Perseathea questioned Nahlla with troubled eyes, thinking back to her own childhood.
“We are all his concubines.” Nahlla answered, staring down to the marble.
Perseathea flitted her eyes back to Kellen. “I’m going to do all I can to get us out of here. So be it?”
The young girl nodded.
“The last of us…” Nahlla pointed to the two women on the edge of the pillows, “Soh-la and Shella.”
The fair haired girls smiled back at Perseathea. “We are sisters.” Soh-la declared. “From Tohsean.”
Perseathea nodded with a smile while taking a generous drink of honey wine, then wiped her chin.
“About what I need to know, Nahlla, is there any way out of here? A passage you’ve seen or a panel in the marble?”
“This is not our usual chamber. We are kept in a hovel a couple paces off of Gragore’s chambers until he sends for us to be bathed and brought. We don’t know much of this chamber… but that guards are posted at its only door.”
“Sometimes I hear the guards playing games, tossing coins in the dust.” Soh-la added. “Maybe you could-”
“Even if she got passed the guards,” Shella interrupted her sister, “she would never make it past the yard. It brims with soldiers at every hour.”
Malene snorted at this. “You will never escape this fortress.”
Perseathea noticed an overwhelming bitterness hanging on thin Malene like a demon spirit. She sat slumped on the marble, all the light that had surely once lit her eyes, now dark. Likely eaten up by cycles in this hell. Even the air around the woman seemed heavier. Malene wore her hopelessness like grave clothes.
“It has been done before.” Perseathea lifted her chin, trying to share her confidence.
“You and your daughters are all Gragore has spoken of for a cycle past.” Malene iced. “He is not going to give you up that easy.”
Hit by the mention of her daughters, Perseathea stiffened her posture. “What has he said?”
“I’ve overheard him with his men,” Soh-ah answered, Shella nodding in agreement, “saying we are only for his lust. To please his flesh. That he holds his seed for his chosen females. Three sacred Amazons.”
“Three?” Perseathea asked, fearing… knowing the answer.
“He knows of both your daughters.” Shella’s sad eyes conveyed her sympathy. “He has called you each by name.”
“He knows of Palius.” Perseathea said under her breath.
“But his seed has not been held back.” Malene said, her thin frame pulling up in sharp posture. “We have all bore him at least one child.”
Perseathea felt her chest twinge at this. Fearing, she asked. “What becomes of these children?”
“That depends.” Nahlla said. “Whether it is a male child or not.”
“He keeps the male children, as you would expect.”
Shella mumbled. “He brings them up in the art of war. Of age, they are brought into his ranks.”
“If the child is female he butchers it.” The barbed words spat from Malene like poison and her truth froze all of the woman into an uncomfortable silence.
“That has been the way of it, for uncountable cycles,” Nahlla said, breaking the quiet.
“He has got every eye on you.” Malene glared at Perseathea as if she somehow blamed her. “You are not escaping this fortress.”
Nahlla looked to Malene, her eyes trying to coax the thin woman. “She’s the only chance we’ve got.”
“Then we’ve got no chance.” Malene eyed Perseathea again, daring her to defend herself.
Perseathea recognized the woman’s pain, understood it, and had no interest in pricking it open. The only thought she could allow herself now, was of her daughters. How she could reach them in time. Arguing with Malene would not further that cause.
“Nahlla‘s got a chance.” Kellen looked up with hopeful eyes. “Tell her, Nahlla.”
Holding Kellen’s hand, Nahlla looked to Perseathea. “There might be one way.”
Perseathea swallowed another mouthful from her goblet. “What do you mean?”
“There is one man…” Nahlla looked around to make certain there were no ears perked at the door, “a very kind man here at the fortress who helps us whenever he can.”
“Who?”
“We don’t speak his name,” Nahlla whispered, “for fear that it will be overheard and he will be put to death.”
Perseathea raised an eyebrow, torn between expectation and doubt. “This man, he will help us?”
Nahlla nodded. “If he can.”
“Why hasn’t he helped you before?”
