Excerpt: In Vocem

"Stay still."

The voice was calm, tinged with a smile, and wholly unnecessary. Rälena's rapid movements of drawing and firing arrows had been brought to a halt when she felt a knife across her throat. Even her breath had slowed to a steady, deep pulse. Quick, staggered breaths would only make her lightheaded and show her enemy her own fear. Never show fear, she reminded herself.

"I want you to listen to me very closely."

All around her she could hear the sounds of war, of movement. Swords clashing against each other, feet running, screams of anger and pride and pain echoing in the night air. But up in her tree, where she was positioned as a lookout and sniper, she and her captor were held in a pocket of stillness and silence, except for his whispers into her ear.

"First, you will drop your weapons."

Rälena did not move. She felt his arm tighten around her chest as he pressed the knife harder against her skin. Uncomfortable, but not quite drawing blood yet. The blessing is also a curse, she intoned mentally. The trees of this forest had many strong branches, perfect for positions like hers--but they also allowed this solider to share her hiding place.

"Drop your weapons!"

His voice was more urgent now, with a slight waver to it, and she felt his hand adjust its hold on the knife. Sweat. Undoubtably from the battle, but he had given her a welcome reminder of her advantage. She knew the trees. He didn't. She wouldn't have much time, but those little indications made her think she might have enough.

"Now!"

Acting quickly, Rälena threw her bow up and backwards, so it flew at the soldier, confusing him. He stumbled backwards, unused to balancing in trees, and his right arm, which held the knife, flew out instinctively to help him steady himself. Taking advantage of this momentary weakness. Rälena ducked out of his grasp and pulled the two daggers in her boots out, wielding them. She spun around to face her foe, years of spending more time in the tree tops than on the ground paying off. Immediately, she charged at him, trying to push her advantage just a little further, but her luck had changed. He knocked her aside so the daggers flew out of her hands, but caught her before she could grab another branch, easily holding her with one arm. With the other, he slipped a rope around her neck and tightened the knot.

"This is a noose. If you try to jump down, you will hang yourself."

Rälena cursed silently.

"Now, let's try this again, shall we?"

His breath was hot against her face. She recoiled from it involuntarily. He grabbed her hands and tied them together in front of her.

"You are going to put your arms around my neck and ride on my back as I climb down this tree. Do you understand?"

Rälena nodded, hoping he would believe that she'd surrendered to him. Apparently satisfied, he lifted her nearly effortlessly and setting her down on his back, still holding his end of her noose.

They climbed down the tree and he lifted her off again. "Now, come with me," he said, and before she could respond, he started pulling her along by the noose.

Rälena kept her eyes open for any opportunity. Tree bark, rocks, anything. As they neared the outskirts of a battle, Rälena saw her father, Jarken, swinging his sword wildly at two soldiers. Rälena screamed his name.

He looked over briefly, saw the rope, and slung his sword to break it, and Rälena turned and ran, towards what she could only hope would be safety, towards her home, and away from the Fa'santhian soldiers who were attacking them.

She was aware that she was being followed, but she dared not to look back. She could not disappear in to the trees with her hands still bound, but she was barely slowed down by them either. She heard the footsteps behind her get closer and closer, heard someone yelling to get her, heard the hard clang of a shield hitting the side of her head, and then blacked out.