OOC: Tags to
@hiddenblade !
The wheels of the carriage squeaked with each jostle from the uneven road, and the flies that kept coming in through the windows, intolerable. And even with the shades drawn down, the heat was stifling, and it seemed all matters surrounding her were not fortuitous. But her mother had clucked her tongue, and reminded Winifred over and over again that well, their family had no money, and she should be happy this arrangement ever came to be.
Winifred was a beautiful girl, and as her mother boasted, most were on her side of the family, a blood line that, she was ever repeating, had links to the duchy. Links? Winifred could have laughed. To be fed such none sense over the years only helped to sculpt her into the sarcastic, fiery young woman she was today.
She was most like a horse, a wild horse, so some would say, and as the carriage rolled on with its rumbling and creaking, her green eyes sought the horizon, where a heard of wild horses run. Wishing she were a horse over a lady, she found herself soon pulled from her day dream when the carriage abruptly stopped.
"Goodness, what on earth-" her mother began to say, and soon Drake Gassir, fiance to Miss Rosalina, was stepping out of the carriage and pulling out his Connlaothian rifle and a hefty strap of ropes.
"Mister Gassir, why on earth have we stopped?" Winnie's mother asked.
"Just stay in the carriage, Lady Rosalina. I didn't come all the way to the Serha plains to soak up the sun and scenery. You see those horses over there?" Drake went on. And Winifred found herself gasping as she sat up in the carriage.
"What about those horses?" Winnie asked.
To see his fiance suddenly come alive after appearing so bored and soured through most of their journey, had Mister Gassir grinning.
"Well, I aim to catch one. A prize stallion costs loads of money, and to be able to bring one in under my own conditions..." he went on, looping a bag of black powder and was soon making his way to his own horse and began to untether it from the carriage.
"You aim to shoot them?" Winnie asked in angered dismay.
Drake simply laughed.
"Not shoot, Winnie," he went on, patronizingly. "But to conquer, dominate- You know.." And he turned to grin devilishly at her from over his shoulder as he got hte last strap on the horse, free. "Things men are good at."
And soon he was guiding hte horse aside and mounting it. And Winifred returned to her soured look, but this time it was coupled with anger. And Drake so did love the way her cheeks turned pink when she was angry.
"I shouldn't be long!" he said, and nodded to his servant, Jerred. "Take care of the ladies, Jerred. Perhaps while I am gone, you can all have some tea." And with a kick to the side of his horse, he began to make his way off towards the horizon, with Winifred glaring at his back.
Bovil stood tall in the woods, one hand holding his bow while the other looked as if it were holding a imaginary arrow. The truth was, Bovil was trying to hunt...but missed his target by only a inch. The centaur let out a long sigh, he could he of possibly missed the rabbit? He rarely ever missed! He chose not to give chase to the animal, but instead hung his bow on his back and slowly trotted along. He continued trotting until he got sight of a decent looking hunt. It was a simple boar laying on the ground. Bovil carefully removed his bow from his back and one arrow. He fitted the arrow to the bowstring and carefully drew the arrow back before firing it and hitting the boar square in the head. Right as it was hit however, the boar let out a long squeal that echoed through the quiet plains. Bovil squinted for a moment as the boar let out its last noise before dying, but simply trotted over to it and worked on skinning it, unaware of anything that may be happening.
Winifred froze.
"What on earth was that?" Asked her mother, and Winifred frowned as she watched Drake and his men turn in that direction to find out. And the centaur may have heard them approach, but they were quick to approach him and as soon as Drake saw what he was, he couldn't.help but laugh.
"Get out the ropes! We've got a centaur!"
Bovil would of begun to walk away, but he hear someone shout about a centaur. He quickly turned around and saw a group of riders were looking directly at him...and getting out ropes. Bovil quickly drew a arrow on his bow as a warning and aimed it at one of the men grabbing the ropes.
The arrow whizzed past Drake, barely cutting the side of his arm. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "The beast is armed! Quick men, advance on him!" And without hesitation, the man began to storm his way. And the centaur wasn't the only one armed. Two of the men held darts- poison darts, which were enough to knock out a horse. And they hoped it would work on a centaur too, as the group was quick to make a circle around the man as Drake, their obvious leader, flashed a dark smile towards the beast.
Bovil was clearly surrounded, but he wasn't willing to go without a clear fight. He quickly drew his bow once more and looked around for the more threatening targets. The men holding poison darts were the clearer threat at the time, so Bovil quickly shot one arrow at one of the dart holders.
And the shot hit the man, right in the shoulder, but the two men were positioned in a way it would have been impossible for Bovil to attack them both. So from behind came a single poisoned dart, and the man was loading another one and attempting to shoot a second one at the centaur. After all, it was better safe than sorry!
Bovil felt the sting of the dart enter his hide. He would of turned around and shot the other dart shooter, but things were getting...blurry. His vision slowly faded away as the centaur tried to keep his balance, but eventually ended up falling onto the ground and releasing his bow from his hand. He still had his quiver and saddle bag on him.
The now very drugged Bovil might be able to hear the triumphant cackle of Drake Gassir. And it was this cackle that sent chills through her blood, as Winifred clutched onto her skirts and began to rush over to where her fiance had gone, despite the protests of her wailing mother. And as she drew near, she was surprised to see a man on the ground and was quick to approach the scene.
"Drake!? What have you done? That's a man you shot!" she cried.
Drake simply laughed. "Look again, darling. He's only half man."
And it was only then she noticed the rest of his body, and gasped as she realized- Drake was right, for the other half was a horse!
"Now stand back, Winnie. We only shot him with one dart, and that's meant for a horse. But having part of him a man... I'm not sure, but we might need another one. And we dont' need those large hooves of his trampling you."
Bovil let out a long groan as he tried to wake up, but the poison dart only made it impossible for him to do this. The only part of him that seemed to be moving where his large stallion ears and his chest, slowly rising and falling.
Winifred had no idea what to make of this scenario, but to see the horse man so helpless...
It just felt wrong.
"Drake- are you sure about this?" she questioned, though that question seemed ignored as Drake dismounted and commanded his men.
"Quick, bind the beast! And keep that second dart at the ready." And to the injured man he commanded, "Stay back and tend to that wound!" And soon the men were all drawing out their ropes and approaching Bovil, cautiously. Though seeing as he appeared more or less down for the count, they made quick work to bind all limbs with ropes, seeming not to care if hte rough rope was rubbing his skin and hide raw.
Bovil occasionally groaned, but it seemed like the centaur wouldn't be waking up anytime soon. His ears would occasionally twitch, but it was clear the centaur wouldn't be needing the second dart.
Winifred moved over to the injured man, though she had no clue on how to dress a wound, she at least helped him where she could. But she was soon distracted when she noticed the men getting on their horses, ropes in hand as they latched them to their own steeds and began to simply drag the unconscious horse clean across the rough terrain!
Winifred winced. That had to hurt, and though she tried to protest, naturally, her fiance feigned ignorance as they simply left her and the injured man to eat their dust.
Winifred could not believe the audacity, and was quick to take the injured man and commanded him to walk back while she? Well, she stole HIS ride and used it to race back towards the carriage, where there she saw her mother giving a cry at the sight of Bovil, and was soon fainting to the ground!
Wondering if anythign else could go wrong wth this scenario, Winifred cut a glare towards Drake before dismounting and tending to her mother, all the while the men were using the spare wagon they had hauled and were making a make shift cage for their newly captured beast. By the time Winifred's mother came to, and the injured man returned, the men had already hefted Bovil up onto the wagon bed, and were workign quickly at tying him down. Once they were sure he was secure, they latched the make shift cage closed.
Winifred felt a pang of guilt for the beast. For his cage felt like her own. And as the men were preparing to move out, she left her mother's side to approach the beast in the cage, and studied him with somber interest.
Bovil's side was a bit scratched, but seemed to be okay. However, Bovil seemed to be opening his eyes. His vision was extremely blurry and he could hardly see a thing. He saw a figure standing over him, stared at it for a moment, then went back to his unconscious state.
