Page 26 of Mushy Stuff
Wold! Where is Wold?
I try to move, but my stomach is roiling, and I fight the urge to vomit up those wonderful tasting pies from earlier.
There is a slight bouncing or vibrating feeling to whatever I’m in. Also, whatever I am laying on is prickly and causing me to itch. I crack an eye open and realize that I’m lying on hay. There is also a clomping sound, likehorse hooves. I crack the other eye open and vaguely look around.
It’s a cart. I’m in a cart.
I shift a little so I can look up. It’s covered with something, some kind of thick cloth.
Oh gods, I feel so bad. What was that stuff she blew in my face? Who was that female? I roll over as I vomit. I purge everything out of my stomach, then I crawl away from the mess. At least there is hay in here to absorb it, I would hate to end up lying in it. I snort a tiny sarcastic laugh. I guess it’s the small things that count right now.
I lay there as my situation sinks in. I’ve been kidnapped. Oh gods. This is exactly what Wold was worried about. Now I realize just how right he was to be worried. I only went to the market for one night, and someone kidnapped me.
I manage to prop myself up a little and I try to peek between the cloth covering and the wood of the side of the cart. I can see sunlight, so it must be daytime.
I remember the mushrooms Wold gave me, and I decide to take one now. It may be a little early for it, but I would rather be safe than sorry. And I have no idea how late in the day it is. I cough and gag as I try to swallow it, but I manage to get it down without getting sick again. I’m counting that as a win.
I lay there for a long time just trying to figure out what to do. How am I going to get away? I can barely even move without vomiting. I finally decide that I will just have to wait for an opportunity to come up. I’ll have to play along with this kidnapping and see where it goes. Oh man, I’m not even sure if this counts as a plan. I can’t do anything while I am this weak, so I will just have to rest and wait for now.
I doze in the hay for hours. I peek out under the cloth and see that the sun has started setting. We’ve been traveling all day. How far is that in a wagon? Certainly it’s miles and miles. Oh gods, what am I going to do?
At least I’m feeling a little bit better and don’t feel like I’m going to vomit anymore. And I may feel a little stronger. That’s hard to judge without being able to stand up, though. My head is still pounding, and the light hurts my eyes.
The cart comes to a stop, and I’m instantly on alert. I hear people walking around to the back of the cart, so I crawl away from them.
I hear a man’s voice. It sounds almost musical, but not at all friendly. He yells at someone to let him see what they brought him.
Oh gods. It’s me. I’m what they brought him. Thoughts of what Wold’s birth mother did to his father race through my head.
A female voice says, “We were able to take her from the market last night. I think you will be pleased with her.”
The man snaps at her, “I better, or you know what the cost will be.”
Someone pulls up the cloth covering on the back portion of the cart and gasps. Then I am staring wide-eyed at the most beautiful man I have ever seen. His skin and hair look like gold, actual gold. He even shimmers a little. It makes him look otherworldly. He turns his head, and I see his long elegant, pointed ears. He must be Elven.
Oh no.
He looks at the female. “A human! How didyoumanage to find a human?”
The female replies, “A Guardian brought her to the market.”
The man scrunches his face in disgust and cups his hand over his nose. “A Guardian? That must be why she reeks of dirty seed.”
I hear a small gasp from a younger-sounding female. Then I hear the original female tut before she says, “She is quite lovely, sir. Once she is cleaned up, it will only be a matter of days before she quits smelling of his seed.”
Did he really say dirty seed?! He’s the disgusting one, not Wold.
The man laughs. “I know that. I am only disappointed that I will have to wait a few days to play with my lovely new toy.”
Oh no, no no no no. This can’t be happening. He’s going to keep me as a plaything just like Wold’s birth mother did to males. My heart is racing, a high-pitched ringing sounds in my ears, and I start breathing heavily. Think, Lydia, think. You still have a few days before he will touch you.
I hear the female say, “Sir, I think you are frightening her. I can smell her fear.”
The impossibly beautiful man looks at me again. Even his eyes are gold. His long shimmering hair is tied back at the nape of his neck. The tunic he wears is elaborate and speaks volumes of his wealth. It looks like it’s made from cream-colored silk and has golden embroidery. He smiles at me, displaying dangerous fangs. “Do not worry, kitten. You will enjoy every moment of your time with me. You will be begging for more.”
Oh gods. He’s going to glamour me. He’s actually going to try and glamour me! Thank the gods Wold gave me those mushrooms. I hope they really work.
The man stares at me again. He gives me a strange, very intense look. “Don’t worry, we will get to my estate and clean you up. Then we will have a delicious dinner together. You will see. It will be wonderful.” He gives me that malicious smile again.
