"Can you believe we're being paid This to move this brat?"
"Hey, that little shit is turning out to be more trouble than she's worth. I knew she was the Boss's daughter, but she actually tried to stab me! We're lucky we packed a few bandages, she got my arm good..."
Thalia smiled as best she could around the dirty rag in her mouth. The girl looked like a mess; Her hair was dirty and muddy, her clothes were just as bad and ripped up a bit, and she had quiet a large bruise near her left eye from were she'd been struck after stabbing one of her captors. Honestly... She'd need to have a word with he Father when she escaped about the quality of his men's training. These idiots hadn't searched her, Daughter of the greatest Warlord that Volen has ever seen, for a weapon! And they still didn't search her for spares after she stabbed one of them! Either these guys were rookies, or they underestimated what Thalia was willing to do to escape. Likely both. Thalia would have escaped sooner if these morons didn't put a watch on her after her first stabbing. The very man she'd wounded sat across from her in the back of the small cart, glaring at her. Thalia glared right back, trying with little success to spit out the gag in her mouth. They'd stuck the rag in when they realized her death threats weren't going to stop on their own, but little did they know that she meant every single one. They weren't going to be executed normally, oh no. Her father was going to tear them apart, limb from limb, himself. And Thalia was going to watch and laugh.
The girl was torn from her lovely daydream by a sudden jolt, sending her toppling forward. She growled in to the gag as she hit the wood hard, along with the Mercenary she'd stabbed. The burly, bearded man managed to pick himself up, but Thalia was left laying there, hands and legs bounds with thick rope. The Mercenary stuck his head out the front of the cart,having a conversation Thalia couldn't make out, before he returned and picked her up by her bound arms. Thalia, of course, kicked and screamed in to her gag to be let go immediately, but the scornful man only chuckled, and forcefully tossed her out the back of the cart.
Thalia hit the muddy ground hard, stars dancing in front of her eyes as pain shot through her. Okay, he was going to die slowly, she decided. Thalia looked around as best she could, having to keep one eye closed against the mud she now lay in. They seemed to be out in the middle of a rather large field or clearing. Thalia could see trees a few dozen yards away, and she knew not what lay in the other direction. With a grunt, she managed to force herself in to a sitting position again, and looked back towards the cart. The three mercenaries tasked with transporting her were standing around the back-left wheel, conversing with eachother. From what Thalia could see, it seemed the rain earlier had opened up a sink-hole, and now not only had the wheel broken, but it was sank in to the mud, and would need to be lifted out to be changed.
"What about the brat? We haven't taken her to the drop-off point."
"You're joking, right? We're in the middle of dragon territory, and she's trussed up like an appetizer. I say we just leave her here and head home. Job done."
The Mercenaries all laughed, and Thalia screamed in to her gag again. These lazy, idiotic pieces of filth didn't at least have the decency to do their job right!? They were going to besmirch the good name of the Stonewall Mercenaries! Thalia was going to see each and every one of them skinned alive for such a grievous action to her family's name! But not before her father-
Thalia was knocked forward by a strong gust of wind. She could hear the mercenaries shouting about something, but couldn't make anything out as they were all screaming at once. Soon, she heard heavy, wet footsteps as they ran past the confused, angry girl... But, she didn't complain. This was her chance to escape! Thalia forced herself back in to a sitting position with some difficulty, and reached in to her left boot to withdraw her back-up knife. She could hear the Mercs screaming and cursing behind her, but Thalia ignored them, getting to work on the binds around her wrists. Thankfully, the rope wasn't TOO thick, and it seemed to be aging, so Thalia managed to cut through them without too much trouble. Great, now she just needed t-
Thalia froze as light exploded behind her. No. No, it couldn't be. The girl turned, knife raised, to see the Mercenaries that had captured her were blasted to a crisp. And there, soaring over the fire directly towards her? A dragon. Thalia was stunned for a moment, watching the enormous beast barrel towards her, fire lighting up behind it to make the Dragon look so much more intimidating and fearsome. Thalia eventually managed to remember she was still bound up, and set to work immediately, sawinga way at the ropes binding herlegs like mad. She kept looking up to gauge how close the Dragon was, fear rising in her heart as it rocketed closer and closer. Come on... Come ooon... Come ON!
Thalia immediately jumped to her feat as her legs were freed, knife raised before her. She was ready to fight for her freedom. She was not dying here today! Thalia looked up, tearing the rag from her mouth, just in time to see the Dragon leaping at her, gigantic claw raised to strike her down. Thalia's eyes widened, and the world seemed to slow or a moment. Her body locked up as she watched death come to claim her, that claw swinging through the air. Thalia braced herself for the blow, knowing it wouldn't do much good either way. She took a deep breath, accepting her fate... But, the blow never came. Thalia stared for a moment as the large claw hovered inches from her form, nearly half her size! When the world finally seemed to resume it's normal pace, Thalia raised her dagger, scowling at the Dragon.
"Stand aside, Dragon! I'm not one of those weak little sacrifices! I was wrongfully taken from my home by the men you killed, who were also my prey. Either let me return home, or I will have no choice but to strike you down!"