The purpose of the attack was not to overwhelm the caravan, for such would not have been possible. It was designed to isolate certain wagons and then plunder them while the bulk of the Sekers were occupied elsewhere. For this reason the attack came to the rear of the caravan and pulled many Sekers to the fray, but once that was accomplished the main body of outlaws fell upon the front wagons which were at that moment passing through a cut in the ridge.
My wagon was most vulnerable of all and I was convinced that it was the main target. Horns sounded and Sekers fell back on positions with the wagons under heaviest attack as I ran towards the battle. Looking over my shoulder to shout an order guaranteeing that adequate Sekers would remain to the front of the caravan I thought I observed movement along the ridge and so I stopped in my tracks. Too late I realized that this would be the direction of the main body of outlaws. Shouting to a trumpeter to sound for a defensive position at the front, I ran towards my wagon and summoned troops as I did so.
The numbers were simply too much for us though we fought on valiantly. Many Sekers fell to the ground and many more outlaws joined them, but still they came, screaming and howling in blood thirsty abandon as they fell upon the hapless civilians poorly protected by the remaining Sekers. I arrived in time to bloody my blade and I dipped it into the body of many an outlaw that day. I waded through the butchers surrounding my own wagon slashing savagely left and right, thrusting forward and to the rear, caught up in a blood lust that knew no reason and no end. I was no longer a man but a machine, a killing machine that laid to waste all that stood before me. I felt blood upon my face but did not know if it was my own or that of an enemy. I felt no pain, only a rage inside me that knew no limits, no boundary and that was seemingly without end. Men fell before me and as I neared the rear I found it necessary to step upon the dead to move. Men screamed and a few begged succor but I gave and asked no quarter. Others had stood at my side as I had ventured into the horde of despicable outcasts but now they were gone and I fought on alone, feeling no fatigue, no pain, no hate, only the drive to reach my pledge and to kill, kill, kill.
Upon the steps of the wagon I stood as I sought the door. The enemy was all about me and I saw that my arms were red with their blood. So fearful had been my assault that for a moment the men pulled back giving pause, perhaps to muster the courage of numbers, before bringing me down upon the blades of their vastly superior numbers. In that instant I saw that Sofeeah was gone and looking to the ridge I beheld her struggling in the arms of a great cutthroat who turned to me and with a demonic grin mocked me with his salute and turned to carry his newly regained property back to his domain, the great forest.
I screamed as I have never screamed before or since and fell upon the hapless outlaws who stood between me and the brute but though many fell, many more came upon me and I knew that in but a moment death would greet me. With that realization a wave of red covered my vision and I was sinking slowly in what seemed to be quicksand and then I knew nothing.
17. Arrival in Lathanah
From murky, reddened depths of unconsciousness I slowly emerged into wakefulness and found myself within a cubicle fit for one of the High Caste, tended by a physician. White bindings appeared on every limb on my body and a sharp, incessant pain pierced the back of my skull. In those first moments I was completely lost in time and place and it was only with great effort that what had taken place returned to me.
The physician raised an eyebrow slightly upon seeing me conscious. He said nothing, however, and continued to write upon a piece of parchment at the foot of the bed rack in which I found myself. The room was meticulously clean and free of the usual items one found in a sleeping chamber. It had the smell and look of a hospital.
I began to speak but the physician interrupted me and said, “You should remain silent. It is truly a miracle that you live at all, but with proper rest you will recover scarred but in perfect condition.” He was a lean, tall figure and had the patient kindly air so many doctors assume during the years of their profession. “I am certain that you are filled with curiosity about what has occurred so let me tell you all that I know and then I will let someone in who has sat up this past night watching over you speak. Do not talk yourself but for now seek to be satisfied with the answers we give without your asking questions.
“You were brought here yesterday from the battle with the outlaw band that attacked the caravan just arriving from Runah. You were found among the slain bodies of many outlaws and I am told were virtually dead from loss of blood and your numerous injuries. The physician who accompanied the caravan was skilled in such matters and it was his timely intervention rather than my own efforts which truly spared your life. You had taken a grievous injury to your head but it was, I suspect, that injury which prevented you from being slain by the outlaws, for they thought you already dead.
“The physician took such measures as he could and then dispatched you by litter to the city of Lathanah in which you now are. You were brought to the Great House of Kabatoh and now reside within the tower of that House under the care of the House physician, myself. You have received a transfusion and I have cleaned and sutured all the wounds upon you. You have suffered a concussion but I do not think you will die from it. You shall remain here for a few days until you are well enough to choose your own place of residence. Now for your friend.”
Ctesias entered, a smile, typical for him, spread across his face. “I see you are still with us. We laid bets on the probability of your recovery and I fear that I have lost much but then what is money compared with the return of a friend from the hereafter. Koptos is injured as well but he is less seriously harmed and is journeying in with the slow caravan. I escorted you with the litter.
