Slaves to the Sword

by Jack Cage

  “Why do you think Mother wants us on land so badly?”

  “Because she knows if we do not get off of this thing soon, Amri will kill all of those men.”

  22

  E ven with the spiritually assisted winds pushing The Kingmaker along the seas, it still took almost two months’ to finally arrive at the port of Brixham, England. Their trip had been shortened by nearly two weeks with the heavy winds pushing them toward land, and Captain Burton was glad to make it home in record time. “Aye, men, we are back home!” he said joyously. The men laughed and clapped with enthusiastically. “We shall offload our supplies, and meet at the pub where you will receive payment for such a fine job sailing us home to Brixham!”

  With renewed energy, the men went to work preparing the ship for arrival. The constant movement was unsettling for the Sefu men. Several of the remaining prisoners were ordered to assist with off-loading items, but the Sefu men remained unseen. After a while, the activity on the upper-deck of The Kingmaker subsided. The men were gone, and the once-noisy ship grew silent.

  After dark, the Sefu men heard someone stepping down to the lower deck. The hatch to their hovel opened, and down came Captain Burton with a stack of clothing for the Sefu men to wear. With his sword in hand, he pulled Zuberi toward him, and removed his shackles so he could assist him with putting on a relatively clean white shirt and dark-blue pants.

  After he was finished dressing the elderly man, Burton looked to the brothers, and said, “Your turn, the both of you.” He motioned to the floor with his sword, pointing at the clothes.

  The Sefu brothers extended their arms toward Burton, and he unlocked their shackles with his free hand. While the younger Sefu men dressed, Captain Burton kept his sword near Zuberi’s neck.

  He knew what he was doing was unsafe, but he did not want to share his human bounty with any of his crewmen. He figured, under the cover of night he could smuggle the Moors off The Kingmaker, while he negotiated a price for their purchase.

  When Amri and Endesha were dressed, Burton put the shackles back on awkwardly with his left hand, and ordered the men to go above deck. Closing the galley door behind him, Burton nervously looked around to see if anyone was watching. Certain they were alone, his jitters were calmed, and he guided the men down the board plank onto English soil.

  The city of Brixham was a cold place; the Sefu men had never felt such weather. The air smelled foul to the brothers as they were placed into the back of a carriage and told to lay down and be quiet. When the carriage stopped, the three men were led into a small cottage alongside an alley; home of Morris Peters and his wife Emma. “These are the men I told you about earlier, Morris,” said Burton. “Fine looking Moors, aren’t they?”

  “Yes. The large one is unlike anything I have ever seen,” Morris said.

  “Aye, they are from far in the south seas. I’ve seen the big one kill five men right before my eyes.”

  “Are you sure it is a good idea to bring them here? I am a member of Parliament, not a warrior.”

  “I will return for them after I take care of my crew and meet with my buyer. Please have Mistress Emma provide food and water for the men, and keep a sword near your side.”

  Morris went into a closet and retrieved a small sword not suitable for cutting meat let alone fighting.

  “Here, you can have mine,” said Burton, shaking his head in disgust as he left the cottage.

  The tavern where the crew of The Kingmaker gathered was full of people. Sounds of singing and laughter could be heard from outside the thick wooden doors. Many crewmen had long since washed the stench of the sea off of their bodies, and thankful bar maidens gladly passed drinks to the crew, hoping to cash in on the sailors newly gained wealth. “What a voyage men!” Captain Burton said as he entered the tavern. “We made it home in record time! Take this time to rest and restore yourselves.”

  “We will restore our glasses with mead for now,” a crewman replied with the room laughing together.

  “Indeed, drink and enjoy your night, lads. It is yours for the taking.” Burton nabbed a tankard of mead from the table, took a deep swig, and as he swallowed, he noticed a rather sinister looking man watching him from the corner of the room. Deciding to disregard the fellow for now, he made his way to each of his crewman to give them their cut of the profits.

