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To the Highest Bidder Goes the Prize (Chuckeles/butterfly040

The next morning the group left at first light, so signs of being followed any further. Even so, they pushed their pace the entire day until the sun was nearly set and the reached the start of the mountain pass. Camping there at the base of the pass, the morning after they started on the more trying leg of their journey to Lund's lands.

As the climbed higher into the mountains, the air grew colder. Fall was already upon the land and it started to feel more like winter as they reached the highest parts of the mountain towards the middle of the second day one the pass. There had been no signs of other travelers that entire time and there was no sign of and trouble either. The were either very lucky, or just tempting fate.

Nessa and Kiana sat in the front of the cart, Nessa driving the horses at that point but both women were wrapped up in warm blankets they had unpacked. Huddling together, they kept one another warm while the men still road along either side of the cart, occasionally one would ride in front of the cart and the other behind in spots where the pass road grew to thin for them to travel three across.
 
Lund takes to the travel easy enough. Some of the land looking familiar from his travel to join the army some months before. At the end of the first night he has kiana check his cut smiling as it seems to be healing well enough. He sleeps close to her that night his sword close as well.

He has his heavier cloak out and being worn as they enter into the higher mountain passes. His eyes constantly scan the peak sides searching for any sign of danger that might use them to sneak up on the party. Whenever he can he glances at Kiana giving her a reassuring smile as they ride on through the pass.
 
Kiana would smile back then when he was not looking take the ring around her neck between her fingers and play with it as she thought things over about his proposal. She wanted to marry him so very much, with every passing minute she wanted it more and more. But the need to be accepted into his world first was so very great within her. Either way, she would either marry Lund or not marry at all for she could not find a love like this with anyone else.

----

Not far from where they traveled, they were in fact being watched. Bandits that had made this pass their hunt grounds. The did not get prey often, but when they did, they left not a single valuable behind with their targets. Already they made plans for the strike upon this small travel party. Tonight they would have new horses, new loot, and new females to entertain them....
 
Lund keeps watch on the trail glancing ahead and behind ever so often. He wraps his cloak tighter around himself. He glances up trying to shake the feeling of being watched. His cold fingers loosen his sword as he glances upwards once more shaking his head. He nudges his horse up towards Angus. "I don't like how narrow this pass is becoming. And I get the feeling were being watched."

Nessa spots the ring once smiling to herself as she leans closer whispering for Kiana's ears only. "Is that what I think it is?"
 
Angus had his hand on his sword as well and nodded in agreement, "I have that feeling as well... and I don't like it at all. I think it best we work out some kind of defense plan before the next narrow segment," he glanced ahead, "which is not that far off..."

Kiana glanced down at the ring around her neck and smiled, a little blush on her cheeks, "It's Lund's signet ring. He told me he'd get me my own ring later on and I told him I would think about it." She sighed a little, keeping her voice low for Nessa only still, "I just don't know how I will fit into his world yet. He is after all, well... above me."
 
Lund glances up at the peaks slowly. He loosens his sword even further as he leans in the saddle glancing at the trail. "Well have to make sure the girls are kept safe. Do you want the front or back?" he glances at Kianas back worriedly as he slows his horse slowly. "I wish we had a couple of good bows to keep them at a distance."

Nessa laughs softly as sh pays Kianas knee. "If you love the man then I'm sure he will find a way to be with you. It will be his parents that are likely to be the worst when you get to his home. And him giving you the signet ring is a large step." She glances at Angus blushing.
 
Kiana glanced up as Nessa did towards the men and instantly knew... "Something's wrong," she whispered to Nessa as she saw the tense look on Lund's face and noticed his hand on his sword. Her own fears ignited and started to rise a bit then and she glanced about the area.

Before Angus could utter a reply, the bandits made their first move. Two hooks on ropes seemed to fly in from the peaks above towards the cart. The latched onto the side, the were soon pulled tight to yank the wheels on the side of the cart up off the ground, keeping it stuck in place.

Six men started to close in on foot, three from the front and three from behind while two from above lay in wait to enter the action.
 
Lund doesn't seem to notice Kiana look towards him as he continues to ride scanning the area for dangers. His eyes glance at Angus jerking back as the ropes hit the wagon. He swears loudly as he yanks his sword free as he whirls his horse in a tight circle. "Take the three behind us. I'll get the ones from the front."

Lund quickly charges past the wagon slashing through one of the ropes holding the wagon. He tugs his cloak free as he leaps from his horse slashing though the first mans chest. His sword comes up blocking the next mans blow as he kicks the third away. He quickly begins slashing and attaking the second driving him back away from the wagon.
 
