Broken Power

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 5th March 2014
Series: The Price of Power

Characters: Reven, Ehvan, Smokey
Description: Reven is shown that every man can be broken
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 5, day 23 of Turn 7

Reven

"No need to feed him too much. Orders are that when the new minor
holder is named we can kill 'em." Ehvan ordered, watching as his dark
haired companion, Smokey, he had taken to calling him, tossed a strip
of dried meat and a hard biscuit at Reven's feet. Ehvan's nose curled
as he spoke, "Not as fancy as those meals you get _served_ at home,
eh?"

Reven didn't speak, but he did stare down at the food laying in the
dirt just in front
of him. At least today they had him propped so that he was in a
sitting position, his legs were bound and his arms were still pinned
behind his back. He eyed the dried piece of meat. For a moment Reven
contemplated refusing it, out of spite, but he had to be rational. He
knew he needed that food if he planned on surviving long enough to
figure out a way to escape.

He glanced up at the two men and knew that they had no intentions of cutting his
restraints so that he could eat. There was no other choice then.
Leaning forward,
Reven winced as he reached out with his tongue toward the dried meat
on the ground. He was sure he had probably eaten things worse than
dirt in his lfe.

"Oiy 'ee look! Ruttin' aroun' jus' like a hog!" Smokey cackled, a puff
of his pipe smoke curling out of the corners of his mouth.

Reven ignored the taunt, he needed the food. With his mouth to the
ground he managed to work the piece of meat into his mouth. It was
hard, and salty, but there were still nutrients in it and his stomach
churned for more as he chewed and swallowed the meager fare. He ate
the biscut in the same manner.

Pushing himself back, Reven grunted as he collided back with the
earthen wall behind him. Eating had taken more of his strength than he
had imagined. His face was still bruised, his nose swollen and broken
from where he had fallen into the table the night before. They had
taken the blind fold from him, which Reven counted as a curse; there
was no way these two men would let him leave alive, not after seeing
their faces.

>From what little the two men said in front of him Reven had gathered
that someone wanted his position as minor holder of Green Valley. The
thought nearly made Reven laugh since he had never asked for the
position and had only been given it because of his relation to
Namrien. **I would gladly have given it up had they but asked.** Reven
thought with a sigh. Not now though, no, Reven knew that if he ever
got free from his earthen prison he wouldn't rest until he figured out
who had done this to him. He would make them pay.

He thought of Arippa often and wondered what she was doing. Did she
think he was dead? Was someone taking care of her? Had someone
kidnapped her too? Reven didn't think he could bare it if anything
happened to her. Having only been married a short time, Reven felt
that he had fallen head-over-heels for his wife the first time he laid
eyes on her. It had never been like that between him and a woman
before.

As if reading his thoughts, Ehvan spoke, "Bet you are missing your
woman by now, huh?"

Reven's eyes flicked up to Ehvan's.

"I'll take that as a yes. I have seen her before you know," there was
a glint in Ehvan's eyes as he watched Reven's jaw tightened, "oh yes,
a very pretty piece of ass, hm?"

Reven gnashed his teeth together, his eyes glittering darkly.

"Does that make you mad?" Ehvan whispered tauntingly while Smokey chortled.

Reven didn't answer.

"Oh, I bet it does. You've been married to her for few months now,
huh? No heir on the way yet?" Ehvan tsked and shook his head.

"'ee prob'ly don' know what to do wif's a woman!"

Ehvan licked his lips, never breaking eye contact with Reven, "Oh, I
know what to do with a woman. Maybe once we're done here we can stop
back by Green Valley and I'll show her what a real man is capable of."

Reven snarled and lunged forward against his restraints wishing that
he could get his hands on the man. He would rip him limb from limb.
Adrenaline numbed the pain in his arms and shoulders as he fell back
against the wall.

Ehvan tilted his head back and laughed, "Very entertaining! I think I
have a better idea, though, maybe we'll just bring her here and you
can watch!" Smokey joined in with giddy laughter.

