Slavers of the Savage Catacombs

by Jon F. Merz

  And what if the rumors did indeed turn out to be true? What then? Ran would no doubt be used in some fashion to try to thwart the invasion. That meant even more time away from his quest and more time away from the promises of a beautiful princess. Ran sighed. This was not shaping up the way he had envisioned things in his mind when Tozawa had first given him the wandering-quest directive.

  Not at all.

  Still, Ran couldn’t complain that he wasn’t acquiring experience. Nor could he say that things had been dull. He had already surpassed his expectations in that regard. His training had kept him alive, and what his training hadn’t prepared him for, real-world experience had quickly taught him to handle.

  But the thought of traveling west on the caravan held such allure. Ran wanted nothing more than to disappear in the night and go with Yasseh’s band of merchants at dawn. Once they left Chulal, there would be no one who would know if Ran had done as the clan directed. He frowned, knowing that was not entirely true. The Nine Daggers clan had eyes everywhere—even in the most unlikely of places. Ran might think that his actions could go unnoticed, but he knew that there were other shadow warriors out there. They had been stationed everywhere across the known lands. Each of them would have a communication link back to Gakur. If Ran went rogue and refused to follow the wishes of the clan, then they would presumably start hunting him down. He might get away with it for a while. Years, even. But eventually, the clan would reach out and get its claws back on him. He would either be taken back or simply killed.

  He turned over in the bed and tried to find a more comfortable position. Nothing seemed to give him the rest he craved. He couldn’t still his mind, despite the years of training. It was something he was completely unprepared for. This wasn’t bending some stodgy old rule; this was putting his own desires before the needs of his clan.

  When the last bits of night started to dissolve into daybreak, Ran rolled out of bed and prepared himself. Tanka rose soon after and made them a light breakfast of tea, rice, and dried beef. Ran ate without talking.

  “You didn’t sleep well last night,” said Tanka.

  “Terribly, in fact,” said Ran.

  Tanka nodded. “I know what you’re going through.”

  Ran looked up. “And what is that?”

  Tanka smiled. “You’re thinking that you could go west and no one would know. And if they did find out, you’d be long gone and out of the clan’s grasp.”

  Ran said nothing. What was the point?

  Tanka held up his hand. “I’m not trying to get you to admit anything. I’m only telling you that I understand how you feel. Imagine graduating and immediately being told to go to this city. I’ve been here since I left Gakur. I’m so homesick, it drives me crazy. There’s nothing I’d like better than to leave this horrible place and go home.”

  “Have you asked for reassignment?”

  “Three times,” said Tanka. “But the clan’s needs come first. I’ve been told I’ll be replaced at some point. But when that day might come, I have no idea.” He sighed. “So while it’s not the same thing, trust me—I’ve thought about running away. Several times, in fact.”

  “What stops you?”

  Tanka shrugged. “Maybe I’m not brave enough. There’s a funny thing for one of us to say, huh? A shadow warrior not brave enough to go off on his own. I don’t know. Maybe it’s the thought that the clan would find me some day. Maybe it’s the idea of being loyal to the clan no matter what the cost.”

  “And so here you stay.”

  “I’m optimistic, though,” said Tanka. “Surely one day they will realize I’ve been here too long, and they’ll bring me home. Perhaps as an instructor.”

  “For disguises,” said Ran with a grin. “You’d be marvelous at it.”

  “I would,” said Tanka. He stood up then. “Well, enough of that. You’ve got a reconnaissance mission to get on with, and I’ve got things to do.” He paused. “I hope that last bit of conversation will remain strictly between us.”

  Ran nodded. “Have no fear. Just two clan members discussing the state of things. Nothing to it.”

  Tanka nodded once. “Thank you, Ran. I can’t tell you how nice it’s been to have someone else here from Gakur. It’s going to be tough when you leave, my friend.”

  “You never know,” said Ran. “I might need some help up north. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have beside me than you, so be ready.” He belted on his swords and hefted his pack onto his shoulders.

