CHAPTER TEN: The Golden City
"Now, you pointed-eared freak, beg for your life!" Gwenna gloated over her captive with a sadistic leer. Dawn had come and the caravan was ready to move on. But first everyone gathered at the edge of the oasis to watch the whipping.
"You don't scare me," Arwen Evenstar mumbled, through cracked lips caked with dried blood. All night long she had hung suspended between two palm trees, refusing to give in to the cruel captain's torments. And her courage had not been in vain. Gwenna had been so busy bullying her that the other slaves had been left alone. Juba had stolen food for them, and then slipped away into the desert. The good Captain Tamara had recaptured him, but towards morning they had both gone off again to search for other stragglers. Now there were only a few fat merchants and cruel caravan guards to witness the whipping of the beautiful elf.
"Make it easy on yourself," Gwenna jeered, turning the whip the slowly in her hands. "Tell me what Ling Kray the pirate was doing with the frog people. Are they planning some sort of uprising against our queen, Zuleika of Zin Zaraboob?"
"I hope so," Arwen muttered. "But I doubt it. Ling Kray is dead." It was funny feeling sorry for the rogue who had kidnapped her. But he'd been gentle and almost caring compared to Gwenna. During the night Arwen had even imagined he was standing by her and giving her strength!
"You really enjoyed being kissed by that pirate, didn't you?" Gwenna jeered. "But I guarantee you won't enjoy this. By the time I'm finished. . ."
"HOLD!"
More than a dozen armed men entered the oasis camp. They were not in chain-mail, like the border guards, but rather wearing pointed shoes, colorful red vests and baggy trousers. Yet they were all carrying swords, and their plump leader wore a curious gold-tasseled red cap on his head.
"I am Omar, vizier and counselor to Zuleika of the Shifting Sands." The fat little man with the waxed mustache bowed formally to Arwen. "If you are the Lady Arwen Evenstar, then I am here to escort you to the royal palace in Zin Zaraboob."
"She's our prisoner," Gwenna snarled, as the counselor's men were cutting Arwen free of her bonds. "We were ordered to bring all suspicious characters in ourselves!"
"Your rough methods have gone too far, Captain." Omar said sternly. "Her Majesty is not pleased. You and Captain Tamara will return to your patrol on the southern border at once. However, the lady Tamara is now in command."
"I'm not taking orders from any dark-skinned underling," Gwenna sneered.
Captain Tamara gripped her sword-hilt. "You and I will settle this after Arwen and the vizier have gone."
"Tamara, don't!" Arwen hated cruel blonde Gwenna, yet she respected gentle, soft-spoken Tamara. In crying out to the black woman, she was only trying to prevent more needless suffering and death. But after a sleepless night with no food or drink her voice was barely a croak.
"This does not concern you, lady." The little man quickly threw a cloak around Arwen, concealing her nakedness as he led her to a curtained traveling vehicle carried by slaves.
"Many people have been hurt by Captain Gwenna," Arwen protested, feeling dazed as Omar helped her into the vehicle. It was only now hitting her that she was safe. Breathing in the scent of perfume, she fell on soft cushions.
"You will make a full report to Zuleika when we reach Zin Zaraboob," the vizier told her. "You would be wise to explain your own presence in the swamps, as well as the whereabouts of your pirate companions. Of course, you will need to rest before you present yourself. Here, drink this."
"Zuleika's going to hear plenty from me," Arwen grumbled. Propping herself on one elbow, she drank deeply from a silver goblet. The foamy beverage was sweet and cool, thick enough to kill the pangs of hunger while quenching her thirst.
"Yes, of course. Zuleika will expect nothing but the truth." Omar took the empty goblet from her hand, making a polite little bow as he closed the curtains. Arwen could tell he didn't believe her story. He wasn't really on her side, any more than Gwenna or Tamara or anyone else she'd met since setting sail from Lothlorien. How long ago that seemed now!
Just then there was a heavy jolt, as brawny slaves lifted Arwen's litter onto their shoulders. Lying back among the cushions, the elf-maiden had the strangest feeling that she was back at sea. The curtained litter was like a ship, rising and falling with every wave. Arwen closed her eyes and drifted off to worlds unknown. Before long she was dreaming of blue water and pirate adventures . . . and of Ling Kray.
Zin Zaraboob was a fortified city, surrounded by thick walls, with armed guards at every gate. They stopped and thoroughly searched every caravan that entered the city. The commotion woke Arwen from a very deep sleep.
"Who's in there?" shouted a hoarse male voice. Too startled to respond, Arwen clutched for a silk robe or a blanket, anything to cover her naked form. All she had was a round cushion which she plopped into her lap. Her heart was pounding as she sat up, one slim hand shielding her bosom.
"Do not look inside," ordered the voice of Omar. "That is all that remains of a soldier killed by flesh-eating plague in the deep swamps. The horrible plague spreads quickly, and we must take the body to Zuleika so she can find a cure."
"Very well, carry on at once!" Through the curtains Arwen saw the guard salute with the tip of his long spear, and she stifled a smile. That little Omar was certainly a quick thinker! But why didn't he just say she was a diplomat on a mission? Why would Zuleika's high counselor lie to the city guard?
Arwen was dying to learn more about Zin Zaraboob. As her covered litter passed through the crowded streets, she tried to peep through the curtains without being seen. Most of the people she saw were obviously well-fed and prosperous, the men wearing tall red caps like Omar's and the women all in black with their faces veiled. Now and then, however, she saw younger women riding in litters like hers. They wore silks and jewels, and displayed their faces with freedom. Arwen wished she could talk to them. There was so much she needed to learn if her mission was to be a success!
Soon the streets grew wider and quieter. Arwen peeked ahead. High atop a hill was a great palace topped by a golden dome. They were stopped again, and this time the gate guards were female captains like Gwenna and Tamara.
"Omar, welcome back," called a laughing female voice. "Have you brought home a special treat for Zuleika?"
"My name is Arwen, daughter of Elrond, and I am an important diplomat, not a special treat." This time Arwen refused to leave things in the little man's hands. She threw open the curtains and stuck her head out, not caring who heard her indignation or even who saw her naked form!
"Our apologies, great lady." The leader of the guards bowed low. She was a tall red-headed woman with an open, smiling face. