The Mystery of Mohács 6

Tabea woke up when she felt something tickle her nose. With a snort, she opened her eyes – and found herself face to face with a giant bird.

»Mhhmmmph!«

As the girl let out a muffled cry, the sparrow that had been sitting on her forehead fluttered up, chirping angrily. Tabea realized it had been just an ordinary little bird and had just seemed so big because it had been an inch away from her eyes. Then, however, her relief rapidly vanished as she more and more recognized her latest predicament.

She was once again bound hand and foot. Ropes tied her wrists behind her back and more ropes held her arms to her body. Her legs were tied at knees and ankles and in addition, she had been tightly wrapped into a blanket that covered her from neck to toe and had been secured with ropes above and below her breasts, at her waist and at her knees.

»Mph!«

A wad was stuffing her mouth and another piece of cloth had been tied between her lips. She vaguely felt a big knot in that cloth that had been wedged between her teeth. Above, a third rag had been tied, covering her lower face. Tabea turned her head and could see another cocoon a few yards away from her. Though only some black curls were protruding from one end, she guessed it was Jelena.

She mmphed again, but Jelena only squirmed weakly. Tabea looked around as much as her bondage allowed and found they were lying on a small airing, between some rocks and surrounded by trees. It wasn`t the airing where they had landed, but they were definitely at some remote place.

»The Gypsies! They must have drugged our tea!«

She managed to roll over and to examine the surrounding, but except for a sack lying beside one of the rocks, there was no sign of their captors. She had no idea whether they would come back soon, but she did not intend to just wait in patience.

She tested her wrist bonds and finally managed to touch one of the knots, but with her arms tied and wrapped into the blanket, just freeing her hands would be of little use. She rubbed her face over the grass, trying to get rid of her gag, but this was to no avail, too.

»Mph!«

Tabea tried to find another possibility to get free. She rolled on her back and, by straining her stomach muscles, managed to sit up. The rocks around them looked smooth, she could see no sharp edges that would allow her to saw through the ropes. And Jelena was tied up and gagged like her.

Jelena! If she could get over to her, they could perhaps work together in one way or the other. At least, they could console each other when they found out that they would remain bound and gagged until their abductors returned.

Her companion was some three yards away, but slightly up the hill and so, it took Tabea several minutes and quite some effort to worm close to her. She felt sweat on her body and she knew she would have to household with her strength.

»Uuuuhmmm!«

Jelena wriggled when Tabea touched her. Since she was smaller than the Black, the blanket reached up to her eyes and it took her some shaking of her head until their eyes met.

»Mph!«, Tabea answered. Then, she squirmed and wriggled until her face was close to Jelena`s. Their foreheads touched and for a while, Tabea just panted through her nose, trying to think about what to do next.

»Mmhhmmm! Uuhhmmm!«

Jelena became unruly and seemed eager to tell her something. She shook her head and Tabea understood that she was trying to point at something. She rolled to her side and after a while, she could see that Jelena had managed to push one finger of her bound hands through the blanket. She squirmed with it and Tabea mmphed and nodded. then, she fought to turn around and place her head on Jelena`s butt.

Her friend let out a muffled gasp; obviously, her buttocks were still sore and even that touch hurt a bit. But Tabea just pushed forward, trying to get closer to the finger. Having to work without sight, Jelena nearly poked her eye and then almost caused Tabea to sneeze as she tickled her nose. But then, she could finally pick on Tabea`s gag.

It was a slow progress, though Tabea tried to help by moving her head, but finally, she could wriggle the cloth over her chin. She made an approving sound and the two girls paused for a moment, for now came the even more difficult part of removing the cleave gag.

It felt strange to have Jelena touch her face to hook her finger under her gag, but when she had done so, Tabea arched her head backwards. They both grunted from the effort, but finally, millimeter for millimeter, the tight cloth moved and she could get the knot out of her mouth.

