by Adam Collins
‘Why, it’s Ash, malady,’ Treena looked surprised at Megan's lack of knowledge.
‘Is there a magistrate, or sheriff in the town?’
‘Not as I know.’
‘Who is in charge then?
‘The slavers ma’am. They own the whole place. This here's a slaver town.’
Megan slumped backwards, ‘Where are the nearest government officials?’
‘Government...don’t know about all that, m'lady. Maybe Gantu-Prime. All I know is there’s none out here in the wilderness.’
Just then the door opened and Karem entered the room. Treena finished up lighting the fire and left.
‘I trust you are comfortable, Highness?’
‘Yes, thank you.’
‘You have been fed adequately?’
‘Yes I was, thank you.’
‘Is there anything you require?’
‘Yes. You can tell me what is being done about Anabel. You promised to organise a search party.’
‘That is being taken care of as we speak. On the morrow a large party will go and retrieve the wounded and dead.’
‘And search for Anabel? Megan’s eyes pleaded.
‘Of course, Highness. They will conduct a thorough search for survivors,’ Karem paused. ‘On another matter, my master Lord Alsheer has returned and will be joining us for the next leg of the trip, accompanied by two hundred of his best light cavalry. So, please, rest soundly, Highness. As you can see, your safety is of paramount importance to my master.’
‘And where will the next leg take us?’
Karem smiled as he backed out the door, ‘I will inform my master of your query.’
‘Can you not answer the question yourself?’
‘It's not my place, Highness. But I will convey your question at an opportune moment. Lord Alsheer's time, you will understand, is constrained by recent events.’
‘When will you ask?’ Megan pressed.
‘Later, Highness, after sunset. He is...much too busy at this precise moment.’ Karem was still smiling that fixed smile of his as he closed and locked the door.
Just before the door closed completely Megan saw one of Karem's men standing guard just outside in the hallway. They were keeping a very close eye on her.
Karem walked down the hallway and entered his room. The curtains were closed tight, shutting out the last of the evening sun. The only light, came from the crackling fire in the corner. A hunched figure sat in one of the large armchairs, his pupil-less eyes as dark, deathly, and emotionless as those of a coiled serpent.
‘Master, the Princess has been made as comfortable as is possible in this wallow.’
‘Good. We'll not tarry overlong here. Asss sssoon asss ssshe hasss had sssome ressst we will be leaving thisss place for Ssshan-tu.’
‘I will make the arrangements,’ nodded Karem.
‘Isss there any newsss of the othersss from the group?’
‘A search party is to be sent to the site of the attack at first light.’
‘What are the chancesss of sssurvivorsss?’
‘Slim, Master. The creature was...efficient. A most regrettable incident.’
Alsheer gave a hissing inhuman laugh, ‘Yesss, regrettable, but it hasss worked to our advantage, hasss it not? Truly, a mossst fortunate occurrence,’ again he laughed. ‘Though a great pity about, Lady Anabel, it mussst be sssaid.’
‘It was a disappointment, Master, and unforeseen.’
‘It would have been nice to produce her asss well. It would have been...a bonusss. But at leassst the Princessss isss in our keep. That isss the mossst important thing,’ he nodded. ‘Now that Grik and hisss men are dead there will be no financial demandsss,’ another hissing laugh followed.
Karem stood with head bowed in front of Alsheer, ‘When do you wish to leave for Shan-tu, Master?’
‘Let her get a few hoursss sssleep firssst, Lord Torizzz. But we will make hassste before midnight. I want to be away from thisss place asss quickly asss possssible.’ Alsheer gazed off into the distance as if thinking of some unknown terror. In his twisted mind came the image of a black panther with white fangs bared. He shook his head to clear the image. ‘Midnight, Lord Torizzz, and not one minute later!’ he snapped.
‘Of course, Master. I will see to it at once.’ Karem had never seen fear on his master’s face. It was most disquieting. He exited the darkened room and quietly walked down the corridor only stopping to listen at Megan's door. The sound of deep, sleep induced, breathing was emanating from the room. ‘Good. Sleep now. You will need your strength in the coming days,’ he whispered. Content, he continued on down the corridor, down the stairs and out of the door of the inn. The night was fast approaching. He quickened his step; time was precious. He disappeared into the gloom, about his master’s business.