“I suppose that you want a report so here it is. Sofeeah was taken as were many goods. She seems to have been the primary objective of the attack which, as I am certain you recall, was well planned and executed. Losses of our Sekers were minimal and numbered less than ten dead. We inflicted grievous losses on the outlaws and I personally counted over 70 bodies. Some walking wounded were seen leaving with the outlaws when they withdrew. Our men fought savagely and well. You should be proud of them. The Commander of One Hundred ordered his men in pursuit after the battle and they accounted for 20 of the total losses of the enemy. The Merchant Renakor informed me when I departed the caravan with you that you had business with the Great House of Kabatoh and so I brought you here. As you are High Caste and from a non-hostile city you would be welcome into the hospital of any of the Great Houses of the city but this seemed the most logical and appropriate under the circumstances. As near as I can tell that appears to be all, so I will leave you. I’ll remain without in the event you need me until the caravan arrives, thereafter I’ll see to the posting of someone from our own city.” With that my faithful friend left the room and returned me to the care of the physician.
Although Doridia was backward in many ways by the standards of the world into which I was born, it was remarkably advanced in others. One of those was medicine which it seemed to me was not really all that far removed at least in its day to day actions from the medicine of my own time. Cleanliness and sterilization were practiced in all hospitals, both those maintained by the Great Houses and those kept by the guilds for Low Caste. Operations with anesthesia were common. Inoculations for most major diseases were universal and in general healthcare was excellent. It had been responsible for saving my life and I was comfortable under the care of this physician as I could have been in a hospital of my own time. He gave me an injection and I fell into a deep sleep.
My recovery from the injuries was not nearly as slow as the physician had suggested to me. I proved him to be, at least in my case, a cautious man in his profession. He kept me in sleep all of the second day but by the third day I was, against his orders, upon my feet and seeking to return myself to excellent condition as quickly as possible. I walked as much as possible that day and explored as best I was able upon the floor of the
tower in which I was housed. By the fourth day after the attack my bindings had been changed to less conspicuous bandages and although I remained weak and in some pain I was able to conduct myself much as any frail, elderly man could.
A male representative of the Great House of Kabatoh had called upon me as a matter of courtesy and I had informed him that meeting with his Urak was the primary reason for my journey to Lathanah. I asked that I be permitted to see him on matters of business as soon as I was able and as soon as the good Urak was agreeable. He assured me that a meeting would be arranged if for no other reason than to allow the Urak the opportunity to hear my account of the battle first hand. He was a rather typical Doridian and they much enjoy vivid tales of bloodletting, although granted they would much rather have witnessed the altercation or in some cases preferred to have taken part in them.
I was still weak but that afternoon I ventured forth to see the caravan which was now within the city walls and conducting business as usual. As it was the first to arrive after the previous winter, trading would be brisk. A detail of ten Sekers, the maximum custom allowed within a strange city, escorted me through the teaming streets of mighty Lathanah and to the market square where the caravan camped. The Sekers, I was told, were greatly enjoying themselves in the city and were in no hurry to depart. They were heroes for slaying so many outlaws and sought to enjoy all of the prerogatives of heroes while the luster about them was new and readily negotiable into ready wine and women.
I met with the Merchant Renakor and he informed me that business was acceptable, which in merchant talk meant we were making money hand over fist. He was pleased that I lived and assured me that our losses in the battle had been most acceptable. I always have difficulty accepting the loss of any man in my command for any reason.
“Where are my slaves?” I inquired, meaning actually Lehdah for we had at last reached the city of her birth and the time had arrived for her to make a decision or for me to make one for her.
“Is she not of this city?”
I had not realized that Renakor knew so much of Lehdah but then there had been no attempt to keep anything from him and I had learned that he was an observant and thoughtful man who kept his peace but when he spoke said much in few words. His question was simply his way of telling me that she had not been brought within the walls for had she been she could have declared her freedom and the citizens of the city would have insured it for her.
A wagon or two had been left a half day’s march from the city and she remained discreetly there. I say “discreetly” for while the area of cultivation gives its allegiance to its city it is not actually considered part of it and so Lehdah could not declare her freedom. However, should those who had known her recognize her some hotheads or family members would surely seek to take her by force. To avoid these complications slaves were rarely if ever taken anywhere near their home city but on occasion such as now it was unavoidable.
I was still too weak to make the walk to the camp site outside the city. “Bring the slave named Lehdah to my wagon here within the walls of Lathanah,” I ordered.
“She may then declare her freedom,” Renakor pointed out, although he knew that I was already familiar with the custom.
“I think she will remain silent, but if she does not, then she may be free. I will remain at the Great House of Kabatoh this night as their guest and tomorrow I will return to speak with the slave. See that she is well concealed once she approaches and enters the city walls.”