It was hours before they had returned to Drake Gassir's manor that was situated in a semi-large city on the boarder of the plains. Xientuh, was the name, not Adelan by any means, but was taken from the tribe that once thrived here in years past. Xientuh were known for their beauty, and their art of dancing and war, as was depicted on architectural sculptures and murals throughout the city. The sand stone surfaces added a unique look to the pigments used to depict the Xientuh, but Winifred was hardly studying the beauty as she considered the plight of the horse man in the wagon.
But upon their return, she hadn't been able to see either the new captive or her fiance, and despite enjoying time away from Drake and his over bearing nature, she worried about the poor creature in his custody, and found herself unable to drink her tea or biscuits.
And when her mother inquired why not, Winifred's simple reply was, "I'm not hungry." And she considered heading to bed. So she did, much to the dismay of her mother who called after her, "But the sun is still high! It hasn't even begun to set!" To which her daughter replied with, "I know, but exhaustion waits for no moon." And up the stairs she disappeared. And in her room she couldnt' wait to get out of her stifling dress as she slipped into her ivory night gown and took a seat before her vanity to draw a brush through her hair. Though as she did so, something caught her attention in the mirror-
Something happening outside the window. She turned around and set down her brush, and approached the south window. And there, she could see barely a glimpse inside the stable, to where Drake and some of his men were binding the centaur to a stall. And from what she could hear, there was talk that the beast might actually wake up soon- depending on how quickly his body processed the poison that knocked him out.
Bovil had slowly awoken after he heard the sound of the stall closing behind him. Unaware of where he was, he transformed into his human form and looked around. It was a simple stall...and it was locked. Bovil then reached towards his back, he could probably work through the chains with enough arrows...where were his arrows? He then felt over himself and realized he had no access to any of his items. He had to think of a way to get out of this madness, he quickly thought up a plan: He'd speak in a made up language to try and find a way out. Bovil then sputtered in his odd language,"Tue Ney Que Yuu!"
Drake had stepped away to have some tea, and was surprised to find Winifred had retired. Assuming she was just exhausted from the day's activities, as women were always so fair (as was evident when her mother had fainted during the ordeal), he let her to it and went about to enjoy some treacle tart, and tea. However, he had only taken but a sip, and hadn't touched his tart when one of his men flew into the room.
"Drake! You'll want to come see this! There's something strange about that horse man!"
Drake immediately rose, and excused himself from the table and made haste towards the stable. It was there he saw a bunch of his men surrounding the centaur, who.. to his dismay, was no longer half horse!
"What is the meaning of this!?" Drake demanded. "Where is the centaur?" But upon further scrutiny, he realized just as one of his men declared..
"Your looking at him, boss. See how his features are the same as the human part?"
"He must know magic," another chimed in.
"I heard glamour magic can do such things," the other one added.
And at such a revelation, Drake fumed and stepped towards the horse-man turned man with a fierce scowl. And he hit his hand demandingly off the wood.
"Your name, sir. Tell me who you are and just what you are. In the meadow, I had captured you with a horse half. Now, you are clearly a man. What manner of magic is this and what other abilities do you have?"
Bovil looked at Drake with a dumbfounded look on his face as he recited in his made up language,"Tomo gju Bovil thy wite." He didn't want to speak common, maybe they'd let him go if they couldn't understand a single thing he was saying.
Drake's brow furrowed.
"And what the hell is that?" he scoffed and looked away, shaking his head. He couldn't believe this. "Do you not speak common?"
ANd one of his men piped up, "He's been speaking jibberish ever since we found him like this."
And at that, Drake's frown deepened.
Bovil let out a sigh and he lowered his head a little. He couldn't help but smile on the inside, there was no way he could force him to change back into his actual form, right?
Drake pounded his hand on the side of the stable to get Bovil's attention.
"Hey, are you going to answer me?"
Bovil looked up at Drake and only shook his head. He then lowered his head once more and waited for anything to happen.
Drake's eyes narrowed and he put out his hand.
"Hand me my whip." And one of his men wasted no time in fetching it. Once he felt the strong leather handle in his hand, he moved to open the stable door to where he stood there, facing the man still bound in the ropes. THough he looked awkward, at least it seemed when the creature shifted into this human looking thing, the ropes still held.
And here he stood in a manner of dominance.
"You have one choice to surrender the information I inquired. If I get this same nonsense from you, you will get beaten until I tire. I have no time for this. My time is money." And Bovil was an investment, and also meant to be a statement of power. He wouldn't let this little inconvenience destroy that.
Bovil looked over at Drake and tried to conjure up his best accent as he said,"N-n-no." He then lowered his head once more, and waited to hear from Drake.
"What's that?" Drake asked, gripping his whip tighter so it creaked. "I don't think I heard you."
Bovil worked up his false accent once more and said,"N-no..." If asked to say more, Bovil would just have to talk in his "native" language.
And that's when Drake's whip struck him.
"I didn't hear you," he scowled darkly.
Bovil felt the sting of the whip on his chest, leaving a small gash. He then shouted in his accent,"No!" It was the only common he "knew".
"No!?" Drake said, raising the whip again and giving the changed centaur another hard crack! "No!? NO!? NO!!!" The man roared, striking him at each word. "If that is all you know!" he roared, hitting him twice more. "Then I'll beat the knowledge into you!"
Bovil felt the sting of the whip hit him one after another. He wanted to fight back, but he only groaned after the beating was done. He tried to lay on the ground, but his restrained arms made his hover slightly over the ground.
To see the man wilt so easily after the strikes still did not satisfy Drake. In fact, it angered him all the more as he snapped at one of his men.
"Get me a bucket of salt water."
And once he had it, he demanded more salt be dumped into it. ANd once that was done, he walked clean over to the bleeding man and dumped the water over his form.
Bovil felt the sting of the salt enter his wounds and he let out a large groan. He couldn't take it anymore, his magic slowly began to wear off as the large slashes seemed to turn into small scrapes and Bovil changed back into his centaur form. He then shouted in his language,"Thela blastmere!"
And to see him change back pissed off Drake even more. And he struck him again and again. Once he was able to see blood on his hide, he finally stopped and growled, "Throw more salt on his wounds." And his men obeyed.
Bovil clenched his teeth as more salt water was thrown on him, but said nothing. The centaur only stared at Drake and lowered him down as far as the ropes would allow, a sign of surrendering.
Drake knew that gesture of defeat better than he ought, and threw off his gloves in an angered moment ontop of the beast.
"Tomorrow, we'll break him in," he said to his men, and stormed off towards the house.
Winifred had been watching, but hadn't seen a thing. Which was fortunate for had she, she herself would have fallen prey to Drake Gassir's wrath. Now watching her fiance return to his Adelan home, she hastily moved back to her bed, for when he knocked on her door to inquire how she was, she pretended to be asleep.
Bovil watched as Drake left and tried to rest. It wasn't so much that the whipping had cut him, it was more along the lines that he had been captured, and the poison dart was still coursing through him, well just a bit. The centaur closed his eyes and wished that when he woke up he'd be back at the plains.
When the door to her room creaked open, Winifred stilled. And the weight of Drake's gaze made her sweat. He lingered at her half open door for much longer than she'dve liked, but she suppose her still body eventually confirmed she was infact, sleeping, even this early in the evening. By the time he had left, Winifred was too anxious to sleep, and slipped out from under the covers as she peered out the window.
By now, the sun was beginning to set, and she watched, idly, Drake's hired hands worked around the barn and strained her ears to listen for anything curious.
Bovil tried to sleep, but was awoken by the sound of his stomach growling. His eyes slowly opened as he put one hand on his stomach, that boar was his meal...and he never got a chance to eat. The centaur let out a sigh, but didn't bother to ask for anything to eat or drink and tried to sleep again.
Bovil wasn't the only one hungry. Winifred too, hadn't eaten in quite some time, but her stomach was too knotted for her to even think about food. However, as the night rolled on, and stars began to appear in the on coming night, she felt herself being drawn towards the barn. She couldn't stop looking at it, so when the helpers all turned in for the night, she was sure to be careful before she slipped outside.
She knew it was probably a bad idea, but she felt damned in no matter what she did. But still, she hesitated as she approached the barn, which was black as night against the contrasting skies that were now the fading colors of the day's dying sun. Once she grew bold enough, she stepped near the door, let her eyes adjust again before creeping inside.