20. Ransom
They reached Ash after a daylong trek in sweltering heat. Grik had storage pens and quarters in the town. He clamped his hand around Anabel's arm and forcibly marched her into his private chambers. Inside the cramped room there was a large bed covered with animal furs, a table, and a couple of uncomfortable looking wooden chairs.
A single slit window allowed natural light to brighten the pervading gloom. There was a second door in the back wall. He walked Anabel to it, opened the lock, and pulled back a long iron bolt. Shoving the door open he pushed her inside and closed it again behind her. She was plunged into darkness. She listened to his heavy steps retreating as he walked away. There was a thud as he closed the outer door and locked it shut. She could hear his deep voice thundering orders to his men; guards were being placed in position outside.
Fumbling around in the darkness she found the far wall and slid down onto the floor with her back pressed against the coarse wooden planks. Her eyes strained to focus in the pitch black. A crack of light shone through a gap in the bottom of the door. Gloomy shapes started to take form as her vision slowly adjusted. Then she heard a noise. It came from further back in the gloom. Her heart jumped in her chest.
‘Please don’t be afraid,’ said a female voice. ‘I’m a prisoner too.’
‘Who are you?’ asked Anabel.
‘My name is Merrith.’
A dark, vaguely human, form shuffled towards her and took hold of Anabel’s hands. The figure lead her to a bed at the back of the cell where they both sat down.
‘So, what’s your name, m'lady?’
‘How did you know that? asked a shocked Anabel. ‘How did you know that I was highborn? Are you a seer?’
‘No,’ laughed Merrith. ‘Nothing quite so mystical. It's your hands. Much too soft for a commoner. And manicured nails are rarely found on milkmaids and field hands,’ she explained.
‘I’m Anabel.’
‘Good to meet you, Anabel. Though we can’t rightly see each other.’
Anabel laughed. Merrith’s outline was beginning to take form as her eyes became accustomed to the low light. She could just make out Merrith’s face and long hair. ‘Have you been here long?’
‘About eight weeks. I was captured, along with others from my village.’
‘What happened to the rest of your people?’
‘Still in the slave pens...or gone to the markets,’ her sombre tone conveying despair.
‘That’s truly awful. I had heard that slavery was common in Gantu, but never really let it sink in, I’m ashamed to admit.’
‘It’s all too real. The people have become so accustomed to it that the Freemen now accept it without question. Any who try to fight back are quickly beaten into submission and afterwards paralysed by fear.’
‘Freemen?’ asked Anabel.
‘The farmers, hunters, and villagers of the hinterlands. Most are migrants looking to escape the corruption and squalor of the over-populated port cities. It’s sad. They thought that coming into the wilds would provide a better life. But in the end they were walking right into a trap. The government actively encourages resettlement and then abandons them to fend for themselves knowing
that they will end up in the slave markets of the East.’
‘How can the people accept such an abhorrent thing?’
‘It's easy. The slavers are well organised and brutal. Any village that tried to rise would be crushed. Some have tried and paid the price.’
‘Then why stay?’
‘Where would they go? West to the ghettos of Gantu-Prime or Rigby? Perhaps, North, to the slave plantations? The South is quicksand and impenetrable swamp filled of all kinds of nightmarish creatures. And the eastern border, if you were lucky enough to make it that far, is the very centre of slaver activity.’
‘Are there any who would stand and fight?
‘Some, but not many. It’s rumoured that escaped slaves have set up a community deep in the swamps and are gathering strength before returning. But that story has been told for far too many years now. It is more a dream than reality, I suspect.’
‘I hope you’re wrong Merrith. No-one should have to suffer this. It’s an outrage that must be stopped.
It was getting late, the sun was long set as Grik made his way towards the Mangrove Inn. His mood was sullen at the loss of so many of his best men. They could be easily replaced, sure enough. There were always men available for hire in Ash. But that was not the point. It was an imposition, and someone would have to pay dearly for it. He mounted the steps to the door. The Inn was always open for business, day and night. The warm yellow light shining through the curtained windows and the sound of raucous voices attested to the fact. He opened the door and walked in. Heads turned to look. Some acknowledged him, others turned back to their conversations. Karem was eating at a table in a quiet corner of the room. Grik approached and sat without asking if he could.