“He has.” Soh-la cut in. “Many times has he saved me from Gragore’s lust… distracting him with false complaints.”
Perseathea tore another morsel of bread, still unconvinced. “Complaints?”
“Yes.” Shella scooted in closer to Perseathea. “Saying there is an interloper at the wall or a wild dog in the stables.”
“He has done it for us all.” Nahlla hugged Kellen in under her shoulder. “Many times at his own expense.”
“Most often for Nahlla.” Malene eyed the dark haired woman. Nahlla dropped her face.
“Is there something between you and this man, Nahlla?” Perseathea asked.
Malene kept her cold glare on the woman. “There is now.”
“We are in love.” Nahlla answered, as if it were something shameful.
“Malene is jealous because she loves him too.” Kellen added.
Malene shot the child a burning glare, forcing her to retreat further under Nahlla‘s arm.
“But he is not the only kind man here, there is one other.” Shella offered. “A confidant to this first man.”
“They are as close as the day is to the sun.” Soh-la smiled at her sister. “Like brothers.”
“And you can not tell me his name either?”
“No!” Soh-la hissed as if Perseathea’s mere mention would bring the man harm.
“I understand.” Perseathea pulled the fur tighter around her shoulders, warming her wet body and enjoying the feel of a full belly. “I need to get my strength back before I do anything. And I have to plan before Laidea gets here.”
“Laidea?” Kellen perked her head up. “Who’s Laidea?”
“My companion, my closest confidant, and one of my Commanders.”
“How do you know she’s coming?” The child asked.
“She is the only one who knows exactly where I am and… well, it’s a very long tale and I don’t have time to spin it just now. Instead, I need to figure out what I’m going to do.” Perseathea looked about the room, resting back on her elbows, still partway tangled in the furs. “I will tell you this. I have finally figured out why Gragore would have me kept in here.”
Soh-la looked up. “Because we are to tend you back to health.”
“You could do that for me in your hovel. There is only one reason to have me kept in the most splendid chamber in the fortress. It’s the last place my warriors would look for me. He knows he can’t trade me for Askca if my people somehow get to me before he can get to them.”
What should we do?” Nahlla questioned.
Perseathea paused. “How soon can you speak with these two nameless men?”
Chapter 29
Much time passed in the cavern, but I couldn’t wager how long. Hours? Days? No day or night came to the underground, so my guesses waded feeble, tiring in a lake of lost thoughts. The endless glow of torchlight taunted me. Laidea warned me of the heaviness of her mind with her hours of silence. In those long hours, her eyes rarely met mine. A hard sigh hissed from her lips more than once, and the tension on her face creased so severe it appeared painful. The Commander desired time alone with her thoughts. So I devoted myself to the silence, planning escape.
The growl in my stomach deepened, hurting as if my insides had been scraped out. Hollowed out. But I still couldn’t bring myself to eat the slab of raw meat the Cloaks fed the prisoners. The
pink chunk of flesh lay in the dust at my feet, collecting ants. It wasn’t only the foul look of the food, but more my plaguing thoughts. Saratiese still hadn’t been brought in.
Twisting in the shackles, my arms ached, prickling, the iron cuffs pinching my wrists. Now accustomed to the constant ache, I searched the weary faces, for probably the hundredth time. My search, again, ended in a heavy sigh. Had Saratiese been brought in, I would not have missed it. My focus kept constant on the Cloaks at the entrance, and the Cloaks never left. I glanced over at Commander Laidea. The woman looked exhausted. Her body now slumped against the wall, her eyes glazing. I could see the lethargy weighing on her, but she fought it, refusing to give into sleep.
"Laidea. The Cloaks have yet to leave once. I’m lost for a plan. Have you thought of anything?"
The Commander hesitated, never looking up. "No."
The way of the woman concerned me. She looked near dead, hanging in her shackles the way she was. I leaned into her.
"Commander?"
"Humph?"
"Are you aright?"
She glanced at me with glassy eyes. "Yeah."
