A Betrothal (SFFWORLD.com October 17' Flash Entry)
By Mike Pollock
Carmine sat, straight backed and hands cross. She barely moved as the carriage she rode in rocked and bucked over poorly kept cobble. Emotion fought to ruin her stoic façade as they passed further from the brightly lit farmlands at the edge of her homelands and deeper into the Knotted Wood.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Her cousin Marisse exclaimed, hanging nearly halfway out her window as they jostled through country she’d never seen before. A wave of jealousy washed over Carmine but she banished it in an instant.
“Yes, it certainly is.” She replied, returning her attention back to the looming tree line that encroached ever closer as the travelled deeper into the forest.
A sudden jolt rocked through the carriage and a startled Marisse nearly jumped into Carmine’s lap. The sound of men shouting to control their mounts left a nervousness wiggling inside her gut.
“What was that?” The younger girl asked, concern mirrored on her face. Carmine swallowed and set her jaw and she silently closed the wooden shades over both windows.
“The hell if I know, but we must be quiet now.” She whispered, leaning forward to silent flip the thick iron lock.
“Good day sirs.”
The voice belonged to her Guard Captain Daughtry. He was addressing whoever had halted their progress.
“Long way for a Human caravan.” A voice filled with gravel replied. She’d never met a Phenn but she’d heard they sounded like a large man with pneumonia. Spot on, she thought.
“Hardly a caravan,” Daughtry replied, “but better armed, and with written permission to travel these roads signed by Gaad KinCom.”
“Who are they?” Marisse whispered, startling Carmine. She shushed her and returned her attention to the conversation on the road. With a shaking hand she lifted one wooden slat to grant her a view.
Mostly she saw the nervous twitching of a charger’s tail but beyond the beast she caught a glimse of a massive Phenn, one muscled arm stretched tight with blue-grey skin.
“Who’s in the box?” It said, motioning toward the window. Carmine hastily dropped the shade and settle back into her seat.
“The Lady Carmine Hosvale, Betrothed to King Gaad.” She cringed at the saying of her name.
“Ah, the fucking Princess.” It replied, voice dripping with humor. “Yah hear that boys? That’s the Princess in the box. Gift to our dear King Gaad.” A murmur like the rumbling of a rock slide confirmed her suspicions; there were far more Phenn than Human.
She swallowed hard.
There was a muffled shout and the sound of steel ringing as swords were collectively pulled from their scabbards. “To the crown!” She heard Daughtry cry and her men crowded in around the carriage.
The sounds of fighting swarmed and Carmine cringed at each loud meeting of steel against steel. Marisse’s quiet sobbing cut through the sound of dying men crying out for help. As suddenly as the fighting began, it ceased. A crushing silence replaced it.
“Princess.” A gravelly voice called out.
The handle inside the door jiggled then, but the lock held tight. Carmine’s mind raced but there was nowhere to hide.
“Haruk.” The man called out, and the sound of heavy footfalls moved towards them. There was a loud cracking as something pulled at the door before it ripped free with a crash. Standing beyond was a monster of a Phenn, arms stretched overhead as it heaved the door toward a pile of human bodies.
“An unexpected surprise!” A smaller Phenn stepped up to the door. His odor washed over them as hands grabbed and violently pulled them from their seats. Both women cried out as they were deposited in the road.
“Two pretties!” The big one said leaning toward the girls. A heavy slap to his head stopped him cold.
“Back to the line Haruk.” The smaller one commanded.
“Yes, yes Captain Lenkk” He bowed before ambling back to where a dozen or so of the creatures stood, all holding wicked looking weapons covered in gore.
She’d heard whispered stories as a girl of Phenn raiding parties. They said entire border towns disappeared in the early years of the war.
Carmine was supposed to be the gift that ended the wars between their people.
“Please!” She begged, but was answered with a gloved fist to her face. She sprawled heavily, the sound of bones breaking leaving her ears ringing and her nose gushing blood.
“Shut it” Lenkk growled, crouching down to bring his face close to hers. She felt his warm breath wash over her face and smiled despite the pain. Her broken nose spared her its stench. He recoiled, his face a sudden storm of fury as he buried his boot into her side.
Bones cracked and she gasped from the pain. Rolling from the impact she curled and retched, painting the cobblestone with blood and bile. Around her the Phenn cheered.
“Stop!” Marisse exclaimed, putting herself between Carmine and Lenkk. “Leave her be.” Her quivering chin was held high despite the tears that ran down her cheeks. Lenkk’s face shifted from confusion to humor and he let out a deep laugh.
“Who the fuck are you?” He asked, pulling Marisse close by the back of her head.
“Princess Carmine.” She replied, voice wavering.
“And that’s an order, Princess?” He didn’t give her time to answer as he pulled a long dagger from his belt and buried it in her chest. Her eyes bulged and she gasped open mouth before he let her slip to the ground.
“Leave her where they’ll find her, we want that treaty torn up.” He said and turned her attention to Carmine. “And you come with me. After all the little Princess ordered I keep you alive.”
He chuckled as he gagged her and threw her across the back of his horse. She felt darkness press in as her wounds threatened to swallow her and he leaned close again. “If you’re lucky, you’ll live long enough to watch all of your cities burn.”
