Not Very Helpful

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

The day had been uneventful, to say the least. Vaughn was returning from some time spent at a nearby tavern. Unfortunately, his interest there had been short lived. Instead he decided to venture further into the woods, away from the village where the small tavern was located. It was there that he learned he was in Escetia. At least that gave him some sense of direction, even if he had no destination set in mind. Vaughn was not sure how long he had been moving for. What he did know was that when he left the tavern it had been afternoon, and now the sun was in the middle of setting. With that realization, he finally paused at a clearing, looking around to make sure that no one else was around. Not because he was worried about the dangers that lurked about. But because he did not want to be disturbed.

When he seemed to be the only one, he seated himself on the ground, leaning his back against a tree trunk. He kept his two swords strapped to his back, as he never took them off. Once he made one more adjustment he closed his eyes, prepared to catch a few hours of sleep. He had not fully drifted before hearing the rustling of some leaves nearby. It sounded like a person. Most definitely a person. And who ever it was, they were moving rather quickly.

[Tag Yassia]

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

She was running. Wildly, blindly, without any direction, without any sense. Just one thought dominated her mind: away, away, away from this man, away from his castle, away from this country. Yassia couldn’t seem to run fast enough. The air in her lungs was stinging, her heart was hammering against her ribcage, she didn’t even realize she was sobbing underneath all that gasping and panting. Thorny branches had teared at her cloak and scraped her bare arms, but she didn’t feel the pain. Yet. How long she had been running she didn’t know either, and only slowly reason caught up with her galloping spirit. Where was she going? Was this even the right way to Camelot? Or was she running in circles, just waiting for another patrol to take hold of her, taking her back to where she had been fleeing from? Oh, how this wretched King would love that! Yassia could almost hear his scornful, teasing voice inside her head. ‘Long time no see, Princess. Were you trying to cross the border again? Naughty, naughty…’

Suddenly the trees thinned out and the fugitive princess stepped into a clearing, doubling over when sudden pain flamed up in her left side. Warily she scanned the surroundings and jolted when she saw a male figure leaning against a tree trunk, his eyes still closed, but fully armed. Was that another trap? Was he one of Cenred’s men? But then again, those lot where always moving around in packs and there was no one else in sight. On the contrary, maybe this man could even help her? If he travelled on his own, he might at least have some sense of direction.
Yes, she decided after a long moment of hestitation, she could not risk running around in circles any longer, she had to find the fastest way towards Camelot, if only to leave Cenred behind as thoroughly as possible. So she approached the man and cleared her throat. “Excuse me… Sir. Sorry to disturb you, but I wondered if you could maybe help me?” Her voice was still quivering far more than she would have liked. Too much had happened lately to spurn her trust in menfolk.

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn kept his eyes closed, even when he felt the presence of someone. Someone that he did not know was a woman until he heard her speak. She was asking for help. Hmm. Interesting. He kept his eyes closed for a prolonged moment before opening them, one at a time. He looked at her. She was injured, and clearly disheveled. Yet Vaughn made no attempt to get up. In fact, he was rather casual despite the distressed woman in front of him. Instead of leaping to his feet out of concern and compassion, his eyes surveyed her body, starting from her eyes and slowly making their way downwards, pausing in certain feminine areas before his gaze re-focused on her face. Yes. She seemed to be a mess, yet there was a strong underlying beauty about her, and she did not seem like an ordinary peasant.

Vaughn finally rose to his feet, taking only a couple of steps towards her, maintaining a significant distance. "How can I be of assistance to such a fair maiden as yourself?" He asked. Vaughn cared nothing for her, but he would pretend to for now, even if the sole purpose was to deceive and extract information about her. Something about her intrigued him and right now, with her presence, he could think of far more entertaining ways to spend the night other than sleeping.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