  Burton made his way toward the stranger, obviously a man of wealth and distinction by the way he was dressed. His hair was clean, combed and parted on the left side of his head.

  He wore a fine black coat with matching trousers, and his black boots shined to perfection. As Burton approached the man, he motioned to the still-uncleaned captain to sit with him. “James Burton, correct?” asked the man.

  “Aye, I’m him.”

  “My name is Horace Darlington. I was sent here to meet you by my associate, Mr. Peters.”

  “Morris says you are a man that enjoys collecting fine items.”

  “Indeed, I have some of the finest items in the world in my personal collection, and since I do not have much time, I would like to get to business quickly, if you don’t mind. I was informed you arrived this evening from a voyage, and have two Moor beasts in your possession.”

  “I do, and there are three of them, not two. One is elderly, and the other is large, but not as big as the one I would refer to as a beast. He is as large as the door at the front of this tavern, Mr. Darlington.” Burton deftly muted his enthusiasm.

  “Well, that is your opinion, but in order for me to do business with you I must see these men for myself.” Horace took a drink from a flask hidden within his coat pocket.

  “Absolutely, but before we do that we should discuss the price.”

  “Very well. What price would make the three beasts mine, Captain Burton?”

  “Three pounds twelve shillings for all three is a fair price.”

  Horace laughed mightily. “You are wasting my time with pricing only a thief would ask for.

  You only just mentioned a moment ago that only two of the three men were of able body. The elder should be included at no additional cost. The most I would ever give to you for the lot would be one pound ten shillings, and only if the men are in the best of condition.”

  “They are in excellent condition, Mr. Darlington. We can go take a look at them now.” The two men shook hands, left the tavern, and started walking down the cobbled street toward the Peters’ cottage.

  ***

  Back at the Peters’ home, Amri and Endesha were whispering to each other. “What is this place?” Endesha asked.

  “I am not sure,” Amri said.

  “We are far from our land, my sons,” Zuberi said.

  “Endesha, listen to me, we must protect Father. Do you understand?”

  “What do you mean, Amri? Our hands are tied together and so are our feet,” Endesha replied.

  “I know, but we need to let these men know we will not let anything happen to our father. So if we are stood up on our feet, and danger is present, we will shield him with our bodies. Maybe this will prevent them from harming him.”

  “Boys, I do not need such covering. My time to be with your mother is coming soon, and your destiny will be fulfilled in this place. You will see.”

  The Sefu men heard a knock at the door. Muffled discussions could also be heard in the adjacent room.

  The Sefu men heard Emma Morris scream, followed by a loud crash of plates, and two large thumps on the floor. The door to their comfortable prison swung open, and it was not Captain Burton who came into the room. With a rotten-toothed grin, the captain’s first mate, Roderick made his entrance, followed by a second unfamiliar man.

  Amri recognized him immediately. He was the man that had struck him with the ore. “Get up you filthy Moors, we don’t have time to waste,” Roderick commanded.

  The Sefu men complied. They stood and walked as quickly as their shackled feet would allow. As the three men left their room they saw the bleeding bodies of the Morris and Emma Peters on t
he ground. Morris was still alive and reaching for the sword his friend James had given him, but his throat was filling with blood and was dead before Roderick and his accomplice closed the door behind them.

  The Sefu men were placed in the back of a cloth-covered carriage lined with hay. Roderick and his accomplice took off quickly, hoping no one had seen them leave the residence. “We have to take their shackles off, Master Thornton. We cannot move them swiftly with their feet shackled like they are. Where you able to get the key?” asked the accomplice.

  “Aye, of course. I was able to nab it from him at the tavern after he had a few pints of ale,” said Roderick.

  “Where are we going, sir?” asked the accomplice as he steered the carriage through the dark stone streets.

  “We are going to see an old friend in the north. We shall head to a village called Tawny. I have business with man there.”

