When Taggart saw Jo-Dal and his group approaching he roused his people and they all started back into the swamp. He pointed to the patch of dry land to make certain Jo-Dal did not miss it. The warrior from Aspell signaled that he had seen it and began leading his people to it.
Taggart was encouraged by the discovery of the dry land. His biggest fear was that they would be caught out in the open swamp when night fell. If that happened they could only depend on their numbers to protect them from attacks by the swamp-crocs. He wondered what new dangers they would encounter as they slogged deeper into the swamp.
***
Dwan sat on a wooden bench that had been bolted to the floor in the cellar dungeon where they had been for several days. Twice a day one of the other healers would inspect and clean the welts on her back. Though painful, the amount of broken skin was minimal, and there appeared to be no risk of infection. The women were fed once a day, and Dwan made certain that the weakest among them were fed first. Dayel challenged her authority on those occasions, but Dwan’s courage and strong personality was enough to keep her from going any further than making verbal comments.
It was still early morning when they heard the door above them open and feet on the worn wooden stairs. Morlee led two other men into the cellar. The other two were both short, one slender the other portly. They were dressed in the thick canvas pantaloons that these people seemed to favor with blousy shirts tucked in.
“Well now,” Morlee said with mock cheerfulness. “Let me wish you sluts a good morning.” His eyes sought out Dwan, and he gave her a leering grin. “How’s your back, M’ Lady?”
Dwan met his stare. “I barely feel it. How’s your arm?”
The other women laughed. So did the two men with Morlee. He tried to silence his men with a stare, but they were not cowed. Men like Morlee only frightened defenseless slaves over whom he had total control.
“So you’re wantin’ another session with the lash now?” he asked Dwan.
“Take your threats elsewhere, little man. We both know you can do nothing unless your master, Tallun, lets you off of your leash.”
White hot fury rose into Morlee’s head. Her comments hit too closely to the truth. This woman’s refusal to be cowed by him was disrupting the control he needed to have over the group. He took a step toward her before one of his men put a hand on his shoulder and whispered something into his ear.
Morlee took a moment to compose himself then put another false smile on his face. “I’ll remember your attitude when your new master drags you off to his night salon.” He then turned to address the group. “Today you will be taken to our open market. We have posted notices of your sale for the last several days, and there are many eager new masters out there waiting for you.”
This news finally brought Morlee the reaction he was wanting. Several of the younger women began to weep. He glanced at Dwan and was disappointed to see that she was not one of them. He nodded to his men, and they began to go through the women, tying their hands in front. When all were trussed they herded them to the stairs. Dwan looked calm, but her mind was whirling. She was furiously searching for a way to escape having herself and her friends from being sold into slavery. She was encouraged to see that her hands were tied in front of her instead of behind. That gave her some options.
Dwan was determined that she was not going to be sold and raped and was prepared to die in order to prevent that happening. She was more concerned about the younger women among them. They had never encountered this level of evil, and they were almost catatonic with fear. As determined as she was to come up with a way to protect them, she was unable to do so. The only thing open to her was to be an example.
The women were taken out of the cellar through the side door that led into an alley. The smells of smoking meat and exotic spices filled the air. Dwan looked around and was surprised to see that the pirate city was actually a visually pleasing place. The surrounding two and three story buildings were painted in festive colors. The streets were absolutely immaculate, and she saw many people engaged in the process of sweeping them clean.
They were prodded through the alley with sticks. Morlee came next to her, and she expected a vicious jab, but he barely poked her, and she realized that he had been warned about bruising them. They passed through a wider street. This was filled with many shops and open markets where foods and wares were being sold. One place displayed exotic birds which shrieked at the women as they passed.
As they were directed through the streets Dwan was surprised to see that the reactions of the people they passed were divided. Some, mostly men of course, leered at them and shouted out the fate that awaited them. Others jeered at their controllers and yelled their objections to the sale of humans. Dwan took note of this and was encouraged to see that all of the people of Kylee were not immoral.
They finally arrived at a large widening of the road. There were many people gathered there, and it seemed as if they had been awaiting the arrival of the women. A cheer rose up, and many in the crowd slapped their chests in what Dwan took to be the local version of applause. The women were steered through an opening in the crowd and placed in a pen made of wire and wood. There were long benches on either side, and they were instructed to sit. Dwan considered resisting that order but decided she would wait for a chance to make her defiance more meaningful.
Once they were all sat, Morlee walked through the pen with his hands clasped behind his back. He smiled broadly at the seated women as if he was enjoying their plight. He stopped at the end where Dwan was sitting. He bent forward at the waist and leaned in, putting his face close to hers.
Dwan recoiled at his foul breath as he spoke to her in a whispered voice.
“Now don’t you worry none, Your Highness. You won’t have time to worry about your young pups here. I’m puttin’ you up for sale first. Your only worry tonight will be thinkin’ out the different ways to please your new master. If you’re inventive enough he may not beat you…too badly.”
Dwan stared into his eyes. Beneath the bluster she saw his fear. She snapped her head toward him. She never touched him, but her motion caused the little man to jump backward in fear.
