She awoke with a start, her chest heaving. She dreamed of people screaming, the sound of whips slashing. And then the fire, she couldn’t get out of the fire. Someone was screaming out a name, but she couldn’t make it out. Closing her eyes she rested her head on her knees. Though the sun was bright and hot she felt cold.

“Ah you’re awake. Here, I have some fruit for you to eat.” The old man handed her some fruit, and although she needed to eat to keep her strength up, she had no appetite. “If you follow that trail, it will lead you to the city. But beware, there are creatures as well as men to be wary of in there. I can offer you a sword for protection. Do you know..?” But he stopped himself. She couldn’t even remember her name, how was she to know if she could wield a sword or not.

“I have a small sack for you, there’s a little food and some water. It should be enough to get you to the city.” She finished her fruit and stood picking up the bag.

“I want to thank you for your kindness to me. I shall never forget you.”

“And I you. Remember to seek out my friend, but be wary of the Red Hand soldiers. Just they are not.”

She thanked him again and was on her way along the beach to find the opening into the jungle. The hot sand felt good on her feet while the cool waves broke around her ankles. She heard birds and all kinds of animals making noise through the thick trees. Some time later the beach began to widen and she spotted where a path began to form. Just then a women’s scream rang from behind big rocks ahead lining the shore.

“Let me go you vile creatures!” She crouched low in the tree line and watched as two men dragged a golden haired woman across the sand towards the jungle. The women was kicking and screaming at them and had a thick accent to her voice.

“Casilda you wench! You dare poke fun at me?! You’re nothing but a common whore!” The taller of the two back handed her across her face. When Casilda looked him in the face again she spit in it.

“You really think ‘THAT’ could ever please a woman? It’s no bigger then a twig!”

“You’re the whore; you’re supposed to please me! How dare you laugh at me when my breeches were down? I’ll teach you a lesson. Here tie her up here with these shackles. We’ll leave her for the animals to eat, or the Picts. Although I don’t think either are worthy of you my dear Casilda.” He lifted a strand of her hair and twirled it between his fingers. Just then Casilda kicked her foot out into his groin. The man fell to the ground while the other pulled her head back by her hair and held a knife to her throat.

“You want me to gut her?” The man she had kicked slowly stood up and delivered a blow to Casilda’s stomach. The world in front of her eyes went black with pain; the wind was knocked out of her chest. She slumped against the chains at her wrists. The other man kicked her body and they began to walk off.

“Dumb wench, how dare she?!” Their voices began to trail off as they got further out of the jungle and back to the beach.

She ran over to Casilda’s slumped body. She was breathing and coming to.

“It’s alright, they’re gone now. Here sip some water.” She held up the water bag to Casilda’s lips.

“Thank you my friend, but I fear my fate is sealed with these chains.” Casilda looked over her shoulder towards the beach. “My fate also lies with the setting sun. When the light is gone, who knows what kinds of beast will be about.” Casilda chuckled to herself. “Maybe I deserve it, payment for all my evil doing.” She hung her head in defeat.

“I will help you escape, if you help me in return. I need to get to the city. Do you know the way?” She now knelt in front of Casilda looking into her blue eyes.

“What is your name? And from the looks of you I say you have Stygian blood running through your veins. You’re a slave aren’t you? I...serviced an evil man along the way. He had many others, from different lands by the looks of them. They all bared the mark upon their chests just as you have upon your chest. They were all chained together as he led them deeper into the jungle. I could turn you in for a reward.” Casilda arched a golden eyebrow at her. “But I won’t. I know about desperation and what its like to be on your own.”

“Thank you, and as for my name, I don’t remember. I don’t remember anything, why I’m here, where I’m from. I’m lost.” She bowed her head; tears began to spill down her cheeks.

“Do not fret beautiful one. Your hair and eyes remind me of the sun, so I shall call you ‘Sun’ until we can find your real name. But if you don’t get that key from that disgusting braggart I am doomed to die here.”

“Don’t worry Casilda, I will get the key and free you.” Sun stood now, looking in the direction the men went.

“But how can you fight them with just a measly sword? You are but one woman; you will not be able to defeat them!” Casilda called after Sun, but her words fell on deaf ears.

Sun slashed through the trees towards the beach. Over the rocks she could see the smoke of camp fires rising up. Sword in hand she headed in that direction.

“Don’t worry Casilda, I have more weapons than you think.” Sun whispered to herself as her eyes began to glow red.

Inspired by: Age of Conan: Hyborian Age

Copyright © 2009 Kelli Newbry “Anuste Moon” Guild Lore-The Insurrection