-- Lilith POV --

  She'd been riding with her captors for weeks, and the weather god had been merciful. Only one night out in the wilds while it had been raining. Most days the weather was alright, but nights got colder and colder, quite certainly autumn was arriving.

  At first they had been camping outdoors every night. If she counted right, it had been twelve nights before they stopped at a building for the first time and she got to sleep indoors on a straw heap. First time for at least somewhat proper personal hygiene too. The building seemed to be a sort of watchtower or border fortification. The stay there reminded her much of the prisons she had been in, particularly the straw heap, but it was undoubtedly better than sleeping in a sleeping bag outdoors.

  From that point her escort had at least doubled, and the indoor stays became more and more frequent, all military buildings. Smaller posts first, actual barracks later, but all outside towns. All showed a distinct deep red banner which was different from the banners that she had seen in Laketown or Sunnyvale. She took it as a sign that she was now in a different country altogether. The fact that most people here spoke a language that she didn't understand just supported this idea, even if a good number spoke her language as well. It just wasn't the standard in this place.

  Eventually they had approached city. She could see it from afar. A big city, many tall and often massive, shining white buildings, apparently all made from stone, at least from what she could see.

  "Stop!" They came to a halt, "Demon. Can't let you see where we bring you. Maybe later you'll get a tour through the city. Today, orders are that you must not know where we bring you. You'll have to accept the blindfold for the rest of the travel."

  Of course. They were still afraid of whatever she could do with seeing this city of which she didn't even know the name of. At least she was quite good at riding now, and probably would manage to ride even with a blindfold.

  "If you must. I'll just be happy once I have a place to stay again", she replied and someone rode up to her side. She leaned over slightly and let the man slip a blindfold over her eyes. It was a surprisingly soft and pleasant cloth, still dark as night.

  "Tell us if you feel dizzy. Riding blind can do that. We don't want any accidents on this last stage", their leaders voice always had a certain military tone to it, but she had learned this didn't mean he was angry. It was just how he was.

  "Will do", she confirmed.

  Soon the sound of the horseshoes changed again. Harder ground, then horseshoes on rock, cobblestone probably. Then many voices, all speaking the language, which she didn't understand. They had to be in the city now.

  They stopped, she was helped down from the horse and led into a building, she could hear doors and gates being opened and closed again. The city sounds dampened and it felt even darker under the blindfold than before. This building certainly had many doors, heavy wooden doors first, then metal gates by the sounds. Then her leader stopped.

  "Demon, were there. Can't let you know where this is, but for the next days, maybe weeks this will be your home. You've been good, so the superiors have agreed to give you a little comfort. Now, stand still and let me remove your bindings and your blindfold. If you are good you'll sleep in a proper bed tonight." That was their group leader talking to her.

  "A bed will be nice after all this", she had to agree.

  "Turn a little to the left", she was instructed.

  She nodded and turned a quarter left.

  She felt something hard pressed to her back, it clicked and the steel rope that had kept her elbows at her sides losened. Then she felt something cold and hard at her wrists, it clicked again and the ties losened up as well. She heard steps, the man was walking from her right to her left and got the lose steel rope off her body first, then from her wrists.

  "Close your eyes. I'll remove your blindfold now", his voice sounded much softer suddenly.

  She nodded slightly, "Alright." She had kept her eyes closed anyways, because it was really painful to have the cloth accidentally touch her eyeballs.

  He removed the blindfold as well. "Alright, demon, the room is only dimly lit right now, should be safe to open your eyes."

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  She did. Her vision was bad after the long time blindfolded, but she saw something square. Was it? Yes it was a bed.

  "Your bed. Reward for being good."

  She blinked and tried to see more of the room. There was bedside cabinet with a vase on it. A table and two stools. A lit candle on the table. A shelf on the wall but empty. A single window with a wooden shutter than was currently closed. Curiously it was made to swing inside the room to open it, not outside as usual. Then some installations for basic hygiene.

  She turned further and saw metal bars. Then a door, a metal frame with metal bars. And past the door was small space, not even two paces deep, and another row of metal bars and another likewise door. Past that, another small space and finally a brick wall with a wooden door.

