Sineater

The water was real.

Both of my hands were tied up in opposite directions, so that I was strung up inside a small stall, probably in the back of the Drunk Crow since the innkeeper was standing in front of me holding an empty bucket.

“What did you do with her?!?” I pulled against the ropes. Starna was unconscious in the corner with a mage collar on. The collars suppressed magic, rendering a mage powerless as long as they were wearing it. Her hands were also bound behind her, so she wouldn't be able to take off the collar herself.

“Who are you talking about?” The dirty balding man knelt down next to Starna and stroked her face. “This beauty is right here.” He laughed. “I like this look on her. The outfit isn’t right, but I can’t wait to have some fun…” He stood up as someone walked in the room.

It was Karse.

The Manticore walked over to me and punched me in the gut without a word.

“Hey!” The innkeeper marched over to the manticore, who was almost a foot taller than the short man. “I haven’t gotten my reward for him yet!”

The Manticore punched through the man’s chest, then pulled out his heart.

The balding man looked stunned as he fell over.

I shook my head. That was one less person to track down later.

“Can’t let anyone know that the princess ran away can we?” Karse got in my face and punched me in the gut again. “I’m taking her back to Golden City myself. Don’t worry, I have a special transport waiting for you.” He dragged a claw down my chin. “Can’t kill Sineaters when they’d be so useful as a housepet.” He laughed when I tried to bite his finger. “The Elves are going to love breaking you.”

Two guards in golden armor walked into the barn. Karse nodded at them. “They’re all yours.” He dipped his head to me, then was gone.

“We really have to use the poles with this one?” Elf #1 offered a pole with a crook on the end to Elf #2.

“The Manticore said he can kill us with a touch.” Elf #2 took the pole. “I’m not chancing it.”

I couldn’t kill them just by touching them. I could weaken them, but that was only in relation to how tired I was.

“We can do this the easy way.” There was a gleam in Elf #2’s white eyes. “Or the fun way.”

I couldn’t feel my legs and my arms felt like rubber, not to mention my head was trying to spin. On a good day, I could have broken myself out. Today was not a good day.

They led me outside where there was a boxed-in wagon with bars over the windows. I was shoved inside, then had each arm tied to a different wall, so that all I could really do was sit in my seat. Once they were sure I was secure, they went to get Starna and threw her in with me.

“Enjoy the ride!” Elf #1 laughed as he started the carriage moving.

It took about an hour for Starna to wake up.

“Wha..?” The brunette sat up and immediately

“Soup was poisoned. We were captured. Alessa is already on her way back to Golden City.” I summarized the events she’d missed.

“When? What? Huh?” Starna was clearly not awake yet.

“We…” I looked through the bars in the front of the wagon, past the drake that was pulling it. There was a lone figure standing in the middle of the road.

“Get out of the road!” Elf #2 picked up his sword. “Or I’ll…”

He died.

I didn’t see what happened. The Elf was fine one moment, dead the next. Elf #1 fell off the wagon, also dead.

The door to the wagon opened up and Krav stood on the other side.

“Someone need a rescue?” His smile still weirded me out, but I was happy to have it.