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To the Highest Bidder Goes the Prize (Chuckeles/butterfly040

Could no one hear her? "SOMEONE!? GUARD!!" Kiana cried out once more but the halls seemed to be totally empty. She gave out a frustrated grunt as she went racing down the hall looking for anyone. Passing an open window she caught sight of her husband and Angus talking in the courtyard before. She leaned out the window and called down to them frantically, "Lund! I can't find you sister! Her room is in shambles! Her gown torn to bits!!"
 
Lund is busy laughing and talking with Angus when is wife appears at a window the yelling for him. The smile and laughing quickly disappear at her words. Turning towards the gates he begins to yell orders. "Seal the manor. No one in or out till we find my sister." Running towards an entrance into the manor, he grabs up a sword just in case he needs it. By the time he reaches his sisters rooms he is breathless, sweat starting to from on his forehead.

-----
Jas has the cart pulled off the road once they are out of sight of the manor smiling at how easy this part was. The next part would be harder, convincing Lily that her love for Gaisse was not true. Pulling the straw off of Lily he takes her out of the cart moving to load her on to his horse. Giving the cart horse a slap sends it darting deeper into the orchards away from his destination. Smiling he slips on to his horse holding Lily tight as he takes off.
 
Kiana is there waiting for him, holding the ripped up dress in her hands and looking frightened as her husband entered, "Lund..." she said in shock. It was clear from the scene that something bad had happened. Kiana was stunned motionless and unable to figure out what to do.

It was Angus with his quick thinking that moved into action. He started to order about his men. "Search the manor and question everyone. I want to know who was the last to see Lily as well as where and when it was. If anyone else or any horses or carts or anything is lost or out out of place, I want to know. GO! Now! And get Gaisse here! NOW!" He started to examine the room more closely.
 
Lund swallows softly as he takes the dress from his wife. "I want you to seal the manor Angus. A guard at every entrance no matter how small it is." He hesitates looking at Kiana for me a moment. "And I want a guard for my wife, and every other family member. No one goes around alone." He curses softly as he turns catching sight of the rag, moving slowly he picks it up slowly.
----
Jas rides hard his arm wrapped around Lily's waist. As they ride the cloak skips down off of her face. He rides deep into the woods having grown up in them knowing them very well. Deep in the heart is a cabin he has prepared for them.

----
Gaisse is interrupted in the middle of dressing for dinner. He is brought before Angus and Lund with his shirt barely hanging on to him. The guard who brings him is abit rough, since he is an older guard having watched Lily grow up.
 
Kiana still seems stunned as she moved to sit on the edge of Lily's bed, watching things happening all around her. Everyone seeming to snap into action while she felt useless, not knowing what to do.

Angus moves to meet with Gaisse as he is brought into the room, staring the man down, "I am about to ask you one question and you had better answer me swiftly and honestly Lord Gaisse... do you know where Lily is?" He watched the young man's eyes to catch the reaction to the question as well as what they look liked when he answered.

-----
Lily groaned a little, at least starting to come to from the motion of the horse and the speed of the ride.
 
Lund moves to sit beside Kiana holding up the cloth to her. "Kiana this cloth is damp, do you know what this is?" He frowns slightly smelling the herbs on it shaking his head. He turns seeing Angus move to deal with Gaisse. His frown deepens as he rubs his chin softly watching Kiana carefully.

----
Gaisses eyes go wide at Angus words swallowing heavily. "No...no I don't know where she is. I snuck down to see her in the great hall just alittle while ago. She was happy and excited about the wedding." He glances back over the man's shoulder swallowing softly.

-----
Jas curses hearing lily starting to wake up. He pulls up before the cabin hurrying inside with her. Laying her on the bed smiling as he checks the room. It is decent sized, but no Windows for her to try and escape out of. Kissing her on the cheek he slips out of the room locking the door to await her waking.
 
Kiana takes the cloth, examining it a few moments while the men went about talking.

"You are CERTAIN that was the last you saw her?" Angus believed him. The shock of such a question was genuine in the young man's eyes. "Did she tell you where she was going after she left you?"