  She was in a cell again. A somewhat comfortable, but nevertheless very secure cell.

  Her captor spoke again, "Might not look like it right now, but you're in good hands. If you ask me, better than where you've been before. You work for us now. Do good work, behave well, and you'll live well. This is the best I could arrange for you right now. It's a start. You have a bed, a room of your own. Many servants have to sleep among the flea ridden animals in the barn. They would happily trade their place for this one."

  She nodded slowly. This world was a sad world. Even a cell with a bed was better than what the poor people out there had.

  She looked at the man, "I see. May I ask your name?"

  He laughed, "Yeah, now we're free to talk. I'm Sir Frederik, Captain of the guard. I'll be your contact officer. That means, whenever there is a problem of sorts, you can talk to me about it."

  He pointed at the metal door, "Right now the door is locked for you, but it doesn't have to stay like that. See, we don't have any benefit from making your life harder than it needs to be. You don't have any benefit from making us angry. I suggest cooperation."

  "So you want me to do rune crafting?" She had a slightly desperate smile on her face.

  "Yes, that's the plan. A forge has been build not far from here. We have a few blacksmiths as candidates to work with you. And you'll even have a say which one you prefer to work with. We want to provide good working conditions for you."

  She smirked. They were building her a golden cage.

  "John had an ancient tome about runes and rune crafting. I'll need something like that for studies", she let him know.

  He nodded, "I'll see what I can do. So, you are willing to work with us?"

  She tried to show a smile, "Sir Frederik, what choice do I have? Sit here and rot away, or work at the forge, where there is fire, people to talk to, work with, and maybe even become friends."

  He smiled quite openly at her, "That's the right mindset. It'll take a few days, maybe a week to get everything organized. The guards are instructed that you are a demon trickster and that you like to play games. I can't offer much entertainment at the moment, but I hope you understand that I'm trying to make this feel as good for you as I can."

  She nodded, "I'll do the rune crafting. Don't forget about the book."

  He nodded as well, "I'll see you once a day. There will always be a guard nearby, so if there is something urgent, just ask them to call me."

  "Alright, so see you tomorrow?" She offered.

  "Yep. See you then!" He tipped his helmet with two fingers, opened the first door, closed and locked it, and then opened the second door, to close and lock that one as well and eventually left through wooden door in the back wall, which wasn't locked at it seemed. Surprisingly, this way she even had some privacy. Or was that extra boredom?

  Before she could make up her mind the door opened again and a guard or soldier in a similar outfit like Sir Frederik came in, "Greetings, Lilith. My name is Sam Olsen, I'm one of the guards selected as your personal guards."

  She must have looked quite surprised, because he explained further while he unlocked the outer door, "Must sound weird. But believe me, the uppers are as much afraid that someone tries to kidnap you, as they are afraid that you want to break out. So we're instructed to keep you in and everyone else out."

  He locked the outer door.

  She had to laugh, "They stole me, now I'm their precious and they are worried someone else might try to do the same. Ah well, nice to meet you Sam. Guess we'll share a lot of time here."

  He showed a pained grin, "Not much choice there. But I think I have good news for you. With the extra security of the cascaded doors the uppers are not quite that scared that you'll break out. While the outer door is locked, I'm allowed to open the inner door. That'll make playing games easier."

  Now she was actually surprised, "You are not afraid that I might hurt you? I mean, they kept me tied with that mean steel rope stuff for weeks because everyone was scared of my claws."

  He shook his head slightly, "They were more afraid that you might run away than they were afraid you might hurt them. Maybe worried that you might try to take one as hostage and get in control. But Sir Frederik has certainly told you already. If you hurt one of us, they have ways to make you pay. You are reasonable enough to understand that."

  She showed her fangs but changed to a more moderate grin, "Yes, I understand that I don't have much leverage here and depend on everyone's good will."

  He actually unlocked and opened the inner door, "There. Sign of trust. I'm not really into cards or dice, but I can juggle. Want to learn juggling?"