By the time night came, Bovil was asleep. He had his back on the wall, and a few drops of blood on the ground from the whipping that he had received earlier. His stomach would occasionally growl, but Bovil was sound asleep.
Winifred shivered. It was as still as death in the barn. Even the other animals seemed tense. So tense, not a single one was asleep, and the other horses, she could see it in their eyes, were afraid. Still, she pressed forward, eyes seeking for the strange horse man, and when she found him, she simply stared.
Even in the dim light she could make out hte cuts, and the blood. The ropes that bound him looked equally as uncomfortable, for he couldn't even lay down completely, but somehow- he still looked asleep. Cautiously, she approached, eyes roaming over his form- but the second she drew near enough to nearly touch him, the horse from behind her let out a whinny, startling Winifred as she released a yelp and fell forward, right infront of the bound horse man.
Bovil heard a sudden whine and yipe as he quickly reared back as much as he could,but noticed a odd figure that just seemed to have fallen over. He stared at the figure in front of him. Bovil narrowed his eyes at the dark figure and said in his language,"Mati tha?"
Winifred was scared out of her wits,a nd immediately regretted this curiosity as she jerked back, her back hitting against the side of his stall, making her feel trapped. And at this realization, she nearly screamed, but slammed a hand over her mouth to stifle it as she looked up at the bound creature in fear.
Bovil made a odd snorting noise in order to try and intimidate the person in his stall, still not able to clearly see what it was, but asked the object once again,"Mati tha?"
Winifred trembled, but after a moment, she realized the strange horse man wasn't attacking. Slowly, she lowered her hand from her mouth, her eyes studying his with a twinkling curiosity.
"You... you speak?"
Though what he spoke,s he knew not.
She frowned and then asked, "Do you understand common?"
If so, she had a lot of questions to ask!
Bovil heard the sound of a female asking him if he understood common. The centaur saw her as a minor threat, so he conjured up his best accent and said,"Y-yes."
Winifred was taken back, and found herself blinking several times as her eyes searched him, as if reading him like some sort of puzzle, or peculiar book she did not quite understand. And she found herself biting her lower lip, and the first question sort of naturally spilled off her tongue.
"Did Drake hurt you?"
Though she already knew the answer, she still anticipated it with a bated breath.
Bovil looked at the girl with his humble eyes and said,"Yes..." He didn't want to speak anymore otherwise, it might ruin his fake identity.
She knew far too well the cruelty of Drake Gassir. She had many bruises for it. However, those had at least healed, and Drake had never whipped nor cut her. Looking towards his back, she gestured slightly, "Can I see your wounds?"
Bovil looked at the girl for a moment and said,"Yes." He calmly lowered himself as far as he possibly could, revealing the small gashes on his back, chest, and hide to the girl.
Winifred winced. They looked so raw and painful.
"If it's alright... I can clean those for you. It would do you no good to have them get infected."
Bovil looked at the girl and nodded his head. It'd be nice to have his wounds cleaned before the next, dreaded day came.
Winifred wasted no time, but had to be discrete and soon brought over a bucket of fresh water and a rag. And as she wrung it out, she gently applied it over the wounds and found herself wincing. Even though this was for the best and she was being gentle, she knew it would hurt like hell. Once she was done cleaning the wounds, she set the rag back into the waters, which were now stained red from his blood.
Sighing, she studied him for a moment, curious about him but also sympathetic.
"Would you like something to drink? I can fetch another bucket of water."
Bovil squinted and let out short grunts as his wounds were cleaned. He was glad to see that the task was done and heard the girl ask if he wanted water, the centaur merely nodded and was glad to finally get something to drink since he had been nabbed.
Winifred was quick to get the water, but apparently, not quick enough, for as she was drawing it up from the well, she stopped suddenly as she noticed a figure emerging from the house. Latching the bucket as quietly and quickly as she could, she crouched beside the well and peered over the edge to watch as Drake approached and entered the barn. And internally, she swore.
Bovil saw a new figure enter the barn, a figure he knew all too well. Bovil remained silent, and pretended to be asleep so he wouldn't receive any more whippings.
Drake's shadow loomed over head as the man stared down at the centaur's figure in the dark. At first, he didn't notice the wounds had been clean, and simply took another swig of the drink in his hand. With a sneer, he held the glass over Bovil before turning it to its side, and let the alcohol spill out to burn the wounds and clean them.
"Can't have my beast get an infection," he drawled.
Bovil squinted as he felt the sting of the alcohol slowly wash into his cuts. He let out a short grunt, but lowered himself back down. His fur would soon become sticky from the alcohol, but he would have to put up with it until the bucket of water came.
Drake sneered at the centaur's reaction.
"Pathetic," he said. "And to think, I just wasted my drink on you." And he continued to lean over the side of the stable, looking down upon Bovil's crumpled form. "You'd best not disappoint me tomorrow," came his words, laced with a dark warning, and the heavy scent of alcohol. "I intend to make you my mount,... one way or another." And at that, he chuckled, darkly. "I suppose I should let you get some rest... we have a busy day my pet."
Bovil stared at Drak for a moment, he was not anyone's mount! Bovil decided against doing anything and simply laid down as much as possible and tried to rest. He just wanted that girl to come back with the water, so he can clean himself and drink.
And Winifred would have come back much sooner, but Drake seemed to linger around a lot longer than she had hoped. The entire time her heart was drumming inside her ears, her palms growing sweaty, entire body, clammy as she tried to listen and bide her time for him to go. But once she caught a whiff of his cigar, she knew he aimed to stay out longer.
Puffing on his now lit cigar, Drake continued to watch the beast cower.
"This is a pity, you know. You appear even weaker than a real horse." And at that, he chuckled through breaths of smoke.
Bovil stared at Drake, he couldn't stand it anymore! He suddenly stood up and tried to trample Drake with his hooves, but his rope restraints kept him from hitting Drake over the head with his hooves. Bovil remained standing, clearly angry.
And to see the centaur come to life at such a remark had him laughing.
"Yes.. such a pity, pity horse man," he said, patronizingly. "You know, you'll owe me for that whisky." And after a moment, he asked, "How does it feel? Are those wounds stinging or should I get some more?"
Bovil merely stared at Drake. He lowered himself to the ground once more, but thought of all the brutal ways he could get vengeance once the next day came. He could already tell that sun rise wasn't too far off.
Seeing how the centaur resorted back to his cowering complacency, Drake sneered.
"You'd best not disappoint tomorrow, horse man. I'm going to break you, and you'll be wishing this was the worst of it."
And with that, he stepped out of the barn.
It wasn't until she was certain Drake was gone did Winifred creep back inside. Seeing the state Bovil was in, she sighed.
"Here, drink this. I'll get you a second bucket to clean your wound again."
And she paused, studying the strange creature.
"Do you have a name?"
Bovil watched as Drake stepped in, and the girl popped in once again. The second the bucket of water was on the ground, Bovil cupped and dipped his hands into it and drank from them. He got another small drink and poured the rest of it over his head and rear to wash out the alcohol. After he heard the girl ask for his name he only said,"Bovil..."
"Bovil.." she repeated with a small smile and nod. She placed a hand on her chest.
"I'm Winifred. Winifred Rosalina." Though she wasn't sure horsemen understood the concept behind a last name.
"WOuld you like some more water? To drink or for your wound?"
Bovil looked at the girl, Winifred she said her name was? He heard the girl ask him if he needed anymore water, but he only shook his head. The sun would be coming out soon, and he didn't want the girl getting caught outside with him.
Winifred sighed but nodded.
"Alright then," she said softly. And she moved to rise, studying him in the darkness.
"Be careful tomorrow," she whispered. "Drake will not go easy on you. But don't let yourself break under him if you can help it. Men like Drake... they don't deserve to ever win, or to ever be so merciless towards other."
If only Drake could get a taste of his medicine, and now Winifred's blood was hot. Drake always got under skin.
Bovil looked at Winifred "They certainly don't, now do they?" He spoke in clear and fluent common, not a single bit of his accent in the sentence. Bovil then lowered his head once more and tried to think of the brutal punishment he'd have to go through the next day.
Winifred was taken back when he spoke. But she said nothing on the matter and only nodded her head.