  Moments later, Captain Burton and Mr. Darlington arrived at the Peters’ home. When they knocked on the door and no one answered, Burton opened the door to find Mr. and Mrs. Peters lying on the floor in a pool of their shared blood. Without thought of his friend’s condition, Burton ran to the back room to see if his prized possessions were still in the residence, but they were not. Even with his alcohol-clouded mind, James Burton knew he would not recover the men he had taken as slaves.

  23

  A s the single drawn horse carriage made its way northwest out of Brixham, the Sefu men did not know what was in store for them on this cold late-fall night. The ride was bumpy and harsh. They did not dare make a sound even as their heads and legs banged into the wooden sides of the carriage. Amri could see Zuberi was having difficulty with the severe movements, and placed his father’s age-weakened legs in between his hoping to provide a buffer against the hard wood surfaces surrounding them. Endesha used one of his arms to brace their father’s head.

  The horse neighed in protest of the hastened pace set by Roderick. The dense cold of the English night was frightening to the Sefu men. They could occasionally see their own breath under the fabric sheet when the lantern shined light over the carriage’s imported cargo.

  As the carriage approached the outer perimeter of Aveston. Roderick commanded his accomplice to slow his pace and extinguish the lantern. It would be prudent to afford caution as they were now in King Phillip Miles’ Midland Kingdom.

  “Steady your beast, or we will be bloody discovered,” Roderick whispered loudly. “Slower! We mustn’t be seen. We are close to Tawny. The carriage slowed and was being led down through a shallow ravine, when a voice spoke out from within the woods.

  “Halt! What brings you to the kingdom of his Royal Majesty King Phillip Miles?”

  The man within the woods continued, “My name is Fitzgerald Singletary. I am a captain of his Majesty’s Red Guard. Why are you traveling at night without the light of a lantern?”

  “Oh, I am headed to a small village north of here with my brother … Charles,” Roderick replied.

  “And what of the goods in the back of your carriage, sir?”

  “You are seeking money for taxes? Yes, yes, I will gladly give you three shillings.” Roderick made show of untying his coin purse.

  “I did not ask for three shillings because I have not viewed your cargo in order to determine your tax, sir.” Singletary lit his lantern, revealing two more Harkstead riders. “Light your lantern, Master …?” Singletary asked while waiting for Roderick to share his name.

  “Roderick, sir. Roderick Harris is my name.”

  “Master Harris, please light your lantern, and step down so we may view your cargo and collect your tax. Then you and Charles shall be on your way.”

  Roderick took a moment to determine his options; they were outnumbered, so they could not challenge Singletary and his Hearksteadian soldiers; they could not outrun them either considering the nighttime darkness would prevent them from finding their way through to Tawny.

  Realizing they had no other alternative, Roderick looked to “Charles,” and stepped down from his less-than-regal carriage.

  He walked to the back of the carriage as Singletary positioned his horse to see the contents. With a small breath, Roderick removed the fabric to reveal the three intertwined Sefu men.

  “What is this madness?” Singletary yelled in surprise as he and his fellow soldiers unsheathed their swords. “What kind of men are these you have in your carriage?”

  “They are men my captain and I took as prisoners from a faraway land, sir.”

  “You do not look like a man from the waters. I do not believe you. Bring these men to their feet,” Singletary commanded. The Harkstead soldiers dismounted their horses and assisted the Sefu men to their feet. As they stood, Singletary was awed by Endesha and Amri’s size. These men of the Red Guard had never seen a man as massive in size as Amri in or out of battle.

  “This one is mighty large,” Singletary said to his men. The two brothers stepped closer to each other to shield their elderly father. Noticing their movements, he asked them, “What are your names?” The men did not reply. “No matter, we will talk again later. Have them get back into the carriage, and we shall head to Harkstead Castle.”[DS3]

  “And what of us, Captain?” Roderick asked.

