The skin trade. [Lion-O!] [M]

[Rhindeer]

Fly it did.

For as soon as Rylan came to a halt, Gwen capitalized on the opportunity. She let her staff drop as she balanced on her good leg and took aim--

At his calf.

Without a word, she pulled the trigger and the bolt went whistling through the air. She wasn't taking chances with this one, and while she normally didn't like to hobble her targets, sometimes she had to make an exception. And in Rylan's case, she really just wanted to shoot his ass.

[Lion]

[Wouldn't want to damage those goods now right? XD]

Quinlan buckled the moment the bolt struck his calf, and he cried out, collapsing onto a pile of stone.  With blurry eyes he glared at gimpy Gwen and wished more than anything looks could kill in that moment.

"Lucky shot," he grinned at her.

[Rhindeer]

[Exactly! >8D Those calves are sexy but they ain't the money makers, ohoho!]

God, that was satisfying as fuck.

With a pleased smile, she slipped her arms through the straps of the crossbow's sling, letting it come to rest against her back once more, and picked her makeshift staff back up. She took her sweet time; Rylan wasn't going anywhere, and she was content to let him suffer for inconveniencing her so.

"Easy shot, more like," Gwen said as she limped her way over to him. Balancing on her good leg, she hefted the branch in both hands and beamed down at him--even as she prodded the end against the bolt protruding from his calf, hard and deliberate to send a painful jolt through his leg. "Ouch. That looks nasty."

With a shake of her head, she sighed and adjusted her grip on the branch. "Oh, Rylan. Such a marvelous fuck. Why did you have to turn out so stupid?" And in the distance, drawing closer, she could hear the voices of men and the rustle of bushes, telling her help was near. She decided to wrap this up.

"You're going to wish the fall killed you," she said, and swung the branch at his head, aiming for a knockout blow to his temple.

[Lion]

Clearly she would milk this for all it was worth.  And Quinlan wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of hearing him scream.  Quinlan just clenched his jaw together when she nudged his leg and he just glared up at her.  "As if I'd make anything easy for you darling," he managed to snicker.  Because really in the end, he wasn't helping either her or himself, all things considered.

"Might as well get this over with," grumbled did he, and slumped back when she hit him.  His vision turned white, but it had yet to knock him out. Instead it just left him bruised and bloodied and he barked out a laugh.  "That's it?"

[Rhindeer]

Gwen cursed, the pain shooting through her bruised and cut up arms as the blow jostled her. As much as she was loath to admit it, the fall had weakened her--go figure! She was only human, and though she fucking hated to admit it, she was no spring chicken. Panting, she staggered, and dropped the branch down to press into the soil as she leaned heavily on it to catch her breath.

Adrenaline and sheer anger had helped her ignore her injuries in the moment, but that only lasted so long. She'd taken a beating, and it was catching up to her.

"Don't make me shoot you again," she growled. "I need some of you left over."

And she was seriously considering it when she saw her men come crashing through the bushes, none other than Jessen and Karo along with a new hire whose name she could never remember. They were panting from the effort of climbing down, expressions grim and concerned--and when their eyes landed on the felled "Rylan", the grim looks tightened into aggression.

"You want me to...?" Jessen growled, taking a step forward with his fists clenched.

"No!" Gwen said, holding up a hand. "No. I want you to bring him in. Take care of his leg." She smiled down at Rylan as Jessen and Karo stalked closer and bent to grab him. "We'll be taking him to Essyrn."

[Lion]

Whatever, hag.  It was all the thought Quinlan could muster, because frankly the pain was starting to set in.  That numbness when the bolt first entered his calf had kept his mood.  Of course when it disappeared, it took everything he had to remain under control.  He wasn't going to scream for this slaver, not for anything in the damn world.  He just glared at the men that came down to help her.

"Good dogs.  You come at your master's beck and call!"

Jessen swatted him hard on the leg.  "Oops.  Blood makes things slippery," he mumbled.  Quinlan whimpered, glaring at Gwen soon. Oh he'd cut his throat nice and slow.

It was a long and troublesome task, climbing out of that chasm.  Quinlan had to be slung over Jessen's back and he knew those 'accidental' bumps were anythinb but.  And then came Gwen once he was thrown up at the top.