Letting out strange gasps of both exhaustion and joy, Tabea rolled down from Jelena and then pushed with her tongue and moved her jaw until she could work the sodden lump out of her oral cavity. She panted heavily, but then, she managed to breathe:

»All right! I am trying to work on the knots now!«

Jelena let out a moan and Tabea wriggled close to the first of the ropes that encircled her friend. She had never tried to open a knot with her teeth before, but it worked surprisingly well and soon, the rope that had been bound around the blanket just above Jelena`s breasts came loose.

»Okay, we are almost done! Now, turn on your back!«

Jelena groaned, both from the effort and because she would have to lie on her hurting butt, but she managed to turn around. The second rope had been knotted off at her front and so, Tabea had to put her head on her friend`s left breast to work on that one. She felt the softness and warmth of it and even seemed to hear Jelena`s heartbeat and so, she concentrated on the rope. Once that was gone, Jelena began to wriggle and the blanket opened a bit, revealing Jelena`s gag.

»Mhhmmph!«

»Sorry, but I will concentrate on the ropes! Our abductors can be back any minute!«

Jelena snorted, but then, she nodded and Tabea worked on the rope around her waist. When she then chewed on the last tie, she realized something: Jelena was no longer barefoot, but she was wearing brown suede shoes. It was just then she felt that she was wearing a pair of bootees, too.

»Well, that`s strange!«, she thought and loosened the last rope. Now, Jelena squirmed and wriggled until she had freed herself from her blanket. Tabea could not believe her eyes: her friend was fully dressed: she was wearing a long, colored skirt and a white blouse decorated with embroideries. She now concentrated on herself and yes, she had been dressed, too! Now, tied up, covered with sweat and wrapped in the blanket, she could not tell any details, but obviously, their captors had some sense of modesty.

Collecting her last powers, she brought her mouth close to Jelena`s wrists and freed them with her teeth. Then, she lay there, panting from exhaustion, as Jelena managed to get her hands to her front and to work on her gag. Finally, she heard some coughing and then, Jelena croaked:

»Phew! Thank you!«

As quick as they could, the two girls now completely freed each other and once she had been unwrapped from her blanket, Tabea could see that now, she was wearing another long skirt. Hers was black and cut in a way it ended at her left ankle, but at her right knee. A bright red shard with fringes gad been tied around her waist and she was wearing a light blue wrap blouse with short sleeves that was knotted at the small of her back and left her belly free. Whoever had chosen their clothes had not just taken anything, but selected the items with some care.

Having hugged each other, they listened if their abductors were coming back, but still, there were just the sounds of the forest. Jelena got up and went for the sack. When Tabea followed her, her shirt felt a bit strange, a bit airy around her pubic area. Then, she realized it was because she wasn`t wearing any panties underneath.

»Of course, they will not be invented for another 300 years or so«, she thought and somehow, this made her very aware of their situation. She got distracted, however, from what was in the sack.

To their joy, it contained a water hose, some small loaves of bread and even some cheese. Also, Jelena produced a small bundle, wrapped in a cloth. It contained a brush and a bar of soap.

»What`s that? A present with a hint?«

»Well, that hint`s justified«, Jelena replied, turning her head and checking her armpits. Tabea sighed. Since their involuntary time travel, they had had no opportunity to wash and things had been quite sweaty.

»Now, either they wanted us to escape – or they wanted us to look presentable for someone.«

Anyway, the two girls quickly stilled their thirst and hunger, leaving about half of the water and provision for the future. They rolled up the blankets, took the sack and then considered where to go.

According to the position of the sun, it was around noon and the mountains around them sure were the Mecsek Mountains North of Pécs.

»The airing where we landed was somewhere between Pécs and Mohács«, Jelena pondered, »so, if we want to get there, we have to go East to Southeast.«

Of course, there was no particular reason to get there, but on the other hand, they had no better idea. So, the two girls started to walk. From time to time, the forest cleared, allowing them a look at Pécs in the valley below.

»I wonder if they are searching for us.«

»Well, let`s get there and find out!«

However, they decided to stay in the hiding, even avoiding a path they crossed and continuing their straining trip through the light forest. Then, after some two or three hours, Tabea pointed at something that glistered in front of them. It was a little pond and the water looked fresh and clear.

