Desiare looked around quickly, picking up her rock as she continued working on the cage. For two days she had done so, constantly watching to make sure no one snuck up on her. It had been an arduous task, and her fingers were beginning to grow bloody, but she simply wrapped a strip of cloth around the flat end of the stone and kept working. Her progress was starting to pay off, as she could feel one of the slats of the cage give slightly, loosening under the constant pressure she applied.
It seemed that the Easterlings were content that she was well secured, for they barely paid her any attention at all, save to occasionally come and bring her water. She used the time ignored to work, her determination to free Tank and get them both out of this trouble drove her. When her hands became too cramped to hold the rock, she would lay down and nap, though her mind was full of nightmares and sleep itself became a torture.
Upon hearing footfalls grow closer, she shoved the rock into some dirt and turned to set herself against the back of the cage waiting. Two men approached, looking down on her with contempt as one opened the cage door. The other reached in, grabbing her arm with his hand as he yanked her unceremoniously from her prison and dragged her to her feet. "The captain wants you," he said, laughing derisively at her as he pulled her along, the other man falling into step opposite. Soon they came to a large tent, with a wooden post outside. The captain stood in the entrance, a dark grin on his face as he caught sight of the blonde captive.
She tossed back her head, staring at him stubbornly, and he laughed loudly. "I see that you are still as feisty as ever girl. We'll be fixing some of that today." He gestured sharply towards the pole, and the two men dragged her up to it, preparing to tie her to it.
"Wait," the captain said, striding up to her as he pulled a dagger from his belt. As he turned her to face him, she looked down at the wickedly sharp blade as her eyes grew huge. Desperately, she tried to back away, but he grabbed her by the front of her shirt, inserting the tip beneath her collar and with a quick jerk down, had cut the leather down to the bottom. The men holding her looked down, their toothy grins saying there were more than enjoying the view, as they turned her back around and stripped the armour from her, leaving her bare from the waist up. "Now, you can tie her to the post," the captain barked as he turned to go into his tent.
They made quick work of tying her, her hands wrapped around the pole and over her head so she couldn't move. Satisfied, the stepped back, turning to watch as the captain came out of the tent. She could hear them snicker and say something crude, but she was unable to turn her head enough to see what was going on behind her. "Now," the captain said, a sneer in his voice. "Let's begin with a few simple questions. What's your name girl?"
Desiare pursed her lips, refusing to give the man an inch. "I see," he said, "One more time -- your name girl." Her only reply was something swift and crude, as she continued to defy his demand for an answer.
She heard the snap, just before a pain unlike any she'd felt exploded across her back. The shock caused her to scream out in agony, as the long, barbed whip connected with her skin. "You name girl!" he barked out, but she shook her head, biting her lip against what she now knew would come.
Again the whip came down, an agonizing burn as it found fresh flesh to dig into. Despite being prepared, she still cried out as she gripped the ties with her hands. Each time he asked, she refused him, and each refusal earned her another strike across her back, each more painful than the last. After 10, she stopped counting, her back feeling as though it were on fire, her lip swollen from her teeth as she bit down against the torment
Finally he grew tired of the interrogation, and threw the whip aside. "Take her back to her pen, leave her there for the rest of the night to think." They untied her from the post, and grabbed her as she fell, her body unable to hold itself up. They turned her to face the captain, as he grabbed her chin in his large hand, lifting her eyes to face his. "That," he spat, "Was gentle. The next one will not be, if you don't give me what I ask for. Get her out of here!" he growled, shoving her against the men as she strode back into his tent.
As they dragged her back to the pen, several Easterlings watched them, a mixture of sadistic amusement and lecherous appreciation on their faces. She was tossed, face first in as they locked the door behind her. Sensing, rather than seeing where she was, she crawled into the corner,curling up into the fetal position as darkness took her and she passed out.
