“Alright, but don’t go alone,” James advises.
“I won’t, I promise,” she assures him.
The next morning, Delia takes Tinok and Roland with her as well as a wagon to deliver her packages. After they leave, James takes his mirror out and finds Miko still riding in the wagon. “He’s heading south,” he announces.
“How do you know?” Cassie asks as she sits next to him in order to look in the mirror.
Pointing to Miko and the wagon, he explains. “See how the shadows fall? They’re falling to the right of the wagon, so that means the sun is to the left of them. Which in turn can only mean he’s heading south.”
“Oh,” she says.
Replacing the mirror back in his shaving kit, he then takes out his shaving knife and proceeds to remove what little stubble has appeared since the last time. While he’s shaving, Cassie remains sitting next to him and he asks, “You like Tinok, don’t you?”
Blushing slightly, she says, “Is it that noticeable?”
“Well, you two are hardly seen apart,” he explains.
“He is so nice and brave,” she says. “I didn’t care for him at first, but now that I’ve come to know him, I do.”
“I think you two are very good together,” he tells her.
Smiling, she says, “So do I.”
At just that moment, Arkie begins crying so she gets up and hurries over to help Ezra. James smiles at her retreating back as she walks over to where they’re sitting in the shade of the wagons.
Finished with getting the stubble off, he replaces his knife and mirror back in the kit. He notices Jiron pacing impatiently about the camp as he waits for the upcoming auction. When his pacing brings him near, James says, “Relax.”
“Can’t,” he replies as he pauses a moment.
“Tomorrow won’t get here any faster,” he tells him.
“I know,” admits Jiron, “but I can’t just sit and do nothing all the while knowing she’s stuck in there.” He then resumes his pacing.
Several hours later, Delia and crew come back with a wagon much emptier than had left. “How did you do?” James asks as they roll up.
“You’re not going to believe it!” she exclaims. “We received two hundred golds for one package alone! Altogether, we collected seven hundred and fifty six golds.” Beaming, she pats a small chest resting on the floor of the wagon by her feet.
“Impressive,” he says as he helps her down from the wagon.
“Thanks,” she replies.
Tinok says, “We were unable to find out anything about your friend. We didn’t push too hard for answers since we wanted to avoid drawing attention.”
“I understand,” responds James. He goes over to Roland and asks, “Would you mind going into town with me? There’s something I’d like to get.”
“Sure, what?” he asks.
“I want to find someone who can make a belt for me to hold my slugs,” he explains.
“Right now?” he asks.
“If you don’t mind,” says James.
“Alright.” He says a few words to Ezra and then with Jiron tagging along, they head back into town.
After inquiring with several locals, they at last make their way to a clothier who specializes in leather. Walking into the store, they see many different types of goods made almost entirely of leather; belts, coats, hats, etc. Bent over a table is a man currently working on stitching a belt together. When they enter, he looks up and says, “One moment, please,” and then finishes up with a few more stitches.
Thankful that the man speaks his language, James says, “Not a problem.”
When he’s done, the man sets the belt aside and then asks, “How can I help you?”
Stepping up to the table James says, “I am interested in a belt, one that will hold the slugs for my sling so I can have ready access to them.”
“Like what?” the man asks.
“I want firm pockets attached to the outside of the belt, just large enough to hold each slug firmly so it won’t fall out as I move,” James explains. “There should also be a slit up the middle where I can grab it with my finger to pull it out.”
The man takes out a piece of parchment and begins drawing what James is describing. After a couple corrections, James is satisfied the man understands what he’s asking of him. “I could get something like this done for you,” the man says, “for about five silvers.”
“I’ll give you six if you can finish it by sundown tomorrow?” James offers.
Shaking his head, the man says, “I have another order that I must do first, but I can have it ready by day after tomorrow, for six.”
“Alright,” James says as he hands over three silvers. “I’ll give you the rest when I pick it up.”
Taking the coins, the man says, “Very well, day after tomorrow.”
James shakes his hand and then they leave his shop.
They make it back to their camp and spend a restless evening as they wait for the morning, and Tersa’s auction.
The sun no more crests the horizon before Jiron is itching to get going to the slave market for his sister.
“Relax,” Roland says, “the auction doesn’t start until two hours after sunup.”
“Still,” Jiron says as he resumes his pacing.
Once they’ve had breakfast, Jiron, Roland and James leave for the auction. Jiron sets a fast pace and the coins in James’ shirt that he had brought for the auction can be heard jingling with every step.
At the gates to the slaver’s compound, they find a line of people has already begun to form to enter. They wait their turn and finally pass through into the courtyard beyond.
They see that one of the platforms on the edge of the courtyard has been set up for the auction. Pressing through the crowd they maneuver to get as close to the front as possible. Jiron looks around at all the people waiting for the opportunity to purchase a living being and it just makes him angry.
Several slavers are already in position there on the platform, watching the crowd as the courtyard fills up. Each has a whip hanging at their waists. Jiron stands there impatiently for over ten minutes before a door finally opens in the side of the courtyard and a line of girls comes out. Jiron looks over at them anxiously but doesn’t see Tersa among them.