When this man looked at her, Yassia had a hard time not to flinch. Was she imagining it or was there a leer in his gaze? The fear of maybe coming straight out of the frying pan and right into the fire closed of her throat and chest, making it hard to breathe for a moment, but she forced it down. Now was not a good time to panic! She was probably simply overreacting, not every man you came across was a villain. Why she felt like the rabbit before the snake, was because she still hadn’t quite shaken off her encounter with king Cenred. After that, everyone who so much as looked at her might be considered a threat. All she needed was to get out of his reach soon, and then she would feel more at ease. Odd how one bad experience could spurn your trust in all mankind, if only for a short time.
At least he seemed to remember some of his manners, however late they kicked in. He sounded almost chivalrous when he called her ‘fair maiden’, though the concerned and kind expression never reached his eyes. The question now was not if she could trust him, that she would decide later, it was a matter of turning around and starting to run again or stay and stand her ground. Who knew… running might not be that good an option right now, she was tired and she didn’t like to be chased, it might trigger some unknown hunter instinct in the man even if he had no relation to her whatsoever. He kept his distance for now, which was a bonus. Yassia was very delicate about her personal space right now.
“I…” she started and broke of, inwardly slapping herself for still sounding so vulnerable. Courtenance! She was of royal blood! Squaring her shoulders she tried again. “I lost my way, Sir, the fastest way to Camelot. Can you maybe give me the direction?”

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Lost. Sir. Camelot. Oh this was going to be very fun. Vaughn was no gentleman. He was not about to help her in any way. He had to wonder what she was running from. For if he waited for it to catch up to her, would that prove to be more beneficial than actually helping her? Hmm. It was a tough decision to make. He would first try to ask as much as he could about what had forced her into her current predicament. He took one more step forward, still leaving a decent amount of space between them. "It will be dark soon. Are you certain it is wise for a woman of such exemplary beauty to be wandering in the night on her own." Vaughn did not ask because he cared. It was easy to make it sound like he was actually concerned about her safety.

By reminding her of the dangers that lurked within the woods, even more so at night, well, if this woman had any common sense then she would not be too ready to dismiss them. Then again, people did all sort of unpredictable things. Including him. "I assume someone is after you," he stated nonchalantly. He did not over display any concern, but his statement called for a further explanation that only she could provide since she was the one running from something, or someone. And whatever it was, had done quite a bit to her already.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

He was still flattering her, and somehow the flattery didn’t sound so harmless coming from him, but then again, Yassia might only be bias by his looks, so dark, almost menacing, and from previous experience. Was that true caring he showed? He was more than right, night was drawing in fast and she had nowhere to go, as she didn’t know where exactly she was. There could be a village just beyond that clearing, but she also could be stranded in the middle of nowhere. Yassia hoped the man would know, that’s what she needed him for, information, not self-evident advice.
But she kept her calm, nodding to his statement, then shrugging. “I know it’s not the best thing on earth, but what am I supposed to do? I slept out in the open many times over, and now I will have to do so again. The woods don’t scare me!”
Only what lies there within…

Of course he would want to know now. Yassia in his place probably would have been as curious, if not even more. But what could she tell him? If she said she was a fugitive from Cenred, how would he react? Given, Cenred knew she was on the run out there, but if this man belonged to him, who knew if he might not simply drag her back there? Could she take that risk?
In the end she decided to keep it as vague as possible, without being too dismissive, as she still wanted to remain on his good side. “I’m… running from a cruel man who held me captive though I did nothing wrong. Now I need to cross the border to Camelot as soon as possible, or I’ll be in much trouble.”
She tried to shrug it off, smiling uneasily. “Trouble like this seems to find me, you know. But maybe good fortune is finally shining down on me if you can help me get away from here.”

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn suppressed laughter after hearing her first few words. He was assuming her question as a rhetorical one. So she had been roughing it, here in the woods for so long. Poor thing. Not really. Vaughn could care less if the men came right now and took her away once again. But perhaps somehow, he could use this situation to his advantage. He would require more information before making that assessment. Her bold statement of not being afraid of the woods, well, Vaughn once again had to refrain from laughing. Clearly, something had rattled her. It was overly bold statements like that which he found truly pathetic. He did not make this known yet. He instead, continued to listening to what she was saying.

