The knife held in his hand strikes down, opening up a long cut on his left forearm.
Suddenly, the door to the pen is opened and guards rush in and grab Black Tooth before he can strike again. They immobilize his arm and remove the knife from his hand. They holler to others and as they take Black Tooth out of the pen. Two slavers come in with a wooden block and set it on the floor outside of the pen.
They take Black Tooth to it and lay his right arm, the one that held the knife, across the top of it as one of the guards draws his sword. With a quick motion, he severs Black Tooth’s hand from his arm.
Black Tooth cries out in pain as his hand falls to the floor and blood begins to spray out of his stump.
One of the guards takes a torch and places it to the stump, cauterizing the wound and stopping the blood flow, which causes Black Tooth to cry out again as his flesh begins to sizzle in the flames. The smell of burnt flesh and hair fills the pen with a nauseating odor.
When the wound is sealed, they throw Black Tooth back into the pen and one of the guards makes an announcement which Miko is unable to understand. But he gets the gist of it, don’t cause trouble or you’ll be punished severely.
Then the guards take the block away and once more leave them in darkness as they file out of the holding area. Once Miko’s eyes become adjusted again to the gloom, he can make out Black Tooth on the ground, holding his stump as he moans in pain. He can’t see, so much as feel the hate for him radiating from Black Tooth.
His own wound seeps blood all night but by morning has stopped and a scab is beginning to form.
That was several days ago, just how many Miko isn’t sure. He’s lost count as every day is the same. He looks down to where Black Tooth still sits and whenever their eyes meet, naked hatred is all he sees reflected in his eyes. He’s sure that given the chance, Black Tooth would kill him. But without his right hand, Miko is confident that he can defend himself against any attack he may try.
A day or so ago, the road turned south as it continues following the coastline. They had rolled into a large city and made their way down to the docks to drop off two slaves while picking up three more. They now number six wagons with sixteen slaves jammed into each.
The ships with their sails gave Miko a moment’s pleasure as he imagines sailing upon the seas in them, like many a story he heard from bards and minstrels. To feel the sea air and the spray of the waves as your ship crashes through them, ah, Miko can only dream. But the dream was to be short lived, for they once more returned to the road and continued on their way, leaving the ships behind them.
Miko looks to the sea as they ride and occasionally can see the ships passing by on their way to who knows where. Ever since being in the port, he’s had a desire to be upon one.
That night, during the wee hours of the morning, Miko is awakened by shouting as guards begin rushing about. He sees a couple of them with crossbows mounting their horses and heading off into the desert. The slaves begin muttering to themselves until a slaver comes over and tells them to be quiet.
Miko lies back down, wondering just what all that was about. In the morning when he awakens and gets back on the wagon, he sees at the edge of the camp, four dead bodies. Slaves that he later comes to understand had tried to make a break for it last night.
Wish one of them had been Black Tooth, he thinks wistfully.
Another couple of days finds them rolling into another port town and heading toward the dock area. Several ships docked there are in the process of loading or unloading cargo. The wagons pull up next to one and a slaver gets down off the lead wagon and walks up the gangplank onto the ship.
Miko is figuring on them transferring more men either to or from the ship. When the slaver comes back to the top of the gangplank, he hollers to the other slavers and they begin removing all the slaves from the wagons who are then led up to the ship. Excited about being on a ship, but apprehensive as well, Miko looks around as he walks up the gangplank and led over to a hatch where he’s led down into the hold.
The hold is a place of stale air and unpleasant odors. They are led over to where eye rings have been secured to the hull and their manacles are secured to them. Left there in the dark, Miko begins to get scared and a little nauseous from the motion of the ship and the smells from the hold.
After what seems like hours, the ship finally begins to move. Even though he’s held in the cargo hold as a slave, Miko enjoys the roll of the ship despite being nauseated as it makes its way out to sea.
After twenty minutes into the voyage, one of the slaves further down from Miko starts throwing up when the rocking of the ship gets the better of him, spraying it all over. The odor only adds to the already unbearable stench in the hold. Miko’s stomach begins to protest as he continues to smell the other man’s vomit.
Before too long, others begin vomiting as well, including Miko whose stomach can no longer stand the combined odor and the rocking of the ship. The voyage that started out as one of excitement for him, now is pure misery as he gets sicker and sicker, vomiting several more times.
At last, the rocking of the ship diminishes and they feel the hull scrape alongside another dock. The ship comes to a stop and they hear footsteps on the deck above them coming over to the hatch. The hatch above them opens, allowing light and fresh air to come in, much to everyone’s relief.
A sailor comes and begins removing their manacles from the eye rings in the floor. They’re then told to come up and when Miko steps out of that foul hell hole, he sees that the ship is resting next to a small pier on a heavily wooded island, at least he thinks it’s an island. At the end of the pier are several buildings as well as a guard tower upon which two guards with crossbows are standing watch.