  “I do not know where you were taking these men, but I believe you were not traveling within the shadows because you wanted to be seen. Considering what you were hiding, my assumption is you were headed to Tawny to relieve yourself of these men, collect your payment, and return to the coast—if you are in fact a man of the waters. But that is not going to happen.

  You, sir, will spend the rest of your days in the dungeons of Harkstead Castle for bringing these things to our land.” Singletary’s soldiers redirected Roderick and “Charles” toward the path that led to Harkstead Castle. One soldier rode in front of their prisoners and the other behind them while Singletary brought up the rear.

  Even though the night was bitterly cold, the Sefu men did not notice. Finally, free of rooms and covered confinement, they were too busy looking at all that was around them.[DS4] Everything was new. The air was crisp and smelled of plants they had never seen before. The sheer size of the horses with their grunts and the clatter of their hooves with every stride made them seem like monsters to the Sefu. The mounted men looked menacing with their long shiny weapons, fine armor, and bascinets on their heads.

  Endesha looked up to the sky like he used to back in their village, and, to his surprise, the moon was right where it usually was. This gave Endesha a sense of comfort. He tapped his brother on the thigh and pointed up. Amri nodded in approval. He also understood that even though they were thousands of miles from home, the sky presented a landscape to the Sefu brothers they immediately recognized.

  As the men rode under the heavy portcullis into Harkstead Castle, people stared in awe at the Sefu men that many had never seen the likes of. When Singletary and his men returned to the stables, he ordered them to take the two smugglers to the dungeon.

  “Yes, Captain” the soldiers replied.

  Singletary pointed to another guard and commanded, “You, come with me. We shall take these men to see King Phillip.”

  Captain Singletary removed his bascinet—revealing his thick blond beard, matching long locks and daylight-blue eyes—and handed it to a young stable boy. With his sword still unsheathed he led the Sefu men through the series of corridors and stairs that eventually led to King Phillip’s chambers.

  As the group approached the king’s chambers two fully-armored soldiers stood guard outside.

  When they arrived, Captain Singletary nodded to the guards, and promptly rapped on the door. Amri looked to one of the guards and noticed he could not see his eyes. He had leaned in closer to get a better look, when Endesha bumped his elbow and nodded toward the now open chamber doors.

  “Captain Singletary, what brings you to my chambers at this time of the evening?” King Phillip asked.

  “Your Majesty, I found these men on the outskirts of o
ur land. Singletary motioned for the Sefu men to enter the chambers. “I believe they were being transported to Tawny by two men from the southern coast.”

  “What of those men?” Phillip asked.

  “They are in the dungeons on charges of transporting prisoners without tax or papers with your royal seal, Your Majesty.”

  “Very well. Now, let me take a look at these … men.” King Phillip walked toward them, impressed, but not awed as his people had been.

  Amri noticed the king’s fine white linen robe. His shoulder-length hair was pulled back behind his ears, revealing the finely woven crimson stitching along the collar of his garment.

  Endesha had not noticed the king’s clothing—he was more interested in the fruit on the table.

  The king looked up at Amri and took two steps back to get a better look. He then looked to Endesha before noticing their father next to them. Again, the brothers took a step closer together to shield their father as the king walked toward him. “Do these men speak English, Captain Singletary?” Phillip asked.

  “I do not think they do, Your Majesty.”

  “Take them to the dungeons as well, but place them in a space together and separate from everyone else. I believe these two larger ones are related to this older one. Maybe they are his children. See to it the three of them are well-fed and given water.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty”

  “And Singletary, please ensure they are not seen as you transport them.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  As the group left the king’s chambers the Sefu men were growing tired from the night’s activities. The smell of the food on the king’s table remained in Endesha’s mind as they walked down the cold, damp corridors, and several flights of stairs. Finally making their way to the lowest level of the castle, they entered the dungeon, and were hit with the horrible smells that filled the dank air. Sounds of men groaning in pain echoed through the narrow halls.