Ralah clapped small hands over her mouth as she realized her error. Turning her back on the tied girl resolutely she prodded at the fire with a long stick. How could she? How could she have told this girl, this captive the name of their leader. Jasara would be so angry if she knew. Ralah looked up nervously, scanning the area for any who might have seen her slip. She shrunk back in terror as Khasia approached.
The older girl's eyes glittered as she looked at Ralah. Though she was barely any taller, Khasia was much stronger and faster than she, and Ralah held her ground under her angry stare.
"Be careful, Ralah. Those who betray us will be sent back to their mothers." Every word was barbed, as though Khasia knew how Ralah shivered at night in her bedroll. As though she heard her whispered doubts.
"I believe Jasara." Ralah said timidly, and then with more confidence in her voice, "And as I am dead to my mother, my mother is dead to me." She spit on the ground, and turned her back to Khasia. Khasia's eyes lit up with satisfaction. Ralah's doubts were leaving her, her commitment and her fear were growing. Khasia relished her fear. It was power, power that may someday bind Ralah to her and not Jasara. Knowing now that she would not be disturbed, Khasia stalked over to the tree where Chani was tied.
"Tell me, do the old keep you prisoner where you come from?" she asked, in little more than a whisper. Chani's eyes were narrowed with fear, but her mouth remained tightly closed. "Do they tell you lies? Do they force you to come and go as they please? Would they run your lives?" Uncertainty flickered through the girl's eyes and Khasia knew she'd struck a nerve. "Your life is yours alone to live." She said softly, a small smile hovering around the corners of your lips.
Her eyes fell on an old glove at Chani's feet, stained with dirt and saliva. She reached down to pick it up and turned it in one hand. "I think you lost this." she said, looking back at the captive girl. Though she still didn't speak, her face mirrored revulsion. Khasia smiled. "You'd better have it back then." She stuffed the glove into Chani's mouth, smiled again, and left to rejoin the others. She wanted to catch Najah, she could use a few lessons with the bow.
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The seasons fall like silver swords, the years rush ever onward; and soon I sail, to leave this world, these lands where I have wander'd. O Elbereth! O Queen who dwells beyond the Western Seas, spare me yet a little time 'ere white ships come for me!
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