To Battle The Gods

7 Punishment—and an unlooked-for visit

The late-fey light had grown low and cool, most especially beneath the trees of the forest. The clearing the city folk had this fey found was one of a series, one beyond the next like rooms of a dwelling. Greatly delighted had the males and their females been, thinking only of their comfort, naught of the difficulty in guarding so spread-out a camp. I was unsure as to whether or not guardposts were set each darkness, yet I could not consider such a thing. Neither leadership nor a need for concern was mine, and had I had the ability to consider the matter clearly, surely would I have gloried in the lack.

I attempted to move my wrists in the leather which held them, finding only the beginnings of familiar numbness to greet my efforts. For what reason I made the attempt I knew not; no desire had I to find escape, nor even the strength had desire been present. I hung from my wrists by the leather which bound them, suspended from the limb of a tree, just as I had at the ending of each of the preceding two feyd. My feet, just short of the ground, were ankle-bound as well, disallowing me stance as well as movement. No city-folk had come as yet to halt beside me, likely for the reason that they had not yet prepared their camps, therefore did I do no more than hang in place and make vague attempts to move my wrists.

“How do you fare, wench?” came the low-voiced query, a voice I had long since grown to know. “Have they had at you as yet? Are you in great pain?”

I made no effort to raise my head and look upon the slave male, nor did I make answer to the questions he put. At the end of each of the two previous feyd, when once I had been suspended from a branch, the females and young of the city males had come to give laughter and ridicule to their captive. Also had a good number of them struck me with branches and leather and such, showing, in fine, better arms than their males had shown. My hair had been parted and brought forward to cover my breasts, and a scrap of cloth had been bound about my waist, these things done so that none of the females would be outraged by the sight of a “clothingless savage.” That I gave them no more sound than I had given their males incensed them, yet were they city slave-women, with naught of true strength to them. Their arms grew weary before their anger faded, therefore had their males allowed them to watch the use their slave put me to. Truly was it a pity my pain had been too great to permit them to see me fully shamed.

“You must not allow yourself to fall to hopelessness, girl,” came the voice of the male, intense despite its softness. “Upon the new fey will the settlement be reached, therefore is this the final darkness to be spent in the forests. I have listened to them discussing the matter, and they mean to sell you for the highest price they might to those who inhabit the settlement. It had been their intention to sell your use alone, yet are their womenfolk insistent upon having you out of their sight for all time. I shall not allow them to do such a thing, therefore . . . . ”

“What do you do here, slave?” demanded the voice of Kadimone, arrogant and haughty as always. “Why do you not attend to the tasks you have been given?”

“I have already seen to them, master,” returned the slave, complete deference to the sound of him. “I was merely crossing the clearing to return to the wagon, when my eyes fell upon the savage. Truly is it a blessing from the Serene Oneness that your vengeance has been taken from her in full, for she will clearly not survive much the longer.”

“Not survive?” echoed Kadimone immediately, a sudden fear in his voice. “For what reason do you speak so, slave? For what reason will she fail to survive?”

“One need only look upon her to see the thing, master,” answered the slave with deference. “She has been made to walk behind the wagons these three feyd past, she has been soundly beaten by you and your ladies upon several occasions, and also has she refused to take any sustenance whatsoever. No more than water have I been able to force between her lips, and little enough of that. To be hung so by the wrists is both painful and draining, and soon shall your ladies make visit again. Clearly, master, the wench will likely not survive the darkness.”

“Remove her from there at once!” commanded Kadimone, a bluster in his tone to cover the fear. “You, slave, are to tend her carefully this darkness, and with the new light is she to be placed in a wagon for the end of the journey. She is valuable merchandise, and one does not treat valuable merchandise in so offhand a manner.”

“You would even have me place her upon a sleeping fur for the darkness?” asked the slave. “And feed her proper provender rather than the scraps heretofore thrown her?”

“I most certainly mean no other thing,” affirmed Kadimone, his arrogance returned. “See to the commands you have been given slave, else shall you be beaten in her stead.”

“At once, master,” murmured the slave, the words following the sound of Kadimone and those with him moving off through the clearing. Then were there no further words, no more than the sound of two hurried steps before the leather upon my wrists jerked. With the jerk came a lowering, and then was the slave’s arm about my waist, his other hand moving to free my wrists. With that done he bent to sling me over his shoulder, and then moved purposefully across the clearing.