They decided to take a rest and refill their water hose. Then, Tabea took off her bootees, watering her feet with a sigh.

»Hey, I wanted to bathe in that!«, Jelena protested jokingly. Tabea first thought that this was a stupid idea, but then, she thought twice. They were fugitives, but nobody seemed to hunt for them right now and in addition, they were covered with sweat and the water indeed was cold and refreshing.

Jelena seemed to think the same and she took off her bootees and then, her blouse, washing it before draping it over a rock. Then, she undid her skirt and a frilly white underskirt and slid into the pond.

Tabea undressed, too and before she followed her friend, she took the soap and brush with her. After all, none of them knew when they would have another opportunity for cleaning themselves.

Sharing the soap like sisters, they soaped and washed themselves, glad to get rid of the physical remnants of their captivity. Then, they both went closer to the shore and Tabea began to work through her fuzzy curls with the brush. Suddenly, she realized Jelena was staring at her nude forms.

It was strange, since both had seen each other in the nude before, but Jelena seemed to be fascinated by Tabea`s pubic area. She covered her pubic mound with her hand, smiling uneasily.

»Eh, Jelena – I like you and I am glad we met, but-«

Jelena now took her eyes from Tabea`s crotch and blushed, but then, she came closer and grabbed the Black`s shoulders.

»Ilona! Do you remember her?«

»Well – of course!«

Tabea was puzzled by the abrupt change of subject. Jelena kept looking at her intensely, standing so close the tops of their breasts touched.

»I have seen her only for a moment after we landed, before they blindfolded me. And then, there was enough to distract me from that minor detail – but do you remember how she looked? I mean – down there?«

She shortly glimpsed at Tabea`s middle, blushing again. Tabea felt her cheeks burn, too, but she forced herself to concentrate on Ilona. Ilona in the nude, with her pale skin that matched her green eyes, her pert, medium sized breasts – and her shaved pubic mound that had made her look younger than her 18 years. Unlike Tabea who had left a narrow landing strip and Jelena, who had just trimmed her pubic hair, Ilona had removed everything.

»Tabea, I am quite sure that in 1525, waxing studios were not quite common!«

Tabea blinked and then, she insisted to continue that conversation in a lesser intimate way. So, they slipped out of the water and lay in the grass, allowing the sun to dry their bodies. Lying on her belly, so Tabea could see her still slightly reddened buttocks, Jelena said:

»Now that I think of her, she also had her legs and armpits neatly shaved. But now woman would have done so in the 16thcentury, not even a prostitute. Except-«

She waited, enjoying the anticipation on Tabea`s face. Then, she completed her conclusion with a smile:

»Except when she spent her some time with the Ottomans. They were well ahead in terms of body hygiene, at least the upper classes.«

Tabea needed a few moments to let that sink in. Another possibility came to her mind: Ilona could be a time traveller of the 21th century, just like herself. But she rejected that thought. Not only had she herself rescued the girl from the book, she had also acted convincingly as being totally overwhelmed by modern things. In addition, Father Antonius had recognized her and brought her to her father. However, Jelena`s explanation left some questions.

»Her father is a General – a General in Hungary`s war against the Turks. So, why should his own daughter be raised by his sworn enemies?«

Jelena got up and put on her underskirt.

»I don`t know either. I mean, sometimes, the Hungarian nobles sent their offspring to the Sultan as hostages. Maybe, Imre Hunyadi has lived at the Sultan`s court himself, got adjusted to the living and hired some Turkish servants for his household. However, all this seems strange for a man entitled to lead a crusade.«

Tabea, who had put on her knee-length lacy underskirt, too, disagreed:

»Why not? If he spent some time with the Ottomans, he should be an expert on their strategies.«

Jelena shook her head.

»That would be reasonable, but not for the Hungarian nobility. They were used to fight like they had done for centuries. I mean, at Mohács, the Ottomans could trick them with a fake retreat and lure them into a trap quite easily.«

Now, things began to make more sense to Tabea. If General Imre Hunyadi knew about the way the Turks fought, it would have made sense to take care he would not be present at military counsels – for example by abducting his daughter to ensure his cooperation. But somehow, this did not fit what Jelena had just said, about the Hungarians not seeking his advice anyway.

