to their doom with similar buyers, so what made Iridessa different?
Iridessa would look at K from time to time and wondered what she was thinking of. Then she would look away just in case. Iridessa turned her back towards the woman and closed her eyes. She was warm when she had touched her and enjoyed it. Though she didn't think anything of it. She sighed and rolled her eyes, she didn't mean any harm by it.
Lenandel slowed the cart to a stop near a little creek in the woods so the horse could drink. He turned around, looking at the girls. He was pleased that they'd both kept silent while he was driving, having obviously been quite chatty while he'd been at the tavern. "If anyone needs to stretch their legs, now would be the time," he said before climbing off. Keona sighed. "Don't need to ask me twice," she said before looking at Iridessa. "You wanna?"
When they stopped she looked up and looked back at Lenny. When K looked at her she nodded and waited for her to get out first before following. She looked around and didn't know where she was at, but she saw the river and the trees. If she ran she would get caught so she just stretched before sitting on a rock. Iridessa took her shoes off and soaked her feet. "Mmm nice nice." She mumured.
Keona climbed down from the wagon, helping Iridessa down and then stepping back to see what the girl would do. She was clearly surveying her surroundings before she went to sit on a rock by the river, dunking her feet in the water. Keona chuckled a bit. She'd likely have joined in if it hadn't been important that she keep an eye on the girl, but Lenandel had already wandered off and Keona needed to stay here with Iridessa.
Iridessa was looking at the water. It seemed too painful to bash her head into the rocks and drowning was too slow. She would be snatched before she even got a chance. The river was rushing pretty fast and she stood. She could get swept up, but that seemed like a hassle. Iridessa picked up her shoes and walked back to the cart. Getting in and laying down to look up at the stars. Right now was not a good time.
Keona watched Iridessa as she gazed into the water, curious what was running through the girl's mind. Given the conversations they'd had so far, she was probably trying to figure out an easy way to kill herself using the stream. Keona, of course, was poised and ready in case the girl tried anything. She didn't, though, and after a while retreated back to the cart. Keona followed, feeling a bit relieved that Iridessa hadn't tried anything. After she climbed back into the wagon and sat down beside Iridessa, Lenandel returned and climbed back into the driver's seat. He glanced only briefly over his shoulder to be sure that his precious cargo was still there before setting out once again.
Iridessa stayed quiet for a while and she peeked over the sides of the cart. They were in the middle of no where and the night was still high. She smirked and jumped up next to Lenny. "What city are we going to next? Can you at least tell me how far we have to go?" She asked and smiled up at him.
Lenandel jumped slightly when Iridessa came bounding out of nowhere to sit beside him. He hesitated a moment before scooting to the side a bit so she could seat herself on the bench if she wished, albeit quite close to him. He was a bit annoyed that his sister hadn't said anything, though he suspected Keona was sitting back there quietly snickering to herself. "Pete lives in Dobenik," he said in an even tone, keeping his eyes on the forest road ahead.
Iridessa was shocked he didn't push her down and tell her to shit up, so she sat down next to him. "Oh I have been there once, though once only because my father thought it gave me the wrong idea. Whatever the fuck that meant. But I saw a man tall and tan like you... he was nice. Punched the man who knocked my ice cream out my hand." She laughed. "I never got his name so I could never properly thanked him. Mmm but I did see this gorgeous singer and her perform. A true talent." She said and looked up at the stars.
Lenandel wasn't sure why she was feeling so chatty. Wasn't that what Keona was for? To entertain the girl's chatty side? It seemed to be what she'd been doing lately. He didn't look her way, keeping hi gaze on the road. "Definitely not Pete," he said simply, in reference to the man who'd punched the other man. Then again, maybe Pete had knocked her ice cream out of her hand. He'd have to see whether that was the case once he had her in front of Pete, because if it was, he'd have to give Pete some props for that. Iridessa was an annoying little thing, he thought.