Once at the conveyance the slave lowered me to the grass, disappeared briefly within, then returned with a thick sleeping fur which he began spreading beneath the conveyance. Each darkness had I spent that conveyance, bound so that I might not escape, beside the slave who was to have used me as he willed. Indeed had he used me freely at first, taking what he wished, yet had he then halted that use, doing no more than that required of him by Kadimone and the others. I lay upon my side, feeling the life slowly returning to my hands, watching the slave spread the fur beneath the conveyance, wondering for what reason he continually spoke to me. No more than a single word had I addressed to him since the thing began, yet did he speak to me as though countless hands of words had been exchanged between us.

“There,” said he with satisfaction, emerging from beneath the conveyance to bend to me once again. “You have need of the small comfort of this fur, and now may have it. When their tents have all been erected and the darkness meal prepared, I shall fetch you some decent provender. How great is the pain you feel? Nearly did you fall from your feet before we reached this place; will you be able to stand and walk?”

Closely did the male look upon me as he placed me upon the fur, a frown of concern darkening his features as his hand came to smooth back my dampened hair. My arms and body ached, my legs and feet were leaden with weariness, my insides hollow and no longer twisting with hunger. All these things touched me but lightly; no concern had I over what would befall me.

“You must rouse yourself to some sort of effort,” insisted the male, vexation and disturbance clear in him as I took my gaze from his. “Do you wish to be sold to some lout of a settler, one who dwells in a crude city-to-be, there to be used and beaten by him till the wench you were no longer is? One after the other will he fill your belly with his get, brats to be raised up in a city with no name of its own. Not till a thousand men inhabit the place will it be called other than Bellinard settlement, for the city which began it. Is this what you wish? To dwell in a hovel as a slave to the one who buys you, never again to be free and proud as you were?”

The urgent challenge of his words caused me to close my eyes, too weary to listen further. He knew not that no war leader of Midanna might bear daughters to her clan, for she chewed the leaves of the dabla bush to prevent that from happening; nor did he seem to know that Jalav would indeed find the final dark before any city male might claim her. Pride and freedom had he spoken of as well, as though those things were truly meaningful. Again I turned to my side upon the fur, drawing up my bound legs so that I might lie with the least amount of pain. True freedom was the illusion of fools, for none were so chained as they who sought their freedom above all others; pride, too, was as futile a striving, for no more than a single, thoughtless act was able to shatter it as a heavy spear shatters a thin target board. What need for pride, when one no longer has that which one is proud of?

“Very well, perhaps you do indeed require rest more greatly than lecturing,” said the male with a sigh, smoothing my hair. “Sleep and gather what strength you may, wench, for once those fools are all asleep, you and I will leave this place. Were I ignorant enough to believe I would be given freedom rather than permanent slavery when once the settlement was reached, I would deserve no other thing. Sleep now, until I return with your provender.”

Briefly did I open my eyes to see the male crawl from beneath the conveyance, taking himself off I knew not where. So he knew, after all, that Kadimone and his ilk coveted his service and would not release him as had been promised; no matter the sweetness of the words which had been used. As he knew the truth I wondered that he had remained, yet was such a consideration unimportant; that darkness would he regain his freedom—without Jalav’s company.

Sleep found me rather easily then, yet did it seem far from restful. Pain pursued me in my dreams, as did one who was dark and filled with fury, each striking me with whips and seeking to make me run in fear. That I felt no fear and would not run enraged them more, for none had ever been so uncaring in their presence. Once I would have laughed to see them so, helplessly raging, yet laughter no longer filled any part of me. Weariness and disinterest I felt now, and soon would come the endless comfort of the final dark.

“For what reason do you merely lie there, wench?” demanded a disapproving voice. “Are you as helpless as a small girl-child, that you fail to bestir yourself?”

I frowned with the effort to recall that voice, for it seemed familiar. The voice of a male it was, far from the near whisper of the slave, a voice strong and alive, confident and demanding. I moved upon the sleeping fur, unsure as to why I felt such upset, then struggled to force open my eyes. Darkness had fallen complete by then, the only thing readily distinguishable the looming bulk of the conveyance above me, and then another thing grew clear. He stood with feet spread and fists on hips, the white of his body covering a smudged lightness in the dark, his sword hung sheathed at his side, his wrists held tight by their leather wrappings. The dark of his eyes showed the disapproval he felt, and achingly, chokingly, I whispered, “Chaldrin!”