"You should rest... if you can."
They both knew tomorrow would be a long day. She moved to pick up the bucket.
"Will you be alright?"
Bovil simply nodded and said,"I'm sure I'll be alright..." He then slowly lowered himself as low as the restraints would allow and tried to get some rest for the long day ahead of him.
Winifred watched him for a long, quiet moment before whispering, "Be sure not to let Drake you know common." And at that, she gave him a small smile before slipping outside of the barn and then whispering back to him, "Goodnight."
Once outside, she drew in a long breath. The stars were already starting to fade, and if she were to get any sleep this night, she'd better do it soon. Sneaking back into the house, she slipped back into her bed but had a fitful time in trying to sleep, and just as she was drifting off, the maid was ringing the bell.
It was time for breakfast.
Bovil had managed to drift off for a short while, but was awoken by a small bit of sunlight poking through the holes in the wood. He slowly awoke and realized that today was the day, today he'd have to find a way to keep Drake from making him a mount.
It wasn't Drake Gassir that greeted him first, but a stable hand- one of the rough men that helped capture him from the night prior. He said no greeting to the centaur, merely went about whistling and cleaning out the stalls. Once the cleaning was done, he went on to feed the animals, and gave Bovil a dark grin as he simply passed by the horse man to feed another animal beside him.
Looks like no breakfast for him!
Bovil watched as the man walked past him, not even bothering to give him something to eat. Bovil then said aloud,"Travious Neta!" He didn't care what the stable hand did next, but Bovil was clearly still outraged from the previous night.
The man only sneered and gave the centaur a dark laugh, before exiting the barn, leaving him to fester once again, by himself.
Bovil watched as the man left and looked down towards the ground. He hadn't eaten at all and was going to end up starving soon.
OOC: lol- he would only be severely hungry, not starved after just one day XD
But it would suck either way!
but the body can go a long time without food- it's water that's more important, so thankfully Winifred gave him some of that!
It would be some time before Drake would approach Bovil. But outside the barn, the centaur would be able to easily here the men preparing the corral. Riding gear was prepared, and talk about adapting the gear to fit a horseman's body elicited laughter amongst the men, who were already drinking this early in the day.
And from her window, Winifred watched with a frown as Drake was busy with his men, fussing over sadles and stirrups and all sorts of other nasty things to use on the man. It was just after breakfast, so her mother had fallen into her usual afternoon nap, so sneaking past her, Winifred went into the kitchen and stole a few biscuits and fresh fruit, and wrapped them in a clothe before sneaking over to the barn.
Once inside, she crept over to Bovil's stable and stood near it, and offered over the clothe.
"Here... some food. I'm not sure what you eat, but there is bread and fruit inside."
she heard Drake barking a laugh from outside and winced. "But you must hurry. Drake will come to the barn at any moment." Especially since it sounded like the men were starting to leave the corral.
OOC:I know, I just over exaggerate at times XD
Bovil remained with his head lowered, but when Winifred came with the clothe filled with the fruits and break Bovil quietly whispered,"Thank you Winifred..." And only took out a fruit and slipped the rest of it into a small corner in his stall. He then quickly ate the fruit and awaited Drake, he would not become someone's mount on this day!
Winifred stared worriedly down at the centaur. Part of her wished to defy Drake, to let this poor man free and out of the situation that she herself was caged. But any thoughts on that were dashed as she gasped and turned around when she heard her name. It was Drake.
"I see you're admiring the new mount?" Drake went on, a wicked smile spreading across his lips. Winifred took a step back and paused, looking down to the ground before Bovil before looking back up to Drake.
"Yes.. I find him to be ... quite the interesting specimen." She bit her lip as she watched Drake nod and look her over as he approached, and placed a hand upon her cheek.
"You're flushed..."
Winifred's eyes moved, as if reading him before they dropped.
"Oh?"
Drake smirked again.
"I know this creature is part man and beast... but I saw the way you were looking at him.. Do you find something attractive in such a creature?"
At such an accusation, Winifred looked up at him with a hard gaze.
"Attractive?" Her face heated, though her expression was that of repulsion, but she couldn't help but think that well.. the half of him that was a man was handsome, but this was hardly the appropriate time to consider that. "As a creature, yes."
But Drake stopped her thoughts right there with a laugh.
"Don't get too attached, Winifred." And he gave her a quick kiss to her cheek, which caused her eyes to avert quickly. "He's all beast, especially where it counts."
Bovil only made a short grunting noise as he heard the conversation between the two. The moment he heard Drake use the word "mount" Bovil simply stared at Drake for a brief moment, almost sizing the man up. He then looked back down and tried his best to ignore the comments that were being said about him.
Drake then snapped his fingers and shouted to his men, "Bring him to the corral. We've wasted enough time here." And his men moved quickly over Bovil.
OOC: Feel free to write for the npc employees of Drake bringing Bovil to the corral :D
Bovil heard the command of Drake and could already see two ropes being thrown on him and one of Drake's employee quickly tightening the rope around his arms so he couldn't use them for anything. They soon managed to pull Bovil out from the stable and began to try and pull him towards the corral. Bovil saw the corral and reared back, almost taking the two men with him! The two men soon regain their footing as one shouted,"Come on you beastly bastard!" Bovil still tried to resist but then realized something:where would he go if he managed to get away? He couldn't get away fast enough, and they still had all of his belongings.
Bovil continued to resist, but eventually succumbed to the ropes and let himself be dragged to the corral. They didn't untie his arms and one of them men laughed at the centaur and said,"You really are a pathetic beast, aren't you?" The two men laughed and slapped each other on the back in congratulation and left Bovil to deal with Drake.
It took another two men to secure Bovil int he corral, and standing near the gate stood Drake. He was dressed in proper riding gear, had a whip hitched to his side, and was holding some strange set of tethers.
"My, my, seems, despite your lack of meal, you have a bit of spunk this morning."
Bovil tensed up the moment he saw not only the whip, but Drake with it. As he listened to Drake's comment he chose to do nothing more than lower his head as a response.
Seeing his head lower, Drake barked out a laugh.
"Oh? Already willing to submit? Pity... because breaking horses is a great pleasure of mine," he went on, stroking the length of the whip as he eyed the centaur over.
Bovil only clenched his teeth together, trying to avoid shouting out in common. He only made a short grunting noise as he watched Drake stroke his whip.
Drake chuckled.
"Come now... is this the only reply I get for showing you your favorite piece of my equipment? But don't you worry.." he went on, approaching Bovil and using the hilt of the whip to hold beneath Bovil's chin and forced it up so he could look him in the eyes. "I can assure you, I have plenty more fun toys where that came from."
Bovil merely stared at Drake, but began to rustle around in ropes; trying to get his arms free. He soon stopped, but gave Drake another cold stare.
Drake's smile, though colder, only continued to grow. ANd he turned away from Bovil before pausing after so many feet and turning around on his heels-
And without warning, struck the whip at Bovil.
"That's for even thinking you could escape."
Bovil felt the sting of the whip on his hide and let out a short grunt, he wanted to trample him to death with all of his might! He soon calmed down a little and waited to see what his captor would do next.
Seeing Bovil did not lash back, he moved towards the make shift reins, and eyed them, then eyed Bovil.
"The next phase, you'll do well to cooperate. though if you don't, it'll hardly matter. As I told you.." he went on, smoothing the now blood soaked whip through his gloved hands and smelling it. "I do admire a challenge."
Bovil suddenly let out a low growl, he was not about to let this person ride him like a simple mule. He was a warrior, not a mount! He then lowered his head once more and began to back away from Drake as much as his ropes would allow.
With a snap of his fingers, a rope was in Drake's hand and he wasted no time in tossing it into a twirl over his head. And before Bovil would have a chance to realize what the plan was, Drake threw the rope right at his head, hoping to ring it around his neck as he approached, and attempted to reach for Bovil's arms, might as well try the easy way first...
Before he'd try another tactic to get these reigns designed to fasten over his arms onto him securely. After all, he designed this himself! He was sure it would work..
But yes, he had to get it on the beast, first.
Bovil watched as the rope was thrown over his neck and watched as Drake to reach towards his roped down arms. Bovil then chose to rear back, with the rope digging into his neck the farther back he reared. He came back down and began to back away once more to keep Drake away from his arms.