Ah. A claim of innocence. Clearly, she must have done something to have struck an interest in her captor. "What kind of cruel man? I can not imagine anyone wanting to harm a woman such as yourself." He was trying to find out more details of her situation. If the man who was after her was desperate enough to once again have the woman in her clutches, then perhaps Vaughn could get a hefty price for her exchange. If not, then, he would have to find another suitable reward. Or just ignore her completely. He comment about her finding him having been good fortune, was the most amusing remark out of them all. At this, he did chuckle, though did his best to make it sound less, sinister. Less so than his normal laughter. "I will do whatever I can." Not. "Start from the beginning, for in order to help you, I must know your situation in its entirety." There. He could not have asked more bluntly than that.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Yassia was not liking this. No, not at all. Should she really prolong the talk with this man, risk to get caught again all for the sake of a ‘maybe’ in help? Why was he keeping his cool so unnervingly strong? It might not be his business alright, but then why didn’t he tell her off straight into her face, telling her she would not get any help from him? What sort of a game was he playing?! Or was she simply too anxious to get away and it made her too edgy? It might seem to her an awfully long time had passed already, but it might not be so. Still, there was the fact of him asking too many nosy questions – or too obvious ones!
“Believe me, Sir, if I knew that I probably wouldn’t be standing here. I guess it’s simply in his nature to harass peaceful travelers like me… But there is nothing I can do about it except running away as fast as I can.”

Why was he laughing? Yassia dearly hoped it was a sign of goodwill, though a tiny voice in her head was more than sceptical. Why did he have to ask so many questions?! He hadn’t answered a single one of her own, though it would have been so easy to do so. Instead, he really seemed to want to know who the man was that had held her in unjust custody. What if he was one of Cenred’s men? Could she take that risk? What should she say to him, now that her try to remain vague had been spoilt by his pressing questions. Should she just turn around and go? Oh why did she have to feel so helpless all the time?! Curse King Cenred for taking her hostage and delaying her journey, sending her stranded in his own wretched kingdom. Curse Mircea for apparently drowning in a high sea storm and leaving her to fend alone in such situations. Curse her uncle Guifré for being the tirà he was, forcing her out of her country. Curse her father for dying an untimely death… Curse Raoul to die even earlier… oh there were lots of people Yassia would like to hold responsible for her own misery – only that it wouldn’t help her in the slightest right now.

“How can I trust you, Sir?” she forced herself to answer in a very cagey and careful reply. “If I told you his name it might be revealed you are working for him and then I would be even worse of. I made the mistake of revealing my identity too early before, and it got me into just this situation I am running from now. Please, can’t you just tell me if you know in what direction I must carry on to reach the border to Camelot? I beg you, Sir, I’m desperate!”
Yes, that she really was, otherwise her pride would have never allowed her to speak such degrading words in front of a man of unknown status.

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Their conversation may seem like it was going in circles. But Vaughn was getting a great deal of information. While his questions were not being answered, he was studying her carefully. He had not believed it when she told him that she was simply a peaceful traveler. And this doubt had been confirmed when she went on to say that she had revealed her identity too early before. Which meant, that she was someone of more importance than she was letting on. These possibilities could not be so easily narrowed down. It could entail a wide range of things. But she had managed to peak Vaughn's curiosity. The more a person talked, the more you could get from them.

"If you believe I am working for them, then why do you ask me what direction Camelot is in. You expressed your doubt in trusting me. Why trust my answer?" It was understandable; common even, for a woman, not to trust a male stranger. Yet, if that were the case, why would she trust in his answer to her question? She asked it enough times, seeming desperate, admitting to being desperate. Would she really believe him if he pointed her in a direction? "Seems we have reached an impass," he said with slight amusement. He was not going to tell her answers; if she was not going to tell him. Nor was he going to let her out of his sight if the return to her previous captor could prove to be profitable for him. Either way, she was staying right here. Only she did not know it yet.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

It was official now: She didn’t like this man, whom she didn’t even know the name of. There was just something about him she didn’t trust, this smug air, this total lack of compassion. He seemed more amused than anything, just like he owned the world and everything else was beneath him. She should not even have begun to talk with him! Alas, fact also was she needed him. Yassia was fairly sure she had been running in circles a few times out of sheer panic, and now she was lost. The sky was dull so no sun to use for direction, and of course no stars as well, even if night was drawing in close now. Did this man even know where she had to go, or did he just rejoice in delaying her out of sheer malice?
What to do… what to do?