“Have you taken too greatly to heart the doings of city folk, wench?” he demanded, his gaze unmoving from mine. “Will you lie in your furs like a slug-a-bed, weeping softly till your life has been stolen from you? Will you greet the endless dark on your back, no more than a slave wench set to use, accepting all which comes with no more than a whimper?”

“Chaldrin, I cannot,” I whispered, raising a hand toward him in supplication. I knew what he wished of me, yet was the doing now beyond me. “Wait for me, brother, for soon I shall join you, and together we may continue on to the dark.”

“No, wench, such a thing may not be,” he replied, sadness now to be seen in the eyes which held to me. “Well do I know what pain you have, and also do I know of your weariness; the time has not yet come for your rest, however. There continue to be tasks which are left undone, therefore must you seek within for the strength you require. You have my word you will not regret the effort.”

“Already do I regret the effort,” I whispered, permitting my hand to fall. “And if my strength should prove insufficient?”

“It will not,” said he, coming nearer to crouch beside me, reaching out to stroke my hair. “Your strength will prove itself more than adequate, and soon will you find the rest you crave. Just a little while longer, sister, and all you desire will be yours.”

“Will you give me your word, brother?” I asked, closing my eyes to keep the tears of disappointment within. “Will you wait till I have seen to the last of these things? I shall miss you sorely, brother; will you wait?”

No reply came to the query, none, at least, I was able to hear; instead I heard the shift of his weight beside me, and again his hand touched my hair.

“Will you not reply, brother?” I asked, opening my eyes again to seek sight of his form. He crouched beside me as before, yet had he darkened to appear as no more than a shadow.

“I shall be pleased to reply to any question you put, wench,” came an answering whisper, yet not in the voice I had expected. “First, however, I must see this provender within you, and then we may hold converse. Are you able to sit?”

With the aid of the slave I sat upon the fur, understanding naught of what had occurred. Where had Chaldrin gone, and how had the slave been put in his place? My mind, so long prepared only for death, found thought an unexpected effort. I was dizzy and confused as well, but I knew I might no longer passively accept what came.

The provender brought by the slave was a stew, thick enough but too salty. I fed upon what part of it I was able, then was given a waterskin to drink from, the while the slave swallowed down the balance of the stew. No more than shadows were we to one another, yet when I had drunk my fill of the water I looked upon him.

“For what reason do you remain among these useless folk, male?” I asked, hearing the soft sounds of his feeding. “For what reason did you agree to act the slave among them?”

“For the reason that I know their sort well,” said he, the words indistinct as he continued to feed. “I truly had no wish to go naked and collared and weaponless into the forests, not when I might obtain all I required by remaining. That leech of a former guild head lied when he spoke of what service would earn me, yet do I mean to see him held to his word. For the service I have already given I shall myself collect my earnings, and this darkness will see me begun upon the journey home. Also, of course, did I remain to give you assistance.”

So easily had the male added the last of his words, that I could not make sense of them. With a last scrape of the spoon he put the bowl aside, then groped for and took the waterskin from my hands. I watched his shadow raise the skin more easily than had I, and then he lowered it again and replaced the plug.

“Your silence tells me you doubt my honorable intentions,” said he, faintly chuckling. “Should the eagerness with which I took your use be the reason for your doubt, kindly recall the state in which I had been in, and try to understand. Also do I give you my word that I would have remained and aided you even had I been forbidden your use.”

Again the last of his words were measurably different, this time sobriety having entered his tone. For some unexplained reason I did indeed believe, yet did I continue to fail to understand.

“I see naught to explain so selfless a doing,” said I after a moment, attempting to pierce the darkness with my gaze. “One who was done as you should not give thanks to his captor by aiding her.”

“My life was left mine through the doings of that captor,” said he, his tone continuing sober and even. “Had I attempted a similar attack upon the High Seat, surely would I have been ended with torture, not merely struck and kicked and then sent about my business. Still I have no clear understanding of the reason you behaved so, yet am I aware of having my life returned when it was forfeit. I could not allow one such as you to remain in the hands of ones such as they. ”

The determination of the male was less clear to me than to him; however, aside from curiosity, it mattered not. What was of more concern was the reason why none would let me rest, yet that, too, was beyond my ability to discern. No more than a little while longer would bring me what I desired, I had been told, therefore would I continue on as far as I was able. The stew had returned to me some small measure of strength; I tossed my head to shake back the hair from my arms, and raised my knees so that I might more easily reach the leather upon my ankles.