The men are disembarked from the ship and formed into lines upon the pier. A guard steps forward and takes several papers from the captain of the ship and then turns to the slaves. After making a short speech that Miko is unable to comprehend, they begin marching along the pier toward an area with several large barrels. A slave stands with a bucket near the first barrel.
As the first of the new arrivals reaches the slave with the bucket, he pours the water in the bucket over the slave’s head who then commences to rub as much of the filth he acquired in the hold off as he can. When it’s Miko’s turn, he steps forward and feels the water flow over him gratefully, the stench from the hold of the ship at last being washed away. A faint odor still remains despite his efforts to remove it all, but nothing like what they smelled like before, a hot bath would do the trick a whole lot better. After the last of the slaves has had a bucket’s worth of water poured over him, the line begins moving again.
They march for about an hour, the fresh air and exercise is a pleasant change after the length of time on the wagon and then in the bottom of the cargo hold. From out of the forest ahead of them, a wooden palisade suddenly appears and begins running along the side of the road. Guards armed with crossbows can be seen walking along the top of the wall and look their way as they approach.
A gate large enough to accommodate a wagon swings open as they near the middle of the palisade and they’re marched through. Once on the other side of the gate, Miko sees a large open pit in front of them, with a winding road that follows the outer edge as it circles down into the depths.
Surrounding the pit are many wooden buildings, with the wall encompassing the entire area. Wagons are rolling along the road as they make their way from out of the depths of the pit. The guards march Miko and the others over toward the road that leads into the pit and then follow the road as it descends into the pit.
Chapter Twenty Three
James awakens to the sound of waves crashing upon rocks. Though his head hurts like it’s about to split open, he sits up and sees Jiron sitting over near the entrance to a cave, staring out at the water. Their two horses are standing over by the opposite side of the cave.
A groan escapes from James as he sits up. Jiron glances back over his shoulder at him and smil
es. “Didn’t think you were ever going to come back to the land of the living,” he says.
Holding his head in his hands to try and ease the pain, James replies with a raspy voice, “Not sure that I have.”
Jiron gets up and brings him a water bottle, “Like some water?”
Reaching out his hand, he takes the offered bottle and drains the entire contents. Looking around, he asks, “Just where are we?”
“In a cave near the ocean,” Jiron explains.
“How did we get here?” he asks as he hands the bottle back.
“After we left Al-Kur,” he begins to explain, “I initially took us out into the desert but ran across a patrol, they saw us and gave chase. I had to back track toward the coast, we didn’t lose them until night fell. After that, we rode all night until I saw this cave opening revealed in the moonlight.”
“Been here for two days,” he tells him. “Wasn’t sure if you were going to make it at first, but by the end of the first day you were getting less restless and began to quiet down. I was afraid the noise you were making would alert anyone passing by to our presence here. I did some scouting around and we seem to be in a remote area, I doubt if anyone will think to look for us here.”
“Me too,” agrees James, his throat still a little raspy. “Do we have any food?” he inquires.
“A little,” he replies and then moves over to one of the saddle bags. He takes out a cloth containing some rations and brings it over to James. “I figure we have a day’s worth left,” he says, “maybe more.”
James takes it and when he takes his first bite, his stomach lets out a large growl and he begins eating in earnest.
“Are you going to need more rest?” Jiron asks him.
“I think so,” James replies just as a yawn escapes him. “Most likely another day at the most, then I think I’ll be okay to travel.”
“In that case I better go and find us more food or we’ll be out by morning,” he tells him. “It looks like you’re going to be needing a lot.”
“I usually do after major magic like I did back at Al-Kur,” he explains.
Jiron looks to him and asks, “Will you be okay by yourself?”
He shrugs and says, “If no one shows up, yes. I doubt if I could do anything to defend myself now if someone should come by.”
“I won’t be long,” he says as he goes over and begins to saddle one of the horses.
James finishes eating and already his body is telling him it’s time to rest. Trying to stifle another big yawn he says, “Hurry back.”
“I will,” he assures him. Leading the horse outside the cave, he mounts and glances back inside to James before he leaves. Already, he’s fallen asleep.
Jiron quickly leaves the cave behind as he makes his way through the hills, away from the beach area. The rolling hills give him some cover as he follows the coast south, hoping to come across a town where he can acquire some food.
The light begins to fade as the sun drops below the horizon. The approach of darkness makes Jiron more at ease, in the dark is when he’s most effective. Before the sun slips completely beyond the horizon, he comes across a small fishing village. A couple dozen huts and one main building is all there is to it. A small dock extends into the water and several small boats are tied to it.
Satisfied to have found a town so readily, Jiron turns around and leads his horse away from the village. He finds a place back in the hills that will keep his horse hidden while he goes in search of food. Taking the reins, he ties him to a scrub tree in a hollow between two hills. Patting him on the neck before returning to the village, he says, “I’ll be back soon, boy.”
Working his way back to the village on foot, he stops when he begins to see the light coming from the outlying buildings. He waits there, hidden in amongst some trees and bushes as he observes the inhabitants, thankful that there are no soldiers or guards patrolling the streets. This place is just not big enough to warrant any.