»Any answer we find seems to bring up two additional questions! In addition, we do not know whether we have already terribly altered the past – or rather the future, from our perspective!«

When they had completed getting dressed, they considered their possibilities. First, they could stay hidden and try to get to the airing at the next full moon, just to find out whether Sandor would try to contact them – if there was a Sandor or a modern Hungary at all! It was a frightening thought and besides, it would not improve their personal lot.

They could also get back to Pécs and try to contact Ilona or her father. But even if they managed to get to his palace before the inquisitor got them, there was too much danger that they would end up in jail or even at the execution block. However, there was a third possibility.

»Bela!«

The man who had abducted Ilona sure knew everything about her. They had no idea whether this would help them or how to find him at all, but at least, it was a glimpse of a hint.

»The problem is«, Jelena said, »that nothing is known about him outside his book. And in it, he gives us not many clues about himself, he just describes his obsession about Ilona and how he developed his magic skills.«

The two girls made a list of what they knew about Bela: he had been in the services of Imre Hunyadi, but he had once mentioned to be from Mohács. There were no further hints, except that Bela had sometimes spoken of »we« or »us«, as if he had not worked out his plan all alone. There had, however, been no description of his lair. All they knew was that it had a dungeon or a cellar.

»Also, the place can`t be too far from Pécs. Ilona told us that when she woke up, she already was at their kidnappers` hideout. So, all we have to do is to look at every building in a radius of five to ten miles around Pécs!«

Tabea rolled her eyes in frustration, but Jelena seemed to have another idea:

»Bela served as an officer and even though the name is quite common, we should find traces of him if we ask some soldiers.«

She developed a plan, including them getting to one of the villages alongside the Danube, following the way from Pécs to Mohács, and to offer their services as fortune tellers at the garrison. In these times, the men sure would be interested in whether they would survive the next years and besides, they looked convincingly exotic to play that role.

»Let`s just hope that they are only interested in their future«, Tabea sighed, looking down on her rather revealing blouse. Jelena, whose aureoles were clearly visible through the cloth of hers, gulped and said:

»I miss my bra. But if we want to get back to where such things are available, we have to try something!«

So, the two girls walked down the hills until they could see the Danube glistering below them. There were some boats and rafts on it and on the road along the river, there were people, on foot, with carts or on horseback. However, this was a time where it was quite unusual for women to travel unchaperoned and perhaps, someone would become suspicious and call the authorities – or, quite as worse, would consider them as free wild.

»We can`t hide in the woods forever either«, Jelena said and so, they finally entered the road and walked along the river, away from Pécs. They looked for some travellers that could offer them protection – some travelling entertainers perhaps or even a group of Gypsies, though, after last night`s experience, they of course would try to avoid that.

Tabea could see Pécs from the distance and guessed that they were some two or three miles South the city now. According to Jelena, Mohács was some 30 miles from here. Given the fact it was late afternoon and they had no money, it meant they would have to sleep outside for one night.

Suddenly, they heard some singing from behind and little later, a man on a mule approached. He was dressed in colorful clothes and, letting the mule find its way, he was playing his lute and singing a song. Jelena suddenly smiled and told her that this song sure contained more sexual related words than an average rap song.

Seeing them, the man jumped from his mule, bowed deeply and raised his hat in a way he whirled up a dust cloud. Giggling, Tabea and Jelena smiled and dropped a graceful curtsy. The man approached, bend his knee and kissed each woman`s hand before introducing himself:

»My Ladies, my name is Androsch, Duke of the dust and Ruler of the roads!«

Though Tabea could not understand everything, the tone made clear he was joking by hiding his poverty behind a pompous title. Androsch asked them about their names and he took his lute, improvising a song of which Tabea could only understand their names. According to Jelena`s reddened cheeks and her amused giggle, it was both flattering and outrageous. Then, he pointed at his long dagger and they understood that he was offering them his protection.