His first question confused her. Wasn’t it obvious what she was talking about? But then again, she could not trust him to read her mind, right? It was far too complex for herself most times, she couldn’t expect anyone else to understand her way of thinking.
“It’s simple, isn’t it? As long as I’m just any traveler to you, you have no reason to mislead me. There is nothing in it for you, so why should you?”
Now, she realized, she had pretty much brought this on herself. With all that cryptic talk, even a brain-impaired mule had to get suspicious! And whatever he was, brain-impaired surely not… mule however covered it very well… stubbornness and all…

What he said put it right into a perfect little nutshell: An impass. How she hated impasses. They were so hard to get out of for starters. Not manageable without losing ground, and as she had precious little ground left, she didn’t like the prospect of losing even more at all!
What could Yassia rather afford to tell him? Her own name or that of Cenred? Hm… Seeing as she was in his kingdom and supposedly everyone around here knew of his fearsome reputation, it was not a hard guess anyway…
“Alright, Mr. Jackanapes, if you really have to know: The man’s name is Cenred. What do I get in return?” she finished sarcastically. It might be all a game for him, but for her it surely was not!

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn could not help but chuckle this time at her apparent logic. "Now that is where you are wrong," he began to say, walking closer towards her. Now, he was standing directly in front of the young woman, clearly in her personal space. He lowered his head a bit, leaning forward so that his words would be directly spoken in her ear as his eyes looked off to the side, at the vacant distance. "I do not need a reason to do anything." He could give her the wrong directions, or the right ones. Neither made a difference to him. But this certainly was more interesting than just a casual run in with a woman. She was running from something, from someone, and Vaughn awaited to hear further details of it. And it seemed he would not have to be waiting long. He heard the name Cenred, and it gave some answers yet begged for so many more questions.

He took a few steps back as the word registered in his mind. He did not know the man personally, but most knew of King Cenred and his reputation as a cruel king. So now it made sense; as to why she was so afraid while she ran. She was running from him. Vaughn allowed his true nature to slowly become known, as if a semblance of it had not already been revealed by the close proximity he had put himself in to her. "I would ask what business he would have with a young female traveler, but knowing it was Cenred, explains it enough." Meaning, perhaps he was using her for whatever pleasures he liked. Vaughn did not know that much about him. But he would not put it past the king. He did not put anything past anyone. Now, he laughed when she asked what she got in return. This question, though sarcastically asked, caused great amusement in him. For even such a thing as to him owing her something could be suggested.

"You should not ask such trivial questions," he said, still chuckling at her words. "For you really should be questioning, what it is that I want in return." In return for his silence; in return for his aid. As she surely knew, he was not the kind of man to do something for nothing. What fun would there be in helping this damsel in distress be on her way? None whatsoever. So he made sure to stand in front of her, blocking any passage. "I'm waiting," he said tauntingly, wanting her to ask him for there were so many answers he could give in return. "Unless you want me to call for them to come now and take you back to your captor." Which by all means, he would do. Just to see the fear in her eyes when getting dragged back to her abductor. Now how was that not amusing.

[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Sweet Stars, how stupid she had been! By even so much as stopping, Yassia seemed to have sealed her fate. Now she had trapped herself in a conversation which seemed to turn more dangerous and wrong by the second. What did this man want with her?
Surpressing a shudder, Yassia took a step back when he invaded her personal space so brutally and yet slowly, deliberately… predatory almost. Was that was she was to him? A prey to be slowly encircled, like with a pack of wolves? Just that he was a lone wolf, but that did make him any less dangerous. On the contrary, Yassia knew enough about the animal world to know that the lone wolves often were the most to fear. Because they were desperate, and they were cunning.
“Is that so?” she commented, trying to hide the upflaming of fear. “Just be careful, this policy might get you hurt one day.”