“What do you do?” asked the slave male, obviously having discerned my movement even in the darkness. “I have already loosened that leather so that feeling will not be taken from your limbs. When the time has come for us to depart, it may then be easily removed.”

“No more easily than now,” I returned, feeling about for the knot which held the leather closed. “I dislike being bound, therefore shall I remove the leather immediately.”

“Therefore shall you not,” countered the male, taking my ankles in his hands and pulling them flat again. “It would be foolish in the extreme to give warning of our intentions, a thing which the removal of that leather would surely do. They will come a last time before retiring to see how you fare, therefore must you appear docile and obedient, in no manner a threat to their peace of mind. Sight of the leather upon you will accomplish these things.”

“They would believe a war leader of Midanna docile because of leather upon her ankles?” I asked with a soft sound of ridicule, finding that the hands of the male would not allow me to raise my knees again. “No being who lives is so credulous.”

“Save for these city folk,” said he, and then his hands left my ankles to come to my arms. Little strength was needed to push me flat to the fur again, and then he smoothed my hair. “Also must you lie here rather than sit, for they believed you to be close to the end. In reality shall you be gathering strength, for what must be done after all have found sleep.”

“For what shall be done,” said I, making no mention of my painful annoyance. I disliked being bound, and disliked the manner in which the male had returned me to lying upon the fur, yet had I insufficient strength to refuse the doings. When once I had left that place, however, no longer would I need to consider such things.

“There remains a good deal of time before us before we might begin our final preparations,” said the male after a moment, his darkened face looking down upon me where I lay. “It pleases me to see you so much more animated and vital than you were these past three feyd. Has your pain receded to the point where you might perhaps be able to feel pleasure again?”

Quite evident was the interest in the voice of the male, his hand again at my hair, his query having naught to do with willingness, only with what response he might expect. Clearly did he believe that my use continued to be his without question, a foolishness to be expected from one who was male and from a city.

“The sole thing I am able to feel is impatience,” said I, shaking his hand from my hair with a short movement of my head. “How long till these city folk take to their furs? And what of those who stand guard?”

“There are none who stand guard,” he murmured, taking a thick lock of my hair into his hands. “Of what use would a guard be, when they all would be as helpless awake as asleep against any who came? Also were there none of them willing to stand guard alone, without a tent and therefore the most likely victim of any beast which happened upon the camp. They will all take to their furs after they have had a final look at their captive and their slave, two who would surely be mad to venture into the forests during the darkness, and who may therefore be left entirely unguarded while they sleep. Were they to find us in the midst of pleasuring ourselves, they would retire more quickly, knowing us well and fully occupied for a good portion of the darkness.”

“Were they to find us pleasuring ourselves, they would watch,” I returned immediately, exasperated. “Never have I known males to take greater pleasure in watching than in doing, yet am I able to recall the avidity with which they observed your obedience to their commands. Their females, too, take great pleasure in watching, and not again shall I provide amusement for them all.”

“Were you wed to one such as they, would you, too, not find greater pleasure in watching than in doing?” he asked, amused. “The men are soft and find greater interest in salable merchandise than wenches, and the women are grown fat and lazy and uninterested in all things save the silver they use to buy what will make them fatter and lazier. Their complaints these past feyd over all things including having to cook over open fires have been unending, more than enough to slay the interest in any man foolish enough to approach them. You, however, speak only of impatience, therefore is my interest far from ended.”

“Perhaps I should speak as well of the sword soon to be returned to me,” I said in the light of the soft laughter in his words. “Also, possibly, of the dagger which was taken, the dagger I carry always in the leg bands which are still upon me. You have not my permission to use me, male, and best would be that that be your sole interest and consideration.”

“Best for one is not at all times best for another,” said he with no lessening of amusement, and then did he suddenly release my hair. “I see the light of a lantern approaching, wench, therefore do they likely come now to see how you fare. Show them naught save weakness, and do not speak. I shall speak for us both.”