Iridessa said nothing for a good bit before she looked over at Lenny and smirked, "I like your tats... makes you extra pretty, Princess. I almost got one... then my dad had the fucking guards come get me. Shut the guy down too... then I lit his bedroom on fire." She laughed at the image of her father going shit crazy. She leaned in and smirked, "Just because I look all kinds of pure and innocent doesn't mean jack..." She said and looked over to see if she fell at the right angle the wheels would crush her skull.
Lenandel glanced briefly towards her before turning his gaze back to the road. He shifted his arm, only barely, but enough that his tattoos were a little more visible to the angle at which she sat. "If you didn't look so pure and innocent you likely wouldn't be in this mess," he told her in a calm tone. "You should have cut and coloured your hair and gotten the tattoos. You'd still be safe at home, or in that carriage running off to goodness only knows where. You wouldn't be here with us."
Iridessa looked at him, "You have to be fucking kidding me?" She looked at K and smiled, "If I push your brother off this cart will you cut my hair? I promise to make it worth ya wild.... like I don't fucking know... kill Pete... it can't be that hard to kill someone... though it is taking forever to figure a way to kill my own self." She sighed and then looked back. "So all I gotta do is not look so damn pure... not that bad... did you know blood stains hair my color?" She smirked.
Lenandel glanced slowly down at her. "You can't kill Pete. We need his wagon," he said calmly. "Keona, can you take her back now?" he called back to his sister, who had already stood up and started making her way to them. She laughed softly, leaning over to Iridessa. "Come on back and stop bugging him," she said in a gentle tone. "We'll talk about what colour you want to colour your hair once you escape from where you're headed. I think that a nice green would look good - pink would be pretty but it'd probably only amplify the cute and innocent look that got you kidnapped in the first place."
Iridessa looked at him, "If he fucking dies you can just take the damn wagon... what you mean we can't just kill... fucking morals all of a sudden." She said. "We can't kill Pete, we need his wagon." She mocked him in his voice and sighed. K was talking to her now, that was a shocker. She turned in the seat and looked down at the wagon wheels before inching closer, before just going in the back. "So green?" She asked. "Not like... bright bright green... a nice dark green or something." She said before looking up at her. Iridessa found a nail sticking up and went to press her finger on it.
Keona was relieved when Iridessa came back into the back of the wagon with her, sitting back down. "We can't kill Pete because if we kill him and take his wagon, all his contacts will know exactly who it was and we'll have a target on our head the size of the floating islands," she said softly. She smiled a bit at Iridessa's comment about the green for her hair and she nodded slightly. "A dark green would look nice. Green would bring out the colour of your eyes, I think. Orange would, too, but orange would look too natural for the look you'd be trying for." She raised an eyebrow as she saw Iridessa's finger wandering towards a nail. She decided to say nothing for the moment, as it'd take Iridessa a long-ass time to kill herself using that nail if she tried. It wasn't even long enough for the girl to cut her wrists, though Keona wouldn't put it past her to try.
Iridessa looked up at her and smirked, "Mmm yeah... my grandmother had green hair... that is how I know." She said and laughed before slicing both of her palms a bit deeply. She sucked in her breath before running her hands through the bottom of her hair and worked her way up, "But for now... lets go with a rustic look, okay?" She said before looking down at her palms and smirked. They hurt like a bitch, but she done something to make it more of a hassle. "Thanks for the tip, Princess." She giggled.
Keona raised an eyebrow as she watched Iridessa. The cuts weren't deep enough to cause much lasting damage, but they were deep enough to bleed. Keona sighed, grabbing the nearest bag and pulling it towards her. She rummaged around inside it for a moment before pulling out some bandages, scooting closer to Iridessa and snatching up one of her hands. "All that'll do is make it painful as hell when I brush your hair out," she said, glancing briefly at Iridessa before starting to wrap her hand up. "And it'll all wash out. Blood clots quickly when it's exposed to air, so it won't stay liquid long enough to actually dye the hair. We'll be washing it when we stop," she told Iridessa. A slight smirk came to her lips. "It was a really impressive try, though. You're a brave little warrior."