Drake moved away just in time not to be trampled but the damn centaur's hooves. Swearing through his teeth, he moved to pull and yank roughly upon the rope bound around Bovil's throat.
Bovil continued to rear back and try to fight, but soon realized that he was only wasting his breath and soon calmed down but continued to eye Drake for any sudden movements.
Seeing the creature realized the futility of it's struggle, Drake actually found himself laughing.
"Giving up alright, horse man?" He gave another sharp tug to the rope that was probably now burning Bovil's throat.
But he wasted no time, slipping the harness over his frame and made quick work to secure it iwth a few clasps. And once that was done, he looked to the leather collar and bit that was fit specifically for a man's mouth and smiled up darkly at Bovil.
"I hope you like the taste of metal."
Bovil coughed as the rope was given one more good tug and remained still as his new harness was put onto him. But once he saw the bit, he quickly realized that they couldn't force it into his mouth or make it stay there, right?
Giving a heavy pull to the rope, it would force Bovil's head lower. And when it was in range, Drake hesitated not to grab a fist full of hte man's long hair and jerked his head up so he could look him in the eye.
"I can still see the fight in you, but just remember, this is only the beginning of when I stake claim to everything and anything you are."
And with a heavy punch to Bovil's chest, hoping to knock the wind out of him, he wasted no time in shoving the bit clean between his teeth.
Bovil felt the punch to the chest, and it made him gasp for a moment. As the bit was shoved into his mouth, Bovil stayed in the position Drake had left him in and chose to spit the bit back out and into Drake's face. With a small smirk on his face, Bovil returned to his previous position.
The bit hit him hard on the cheek and had the man swearing. He rested a hand over his throbbing flesh before he turned to stare a wild, wide eyed glare at Bovil before he laughed at him.
"So the beast has spunk, does he?" He snapped his fingers to his men.
"We might need to arrange another method to.. keep this piece of metal into your mouth."
And a red hot poker was handed over to Drake. He took the handle in his gloved hand and held it out so Bovil could see it, and even feel its' heat.
"Ever been branded before? Well.. this isn't a branding iron, and I'd like to think that... as trivial as this simple, single, hot seering piece of metal may look.... that I'm a creative man, and by being creative... there are a thousand and one possibilities in the way I could use this to make you scream."
and he looked Bovil right in the eyes.
"Do you feel lucky, horse man?"
Bovil stared at the piece of searing metal, feeling the heat coming from it. The last bit of hope left his eyes as he stared at it. He would have to put the bit in his mouth. He let out a horrid groan and lowered his head down once more.
Despite seeing the defeat, seeing that fear and resignation in his form and eyes, Drake was seething, and he was not ever to be made a fool. So when Bovil lowered his head, Drake struck out, more or less punching him across the fat with the hot metal rod.
Bovil remained with his head lowered as the rod struck him. He felt the horrid burn and let out a painful shout. He should of just kept the bit in his mouth!
"You think that hurts, do you?" Drake said with a wild laugh, and moved to hit him, and did it again and again and again until a shrill cry came from behind, and he turned and struck out- and found himself having struck Winifred with the red hot iron as he stood there, frozen in shock.
Bovil screamed in pain as the rod as he was struck with it time and time again, until he heard a scream that wasn't his own. He soon looked up to see Winifred get struck instead of him. His eyes widened as he soon galloped over to her and dropped down towards her and tried to grab, struggling with his restraints to try and help her.
The shock didn't last long as he saw the beast go for his fiance, and he wasted no time in taking out the rod and stabbing it into Bovil's side.
"AWAY FROM MY FIANCE YOU BEAST!"
ANd as Winifred turned, a hand cupping over the burn to her cheek, she stared wide eyed in shock at what Drake did next.
"NO!" Winifred exclaimed, scrambling to her feet as she grabbed onto his arm. "Drake, you must stop this at once. You must-"
But then it happened again, and this time, he struck her hard with his hand, and she stumbled back, feeling the welt join the fresh burn on her cheek.
"YOU DO NOT SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY, WINNIE! YOU DO NOT COMMAND ME!" he roared, nearly spitting in her voice as he spoke, the veins throbbing out from his neck while his flesh went red with anger. "I OWN YOU! AND YOU WILL LEARN YOUR PLACE AS MY WIFE, AND YOU!"
And here, he turned darkly to Bovil, who was still bond by ropes and tangled with his make shift reins.
"You.. you will know your place soon enough."
And he crossed the short distance between him and the centaur, picked up the bit and shoved it clean into his teeth while holdig his head with a fist full of hair.
And all Winifred could do was watch in shock, while blood slowly seeped from her nose.
Bovil felt the all too familiar sting of the rod on his side once more and let out another pain filled shout as he watched Drake strike Winifred as if she were nothing more than a object. Bovil only groaned as the bit was forced into his mouth, not bothering to fight back.
With the bit secure, Drake turned to his men.
"The saddle!" he snapped his fingers. "Bring the saddle to me and we can see if it fits."
And he gave one dark look to Winifred before turning his attention to Bovil.
"And escort my fiance out of here and back to the house. And you'll tell your mother." he went on, talking to Winifred now but not bothering to even look at her. "That you wondered to far to this creature and got injured. And you will tell her that he suffered twenty lashes just for you."
And to his men he gestured. "The whip. Fetch me it now. And the cat o' nine tails."
He was going to make this damn horse bleed.
Bovil watched as Winifred was escorted away from the premise and the saddle and whip were brought in. He only stared down on the ground, ready to accept the horrible hand that fate had given the centaur in the horrible game of life.
The saddle was heavy, and was secured around Bovil's horse body with care. The straps might have been a bit too tight, but Drake and his men weren't taking any chances. And once the entire get up Bovil was to wear was in order, Drake stepped back to admire the work.
"Cut the ropes. It's time to see how well he can ride."
The ropes were cut, all accept for the ones that held Bovil's arms down. The men wanted to make sure that he couldn't remove his arms and do something he might regret, so they left them as is. Bovil felt the tight saddle on his back and the moment he heard Drake's words, he wanted to remove to kill him already.
Drake wasted no time in approaching Bovil, giving him a wary look. He knew he was close to a beast that was probably scared witless, but at the same time, he reveled in their combined fear.
"I hope you like running, because I'm going to make you run until you fall over. Make you run until you bleed, are broken, and there is nothing left but an obedient shell of one tamed horseman."
He was close enough now he could grab the bit, and he did, and yanked Bovil's head down to him.
"And if you think you even have hte courage to fight this, to fight back becoming tamed... you have another thing coming. Because what you've experienced? IT's only the beginning of the pain I can put you through."
Bovil stared down at Drake and only stared. He would not become Drake's "tamed horseman" that he desired. He would fight back one way or another to keep himself from becoming a simple horse.
"Ah.." Drake craned his neck, eyeing Bovil with a simmering of madness. "I see that look in your eyes.." He went on, moving a hand to stroke through the centaur's long mane. "And I like it... your spirit... reminds me of my fiance. And just like you.... she too, will be broken by the end of her days."
Bovil winced just for a moment at the mention of Winifred, that poor woman. He then felt Drake touch around his mane and soon began to back away, he would rather not have the man feel his mane.
And when Bovil tried to back away, he tightened his fist into his hair.
"I think you're forgetting your place..... and the ropes," Drake told him coldly.
"Now I'm going to get on that saddle. And if you so much as buck, or so much as try anything funny.... well, let's just say you'll regret it so much.. you'll be praying you're dead."
Bovil felt the fist grip his hair even more and listened very closely to Drake. Fine, Bovil would play his game but if Drake sent him over the edge he would snap and end up trying to shove his hooves through Drake's head.
Noting the resignation and complacency set in the angered fear in Bovil's eyes, Drake relinquished his grip on his hair and moved over and placed one boot into the stirrup, and soon Bovil would feel the man's weight upon his back.
"Cut his arms free. I'm going to take this beast around for a spin in the corral."
Bovil felt the weight of the large man on his back and felt his arms being cut away from the ropes. The first thing Bovil did was to simply rub his wrists and arms, he then looked over at Drake on only let out a short groan.