Angus had his hand full, taking down one of his attackers while the other two kept him busy. In the cart meanwhile, Kiana sprang into action. "Keep the horses calm!" She yelled to Nessa while she quickly climbed into the back of the cart. Grabbing a knife, she moved to the other rope still on the cart. Grabbing it, she quickly set to work cutting through it. The rough rope ripped her hand a bit raw as she tried to hold it and cut it. The moment the rope finally broke though, the cart hit the ground again but unfortunately the horses charged forward a few moments before Nessa could calm them again. The sudden, unforeseen movement caught Kiana off guard and she found herself throw off the back of the cart, hit the ground hard and leaving her slightly stunned a moment before she realized that she had to get back into the cart. She rose to her feet and went to run for the cart only to find one of the bandits from above had descended down the rope and was in her pathway, smiling wickedly at her. She froze, unsure of where to run or what to do.
 
Lund suddenly finds himself hard pressed as the other bandit he had kicked away is suddenly in his face pressing him back as he fights two of them at once. He hears Kiana's voice over the sounds of battle but tries to block it out as he dodges and swirls avoiding the blades of the bandits before him. He feints one way then the other trying to draw them off guard. Out of the corner of his eye he catches sight of the wagon as it suddenly takes off. In the back of his mind he assumes Angus managed to cut the other rope and set the wagon lose. He redoubles his attack starting to fight dirty to get an advantage in this fight needing to get back to help Angus soon.
 
Angus still had one attacker on his hands whom had knocked him from his horse and now they fought hand to hand. He to had not noticed Kiana's plight, deep in his own battle. Nessa was distracted by the horses that were startled once more and start to get closer and closer to where Lund was fighting. She fought to keep them back and out of Lund's way.

Knowing that yelling or screaming may throw one of her allies off there guard, Kiana faced her foe quietly. He too said nothing as they stood facing each other, one waiting for the other to make the first move. Kiana still had the knife in her hand, but the bandit had a sword in his. Her eyes darted about looking for a way of escape, knowing she could never fight him and survive. It was a move the ended up costing her at the bandit made his move, wrapping his big meaty hand around her neck and pushing her against the wall of rock. She tried to scream this time, but no sound came out as he held her like that while he reached for something. He finally let her go and she gasped for air to enter her lungs once more. In her moment of distraction, the man swiftly tied one of the cut ropes around her wrist. By the time she recovered enough air in her lung to cry out, she did yelp loud in surprise as she found herself being yanked up the rocky wall by her wrist, yanked from above by the one left there. Her attacker making his own way back up the wall with the other rope that hung loose there.

"LUND!!" she finally screamed as she struggled against the rope, trying to undo the knot around her wrist with her free hand as she wiggled and twisted, her body getting scratched up as they dragged her against the rocks.
 
Lund catches the movement of the wagon out of the corner of his eye moving to keep himself between the two bandits and the woman in the wagon. He spins distracting one of the bandits before driving his sword deep into the man and ripping his sword free. He then turns back to face the last man their swords clanging together as he continues to fight trying to push the man back but coming up even with him.

His own moment of distraction comes from when he hears Kiana scream his name. The movement of him turning to face the woman he loves redirects the bandits blade to give him a light cut across the cheek. He kicks back at the man a renewed fury facing through him as he attacks the man harder and faster. "Hang on Kiana." He growls slashing the man twice across the stomach then decapitating him.
 
Kiana's cry alerted Angus as well that one of the girls was in danger. Working desperately to make swift work of the last man he faced, her cut him down but only to get him off his back as Angus ran to try and reach Kiana. He jumped to try and grab her foot as she was pulled up the wall, but she was to far out of his grasp. He started to attempt to climb up the wall after her, "Hang on Kiana!" He yelled to her as well. While he was busy attempting to save her, the one of his foes hand left living retreated in the chaos.

"Angus! Help me!" Kiana yelled in fear and pain as the rocks cut more and more at her skin. She looked down to see Angus getting closer but just as he grew close, she'd be pulled further from his grasp. Suddenly then, a hand was upon hers. Looking up, she was at the top of the cliff and the man there had grabbed her and yanked her over the edge. Quickly thrown over his shoulder, the man as well as the one that had captured her fled, leaving Angus only half was up the hall.

Seeing that this battle was lost, he yelled towards Lund, "They have Kiana! Don't kill him! We need to know where they have taken her!" He made his way back down the wall to assist Lund and prevent him from making a mistake that would prevent them from finding Kiana and getting her back.
 
Lund glances back seeing Kiana moving further up the wall. He growls as he turns back to the last man slapping his sword free from his hand. His hand grabs the front of his shirt tossing him against the side of the wagon breathing heavily. "Get back down here Angus. I have one of them." His eyes then glance up at Nessa anger burning in them. "You two were supposed to stay in the wagon. Why did you let her get out." He reaches for a section of the cut rope tying the mans hands behind his back.

He kicks the mans legs out from under him letting him sit there as he holds his sword his fingers clenchng tightly on his sword hilt. "Angus I need you to question him. If I do it I might kill him before he talks." He swallows softly as he walks to the back of the wagon getting a deep drink of water trying to calm himself.
 
