The Mountain Men

"You have planned this in order to get ransom money from my father," I stated simply.

"You did not think we were just raiding a random carriage, did you?"

Well at first, I had certainly hoped so. Melchior took one more sip from his wine, which was starting to annoy me. He must have sought my father out, and I hoped that it was only because of his wealth.

"How did you know when I would leave home?"

He ignored my question and got up to walk towards a wooden cabinet, decorated with stars, and took out a box that I instantly recognized. I wanted to order him to return it to me immediately, but realized that my orders had no input in this place.

"I presume this belongs to you."

He presumed.

My angry eyes looked into his cold ones. The moment I did, was when my anger subsided.

"That was my sewing box."

He smiled, as if something about what I said endeared him.

"Would you like it back?"

I squinted my eyes, sitting a tad bit straighter in my chair.

"Very much."

A very elegant hand reached out to my own. His glove was soft, but I felt that his hand underneath was cold, yet I was somehow taken by its touch.

"I would like to return it to you, on one condition."

I frowned.

"The condition being?"

A faint smile came over his thin lips.

"I want you to write a letter in which you beg your father to pay ransom money."

I held back a scoff.

"Will this actually contribute to my freedom?"

"It would contribute to it less if you wouldn't. I would like your cooperation, instead of just forcing you. That would be an easy task without your lovely little dagger."

I gasped.

"How do you know about my dagger?"

"My second in command holds no secrets from me."

That explained the authority which had radiated from Alexander. Melchior slowly moved away from me and handed me a quill, a pot of ink and paper.

"I understand the journey must have been long. A guard will send you to one of our tents, where you will be able to write the letter. It will be handed over for inspection afterwards."

To my surprise, his thin, clothed hand helped me up from the chair.

"I will see you in an hour, at dinner."

When he put his lips on my hand, it sent a dangerous shiver up my spine. I didn't dare look in his eyes.

My tent was an outrage. There were pillows and a low table to write my letter prepared for me, but apart from this and a small bed, there was nothing! If I hadn't been held captive, I would have made a complaint immediately. Now, there was nothing left for me to do than to write the letter to my father. Perhaps, if I would complain enough he would become outraged too.

***

My Dearest father,

I am in an uproar! On my way to Lady Silvana, some bandits had the nerve to steal my belongings, and even kill my poor guards. I cannot tell you exactly who were killed. You know I am not one to remember names well. My tent is absolutely empty, and the ones who hold me captive, by name of Melchior and Alexander are terribly rude. Although the former is somewhat charming. The latter is a complete savage! He took me on a horse without a saddle!

They want ransom, father. Please give it to them.

Your daughter,

Ignacia

***

Would that be sufficient, I wondered? I had had a long day, and the absurdity of it all was getting to me. In frustration, I threw one of the pillows against the tent-opening, only to find a head with dark hair collide with it.

"Not quite happy to see me now, are you," Alexander said, while taking the pillow from his face.

"Not quite, especially when you don’t knock," I said, realizing immediately that this was impossible when staying in a tent.

I couldn’t hold back an embarrassed smile completely.

"So, you have written the letter."

Alexander walked towards the table, and had already snatched the letter before I could protest.

"So you were heading to Lady Silvana? Getting some new aprons now, are we."

I was surprised to hear that Alexander even knew who Lady Silvana was.

"That is none of your business." I said, folding my arms, and looking distinctly the other way. Ignoring my behavior, Alexander sat down on the pillow I had accidentally thrown at him.

“I didn’t know women as pretentious as you would care to retrieve their own dresses.”

“Normally I don’t,” I said grumpily.

A light flickered in Alexander’s dark eyes. "So you were meeting Lady Silvana? It must have been a very special dress then, for you to grant her an audience with yourself."

I sighed in annoyance.

"If you must know, I want to be her apprentice. A dream that was shattered thanks to all of you.”

He looked up from my letter with a surprised look on his face.

“Really? I didn’t expect that of you.”

I frowned. How dare he question one of my wildest dreams, that had finally come true too! I hoped my letter would reach my father soon, so I could continue on my way. Currently, however, it looked like the letter would remain in the hands of Alexander for a little longer.

“And why is that?” I asked him bitterly.

He wasn’t even a bit affected by my tone.

“You didn’t strike me as someone that cares for anything other than reputation and looks.”

I sat down on my bed and crossed my legs. Alexander’s eyes didn’t leave mine. Slowly, I pointed at the lower end of my skirt. It had gotten a little dirty on the road, but my work was still visible. Tiny golden birds were flowing on the hemn of my skirt.

“I embroidered the birds,” I said, unable to erase the pride in my voice.

To my surprise, he looked at them quietly for a moment, before nodding and returning his attention back to my letter.

I had at least expected some sort of confirmation for my splendid work! Instead, his attention was directed towards another work of mine, which wasn’t nearly as splendid. With a big grin on his face, he continued to read it.

“The latter is a complete savage! I am appalled. Is that what you think of me?"

He looked up sadly from the letter, his hair falling over his eyes. When I didn’t respond to his insolence, he continued.