Just to rub salt in the wounds, Drake gave a light kick to Bovil's side and snapped, "Trot."
Bovil let out a small growl, but complied and began a quick trot. He went around the corral a few times and then stopped, waiting for the next order...hopefully without the kick in the sides this time.
But the kick int he sides came again, as did a sharp yank to the reins.
"I didn't say to stop."
Bovil felt the pull of the reigns and another sharp kick into the side and instead of going into a trot, he went into a very fast gallop.
Drake bared his teeth and pressed his heel sharply into Bovil's side.
"A trot," he growled. "Or do you want the taste of my whip?"
Bovil soon slowed down back to a quick trot and continued around the small corral, occasionally looking at Drake for a few moments.
"Now canter, then trot along between the red pegs," he instructed, and waited for the 'horse' to oblige.
Bovil let out a low growl, but did as he was told. If Drake kept going like this, Bovil might choose to make it worth his own while.
It was at this Drake suddenly moved to choke Bovil, as he drew out his whip and lashed it at his rear.
"DEVIL BRUTE!" he roared. "YOU KNOW COMMON!"
And obviously more than the horse man had been leading him to believe!
Bovil's stomach suddenly dropped when Drake had found out that he could speak common. He then felt the all too familiar sting of the whip on his rear and and hand trying to close around his throat. He had to get him off, so he broke into a sudden gallop and began bucking and kicking to get the madman off his back.
And that only caused the grip on the reins to tighten, the bit would dig deeper into his mouth and the whip? Where he could, Drake struck the horses's rear like crazy, so hard, it was like raking blood.
Bovil was now furious, he spat the bit out and began swinging his arms behind him to try and hit the unwelcome passenger. He continued bucking and kicking ad hard as he could and would occasionally rear back to try and get this man off of his back.
Drake reveled in the challenge, his eyes a glow with madness.
"YOU WILL NOT WIN, BEAST!" he cracked through the hard cracks of his whip. "I WILL TURN YOUR HIDE RED, FIRST!"
Bovil went into his last resort. He continued into a gallop, but soon threw himself onto the ground with Drake still on him. It scrapped his side a little, but he was sure that Drake had gotten off worse than he had.
And Drake fell down...
hard. And the rest of what happened was a blur. His men were upon Bovil, roping him up and tearing him off the ground, shoving him roughly into the stables while another set of men tended to Drake's crumpled figure on the ground. And there, from the window facing the east, Winifred had seen it all.
Bovil was tossed back into his stall and simply laid on the ground. Drake had gotten what he deserved and Bovil only wanted to rest for the rest of the day.
The entire estate was a mess, in an uproar was activity since the incident. Turns out Drake may have broken an arm during the ordeal, and was quickly seen by the local doctor and bound up real good. But being designated bed rest for weeks did not sit well with him.
Winifred could not help but think he had gotten what he deserved. And as much as she'd love to ignore him as he rotted away on his bed, her mother was adamant that she be at his side, to see if he needed anything.
"He's to be your husband after all."
Which only gained her mother a sharp glare from Winnie. It didn't seem to deter her mother that Winifred now had a swollen face and mark on it from where he had struck her with the hot rod. No... her mother was far more concerned with not letting her status fall to the way side.
So when she entered Drake's quarters to bring him a drink and bread, she was thankful he appeared to be sleeping. But as she quietly set the tray of food and drink on the bed side table, it was only then did she hear him speak.
"Come.. sit next to me Winnie."
And at hearing his voice, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
And as he turned to her, she saw that he did look worse for wear, with a cut to his forehead and lip, and one eye swelling slightly. She held her breath,a nd her tongue. Oh, he so got what he deserved. And she could only wish she had the gall to take advantage of this, to somehow, she dind't know... slip him poison or something so she could be free of this arranged marriage....
But it seemed fate had other things in store for her...
And if Bovil thought he too, would get a moment's reprieve, he was dead wrong, for Drake's men hadn't even waited a day before coming into the stable, and giving the creature a good whipping for doing that to THEIR master. Drake did pay them handsomely, after all.
Bovil was constantly being beaten, being struck by whips, and occasionally a good boot to the stomach. It was pure torture! The poor centaur finally had some time to himself and saw that he was bleeding from his rear, chest, head, and his upper right arm. He only let out a short sigh as he bent over and took out some of the small fruits that Winifred had given him before and ate a few before hiding them away once again.
Every moment spent with Drake felt like she was being submerged in Hell. He would try to talk sweetly to her, but the words were unnerving, and when he'd touch her, it made her veins freeze. She was thankful he hadn't a lot of energy to remain awake, but by then, the sun was setting.
And when she felt his grip slacken as he drifted off to sleep, Winifred was slow to retract her own hand, and slipped outside the room.
Careful not to step on any creaky floor boards, Winifred decided not to go to her room that night, and instead, found herself making her way outside of Drake's manor.
Bovil remained in his stall, watching as the sun went down and the moon and stars came up. He saw the light of lanterns being toted by some of Drake's men, but those lights soon went away and Bovil was by himself; not a single soul with him.
Or so he'd think. Though the lanterns seemed gone, and the world devoid of all light but the moon, there was the distinct sound of soft foot steps crunching through the night grass.
Bovil heard the sudden sounds and tried to see what was making it, but couldn't make out a shape. He then chose to remain quiet, could just be one of Drake's men about to deliver another taste of the whip to Bovil.
But a feminine figure standing in the moonlight of the slowly opening door confirmed other wise.
Bovil stared at the figure and said,"Ah, Winifred...How nice of you to join me on this fine night."
And at his words, she tensed in the door frame. At first,s he thought it was one of Drake's men. But as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw it was only Bovil.
Bovil looked at Winifred and said,"I apologize for my appearance, those men a relentless." He then motioned to his hundreds of scrapes, cuts, and bruises all over his body.
But it wasn't his appearance that caught her off guard- well, not until he mentioned it. She stared at the wounds, still fresh and glistening in the moonlight, but did not dare approach, her legs feeling like lead, being cemented to the ground.
Bovil looked at Winifred and then back at his wounds. A few were still bleeding while others had hardened into scabs. He decided to change the subject and said,"What happened to Drake?"
At the mention of Drake, she sobered, and her eyes hardened.
"He's not dead, if that's what you mean. But he'll be kept to the bed for a couple of days. Maybe weeks."
Bovil looked at Winifred and said,"No, I could never kill another man unless I had no choice...I just needed to know how long he would be unavailable for." Bovil only sighed and said,"I'm cornered, even if he was dead I wouldn't be able to do much now would I?"
She frowned.
"Perhaps not, but Drake is the worst of the lot."
Bovil sighed and said,"I absolutely agree with you." He then smiled a little and said,"The ironic part in all of this? I like giving some people rides...seems like I might need to start reconsidering letting them get a ride anymore."
"Whether you like to or not is different than being forced to do it against your will," Winifred went on, her own eyes shining with fearful tears. Cautiously, she moved closer to him and could see now more clearly all of his wounds.
She sucked in a breath.
"I... I should fetch you something... some waters, some clothes... Those wounds...."
And she finally tore her eyes away from them to look up into his eyes.
"I bet they hurt worse than hell."
Bovil looked over at Winifred and simply asked,"Are you sure you don't want me to come with?" He then quickly added,"I'm sure you can get there a bit quicker with a bit of my help, wouldn't you agree?" He then looked at his wounds and said,"I only hope I don't fall apart on the way."
Winifred's eyes went wide as she promptly shook her head.
"What?" she frowned and cut him a look. "No."
Licking her dry lips, she looked around.
"That would draw too much attention and you... you're..." she looked back at him. "You're in no condition to be moving."
Plus if they were to get caught....
Bovil shot Winifred his own look and responded,"Do you really think it'd matter if you were to be discovered with those extra supplies? I'm telling you, it'll be safer if I go along as well. I can take you a short distance and leave the rest up to you, is that a better compromise?"
Winifred felt her heart jump into a somersault. But she released a breath, still uncertain what he meant.
"Are you proposing we run away from here?" she asked, lowering her voice even further.
Bovil shook his head and said,"Not like this, but right now I just wish to leave this place for a moment not escape...not now at least." He could only sigh at his own words and asked,"Well, are we getting the supplies or are we going to continue this conversation until sunrise?"
