Going on a raid

"You like what you see?"

I realize that I'm staring straight at the appendage straining against the silky sheets. I gasp quickly and look away, redness instantly painting my cheeks. " No I Wasn't seeing it " He chuckles smoothly and slides out of bed. He throws the covers off of his glorious naked body and strides

over to his wardrobe.

I can't help but stare as I see him walk in front of me, his muscled ass cheeks flexing with each step. I feel like I want to swoon. But I remember who this man is and I instantly shake the thought out of my head.

No Elizabella No

I follow subtly behind him. I don't have a wardrobe of my own, and I'm relying on Cesar to give me something to wear. He notices me lingering awkwardly and realizes why I'm doing it. "I should Proudly tell you 'dat your clothes are in the other wardrobe over there."

Something about his accent makes me shiver. I look over to the wardrobe in the corner of the large room. I hadn't

noticed it before. I open the big wooden doors. I'm blown away by how many dresses are stuffed into the little closet.

Reds, blues, greens, yellows, pinks, oranges, and an abundance of other beautiful colours.

I glance over at Cesar, changing in the corner. He slips on a red breechcloth with a brown leather waist covering. He then dips two fingers into a wooden paint bowl, spreading paint all over his naked chest. I look in the closet for a red dress. I feel somehow connected with my master and can't help myself when I think about matching him.

I select a red silk dress from the wardrobe and begin to change behind the wardrobe door. There's a cracked mirror beside the door, and I look at myself to make sure I appear alright.

The silk accents my supple, womanly curves perfectly,

"Beautiful" He said and I covered my face...

I saw Cesar staring at me, mirth in

his eyes. My face reddens and I See the lust in his eyes.

"You are wearing it wrong," he mumbles in his thick, husky accent. "Here, lemme help you."

I decide whether or not I should let him help me.

"Okay but Don't look at my chest," I warn him. He takes the silk off of my shoulders, keeping his eyes down as he wrapped the red silk tightly around my bare breasts. As soon as they're covered, he looks up, walking around me all the while winding the silk around my body.

By the time he's finished, I look and feel like an exotic princess. The way he wrapped me , boosted my breasts and

made them look awfully perky and 'up for grabs'.

He comes back with red jewels on another golden chain and hands it to me. It's more beautiful and gorgeous than the one I wore

yesterday.

"Where did you get this?" I ask him. He merely shrugs his shoulders, painting on his body more. I examine the jewels for a moment more before I decide to put them around my neck. I sweep my long chestnut curls forward and then back. I feel dirty after not having had a bath in a few days because my hairs were becoming rough.

" Want to Bath " He said

" Perhaps I'd bath later because we are going now "

He brings the paint bowl over to me.

"Let me paint you," he murmurs, holding out the bowl. I look at the liquid inside of

the bowl and cringe. It's red and thick looking.

"Is it berry juice?" I ask.

Cesar snorts. "Deer's blood."

I hold back the vomit threatening to come up the back of My throat. "I'm not putting Deer's blood on me," I say Definitely.

"That's…that's gross."

He raises an eyebrow. "Do you know how petty you sound?"

he asks, somewhat amused. "We always wear red on the days of the raids. And as my mistress, you're to honour my title by wearing Deer's blood on your face."

I suddenly feel guilty about wearing red and wish that I could change out of my clothes. Stupid girl, why did you have to want to colour coordinate with him?

"How can you send raid parties out and be proud of what you do? You steal, you pillage and plunder, and you kill. You kidnap, you take slaves. You ruin lives!"

Cesar is listening to me intently

as if he actually cares about what I am saying. "I'm not wearing the Deer's blood."

He gets mad this time, his face reddening as he clenches his fists at his side and grits his teeth. "You are wearing the blood That's my order."

He said out loud.

" You're Not my King "

I put my hands on my hips and stare at him defiantly. "I do not approve! I will not support this."

"I do not care if you support or not!" he booms angrily. I jump in shock; I've offended him greatly. "You could have been raped, and you could have and should have been beaten for your defiance! Because of you long Scissor like tongue , But alas, you have not! I could take this all away right now and be your worst nightmare, Elizabella. Hold. Your. Tongue.".

My face pales instantly and I feel my stomach churn in fear.

" I Am Sorry "

I believe him. I stop acting like a child and sit down in the chair. I nod breathlessly. As he calms, I watch the fire go right out of his big brown eyes to watch as the soothing

waves roll in.

He is right i am just a Slave , A whore to him but still he listen to my loud talk. He could just rape me and throw me for his men to take advantage or worst but he is tolerating my behavior.

He dips two fingers into the blood and begins to paint on my face. I let him. I close my eyes as he swirls his wet fingers

over my smooth skin, streaking both my cheeks with three stripes of blood and dots above my eyes.

