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He gasped out loud, his mouth opening in a silent scream. Ayala twisted out of his grip and rolled. She fell to the floor in front of his bed. She grasped for the knife, and began sawing at her bonds. Cortés began to recover, making his way toward her, seething in anger and residual pain. Ayala redoubled her efforts, feeling the ropes begin to fray. She cried out as the knife bit into her flesh, and the ties finally gave way.
Cortés lunged for her and she rolled away, making her way onto her feet as quickly as she could. She ran toward the tent door and pushed it out of her way. She raced away from the tent, her tattered clothes whipping away from her body. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she made a quick choice and ran in the direction of the horses.
She heard Cortés behind her, bellowing for his men to catch her. She ran hard, focusing on every step. She was still lucky enough to have her shoes on as her feet pounded across the ground.
Night was beginning to fall and the shadows hid her as she reached the edge of camp. She hid behind a tent, as soldiers ran by shouting and looking for her. She caught her breath, her eyes wide and scared. Her breath slowed, and her pounding heart slackened too.
Ayala looked around and heard angry grunting coming from the tent. She looked around, and saw no one.Taking the gold knife she still had in her hands, she sliced a small hole in the wall of the tent. She peeked inside, and gasped at what she saw.
Lord Eiotan was tied and gagged inside. His hands were tied behind his b
ack, and his ankles tied together. A blindfold blocked his vision. Ayala sliced an even bigger hole in the tent and made her way quickly inside.
She put the knife down by her side and pushed the blindfold off his head. He stiffened at her touch, but when he saw that it was her, his eyes softened. She untied the gag and pulled it from his mouth.
“Lord Eiotan,” she whispered, her hands holding his face.
“Ayala, what have they done to you?” His voice was angry and hoarse as he took in her state of undress.
“Nothing, I escaped,” she replied, picking up the knife and cutting the rest of his bonds. He stretched his limbs and pulled her into his arms.
He kissed her deeply and fisted his fingers into her hair. She moaned at his touch, melting into him. He pulled back and put a finger over her lips. He took off his shirt and handed it to her.
“Here, put this on,” he whispered. “We have to get out of here.”
She pulled his shirt over her head. It was soft linen and fell over her hips to mid-thigh. The two of them made their way out of the hole she had cut in the tent. They stuck close to the wall of the tent and quietly crept behind the soldier that was guarding the place where Lord Eiotan had been imprisoned. Neither Eiotan nor Ayala made a sound. Quickly, they sought another tent to hide behind so that the soldier didn’t turn around or glance their way.
They snuck behind tents, farther and farther toward the edge of camp until they came upon the horses. Esperanza was at the edge of the fenced field. Her reins were still on, and her saddle was off to the side, sitting on the fence. Ayala climbed over it and approached her horse. Esperanza nuzzled against her shoulder. Ayala ran her hand down her back and the horse stood still. She pulled the saddle blankets over Esperanza’s back and lifted the saddle, putting it on her as well.
She glanced around, but the field was silent. Shouting came from within the camp. Torches were beginning to be lit and men were running around. They were searching for her.
She pulled the leather straps tight on Esperanza and made sure the saddle was secure. She climbed atop her horse. Lord Eiotan finished saddling his horse and opened the fence gate. He climbed up into the saddle and the two of them rode off into the night, as quietly as possible.
Even the horses were silent, as though they could feel the tension in the two as they escaped. They rode far from the camp and made their way toward the city. They stuck to heavily wooded areas. Neither of them spoke, fearing to make any noise in case anyone was pursuing them. Ayala jumped multiple times when animals would run in front of her or out of the brush. She ignored her sore bottom as each bounce of the horses walk scorched fire into the welts Cortés had given her.
The horses finally led them into the maize fields of Lord Eiotan’s property. Ayala took the lead with her horse. She urged Esperanza into a trot, wanting to get home as soon as she could. When Lord Eiotan’s house finally came into view, she felt as though she could finally breathe again. Her heart finally began to relax, rather than the pounding in her ears that she’d felt all night.
A servant stood outside the slave quarters and ran to meet them when he recognized them. He looked confused at the horses, but greeted his master.
“Lord Eiotan, how can I help you, sir?”
Eiotan quickly dismounted and greeted the servant. Ayala climbed off of Esperanza and took her reins.
“Help us put our horses in the barn. They can stay in the pig and goat stalls. We need to feed them and give them water.”
The three of them led the horses into the barn and helped get them settled. They gave the horses some hay and buckets of water. Ayala showed the servant how to take the saddle and reins off the horses and hang them on nails in the barn. The servant put the saddles over the doors to the stalls.
He led a few goats out of two stalls and into another. Ayala then led Esperanza into one stall, and Lord Eiotan’s horse into the one next to it.
“Mistress Ayala, Lord Eiotan, thank you for your help. Can I help you with anything else?”
“You don’t have to call me that,” she stammered.
“No, thank you, Dario. You have been a tremendous help tonight. I want you to head to bed. Tomorrow, I would like you to brush the horses down. You can have someone help you,” Lord Eiotan responded, cutting Ayala’s protests off.
“I will help you tomorrow,” Ayala offered, running her hand across Esperanza’s neck. She placed her forehead against her horse, and Esperanza neighed in response. The horse nudged her and laid her head on her shoulder. Ayala took a deep breath and turned back toward Eiotan.
Dario bowed his head and left the two of them alone. Lord Eiotan took her hand and led her back to the house and into his bedroom, where she finally began to tremble. Eiotan pulled his shirt off her and helped her out of her torn panties and chemise.
