“Let them in,” commanded the Boril.
Entering, the people bowed and sat on chairs in a semicircle. Against them, from the throne, Draco looked at them curiously. He made them be presented separately and kept everything as it was for the moment.
“You are free. Only the trader of the Makuti, Gahar-Talta is to remain.”
Everybody else left. Talta approached and bowed with a greedy, sly smile, anticipating a fat profit,
“Due to our feud with Garva, they won't have access to my salt mines anymore, but I know that they have mammoth bones. Now I will order to give you one more load of salt. I want tusks. You alone will be able to sell salt to the northern tribes.”
They understood each other, and both sides were satisfied. Mo freed the makutian and summoned Gamar,
“Zantur, I have an important mission for you. Get me your best spy, one who is willing to go to Garva and find out where the mammoth fields are. It is to be done carefully and he is not to rush into action. If he has to, he can marry there. Give him two purses with golden gemi, because they may get suspicious if you give him golden du. Give him a herd of sheep.”
“I know the right person, Tur Draco. I'll send him right away.”
Gamar left town and headed for Dakush. In the evening, in an alley, he knocked on the wooden door of a small house. Creeking, it gently opened, and someone looked timidly from the inside,
“Shibek, let me in, I have an important assignment for you.”
The man opened the door and invited the guest. He seated him near a small wooden table and went out to bring his horse in the yard. When he came back, he placed two bowls and filled them with soup from the pot hanging over the fireplace.
“Eat from the game,” he spoke, pouring wine into his glass.
Now with a full belly, the men talked seriously,
“Shibek, you're from the northern tribes. A long time ago, I saved you. Apparently, there was a reason. I have a job for you. You will be richly rewarded. Take these two purses of gold and you will be given a flock of sheep and three slaves tomorrow as you set off. You're still young, it's time for you to settle down,” Gamar explained the task in detail.
The man was of medium height, with red hair and beard. His eyes glittered with a sly expression. He was known in the inns for his fraudulent tricks with playing cards and dice. Lies, however, were his strength. He could catch the savviest in them. The only person who did not allow himself to be deceived was Gamar, who not only saved his life but also took him under his wing.
Thirty horsemen escorted Shibek to the northern border of Dakush, along with the three slaves and a flock of sheep. From there, he entered the forest on foot. He crossed on Garva territory and encountered the first village in the area at nightfall. He left the slaves and the herd on a meadow to spend the night and went to a nearby inn. The newcomer looked around and saw a large table where dice were played. He pulled out a purse with silver and copper gemi and joined. For the first time, he had to use his talent not to win but to lose. Nevertheless, he bought wine for everybody and after the game people started talking,
“Where are you from, Shibek? What brings you here?”
“War brings me here. I'm from the Suri. Dakush, I hope the plague kills them all, they burned my house. Now I'm homeless on the road, and my flock is lying across the lawn.”
“Let's settle you down, who will miss such a good player,” laughed a white-bearded old man and lifted the cup. Laughter and mockery were heard around.
“Leave the man alone,” intervened the owner of the inn. “He has already seen a lot. I have traded with the Suri, they are good people. I will help you old chap, but do you have money?”
“I have some.”
“Well, I won't interrogate you. I'll tell you what I mean. Recently my father died, and he had a house with lawns and yards down the river. I heard that you have sheep, the property will do you a good job. Now get some rest, I will show it to you in the morning.”
The day after, after seeing the house, they started to bargain,
“It is an excellent property. How much would you want?”
“Twenty-five golden gemi. You see how vast the meadows are, how many herds of sheep you can breed there, and a day's journey north of here is our main city. It is convenient for trading.”
“You're right, but the gold is too much. Let me give you twenty, and when I cut off the sheep, I will allocate you five sacks of wool.”
“Twenty-two and the wool,” grinned the innkeeper.
“We have a deal,” both shook hands, and Shibek counted the golden gemi.
The slaves scored the flock of sheep in fenced pastures, and the animals greedily plucked from the lush grass. Immediately after that, they began to clean the house. They distributed their obligations and the new life of Shibek began with a success that was unexpected, even for him. Not long after, he married the only daughter of the innkeeper. Only a week later, he bought another three hundred sheep. Thus he earned the respect of his father in law and the outside world. The time to act was now.
One night, while enjoying the bed with his wife, he said to her,
“Mara, I have important matters. Tomorrow I will go to the main city, Garva. I will bring the wool there to seek buyers.”
The woman kept kissing and enjoying him,
“Do what you know, Shibek. I will look forward to your return.”
In the morning, two oxen took on the dusty road with the loaded cart with one slave and Shibek. They carried bundles stuffed with wool, tied with fastened ropes.
The next day in the distance, he saw the city. Spread on both sides of the great river, it was linked with a big wide stone bridge. On its center was built a checkpoint guarded by two soldiers who took one copper coin for passage. The oxcart stopped, and one of the guards approached,
“Good day,” greeted the wool trader. “Is the market far from here?” He asked, handing him two coins instead of one.
“Just follow the main road, you can not miss it,” pleased, the soldier took the coins. “Are you the son-in-law of the innkeeper Karo?”