I quickly turned my head to the right, and saw the small flame-within-a-box which the male had seen, now hearing the grass-softened footsteps which any save city folk would have known better than to allow. One walks the forests with as little sound as possible, calling as little attention to oneself as possible, else does one go hungry therein or possibly end as prey to that which is larger, swifter and stronger. Had these city folk not been given provender to carry with them, surely would they by then be screaming with hunger.

Another moment saw the light directly beside the conveyance, and then were there five who bent to look upon me. Kadimone was beside the tall, thin male, the latter having been given the task of carrying their light, and also were there two others of the males, neither retaining youth and fitness. The fifth of the set was the female Orlinia, looking petulant, her roundness undiminished by the terrible ordeal of that journey, a thing she had often screamed and wept over during the feyd just past.

“How does she fare now, slave?” demanded Kadimone as quickly as he had bent, a grunt for the effort. “Surely has rest and nourishment restored her to some extent?”

“She is improved some small amount, master,” responded the slave, deferentially. “She continues to be greatly weakened, but she seems further from ending.”

“Certainly she seems further from ending!” snapped the female Orlinia, sending to me the venom of her glare. “Has she not been privileged to eat what I prepared with my own hands? She may now see herself as the lady, and I as the captive! There, Kadimone, see the look in her eyes! See how she dares mock me to my face!”

“You may not beat her again, Orlinia,” replied the male Kadimone with something of a frown. “We must have the silver from her sale if we are to survive in Bellinard settlement till the guilds are established. And yet do her eyes indeed seem insolent and mocking . . . . ”

“That is only desire you see, master,” said the slave in a rush of words, filling the gap left by the thoughtful trailing off of Kadimone’s speech. “She has not this fey had her usual use, and though she struggles to deny her need, in shame over having been mastered by a slave, she is unable to do so. Out of concern for your property I have not put hand to her, and yet, should it be your command, I shall keep her too well occupied this darkness to consider insolence. The masters and the lady may confidently return to the comfort of their tents, and leave her disposition to me.”

“She does not appear to me to be in need,” said the tall, thin male, leaning forward with the light he held to peer at me more closely. “Surely does she seem more taken with anger.”

“Certainly, master, at the need which rises within her,” said the slave again in haste, his fingers coming to my arm beneath my hair to pinch hard. “It angers her that she must give service to a slave, a humiliation which you, yourselves, have put upon her. How great must be your satisfaction, to be so fully avenged.”

“I feel little satisfaction to be looked upon so by a savage,” said the female Orlinia, her petulance continuing unabated, uncaring that it was now the slave I looked upon. For what reason he had pinched me I knew not, yet did I greatly dislike such a doing. “Do you mean to permit her such insolence, Kadimone?”

“She seems possessed of little strength for insolence,” said the male to his female, his tone remaining thoughtful. “Also, however, does she seem to show little in the way of need. Do you slave, seek to use her despite the damage she might sustain? Do you seek to have us fetch the whip, and give to you what was given to her?”

“No, master, no!” denied the slave, and much did a good portion of his desperation seem real as he looked pleadingly upon Kadimone. “Merely do I seek to serve you as faithfully as always, so that I might earn what shall be given me at the settlement. Should it be your desire that I not touch the wench, I shall certainly not touch her.”

“And yet you insisted that she was in need,” pursued Kadimone, greatly pleased with the manner in which he caused the slave to grovel. “Did you dare lie to us, slave, thinking that you would not be whipped? Do you think us such fools that we may be told what is patently untrue?”

“Yes, let us give him her whipping,” said Orlinia, vengeful pleasure now touching her. “He was the one who came to take the food of free folk for the wench! His insolence is nearly as great as hers.”

“Please, master, I beg you to hear me!” said the slave with deep vexation to Kadimone, his hand quickly turning my face from Orlinia. Such annoyance had I felt at the words of the female, that I had been ready to face her properly, to speak as a war leader should to one of her sort. The slave had again forced me flat with the arm of the hand upon my face, and once I was made to look upon him, his other hand came to my face as well.

“See how she looks upon me, master,” said the slave hastily, his dark eyes now meeting mine. “Having tasted of her so deeply, well aware am I of the need she strives so diligently to hide. She sends to me the glare of hatred, yet am I able to see beyond the glare, to the shine of submission desired. Had you wished to lower yourselves and taken her in my stead, you, too, would see the same. The need she feels is present, and I have not lied.”

