“I came here to find you. My Watchers saw what happened at your village. I am offering you shelter for as long as you need it. Would you like to come ahead to Lothua with me?”

It all happened so quickly for her that she did not know what was going on. Everything moved suddenly for her the scenery changing and everyone disappearing around her. There was a stranger taking her away as she had wished, but left with no chance for objections. Before she knew what was happening she was outside again in the open space free from the confinements, but confused. There were many answers that were needed and she did not know where to begin. She did not even know what was happening or going to happen.

Eris waited for her thoughts to catch up to her trying to remember what was happening when everything changed for her. She had been in that place, whatever it was called. The woman had told her that it was a place where the soldiers had gathered and were taking women. The women that were capturing to made to serve the men in whatever capacity they required. It was often cooking and cleaning, things that were done while they men were away.

They acted as though they were all wives, but with even less respect than being joined under the laws of the kingdom. The women had no voice, the only words they could speak were in agreement or else they were hit for insolence. They were told when to sleep and when to eat, if they were allowed. And the men could do anything that they wanted, short of killing them, without repercussion from the leader. In fact, many of them seemed to get a perverse pleasure from beating them at times. Many of the women held bruises or wounds from such incidents. It was all they could to gather themselves and get themselves well. There were some that embraced death as the only exit from the life they were imprisoned.

It had been going on for many years only increasing the number of men when they heard what they would be given. This only gave rise to more depraved men joining and the treatment of the women growing increasingly worse. However, there was no remorse so long as they continued carry out the duties required of them. And the way of life persisted without anyone to prevent them.

Eris feared what was to become of her. She did not think that there would be anyone coming to rescue her and yet someone had. That woman that was helping her before was gone and she did not know what happened to her. She had thought that she was somewhere else in the room with the rest of the women hidden from her view. However, as she had searched the entire chamber there was no sight of the woman. The whole room was filled with women, but she had searched and asked about her. She learned quickly that she was the only new woman to arrive. Eris had entered alone.

‘She’s not dead is she? I just meet her, she was going to help me become stronger…but what am I to do now? I’m alone here. There is nothing.’ Eris’ heart tightened hurting her chest forcing her hand up. She had never felt so alone before in such a crowd. It was as though there was just blackness everywhere clawing at her legs to drag her in. Crying was all she was able bringing her legs to the hard stone floor. ‘Brother…help me…help me…please…’

She had been crying for so long that she could not recognize time anymore. The woman she had been speaking to her before interrupted her pulling her sharply out of her emotions. Her face was still flush with tears barely focused to see the woman. Like Eris, she too was dressed similarly, as were all the women. There was little variety in the wardrobe. “There, there calm your heart, child,” the woman said taking a worn cloth to her tears.

“Please…help me. I-I don’t want to be here,” Eris said trembling in the woman’s arms.

“None of us do. I’m sorry for being so harsh before. You’re young and this is probably the first time you’ve been away from your village.” Eris leaned against the woman’s shoulders finding a small comfort to calm her shaking body. It eased her, but she still was trembling softly. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen my daughter…”

“Y-you have a daughter?”

“So surprised? Yes, though I haven’t seen her in five years. Younger than you, but still its been so long since I could hold her.”

“Mother…” Eris said softly forgetting where she was for a moment. Her thoughts drifted backwards to Ithure. She could remember she was only a child running to meet her mother coming back from fields each night. Each night she could see her coming up the road and run out of the fence where she was playing to meet her. Her mother would kneel down and pick her up holding her tightly taking her back home. It was warm and safe, the rest of the world melted away to nothing. She could fall asleep in her arms.

“Irith…”

They were interrupted by the doors opening and dispersing the women as two men came into the chambers. Most of the women found a place to sit looking away from the men coming in looking around. Each of them knew what to do and just remained waiting to see what happened. However, Eris stayed with the woman near her holding on to her hand tightly. The two men looked around as though they were buying something and judging each for their quality. Eventually, they came to Eris with their eyes shining as though catching eye of a precious jewel.

“Heard we ‘ad a new one, she needs to be broke in,” he said with a perverse grin.

“She’s too young for me.”

“Ya donn’ know what ya missing,” the man said reaching down to grab Eris by the arm.

“Experience is better than youth.”

“Tch, whatever.” He pulled at Eris pulling her up off her feet quickly without effort. There was a foul taste of liquor on his breath making her ill immediately. She tried to fight him, but was out of reach and restrained before she could manage resistance. The man began to drag her off when the woman spoke up.

“Wait!” she said rushing up to the man as the other was already leaving with someone that he found.

“Outta way, woman!” The man lifted his free arm up to slap her away, but paused as the woman spoke once more.

“Wait, wouldn’t you prefer someone else? Maybe more in the mood.”

“I’m not in’nerested.”

“Someone with more experience, make it more enjoyable.” The woman walked around the man lightly running her hand around his body to tempt him. “She’s young, but no stamina. Don’t you want more?” She continued around him working in earnest to get his attention.

“Well…she is a lil’ small, don’ wanna break her.”

“Right, right…” she said returning to the front of the man and releasing Eris from his grip. “Quickly, dear,” she whispered to her.

“But why…” That was the last she had seen of the woman. It was a few hours later that she was rescued and brought before the woman that had done it all. She had seen her vaguely kill all of those men that had taken her. Her mind had not been aware at the moment it happened, but now it was completely awake. She knew what had become of them feeling sick from the images that it brought to her. The sight was horrible, even though they all deserve what happened to them. Eris could not let herself so easily accept their deaths as necessary. So many had died, like at her village. She did not want to see it again.

“You killed them…all…” Those were the first words out of her mouth to the woman who had offered her shelter. “How could just kill them like that? T-they…they were people…just like you and me. They were…” Eris was caught up in her conflicted thoughts. It was her immediate reaction to say it, even though she was having second thoughts about it. “What right did you have?!” She collapsed to the ground trying to understand why she was so upset by it. ‘Why am I defending them? They wanted to…to…’

It was then that images of the dead villagers from Ithure appeared to her. Everyone that she knew haunted her mind chasing her down wanting to be remembered, avenged. They would not leave her to peace and those that the woman just killed echoed in her thoughts. All she could see was blood pouring out of them all filling the ground until the grass was hidden under a thick pool of crimson liquid. It soaked through her clothes clawing at her digging through her skin until it burned through her veins.

“Please stop!!” she shouted through her illusion shattering it to pieces and bringing her back to reality. Eris breathed heavily on the ground trying to recover her body. As she pulled herself back up the woman was still looking at her as though waiting for an answer still to the question left unanswered. “I…I-I don’t want to see anymore death. Please stop killing…please! The blood is covering us all…no more blood…no more…” Eris’ breathing was increasing again in panic unable to release the red color from her vision.
‘I was so certain before…revenge…but I can’t…I couldn’t…’


“No more…”