Delayed

They had her bound to a horse for what seemed like hours. Her abductors were being very careful to avoid being pursued by Marino and others by staying off the main routes. She felt her slipping off the horse at various times and her abductors were growing fastly annoyed with her.

For each time it happened they had to stop and set her upright again. She was trying everything in her power to get abductors to slow down and delay. Surely by now Marino, who was always so watchful of her would know that she was missing.

In her mind she could hear Marino asking, "Has anyone seen Ari."

At least she hoped, her abductors went to great lengths to procure her body, was it possible they knew of her origins, and that she was becoming a siren like her mother. The thought filled Ari with dread, if they informed the Royal family about her presence she would be killed.