"How come Melchior is the charming one?"

He sounded a bit vexed.

"Is it because I took you riding without a saddle?"

He smiled cockily. I scowled.

"Such impatience! And it is not because of that alone. You took my sewing-box!"

"And now the charming Melchior is keeping it. I tried to conceal it from him, you know."

"It happened because you couldn't keep your hands off my box!"

He grinned.

"First I take you riding without a saddle, and now I can't keep my hands of your box. I do understand why you think so lowly of me, my Lady."

"I am not your Lady!"

"If I take you riding without a saddle perhaps you are."

He smirked and walked towards the bed to hand me back my letter. I took it so eagerly, it ripped.

"You cannot say such things! And look at this, now I need to write it again."

"I am sure you will manage. When you are a seamstress, your hands will have to do a lot more than this."

"So you do believe that I went to Lady Silvana to become an apprentice?”

"The materials inside the box looked well-maintained, but also like they had been used quite a bit. I know, because we are expected to repair our own clothes here."

I smiled.

"You can sew?"

He looked rather reluctant to share that information.

"This conversation will have to wait, you have been summoned to dinner, and you need to write that letter again."

At that, I hastily rewrote it, cursing Alexander under my breath. He rather enjoyed it, it seemed.

I supposed that is what savages do.

*

After writing my letter, twice, my hands were stained with ink, which I was unable to remove. I had never before joined a dining party in a filthy dress, with filthy hands and tangled hair. But it wasn’t really a dining party, was it? Alexander opened the tent for me, and as I stepped out, I saw long wooden tables set up in the middle of the camp, with miscellaneous chairs around it. Lanterns were lit and set up in a row in the middle of the tables. It was starting to get dark, and the lanterns were one of the few sources of light. Fireflies had appeared in the trees, giving the table an eerie atmosphere.

Not all bandits were present at dinner, but I did see Baldwin. I was surprised to not only see bandits, but also women and children. Melchior was sitting at the head of the middle table. The chair to his right was empty, and I suspected that it was reserved for Alexander.

The bandits were looking rather groomed this evening, they were wearing fur coats. A shiver ran through me. I certainly could use one of those.

"Are you cold?" said Alexander suddenly.

I looked at him confusedly, but he already snapped his fingers at one of the bandits in the coats, who rushed away hurriedly.

"Don’t grow all cocky now that I helped you once, princess," said the second in command.

"I didn’t ask you to help me," I mumbled, soft enough for him not to hear it.

Alexander sat me down on the left side of Melchior, before sitting down on the seat to his right. I looked around curiously, glad to see that Baldwin was sitting next to me. Most of the bandits were wearing hats, which were shapeless but made out of velvet and decorated with what appeared to be pheasant feathers. They were talking in a sharp accent. Some of them looked at me when they noticed my staring. They looked as surprised to see me, as I was surprised to see them.

"You are giving them quite curious looks, miss. I wouldn't do that if I were you, these mountain men are confrontational folk."

The bandit Alexander had turned away earlier came back with a thick, white coat which I put on gratefully, while trying to ignore its smell.

"Thank you,” I whispered before returning to Baldwin.

"Who are these 'mountain men' exactly? They do not look like commoners," I whispered to him, "up until now, I only saw them as bandits."

They looked like bewildered nobles to me.

"They are not, miss. Their task is to defend the villages, far up the mountains."

"If that is the case, why are they here?"

He smiled.

"I think that will be revealed to you soon."

His index-finger pointed at Melchior, who was about to speak.

"Friends, I have an important announcement to make."

I found it peculiar how he spoke of everyone as a friend. Would he really be that naïve?

"We have managed to capture Ignacia Collios," he said, making an elegant gesture towards me.

All of the mountain men looked at me now, their thick eyebrows in a frown.

"We have made her write a ransom note," continued Melchior, whose thin fingers gestured towards me. I showed him the note, which I had been holding in my hand until now.

"However," Melchior said as he snatched the note from my hand, the contact between our fingers made me feel feverish, "we are not sure about the outcome yet. We could use old Collios's money, of course. But his daughter's presence here would give us great leverage over him."

Plates with warm meat were put in front of us by other bandits, as well as bottles of wine, beer and water. I was shocked to see the bandits next to me attack the meat like there was no tomorrow. I refused to take any of it with my hands, I thought.

At least, until I saw the sweet-smelling ribs disappear at an alarming rate. Then. I carefully rolled up my white sleeves before taking some of it for myself. Baldwin looked at me, a strange smile on his face, as I took a bite out of the meat.

It tasted like nothing I had ever eaten before. Surely, the food I had been served at the mansion was delicious. But I had never tasted anything else. The taste of this meat was more earthy, sweeter and purer than anything I had experienced before. And I didn’t hesitate to take more of it. That is, until I was once again aware of the discussion that was unfolding right next to me.

"Hang Collios's money! With his daughter as a hostage, we could easily take his half of the Blue River," said one of the mountain men who was dressed in a brown coat, taking a large bite from his meat.

I, however, froze. All the appetite I had previously discovered was lost.

They wanted my father's lands.