‘It's good to see that you survived,’ Karem smiled.
‘No thanks to you. I saw ye slink off while we were dyin’.’
‘My instructions were to protect the females at all costs. I was simply doing my job.’
‘And not a very good job you did. I come across one of ‘em out there in the waste.’
‘Lady Anabel? You found her? Is she alive?’
‘Oh she’s prime. Tucked up safe and sound,’ Grik smiled, exposing the ruined black stumps that filled his mouth.
Karem scanned the room, ‘Where is she? Lord Alsheer will be pleased to hear of her return.’
‘She’s safe...for now. You’ll get her back when I’ve the gold ‘at’s owed me.’
Karem dabbed a napkin to his mouth, ‘Of course. I will arrange it at once with Lord Alsheer.’
‘Well now, that’s regular. I’ve a free hour to kill, so why don’t we go see him now? Get it all tidied up nice and proper,’ Grik smiled malevolently.
‘Why not indeed,’ Karem smiled coldly back. ‘If you will follow me upstairs. Lord Alsheer has lodgings here. He will, I’m sure, be more than happy to compensate you for the excellent job that you have performed,’ Karem rose and slid his chair away from the table.
‘We’ll see on that score,’ smirked Grik. ‘Maybe not so happy when he’s heard me out,’ he mumbled so that Karem couldn’t hear.
Karem lead the way up the stairs and stopped outside Alsheer’s door, ‘Wait here!’ he glanced at Grik. ‘I will inform, Lord Alsheer, that you wish to speak with him.’ He entered the dark room closing the door behind him. After a few moments the door opened again. Karem beckoned Grik to enter. It was dark, but for the flickering light of the fire. Alsheer sat in a comfortable looking armchair. Before him was a round table. ‘Ssso good to sssee you again, Ssslavemassster. Lord Torizzz hasss informed me of the terrifying eventsss that took place in the ssswamp. A very unfortunate sssituation indeed.’
‘Yes, terrifyin’, m'lord, it was a hellish thing to behold! I lost a lot of good men to that beast.’
‘Yesss very unfortunate, and unforessseen. Even the bessst of plansss cannot cover all eventualitiesss,’ Alsheer waved his hands in an all encompassing gesture.
‘An’ you’ll get no belly-achin’ from me on the subject...as long as I’m properly compensated of course.’
‘I sssee,’ a wooden chest rose from the ground and landed gently on the table. The lid opened by itself; it was full of gold coins. ‘I believe our agreement wasss two thousssand gold marksss wasss it not?’
Grik’s eyes bulged at the sight of the gold and his greedy hands started to sweat, ‘’At’s right, m'lord,’ Grik pulled his eyes away from the glinting coins. ‘But I’ve extra costs to cover now that were never part of the deal.’
Alsheer clasped his hands together and supported his chin, ‘Go on.’
‘Well now, m'lord. I lost a lot of men an’ equipment in that there swamp. Grik’s palms were getting very slick. But not from looking at the chest of gold. He had suddenly realised what a dangerous situation he was in.
Alsheer did not move, ‘I’m lissstening, Ssslavemassster, pleassse continue. What price, in your essstimation, would adequately cover your lossssesss?’
‘Well you see, Lords,’ Grik looked pleadingly from Alsheer to Karem, and back to Alsheer again as he spoke. ‘There’s all them widows now, ‘at has to be compensated. Children without fathers ‘at needs support ‘til they can look after ‘emselves, you understand.’
‘What amount would cover their...lossss?’
‘Five thousand gold pieces, m'lord,’ Grik swallowed hard, a solitary bead of sweat trickled, slowly, down one side of his face.
Alsheer said nothing for a moment, ‘You do realissse, that I could take, Lady Anabel, by force and leave you penniless.’