Shibek looked at him puzzled,
“How did you know? I am...”
“My brother lives near you. He is saying that you prospered quickly. Apparently, you received a large dowry,” he winked at him, grinning.
“That's right, lucky me. What's the name of your brother?”
“Danal, and I'm Yuzil. My brother also has sheep. Well, not as much as you.”
“Ahh, I know him. He lives down the river. We know each other, I'll send him greetings. He is a good householder. Besides, when you go to see him, come to my house for some wine.”
The two shook hands, and Shibek jumped on the cart. The market was situated on a large meadow at the edge of the city. From afar could be heard the din of the traders. Unlike Dakush, here he was turvy in different directions. People were selling their goods on stalls, wooden tables, and rugs. Cells with birds, pigs, knotted cattle on trees, in enclosed places cows, oxen, sheep, goats… The noise was tremendous, and people had to shout.
In a wider place, with lush grass under a big tree in the shade, Shibek ordered the slave to leave the cart there and to bind the oxen to graze nearby. He said his price for the wool and added,
“When you sell it all, go back with the oxen and give the money to Mara. Tell her I will be late, not to worry.”
The slave looked at him with the white of his eye,
“Master, you have such confidence in me? What if I run with so much money?
“You won't escape because I will give you half of it. Start saving money, and when the time comes, I will set you free.”
“I understand,” shook his head the young man. “Where would I run anyway! I will serve you faithfully. Hopefully, you will remember your promise.”
Shibek took the main road and entered the city. He spent the day playing dice in one of the inns, trying to make some contact with the locals and to get information. Naturally, he lost
a little silver gemi to their liking. At the evening, a watchman from the bridge unexpectedly came into the tavern. Shibek immediately recognized Yuzil and waved him to join his table,
“Sit down, sit down, what will you drink?”
“One mulled wine with black pepper.”
“Good woman,” shouted the trader, “bring jerky and mulled wine.”
After a while, they were served,
“Is there anything else?”
“Bring goat cheese too.”
Already quite drunk, Shibek asked casually,
“I see in the river that ships are being built. A lot of trees have been chopped…”
“There are forests, let them cut. Some time ago, we had four ships, but one of them sank. It is good I was not on it.”
A nervous tic passed over the face of Shibek,
“We are preparing for a new journey, and we need more ships.”
“You have traveled, you saw the world. I've never sailed with a ship.”
“You do not need too, it was a scary trip. Storms, frost and ice and the beasts we encountered. It is good that we didn't see live mammoths.”
“Ay, cheers, drink, I got the chills from your story,” pretending not to care, Shibek lifted the cup.
With a raised self-esteem, Yuzil drained his glass,
“A lot of bones I'm telling you... What big tusks, three slaves had to carry them. Snow, snow, it's good that we had sleds.”
“Woman, give another pitcher, this one is empty. Also, bring more of the jerky…”
They ate and drank late into the night. Yuzil stood up,
“Come, get up, I'll lead you home. Tonight you will sleep at my house. Be my guest. After all, we are countrymen.”
In winding alleyway came to a small house,
“This is your room. Go to bed and sleep well.”
The next day at noon, after washing, they sat down at the table. Yuzil's mother prepared tea and breakfast for them,
“Oh, my head is killing me! We may have drank too much wine last night…”
“It is possible. The tea will help, drink. My mother puts a special herb.”
“Aren't you working today? Who will guard the bridge?”
“Today's my day off. We work on shifts.”
“Come visit me then, you will see your brother too.”
“Well, let's have breakfast, and we can board a boat from the dock.”
After a hearty meal, the two men rushed to the river and paid a boatman five copper gems to take them to the village of Shibeka.
Chapter VII
The cannibals
Bain's army spread out in a long column and walked along the dusty dirt road. They hadn't seen a living person for two weeks. Overnight, they stopped near a small river to camp. Dozens of fires lit the area. Hunters had a successful catch during the day - birds, deer, pigs and other animals were being roasted on the bonfires. The dense forest was teeming with game. Several soldiers were filling wineskins with water from the river. Suddenly, one of them shouted, and something pulled him into the water.
“Crocodile, crocodile,” shouted one.
The great beast spun several times and, tearing parts of the man's body, quickly plunged into the river. The warrior died on the spot. Another crocodile took the rest of it just as fast as the first. The other men fled instantly, and nobody got near the water until morning,
“What happened?” Asked one soldier, seeing them fleeing.
“The river is full of crocodiles. They tore Liho instantly.”
“I'm going to tell Bain,” the man walked up to the fire. “Chief, the river is full of crocodiles. They just tore one of your warriors. The place is wide enough for passage. What do you order?”
“At dawn, we will go down the river and seek a shallow ford.“
In the morning, ten riders rode before the army to scout. Not long after, they returned and intercepted Bain,
“Chief we found a ford. It is very shallow, but it is much broader.
“Lead us there.”
The army came to the place and started to pass on the gravel bottom. On the hill on the opposite bank, however, there were people. Bain noticed them,
“Go with two warriors and see what they want. If everything is good, pick your spear overhead.”