"I don't understand..."
And her express showed her clear irritation of that!
"We can't just go anywhere. Not outside this barn.. in fact, not anywhere near!"
Was he mad? That would get them in more trouble and would appear as if they were trying to run away!
But the idea of running away was now thumping through her mind, like the steady beating of her heart that she could not get out of her head.
"If we're going to do it.." she went on, creeping closer, speaking quieter.
"Then we do it to get as far away from here as we can and never, never, ever come back."
Bovil only sighed and murmured,"Which of course is going to take time because I must heal from my wounds first." He then looked back at Winifred and asked,"Let's just focus on getting those supplies for my wounds first."
Winifred sighed.
"You are injured greatly," she reminded. "I will go alone to get the supplies." Her injuries were really minor compared to his, and though it felt sore, at least she did not have whip lashes all over her back. She studied them briefly before giving him a look that let him know her words were final.
"It is silly to offer to help when that is what I offered to do." She frowned and looked at him stubbornly. "You rest. Helping you is if no inconvenience for me. I know where the supplies are, and they're not exactly kept in a place. Horse man could go."
And with that, knowledge, she sighed and turned to observe what little of the house she could see from the barn.
Bovil stared at Winifred and said,"I could always change shape in order to assist you, but it appears that you wouldn't like that very much, would you?" He then only raised and lowered his shoulders before leaning up against the wooden wall he was behind and waiting for Winifred to get going.
Winifred made a face.
"What do you mean?" for she had no idea what he was getting at. All she could see was the poor creature was injured and apparently had no sense to stay put! Straining his wounds would only make things worse!
Bovil only shook his head and replied,"I can take on a form much like yours, a human..." He then demonstrated by suddenly changing into a human form with a slight flash of green and said,"See? This way, I can help as well."
Winifred's eyes went wide as she looked from him, then around the stable. But no one was there. She looked back to Bovil.
"What are you doing? If someone catches us both, and you as... As a man..." She didn't even want to consider the consequences.
Bovil only smiled for a moment as he soon reverted back to his normal shape and murmured,"It's not like I'll be treated any different than I already am, I'm their prisoner." He then looked at Winifred and said,"I'd much rather get caught and have the punishment be the same then have you face worse consequences for helping me."
Winifred had no idea how to accept that,a nd she simply stared at him, eyes wide as she shook her head.
"But if you are.. are well enough to walk, surely.. surely you could simply slip away?"
Because then at least one of them could be free....
Bovil only sighed and replied,"I can walk, but my wounds are still fresh so I won't be able to do much aside from carry things...I can't leave this place even if I had no wounds, I'd only be tracked down once again and end up back here; I must have a flawless plan if I truly wish to escape."
Winifred's cheeks heated out of annoyance.
"Then you'd be so complacent to remain as a slave?"
Bovil's blank expression soon turned to a frown as he heard Winifred speak. He then raised a voice and said,"My escape must be flawless. If it isn't, I'll end up here once more...some of us aren't used to dealing with that horrid man!"
"Then you must be naive. Nothing is life is flawless," she hissed under her whisper. "Just stay here. I can get the supplies myself." Human turned or not, this was turning out to be a lot more head achey than she had thought!
Bovil groaned and shook his head, but decided to let Winifred do whatever she wished. That woman didn't know what she was talking about. After all, she had been putting up with Drake longer than him and at least she didn't get struck with a whip...he hoped.
It seemed both were equally stubborn, but she was glad Bovil let it well enough alone. But before she left, she whispered back to him, hastily, "You.. should probably change back if you don't aim to escape. Drake's men are just as ruthless as he."
And with that, she slipped outside the barn and went about fetching some water, clean towels, and an ointment to help soothe and keep his wounds from infection. And it took a lot longer than she'd like to, but soon she was making her way back inside the barn, hefting the items as quietly as she could, and as quickly as she could.
Bovil nodded as he changed back to his centaur form and sighed as he watched her leave for the water. He put his back to the wall and calmly waited for her to come back.
Once she had all that she needed, she worked on his wounds quietly, not even bothering to comment about his change of form. But she was glad for it, and tried to be gentle on his wounds, but her mood had become soured, and Winifred wasn't exactly known to be a delicate flower, or gentle by any means.
Bovil occasionally winced and grunted in pain as he felt Winifred clean his wounds. He then said a bit louder than he would in his normal tone, "You don't have to be so ruthless with that ointment...just because my lower half is that of a mule doesn't mean I can't feel the pain!"
Winifred cast him a glare, but swallowed her anger. She was here to help, after all. So with a sigh, she continued more gently.
"I thought your lower half was that of a horse."
Bovil could only roll his eyes as he murmured,"I'm only trying to lighten up the mood..." He then felt as Winifred had slowed down and was a bit more gentle as he looked over at her and said,"Thank you."
She could have called him an ass, but held her breath. There was no use for it. And they had both been through a lot. It made no sense to lash out at one another when the source had been Drake. But after a moment, she paused and lifted her gaze to his.
"Why don't we run away."
The idea had been plaguing her since the idea Bovil suggested he 'helped'. She still believed if he had hte strength for that, then it was possible for them both to get out of this hell hole.
Bovil looked at Winifred and could only shake his head. "Not until I get my bag and bow back, those are important to me." He then lowered his head from Winifred's gaze, he wasn't willing to start a argument with her over his supplies, he just wanted them back.
She raised a brow.
"What if he sold them?"
"Sold them!?" Bovil suddenly said with a infuriated look on his face, "If that bastard even steals something from those bags I promise I'll hurt him!"
Winifred frowned.
"Are the things in your bag that important?"
Bovil nodded and calmed down a little before saying,"Very."
She studied his face for a long moment before asking, "Why? I don't mean to pry i'm just... curious. You just seem so.. over protective."
And she could understand the need for that. She felt her very freedom in the same way. Then again, most had a story to tell. What was his?
Bovil held his tongue for a moment when Winifred asked the question, but he soon answered,"It was a parting gift for me...I wasn't a soldier or hunter like some of the others, I spent time with the human tribes nearby our own and would pull carts for them."
"Parting gift? From your tribe or the humans?"
Bovil smiled a little at the question and replied,"It was from both, the humans made it and the elders delivered it to me on the day of my departure."
She nodded and let her gaze drop.
"I see why it is important to you." She felt the same way about the few mementos left of her father's. Though her mother tended to hang onto that.
"Perhaps.." she went on carefully, softly. "I could find a way to get it for you... and as you heal... we'll find a way out of this." She rested a hand on him gently. "Together." And then she added in a lower whisper, "And well before Drake can heal." Because at least Bovil could move- for now? Drake was bed bound.
Bovil smiled as he exclaimed,"Thank you Winifred, you're one of the only angels in this hell." He then added,"I'm sure we can find a way out of here, together."
Blushing, she shook her head.
"I'm hardly an angel." And she sighed as she looked him over. "We should rest." who knew what tomorrow would bring.
"Well compared to everyone else, you're an angel." Bovil said with a short smile. He then nodded in agreement after Winifred said that they should head off to sleep. He tried his best to get into a comfortable position and said,"Well, I'll see you tomorrow night m'lady."
It would be some time before Bovil would see Winifred. And though he'd be able to tell there was things going on inside the house, his view would be limited to the stable, and to the men that were silently working around the barn and giving Bovil icy looks.
Bovil could only hope that Winifred would be okay back in the house, he silently prayed for a quiet day tomorrow and silently dozed off.
It seemed things calmed down as the sun began to set, and it was when the world was cast in long dark shadows, and the skies winked with the remaining light of the sun, did Winifred return. The bruise she had earned the other day was now ripe in color, and despite the poor lighting, was seen a lot more clearly now. But that might not have been what seemed out of place, for when Winifred approached, it was obvious she was dressed in a riding cloak and held supplies in a basket looped around her arm.
"Bovil?" she whispered his name softly. "Are you awake?"
Bovil was asleep, snoring even until he heard his name being called out. He quickly woke up when he heard Winifred's voice calling to him. He then quickly said,"I am awake now." He then looked at her a bit closer and saw that she had a basket and was in a riding cloak. He didn't want to make mention of the bruise, but could already tell that Drake was the one responsible for it. He then looked at her and asked,"Are we escaping the madhouse at last?"
