I continued to watch her and sat for some time admiring the grace and flow of her movements. I had seen native Doridians do this very act in the past and had not understood how a man could enjoy watching someone do simple tasks. I was discovering that I had missed the important elements of this pleasant pastime so popular among men of Doridia. One selects a beautiful slave and then one focuses full attention upon her. The natural slave responds to this attention and the observer is rewarded with a show of subtle sexuality that I found nearly overpowering. This slave enjoyed my watching and at last dared to look me directly in the eye.
“Who is your master?” I inquired.
“The Merchant of Beerah,” she replied, lowering her deep brown eyes to my feet.
“I am First Officer,” I said.
“I know who you are master.”
“Come to me this night and light the Lamp of Love.”
“Yes, master,” she smiled and looking directly at me again said, “I will do all that you wish.”
Later, walking the wagons I wondered what I would tell Lehdah.
By noon the caravan had begun to dry out considerably from the deluge. I ordered the Leaders to return my men to the forest and instructed that the patrols range even farther in their efforts to detect bandits.
I called my slave Lehdah to me at midday and spent some time in deep conversation with her. She knew much of this area and the intelligence with which she provided me could prove invaluable. I made no mention of the previous day’s lovemaking and no mention as well of the new slave I had ordered to my bed this very night.
The brilliantly clear day warmed dramatically by afternoon I felt at last we had put the winter behind us. Now spring in its glory would return to magnificent Doridia as it had for countless generations heretofore.
This land held so much cultivation, so much culture and glory, that I found it incredible that it was totally unknown to the world in which I had been born. I still did not know if I was in some parallel Earth or in some ancient and utterly forgotten time of the past. Looking to the stars of the Southern Hemisphere at night I felt a nagging fact tickle the back of my mind but thus far it had eluded me. It made no practical difference to my condition but I felt a deep sense of loss to my own world that all that was good and noble which the Doridians had raised in thousands of years was lost to my native world. I wished answers and fully intended to obtain them if humanly possible.
Evening settled gently over the camp and the oxen soon passed into peaceful slumber. Children played quiet games as their parents sought to calm them for the night’s rest. Much effort had been expended this passed day to improve sleeping arrangements and no one would sleep in dampness this night. An air of restfulness and peace settled about the camp and I thought how infrequently that occurred on a caravan. Doridia was in many ways a violent and insecure if exciting land.
Sekers gambled as soldiers of all ages have. Their game most closely resembled dice but the items thrown were sticks. Numbers were called based on the position assumed by the sticks but only when they all touched. The game was accompanied by much shouting and occasional disputes. There was little more than a few copper coins in the game so I anticipated that the group would loss interest in it soon. This caravan carried many slaves and these were mostly available to the men at this time of evening. If anything can take the attention of a Seker from his betting, it is the golden arms of a waiting, eager slave girl.
Coins in Doridia, tended to be standard from city to city. Each city minted its own and affixed its special seals and figures to them. The highest coin was of gold. Rarely one saw a coin of gold of double thickness but only among the very wealthy. Next in value was the silver coin, 15 of which equaled on gold coin of usual width. One hundred copper coins equaled on silver coin and below the copper coins were copper bits, ten of which equaled one full copper coin.
I had once been sold as a slave for a few copper coins and had once been paid a full month’s wages with a single such coin. Many poor citizens might live a lifetime and never see a silver coin, let alone a gold or double gold coin. Interestingly, all coins except the copper bits were of standard size.
I spent the time following dinner in deep discussion with all my Leaders and the Commander. We would depart soon, weather permitting, and I had no wish for mistakes on the part of the Sekers. It was crucial to our long-term plans that our journey to Lathanah meet with the same kind of success as the journey to Runah. With the fires at last dying to embers I dismissed the Leaders and returned to my wagon. Lehdah lay sleeping beneath it as I had given her no command to join me this night.
Upon entering I saw that the Lamp of Love was lit and the lovely, clear skinned slave of the merchant of Beerah I had watched with such intensity earlier this fine day lay within my furs, totally nude. Her eyes partially opened as I undressed and she observed me through her full lashes, a slight smile of expectation on her lips. I entered the furs in silence and lay beside the lovely slave.
“Please me,” I commanded.
“With pleasure, master.”
8. Attacked
By early afternoon of the following day it was deemed safe enough to proceed across the stream, now greatly reduced in size. It was typical to only commence a day’s journey at dawn, however, we had been detained long enough and perhaps once across the waterway even if light rains returned I thought perhaps we could make some progress. In any event the massive oxen were in need of fresh grazing and we must relocate our caravan even if only a short distance away.
We forded the stream with caution but all of the massive wagons crossed in safety and we made steady progress until making camp that night. The terrain was becoming increasingly mountainous. The road I was told would now climb through a slight range of mountains. I was in no rush to reach the summit as after the harsh, cold rains it would take a few days to dry or melt any snow that had fallen this late in the season.
