A frightening ride

Your mind races as you ride uncomfortably across Steelheart's back, acutely aware of your own nakedness and the helplessness of your situation, but still trying to think. You try not to consider what you might have been able to do to avoid this fate; it is undeniable that you and Lady Trina should have been more vigilant, but what is done, is done. The trail to the north of the meadow, assuming that you are indeed following that trail, leads eventually to an old church which is far from the city and from any farmhouses, but which your people have been restoring with plans to establish a new town around it, as it is expected that Elyssia's population will grow following the festival. There is nothing else of note that you know of in that direction, so that is undoubtedly where you are going. It doesn't help much to know this, but it is something.

Although this giant is almost certainly Abdul Hai el Anwar's killer, and he IS a very formidable man, it seems to you that he is not the one who Abdul truly feared. This man may be huge and strong, but a swordsman as skilled as Abdul would have no reason to feel overly threatened by him. And, there is certainly no way the giant could have been mistaken for the woman who was seen with Abdul on that fateful night. There is someone else behind this.

Do they intend to hold you for ransom? Perhaps, but then why was Abdul involved in the first place? Could it be that he was meant to kill Trina? That seems unlikely; he only had the opportunity to do so because she challenged him to a duel to the ****, and that was not something that anyone could have anticipated. Besides, Abdul won both duels with Trina, so why would he fear punishment? If he had been ordered to lose, then he surely would not have won by accident! Furthermore, the **** of one of your Kingsguard would not have resulted in less security around you; rather, Captain Navarre would have increased your guard in response.

Considering these questions helps you to avoid thinking about what awaits you. It is clear that whoever is behind this intends to preserve your life; it is Trina's life which now hangs in the balance, as she is much less valuable for ransom and they may even kill her just to show that they are serious. If she were thinking clearly, she might realize this and make a run for it, to return with the Kingsguard and all the fighting-men she could muster... but it may be that her judgement is clouded, and for that you cannot help but feel responsible! In any event, if one of the other Kingsguard in this position, any of them would surely also hesitate to run and leave you in obvious danger; it would be a violation of their sacred oath, no matter how logical the action would be.

The ride seems to take an eternity, the Sun baking on your back and likely burning your skin red. You might ask for a blanket, except that there is hope that the strange sight of you and Trina naked on a horse might draw attention! This trail is not often followed, however, and with the upper woods closed off to visitors during the festival, it is even less likely that you will encounter anyone by chance.

Finally, the giant calls, "Stop." A shadow falls across you, bringing a welcome cool, and Steelheart comes to a halt. You feel a sudden lurch as Trina is shoved from the horse to the ground; she does not cry out or otherwise make a sound, but you can feel your rage building nonetheless. "Stay there, or he dies," the giant says, and then he pulls you from Steelheart's back by the shoulder. You land awkwardly, dropping to one knee even though you could have kept your balance, and dare to whisper a single word to Trina while you are close to her on the ground.

"Courage."

A tug of the rope brings you back to your feet, and the giant takes you by the arm, half-dragging you up a pair of steps and into what you assume to be the old church. He then sets you down upon what feels like a pile of straw covered with a surprisingly soft blanket, and you feel the rope become slightly tighter around your neck; when you try to move, it becomes clear that he has tied you to some immovable post, and you won't be going anywhere. Then, his heavy steps recede, and the door slams behind him. Through the thick oak of the door, you barely hear a brief scuffling outside, and then a silence falls.

You wait for just a moment, gathering yourself, trying not to think that the noise you heard outside could very easily have been the sound of the giant picking Trina up and finishing what he started in the meadow.

A minute goes by, perhaps two.

The faint sound of a footstep comes to you - too quiet to be the giant, too loud to be an animal.

"I know there is someone here," you say. "If you will listen to reason, let us have words. If I have wronged you in some way, I am willing to try and make amends, so long as no harm befalls Elyssia or its people. These **** measures are not necessary. Will you speak?"

The hood is ripped from your head.