Aqueous Passage. Krystyna Faroe

going on.

      Madden pushed her into the boat. It was the small boat that had been used to cross to the controls of the hydraulic lift. Her shock was intensified when she saw that someone else was waiting for them in the boat. Sat checking her fingernails was Simone, her face in a permanent huff and her eyes slightly puffy from the early rise. Giving Fern a scowl she turned to Laroche suddenly becoming bright and cheerful.

      “Are we leaving now my love?” Her eyelashes fluttered at him, a small smile and show of one row of teeth flashed at him, until after little response her lips finally rested into the form of a pout.

      Laroche looked at her; he said nothing but got in and sat next to her. Taking her hand in his to be gallant he gave a comforting smile to the moping face.

      “Yes, we are leaving; do not worry yourself further my dear.” He gave her hand a gentle stroke and smiled with honeyed eyes back at her.

      Simone gave him another brief smile that expressed both acceptance and reticence at what she was doing and then turned away. Simone didn’t see the smile that crossed Laroche’s face as he continued to gaze at her; if she had she would have run with as much speed as her heeled shoes would have allowed her.

      Madden forced Fern onto the seat opposite them and sat himself as close to her as he could, purposefully wriggling into her. She didn’t move nor change her expression; for once she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Having nothing to respond to he sat quietly as the boat was slowly let down to the water.

      Fern’s attention was taken up by Simone, as always she looked perfect, her blonde hair was clipped back in waves and the sparkling diamond ear-rings Fern had admired at one of the dinners adorned her ear lobes. She wore a dress, shaped to her bust, waist and hips, it flowed to the floor of the boat and Fern couldn’t help but smile at how impractical Simone was. The distraction was good, her heart was settling into its normal beat and the nausea she’d felt had now passed. As much as she disliked Simone her presence on the boat helped to calm Fern and put her more at ease. She knew that was a good thing because with emotional control came solutions to problems and clearer thought processes.

      The splash when they hit the canal flung drops of water into the boat and Simone hastily brushed her dress as if she could move them off with her hands. After no luck and remaining wet spots upon her clothes she gave a miffed glance up to the now descending Gisburn. When she noticed that Gisburn was sliding down a rope quite rapidly toward them, more so in her direction she gave a horrified expression and darted to one side only just avoiding his plummeting body. He dropped heavily into the boat rocking it so much that they almost overturned as all hands rapidly grabbed the sides.

      Fern saw this as her chance to jump into the water but Madden had already foreseen that she would make such an attempt and she was thrown roughly to the floor. With Madden lying on top of her she could feel the vibration of anger through his ribcage as he spoke to her.

      “If you attempt anything like that again, anything at all…” he growled through grating teeth. “I will take your slim neck between my hands and squeeze it until your face is dark red with blood and your tongue is bloated and lolling like a terakian beast's.”

      She turned her head to the side to avoid the close proximity of his mouth, feeling his spittle land upon her cheek she quickly nodded, assenting that she understood what he’d said and would attempt nothing further.

      He still didn’t move until Laroche jerked him back to attention. “We must leave now or we will be found and our escape would have been for naught.”

      Madden was on his feet, hauling Fern up as if she were no more than a child and pushing her back onto the seat opposite Simone and Laroche. Placing himself next to her he quickly grabbed an oar. Gisburn had stumbled to the seat beside her and Madden nodded, instructing him to start rowing to be in sync with him for the pull strokes. The oars hit the water seemingly loud and Fern felt sure someone would have heard them. She looked up expecting ropes to fall and defenders to descend into the boat but no one was there, all was quiet.

      Fern heard Gisburn grunt next to her as he pulled his oar through the water. Now her arms were free of restricting hands she pulled the gag out of her mouth and let it sit around her neck. They were heading away behind the ship and she stared at the hull as if it were a lover she was saying farewell to. It was ironic when she realized that in a way she was. She’d lost Oak when they took her the first time and now she was to lose Elm. She looked down at the rippling water below her.

      “No point thinking about bailing out on us my dear.” She looked up at Laroche, his face held a smugness to it. “If you think of jumping…” he looked down to his hand as it pulled out a throwing dagger from the side of his boot. He turned the blade so the sun glinted from it. “You haven’t seen how good I am with knives. I used to practice throwing them every day until they locked me up.” He glowered at her for a moment and then smiled. “But by all means go ahead I would be glad to practice again.”

      A sinister smile formed upon his face making his olive toned skin take on a yellow hue in the reflection of the sunlight.

      “I see no need for me to gratify you with an easy target.” She replied smiling back; she kept the fear out of her voice. There was no need to give him the satisfaction of knowing she was afraid of what was going to happen to her and there was no point her worrying about it, it was a waste of her energy. She would go from moment to moment and try to formulate possible plans of escape. She had to have the hope of escape because without hope she would have nothing.

      They travelled for a while in silence. She listened to the splash of oars hitting the water, the drag and then the slurp of the oar being pulled out. It kept her busy just sitting waiting for the sounds but after a while she started to fidget as the repetition started getting to her and a need for some other stimulation took over. After one bought of shuffling in her seat she felt Madden move his backside over.

      She gave a slight jerk when Madden moved his leg closer to hers to get her attention. His profile showed a smile at the reaction as he spoke to her. “Imagine getting kidnapped twice, just how much bad luck do you have?”

      She took in his sneering face, looked at his hands tight upon the oar as he seamlessly pulled his strokes and decided she wouldn’t be baited.

      “A lot it seems, since I met you.” Her reply was light-hearted and playful.

      A snort of a laugh escaped Madden in surprise at her answer and he momentarily lost synch with Gisburn. Fern turned to Gisburn and gave a small laugh at the look of panic on his face. Simone leaned forward and scowled at her momentarily until looking down she noticed the creases in her dress and quickly got to work at straightening them out. Laroche remained immobile beside her but she saw a small tick quiver his lips.

      Ignoring everyone else Fern continued. “Shame though…”

      “What is?” Madden asked still concentrating on rowing but curious.

      “That you’re not dead.” She replied so matter of fact that both Gisburn and Laroche spurted laughter. She looked at Madden’s profile, even his face held a slight grin.

      “I’m glad to disappoint you.” He didn’t turn as he replied just kept with the smooth motion of pulling the large oar in his hands.

      “In fact…” Fern continued. “When Elm told me what had happened I immediately had an affinity with the terakian beast that played toss and gore with you, since it was something I would have liked to do myself. I planned on making him a cherished pet when I returned.”

      “Hah!” Madden gave another trumpet of a laugh. “The two of you would have made fine company but I believe he would have tired of the wimpy warrior woman very fast and decided you were better at being a tasty snack.”

      Fern smiled suppressing a slight chuckle. “Still anything that is against you definitely deserves a treat.” She retorted but with no malice in her voice. The conversation between them surprisingly held no real threats just jocularity to ease the boredom of the journey.

      Madden turned briefly, a seedy smile upon his face.