【Time】 Night
【Location】 North Pass
【Interactions】 @FunnyGuy EROS
【Equipment】 Magic infused collar | Simple bow | Coin pouch | Various herbal satchels | Simple bone dagger
Cyrene had been given a thin white cotton gown to wear under the poncho that the man had provided at least allowing her some dignity in her situation. However, her feet had already started to become sore from the rough terrain on her bare skin.
Night had drawn as the sun set over the horizon. As the light was swallowed by darkness, like a curtain unveiling the secrets it held, Cyrene's pale skin began to decorate with wispy markings that appeared to the naked eye like tattoos that glowed under the moonlight. As soon as the man had noted her markings, it wasn't long until she was being dragged behind him, hands bound by rope as it chafed against her pale skin.
“I am trying to tell you I am no danger to you, sir. “ Cyrene said between gritted teeth as she pulled hard on the rope, her hands shooting back as she jerked him back with force. “I can’t sing for you…OR anyone!” her tone rose with frustration. “I am as worthless as a one pronged fork.” She sat down quickly on the ground, making her dead weight hard to pull in protest. “I will not be your prisoner,” she stated firmly as she started to chew on the rope around her wrists trying to shred the threads.
Eros had remained silent as he stared over his shoulder at the glowing and pleading siren. In some regard he considered himself fortunate, but his former teachers taught him that the best of things often manifested some form of trouble. He clicked his tongue a few times as he shook his head and turned his body around to face Cyrene.
“Lies won't help you, siren. You gave me three untruths so I shall give you three un-untruths… Truths, yes.” He briefly grimaced at his mistake, shaking it off to keep his expression neutral. “One! You are a danger to everyone and anyone who hears your song. Two! You are a siren. The tattoos have removed any doubt in my mind and everyone knows sirens sing but it won't work on me. Not even a little. Three! A one-pronged fork can be of worth. It can still stab things.” He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Four! Four? Four… Hmm, you told four lies.” He shook his head while clicking his tongue again. “You are my prisoner and that's not much you can do about it. I am as strong as two orcs and as stubborn as the oldest of dwarves! I am Eros and I am your captor, siren!” He took a hard step forward. “Walk or be dragged. Make your choice.”
Cyrenes eyes looked up at Eros as she was mid-bite of the thick rope. Her teeth pressed firmly into the twine as she paused. Her brain was rushing with thoughts in a jumbled mess of anxiety. He didn’t look strong, she had seen much larger creatures and men in her travels. The stubborn part she could possibly believe and clearly Eros enjoyed facts over words.
Standing to her feet Cyrene looked at the man with a kind expression, hoping she could some how break through to him. “This..” She said as her thumbs wrapped up under the solid steel circle collar around her neck, pulling it up off of her collar bone. Eros couldn't help but to be intrigued, even if he wanted to, he couldn't hide it as he leaned in. “It's a collar. Sealed with very powerful magic, magic that only one person can unlock.” She paused hoping the information sunk in. “It blocks me from using my voice. If I try, it zaps me with a powerful blast of magic that causes my entire body to shut down temporarily.” She tried to hide the pain from her face as her hands dropped in front of her. “Yes, I am a Siren but I am not worth anything to you. No one will want a voiceless Siren. Just let me go before you waste more of your time…”
“Hmm… Hmmmm…” Eros began to rub his chin. “You would be worth anything to me if what you claim is true…” He raised an eyebrow. “What if we found this one person and forced him to return your song? Hm?”
Normally she had an answer for everything, but she stood there as her fingers dropped from her collar staring in disbelief. Although he would be doing it for his own selfish gain she could possibly be free of him … If he managed to get the collar removed she could easily use her voice to charm her way out of his capture and finally be free. The idea was so strange of a concept…Freedom.
Playing it cool Cyrene offered him a nod “Yes, although he would be rather hard to find…I've been searching for years. He is the only one with a key.” Elrand… she hadn’t dared to think or speak his name in years, her head still ached from the betrayal he caused her.
“Interesting, but why silence a Siren and leave her? Is that collar a punishment for your crimes? Hmm? And you're searching for him? Hmmmmm.” He pondered for a moment and lightly tugged on the rope. It was clear he wanted her to walk but he was not in the mood to make the demand again. Despite calmness while thinking, he was slowly working up a nerve.
Looking around nervously, her eyes meeting back to Eros. She hadn’t spoken about him in so long, even the thoughts he brought back were causing her more pain then she would let him to believe. “A classic tale of a foolish woman falling in love…” she said somberly. Eros narrowed his eyes at the start of her explanation. A siren falling in love? I’d be a fool too if I fell in love with a plum…
“Like you, he wanted wealth, he just wasn’t so forward about it…” her voice dropped as sadness seemed to envelope her words.
“Hm.”
“Wouldn’t you want your chains removed if they were forced upon you? Yes, I am looking for him but only to rid me of this collar… If you help me find him, convince him to have this removed… then I promise you I will go with you willingly and see to it that you are paid at the end.” She extended her hands out to him in hopes she had convinced him enough to free her. If he did, she could run… or…she could finally rid herself of him.
“Hm.”
“My name is Cyrene…and I swear to you Eros that I will stay true to my word.” she kept silent, her eyes watching his face for any sort of hint that this was working.
“Hm… Ehh… Errgh… Meh…” Eros made faces of discomfort as he grunted until he finally let loose a sigh. And then with a grunt and a turn, Eros pulled Cyrene along. With the pull of the rope Cyrene felt her body catch itself as she walked forcefully behind him, Her mind catching up too what had just happened. “I hate when others don't listen. You were supposed to walk and talk. Not talk and talk. Do you think I will just trust a murderer’s words? Do you believe I need your help with negotiating? Your collar is the penance that man placed upon you. This rope is the penance I place upon you.”
Cyrene let out a frustrated sigh, this man clearly had a thick head and talking wasn’t going to get her anywhere. “I hate when others don’t listen too..” She snapped as the slack of rope lassoed around his body. She may not be the best fighter but she had experience in wrestling deer and other strong creatures into submission. As the roped fell around Eros she pulled tightly, causing his feet to buckle. She quickly wrapped what rope she had left around his ankles. Thinking him secured, Cyrene sat at the end of his feet on the ground attempting to break through the ropes once agian with her teeth. She felt the threads shred under her teeth as fibers began to slowly snap apart.
No one would claim her again. No one.
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