The auctioneer steps to the front of the platform and calls for the first girl to be brought forward. When she approaches the front of the stage, one of the auctioneer’s assistants removes the girls clothing. Standing there naked, she starts crying as they turn her around, showing her off to the crowd.
Once the auctioneer has spoken to the crowd, the bidding begins and James sees those in the crowd raising their hands. When the bidding is done and the girl is being led to the man who bought her, Roland says, “She went for seventy five gold.”
“Is that a lot?” James asks.
Shrugging, Roland replies, “I don’t know, I’ve never been here for this kind of auction.”
One by one they watch as the girls are brought forward, displayed and then sold. Once sold, each has a tether attached around their neck before being led off the platform to be received by their new owner. One girl collapses in a faint and has to be carried away. The onlookers laugh while some call out to the new owner as he goes to take his property.
The next line of girls are brought out and at the head of the line is Tersa, not looking nearly as nervous as the rest of them. James can see her searching the faces of the crowd, trying to find her brother, but isn’t able to.
When she is brought to stand next to the auctioneer and stripped, James thought Jiron was going to run up there, killing everyone. But to his surprise, he took it stoically and endured this so he may have her back. The bidding commences and Roland raises his hand to make a bid. It had been decided he should be the one to bid on her since he understands the language.
During the bidding, James watches Tersa as her eyes move from one bidder to the next in a hopeful attempt to locate her brother. He can see a slight
uplifting at the corners of her mouth when her eyes stop their roving and settle on her brother standing next to one of the bidders. A slight smile escapes her as she stands there on the platform, knowing her brother is out there.
Roland continues bidding until all but a few are still with him. Then, from the back of the crowd, a loud voice says something and the crowd becomes positively silent. Looking back over the crowd, James sees a large man, easily a head taller than anyone else in the courtyard. Bald head and extensively tattooed, with two swords strapped to his back, he strides to the front as the crowd quickly parts for him like the sea for Moses.
All the other bidders are silent as the man strides forward, confident that she is his. When Roland doesn’t say anything, Jiron says, “Bid!”
“But…” he stammers.
Jiron, having picked up a little of the language after having listened to the bidding, shouts out a bid in their language.
The crowd collectively catches their breath and the auctioneer pales. The giant of a man suddenly stops and turns to see Jiron staring fiercely back at him. He cries something out and again the crowd gasps.
“What’s going on?” James asks.
“That’s a Parvati,” he says, “terrible fighters.”
“And?” Jiron asks.
“They have a custom that is supported by the Empire,” Roland explains. “They may call for a blood duel if anyone crosses them.”
James looks shocked by that, “Why in god’s name would they support a custom like that?”
“They serve the Empire loyally and fiercely,” he explains. “That’s why no one crosses them, those that do, die.” He looks at Jiron and says somewhat nervously, “He has called one on you for challenging his right to this slave.”
Jiron looks over at the Parvati and sees him staring back at him. The crowd begins to widen into a circle, a wide circle.
“So now…” begins James.
“Jiron must fight him, right here, right now,” he finishes. Looking to Jiron, Roland says, “You have no choice in the matter and it’s to the death.”
Jiron looks toward Tersa, who is standing there on the platform, uncertain now that things are not going exactly as she had anticipated. He removes his excess native attire and with a glance to the waiting Parvati, he pulls his knives and advances.
“Good luck,” says James.
“Thanks,” Jiron says nonchalantly, “just like back in the pits.”
As he advances, the Parvati draws both swords, one slightly shorter than the other. Not nearly as confident as he’s making out, Jiron sizes up his opponent as he would in the pits.
When he’s within about six feet of the Parvati he stops and waits for the attack. Knives are no good against an opponent who’s prepared and waiting for your attack, you’ve got to get them moving so an opening will present itself that you can take advantage of. Those in the pits who failed to learn that didn’t last too long.
With a roar, the Parvati slashes with his longsword while keeping his shorter one close for defense.
Jiron dances back and lets the sword pass by in front of him, mere inches away, never once taking his eyes from the Parvati’s.
The Parvati studies Jiron and then begins a series of attacks using both the long and short sword.
Jiron easily deflects each blow, trying not to absorb too much of the impact. He’s good, but not the best I’ve seen, Jiron thinks as his knives move to counter each attack.
The Parvati stops his attacks and steps back as he stares in disbelief at the little man with the two knifes. The expression on his face says he doesn’t understand why Jiron is still standing.
Again the Parvati closes to attack Jiron and launches complicated pattern, using attacks and feints to try to get within Jiron’s defense. Unable to breach it, the Parvati begins growing frustrated at not being able to kill this upstart. Suddenly, pain erupts from his left outer thigh and he’s shocked to see blood beginning to well from a shallow cut that Jiron had managed to land.
The crowd gasps, utterly surprised that this man with knives against swords had managed to draw first blood, especially against a Parvati.