Once darkness has completely set in, he stealthily makes his way to the outskirts of town and over to one of the houses that remains dark. Hoping that since the house is still dark, there would be no one within, he creeps to a window and looks inside.
It’s a small home and appears that there isn’t anyone currently inside. Going to the door, he slowly opens it and slips inside, closing it behind him. Moving around in the dark, he finds the kitchen area and starts looking through the shelves and cupboards for food. Removing the sack he brought with him, he places a loaf of bread and some vegetables within it.
Moving to another shelf, he finds a few strips of dried fish and other dried meat which he takes as well. Figuring he’s taken enough to last them for a few more days, he takes out two silver pieces and lays them on the table.
Stealing from those who have plenty has never bothered him. But taking from those who obviously have nothing, that’s something he could never do, so he leaves the coins. Slipping back out the door, he quickly leaves town and heads back to where he left his horse.
As he approaches the area where he’s sure he left his horse, he begins to see a light coming from up ahead. Wary of danger, he draws one of his knives and slips closer. Passing between the hills, he sees four teens near his horse. They’re bending over where the contents of one of his bags have been emptied upon the ground.
Setting down the sack of food, he approaches them, knife still in his hand. As he enters the light, he says, “Get away from my horse and my things.”
All four of the teens stand up and look in his direction. One of them says, “Back off, this is our stuff now.” Drawing his knife, the teen threatens him with it as he says, “Go away if you don’t want to get hurt.” The others stand behind him and draw their knives as well.
Drawing his other knife, he advances upon them saying, “But I do want to get hurt.”
The first teen gets an uncertain look in his eye, as if he can’t believe Jiron isn’t going away.
When Jiron gets to within five feet of the teens he stops and says, “Just put back everything you took and I won’t have to kill any of you.” Whether it’s the look in his eye, or the sure way he’s holding himself, the teens all back up a step.
They begin to empty their pockets and coins, as well as a few other things join the rest of the items lying on the ground. He gestures to the pile on the ground with his knife and says, “Now, please put everything back into the bag.” He stands there with knives still drawn as one of the other teens complies.
Then he says, “Now everyone back up and away from the horse.” He advances on them as they back up until he’s next to the bag. Without taking his eyes off the teens, he reaches down and picks it up. After replacing the bag back on the horse behind the saddle, he takes the horse’s reins and backs toward where he left the food sack. Reaching down, he picks it up, and then secures it to the horse as well.
He sheathes his knives before mounting. Turning his horse, he gives the boys one last look before heading out into the night. As he leaves, he goes in the opposite direction of where James lies in case the boys decide to tell anyone about meeting him. He doubts they will, though, it would make them look cowardly.
He travels through the hills for a few hundred feet before turning back to the north and to James. Finding the cave in the dark proves difficult but he at last comes across it and is relieved to find James still sleeping and undisturbed.
Securing his horse with the other, he sits back down at the entrance and keeps watch while James sleeps.
When the sun hits James’ face, he wakes up and feels much improved over the day before. Lying next to him is a few strips of dried meat and vegetables. “Found some?” he asks Jiron.
“A little bit,” he replies from where he’s sitting at the cave entrance.
Tearing off a strip of meat with his teeth, he chews it for a bit then takes a bite of one of the veggies.
“Able to ride today?” Jiron asks.
“Yes,” he replies through a mouthful of food, “I
think so. My head is not hurting as bad as it was yesterday and I don’t feel nearly as wobbly.”
“Good,” he says, “we need to get moving before we’re discovered here.”
“Let me see if I can find out where he is first,” James says as he gets up and goes over to his horse to retrieve the mirror from his shaving kit. Stuffing the rest of the dried meat in his mouth, he pulls the mirror out and takes it over to the cave entrance where he sits next to Jiron. Cupping the mirror between his hands, he concentrates. The image begins to waver and suddenly they see Miko sitting with other people, someplace dark. He expands the picture and after watching it for a few minutes, states, “I think he’s on a boat.”
“You sure?” Jiron asks.
“Pretty sure,” he replies. “He’s somewhere dark and if you watch, it seems like the view is slowly rocking back and forth. It reminds me of being on a ship at sea.”
“He could be going anywhere then,” Jiron says.
“Yeah, I know,” agrees James. “It’ll be harder to follow him if we’re going to need a boat.”
“Let’s worry about one thing at a time,” he tells him. “Where is he?”
James thinks for a moment and then removes a short piece of cloth from his bags. He takes it outside and walks down near the water. Jiron gets up and follows him down to where the waves are crashing upon the beach.
Standing still at the water’s edge, he holds the cloth by one end and extends his arm outward as he concentrates on Miko, willing the cloth to point the way. If it worked with a piece of wood, it should also work with the cloth. The cloth in his hand begins to move, not with the breeze coming in off the water, but on its own. Maintaining his concentration, he opens his eyes to see the cloth pointing south along the beach. He turns to Jiron as he terminates the spell and says, “He’s to the south and I get the feeling quite a ways away.”
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