A Plea to Live

"I must admit that I am surprised a woman of your age has managed to remain untouched for this long." He remarked thoughtfully as he strolled over to the door and flipped the latch on the top to lock it before moving over to the fire to crouch and add a couple logs.

A latch I clearly couldn't reach without dragging a chair over.

That was pretty much my primary plan at this juncture.

That or slitting his throat with his own dagger if I could get it from him before he snaps my neck. I winced at the thought.

"My, my..." He remarked. Peering over his shoulder pensively at me. "Ye're always thinkin' aren't ye?"

I gave him a dumbfounded look. Likely belying his remark on what may've been, a compliment to my intelligence. I was trying to remember if I'd been staring at the lock on the door when he'd commented.

Had I been so obviously trying to plan an escape?

"Here." He walked to a pantry and returned with potatoes and carrots and a skinned rabbit he drew off a hook. Slapping them on the table next to me made me jump.

I winced, closing my eyes.

"Cease with that." He grunted. "If I was going to force ye, I'd have done so by now." He looked sideways at me standing next to me. "However, be forewarned, I will have no qualms in it if ye dunnot cooperate when I say after the first time."

"The first time?"

He scoffed at my whining voice. "Even a man like me knows ye gotta treat a woman a bit different her first time or she'd rather die than let ye near her again."

"I'd already rather die than let you near me." I blinked up at him dully.

He reared back slightly and gave me a long look. "I'm awful close to ye now." He nodded toward the mere inches gap between our arms. "And I ain't hurtin' ye."

I swallowed a lump which had the texture and consistency of a river boulder.

"Cook." He gestured to the carrots and potatoes.

"Dagger." I held out my hand. Trying to act purposeful so he wouldn't notice my deep hope.

When he didn't move a long moment, I hazarded another look up at him and met dancing blue eyes.

"Cute try."

My lip curled derisively. He walked to a drawer near the pantry and withdrew the tiniest sticker I'd ever seen. Slapping it into my palm.

The handle is longer than the blade.

He grinned unabashedly at my mournful study of the little knife.

"Is this even sharp enough to cut the carrot?"

"Give it a try."

I turned the carrot and chopped the tip which came off smoothly. Least its sharp.

"It is enough to cut that. But you stick me with it, it's going to do just enough damage to annoy me. And might make your next days less kind then I'd planned thus far."

Seeing the intensity of his light blue eyes I was very certain he met it.

Grimacing I went back to cutting the carrot. Dammit.

***

To my surprise, the barbarian stood next to me and used his own dagger to cut up the rabbit while I worked on the vegetables.

He put bits into a pot as did I until we had the beginnings of a stew.

He went to a bucket in a cool corner and lifted out a metal ladle to pour several spoons of water in the pot.

Bringing it back he went back to a cupboard above the drawer near the pantry and retrieved several stoppered vials of dried herbs. Pointing and telling me what they were.

"Let's see your cooking."

My brown brows lifted and I hesitantly reached for some basil and rosemary. Adding them to the vegetables. Scooping out some of the bits of meat I rolled them in a spiced rub from one of the vials.

"Impressive." He remarked. Tilting his head grudgingly.

***

After a few hours I could see the light around the door dimming and new evening was descending.

But my apprehension was only growing.

We were both partaking of the stew which had turned out rather tasteful. He'd admitted so.

But I'd only had a few bites before having to set it aside.

"Eat it." He nodded with his spoon. "You'll need your energy."

"Will I?" My voice darkened. "What if I were to starve to death. You'd be out a pretty bit of coin then, wouldn't you?"

He shrugged. "Can always by another slave." He took another thoughtful bite before his icy gaze levelled on me. "Or I could force feed you to keep you."

I wasn't particularly fond of the sound of that.

He'll do it. I was sure.

He stood with his empty bowl in hand and I scampered to near the door to get from his path. He collected my smaller bowl and stacked it in his to set it near a washbasin by the door.

Forcing me to skirt the wall until I was nearly by the pantry. Eying it questioningly.

Could I fit in there?

And could I jam myself in there tightly enough he couldn't get me out.

"Won't work, Lass." He glanced at the pantry. "I'll tear it from the wall to get to ye, if I want ye."

"How about you don't."

"Don't what?" He frowned.

"Want me."

"A bit late for that." He curved a finger near his hip. "I've had me digits in ye enough to know I wanna taste o' ye. Sides all yer spit and fire is rather arousing."

I grimaced. Reminding myself to be more passive, in that case.

He took a step toward me and I cracked the pantry.

"Now stop, Woman. This'll go one of two ways. Ye can come o'er here and do as I bid and I'll be fair and gentle with ye this first time or ye can defy me and I swear by all that's holy I'll tie ye to my table and have ye there."

I looked at the table anxiously.

"Must admit," He murmured. Following my gaze to it. "That does sound tempting."

"No!" I yelped.

"Come." He turned his gaze back to me. Crooking his finger beckoningly.

Like coaxing a rat from under a floorboard.