Roars of laughter exploded around them as the crowd and Morlee’s own men reacted to his fright. He looked about himself in absolute rage. He glared at the crowd who simply hooted back at him. He turned back to Dwan. She was sitting there meeting his gaze with no emotion. Then she gave him a knowing smile. That smile told him she had figured him out for the coward he was. All of his bluster and bluff was false, and she knew it. Morlee’s face turned bright red, and he reached for his whip. His hands shook as they ached to pull it free from his belt.
“Have caution, little man,” she said in a low voice. “Your leash is still tight about your neck.”
Morlee’s mouth quivered as he desperately searched for a way to exact vengeance on this woman. In the end he knew that she was right. He had been warned by Tallun that he was not to put any more marks upon the women. In the end he simply turned and walked out of the pen.
Morlee walked up on a raised platform in the middle of the wide marketplace. He endured more jeers and catcalls until he was able to quiet the crowd with raised hands. When he at last achieved a measure of silence he shouted. “The time has come at last. We have told you that the very first sale of quality slaves in Kylee would take place this day.” About half of the crowd cheered while the other half shouted their displeasure. Morlee raised his hands again and eventually quieted the crowd.
“These young and comely women have been brought here by our bold and courageous Captain Tallun from a strange and exotic land. They are offered here for your pleasure.” A snickering grew in the crowd. “Here now is the first offering. She is a tall woman but a woman of great beauty nonetheless.” He pointed to Dwan. “Bring her up.” He shouted to his men.
***
Ruguer and his Royal Bodyguard sat around a large table in the Aspell castle dining facility. Stewards were fussing
over them, ensuring that the party was supplied with all they would need. Jugs of spirits were offered but politely refused. Ruguer noted that the people of this kingdom appeared to be much like those of Olvion. They gave the impression of being proud and kind. He wondered how a man like Minos had been elected, but experience had shown him that politicians rarely exposed their true natures.
One young man of Aspell whispered to him as he poured water into his table mug. “Much luck on your address to Parliament today, Noble King.”
At last one of the king’s guard entered and bowed, then informed the King of Olvion that the members of Parliament were ready to receive him. He and his entourage followed the guard through the winding passages of the castle until they arrived at a large round room shaped like an arena with rows of seats and tables ringing the empty center and flowing up the sloped floor so that all gathered would be able to see.
Ruguer was led to a table in the middle of the room. There were three chairs there, one of them, the largest, was occupied by Minos. Normally the one on his far side would be for the King’s Sword, but, in light of Ruguer’s earlier threats, that man was nowhere to be seen. Ruguer’s arrival was met by applause, the strength of which surprised him. He took his seat while the members of his bodyguard fanned out behind him.
Minos rose and announced that Ruguer had requested the gathering of the members of Parliament per his privilege as one of the Four Kings.
When he rose, Ruguer received yet another round of applause. He noted before standing that Minos appeared to be on edge. He took a step closer to the assembled body and began his remarks.
“Members of Aspell’s Parliament I thank you for responding so quickly to my request. I wanted to…”
His words were interrupted by an older gentleman in the first row of seats who rose. He was an elegant looking man with silver hair and beard. He was dressed as a civilian but wore a dagger at his side.
“King Ruguer, forgive me please, for my interruption. I have been asked by all of the assembled members of Parliament to offer our sympathies on the loss of the noble King Zander. We heard of his heroic passing in the Great War and would like you to know that this body designated an entire tenday for mourning his loss. We would like you to be assured that all here honor his memory and know that he died while protecting our kingdom.”
This set off another thunderous round of applause which lasted quite some time. Ruguer looked back at Minos and thought he looked even more uneasy.
When the noise died down the Parliament spokesman continued. “We would also like to assure you that your election to fill his seat was one that was wholeheartedly endorsed by this body. We bid you welcome, Good King.”
There was another roar of approval, this one lasting not quite as long as the others. Ruguer stood politely until it dwindled.
“Thank you, Good Members,” he said. “I’m gladdened by the knowledge that your kingdom remembers the events of the Great War. Thirty five thousand heroic warriors of Olvion now lie in their graves as a result, including the noble King Zander.” The room took on a grim demeanor.
“The last battle of that war was a desperate fight for the survival of mankind. The survival of all four kingdoms. As always, Olvion accepted the responsibility of safeguarding the Coastal Kingdoms even though the number of committed warriors from all of your kingdoms had dwindled to two thousand. That is to say; there were two thousand warriors still on hand from Archer’s Gate and Aspell. There were no assigned warriors from this kingdom.”
An urgent murmur erupted within the assembled ranks. Ruguer could not quite grasp the meaning of it, but his anger compelled him to continue.
“When the destruction of our food stores forced us to leave the safety of our walls and confront the Grey Horde, we were still waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Faced with overwhelming numbers, we did what we could. As you know, we prevailed.” This last statement almost set off another round of applause but it was weak and died prematurely.
“We prevailed, but the price we paid was too high. Too high because it could have been less had this kingdom, as well as the others, had honored their agreements to provide the needed reinforcements. Yes, those assets did come, but by the time they arrived most of our losses had already been suffered.”