The man shook his head, and three riders headed for the hills. During this time, several crocodiles surfaced near where the water was deeper. Huge specimen rattled their jaws and frightened the horses which started to panic. Bain was anxiously watching the events. One of the warriors who had not been able to calm his horse paid with his life after entering into deeper waters. The horse miraculously returned to the others,
“Forward,” yelled the chief after seeing the sign of the negotiators.
With the exception of a few sheep, others successfully passed the opposite bank. The small tribe that welcomed them could not afford to be hostile. It numbered several hundred people, living in thatched huts with small yards. Down from their village, lush meadows with a large herd of cows and calves could be seen.
The elder invited Bain into his hut. Chief sat on a clay bed covered with fur. The man handed him a drink,
“We are the Ponna tribe. We live in peace with the world. Our food is abundant. The gods are kind to us. What lead you into our land?”
“I'm Bain, chief of the Sarani. We are heading for the area of the Indi. Can you give me directions?”
“Oh, they are far away. I've heard from my father that this river reaches them. Many moons will pass until you find them.”
“Do you want to swap cattle? I'll give you a hundred sheep for ten cows, and ten warriors from your tribe. If they survive, they'll have something to tell one day.”
“I agree. We'll also give you fruit for the road. Down there are marshy areas. To save yourself from mosquitoes, my warriors will show you from what grasses to make wreaths to wear around your necks.”
“I am grateful for the advice. I'll leave ten sacks of wheat as a sign of friendship.”
They made the exchange, and the guests set off again along the river. After a few days, they reached a rocky area surrounding the water. The location was such that the carts could not pass. In the distance, aside from the rocks, there was a thick forest. It took ten days to cut the trees to make way and move to the other end of the rocks.
At the evening, while resting near the campfires, the echo spread a ferocious howl. Followed by screams mixed with a groan resembling a dying animal. Hell was opened. Horses began to neigh. Warriors jumped, clutching their weapons,
“Throw more wood on the fires,” roared Bain.
Suddenly, there was dead silence. Men regrouped with fear in their hearts in anticipation of the unknown. Shadows flickered around, approaching the camp,
“Throw more wood.”
The surroundings lit up like a day. Among the trees lashed naked savages holding bone knives, wooden stakes and other primitive stone tools. The silence was replaced with inhuman guttural sounds. Arrows hissed from the Bain warriors, but they could not stop the momentum of the enemy. The nearest soldiers fell under the impact of the invaders. The savages cut the bodies and ate the entrails of the dead. The smell of blood spread around. In the army supply train, there was anarchy. In a panic, animals flew away in different directions. A mad ox running over people and roaring wildly passed near Bain. The chief, bouncing, continued to cut his attackers. Figures of running horses flashed from time to time in the dark. One half-dead savage sat up and bit Bain's leg, pulling him with his hands on the other. The chief slumped, surprised. Two more enemies jumped on him. The Saranian anticipated death when he suddenly saw the silhouette of one of the warriors of the Ponna tribe, given to him by the elders. The muscular, wiry man, vigorously waving his mace, shattered the skulls of three cannibals. He gave a hand to Bain and the chief stood up. A piece of his right leg was left in the mouth of the savage.
At that moment, there was silence again. Just as they had appeared, the bloodthirsty
attackers disappeared in the dark the same way. The chief fell back on the ground from loss of blood. They took care of his wound as it was smeared with herbs and bear mass and then bandaged,
“I want everyone to be on alert. At first light, we must get out of this forest,” ordered Bain.
At night, the surviving animals returned to the camp alone. At dawn, the chief gave an order, “Bury the dead!”
His men searched the area, but the bodies were gone. Only those that were close to them were left. They lifted up the injured on horses and carts and drove off. After some time, they managed to get out of the undergrowth coming out оn а rocky, sandy area where the trees were already rare.
“Stay,” Bain raised his hand. “Ugo, count the warriors and animals,” he ordered his already private man with the mace, he could trust him.
The man checked and reported, “Chief, fifteen soldiers have died, and twenty-four were wounded. The sheep are gone, but the cows and horses without three are here.”
“Well, it could be worse. The grain, honey, is everything in the carts?”
“There are no losses. All carts and oxen are here.”
“What would you advise me? Do we camp here? At least two days to rest men and animals. And we must take care of the wounded.”
“I saw a wooded zone further down. It is close to the river.”
“Ok, we will rest there,” responded the leader and gestured to go on.
Chapter VIII
The annual games
Bathed in sweat, Terter stood up in bed. Deodora woke and asked him,
“Did you have a nightmare, dear?”
“Recently, various animals have been haunting me in my dreams.”
The woman got out of bed, poured a glass of mead and handed it to him,
“Drink a little to loosen up. You are thinking about too many things, and you got overexcited. I found a healer from the seventh city which will restore your energy with herbs and massages.”
“Well, bring her tomorrow. You are a treasure. It is luck that you are next to me,” he greedily drank from the cup and relaxed in bed. Deodora snuggled in next to him and, singing a gentle song, started rocking him. The strong man slept like a baby.
The Lost Empire of Dakush: Rise of the Tribes (Book Book 1) Page 4