Bold words indeed, and Yassia knew herself how hollow they sounded, how very unthreatening indeed. What could she hold against him? By stopping and asking him for help she had practically asked for even more trouble. It was just her luck, really! At least he had stepped back now, it allowed Yassia to breathe more freely at once. Though his words were not made to keep up this little reprieve. They rather made memories return to her mind, thoughts and pictures she had shut away firmly to deal with later, if anytime at all. Memories of Cenred’s smirks, his suggestive comments, and the danger she had always felt around him. Now with this man she felt the same and it made her feet want to start running again, as fast as they could.
But her path was blocked. By him, this towering dark man with a most unsettling presence.

“What you want in return?” she asked, incredulous and put as much regal aloofness in her voice as she possibly could. It was not hard, as the comment sounded just ridiculous to her ears, even if she knew he was deadly serious. “Who are you to demand anything from me?”
But deep inside, Yassia knew she had already lost this game before she even started to play it. He was right, he had the upper hand. Curse her for ever telling him her captor’s name! He had extricated enough information from her to now openly blackmail her, and she had been stupid enough to walk in this trap with eyes wide open! Curse her panic! Would she never learn?!
This was now the third male she felt being at his mercy, first Vortigern then Cenred, and now him. Why was fate so cruel to her?! What on earth should she do?

“If you have any honor in you, Sir, you will now let me pass and not hinder me continuing on my way. I will do without your help!”

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

He laughed in amusement at her warning. More mocking than anything. As if he would need advice from her, granted the situation they both were in right now. "My policy is one I have lived by. And you do not see me, running from threats. Running for my very life." Unlike her. No. Nothing ever followed him nor anyone. True, he was deemed a fugitive in some lands, but their jurisdiction and persistence only went so far. And Vaughn would find himself free from followers once more. "What policy do you live by that you feel is so much better? For by all means, offer it to me. As it seems to be working so successfully, considering your current situation." He was of course, making fun of her. Of where her path had led. First to Cenred, and now conveniently to him. Such an unfortunate encounter indeed...for her.

Her next couple questions asked only within a few moments of themselves, made Vaughn all the more entertained. Where he saw someone grow angry, he found humor. It was especially delightful to see someone like her, so desperate to gain passage and aid from her pursuers...only to be massively disappointed in the end. "Ironic. I was going to ask you the same thing," he stated when she asked him who he was to make demands of her. She had not demanded an answer from him but she had indeed asked him a question, even if it was something as innocent as directions. "What makes you exempt from such demands?" He asked, not annoyed by her remark, but rather curious. Was she of higher 'rank'...from wherever she was from? "For I see two travelers, on the same road. Able to ask whatever they will of each other. Especially when one would benefit from it." Mostly him. But it could work both ways if she got what she wanted, by...giving him whatever he asked for. Which he had a strong feeling she would not be willing to do.

As she continued to speak, he took a few steps around her, clasping his hands behind his back. Circling her, as a predator did its prey. Honor. Now that was laughable. He paused right behind her once again, standing far too close for her liking. But much to his own liking. He lowered his head due to their height difference. "Unfortunately for you, I have no honor." It was true, she could pass without his help, but he was not about to make this any easier for her. Taking a small step back he grabbed her arm, and raised his voice to a level so that anyone surrounding them could hear it. "I have her here!" Surely, Cenred's men were not lagging too far behind, and would clue in to the hint that Vaughn had given as to her whereabouts.

[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Yassia did not like to be mocked. Not liking perhaps even was the understatement of the year. It made her feared temper flame up, but she had still enough sense to realize losing it right here and now would not do any good. On the contrary, it could become even more dangerous than this encounter already had turned out to be. She would have liked to scratch this man’s eyes out, truly, but in the end, she only hissed:
”If you had ANY idea who you are dealing with here, you would not risk such a big gob as you do right now!” The very next second she would have liked to slap herself, hard, for her obvious stupidity. Now she had done it, opened up a field of investigation that could only lead to her inevitable downfall. He was a smart man… he would figure out somehow that she was someone of importance. And importance meant leverage, no matter in what country.
She might just have signed her own death warrant, congratulations, Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha who would have so much liked to become queen…