Nessa was paniced, in tears as she tried to understand what had happened, "I don't know how she ended up out of the cart! She went to cut the second rope and that was the last I saw her. The horses started to fuss and move... I... I was distracted by them. I thought she was still in the cart behind me! I had no idea she was gone until I heard her cry out! I'm sorry Lund!" Nessa sat shaking terribly.

Angus went to the man and punch him before he grabbed him and pulled him to his face, "I am in no mood to beat around the damn bush! Where have your friends taken Kiana! Answer and your death will be quick and merciful! Don't and I will pick you apart bit by bit until you beg for sweet death to be delivered quickly! WHERE!"

The man didn't need to be convinced any more then that. Clearly he had no loyalty to his friends that had left him for dead. "They have a hide out up in the high mountains. It's a certain cave that leads into the mountain, to a hot spring. That's were they will take her but you'll never find it without me to guide you. There are many cave entrances and you'll never find the right one."

Angus looked to Lund, "What do you think?"
 
Lund beats his fist into the side of the cart growling softly as he listens to the man. He steps around the cart drawing his sword once more as he looks at the man. "I saw we cut off one of his hands then let him guide us." He smirks as he kneels down to look into the mans eyes. 'If they have harmed her at all I will let each of you die a slow horrible death." He glances up towards Nessa slowly. "Im sorry Nessa. I shouldnt be blaming you for any of this."

He moves to secure the mans hands even tighter. "Let him lead us. If he misleads us then we start taking parts of his body off." He moves towards his heavy cloak wrapping himself in it once more shivering. "Lets get going before we lose any more daylight and their trail."
 
((Do you want to play out and of what Kiana is dealing with with her captors while they make their way to her? I wasn't sure exactly how far you'd want to go with her capture.))
 
((I figure we have two options. Go only to the point where they are about to do something but Lund swoops in to stopped it, her hero. Or option two is let them have at her a bit and leave her feeling unworthy of Lund any longer after others have done such things to tarnish her, leaving him to have to convince her it doesn't matter to him what happened to her.))
 
((kk... *gets a coin* heads he saves her, tails he's a little to the party. *flips coin* tails... poor Kiana *smirks*))

The man nodded as he rose and started to lead them. He pitied his fellow bandits for he was indeed going to lead them directly to them. He pitied them for he knew that even with the quickest path to the hide out, that girl would not be totally unharmed by the time they got their and they would likely suffer dearly for it. It was going to be at least two hours before they could reach Kiana.

From the spot about them, the bandits were back at their hideout in no time. They thought themselves in the clear, thinking that anyone that had not left when they did was dead and there foes would never find them with all the caves in this part of the mountain. Only three of them have made it but they would just find others to join them when they next went down the mountain into town. That would not be needed for awhile, in the meantime... they had something fresh to entertain them.

Kiana found herself thrown onto the rocky cave floor. Her whole right side was in pain and the pretty green dress that Nessa had made her was torn beyond repair. Knowing she was in big trouble, she didn't know what to do. Did she fight? Did she give in? Did she pray? She was pale white as she waited to see what fate had in store for her now.
 
Lund swallows as he pushes the man's shoulder from time to time to keep him moving. He glances over at Angus and Nessa shaking his head softly. "Im sorry I yelled at Nessa Angus. I know this isnt her fault." He clenches his fist up his anger he tries to keep buried flashing in his eyes and on his face as they walk for the cave entrance. "Ive tried for the last few weeks to keep her safe. To keep her protected from men like this and I seem to have let her down." He sighs shaking his head as his shoulders seem to sag under the weight.
 
Angus shook his head, "I would have yelled at her as well. Rage and fear can cloud the mind all to easily." Angus could see that Lund blamed himself for this happening, her took it upon himself to try and ease the pain that Lund was likely feeling. As well as the fear they both felt for the poor innocent Kiana. "I know lad, but you are not to blame. Only these pigs that prey upon poor girls like our sweet Kiana are at fault. They could have let us pass but their greed will not lead them to their cold graves before this day is done."
 
Lund nods as he glances over at Nessa sighing softly. He glances up scanning the peaks around them as he continues to trudge on even with the wind starting to pick up. "How far is it to this cave?" He moves to stand next to the bandit pushing him slowly as he tries to hurry the man along. "I want to get there before night fall so you might as well move yourself faster." He glances back at Angus blood caking his cheek from the small cut he took earlier.
 
The bandit took a breath and prepared for the backlash from what he was about to tell them. "The only way to the caves on foot is down this path, cutting up a secret pathway and back tracking. We may reach it by nightfall, if we move fast." It was then that the group would realize that Kiana was going to be stuck without a helping hand for awhile still and it was clear that she might not leave this situation unharmed after all. "There is no other way unless we climb the rock wall, but if anyone slips or falls, it will take just as long or even longer."
 
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