They stop, and someone makes a break for it.

After what seemed like hours of the wagon rumbling away underneath them, it finally pulled to a halt. No-one among the captives had talked since the decision was made to try and escape. Instead, they sat tensely on the wooden floor waiting for an opportunity. Marcus was kneeling next to the kitchen boy, Josh. He couldn't see anything through the cover over the wagon, but the young prince knew they had to be really far from the castle now, further than he'd ever been in his life before. If he was the one to get away, he just hoped he'd be able to find someone nice to help them!

The cover was pulled away from the door to the cage, one of their captors standing there with a cold sneer. He used the keys in his hand to unlock the grate and pull it open. Marcus tensed up a little, guessing that if there was going to be a chance to escape, it would come soon.

"Out you get." The sneering man grunted. "All of you. One at a time, or we start using these." He waggled the whip in his other hand. Polly was closest to the door, so with a scared little shudder she rose to her feet. Her tattered dress and apron fell from her shoulders, leaving her wearing only a short black skirt and stockings. She blushed furiously, trembling like a leaf. Even though he felt awful for her, Marcus couldn't stop his gaze snapping down to her boobs. They were right there...and so big it was really hard not to look at them. "Fuck, you are a sweetheart, aren't you?" The sneering man leered at her chest. "I'd love to get my cock between those fat titties."

"Don't touch her!" Josh snapped, leaping to his feet so quickly he almost fell flat on his face.

"It's not me you little birdies have to worry about." The sneering man grinned, baring stained teeth. "We don't usually get to handle the goods. Those lucky sods inside though, the trainers, they're going to be using you pretty things every which way."

"What's the hold-up! Get them out already!" Kriss' voice rang out, shrill and angry, from somewhere outside the wagon. The man winced and stepped away, leaving enough space for Polly. The young maid froze, rightfully terrified of stepping out of the covers half-naked. When the whip was brandished at her though, she let out a scared little squeak and stumbled forward, awkwardly jumping out the wagon and landing in the grass just outside.

Slowly, the other captives filtered out the wagon. At the back of the cage, Marcus was able to hang back the longest, aside from the poor boy still bleeding and ****. At last though, everyone else had left and he knew he'd have to move. He didn't want to miss the chance to escape. Biting his lip, the young prince awkwardly rose to his feet and shuffled over to the cage door. Sitting on the end of the wagon, he carefully slipped off the end, his bare feet landing in the cold grass.

His anxious gaze flickered over the other captives, standing in an awkward huddle next to the wagon. A couple of their captors were standing guard to one side, against a high stone wall they seem to have stopped next to. There was an open gate a little way down, made of forbidding iron bars with spikes on top. Marcus didn't know what was waiting inside, but he didn't want to find out either.

Then he realized the pair guarding them didn't seem to be paying much attention. They were talking to each other in low, muffled voices instead, hardly even looking at the huddled group of captives. Jana and Kriss weren't anywhere to be seen, and the rest of their men seemed to be around the other wagon. Was this it? A chance to escape? He bit his lip, his anxious gaze flickering over the empty field ahead of them. A little distance away it gave way to a forest of thick trees. If he got there, he'd be able to hide, right? The young prince tensed up, hesitating for a moment as he wondered if he'd even be able to make it.

There was a blur of movement from beside Marcus, as Dennis suddenly leapt forward, sprinting as hard as he could with his arms still tied behind his back. The groom was fast, pounding away across the grass like the horses he'd looked after. For a moment, Marcus trembled in sheer relief, sure the other boy was going to make it and save them all.

"Dennis, no!" Charity shrieked. "It's a trick!" The groom stumbled at the sound of her voice, almost tripping over his feet. There was a whistling crack, and the groom howled in pain as something thin and black coiled round his muscled arm like a striking snake. A whip, trembling in the air, the other end held tightly by the tall, armored figure of Kriss. Dennis was off balance already, and when she pulled the whip viciously to her he was dragged with it, falling in a heap in the grass. Two of her henchmen darted out from behind her and leapt on him, grabbing a shoulder each and forcing the struggling groom back onto his feet. One lent in and kneed him viciously in the stomach, making him splutter and slump over in their arms.

"A hundred crowns!" Jana crowed, stepping elegantly out onto the grass on her heeled boots. "I knew it'd be the big boy."

"Fuck!" Kriss kicked viciously at the dirt under her feet. "I was sure that snooty bitch would make a play." She glared at Charity, who was still staring in horror at the helpless Dennis.

"It's always the boys, you should have learnt that by now, sister." Jana smirked. "They fight hard at first, but break easy. Too much silly pride. Girls are smart enough to pretend to be obedient. Thus, it takes longer to make them truly submit. Now pay up." She held out her hand. With a muttered curse, her sister pulled a heavy pouch of coins from her belt and thrust it at the elegantly dressed woman. Jana took it with a sultry smile, weighing the bag in her hand. "Thank you sister." She cooed.

"I'm taking every coin out of his hide." Kriss sneered. "Get them all inside the gates, then string him up on the post. Time to make these little shits understand what happens when you really piss me off."