Like all entertainers, Androsch knew all the latest rumors. To their surprise, there was no search for two women, a Black and a Gypsy, who had escaped from jail. Obviously, Father Antonius was still away and the two dungeon keepers had decided to remain silent.

He had, however heard that the daughter of General Imre Hunyadi had returned after she had disappeared two days before. According to the rumors Androsch had heard, she had tried to run away with her lover, but then decided to get back home before she was lost for every honorable husband.

»Have you heard the name of the poor young man?«, Jelena asked and Androsch looked at her as if he assumed she knew something about the whole affair. Then, he said:

»Obviously, it was one of the General`s own Lieutenants, a man named Bela Blasko. That`s strange, however, for they say that Ilona refused his proposal a few months ago. The General would have accepted him as son in law, but she did not want him. And now, she runs away with him? Nay, I am sure she`s protecting someone else who maybe stole her virginity.«

Androsch grinned, but both Tabea and Jelena were intrigued.

»So, where is this Bela now? Has the General put him to prison or does he have to clean the latrines?«, Jelena asked jokingly, though she could hardly hide her excitement. Androsch frowned.

»They say he left the service after Ilona rejected him. Since then, he has said to have returned to his parents` house.«

With a giggle, he added:

»If you are so interested in him, you may ask him! He`s from the village we will get through the next hour!«

It took Jelena all her acting talent to change the subject and to distract Androsch. Indeed, they could see a village from a hill a few minutes later. Meanwhile, Jelena had persuaded Androsch to pay a meal and a bed for them. In return, she and Tabea would dance to his music, thus making the people pay more.

Tabea wasn`t so glad about that idea. She was quite a good dancer, but that was not what concerned her. It was the fact that they would draw attention. But she had to admit that a black woman would draw attention anyway and that they would be less suspicious about her being a member of a group of entertainers.

Now, Jelena pretended to need help with her hair and took Tabea with her whilst Androsch was waiting by the mule. Once they were alone, she said:

»If Bela`s here, we have to get in contact with him! I wonder why he`s not hiding somewhere!«

However, as they entered the village, Androsch was announcing them and played his lute. For some hour, Tabea and Jelena had to sway their hips, whirl around their skirts and shake their boobs. They got some applause and when Androsch walked around, some threw a few small coins into his hat. Smiling, he told them that it was enough for some food, some wine and a bed.

The stew was quite a challenge for someone used to the cuisine of the 21th century, but the girls managed to get down a few spoons. At least, the wine tasted sour, but okay. Some people came to their table and asked Androsch for the latest news which he told in exchange for another jug of wine. Both Jelena and Tabea had to fight of the advances of some young men, but suddenly, Jelena was all ears for what one of the peasants told and even ignored the men kneading her breast. Tabea knew that this had to be something of importance, especially since she heard both the names of Bela and Hunyadi. So, with a sigh, she took the hands of the pimply farmhand badgering her, placed them on her boobs and let him play so she could try to understand the story.

With the help of Jelena, she heard that a group of soldiers had approached in the earliest hours of the day and stormed the house of Bela`s parents, obviously reputable men. They had searched the house and even beaten up Bela`s father, trying to find out where his son was. Then, the soldiers had left empty-handed. According to the peasant, however, two of them were still at the village, having an eye on the house.

»They are waiting until someone tries to warn Bela! Then, they will follow him and get him!«

Now, knowing the rumors Androsch had told them, the villagers were sure that Hunyadi was trying to get the young man into his clutches. Of course, Tabea thought: Hunyadi only knew about what Bela had done since his daughter had told him, explaining why he hadn`t reacted previously.

»Do you think that this Bela´s so stupid to stay around here?«, Jelena asked, trying to keep her neighbor from pushing his hand into her cleavage.

»Well, as a boy, he used to hide at the old castle, some half a mile from here on a hill. It`s a ruin, but for children, it`s an ideal playground and hiding place.

