When she came to, she felt her hands and feet bound by chains. If she tries to gather her mana to cast a spell her shackles immediately begin to drain it, leaving her with a massive headache. She would try to observe her situation more closely, but her vision is still completely pitch black. Her abductors this time aren't as generous as Jasper, preferring to keep her blindfolded the entire time. Most spell casters need visual feedback to complete their spells, otherwise whose to say something won't go terribly wrong.
"You awake?"
She hears a familiar voice to her left, with how often she went to the orphanage to trouble Rei in the past, she's grown familiar with all his friends. If she's not mistaken this should be Riell, but how did he get involved in this? Did he team up with Anya to get rid of her for Rei's sake? No way, from what little she knows this doesn't seem to be Riell's style. Contrary to popular belief, just because he is from the fox clan doesn't mean he likes to scheme or plot against others in secret. He's more straightforward than that, preferring to start a brawl on the spot than stomach a loss.
The fact that he's forced to whisper to her means he must be facing similar circumstances. Licking her dry lips, she tries to whisper back in his direction.
"Yes, where are we and how did you get here?"
"Woah, woah, one thing at a time. First, let me say I don't know where here is. I was dragged here same as you while I was trying to find Anya."
'Makes sense.' It's obvious the fox boy is unaware of his friend's new companions. It's a bit pitiful that he went through all that trouble trying to find Anya, without even knowing she'd switched camps. He sounds more worried for her than he is for them in their current predicament. She wants to tell him not to worry about the rogue wolf girl but stops. Who is she to expose his friend's betrayal?
The childhood bond between Rei, Anya, and Riell isn't anything to joke about. As orphans they've stuck together through thick and thin, would Riell believe her words given her checkered history with Anya? No, if she can't turn him to her side, she should at least keep him at a neutral stance.
"How long have you been here?"
"They got me right after I told the nuns at the church to evacuate because of the big monster wave coming. I ran back into the witch's forest to look for Anya one more time."
Good, even though she couldn't complete her mission to alert the church at least Riell took care of it for her. Ariellia sighs in relief, shifting about due to the discomfort of sitting on the rough, uneven jagged cold ground. Wherever this is, it's certainly not a nicely furnished cabin. She's sorely missing Jasper's way of handling things at the moment.
Stretching, she tries to contort her bound arms to reach for her storage pouch. If she could only reach it, she could get the communication talisman the older Bastion gave her. This is the first time she's felt resentful for the shorter limbs on this body. Huffing in annoyance, she tries again with bigger movements, causing the chains on her hands to cling and clang about. The noise echoes so loudly, her heart almost jumps to her throat in fear.
"I don't know what you're trying to do princess, but I suggest you take it easy over there. I don't want to get beat up for your sake." Riell must be thinking along similar lines, purposely scooting further away from her.
"Look at you being such a chicken, don't be so quick to deny me. I might have a way to get us out of here if you help me."
"…for the record, I'm not a chicken but a fox. What do you need me to do?"
"First get closer."
"You're not trying to do something nasty to me are you, don't forget I'm your husband's bestfriend." The doubt is clear in his voice, it really is a good thing she chose to keep quiet about Anya. He definitely wouldn't have helped her if she told him.
"I promise, I'm not trying to do anything funny. I need you to get close enough to reach into my storage pouch. I have some communication talismans in there, they can help us summon help."
"…"
Her eyes may be blindfolded but she can practically feel the doubt rolling off of him. Finally, after what felt like forever he inches back over to her. She sighs in relief when she feels his hands patting her sides, trying to reach her storage pouch. It's at an awkward angle but with his longer limbs there's still hope.
"What have we here, it's a bit too quiet isn't it. You two wouldn't be plotting something in my absence would you?" A new voice enters the space. It's a man by the sound of it, his raspy hoarse voice sounds very unpleasant to the ears.
"Who are you and why have you brought me here! Do you know who I am!" She has to make a show of being an uppity princess to distract him from Riell's wondering hands.
"Indeed, I do princess, you're Ariellia Silvy Garrod. The apple of Duke Garrod's eye and the current wife of the orphan Rei, pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"You have a funny way of making new friends."
"Don't be angry, I just couldn't have you running around. These are dangerous times you know."
"Why?"
"How else am I to bait your chivalrous husband to come find you?"
'Damn, used as bait again!' It's unfortunate that though she's been able to throw a ranch in the game's entire plotline, this one gimmick never fails. There must always be a damsel that needs saving.
"It appears you're misinformed, Rei never wanted to marry me. I force him to. We're even getting a divorce at the end of this month. For all you know he might just thank you for taking me off his hands and play dumb."
"A divorce!" Riell focuses in on the wrong thing. She taps his hand to remind him to stay on task and not interrupt.
"Sorry to hear that dear but either way I'm still banking on him coming to retrieve your carcass." The man lefts out a deep laugh at his own dark humor, finding their affairs to be hilarious.
"She looks so pretty, since her husband doesn't want her can I have her afterwards?" The question comes from the other end of the space. It's another man but this one sounds like a mentally challenged oaf, likely brought in to be the muscle. Ariellia grits her teeth, not willing to bet the other man could keep her from the clutches of his needy companion. She whispers to Riell as quietly as she can.
"Aren't you done yet?" There's a bit of annoyance that she can't keep out of her voice at this point.
"Hush, if you didn't have a whole shopping district's worth of stuff in there, I might have found it faster. I've got it…but how are we going to use it while they're still here?"
Valid, their attackers aren't stupid. The moment Riell tries to light up one of the communication talismans they'll likely pounce on them.
'Guess I have no choice, I'll have to take one for the team.' Arie rolls her eyes behind the blindfold.
"I'll cover for you, as soon as I give the signal run for the exit and don't look back."
"But…" Riell sounds reluctant, finally realizing what she intends to do.
"No buts, you are my only shot of getting out of this alive. Save your regrets until after you've called for backup, understood?"
"…right, understood. I'll do as the lady says."
"Good, now play dumb no matter what you hear next."
…
"Hey, you there! Yes, you illiterate block of wood, I'm talking to you! Who says you have to wait…why not play with me now?"
[Title: The Adulterous Wife is now active]
'I'm asking for death for sure this time' with bitter unshed tears, she begins acting out her most outlandish role yet.
"This…" even Riell is taken back by her words.
"Not a single word of this to Rei, got it."
"Yes ma'am."
'I can't possibly sink any lower than this.' Eren wails on the inside, feeling his innocence leave on a first-class ticket out of this insanity.