  Tanka clapped his hands. “That reminds me. You need a means of getting in touch with me if things are indeed dire.” He vanished into a back room and came back with a falk on his arm. The bird sat still, its eyes roving around the room before settling on Ran.

  Ran could see the sharp talons and the knife edge of its hooked beak. Brown and black feathers covered its body. Tanka held it up, and the falk took flight once around the room before coming back to rest on the edge of the table.

  “It’s easy enough,” said Tanka. “These have all been trained back in Gakur. This one is trained to return here. All you need to do is put the message in the compartment at the base of its leg and release it with a simple command of ‘ichi.’”

  “‘Ichi.’”

  Tanka nodded. “The falk will return here as fast as possible. They don’t get excited unless there’s danger nearby, so you don’t need a hood for it.” Tanka clapped his hands once, and the falk took flight again.

  “Hold out your arm.”

  Ran did so without thinking, and an instant later the falk settled its weight on to his left arm. Ran winced, expecting to feel the sharp talons bite into his skin, but the falk only tightened its grip without piercing Ran’s skin.

  “They’re something, aren’t they?” Tanka smiled. “This one is called Ryu.”

  Ran smiled. “I’m sure we’ll make quite a team.”

  “They look after themselves. Once a day, let him hunt in the early evening. Otherwise, he will follow you everywhere, even when he’s not resting on your arm.”

  Ran looked down at the falk, and the bird stared back with unblinking eyes. “I guess I’m as ready as I ever will be.”

  Tanka clasped his right hand. “Be careful out there. The way north is a dangerous one. And there’s no guarantee the people in Kalang-yao will be receptive.”

  “I’ll just have to win them over with my charm,” said Ran. “Take care of yourself, Tanka. And thank you for the hospitality.”

  Tanka showed him to the door. “Good luck.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “Where in the world did you get that?”

  Ran climbed up in the saddle of the horse and waited for Ryu to perch on his arm again before answering. “I bought him in town. I used to have one when I was a boy. They’re excellent scouts.”

  Yasseh shrugged from his own steed. “As long as he doesn’t become troublesome I see nothing wrong with it. Make sure he doesn’t spook your horse, though.”

  Ran glanced down at Ryu, but the falk sat unmoving on his arm. His eyes continued to rove over the vast convoy of horses and wagons, however. Ran looked back at Yasseh who was busy calling out commands, and wondered what he’d just gotten himself into. His orders were to go north and perform reconnaissance in the event of an invasion. Instead, he had disregarded those orders and was heading out of the city of Chulal with a trade caravan heading east.

  What would the clan do to him if they found out? Would they track him down and kill him? Would he simply be punished? Ran sighed as his horse shifted its feet. He wasn’t sure why he’d done what he’d done. The lure of Cassandra was certainly strong. But Ran sensed there was something else inside of him that was now directing him. All of his life had been spent following the orders of the clan. They’d taken him in after he’d wandered for months. They had trained him to become a formidable warrior and spy. And then they had loosed him upon the world with only the stipulation that he be there for the clan if they needed him.

  The first time the
y came to him, Ran had turned his back on them.

  So much for loyalty, he thought with a wry grin. He was thankful to the clan, obviously. Indebted to them, even. Yet something else drove him now. Deep down his instincts told him that journeying west with the caravan was the right thing to do instead of heading north. Ran had no way of verbalizing what the instinct felt like, only that it was stronger than anything he’d known before.

  But it was an uncomfortable position to be in. Ran kept turning in his saddle, wondering if Tanka had come down to see him off and even then was watching Ran from the shadows or some disguise. Would he send word back to Gakur immediately, informing them of Ran’s betrayal? Or would he remember their talk and keep quiet about it?

  Was Tanka even there at all? Ran had lied to him, of course, but if Tanka thought he’d already left town for the Shard Mountains, there was no reason to see if Ran had truly gone off that way.

  Yasseh finally lifted his hand, and then entire caravan started off down the quay toward the rear gate of Chulal. Gunj rode one of the wagons, steering the horse team that pulled it. Ran spotted other members of the security detachment riding back and forth among the other merchants and pack mules. The caravan was comprised of ten wagons, numerous other pack mule teams, and roughly twenty riders of lesser stature. Two of the wagons held supplies for the long trip, but the remaining eight all held expensive goods for trading along the route west.