I remained unconvinced, but knew well not to question the woman warrior. Out of respect, I kept my tongue from it. "Tell me, you are a great warrior who has seen much, have you ever seen anything like them before?"
"What do you mean… like them?" Laidea closed her eyes, and for a moment, I though she might drift into sleep.
"The Cloaks. What are they?"
The woman stood in silence for long moments. “They’re humans, of course."
“Like us?”
Laidea snickered. “Well yeah.”
“How? What about their skin, their eyes, their bizarre stature?”
“Their skin is pale because they’re cavern dwellers. From the way they hunted us, I would think they’ve never seen the day. Ever.”
I paused. “But their eyes….”
“Sightless... I think.”
“A whole clan sightless?” I glanced back over at the five or more Cloaks at the cavern’s aperture.
“I believe it is the heritage of their people.” Laidea swallowed, looking as if she struggled to focus. Struggled to get out her words. “Far more primitive than we are. An ancient clan. Their people have probably dwelled in these caverns longer than the Nation has existed.”
“If that’s so, and they are sightless, then why do they have the torches?”
Laidea paused. “Maybe the torches are for the prisoners, so that we don’t feel as tempted to escape in the cover of darkness.” She shrugged. “Or maybe so we can see them. Fear them. I can not be certain of these things, Askca. It is all just guess.”
“But why do they want us? I‘ve seen no slave labor. No concubines. No reason for them to take us. Why capture all these people only to chain them up?”
Laidea turned to me, an odd expression contorting her face. She looked on me as if she believed me dim of wit, which was a look I’d never seen her make before to anyone.
And her eyes glazed even more muddled now.
“New warrior…” she near chuckled, “they eat human flesh.”
I gasped. “What?”
“The cauldron. The rotting smell of peaches on our skin-”
“Why is it on our skin?”
“We’ve been soaked in whatever it is they tend to sweeten our flesh for the cooking.” She said flatly, looking completely unfazed by the idea. “And that lingering smell of death-”
“Yeah?”
“They must have bodies stored up.”
“But, but I thought you didn’t have the answers. That you didn’t know what they were.”
“I don’t know who they are. I’ve never heard tale of this place. But I have heard of such a clan eating people. It wouldn’t be in our blessed creed not to eat of people, if it were never done, at least by other tribes. And now, I know what I see.”
My mouth went dry. “This doesn’t make sense. That doesn’t-” I felt panic rising in my chest. “We’ve got to get out of here. I’ve got to find Sara.” I looked over to find Laidea’s shoulders shaking, her face turning red. “Are you… laughing?”
“Your face!” She spat out, jerking up to eye me.
I looked on her, uneasy. Troubled. Something was happening to her. She hadn’t been the same woman for the last while. She was changing.
“How can you be laughing?” I stammered, but she didn’t respond, too caught up in her merriment. “Laidea, what’s wrong with you? We are about to die and you think it‘s… funny?” I leaned into the woman, searching her scarlet face. “Don‘t do this to me, Commander. I need you. The company needs you.”
“I… I don’t know….” Laidea laughed on, powerless to finish her words.
Already days into exhausted and afraid, I could take no more. My patience had run dry and so I told her. “You’ve lost it, Commander. You’ve plunged into dull wit.”
At that, Laidea laughed all the harder. She looked to be burdened for breath as she shook in her shackles, tears rolling. It disturbed me. This was not Laidea. This was not the calm Commander I’d idolized from childhood.
“Something is wrong. Why are you acting like this?”
“It’s so amusing. Your face.” Laidea replied, still shaking with laughter. “Your eyes nearly spat from your head!”
The hooting went on for sometime without my uttering another word. I realized it pointless. It seemed Laidea had been possessed by some unclean spirit, and my reasoning did nothing to disentangle it. The Commander’s laughter and tears eventually slowed, at long last dropping into silence. She never moved her eyes back to me after that… no matter how much I pleaded. For hours she would only hang there, repeatedly whispering for the Queen under her breath. On an on she whispered, until submitting into sleep.