"She came back here..." Kiana said as she held the cloth to her nose and took in a deep breath of it. It caused her to go light headed, just as she expected it would. Just like she feared it would. "And someone put this over her mouth and nose... I can see a hint of the rouge I gave her on the cloth. This cloth is coated in an herb substance that is commonly used to knock someone out. Usually when they are needed to be out for medical poking and such but... I fear from this room and from this cloth... I fear the intentions of whoever was waiting for her in his room was not that."

A young guard appeared at the door to report to Angus, standing straight and tall. "Sir! The manor has been sealed. Men posted at every exit. Horses were all accounted for, but one. A cart is missing as well. A guard at the gate said he saw one of our own traveling out in the cart headed for the orchard about 30 minutes ago. It had been making trips to and from all morning."

"But why would a guard drive the cart?" Kiana asked before Angus could ask the same. "It would have been a member of the kitchen that knows not to pick bruised apples. Not a guard..."
 
Gaisse swallows heavily as he moves around the room, seeming to ignore Angus question for now. After seeing Lily's torn dress he shakes his head. "I swear to you Angus. I haven't seen her since then, she was eagerly waiting for Lady Kiana to return so the wedding planning could continue." Kneeling slightly he starts to pick up the dress his hand trembling. Behind him Lund leaves heading to inform his father of things. His father was still lord after all.
-----
Jas smiles softly as he pours himself a glass of wine. Everything had gone perfect, and now the woman he loved would be his forever. Moving first to the door he listens waiting for Lily to wake. Already his plan was in place, the area he stood in was a wreck. He planned on telling Lily he had followed her kidnappers and had saved her. Surely she would see his love then.
 
The whole household was pulled away from the joyous plans of the wedding and went head first into the tragic plans of uncovering what had happened to Lily. Whispers were spread at once of all kinds of rumors. Some said that she had been kidnapped by those that still held ties to the late Jak. Some said she had gotten cold feet and faked her own kidnapping to flee. Others said that she had run off with her mystery lover. Kiana though shot down all those kinds of rumors, especially around Gaisse. "She would never willingly have left you behind Gaisse. I know she loves you. There has to be fowl play at work here."

------
Lily's eyes opened to the dim light of candles. She groaned and slowly awoke her body to sit up and look around. She was in some kind of empty room. No windows? At once fear struck her right to her very core. When the memory of what had happened right before everything went black, that fear only tripled inside her. She jumped up from the bed and ran to the one door in the room, reach out to try and open it.
 
Gaisse looks to Kiana offering her a tight smile. "Its alright, I understood what I was getting into when I came here. I love Lily and I wont leave her to whatever fate has grabbed her. If you would have the kitchens send up some food for me, I need to ready my horse. Im going to ride out and see if I cant pick up her trail." He offers Kiana another tight smile and a bow before returning to his rooms. His orders to his steward are quick and precise telling him to return to his father. He doesnt pack much just enough to get by on before he is down at the stables readying his horse to go out alone.

------
Jas presses his ear to the door swallowing as he hears Lily awakening. He smiles softly nodding to himself as she begins to pull on the door that is locked. Now all he had to do was wait a couple of hours, then he could burst in and save her. He would be the hero she needed. The hero that she loved. He presses his hand to the door letting himself whisper her name tenderly, before stepping back to wait quietly.
 
Kiana nodded and went to the kitchens, doing as Gaisse had asked of her before running off to find her husband. When at last she found him she pulled him aside, "I think Gaisse means to go out alone to find Lily. What if he finds her with some kind of villainous character and he is on his own in a fight?"

-----
Lily yanked and pulled on the door before eventually resorting to pound upon it, screaming out for help. After screaming for help for awhile her screams turned towards threats towards whomever was on the other side of the door. "Let me out! You hear me! I'm getting married in the morning and NOTHING is going to keep me some marrying the man I love you vile... well... WHOEVER YOU ARE! LET! ME! OUT! NOW!!!"
 
Lund turns towards Kiana as she pulls him aside. He sighs softly as he thinks over it for a moment. "Father will not spare any guards right now. He thinks this is an attempt by one of Jak's allies to get at Lily. He wants the manor ready for war." Taking her hand kissing it softly. "I think Gaisse can take care of himself. I have watched him and Angus sparring while hes been here. Hes excellent with a blade." Letting her hand go softly he sighs. "Take the food to him and give him any herbs that might help love."