"Smokey gets some too?" he asked, a glint in his eyes.

"When I'm finished." Ehvan said.

Unable to reach them Reven tilted his head back and spit, nailing
Ehvan's left boot. The raucous laughter quickly stopped, Ehvan's
obsidian eyes flashing as he looked at the bile sliding down his boot.

"You like to spit do you? You know what I've been thinking, Smokey? My
boots could use a spit shine. It seems our holder here already has
practice."

Reven's jaw clenched as he watched the wheels turning behind Ehvan's cold eyes.

Smokey nodded his head rapidly, "Spit shine, spit shine!"

In one swift motion Ehvan rose and stood over Reven, and the snapped
his fingers at Smokey. The dark little man jumped into action,
grabbing Reven by the back of the head, his grimy hands twisting into
the holder's lengthy blonde hair. "Get to work, holder." Ehvan
commanded.

Smokey shoved Reven's face over Ehvan's boots, despite Reven's
struggle against his hold. Having been bound for days and with little
to eat, Reven found his strength failing him as his face was smashed
against his captor's boots.

"Spit!" Ehvan barked.

Reven pushed his lips firmly together, refusing to give in.

Ehvan took his foot and stomped the side of Reven's face. Reven cried
out in pain, the bruised and broken nose exploding with pain again.
Still he refused to spit.

Pushing Smokey out of the way, Ehvan yanked Reven's face up to his by
his hair, earning another grunt of pain from the holder, "You lick my
boots clean or I swear you will watch me violate your precious wife in
every way known to man!" He snarled.

Reven's scalp felt like it was on fire, but his mind sluggishly
contemplated the man's threat. It was two against one, he was bound,
with not enough food to regather his strength. The odds of escape
were... well... incredibly slim. Would they hold to their word if he
did what they were demanding? He doubted it, but Reven couldn't do
anything, _anything_, that might jeopardize Arippa's safety. Even if
it meant demeaning himself further.

Swallowing the blood he tasted in his mouth, Reven hesitantly lowered
his head, hovering for a moment as he wrestled his pride, and then he
began licking clean Ehvan's boots. Lapping at the polished leather
like a canine.

Ehvan's lip curled, "That's what I thought! All you holders are just
the same. A bunch of pissy little girls underneath all of that pure
blood. I bet we could put that mouth of yours to other uses as well."
Reven cut his eyes sideways at Ehvan, "Nah," Ehvan snatched Reven up
by the hair once more, "we'll save that for your woman." He snarled
and shoved Reven back to the floor before retreating back to his
chair.

Smokey lit another pipe, an amused grin on his haggard face. The two
men seemed to be done with their entertainment for the evening for
Ehvan pulled his dragonpoker deck out of his pocket and began dealing
them cards. Reven lay on his side in the dirt again, each panted
breath sending up little puffs of dust.

As Reven lay there he shut his eyes, blocking out the image of the
dingy little dug out that he was in. Instead he pictured Green Valley
in his mind, the way it look when you crested the ridge coming from
Emerald Falls. The sunlight made the fields and forest behind the
minor hold glitter an emerald in hue. A breeze would be blowing the
trees, making the sunlight dance on the dappled leaves. His workers
would be out in the fields, runner beasts frolicking in the pasture
out beside of the stables.

In his mind he pictured how it was to walk up the stairs and into the
main foyer. He turned to look for her, ah, there she was, Arippa,
coming toward with a smile, her skirt sashaying in a gentle sweep
behind her as she walked. A laugh made his head turn and he could see
Coran coming towards him, leading Relea by the hand, the looks on
their faces telling that they had good news to share.

A laugh from Smokey brought Reven crashing out of the false reality
that he had painted for himself. Tears stung his eyes, but they
remained clenched shut. He told himself that he couldn't give up. He
_would_ see those images again in person. Even as he spoke the words
in his mind, Reven had never felt futher from home.

Last updated on the May 5th 2024

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