Chapter Six

Maybe going separate ways with Dolores was one of my biggest mistakes. I didn't even think of how to defend myself before I went bonkers and left. I just left because I felt like it and now I've been cornered by two hefty men who will definitely kill me if I don't figure out a way to fight them. The bigger guy who appeared to be the leader had a huge body and was about six feet tall. He had short black hair. He was barely in proper clothes so his entire upper body was revealed and there was a long scar on his body that extended from his shoulder down to his navel. His minion was a bit shorter than he was and had clothes on. They both appeared to be bandits or Vagrants.

"I'm not an intruder." I responded thinking of a way out of this mess.

"Well, here I decide who belongs to us and who is an intruder. I own this forest." The bigger man said.

"I'm so sorry to be here but I honestly am lost." I said politely.

"Come on Cypher, don't just stand there gawking, get her, she'll fetch us a wonderful price." He ordered his minion who nodded like a fool and quickly grabbed me. He smelled like burnt wood and rotten meat combined in one body. I struggled hard to get out of his grip especially to save myself from that disgusting smell but he was way stronger than I was. I almost made it away from him before the bigger guy knocked my head with a tree branch and I passed out.

"Here, tie her up. We're taking her to the auction tonight." The big guy said.

"This will get us a fair price." Cypher responded and tied me up like he was instructed and they both bundled me away.

With time, I could hear voices in my head. There was so much noise resulting from the laughter of people, the sounds their metal cups made against the table, and their movement. I slowly opened my eyes and when the blur faded off, I realized I was in an auction room filled with people, not just people, drunkards, bandits, and hooligans were all present. I could not even see one person who at least looked responsible. I was tied to a board and so was another girl in the room.

"Our queen awakes." A voice echoed on noticing my open eyes and his voice drew other people's attention.

On hearing him call me a queen, my heart skipped. Did they find out my true identity? I kept mute, waiting to hear what they will say next.

"All hail the Queen." Dan, a guy who seemed to be in charge echoed and there was a peal of wild laughter in the room.

"I'm no Queen sir." I responded politely.

"But of course you are. Maybe not royalty but in beauty. You are just what I've been waiting for." He said.

Those words weren't the best thing I could wish to hear at that time but at least it was better than him insisting I was Naya.

"Attention everyone. We have a new lady in the room." Dan said as the hall went completely silent. "Tonight, the highest bidder is taking her home for the rest of the week"

What? An auction? I was up for an auction. Oh no..!

"...and bidding for such a pretty lady, I expect should be high." Dan explained further. "We have two ladies here. Bid and make your choice." He finally said.

"Five gold coins." A man echoed.

"Shut up man." Dan responded.

"Twelve gold coins." Another man shouted.

"Poor." Dan said.

"Twenty gold coins." A third man said.

"Higher...!" Dan echoed.

"Fifty gold coins." Some man said.

"Going to him..." Dan said waiting for the next bidder.

"A hundred gold coins." A final man spoke in a husky voice. He was a pure definition of a bandit and it seemed he was going to win the auction. The crowd started to murmur at his bid, an affirmative murmur.

"Any higher bidders?" Dan asked in excitement but the hall was silent. "And that's it... The lady goes to..." Dan was about to conclude before he was interrupted by another bidder.

"Five hundred gold coins." A lady's voice spoke from the crowd and everyone went silent before she repeated what she said: "I'm paying five hundred gold coins for the lady with a long hair." The lady said again. I had not even noticed such a lady was there.

"What for? I thought women only paid for men." The mad man who was just about to win the auction said angrily.

"Well, I love women too. And this one is really pretty." The lady said and finally rose from her seat. She was a tall lady with blonde hair and despite dressing up like a man, she still looked beautiful in a rogue way. "Come on Dan, you can't let a pretty lady like this go home with this..." She observed the mad man, probably searching for the right word "scoundrel." She finally found it and as she mentioned it, the man got enraged.

"How dare you fool. Dan, I'm not letting this lady leave this place alive." He threatened expecting the lady to possibly shiver and bow to him but instead, she threw her gauntlet toward him.

She was challenging him to a fight.

"A single combat." She said in a serious tone.

The crazy fellow who did not expect that reaction appeared to be at a loss for words as he stared at the woman in awe.

"Go on man, pick it up." A man from the crowd shouted and the entire crowd jeered.

"You're quite a lucky one. No one has ever bid past a 50 gold coin for me." The other lady who was tied up close to me said to me. I only smiled weakly without saying a word and quickly returned my attention to the scoundrel and the bold lady. For some reason, I felt happy that I wasn't going home with a twerp, I mean I deserved better but then, how will I ever get out of this situation. I secretly hoped this lady did this to save me. That was what it seemed like.

The scoundrel as the lady addressed him, angrily poured his drink on the man standing right next to him and walked out of the room as the crowd erupted into a burst of mocking laughter. That was when I released a breath I did not even realize I was holding.

"She's all yours." Dan said to the woman who smiled at me and within a twinkle of an eye, I was released and taken away by her after she dumped the gold coin at Dan.

"Thank you very much for saving me back there. I owe you a lot." I said to the lady as we got outside.

"Don't thank me, girl. I really like you and I'm having you tonight and the rest of the week." She said.

"What?" I muttered.

"Get in the carriage." She said as my heart stopped beating at that moment.