  Yasseh led the caravan down the widest street in Chulal and brought the entire convoy to a slow trot before exiting the main gate. Ran watched as he turned in his saddle, took a long look at the caravan, and then waved to someone. Ran turned and saw Ejul sitting astride a horse of his own. He raised one hook in his father’s direction then turned his steed and rode off back into Chulal.

  Ryu gave a single squawk and shook its head so a few feathers fluttered off its nape. Ran nodded once. “I know.”

  Yasseh clapped once, and the entire caravan started up again. The city guards held back and opened the rear gate. Yasseh sat at the head of the procession and led the way through the huge stone portal and outside the main gates of Chulal. Ran glanced back over his shoulder but saw nothing to indicate that Tanka was anywhere about. Of course, Tanka was a seasoned shadow warrior. Spotting him would be next to impossible.

  Ryu fluttered its wings once, and Ran took that as a sign the falk wanted to fly for a bit. “Go ahead.”

  Ran raised his arms, and Ryu took flight. Ran watched it circle high overhead before darting off over the nearby hillside.

  “Where is he going?”

  Ran glanced to his right and saw one of the other security warriors riding nearby. Ran shrugged. “To hunt, I’d imagine. He’s quite good at it.”

  The warrior nodded. “I’m Kuva. I heard you were Ran.”

  “That’s right.”

  Kuva was broad across the shoulders, and his arms hung like meathooks as he gripped the reins on his horse. “Heard you were the only one of us to get the okay from Gunj. How’d you manage that?”

  Ran smiled. “I didn’t let him win.”

  Kuva grunted. “I’d say you’re surprising, because your build isn’t all that muscular. But then again, neither is Gunj. And that little twerp beat the stuffing out of me. I’m still nursing a sore shoulder thanks to him.”

  “Appearances can be deceiving, I guess,” said Ran. “Isn’t that the old saying?”

  Kuva rubbed his shoulder. “Yeah. But before Gunj, I’d never lost to anyone.”

  “There’s definitely more to him than meets the eye,” said Ran as he watched Gunj steer the wagon he drove. “I don’t know where Yasseh found him, but it’s clear the man knows how to fight.”

  “And fight well,” said Kuva. “I’m just glad he’s on our side.” He chuckled. “For that matter, I’m glad you’re on our team as well.”

  “Thanks,” said Ran. “Do you know the others that are working with us on this journey?”

  Kuva shook his head. “Nope. I only just hired on a few days back.”

  “What were you doing before that?”

  Kuva shrugged. “Nothing good. I think the city authorities were getting ready to chuck me out for being a beggar. I’d nearly lost everything I owned in a card game. Plus, the drink held me fast in her grip, and I indulged far too much. I finally got my stuff together, grabbed my sword, and approached Yasseh. After Gunj put me through the wringer, I was hired on.” He nodded toward the front of the caravan. “I owe that man a lot. He could see I was a mess, and he gave me a break anyway. I think that speaks volumes about the type of man he is. You know?”

  Ran nodded. “Absolutely. He strikes me as a good man. It would be terrible if anything happened to him while we’re on his team.”

  Kuva patted the heavy two-handed sword strapped to his side. “I’ll be damned if I’ll let that happen. Not on my watch.”

  Ran watched him move off to resume his place on the right flank of the convoy. The caravan slowly wound its way up into the low hills that surrounded Chulal. The road was wide and well-traveled, but Ran suspected it would not stay that way for long. The way west was a dangerous one, and larger roads gradually gave way to smaller tracks and trails. Here and there, he could see where locals had attempted to build a better highway, but in other places, the forest loomed in, trying to reclaim the ground for itself.

  Ryu returned close to dinner time. Ran sniffed the scent of blood on its talons and knew that the falk had found itself a meal with little problem. As Ryu sat perched on his wrist, Ran considered the bird. Its eyes never ceased movement, even though the rest of its body stayed dead still.