Most travelers walked beside the wagons. Only the elderly, sick or extremely wealthy and High Caste were permitted to ride. It is said that a journey can only be happy if traveled with the dust of the road upon one’s feet. I urged renewed caution on the Sekers as outlaws now had the same freedom of movement we enjoyed and an attack could come at almost any time. I returned my secret troop of 100 to the extra wagons and found myself on edge in anticipation of an assault. After the days of inaction I craved a change, even a battle. I challenged each of my Leaders that night to combat and we played a game of our own devising in which I inevitably was required to buy the dinner wine in Lathanah. No one was injured but the swordplay did much to revive my skills.
I slept alone that night, cold steel at hand.
~
I was roused from my slumber by the cry of men in battle. I leaped from my wagon and saw my Sekers light torches as they sought the invaders. As before my men gave ground and permitted the enemy to enter within the camp before methodically closing off the retreat. The extra 100 Sekers had by now joined the fray and all seemed eager to draw blood upon their finely honed weapons. The camp was alive with the light from many torches and the outlaws were caught unaware by our tactics and our overwhelming numbers.
They numbered some 40 and never really stood a chance of from the moment they first determined to attack us. They, of course, had not known that since many of my troops were concealed from their sight. No doubt as we were a large caravan and their numbers relatively few, they had sought to hit and run after taking a few valuables, from the looks of them preferably foodstuffs. My tactics led to their ruin and no quarter was given. I could not risk permitting one man this trip from escaping us. Ordinarily, that had been part of the plan as prepared with my Urak but I had altered it somewhat in the light of the Urak Tonalah’s request of me in Runah. I would hold a few for questioning in order to locate the outlaw Kanchoh and with luck recover the Lady Sofeeah.
This was not the band I sought for it was much too small. It might perhaps be a part of Kanchoh’s and if it was I could not ris
k allowing any warning to reach the outlaw I sought, for once he learned of my forces he would refuse to attack. If it was not of the band I sought then I still could not risk a lone survivor spreading word among the other bands. Kanchoh might have learned of the success of our tactics from previously but without warning he would have no reason to suspect further tactics of that sort. He was not aware of the long-term plans which I carried to Lathanah.
The attack was frenzied and bloody. Outlaws never gave quarter in their relentless attacks. Suddenly, a portion of the cutthroats broke free from the inclosing circle of Sekers, many of whom were in full combat gear including helmets, shields and spears. The small group broke through the ring at much loss to their numbers but a few sprinted towards an unguarded portion of the circle and directly at me, standing alone not far from my wagon. They must not be allowed to escape.
Uttering the fierce war cry of Taslea I threw myself at them grabbing a spear from where one lay near the wagon. I threw it as I ran to meet them and was satisfied to see one go down clutching futilely at his stomach. Four outlaws remained. With my short Doridian sword in one hand and my fighting knife in the other, I met them head on. The sound metal filled the night air as blade met blade and in the first instant of the encounter the leader of the band lay at my feet. I turned to the others and began to give ground in the face of their overwhelming numbers. One of the less experienced men facing me grew over confident or perhaps fearful of being delayed too long in making his escape. For whatever reason he moved apart just slightly from his fellow outlaws and in that instant died as my knife found his throat. Two now faced me but one of them was a superior swordsman and could not be taken lightly. The second was gaunt and well winded by the fight. I maneuvered us about and soon was satisfied to see my sword drive through his body, breastplate and all.
Now but one remained. We circled warily and occasionally probed the other’s defenseless. I had been unaware of the rest of the battle up to now but I was surprised to see us surrounded by my own men who witnessed by combat as they would such an encounter in a tavern. In those circumstances, custom decreed that none interfere and the Sekers had decided to allow me to conduct this fight with this wily opponent by the same rules.
Escape was now impossible and my opponent knew that he faced either death or enslavement regardless of the outcome of this battle with me. Nevertheless he pressed the attack with vigor and I could not but admire his courage as well as his skill. Savagely he struck, seeking to drive me to my knees by the sheer weight and numbers of his blows. I met each of them in turn and refused to yield. Instead, I held my ground and then slowly assumed the initiative. Now he retreated from me and my sword fell repeatedly upon his, seeking any weakness, any advantage. No longer was he the aggressor. I was now the hunter and I sought his blood. With one mighty stroke I threw his weapon from him and in that moment he stood before me defenseless.
Although I did not wish the death of so skilled an opponent I now had but one choice. Looking directly into his face for the first time, I commanded, “Submit or die.”
I saw his jaw clench in anger and his mind sought some other alternative. This was a man unaccustomed to defeat. At last he made his choice and to my surprise and the men, he knelt on the ground in the time honored position of submission.