Now she had to tread very carefully. Her next answer was evasive for this very reason. The old Yassia would have proudly given her title and demanded the respect she deserved. But the new Yassia had seen too many misfortunes coming out of her inherited boldness. Sadly it did not make her shut up when she needed to, but it at least prevented certain words from leaving her mouth all too eagerly.
”And what I see is a man without so much as a hint of concern or pity who takes advantage of an innocent maidens’ misfortune for his own gain – whatever that may be. Maybe you just like to harass people”, she replied sharply, but cast nervous glances over her shoulder. She was clearly running out of time, her head start had not been massive, even though she had managed to slip out in the middle of the night. But her pursuers were sure to be mounted where she only could rely on her two swift feet.

And the situation became worse with every second. Now the man started to circle her as if he had read her innermost thoughts. Yassia didn’t even want to know what was on his mind, and she took in a sharp breath as he suddenly was so close. Her hand involuntarily darted towards the place where her dagger once had been. But of course Cenred had not been stupid enough to leave her armed – at least he didn’t know about the little blade tucked away in her left boot. She had a feeling she might need to use it soon.
That he had no honor whatsoever didn’t need much more confirmation, but the blunt and nonchalant confession shocked her still. And then he gripped her arm. An indignantly hissed: “Get off me!” was all she got out before he raised his voice and alarmed the men that were sure to roam somwhere in the distance. It was the only loud sound within miles, there was no way this couldn’t have been heard. And truly, just a second later a male voice shouted back in the distance: “This way!”

Even though she knew it was far too late, Yassia whirled around and impulsively raised her free hand to cover her captors mouth in a desperate attempt to silence him, her eyes wide with shock and fear. Fear of what was now sure to follow. “No, don’t! Be quiet… please!”

[Vaughn Adeney]

And there it was. Though she had not given full specifics, it was clear to tell that she was someone of importance. Correction; she was someone who believed that she was of importance. To Vaughn, everyone was the same. But to her, clearly she felt entitled to more respect. "And who may that be?" He asked, as if he was humoring her a little. He found this rather humorous actually. If she was some sort or royal or noblewoman then this most certainly was not the life she was used to. "For I all I see in front of me is a woman who is on the run; who should be trying to get on the good side of her only possibility for aid." Meaning him. But of course there was a bit of a contradiction in these words. For when she had first asked him for his aid, she had done so politely. Now, he expected anything but. Of course, that did not mean he would pass by the opportunity to gloat about such a thing.

Her next words were indeed meant to insult; but to Vaughn, they were true. He would not admit to being something he was not. He would gladly confess all his negative traits. For that was the man he was, the one he remained to be, and the one he would continue to be: the man that he always would be. "Good," he said with a condescending approval and a pleased smile. "Then it means your perception is not entirely skewed." Because, he was a man without so much as a hint of concern or pity; one who takes advantage of an innocent maiden; one who liked to harass people. "I deny nothing that you say," he added, just for a further hint of an attempt to annoy her, wondering if she had tried to make him feel bad. A man with no moral conscience did not grow discouraged by these words. Nor did he take them as a sign and strive to be a better person.

"And out of the two of us, I am the far more honest one. For I am not pretending to be something I am not." Whoever she was, she had made it known that she was not just a simple lower class traveler. She was something higher than this rank. And yet, by withholding her name to this point, she was pretending to be otherwise. It was actually quiet an amusing thing, to go from her telling him off to then pleading to him to not call for the others. How quickly circumstances change, altering a person's nature to better benefit them in such a predicament. Though she covered his mouth, he was smiling. And he was fairly certain that this emotion shone through his eyes with that hint of the humor he found in this situation. He could not speak right away and so winked at her. Before forcefully turning his head to the side so that he could give voice to his thoughts.

