Journey Until Nightfall

Ana and Sitri left their resting spot and continued on the path. Luckily, the horse was unharmed so they could return to fast pace as they travelled. The horse at a full gallop once more. Soon though, Sitri brought them to a stop. "We are near a village. It would be best to skirt around the edge to make our way back to my kingdom."

Ana looked at Sitri. "I can still travel through and meet you at the other side." Ana was looking at this as a possible attempt to escape. Although she had no idea where she was. She considered that it was still a way of stalling, to allow Aron to catch up. If she could find a church or another temple that she could hide in.

"This village is Thesterall. They don't like outsiders. Even ones as pretty as you Ana." Sitri tugged at the horse to guide them back into the woods to avoid being seen by the residents of the village. "You would be considered a witch by them."

Ana searched her memory. Thesterall. Something in her mind was knawing at her. She knew the name, but couldn't place where she had heard of it before. "I have heard of this place. I remember reading about it back in the temple as a child. But I cannot remember what was actually written." Ana wracked her brain to try and remember what she learnt. But the more she tried, the harder it became to remember. But danger did present itself in the name "Tell me what you know of Thesterall. My memory fails me for some reason."

As they continued. Sitri explained what he knew of the village. "Thesterall was once a peaceful village until around five hundred years ago. They were invaded by a band of theives and cutthroats. They managed to cast them out after some warriors from the nearest town came in to free them. After that, They were trained in combat in order to protect themselves. Needless to say, I would not be welcome there. You however, would be burnt at the stake. Liru has been outlawed in Thesterall. Going in this direction, we will come across the ruins of one of her temples."

As they travelled on, eventually the ruins of the temple came into view. Now covered in vines and nature tearing the remains down even more so. Ana stared at the remains with her jaw wide open. Dismounting to take a closer look, Ana studied the the stonework of the walls. Fire damage was still evident "What happened here?"

"Thesterall. Liru is considered the god of witches around here. When they refused to help deal with outlaws, they were condemned." Sitri watched Ana as she picked up pieces of the ruins and studied them.

"And they was right to do so. We do not fight against others humans. It is considered immoral. We cannot get involved in taking the lives of mortals." Ana then knealt down and started to pray. "Liru, Deliver my sisters to safety. Protect them in the afterlife." She fell silent for a time. Then turning to Sitri. "What happened to my sisters?"

"The temple was surrounded by the locals and the warriors. They set fire to the temple in order to **** the women out into their hands. Most stayed inside and trusted in magic to protect them. The younger ones that did not have enough experience succumb to the flames. Only the elders survived. They and the ones that fled were caught and taken to the village. Given a choice of denouncing Liru and taking a husband to repopulate the village, or..."

Ana looked up. "Or what." Sitri just looked at Ana. It was a look that said that she didn't want to know the answer. "Tell me Sitri. What did they do?"

Sitri sighed. "Those that did not want to denounce were mainly the elders. So they were imprisoned for a few days. What they didn't know as that on the other side of the village a pit was dug, Over the course of the next few days, they trapped wolves and placed them into the pit, **** to starve for a short time. Those that held on to Liru's teachings were fed to them. No matter how strong they were, magic could not overcome hunger. I need not go into further detail.

"That's..." Ana could not find the words. She wept for her sisters.

"Yes. As a consequence, strangers are usually **** to prove their intentions and given little or no trust. Most traders will not come here anymore and the villagers now take what they want in military occupation. Now we must leave before we are discovered." They left the ruins before they found the road back on the other side of the village. Soon, night was starting to draw close and it was time to rest. Still they had plenty of deer meat with them and ate close to their fill.

"Desert may be in order. Save the rest of the meat for tomorrow. There is plenty of fruit in the trees for us to forage." Sitri used his strength to jump into the nearest tree and took some apples from the branch nearest to him. But the effort made him grab his arm first from where he was bitten by the cerberus

From her point of view though, Ana could see everything. His loin cloth didn't hide his modesty from this angle. Ana saw how big he was and silently gasped, "Oh my." She thought. "He's got a horses cock under that garment." She never realised just how much she was aroused by the sight of it. The only male she had been with was Aron, and he was only slightly bigger than the man they took the horse and clothes from. Ana was getting wet from just the sight of it.

Sitri noticed and smirked, not saying a word. Thinking to himself. "Soon Ana. Soon you'll give in want to sample this cock for yourself." When he returned to the ground, He gave Ana some apples to finish of her meal. Then clutching his arm in pain as he did so.

"You're hurt. The bite from that monster has done more damage than you're prepared to admit." Sitri frowned, then submitted. With a nod, he confirmed his discomfort. Ana took off the trousers she had on and ripped them sitting next to him, she dressed the wound on his arm. Sitri watched as she tended to him. "There. It should heal in a few days."

Sitri, for his part, was grateful. "Thank you Ana. You have done a remakable job with your dressing." Ana smiled, for the first time since she was taken, she felt genuinely appreciated. They looked at each other for a short time, before Sitri leant in to kiss her. Stunned by the sudden change in situation. Ana didn't back off straight away. Instead she allowed his lips to linger on hers for a second.

"NO. You are still my captor, I didn't dress your wound because of pity. It was because it was the right thing to do."

Sitri inwardly thought. "Keep telling yourself that Ana."