“Chain him to my wagon,” l commanded. Turning to the Commander of One Hundred I ordered that all the bodies by stripped and that they be concealed and buried within the forest, hopefully to remain undiscovered until my mission with Kanchoh was completed.
I heard a commotion behind me near my wagon and turned to see its cause. Lehdah was striking in rage at my new prisoner who, chained as he was, could not defend himself. I saw her run to one of the dead near her and pull his sword from his white fingers. She then rushed to the chained, helpless man.
l ran for her and only reached her as she pulled the sword back for a lethal thrust into his body. “No, no, don’t stop me. Let me, let me!” she screamed as she struggled in my arms. “It is he!” she shouted.
“Who?” I asked totally confused.
“Evaldor! Evaldor! Let me slay him, let me!”
~
We would begin the long, steep climb over the mountains at dawn the next day. In anticipation of this more arduous part of the journey to Lathanah I had the caravan camp a little earlier than usual. There were no campsites along the next day’s route, I was informed. Evaldor remained chained to my wagon and Lehdah was chained to one of the others attached to the Merchant Renakor for after subduing her it was apparent that she would stop at nothing to slay her former master. Much as I admired her fine spirit and much as I sympathized with her motives I could not allow his death, not yet, not while there was still valuable intelligence to be gathered from him.
Lehdah had been enraged when I had ordered her chained to the wagon “Why do you stop me?” she had demanded. “You know the kind of man he is. Let me kill him. I have earned the right!” she screamed.
I had offered no explanation for I thought she would understand my motives once she recovered from her anger and frustration. In any event, she was still my slave and had to do as I ordered.
The Sekers had done as I commanded and buried the dead along with a few of our own in the forest. It was unfortunate ours could not be burned but they understood that circumstances did not permit it. We had set out at dawn and Evaldor trekked in silence all that day. I had him given only water once a day as is customary for new acquisitions and no food at all, also a typical practice for captives their first day in the chains.
I had walked part of the day where I could observe him. He was a powerful figure even if somewhat emaciated from the previous winter’s privations. Although his entire band, save two, were slain, he showed no sign of anger only a stoic expressionless demeanor that gave me pause. Granted, he had only been with these new outlaws a short time but any man would have shown some sign at the slaughter of so many, or failing that, at least some sign upon capture. This man revealed nothing of his feelings, if in fact he had any and that made him a shrewd adversary. A truly wise man would have feigned a normal reaction and then acted later according to his nature and so I was not overly impressed with Evaldor. It did not occur to me that he had selected his reaction with great care.
Our questioning of the two other captives had given us useful information. Interviewed separately, they reported that Evaldor had joined their band about one month previously and had reported the loss of his own band to a force of 500 who had by cunning pursued his troop into the forest and slain them from ambush. He had then joined Kanchoh’s band which they reported consisted of some 150 outlaws. Kanchoh had given him the men who we had slaughtered the night before and ordered him to bring back food and captives as prove of his worthiness to assume a position of leadership within Kanchoh’s band.
Evaldor’s latest attempt had unfortunately for him met with failure, also at the hands of the same Sekers who had pursued and slain his original band.
Kanchoh’s band made camp a fair distance from the caravan route so by now would not know that Evaldor had met without success. His failure to return though would be an ominous sign.
After camp was made and I had doubled checked the sentries for the night, I returned to my wagon for the evening meal which this night consisted of a stew with softened dried meat and vegetables. Biscuits of a sort were prepared in the charcoals of the fire and served along with water. I had determined to drink no wine during this journey. Too much was at stake to risk failure because I was in a drunken stupor or had my senses dulled by drink.
I had Evaldor brought within my wagon, in chains and thrown to my feet. I motioned for the Sekers to leave me alone with him. His expression remained blank as he knelt before me.
“You fought well,” I began. He made no reply. “Perhaps you have discerned that you met my Sekers once before.” Slowly he nodded. “I wish information concerning Kanchoh.”
At last Evaldor spoke. “I can add nothing to what the
other captives have already said. They were with his band much longer than I was and I only spoke with Kanchoh twice.”
“How did you manage to assume a position of leadership so rapidly?” I inquired.
“By the usual means,” he answered. He referred to the practice of combat to establish leadership in outlaw bands. He had challenged a leader within the band and upon slaying him assumed his place.
“Then your last assault on us was to be a test of your ability?” He nodded. “A test you failed.”
“That is self-evident,” he said and remained in silence before me.
“It is not my desire to allow you to remain in chains. Perhaps you recall the slave who attempted to slay you immediately after you chose submission to death?”
Looking up at me, he replied, “Of course. She is a slave who often enjoyed the pleasure of my men. But she is after all only a slave.”
Looking at him, I said, “I wish your assistance. Should you fail to provide it, I will give you to her in chains to do with you as she sees fit.” I saw for the first time fear in his eyes. “Help me and you may remain alive. You may now chose.”
JH02. Caravans of Doridia Page 6