I stood in silent concern, once again looking to the aperture where the Cloaks gathered. There was movement. I stiffened into a stand. The Cloaks were bringing someone in. The wave of black robes gave way to two Cloaks coming down the isle.
At the sight of her, exhilaration sparked my heart, bringing me back to life. “Sara!”
I strained against my chains, the two Cloaks bringing Saratiese up my row, her blue eyes locking into mine. But within the moment, they drug her past, my gaze following after. Saratiese looked back to me, a weary smile lifting her lips.
A goodly distance from where I stood, the Cloaks shackled her to the wall. From what I could see, she looked well. Or, well enough. Purpled with bruises and scratched, Saratiese still appeared bright eyed. Clear headed. I slumped back in my chains, relieved, breathing for what felt like the first time since I‘d come into the cavern.
After more measureless time, one by one, those unaccounted for were brought in. As soon as every Amazon had been shackled into place, we found ourselves scattered throughout the cavern. Aside of Laidea and I, none of the others had been fortunate enough to be placed together. It would be up to the Commander and me to figure out a way to communicate with the others.
But just now, there wasn't much to communicate. Not only was Laidea acting strange, but the high number of prisoners also did nothing for my dwindling hope. Many of the people looked as if they’d been wasting away in the cavern for weeks. In all my time in the underground, I had only seen one way out, and that was the same way we’d come in.
Chapter 30
A commotion exploded, jerking me out of my stupor. Across the cavern, a fight erupted between several Cloaks and a handful of prisoners. Over exactly what, I couldn’t yet see, but one man in particular did catch my eye. A soldier, he wore the warrior colors of the southern basin, emerald and black. XenTok territory. The colors on his empty scabbard sped to me like a flaming arrow. A signal. The XenTok were an enemy of the Gragorian. An Amazon ally. One of the only warrior legions allowed to travel our lands.
Surrounded by several angry people on the walls, the outraged soldier stood out, cursing loudly, kicking at the robed attackers. His wrists raged, rattling in t
he chains, and his face strained into angry scarlet.
I glanced to Saratiese, who also watched, rigid yet alert to the loud brawling. I stared on her till she sensed me. What’s happening? I mouthed. Saratiese, with a fear I could see shining in her eyes from clear across our distance, gestured to what the soldier was trying to protect. That’s when I realized why the man flailed so wildly. At his side stood a woman, crying, pulling away from his violence as far as her chains would allow, attempting to shelter a boy. And it struck me. The Cloaks weren’t trying to get at the soldier. They were trying to get at his child.
The people shackled around the small family; farmers, women, and warriors alike, were in a frenzy trying to distract the Cloaks. Yelling and shaking their chains. I didn’t understand. Why did they want the child? The boy could be no more than four or five summers. If what Laidea had reasoned of the clan of Cloaks was true, why bother with such a tiny meal? Disturbed and confused, my heart beat my chest with heavy thumps. The soldier was an Amazon ally, a sworn friend, and here a company of our people stood, chained and unable to aid him or his family.
The boy peeked out, wide eyed, as he burrowed in behind his mother’s hip like a baby bird under her clipped wing. The soldier kept up his fight, thrashing his shackles, profaning the Cloaks. One of the demons, looming heads taller than the soldier, clawed into the man’s jaw, smashing his head against the wall. Once, twice, three times he busted the soldier’s head against the rock to still him. And it did. The dazed man struggled to breath under the Cloaks long fingered palm. Then, just as quickly as they had grabbed him, the Cloaks let the man loose, moving onto his woman.
I watched with my heart in my throat. A rising talk hummed the prison, and in the dim torch light, chains began to clink in time together. I looked to Laidea, but the Commander hung in her shackles, sleeping. I tightened my fists, clinking my chains, adding to the mounting wave of jangling now brimming the cavern. The scatter of about fifty women, all most likely mothers and representing more than twelve separate tribes, began shrieking as one. Soldiers from the XenTok as well as ThuMera, natural enemies, came together, shooting curses at the Cloaks like an attack of poisoned darts. Even the simple men ranted threats. The cavern was spiraling into a full blown riot.
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