-----
Jas jumps back as she begins to beat on the door. His heart aches hearing her beginning to scream from the other side of the door. Anger burns through him hearing her words of marriage. Shaking his head he hardens his heart to her words. He had to be strong. This was the best for both of them. Turning his back on the door he moves to begin fixing a small simple meal.

----
Gaisse is rechecking his saddles straps making sure they are secure, next comes his pack. With a nod he seems satisfied with everything as he places a bow and a quiver on the side. Turning his head he looks for Kiana, then to the sky. His eagerness was being picked up by his horse who pawed at the ground anxious to be off and running.
 
Kiana pouts as Lund and how he would not ride out with Gaisse to save his own sister. She sighed and went off, taking care of a few things before picking up the food from the kitchens and coming down to meet Gaisse. She handed him the basket, and then in a very serious tone spoke, "I'm going with you to look for Lily..." she told him. She revealed her healing basket she had brought with her. "You can't got it alone. I won't let you."

------
Lily ended up just plain screaming, especially when she heard movement on the other side of the door and knew for sure that she was being ignored.
 
Gaisse glances down at Kiana for a moment, he shakes his head as if not hearing her correctly. "Lady Kiana this isnt going to be an easy ride? I mean to ride hard and fast." He reaches for the food placing it into his packs on the horse. Turning back to her, he studies her face for a few moments. "You mean to ride out with me no matter what I say dont you?" He smiles softly as he moves to pull Lily's horse out of the stables. It is already saddled and prepared as his horse. "I figured someone would protest me going alone."

----
Jas sighs closing his eyes hearing her screaming at him. He only takes it for a few moments before he turns and rushes out of the door. The vagabonds he hired would be here soon. Once they were in place he could charge in and save Lily. Till then he had to get some air, force himself to relax before he rushed into see her.
 
Kiana smiles and shakes her head as she moves to tie her healing basket to the side of the saddle, "No. I'm rather thick headed. You may ask my husband later and he will tell you it to be the truth. You could get hurt and then no one would ever be able to help or find you. You can't be alone. Everyone here is to worried over an attack possibly coming then worrying over Lily's well being. It's not right and I won't stand by and have her be missing."

----
Eventually, Lily wore herself out and she ended up slumping down against the wall in a little ball. This could not be happening to her. Not now. Not when she was suppose to marry in the morning. Why did these happen? What were the gods punishing her for?
 
Gaisse nods softly as he watches her tie the basket on to the saddle. "Have you ever ridden before m'lady?" He holds on to the reigns of his stallion who is still pawing at the ground. "Well if they are right about an attack, then there is no one else they can spare for this task." Taking one last look over the mare's saddle he nods happily. "The mare is gentle, but fast so you wont have any trouble keeping up with me." Moving to the side he offers to help her up on to the saddle.

----
The vagabonds show up early meeting with Jas outside the cabin. He quickly goes over the plan with them making sure that none of them are going to touch Lily. Passing the sack of gold to them he nods, turning to slip on to his horse. Riding away slowly he keeps the noise down as he starts his waiting game. The men he had paid would be dead soon, criminals who would have ended up in jail sooner or later.
 
"I have ridden, yes, though my husband would rather I ride with him then beside him most of the time," she climbs up into the saddle. The mare shuffles about a bit as it's not use to anyone but Lily being upon her back yet a few brushed and pats from Kiana and she eases. "I don't think there is any threat of an attack. There is just something in me that is telling me it is only one man that has taken Lily. The tearing of Lily's wedding dress showed that this is something personal to Lily, not to Jak."

------
Lily banged her head against the wall as she sat there. The sounds from the next room seemed to have stopped and she had to wonder who had been on the other side, where they had gone, and what they intended for her.
 
Gaisse nods seeming to approve of the way she climbs into the saddle. Taking the lead he heads for the manors gates, hesitating as he slows to let them ride beside each other. "WHo is this man you speak of? I have heard rumors before I came here, but Ive never pressed Lily for any details. I figured she would tell me when she was ready." His eyes glance towards Kiana as he awaits her answer riding easily beside her.