Grik looked back and forth from Karem to Alsheer, ‘Oh, you’re talkin’ ‘bout them two hundred cavalrymen of yours camped outside the town,’ Grik fixed Alsheer with an resolute stare, ‘You see, m'lord, it’s Ash counsel policy to watch all newcomers to the town environs. Be assured that there are five hundred men surroundin’ your force at all times. Though ye can’t see ‘em. No, that would just plain be rude. So at any time of me choosin’ I could have ‘em wiped clean. If you know what I mean,’ Grik’s smile was almost apologetic.
Alsheer sat back into the chair, ‘I do. But I’m afraid you will have to wait until I return to my fortressss at Ssshan-tu. The two thousssand before you isss all the coin that we carry at presssent.’
‘We'll call it a down payment, m'lord,’ Grik smiled and leaned forward to lift the heavy chest.
‘It isss agreed then. I will sssend the ressst on arrival at my ssstronghold. Lord Torizzz will go with you now and essscort Lady Anabel back here.’
‘No, m'lord, that plan won't float.’
‘How ssso?’
‘Well there’s no tellin’ that you’ll send the rest of me coin if you get back to Shan-tu, now is there? Don’t get me wrong, m'lord. I’m not tryin’ to say you’re dishonest. Perish no!’ Grik looked between both men again nervously, ‘It’s just good business to have a trump when you need one.’
‘And Lady Anabel is your trump?’ added Karem.
‘In a matter of speakin’ Lord Toriz,’ nodded Grik. ‘An’ please have no worries about her safety, m'lords. She is the most protected woman in the whole of Gantu at the moment. There are fifty of me best men watchin’ over her as we speak. No-one will get within a hundred paces of her without them knowin’, mark my words, Lord Alsheer, not a hundred paces’ there was a twinkle in Grik’s eye. His veiled threat had been acknowledged.
‘It ssseemsss, Ssslavemassster, that you are a mossst resssourceful man. You have been...underessstimated. I may have ussse for your abilitiesss again sssome time,’ he paused, ‘It isss agreed. The money will be sssent asss sssoon asss we reach Ssshan-tu.’
‘Thank you, m'lord. I’m at your service whenever you call,’ Grik gave a little bow but then looked up. ‘For a fair price of course,’ he laughed.
‘Of courssse,’ acknowledged Alsheer.
Grik walked to the door with the chest of gold, while Karem held the door ajar.
‘One thing more, Ssslavemassster. If the girl isss touched, in any way,’ A
lsheer paused to emphasize the point. ‘I will return here with an army and...how did you put it? Ah yesss...wipe you clean! Isss that clear?’
As Grik left the Mangrove through the back door he couldn’t stop a little smile crossing his lips. The whole thing had worked out really well for him. Now that his men were dead he didn’t have to share the two thousand gold marks. And now, on top of that, he was due to receive another three thousand. It called for a celebration. A jug or two would be welcome, he decided. “Steady on now. Get the money safely home first,” he cautioned. If the locals knew that he had two thousand pieces of gold, on his person, he would have been torn to pieces in the rush. It was time to be sensible. He kept to the shadows all the way back to his quarters, stopping regularly to check over his shoulder. Meanwhile at the main gate a carriage sped through, and away from town. Its strangely blacked-out windows stopped curious eyes from seeing the occupants. One of whom, was a sleeping Princess.
21. The Smell of Death
When the Pathfinders finally arrived at the slaver campsite, where the massacre had occurred, there were four wagons parked on the island. The drivers were busy loading bodies and parts of bodies onto the back of each. There were also armed guards searching through the reeds on the edge of the swamp. The Pathfinders hid and watched. It would not be a good idea to be seen coming from the Jarro direction at this time. The kidnappers would be on the lookout for any who might follow, and these men were most likely in their employ.
It was midday before the fully laden wagons finally left the scene. Brinn crept back towards the others. He had been spying on the search-party from behind thick undergrowth near the edge of the mound. ‘That’s it, they’ve gone,’ he announced as he jumped up into his saddle. He lead the group up onto the raised ground to the dilapidated house with the stone perimeter wall.
The smell of death still polluted the air. Blood and the body parts of both men and horses littered the ground.