“Solely are we able to see the hatred, slave,” said Kadimone with a sniff, dismissing what he had been told. “Should she be in such great need as you say, it will not take long to set her writhing. Two hands of reckid shall I allow you, and then shall you either be permitted her use, or tied to a wheel to be whipped for lying. You may now begin.”

Strongly did the vexation flare in the eyes of the slave as he looked down upon me, yet did he make no further attempt to speak against Kadimone’s command. Instead did he seem to be searching my face, seeking for what I was unable to fathom. Was it my desire to stand with sword in hand before those city folk he sought, surely was the desire found without difficulty, however no satisfaction but a sigh escaped him, and then did he release my face.

“A pity dissembling is beyond you,” he murmured so softly that surely none heard the words save myself. “Best you resign yourself to this, wench, for I shall not be beaten to keep you from embarrassment. One of us must have full strength for our undertaking.”

I knew not the meaning of the words he spoke, yet was I quickly apprised of his intent when his hand went to the cloth tied about my middle and then beneath it. Surely did he mean to shame me again before these city folk, and that I would not allow. Again I began to raise myself from the fur, to reach his hand and thrust it from me, yet did his other hand tangle painfully in my hair, and in such a manner hold me flat.

“You see, master, with her ankles bound she may not kick nor twist from my reach,” said the slave the while he began caressing me in a most distressing manner. “To do a woman so is greatly arousing for a man, for he knows she cannot escape him and he may do with her as he pleases. Also is such a thing arousing for the female, for in knowing she may not escape him, also is she forced to understand that she must serve him whether she wills it or no. In such a circumstance the female’s body will prepare her of its own self, and when the man at last deigns to take her, he will be amazed at the warmth of her greeting. No man who has not taken his woman in such a way has ever tasted the full sweetness of her. ”

“See the manner in which she seeks to refuse him,” said Orlinia with a great smirk of satisfaction, unaware of the manner in which Kadimone had turned his head to silently regard her. “Her body now begins to move despite the grip he holds her in, a complete and absolute denial of his will. She fails to obey him now, and surely will she also fail to obey him in two hands of reckid. Best you have the whip fetched, Kadimone, to be at hand when we require it.”

“The whip will not be required, Orlinia,” replied the male Kadimone, his eyes still upon the female. “Her squirming began the moment he touched her, the squirming you prefer to see as absolute refusal and denial. He spoke the truth regarding her need—and upon another point as well, I believe.”

“Kadimone, what has come over you?” demanded Orlinia, her head now turned to see the manner in which she was being regarded, her voice growing shrill. “What other point do you speak of, and why must you look upon me so strangely?”

“I look upon a woman I have not known sufficiently well,” said the male, smiling faintly at the disturbance of the female. “I shall not have it said that a slave may know greater pleasure than a free man. I believe the time has come for us to return to our tent.”

“Kadimone, you cannot mean to— No, please!” babbled the female as her arm was taken to straighten her from bending. “The slave spoke lies, Kadimone, only lies to ensnare you! You must recall that I am a lady!”

“See how the lies of the slave have hardened the savage’s breasts,” said Kadimone with a chuckle, turning a horrified Orlinia away from the conveyance. “We shall see if they have the power to do the same with the breasts of a lady. Niminore, the lantern if you please.”

“Certainly, Kadimone,” replied the tall, thin male with a start, straightening and turning to hurry after the first male. Also did the final two males depart, and the slave and I were returned once more to the darkness.

“I give thanks to the Serene Oneness that I was given sufficient opportunity to learn how quick you warrior wenches are to heat,” said the slave male, with a gloating chuckle. “That Orlinia had best learn to be the same, else shall he likely try the whip next. Were I convinced that he would, surely would I be tempted to remain to see it.”

“Release me, accursed male!” I hissed, reaching to the hand which remained buried in my hair. I could not now see the male, yet was his presence in no doubt whatsoever. He had not released me, nor had he ceased in his caressing.

“Best would be that we wait till they have reached their tents,” said he, his voice now a murmur, his touch unceasing. “Also must you recall that I have been permitted your use by the one who calls himself my master. Do you urge a slave to disobey his master?”

Nearly did a moan escape me then, so deeply did the male touch me, and also was my strength nearly spent in struggle against him. My hands at his fist made one last, futile attempt to free me from his grip, and then did they fall away. Indeed were Midanna warriors quick to heat, and that at times even in the presence of pain.