[Rhindeer]

It was a long, painful process getting to the top--mainly because her men were a lot more careful with Gwen than they were with Rylan, which meant things got drawn out a little more. Gwen would have preferred they just hurry it up, because the slowness was more grating, but she grit her teeth and dealt with it. With all the fighting done and over, she was starting to really feel her aches and injuries and exhaustion.

It had been a long day of traveling, fucking, and now...this. She'd never say she was too old for this, but goddamn, sometimes her body liked to argue the point. Definitely wasn't like her twenties when she could go nights without sleep.

She was panting by the time they got to the top, a little paler than usual as her leg really fucking hurt, but she still drew herself up as authoritatively as she could. "Status report?"

"We managed to round most of them up, boss," Karo told her as Jessen kept tight hold of Rylan, keeping him slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes as he walked beside them. And to a big man like Jessen, that's all Rylan was. "We're still missing one of them, that one girl."

As though Gwen knew which one "that one girl" was. Though, considering the situation, she did. And she knew "that one girl" had made it to the other side.

But they had also been down in that chasm for God knew how long. The girl was probably long gone by now, and there was no way to cross safely, anyway.

"She's gone," Gwen said with a wave of her hand. "Luckily, we got a replacement." And she cut a look to Rylan and smiled sweetly, even as she reached out and stroked his cheek.

[Lion]

Indeed the day had been a long one.  Even this day wasn't starting out so good.  Not that he'd ever let Miss Bitch know that.  He knew her kind only too well.  She would perpetually try to rub it in that she had captured him, despite everything he did to escape.  And with the blood pouring out profusely from his calf, Quinlan doubted he was doing a lot of thinking straight.

He smiled toothily at Gwen, blood covering his teeth from where she'd whacked him hard with that 'cane'.  His wrist was still hurting and he held it against him.  Everything would have to be set.  That was going to be the hard part.  "At least you've got half-decent taste, darling."

[Rhindeer]

"Only half-decent? You sell yourself short, pooky." And Gwen pinched his cheek at that. Hard, nails digging in enough to leave a red mark that would fade. Didn't want to break skin and damage the goods; his face was one of his good features.

They reached Gwen's horse, where Jessen and Karo's horses were also tethered nearby. Jessen slung Rylan roughly over the saddle on his belly while Karo helped Gwen onto his horse. She wouldn't be riding solo, not with a broken leg.

"Do something about his bleeding,will you? I think he's lost enough," Gwen said. Enough to, hopefully, keep him complacent. And enough that, hopefully, he wouldn't be able to spare any for his magic. "Besides, I doubt the horse likes the smell."

[Lion]

As relieved as he was to be off his feet, the last thing he wanted was to end up on his belly.  As soon as they flopped him there,he felt like he wanted to puke.  Somehow he managed to keep the nothing in his stomach from spewing outward and used his good arm to right himself in the saddle.  Jessen yanked Quinlan roughly by the collar and righted him the way he wanted.

"I'll skin you.  I'll skin you good," he murmured in Quinlan's ear when Karo was riding with Gwen, and they were some distance away.  The other horse was tugged along by the reins.  "When Gwen isn't watching, I'll skin you and wear you like a jacket."  He cackled and kicked the horse beneath him.

Beginning the painful ride back to camp.

[Rhindeer]

It was a painfully long time before they returned to the tavern, where Gwen's cage of a wagon was waiting for them. And it was no longer empty, but filled with her escaped slaves, all but one. Gwen shot them a smug look as they pulled up beside it, at the forlorn faces that had been so close to escape, had gotten to taste freedom for just a moment, only to be thrown back into captivity.

Her lips quirked into a victorious smirk. "Did you enjoy your exercise?" she asked without expecting an answer. "Your friend didn't take to it so well. Good think I found you all a new one." She let that hang cryptically in the air (did she murder the slave? Did something else happen to her?) then turned to watch Jessen and Rylan's approach.

Karo helped her down off her horse, and she groaned and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, keeping her weight off her leg (which was really hurting now, after that excruciating ride). When Jessen pulled up next to them, Gwen said, "Tend to his injuries and toss him in the cage. Karo, help me get this blasted leg set and wrapped. We're leaving here at once."

"Uh, but Gwen, you're not really in any condition to--"

"I said I don't want to stay here," she hissed. "After that disaster? We'll be a laughingstock. We'll move to the next place and let it blow over. C'mon, now."