"Now you beg?" He asked, obviously exaggerating her plea to a beg. He gave her that 'tsk tsk' look as he shook his head. "A piece of advice to you; do not insult the man who soon find yourself asking favor from." Favor, to be quiet. Which Vaughn was obviously not going to do. He heard the men growing closer, and gripping her arm even tighter, he leered at her, that pleased smile on his lips becoming far more pleased. "You have but a few moments left to convince me why I should help you. What my reward entails." What she would give him in exchange for his 'help'. Which really, was not help at all if he had something greater to benefit for in the end. He did not favors for free for anyone. There had to be something in it for him. This was how one gets by in life. Not by just succumbing to the desperate plea of a damsel.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

He had taken on it like she had expected him to. That further confirmed her notion of him, that he was cunning to the brink of devious, all too ready to exploit any opportunity that might come his way, and with a brain to match such ambitions. Yassia did not even know his name, but she already knew that whoever he was, he was a powerful ally or a horrible foe. And to her he had proven to be the latter. In a way, he reminded her of Vortigern, and that didn’t make it any easier. But where Vortigern still had held up some royal standards even though his heart was rotten through and through with his lust for war and power, Yassia had a feeling that she now was dealing with something even worse. A man without so much as the hint of a conscience, who would only laugh honor and right in the face, if he even recognized it at all. It was just her luck, truly!
He asked now further who she was, teasing her claimed importance to provoke a reaction, but Yassia would not do him the favor. She was already in enough trouble as it was.
”I might have been stupid enough to ever stop and ask you for help, Sir”, she hissed and glared at him. “But I am by no means stupid enough to dig my grave deeper. Who I am does not concern you, and that’s the end of it.”

His open approval of her cruel words did not surprise her, but they discouraged her. For deep inside she had still hoped to trigger another reaction, to get a tiny spark of good out in him, but now she saw there was none. And she should get on this man’s ‘good side’? It was rather getting dragged to his completely BAD side, was it not? And she could not bring herself to do that. It was unthinkable! She might have lived a sheltered life, but by now she had learned the meaning of a leer, and it filled her with dread and anger alike. How dare he indeed?!
”Honest?!” she spat the word out and let go a bitter laugh. “That you even dare to use this word! Honesty might be a virtue, but in your case it is nothing but a monstrosity! Like you are!”
Alright, now she slowly had found her anger again, but that didn’t necessarily mean a good thing. In the end, it all came down to this: She needed to get away and he was the only obstacle between her and freedom. The path of friendliness had been thoroughly blocked by now, but it had not been her chosing. But fighting against him? She’d be a fool even to try!

She could hear them getting closer, even though they still were a little further away. The thought of what would await her when they found her sent chills down her spine. Oh no, Cenred would not be pleased. He would make her pay for her disobedience this time, and dearly. Three days without food was a light punishment compared to anything he might have on his cruel mind. And just too bad that the prospects right before her didn’t seem much rosier. Another shudder ran down her spine when she looked up into the man’s face, seeing the confidence of imminent victory flaming up in his eyes. Either way he would win, for Cenred might reward him nicely for his aid in her capture.
And her time was running out…

His words made her shiver with repulsion, and for a moment she really couldn’t decide. There was it, the choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. Though who was the devil, Cenred or him, was hard to tell. She winced at another shout, seeming so much closer now, and then she took a deep breath. Beggars were no chosers, wasn’t that the old saying?
”What do you want?” she asked him, fighting hard to keep her voice from quivering. “Keep me out of their hands and you’ll get it. Look at it that way: If they take me away, I’ll be gone from your grasp, and you might get a reward but with Cenred you never know. He might just kill you as a thank you. However, if they don’t get me…”
She let that sentence hang there in the air between them, everything in her tightening up into one sickening knot that made her want to throw up. First things first, she told herself. You’ll deal with him later, now only use him as your tool…

[Vaughn Adeney]

Hmm. Vaughn was a bit more curious now. It was not that he cared about who she was and how she had gotten herself in this state. He was trying to think of how he could use whatever rank she had to his advantage. That was after all, the motive for all his actions. For a man with no conscience otherwise, it was quite easy to think of only yourself. It was also why Vaughn was still alive. For it certainly was not due to the lack of people trying to kill him. "You have already dug your grave to the deepest level. Now it is up to you whether you will lie in it." Meaning, the moment she had come to him she had endangered her life far greater than it already was. Because in a way, she was fighting a two front battle. One with him. One with Cenred. Who was the more dangerous combatant? That still had yet to be proven. "You should be trying to give me reason to help you. Not defying me questions."