“I hear no reply from you, wench,” said the male, his words soft as his lips came to my hair. “Would you have a slave disobey his master?”

“You will do as you please no matter my words or lack thereof,” I answered with what strength I could, finding a lessening of need with the increase of pain. “You are no more of a slave than I, far less of a slave than those who call you theirs. You may do as you will, for there are none about to halt you.”

“What has become of the sword soon to be returned to you?” he asked amused and also pleased by the truth I had spoken. “Has the warrior wench given over thought of using her weapons?”

No further strength had I for speech, and certainly none for what weapons would be returned to me, therefore did I remain silent in answer to his amusement. What strength I required would be found within me, Chaldrin had said, yet had he failed to give me his word upon the matter. Perhaps he had not wished to be forsworn, a strong possibility suggested by the dizziness I felt.

“Wench, you do not respond as you did,” said the male suddenly, no longer amused and taking his fist from my hair. “Neither your body nor your words acknowledge my presence, and this is not as it was. Have you been forced to too great an effort?”

Again I failed to reply, feeling that I could not even had I wished to, and the male was quick to see even in the darkness about us.

“Curse my stupidity and curse the demands of those with twisted souls,” he muttered in deep vexation, both of his hands now coming to smooth my hair. “You need no longer be disturbed, wench, for I shall not touch you again this darkness. Seek sleep instead, and I shall awaken you when all is prepared for our departure. Sleep now, to regain what strength you might.”

His words were as unexpected and strange as the balance of recent happenings, yet was I at that time unable to consider any of them. Sleep was indeed the sole thing to be considered, the sole thing which I could consider. As my eyes had not opened, it was not necessary to close them.

Some time later was I again awake, more easily than in the first instance, less confusion surrounding me. The fur I lay upon in the continuing darkness was soft and comfortable, yet did I find considerably more interest in the movements of the slave male. It had been his approach which had awakened me, his movements performed with a greater stealth than those of the cities seemed capable of, yet not so great that he was able to go unnoticed by a Midanna. Two large, dark shapes did he carry to a place before the conveyance to set them down, shapes which seemed not overly heavy, and then did he bend to crawl beneath the conveyance. He started when I raised myself to sitting, and then he sat beside me to touch his hand to my hair.

“You have awakened precisely on time, wench,” said he, his soft voice filled with surprised pleasure. “Are you stronger than you were? Has the pain eased its grip upon you?”

“Again am I able to consider what weapons might come to my hand,” I agreed, refraining from any attempt to move over-quickly. “How long a time have I spent in sleep?”

“Perhaps four hind,” said he, moving his hands to the leather upon my ankles. “Our hosts and hostesses sleep soundly now, unaware of the imminent departure of their guests. I have gathered all we will require for our journey, which is, of course, considerably less than they would require. I have taken no more than a small amount of provender, to allow us to put sufficient distance between us and them before we pause to hunt. All of your belongings are in a single sack; mine in another. My service has earned me a sword and dagger and a bow and shafts, this tunic I continue to wear, and the kan I shall ride. The kan we take for you has also been paid for, with the pain and humiliation you were given. Will you find difficulty in sitting a kan?”

“There will be difficulty in naught which takes me from this place,” I replied, finding great relief when the leather fell away from my ankles. I was then able to sit cross-legged as is ever my preference, the cloth tied about my waist notwithstanding. My own hands went to that cloth and in a moment was it gone from me, no more to mark me as a captive. Pink had that cloth been, an offensive, city-female pink, a color worn by none of the clans who followed me.

“We will also take this fur for you,” said the male, clearly referring to the pelt we sat upon. “There should be ample room upon it for both of us, and you will require the comfort it provides for some feyd yet.”

“There is a thing I still don’t understand,” I said, looking upon the dark shadow which was his face. “Your home lies east of here, in the direction of Bellinard? In some manner was I of the opinion that it lay elsewhere, other than near Bellinard.”

“You are correct,” said he, a nod moving the shadow. “My home lies to the west, beyond even the second Bellinard, else would I have taken you and left these folk the very first darkness. As they moved in the proper direction, and as I failed to realize how great an amount of pain would be given you, I made no attempt to separate myself from them at once. Last darkness we might also have gone, although last darkness you were held too tightly by the pain of the beatings. Taking you then upon a kan would only have increased that pain.”