"Done," he whispers softly, the same smile tugging at the corner of his reluctant lips. "You look like a barbarian now.

Elizabella don't anger me , I am Being nice to you. Don't take things as Granted "

"You look like a barbarian now."

I'm not proud of that, but I'm really glad that he's not as angry as he was before.

Cassandra had told me of his temper, and I'd foolishly almost pushed him right over the edge. I insulted everything he lived for.

The barbarians are a life of crime. They are born of blood and death, sacrifice and fault. I stand as he opens the door to the hallway. I follow him outside, hearing the bustle of soldiers in red cloths and blood acting as body paint rush down the hallway with spears, knives and khopesh swords in their hands.

He leads me to the grand hall, where his throne is. It's a great golden throne with animal skins thrown over it and spears jutting from the back of it, skewering dead bear heads like a meat. I saw this place first time since i was taken here.

I cringe when I see their glassy eyes staring at me. Cesar sits down on his throne and nods to the tiny pillow next to

his throne. Am I supposed to sit there?

I give him disgusted look... He gives me a serious look that tells me that I shouldn't argue.

I sit down on the red velvet pillow and watch as the men silence immediately in Cesar's presence. I scan the crowds.

I see Cesar's brother and instantly fuel my hatred towards him. Cesar had told me his brother's name, Iron Coyote or his commoner's name, William, and of his actions to call him Iron Coyote's is because whores always came out of his bedroom

bruised and bloody, and he is always greedy with the lust for Cesar's throne and fortune. I glare at him. He points at the bruises on my neck, bringing it to the attention of another barbarian warrior. They laugh heartily. I curse them

Silently.

Cesar gives them a death stare. Iron Coyote and his colleague quiet down. He stands, the blood on his body dripping through the deep ridges in his abdominal muscles.

Then he does something I do not expect. He roars like a lion, and his men join him in calling. He raises a special spear laying next to his throne and raises it into the air. The spear is drenched with dark red blood. That doesn't look like Deer's blood.

Cesar speaks in his language to the crowd of rowdy barbarians. I do not catch where he is leading the raid, but I feel the slightest disgust towards Cesar as he talks to the crowd of riled up warriors ready to shed blood and steal.

He is so animated when he speaks. I read his movements instead of his lips. He moves his hands in the formation of the sun, waves of an ocean, and flexes his inhumanly large bicep muscles to show strength. I can't help but ogle.

I catch he talked about going to East.

Athenodora was right about one thing with Cesar—he is a fine man indeed.

I know when his speech is over. The men all chant the same words three times in a row, "Za mu yi yãki, mu rayu ma yau

da dare!"

before they rush out of the grand hall and out of the castle. Cesar gets up from his throne and follows slowly behind his men. I sits there still Don't know what to do , He casts a glance over his shoulder and gives me A gaze. "Ku zo," he says. I understand that he is saying"Come. Follow me outside." due to his gesture with his fingers.

I get up from my position on the pillow and start moving after him slowly. He holds the door open for me surprisingly and leads

me out into the unbearable hot day. The roads have been kicked with extra dust from all of the barefooted men running around with large wolves that acted as pets.

The barbarians took wild wolves to their raids to make it easier for them. The wolves would attack anyone they saw

and get a free meal. I stand beside Cesar, feeling slightly ashamed to be the king's mistress.

"Ku zo," he says again, nodding his head to the small stable behind the castle. Inside there are horses whinnying and whining loudly. I've lots of experience with horses for my father ran a farm and I would ride my favourite horse Pansy out into the meadows sometimes.

He walks into the stables, inspecting the horses until he finds one. It is a strong palomino blonde horse. I'm in love with the horse immediately. I reach out my hand, and the horse puts its soft nose into my palm. I giggle softly.

"Yours," he tells me. I look at him incredulously. Is he serious? He smiles and nods, like he's reading my mind.

"Named Rana Fashe. Daybreak."

"Rana Fashe, Daybreak," I repeat. He smiles slightly and rests his muscled arms on the pen of my new horse's pen.

He points at a strong black stallion in the next stallion in the next stall. "Mine," he says. "Name is Tsakar dare. In your language, his name is

Midnight. Do You Know How To Ride? "

" Yes i do "

I'm fascinated. I had no idea that the barbarians Favoured horses. They usually liked to walk barefoot to places or ride their oxen in their fields. It was stupid of me to think that they didn't ride horses, but I just had never seen them raid

villages on the backs of horses.

I purse my lips before looking back up at him. "Do we get to ride them?" I ask him. There's a certain glint in his eyes that tells me yes, you do get to. I'm excited. This is the first nice thing Cesar's done for me since I'd gotten here, not mentioning the fact that he let sex go for two days in a row.

He starts to walk out of the stables. I'm confused. "Ces—uh, I mean Dances With Wolves, wait!"