Iridessa sighed and shook her head. She watched K bandage her hand. Her hand was warm and she wondered if she got over the fact that she touched her. Though she did feel her gently hold her hand when she did so. "It was either this or angle myself in a way that my head gets smashed under the cart's wheels. I though Lenny would miss me too much so I opted for this." She said. When she called her a brave little warrior she smiled. "Thank you, Knight... thank you. Maybe I should show Princess Lenny how to be one." She said.
Keona smiled a bit, tying off the bandage before moving on to Iridessa's other hand. She glanced briefly at the girl's face and then back down at her palm. "We're too fast for that. We'd catch you," she replied calmly. She smiled as Iridessa called her knight, the nickname already starting to grow on her somewhat. "He'd be a brave big warrior. He's so damn tall. Always has been - our mother once told us that when he was born, he was twice the size that I was when I was born," she said with a laugh.
Iridessa sighed, "Yeah yeah... should have fucking jumped in the river... would have been a nice little ride... and seein big ass buffard over the chugging would have been enough to kill me from laughter." She sighed and then realized she had a weird undying love for her brother and then she yanked her hands back. "I get you two are barbarians but that?!" She said and scooted away from her. "Ugh and ya touched my hands. But then I guess that would be kinky..." She said and looked at her hands, ignoring them two. "Makes sense... who else would you go for than your hunk of a brother... would I?" Iridessa asked herself and looked away. "No... no I could never... maybe that is why she said what she did... should have seen it sooner."
Keona blinked in surprise as she heard Iridessa's words, her mouth falling open slightly. "Are you fucking crazy?" she asked after a moment. "You think I'm sleeping with my fucking brother?" She couldn't believe the implications that Iridessa was making. Up front, she heard Lenandel scoff slightly, glancing over his shoulder. "I have ways of getting women and being related to them isn't one of them," he said, and Keona rolled her eyes. "Because drugging and raping and beating drunk girls is better, right?" she asked sarcastically, shaking her head.
Iridessa looked at Lenny and blinked, "That's fucked up... you can't just get them the normal way. See no fucking brains in that big ass head of yours. Knight deserves the best... you ain't the best Princess." She said and then looked back at K. "Well yeah I thought you were fucking your brother... your undying love for the man is kind of confusing. How am I suppose to know your type when you blindly follow him. It is a common misconception." She said and shrugged before looking over and seeing the trees sway.
Keona raised an eyebrow slightly, relieved that Lenandel seemed to be opting to ignore the two of them after the drugging and raping comment. "I'm sure he could get them in the normal way if he tried, he just enjoys his way a bit more," she said, rolling her eyes. "Do you not have siblings? Or friends with siblings? There's a special and unique - and completely nonsexual - bond between siblings that's like nothing else. He's my best friend. Of course I love him," she said, smiling a bit. "It's all just normal sibling love, though. Nothing like what you seem to be thinking."
Iridessa stared at him when he didn't make a comment, "Mhm... say nothing." She said and looked back at K. "You say that... but... have you seen him? " She asked before sighing. "I have, but again YOU two don't do half the shit sibs do. I highly doubt my friend would fucking sleep with a slime ball because her boneheaded brother said so because he couldn't think of a better way to get a damn cart. You gotta be kidding me, but hey... what do I know... I just live a mostly civilized life. Wouldn't know the way of kidnappers who bring pure girls to some stranger who pays them money. I have morals... barbarians don't." He said, the last part coming out harsher than she wanted.
Keona raised an eyebrow slightly at Iridessa's question of whether she'd seen her brother. "Of course I've seen him. Seen him since I was a goddamn baby so whatever effect he has doesn't affect me in any way," she said with a laugh. At the rest of Iridessa's remarks, though, Keona's smile quickly faded and was replaced with a frown. "We're not barbarians," she said after a moment, and then folded her arms over her chest and glanced away. "I don't need to explain myself to you," she declared.