  The forests yielded to open fields and meadows. Ran was about to wonder aloud when the caravan would halt for the evening, when Yasseh led them off the road and into the short grass off to the left side. He circled around and rode back.

  “We’ll set camp here for the night.”

  Ran looked at Kuva, who only shrugged. A moment later, Ran heard Gunj’s voice.

  “Ran.”

  “Yes?”

  “Set the order of watch for tonight.”

  Ran nodded, and Gunj turned back around to steer his own wagon into the grass. Ran rode over to Kuva. “You want first watch? I’ll see to it you get your supper.”

  “Fine with me,” said Kuva. He pointed to a nearby hillock. “I’ll position myself up there. That should give me a good vantage point for miles around us.”

  “Good,” said Ran. “I’ll keep two others on guard per shift, and we’ll break it up into two-hour segments. I’m sure we can all use some good sleep tonight. My rear is sore.”

  Kuva laughed. “That is the truth.” He rode off, and Ran watched him for a second before turning his attention back to the caravan.

  Gunj was directing several merchants on where to set up their camp. Clearly, Ran thought, Yasseh trusted the smaller man as his primary manager. Gunj never raised his voice, but when he spoke it was with an air of authority that no one questioned. It made Ran all the more curious as to what his background was.

  Yasseh came walking over as Ran dismounted and tied his horse to a small tree nearby. “So, are you glad you hired on?”

  Ran smirked. “I haven’t tried the cooking yet. I’ll refrain from judgment until after I eat.”

  Yasseh watched him for a moment. “You know, my son is convinced he’s met you somewhere before.”

  Ran placed Ryu on one of the branches of the tree and shook his head slowly, as if he was thinking about what Yasseh had said. “I can’t recall ever meeting him. Did he say where? I’ve only been in Igul for about a month. Not much chance of meeting him unless he was in Nehon before that.”

  Yasseh laughed. “Nehon? No, there’s no chance of that. He’s probably mistaken, but he seemed so convinced. Strange.” The older man shrugged. “Anyway, Gunj tells me he told you to set the watch. Are you getting some food?”

  “As soon as it’s ready. I’ll make sure the rest of the team gets fed as well.”

  “Good
.” Yasseh turned to leave.

  “Where did you find Gunj, by the way?” It was a simple enough question, but Ran wanted to catch Yasseh as unaware as possible and hopefully get an unguarded answer out of him.

  Yasseh stopped and turned halfway back around. “I think it’s probably a better idea if Gunj tells you about himself. Give him time and he will. But don’t pester him about it. He gets . . . ornery if he thinks you’re digging for information. He’s a very guarded man.”

  “Dangerous, too,” said Ran.

  “Dangerous is probably an understatement,” said Yasseh. “Although he seems to have taken a liking to you. I wouldn’t do anything to get on his bad side. Once you’re there, I’d imagine it would be hard to get in his good graces again.”

  “Understood.”

  “And Ran?”

  “Yes?”

  “Gunj is exceptionally talented at certain aspects of combat. You may have bested him in an open fight, but he has certain . . . skills, in other areas. Do your job and he’ll get along with you just fine. If he thinks you’re a threat, however . . .” Yasseh’s voice trailed off.

  Ran nodded then moved off in the direction of the cooking he could smell nearby.

  Ran hadn’t gotten a great deal of information, but he’d gotten some. And it just made Gunj all the more interesting.

  Ran wandered over to the cook tent and smelled deeply the evening meal. A fire already blazed nearby, and big cauldrons of soup were being prepared. Ran’s mouth watered at the scent, and then he saw the cook slicing up a great side of beef into thin slices that he paired with cooked potatoes and bread. The cook looked up as Ran entered.

  “It’s not ready yet.”

  “Smells incredible,” said Ran. “Not exactly what I’d expect on a caravan like this.”

  The cook smirked. “The master likes to eat, in case you hadn’t noticed. He demands the best even on his journeys, so it falls to me to make sure that the entire company eats well. Yasseh says that when men are well fed, they are better able to handle the challenges of an overland crossing like this.”