A Kingdom's Defilement
Chapter 2
By Noobwriter96
Twisting shadows and dancing flames flickered against Anilla's eyelids, forcing her eyes wide awake as a wave of light seared right into her vision. She blinked away the bleariness, trying to orient herself as to what had happened. Then it hit her. Memories of running, hiding and screaming flashed in her mind's eye as she remembered what had become of her.
The ground was what she clearly saw first. She put to bear her legs beneath her and to find what had become of Avicia and Myelle.
Nothing happened.
Her legs didn't budge.
Her recently awakened mind took several more tries before figuring out she was bound. A cold chill gripped her heart. Not only her legs, but her wrists as well. Muscles strained till they ached against her binds as they held true. The only part she could move was her neck, casting about what had been done to her.
She was restrained in a most bizarre and awkward fashion.
Helpless and at the complete mercy of her captors, as she was atop a wooden stock where her lower-half lay bound at the ankles on the contraption while the rest of her torso was bent over in such a manner that she was almost parallel towards the ground. Her hands were bound at the wrist behind her as more ropes held her aloft, stretching into the darkness where their source could not be discerned.
Muffled shouts brought her attention away from her captivity as she tried to crane her neck this way and that to find who was trying to speak to her.
As her eyes become more acquainted with the darkness, certain forms began to take shape amidst the low light. Spears bore into the ground, the unmistakable profile of skulls amidst the dancing flames. As she looked further, her eyes went wide to lay witness as the familiar figure of Avicia came to view.
The yellow-haired young lady was poised and restrained on an apparatus of malicious nature. Her limbs fastened in the four corners of a square device that bound her entire person, as if she was stretched like some meat out for the sun. The flickering of torches all about casted a sinister gloom and the flames reflected on Avicia's eyes as she nodded told Anilla she was well as well can be despite the circumstances. Looming shadows told her of the grim reality that she was still a prisoner along with her friends.
It did not take further for her to spot Myelle, who lay still, aside from the habitual rising of her chest, atop what appears to be a table in the dim light. Her mouth was gagged and her wrists, like Anilla's own, were bound behind her. Another run of rope restrained her at the arms. She must've had another bout of crying fits for the dim light bounced off the almost dried stains of tears on her rich dark skin.
Raucous, guttural laughter disturbed her frightful musings as not far off, the towering forms of their captors was unmistakable. The orcs were partaking to wine and food, celebrating their victory while a swine cooked atop the firepit. Others sharpened wicked blades that made Anilla's stomach do flips at the mere sight of them.
Would they be executed? Or offered to their dark and ravenous gods?
The uncertainty of their fate most of all was torture and Anilla couldn't help but hang her head in defeat.
She need not ponder for long as one by one; the orcs eventually ceased their merrymaking and made their way towards their captives. Anilla's doubts were once more reassessed, for which is more difficult: to wait in anticipation of what might happen or to undergo the cruel experience? Anilla wasn't keen on discovering the answer.
Orcs, since only yesterday, Anilla had but the old tales to about the dangerous race. Brawny and hardy people, they served as among the prime foot soldiers of the Dark Lords of Olde. Their resilient bodies ideal in almost any condition of battle, whatever form they maybe. Taller than the tallest man in their village, towering head and shoulders and possessing of physique that was the envy of any battle-hardened general. As they closed in on the three bound young women, Anilla was only reminded of her own feebleness and how easy it was for them to snap her in half with their bare hands.
They possessed a variety of shades. From stone grey and swamp green to blood red and obsidian black. Almost all had a pair of tusks protruding slightly from their jaws, while others possessed inherent markings that the remainder does not.
Out of the warband, two silhouettes stood out among the rest.
Among these was an orc that bore among his person skulls and bones in excess, in his scarred flesh was tattooed symbols Anilla could not hope to discern. There was an air of fearfulness as the other orcs gave gave way to this supposed mystic.
All stepped back save for one.
He was not the largest orc, nor the fearful looking. But it was in the air he carried himself. He merely stood resolutely on his ground and it was to this orc that the mystic took something from his robes. With great care, he grasped within his person a bundle of fur from some great beast that they must have slain and unfurled it.