Jelena rose from the bench. The man groping her wanted to keep her back, but she quickly stammered:

»I-I just h-have to go for l-little girls, my Prince! In two minutes, I am all yours!«

She made a sign towards Tabea to follow her. The Black somehow managed to get out of the young man`s hands and she rushed after her friend. She reached Jelena at the next corner, but she didn`t slow down, but grabbed Tabea`s hand, pulling her with her as she rushed for the end of the village.

»You know that in this time, nobody knows how long two minutes are«, Tabea said, breathing faster from Jelena`s fast pace.

»Well«, she breathed, »soon, he will know that it means ›never‹!«

Once they had reached the forest, they slowed down and Jelena told Tabea the little she hadn`t already understood.

»I am sure Bela`s at the old castle! After all, such old castles usually have a dungeon, don`t they?«

Tabea nodded. It would be much of a coincidence, but at least, it was a trace they could follow. She looked up to the darkening sky where a waning moon could already be seen. Then, she listened if any of the horny peasants or maybe Androsch had followed them, but obviously, they were still waiting for the end of the announced two minutes.

The ruin was quite easy to find. Actually, it was just an old weathered tower and some remnants of a wall, but when they approached, Tabea pointed at something: in front of the castle, a man was standing close to two saddled horses.

»if that`s Hunyadi or his men?«, Jelena whispered, but Tabea shook her head. The man was obviously alone and sure, Hunyadi would not have sent just two men to arrest a trained soldier. They sneaked around the castle in a circle and found a breach in the wall, allowing them to look inside. There, they could make out two figures. They seemed to be arguing and whilst one looked at least 50, the other was a young man. Tabea guessed that the latter was Bela.

»Do you think the other one`s his father, warning him about the soldiers?«, Tabea pondered, but discarded that thought. It could have been possible that Bela`s father had sneaked out of his house, fooling the two guards – but on horseback, together with a servant? This was rather unlikely!

»We have to get closer!«

Tabea wanted to keep Jelena back, but she pointed at a pile of stones.

»I will hide there! They won`t see me!«

Tabea wasn`t convinced that this was a good idea, but she could not do anything about it. So, Jelena vanished into the dark and she tried to look at the two men who seemed to have calmed down a bit, but still were in a quite heated discussion. Then, Tabea heard a snort. Gasping, she spun around. The sound had been some 20 yards away, but she froze to her tracks when she saw what had caused it: at an oak tree, two more horses were leashed, but there was no sign of their riders.

»Oh no! Maybe, they are around there, too! Please, take care, Nelly!«

She bit her lip and balled her fists to fight down her nervousness. At the stone pile, she could see nothing but darkness; no sign of her friend. Tabea had to oppress the urge to get to the wall and look for Jelena. Then, she saw a movement and then, she could see a glimpse of red: Jelena`s sash.

However, Tabea`s relief was short-lived as she saw that Jelena was not alone. A man was holding her in a vice grip and for a moment, she could see something glister in the moonlight: a blade he held to her friend`s neck.

To her horror, the man forced Jelena to get inside the walls where the two men looked at the squirming girl. The old man, however, seemed much less concerned. he said something in a low voice and the man holding Jelena forced her with him, out of Tabea`s sight. Then, the old man put his hand on Bela`s shoulder and she could see him smile. he stepped closer to the breach and then, he yelled something of which Tabea could only understand two words, but these made her blood run cold: it were their names!

The message was clear: whoever this man was, he knew who she and Jelena were and he also knew that she was still out there. Tabea`s first reaction was to storm to the wall, but then, she hesitated: as long as she was still free, she had a chance of getting out of this – and of freeing Jelena.

The man now made a sign towards where the other one had dragged Jelena and a moment later, she could hear a shrill cry that was abruptly interrupted by a faint gurgling. Again, the man called Tabea`s name and she knew she could not leave her friend in the clutches of these men, no matter what the costs were.

Slowly, she approached the breach and once they saw her, the older man smiled whilst Bela looked at her with widened eyes. He stammered something and again, the two men argued for a few seconds before the older one made a gesture to the right. Tabea took a few more steps and could see Jelena, still in the grip of the third man. He had one arm slung around the lower part of her face and with his other hand, he held a dagger to Jelena´s throat.

***