It was not really about defiance; it was just about him rubbing it in her face that she needed his 'help'. Vaughn honestly did not care if people did not answer his questions. Since he never offered any answers in return. Especially when it came to his background. Sometimes, not even a name. "Nor deciding when it is the end of our conversation." Just because he had to gloat a little bit more. And there she was insulting him again. Vaughn laughed at her criticism. Feisty little fireball wasn't she. "Sticks and stones," he said mockingly, obviously not insulted. He had been called far worse. And for him, such words were often taken as a compliment. And then came that question. That open ended question that begged for so many possible answers. So much potential. Sometimes Vaughn did not even know how to answer it because so much could be asked for. He did not fear Cenred, nor did he fear death.

Nor did he believe she was just going to give him whatever he wanted. Once the men were gone, she could make a run for it far easier. And Vaughn would have lost that edge. Perhaps he should scare her a bit more. Keeping one hand gripping her arm, he brought his other hand up to her face. He tucked back a few loose locks of her hair, before grazing her cheek with the back of his hand. Just to see her reaction. Just to see how serious she was. He cocked his head to the side a bit, giving the most suggestive look and smile he could. Filled with perversion. He leaned in, as if he was going to force his lips on to hers, but paused mid way. "If they don't get you..." He repeated, wanting her to finish the sentence. He knew time was short, but that was what added to the fun of the moment. For him anyway.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

It was official, she had never quite despised a man quite as much as this one. She didn’t have a name of him, but that didn’t stop her from making up very unpleasant names for him in her own mind, never voicing them of course – better safe than sorry – but the variety was quite refreshing. Probably neither of them were words a lady should ever use even in her imagination, but Yassia couldn’t care less. She would NOT give her name and rank to him, he could wait a lifetime or more for that!
”If I told you it would only help YOU, not me!” she retorted, crossing her arms defiantly. “I can’t see why my name should alter anything in our current situation, or make your more ‘helpful’ than you’re already are.” On the contrary, he would probably do something far less becoming to her personal future! Yassia didn’t know how far the arm of her uncle might stretch, but she had always kept her name to herself in fear of it being recognized, along with the story behind it. You never knew…

And he HAD to rub it in, that he thought himself master of this situation, yes? Annoying didn’t even cover it, and the list of names inside Yassia’s head was adorned with a few more imaginative names. But as he didn’t seem fazed by them, she refrained from hurling them into his face. He probably would only laugh, and Yassie hated being laughed at.
About his expression of ‘sticks and stones’ she furrowed her brows a little, needing a little time to place it correctly. This language, after all, was not her native, and even if her mother had taught her nicely, her accent and such moments usually gave away her foreign roots. Not that it would change anything now. She had gotten the gist that he did not care to be called a monstrosity or probably anything else.

Yassia’s breath caught in her throat when he raised his hand. The gesture that followed was such an intimate one it didn’t belong in these circumstances at all – and he knew that, used it only to scare her. And he did a good job. Panic… it flooded her mind like a surge, washing away all anger and confidence, leaving only raw fear. He hadn’t even started, was only teasing, only suggesting, and yet she felt like she couldn’t even bear as much. She tried to hold his revolting gaze, wanting to show him that she was of royal blood and no one to be messed with, that she could live through whatever he would throw at her, but when his hand grazed her cheek she turned her head away, not brusquely, almost resignated, and the eye contact broke. Helpless… utterly helpless and at his mercy. Nothing much left of proud Princess Yassia right now.
She knew he wanted her to be more concrete, and everything in her screamed not to say anything along that line of what he wanted to hear, but she didn’t have much longer. She could only gamble the highest stakes of her life, and hope for a miracle…

“… then… I am yours… bastardo!” She finished, her voice nearly inaudible, still not looking at him. The last word was a last upflaming of the hate she felt for him, but it wasn’t even voiced with enough vigor to be halfway insulting. It was nothing but the truth. She would be his, unless she’d find a way to flee from his grasp before the worst could happen.