“As your home lies to the west,” said I, taking no note of the balance of his words, “how is it that you continue to speak of the hunting we shall do, and the fur to be shared by the two of us? Are you not aware that I must return to Bellinard, to see to the tasks I have not yet completed? As we take separate trails, the sharing you speak of will not be possible.”

“We do not take separate trails, wench,” said he, his voice gently patient. “Never again shall I return to Bellinard the accursed, and you would not be able to reach it alone, without assistance. Instead shall you ride with me, to my home, and once you have grown strong again you may either remain or depart. In the interim I shall make every effort to keep you from the latter, for I find I enjoy the presence of a warrior wench in my furs. Remain here, and I will fetch the kand.”

His hand found my face and his lips touched mine, and then was he crawling from beneath the conveyance, to stand once beyond it and take himself off. The kand were tied to a line not far from the conveyances they pulled, one set in this clearing, one set in the next. It would be no more than a short while before he returned, therefore was it necessary to make what haste I could. To ride with him to his home was not possible, a fact far better shown than discussed.

I felt slightly dizzy as I crawled from beneath the conveyance; however, I was able to thrust it from me as I crouched before the dark shapes which were the sacks the male had made mention of. The first I touched and opened contained a sword and bow, shafts and a dagger, a small bit of provender and a small drinking skin. The other sack, then, was mine, and I did no more than place a hand to hilt to assure myself of that before slinging the entire sack over my shoulder by the leather which drew it closed. Later would there be time to don breech and weapons in a proper manner, later when the forest darkness had swallowed me up against all pursuit.

Straightening from the crouch and shaking my hair back from my arms returned a small measure of dizziness, but I was still able to quickly and quietly take myself to the forest’s edge, to the east, in the direction from which we had come. Direction in darkness is not easily discernible, yet had the conveyance been halted without turning when we had reached the clearings, and in such a manner was I able to know the proper route. When once the new light came, I would search out the track left by the passage of the conveyance and follow it as far as necessary, till I was once again able to look about myself without pain and dizziness.

Forest shadows accompanied me as I slipped through the darkness, all the sounds and life awake in it surrounding me immediately and making me a part of them. Leaves and branches caressed me as I slid by, unaware of the added pain their touches gave, grass moved soundlessly beneath my feet, the cool fingers of the air slowly released my flesh from their chill touch. I had thought to remain about the camp to be sure the male took himself safely upon his way, yet no more than a hand of steps showed me that without the remorseless pull of a conveyance, I would not long be able to continue on. Should there be difficulty my presence would avail the male naught, yet would my escape assure his if he were retaken. Once I reached Bellinard I would take warriors and return, and had the male been unable to escape his slavery, my warriors and I would then do it for him.

Rather short was the time before I began stumbling, the sack on my shoulder nearing the weight of a kan, the noise I produced sufficient to deafen any save city folk. The male I had left had attempted to follow me through the darkness, the kan he rode and his low, hissing call sending me quickly behind a tree until he had passed, watching as he rode on a short distance and then turned about. I waited till he had looked about himself for a final time with a low-voiced curse before riding away in the direction from which he had come, the pace of his kan saying he would not again turn aside, and then resumed my own journey. That had been perhaps two hind earlier, a far shorter time than I had hoped it would be. Surely if I had true interest in what I did the end of my strength would not have come so soon, however I felt no such interest. No more than resentment did I feel that I might not rest when I wished to do so, no more than annoyance with the now increased pain of my body.

I dropped the leaden sack to the ground beside a tree and then lowered myself after it, recalling only then that I had failed to replace my breech, leaning down to one elbow to spare my back, heaving a sigh of dismissal. I cared not that I had failed to cover my womanhood, for who was there about in that forest to take note of it? No others than city folk and males would find themselves disturbed, and happily none of either were about. A hunting cry sounded in the far distance, so faint I might have doubted its reality had I not been Midanna, the hunger in it doing naught to awaken a matching hunger in me. It would be necessary to look within my sack to see if it contained the provender the first sack had held, yet first would I take a short time of rest. Were the sack to be empty of provender I would need to hunt after fashioning a spear, therefore was it necessary that I first rest to restore my strength. First rest and then hunt. First fashion a spear and then hunt. First find no provender, and then hunt. Were I not first hunted myself. I found that my eyes had closed, and then I found that I slept.