-----
The three vagabonds enter the cabin making alot of noise laughing and talking of how their leader kidnapped Lily. They break into the wine beginning to pass it around drinking heavily. "Wont be long before we have a buyer for the spoiled brat. Then we can retire boys, no more jobs for any of us anymore."
 
Kiana rides beside him, sighing as she shakes her head, "I suppose this should have been coming from Lily, but it could help in finding her. The man Lily was 'involved' with was one of the guards. A man named Jas. She thought herself in love with him until he pressured her to prove her love by sleeping with him. She told me she told him time and time again she was not ready for that step but her kept on pushing her and pushing her until she agreed. When they were caught, he fled and left her to face the shame on her own like some coward."

------
Lily heard the men come in, but... something was different. Whomever had been in the room before was not this bold and loud. The one that had been in there before was calm and collected. It was almost like they wanted her to hear it. Something was not right here, she just could not put her finger on what it was. Yet.
 
Gaisses hand clenches tightly to his saddle horn as he listens to the end of the story. "And this man...this Jas, is who you think took Lily from the manor?" He clenches his teeth tightly together as they ride out of the manor. "If I had known then the trouble he would cause, I would have turned him in." Muttering a curse he shakes his head softly. "Lily begged me to not say anything and I listened out of love. And look what has done." The last was meant to be whispered to himself but it comes out loud and clear.

----
They keep talking and rough housing breaking a few more things. They laugh as they begin to throw daggers into the door, some of them poke through slightly. "Come on girl you were screaming earlier. Scream for us now, before we come in there and show you how to scream." They all laugh at the joke waiting to hear her response.
 
"So... you did encounter the man..." Kiana says, finally getting the full and clear conformation that Jas had sought out Lily again. "Something in me knows that is was him. If it was just someone come to cause trouble in the name of Jak, they would have taken her and left not trace. This person ripped apart her room. The anger was towards her and the wedding, not Lund and his father." Kiana looked out over the land before them, "Where do we even start to look?"

---
Lily yelped and jumped away from the door, springing across the space to the far side of the room. She made no other sounds as she watched the door and waited. For what though?
 
Gaisse gestures towards the pastures. "We find the cart first, one of them might have left something behind on the ground. And I can track the wagon." Hesitation filters through him as he turns in the saddle. "Should I have kept silent Lady Kiana? I feel if I had said something that we could have stopped this?" He mutters another curse under his breath as he urges the horse faster.

-----
The leader of the trio laughs as he moves to open the door. "Oh yes you are quite the pretty one aren't ya. You'll make a perfect mistress for some merchant who buys you. Dont suppose it will hurt anything to have a little fun. Come here poppet."
 
"There is no use on dwelling on what could have been different. It's best to look only forward and towards getting her back," Kiana gave him a little smile then turned to kick her horse a little faster towards the fields, "Well you are the tracker. Where has the cart gotten off to?"

-----
Lily shot up to her feet and adopted a rather defensive stance. She would not go down without one hell of a fight. Her heart was calling out that she had to get back home. "The only mistress I will be is to my husband. And if you will pardon me... I need to get back to my wedding. Move aside."
 
Gaisse laughs softly as he moves to look towards the ground. "Who ever is driving was in no hurry to get away. He isn't pushing the horses just taking things easy." He glances up looking towards the orchards slowly. "How would he have gotten into the manor so easily m'lady? There had to be countless guards between Lily's rooms and the courtyard."

-----
The man laughs softly at her shaking his head. "Were going to sell you, make a neat little profit from that pretty face if yours." He laughs softly as he takes another chug from his wine glass spilling some of it down the front of his shirt.
 
Kiana thought about it, glancing back a moment towards the manor, "If he still have a guards uniform... no one knew that he was the one that Lily was associated with so if he was moving about he would have just been seen as just another guard among so many others. Only if Angus or Lily them saw him would they have truly recognized him. With all the hustle and bustle of the wedding, I would not be shocked if one little nameless guard went unnoticed."

-----
She stood her ground even if that meant she was pressed against the far wall of the room. "That is not going to happen... you are going to return me to my family... because they will pay your far more then any merchant for my return... don't you agree? My family as well as my fiance are rich. You know they will pay."
 
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