Sofeeah was gone and I could think of no reason to go on but duty alone compelled me. I had planned to court her and marry her and perhaps place myself in the service of her father in Runah but all of that was now gone and once again she was in the hands of Kanchoh and in the great forest far from here. He would not repeat his error and permit the second escape of a slave for whom he had gone to such lengths to recover.
It was my duty to my Urak to complete my task in Lathanah and I intended to do so to the best of my ability. I would also somehow see to the freedom of Lehdah for she had entered into her bargain with me in good faith and had done all that I had asked of her.
But once duty and personal matters were disposed of, l would return to the forest alone and leave it only with my Sofeeah or find my death. As I walked slowly through the cobblestoned streets of Lathanah and found my fingers playing across the logo I had affixed to all my personal weapons. The sign of the hunter.
~
It had been my experience in Doridia that business was conducted in business-like surroundings and rarely was business combined with some social function. It was for this reason that I was surprised to be informed upon my return to the Great House of Kabatoh that I was invited to dinner with the Urak’s immediate family. I had sought to discuss business with the Urak and he now invited me to a purely social function. I could not, of course, raise the reason for my journey at such a social gathering, at least not in good taste. It would be up to my host to broach the subject with me.
Once I was transferred from my cubicle in the hospital I was given lavish quarters suitable for one of my station. I was after all First Officer of a Great House and entitled to the best accommodations. My personal effects had been brought to me and I donned fine clothes and costly jewelry for the dinner that evening. Nevertheless, my despondency persisted for I had failed my Sofeeah.
The dining room was off the private quarters of the House and was used for family meals when all were present or when some special quest had been invited. It was less intimate than dining within the personal chambers of the Urak but a very flattering gestured nevertheless.
The Urak and all of his family were present, each of whom was presented to me in turn. His children were grown and most were accompanied by their mate. A small group of musicians provided light social music native to Lathanah. The atmosphere was light and I saw that this was a close, loving family, although the Urak was strict in matters of propriety and tradition. This did not prevent him from being a good and loving father to his offspring and mate.
The Urak Kabatoh was of average size and of advanced age with a much younger, attentive wife. He maintained his silence for the most part and only occasionally interjected a word of two of wit. He seemed a firm, fair man and I noticed was much admired and respected by all in attendance. His clear eyes sparkled with excitement on more than one occasion and atop his head sat a crown of snow white hair. He was wrinkled but moved with the youth of one many years his junior. The diner passed pleasantly enough and although I made every attempt to hold my feelings at bay I know that many of those present knew the heaviness I felt within my heart.
Following the dinner, the Urak moved the party to a drawing room which seemed to be the meeting place for the family in the evening. There he engaged me in conversation over fine, light wine and with much encouragement had me relate not only the tale of the battle several days previously but also of the exploits of my men in the forest on two previous occasions. I told the stories for it is not considered unseemly to tell of one’s exploits in Doridia and for a time lost myself in the recounting of the past. The Urak made little comment though he encouraged me at intervals and when I was finished he related tales from his youth and other grown men told their experiences. All of these stories no doubt were well known to those present but a new quest is always welcome so the stories can be retold.
In time the woman and most of the men were dismissed to retire and I remained behind with the Urak and his two eldest sons who I had been informed earlier served as his chief advisors. Turning at last to me I saw that the hour for business matters had arrived.
“As brave a Seker as you are, and as thrilling as we have all found your tales to be this night, I am informed that you have come for some other reason than social pleasure.”
All turned to me and taking a moment to compose my thoughts I then carefully explained matters to the Urak and his attentive sons, as I had before to the Urak of the Great House of Tonalah in Runah. Each of the men listened to me
and asked pointed questions to clarify the proposition. I thought the Urak’s two sons to be convinced of the soundness of joining us in this enterprise but I had been forewarned that the Urak himself, while a fair and reasonable individual, was also a man of a firm traditional mind and not given to change. It was then not surprising when he answered me.
“It is as I had been told. You and your good Urak along with the Urak Tonalah seek to end the threat of outlaws. For many reasons I would in usual circumstances oppose any change in the present situation but the attack upon your caravan a few days ago to my way of thinking makes the most compelling argument against what you intend to do. I believe that your actions, while noble and brave, only forced the outlaws into forming a larger and accordingly more daring band that led to an attack so close to the city. Some things are best left undisturbed. We prosper as things now stand I see no reason to make changes that might prove disastrous for all.”
And so for now ended the plan which I brought me to this city. The good Urak bid me a gracious good evening as did his two sons who as custom dictated remained silent and honored the decision of their father. I was welcome to remain in their House as long as I remained in Lathanah but unless the Urak changed his mind and summoned me, business was concluded between us.
Caravans of Doridia: The 2nd Chronicle of Jon Hunter (The Saga of Jon Hunter Book 2) Page 12