SHe gave a silent nod.
"Yes.. if you're up for it."
Bovil nodded and quickly asked,"Did you get my bags, and my bow?" He could only hope that Drake hadn't sold either of them by now.
She gave a small smile and approached him so she was close enough to open the basket she held and showed him that the contents revealed she had just about everything he desired. ANd she added in a whisper, "I've got it all. The rest is hidden under my cloak."
Bovil smiled as Winifred showed him his belongings (although he could of sworn that some of his coins were missing), he then nodded his head as he stood up and said,"Okay, I believe we can make our escape now."
Winifred studied him, her eyes shining as she felt the thrill of their freedom so close at hand. But she found herself asking, "Are you sure you're well enough to run? We'll.... need you to be our transport." Which was an awkward way of her asking if he could be her mount.
Bovil nodded quickly and said,"Winifred I'm fully capable of carrying you. Frankly, it only stings a bit when I move but that's to be expected when you've been struck in the rear so many times with that blasted whip." He then smiled as he continued,"Besides, people like you I don't mind having on my back."
She felt her stomach tighten at the idea.
"Are.. are you sure?" She looked to where his skin still was left puckered and raw from the whip wounds. " I just... its... its the fastest way we can travel."
And she was just glad he was okay with them doing this- together.
Bovil shook his head as he said,"Yes Winifred, I'm sure I can handle it." He then looked down at her and tried to make light of their current situation by saying,"What, you don't think I'll be able to do it?"
Not sensing the jest, she looked at him most seriously.
"Your wounds... I worry what toll this could take on you.. on your body."
"Winifred..." Bovil said while actually considering the possibility that perhaps she was right,"This may be our one and only chance to get out of here. If not now, then when?"
She held her breath, frozen for a moment in both fear and excitement. She gave a nod, but studied his face as she approached.
"THen if you are ready, and willing... let's do this."
Bovil nodded and said,"We have to do it now, it may be our only chance to get out of here." He then walked towards her, waiting for her to get on his back.
Hesitating for a moment, she peered over her shoulder for a brief second before carefully slipping onto the centaur's back. She drew in a breath, and wrapped her arms around his form, basket resting between her belly and his back as she nodded against him and breathed into his ear, "Then let's go."
Bovil winced in pain as she got onto his back, the soreness from the wounds coming back to him. He took a shaky step at first, but slowly worked through the pain and began to walk like normal. He then looked up at her and asked,"Are you sure we won't be spotted?"
Winfred held a breath before slowly shaking her head.
"It's not something I can guarantee..." she spoke lowly, carefully. "But Drake is out of the picture... so if we're caught, we'd only have to deal with his men."
Bovil nodded silently as he stepped out of the barn as quietly as he possibly could. He would occasionally let out a short grunt of pain as he could feels his wounds acting up once again. Bovil looked back at Winifred occasionally just to make sure that she was holding up well on his back as he continued to silently walk. He had his eyes peeled, just in case any of Drake's men were around their immediate area.
So far so good. And as the pair crept along (or rather just him creeping since she was along for the ride), she held her breath, eyes looking out into the night. But it seemed the only noises and things awake were the crickets and a few night birds.
Bovil continued his silent walk, stopping at the slightest sound to ensure their safety. Bovil was in no condition to fight, nor could he gallop large distances if he had to. He had to be careful otherwise there would be problems.
"There," she whispered, once they crested a hill. She moved forward so that her body was pressed against his back while she whispered to him. "See the windmill on the horizon. Head for it, and the forests beyond."
Bovil merely nodded in agreement as he continued slowly. He didn't bother to make mention of Winifred's chest against his back, there really wasn't much to complain about in their current situation. Bovil eventually made it to the windmill and slowly began towards the forest "We're almost there Winifred, soon we'll be free of this hell."
"Don't hold your breath on that," she whispered, still not feeling safe enough to raise her voice. "Men have horses, and though you are part of one, they have many. Let's just keep moving until we've exhausted ourselves. I think that might be the only way I'd get a good night's rest after this." And she kept herself pressed close, not just for warmth, but to just feel a little bit more secure. He was, in a sense, the leading force now in their attempt at freedom.
Bovil sighed as he complied with what Winifred had said and walked for what had been hours before he nearly collapsed. The large centaur sat down on the ground, "This is as far as I can go, I can't keep up anymore Winifred." Bovil said as he tried to catch his breath for a moment. Bovil could have kept going for longer if it wasn't for the fact that he was in such bad condition.
Winifred gasped, scrambling to move beside him from where he lay.
"Bovil! I..." She felt her heart drumming as she peered worriedly over her shoulder. Thankfully they were in the woods. Hopefully no one would pass and question the pair of them out so far from any nearby town. Turning her attention back to Bovil, she moved a bit closer and gingerly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Your wounds... they look like they've reopened." She frowned.
"Here.. make yourself comfortable. I'll help clean them while you rest."
Bovil followed what Winifred asked and tried to straighten himself out a bit before suddenly turning to look at Winifred,"I'm sorry for putting you through all of this. I could have kept going a little longer, but I'm just too tired to continue on for a while."
"What are you apologising for? This had been my idea."
"I can't help but feel that they might have been more that I could have done...I don't know why. Maybe it was just a simple case of being in a place at the worst possible time. Regardless, we should be far enough Winifred...do you know if there are any nearby villages? Possibly a town?" Bovil said as he tried his best to straighten himself out a bit more to make the cleaning process a bit easier for Winifred.
"I.. I couldn't say. We might be near Wheaton, but I know people who live there and we should avoid aquaintances at all costs."
Bovil raised his eyebrow at Winifred's answer, "And just how are we supposed to do that. I can change my form to that of a humans sure, but not right now...I'm too hurt." Bovil said as he lowered his head a bit. Possibly the only town for a while, and Bovil would stick out like a sore thumb!
"I'm not asking you to do anything. The plan is to remain away from towns for a while. Drake would... He'd presume I'd wish to travel the main road so if we stick to the forests.. Well, this might all work out and we can be free."
Bovil smiled once he heard that there would be no need to go into the towns...not yet at least. Then it hit Bovil,"How much food did you bring? I might not be able to hunt for a while while my injuries are healing." This was true, if Bovil tried to hunt in his current condition his wounds would open up and most likely get worse.
Winifred gave a shake of her head.
"I only grabbed what I could... but I think food is the least of our worries right now. Rest up... I.. still don't feel like we should linger in anyone place for long, even if its the wilderness, or a town."
Sighing,s he moved to the satchel she had brought and opened it and pulled out a small wrapped piece of bread, which she unfolded from it's clothe to show him it, and did the same to the bundle of cheese.
"These should at least last us a day or so, I think."
Not that she had done anything like this before, but she didn't need much to eat...
Then again,s he had no idea how much a centaur might.
"Are you asking for food.... because you're hungry?"
Bovil nodded at Winifred's question,"I just need a little for now." The truth was, Bovil was a bit hungrier than he looked at the moment. While Winifred had brought him food at Drake's, it was barely enough to keep Bovil sustained. He needed meat, but for now he would just have to settle for what Winifred currently had.
Nodding, she handed over the bread and cheese.
"Here, and don't forget to drink. We'll need you to keep strong so you don't get ill. Oh, and we should keep an eye on your wounds. Would you like me to check them now or when we find a place to retire for the night?"
Bovil happily took the bread and cheese before thanking Winifred for both. And without thinking, thinking, Bovil quickly ate most of the cheese along with a quite a bit of the bread. Once he realized that he had eaten too much already, Bovil quickly handed both back and said in response to Winifred's question,"I'd prefer it if we just checked them now if you don't mind."
She took back the bread, though if she were surprised by how much he ate, she said nothing. Putting the food away, she nodded at his request.
"Here, if you could bend over some, I'll take a look at the wounds on your back, first."
Bovil complied with what Winifred had asked of him and bent down so she could clearly see multiple cuts going along the lower half of human torso and the more obvious cuts on his lower half.
Frowning, she stared at the wounds before saying, "He's a bastard. Worse than dirt."