James nudges Roland who turns to see him there with a smile on his face, “He’s good.”
“I see that,” Roland says, amazed.
His pride wounded at not drawing first blood, the Parvati screams and presses the attack, trying to connect less by skill than by brute strength.
This new series of attacks begins to leave Jiron’s arms fatigued from having to take more of the force of the blow on his knives rather than deflecting it away. Deciding to change tactics, Jiron goes on the offensive, startling the Parvati who’s not used to such a maneuver from an opponent.
With amazing agility, Jiron manages to get within his guard and scores another slash across his chest. Not deep, but it’s a staggering blow to the Parvati’s ego. Jiron takes a few steps back to catch his breath as he watches to see what the Parvati will do next.
The Parvati stands there staring at the blood coming from his chest and then looks over to Jiron. His eyes begin to turn red and flecks of foam can be seen at the edges of his mouth. Berserker! Jiron recognizes the signs from others he had faced in the pits. Berserkers are incredibly dangerous, but often leave themselves open for counter attacks, providing their opponent lives that long.
With a cry unlike any he had uttered thus far, the Parvati races toward Jiron, swords flying with incredible speed. Jiron’s knives deflect blow after blow, his arms deadening from the impact of a berserker’s strength.
Then the moment comes that he was waiting for, a series of attacks that will bring the longsword into just the right position. He catches the longsword between his knives and twists while at the same time jerking the longsword. To the amazement of the onlookers, the Parvati’s longsword flies out of his hand and sails over the crowd. Onlookers dive out of the way as the sword strikes the ground, its point sinking a foot into the ground. Everyone looks in awe at the weapon standing upright a dozen feet from the combatants.
The loss of his sword snaps the Parvati out of the berserker’s rage which greatly diminishes his strength. All berserkers use up most of their stamina while in the rage. He staggers backward, staring at his empty hand, not understanding what had just happened.
Taking the offensive, Jiron advances upon him, knives whirling in a pattern that a single sword is unable to defend against.
Doing his best, the Parvati, who had been so sure of victory, now was trying to merely survive. Cut after cut springs open upon his body; arms, legs, and chest all begin to well blood. Greatly weakened by the berserker rage, he’s increasingly becoming unable to block Jiron’s blows. Until at last, Jiron gets within his defense and slices him across the wrist, severing the tendons. Unable to hold the sword any longer, he watches as it falls from his now useless hand to the ground.
Without even pausing, Jiron moves in and finishes him off with a stab through the chest, puncturing his heart. To the shocked awe of the crowd, the Parvati falls to the ground, dead.
Coming over to him, James asks, “You okay?”
Nodding, Jiron says, “Just tired.” He then reaches down and cleans his knives on his opponent’s shirt. Once his knives are sheathed, he takes the Parvati’s purse and walks up to the auctioneer. Roland joins him before he reaches the platform.
The auctioneer says something and Roland says, “She’s yours, Jiron, free and clear.”
Jiron turns to Tersa as she comes down the steps off the platform. They give him a slave shift for her and he puts it on her. Giving her an apologetic look, he takes the tether that had been placed around her neck and then leads her out of the courtyard while the onlookers move aside, clearing a path for them.
She tries to give him a hug once they’re outside the slaver compound, but he stops her saying, “Not here, not now.” Understanding, she continues to play the part of a slave until they reach the caravan.
Chapter Fifteen
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When they leave the city and are seen approaching the caravan, Delia and Tinok leave the others and race toward them. Delia gives Tersa a big hug while Tinok pats Jiron on the back.
Jiron takes hold of the tether around his sister’s neck and uses one of his knives to cut it off of her. The world seems to stop for a moment as they finally look at each other, reunited after so many hardships. Allowing herself to finally express her emotions, Tersa hugs her brother as tears begin to fall.
The others remove themselves closer to the wagons to give them a moment alone and James relates the events back at the slaver compound. When he gets to the part where Jiron is fighting the Parvati, Jiron and Tersa join the group. After he’s finished, Tinok says, “Wish I could have been there.”
Delia goes over to one of the wagons and brings back a small, rectangular box and hands it Tersa. Opening it, she finds a beautiful new dress inside. She looks to Delia, almost ready to break down into tears again. “Thank you!” she exclaims as she removes the dress from the box.
Smiling, Delia says, “I just thought you would want something other than slave rags to wear.”
Jiron gets up and hugs Delia, saying, “I never even thought about clothes for her, thank you.”
Returning his hug, she pats him on the shoulder as she says, “You’re a man. I figured you wouldn’t.”
Tersa turns to her brother and asks, “Are we going back home?”
“I don’t think there’s any home to go back to,” he says, hating the words even though he knows they’re the truth.
“But,” she says, apprehensively, “what are we to do?”
“First thing is to get you out of those rags,” Delia says as she leads her over to a wagon where she has a couple blankets already set up for privacy while Tersa changes.
“Just what are we to do now?” asks Tinok while Tersa is changing.
Fires of Prophecy: The Morcyth Saga Book Two Page 19