With a sigh, Karo helped her along, back into the tavern as he got the attention of one of the other men--their "doctor". Which meant he had enough crude knowledge to keep the slaves well enough when they were injured, and he at least knew how to deal with broken bones.

And the instant Rylan and Jessen were alone, Jessen smiled a sick smile and drew his knife from his belt. "Looks like we're alone," he said--

And used the knife to help him snap the head off the crossbow bolt, before shoving it roughly through the exit wound.

[Lion]

And with Quinlan's scream came the headbutt of a lifetime.  His skull slammed hard into Jessen's and the man was knocked backwards, stumbling until he landed hard on his ass.  Swiftly, Quinlan threw himself over him, landing awkwardly with only one good arm and leg, but never the less straddling him and proceeding to beat the slaver savagely with his good arm, his fist slamming hard multiple times until Jessen's face was bloodied.

The fall to the ground had dizzied the man and he couldn't focus enough, even with the knife in hand to fight back.  Finally someone had clubbed Quinlan hard on the back of the head, and that was enough to cease the attack.  But Jessen's face was already bloodied profusely before that had done any good.

And he promptly spat out three teeth.

[Rhindeer]

"What the FUCK?"

It was Gwen's voice as she came hobbling out, crankier than ever. Her leg had been set and bound, an experience nearly as excruciating as the break itself, perhaps even more (since she couldn't remember the break itself!), and she came out to find one of her favorite lackeys bloodied up and spitting teeth! One of the other men, the one that had clubbed him in the head, had dragged "Rylan" off of Jessen and was now holding him with his arms wrenched behind his back, careless of his broken wrist.

Jessen, still on the ground, gurgled the blood that was filling his mouth and clutched his swelling face.

"I leave you alone for five minutes..." Gwen growled, stalking closer--and promptly punched him hard, right in the gut. For hurting Jessen, one of her most useful men! "Fucker. Wrap his leg and toss him in the cage. Karo!" She snapped her fingers. "Get Jessen, will you? Fucking hell. How hard can it be to keep one guy under control?"

[Lion]

Hours later when Quinlan would awaken, he had a massive headache and moved with very little space.  Most of the slaves in the cage, wanted to stay as far away from Quinlan as possible.  His wrist had been set, despite having been held behind his back, and his leg was bound.  Whether they knew it or not, setting his wrist - and having it be a proper set- while he was passed out was a courtesy he was most grateful for.

He looked up at the other slaves.  "So you come around here often?"

[Rhindeer]

The wagon was in motion by then, jostling now and then when they hit bumps and potholes. It was also far later--or earlier, rather. The sun had started to break over the horizon, painting the sky in flashes of pastels, and most of the other slaves were sleeping--or sleeping as well as they could, under the circumstances.

His rousing woke a couple of them, including a teenaged girl who'd wound up curled up next to him, since there wasn't anywhere else to go in the cramped space.

Her eyes narrowed into a glower. "You fucked us all over, you know that?"

[Lion]

Quinlan returned the glare.  "Well, excuse me. I didn't mean to piss all over your parade.  I got caught.  You think I'm happy about it?  Fuck no.  Besides, I'm sure she's more pissed at me than the rest of you."

[Rhindeer]

The girl returned his glare with one of equal ferocity. "Yeah, you got caught. And now you know where we're headed? Because of you?"

[Lion]

"I know where were going.  But I dont plan on making it that far.  And if you had any sense, you wouldn't either."  Quinlan huffed and looked at his wrist.  There wasn't much he could do right now anyway, being in the state he was in.

[Rhindeer]

"We might've had a chance back in Adela," the girl groused as she sat up, roughly shoving Quinlan over as she rose. "Now we're headed to fuck-all knows where in the desert! We might not even make it there before we bite the--"

She stopped short and stared at him. "The hell you mean you're not going that far? What? You gonna escape again?" she scoffed.

[Lion]

Quinlan wouldn't admit it - not to anyone, not even this slave in passing - but he knew that getting sent down into the sandpit was bad.  As bad as it could get for a passel of slaves.  And though he remained unmarked - for now anyway - he knew the closer they got to Essyrn, the worse off they'd all be.

He didn't answer the slave girl, and just gave her a look before looking at his let and gesturing to her.  "You mind me making you bleed a little?"