The Chieftan

CHAPTER 20

At the rude table in the chieftain’s hut sat four men, Otto, the chieftain, his principal advisors, wily, cynical, pessimistic, Astubux and stalwart, sage Axel, and the ensign, Julian, he of the Aurelianii.

In the back of the hut a blond girl, who had once been a salesgirl on the Alaria, and whose name was ‘Ellen,’ that name now having been put upon her as a slave name, and another slave, one as yet unnamed, a brunette, knelt before their first girl, who was standing, whose name was Janina. Another slave, the only other slave in the village, was in the hut of Axel, lying naked on the furs, as she had been ordered, awaiting the return of her master. Her name was ‘Oona,’ that name having been put on her as a slave name.

“The meal is prepared,” said Janina. “It is now time to serve it.”

“We know nothing of pleasing men,” said Ellen to Janina.

“Please teach us, Mistress,” said the brunette.

“The main thing is to be the slaves you are,” said Janina to the two young women.

“Bring food,” said the chieftain.

“Yes, Master,” responded Janina.

Janina was in the modest garb of the Wolfung woman, with its long sleeves, its high neck, and its long skirt, down about her ankles. Her two charges, however, the blonde and the brunette, were in improvised kebs, that form of garment in which Janina herself had been exhibited at the stake, during the contest on the Alaria.

“Put forth the trenchers,” said Janina.

Her two charges rose up and, each taking two trenchers, went to the table, to begin the serving.

The brunette dared not meet the eyes of the ensign, though she sensed them upon her, idly, as a man’s glance may peruse a slave, appraising her.

Astubux reached out and touched the hand of the blonde, who put the trencher before him.

She drew her hand back, frightened, but then, quickly, put it forth again, that he might touch her, if he wished, for she was slave.

Too, she trembled, a little. She was an intelligent woman and was not unaware that Astubux had several times looked upon her.

When the free men had come to the hut, Janina, head bowed, had welcomed them. The lower serving slaves, in their revealing kebs, had knelt, putting their heads down to the rush-strewn floor of the hut. When the ensign had entered, unaccompanied, his ankles no longer shackled, clad now in a rough cloth tunic, the brunette had looked up at him, and then, quickly, put down her head. She had blushed scarlet. It was the first time he had seen her thusly, as a slave.

“You do not have a radio?” said the ensign to the chieftain.

“No,” said Otto. “But the Drisriaks, the Ortungs, will have a radio. Do you think you could use it?”

“I think so,” said the ensign. “Their radios may even be stolen radios of the empire, or copies of such designs. At the very least I should be able to transmit some sort of primitive message.”

“Drink,” said Otto, lifting a drinking horn.

The brunette, head down, hastened to serve him.

Otto drained the drinking horn. He put it to one side.

“Your plan seems to depend on many variables,” said the ensign.

“On some, and on honor,” said the chieftain.

“Honor is a frail reed on which to rest hopes,” said the ensign.

“We are not dealing with those of the empire,” said Otto.

“Once we knew honor,” said the ensign.

“Timing is important,” said Otto. “We must buy time. It is certain that the Drisriaks will not accept the secession of the Ortungs.”

“Your plan is to buy such time with what you call ‘the challenge’?” asked the ensign.

“Yes,” said Otto.

Otto regarded the brunette. She was beautiful in the keb, barefoot on the rush-strewn floor of the hut. Timidly, questioningly, she lifted the vessel she carried, just a little, that from which the drinking horn might be replenished. But he looked away from her.

“Things might be much speeded up if a radio signal could be sent,” said the ensign.

“Precisely,” said Otto.

“What is a radio?” asked Astubux.

“It is a device,” said the ensign, “which enables one to speak to those who are far away.”

“It must be very loud,” said Astubux.

“You understand, of course,” said the ensign, “that I will attempt to contact an imperial ship.”

“I am counting on it,” said Otto, grinning.

“You do not fear that?”

“It is part of my plan,” he said.

“But the Drisriaks will surely intercept such a signal,” said the ensign.

“Yes,” said Otto, “and they are likely to be much closer than any imperial ship.”

“You are devious,” said Julian.

“The chieftain has long thoughts,” said Axel.

“Enough of that,” said Otto.

“What weapons do you have?” asked the ensign.

“From the Alaria a rifle and a pistol,” said Otto, “but both are without ammunition.”

“There is the pistol taken from me in the forest,” said the ensign.

“It contains only one charge,” grinned Otto.

“I know,” said the ensign.

“Slave!” snapped Otto.

Quickly the brunette hastened to him.

“Turn about,” he said.

The slave complied.

“You do not mind?” he asked the ensign.

“No, of course not,” said the ensign.

The chieftain removed the keb, tossing it to the side.

“Turn about,” he said.

The slave turned to face him.

Otto then lifted his drinking horn. “Drink,” he said.

“Yes, Master,” said the slave.

“I, too, would have drink,” said the ensign.

“Yes, Master,” she said, and filled, too, the drinking horn of the ensign.

“She is a pretty slave,” said the chieftain. “Do you not think so?”

“Yes,” said the ensign.

“Would you like to have her tonight?” asked the chieftain. “I could send her crawling to your hut, with a whip in her teeth.”

The girl, in consternation, in mute, frightened, helpless protest, viewed the chieftain.

She trembled.

She knew, of course, that she could be assigned to whomever, and whenever and however, her master might please.

“Perhaps, sometime,” said the ensign. “But tomorrow I must be up early, for I have a long day in the fields.”

“I hear you work well,” said Otto.

“You have seen to it,” said the ensign.

“My chieftain!” called a voice.

“Enter,” said Otto.

One of the Wolfungs entered, carrying a small bird. He brought the bird to the table, where Astubux removed a tiny message, a single sign, inscribed on a bit of leather, bound to the bird’s left leg.

“What is its meaning?” asked Otto.

“The Ortungs will be here tomorrow,” said Astubux.