Lucien's eyes adjusted to darkness.
His body hurt. Every inch of him sharp with pain, bruises on his skin like a rotten fruit. The floor under him was wooden, had splinters, and smelled of rot and blood. The sound of wood creaking with each movement.
He attempts to forget the pain and sit up right, failing a couple times due to the beating he took. his eyes finally get adjusted to the darkness.
Beside him, a figure stirred.
The elf he tried to save.
Her emerald eyes, sharp even in the gloom, were fixed on him, in curiosity. She was studying him, lost in thought.
"Is he a noble?" she thought, her mouth still slightly covered. "A human tried to help me?" She squinted her eyes in thought.
Lucien let out a breath, hoarse and dry. "What?," he muttered. Still gagged
She blinked, then scooted a bit closer, twisting her shoulders awkwardly. Their hands were bound behind their backs, and their mouths gagged tightly with rough cloth, but she leaned back, getting at his gag with her foot.
It took effort, and more than a little time, but the cloth finally slipped free from his mouth. He coughed, grimacing. "Thanks."
The elf gestured for him to help her in return, turning her head.
Lucien looked at the cloth covering her mouth. It was tighter than his. He leaned closer until he could reach her with his teeth, then slowly worked the gag with his teeth. It wasn't easy but eventually, he pulled it off.
"Thanks" the elf quietly says while rubbing her free mouth,
After that they sit in silence for what seemed forever until one broke the silence.
"How long have we been here?" Lucien asked, voice rough.
"At least a week," she said quietly. "They move often. Mostly at night. I think they avoid patrols that way."
Lucien surprised thinking he must've been asleep for a while then.
Lucien glanced sideways at her with a confused tone. "What were you doing near the human border anyway?"
The elf hesitated. Her jaw tensed, and for a moment, it looked like she might not answer.
"I strayed too far," she said finally. "I wasn't supposed to be this far west."
He raised a brow thinking she might be lying but decides to play along. "Why? Scared of humans?"
She smiled faintly, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Not scared. Just… cautious."
There was a long pause before Lucien broke the silence again. "I'm Lucien," he offered. "Lucien Vale, bakers son. I'm Sixteen."
She looked at him, surprised. "I thought you'd be older. I mean with all the features."
He laughed softly. "You're the first person to say that. Everyone back home calls me a boy."
Her expression softened. "I'm sixteen as well." She paused. "Aeryn."
"Aeryn," Lucien repeated. "That's a nice name."
She tilted her head slightly. "You're not very educated, are you?" amused by his looseness.
He blinked. "What gave me away?"
"The way you speak to me. You don't know who I am, do you?" she looked at him with a slight smile.
Lucien shrugged. "Should I?"
"No," she said a little too quickly. "It's better if you don't.", "feel good this way" she thinks to herself.
Still confused he frowned but didn't push it. "So… any brilliant ideas on how we get out of here?"
Before she could answer, voices drifted in from the front of the wagon. Slavers. Laughing, talking just loud enough to make out pieces of conversation.
"…auction's in three days…"
"…human capital will pay a fortune for the white haired boy…"
"...Handsome face goes a long way for some freaky ladies..." he laughed
"…the elf too. Royal blood or not, she'll fetch enough to retire."
Lucien's pulse quickened. Auction. Capital. Time was running out.
a few hours later when the slavers go quiet. "They're sleeping." Lucien thinks to himself.
He sat up, and slowly removed the elf's rope with his teeth, then eyeing the wooden door at the back of the wagon. The slavers were asleep now he could hear the snores. This might be their only chance.
"what are you doing" Aeryn whispered confused in what Lucien is up to.
"I have an idea," he whispered.
"What kind of idea?" Aeryn asked warily, rubbing her free wrists.
He leaned back, braced his legs against the door and kicked. Once. Twice. The third time, the latch gave with a crack. Cool night air rushed in, the scent of dew and pine filling the wagon like hope.
"Go," Lucien hissed. "Now."
"What about you!?" she whispered worriedly.
"You're the only one with no ropes," he growled. "If I go I'll just slow you down."
Aeryn hesitated, torn.
Lucien noticed her feet still bind and leaned toward her, biting at the rope on her ankles. The coarse fibers tore against his teeth, burning his gums but they gave way. She was free.
A shout rang out.
One of the slavers had woken.
"Go now!" Lucien hurriedly whispered.
Aeryn stared at him just for a second longer then turned and leapt from the wagon, vanishing into the night like a shadow. Her footsteps faded into the forest.
Lucien flopped back onto the floor, twisting just enough to lay down close his eyes. The broken door swung in the wind.
A moment later, boots thudded against the wood.
"Damn it!" a man barked. "The girl's gone! The door's busted!"
Lucien didn't move. He kept his breathing slow. Just another prisoner. Still tied. Still asleep.
The slaver swore under his breath.
And Lucien waited, praying the elf had truly gotten away safe.
"How will I get out now?"