The elder man in the front row who had previously interrupted him tried to speak, but Ruguer silenced him with an upraised palm.
“Now, when Olvion struggles to feed its people left hungry by the destruction and abandonment of its farms and ranches, this kingdom contributes less to that effort than its two smaller sister kingdoms.”
Now angry shouts and objections came from the assembled body. Many rose from their chairs and shook their fists. Ruguer was wound up now, however, and in no mood to be shouted down.
“My kingdom bled for you.” He pointed an accusing finger. “We sacrificed an entire generation for you so that you could sit here by the sea in absolute safety. When I arrived here this morning I saw that the treasure that you saved by denying your assistance to Olvion was spent on gilded stairways and ridiculous uniforms.
“Just a few days past, the kingdom of Aspell was attacked by invaders from the sea. While Northland now has the largest standing army of all the kingdoms you committed only one thousand warriors to their defense. Are your gilded bannisters and unmanly guard costumes worth it to you?”
Pandemonium erupted in the hall with shouting and pounding on tables. The mood of the Parliament had grown foul, and the members of Ruguer’s bodyguard inched their hands toward their weapons. The spokesman for the Parliament was finally able to get Ruguer’s attention. He turned to the members and motioned for them to retake their seats. They eventually complied. When order was restored to the hall he asked Ruguer if he could speak. Ruguer, his scar a blazing red from anger, nodded.
“King Ruguer, my name is Norcum, and I am the senior member of this body. Your words have left us confused. May I ask for clarification?”
Ruguer nodded again.
“You state that, at the time of the beginning of the Great War, this kingdom had no warriors committed to Olvion for the common defense? This body has always funded the stationing of a thousand warriors in Olvion. With apologies, Good King, are you certain of your information?”
Ruguer looked over his shoulder at Minos again. The king was visibly shaken. He looked back at Norcum.
“My information is absolutely correct.”
Now an angry ripple tore through the gathered members. Angry shouts rose up from several of them. Fingers jabbed toward Minos. Norcum gestured for quiet again. He was about to ask his second question when Minos stood.
“Good Lords and Ladies, I can see that there is much for my fellow king and I to discuss. We should have resolved these issues before bringing it to your notice. I move that we cancel this gathering and resume once those issues have been more fully examined.”
More angry shouts emerged from the floor. Norcum again pled for order. When he got it he turned to Minos.
“Your Majesty, with all respect, these appear to be matters which require a public examination. As the senior member of this Parliament I decline to call this meeting to a close.”
Most of the assembled members shouted their agreement. Norcum looked at Ruguer again.
“Now, secondarily King Ruguer, you assert that Northland sent only one thousand warriors to aid Aspell. It was the action of this body to authorize funds for the deployment of five thousand fighters for that effort.” Behind Ruguer Minos regained his seat and studied the floor.
“As to the support of the people of Olvion following the war, Good King Ruguer, this body has authorized more than ample funds to keep your people fed and re-supplied for at least two summers. If it is not being used for that purpose we will have to explore that issue with our king.”
The full meaning of what was happening was now clear to Ruguer. This was a case of the left hand not knowing of the actions of the right.
“One more thought, Good
King,” Norcum stated. “The members of this Parliament who opposed the timely deployment of reinforcements to Olvion in the time of the Great War have all been relieved of their seats. It was by a very narrow margin that our king was able to retain his office. I dare predict that another vote is in his future.
“This body, indeed this entire kingdom, has always been aware of the enormous debt that it owes to the noble and valiant men and women of Olvion. Please accept the apologies of this kingdom, and be assured that no similar injustices will occur.”
When he had completed his remarks, Norcum lowered himself into a kneeling position. Around the hall the others left their seats and copied his actions. Soon there was absolute silence in the room.
Ruguer’s anger dissolved upon seeing the entire Parliament of Northland in a posture of contrition. The people of all four kingdoms of Olvion were very proud, and it was a rare gesture, indeed, for any person to kneel before another, including their kings. Seeing the elected representatives of the people of Northland expressing their apologies to him and his kingdom in such a heartfelt manner affected him deeply.
Ruguer realized that he had unfairly assumed that the entire government of Northland had been complicit in the withholding of reinforcements and goods from Olvion. His realized that he needed to illustrate his own contrition for his hasty remarks.
King Ruguer, arguably the proudest of all men in Olvion, assumed the kneeling position himself. Behind him his bodyguard followed suit.
After that things went very quickly. Norcum asked for a few moments of discussion with Ruguer to further clarify the situation in Olvion. Ruguer was then asked to step outside and give their Parliament the privacy that was needed for the steps they needed to take.
As the doors closed behind him and his entourage they were led to a suite of rooms in which to spend the night. Later that night they took their evening meal in a public dining facility outside of the confines of the castle. A warrior of Northland approached their table and asked if he could share some information with Ruguer. He was allowed after being checked for weapons. He leaned in closely and whispered in the King’s ear.
The Coastal Kingdoms of Olvion: Book Two of The Chronicles of Olvion Page 33
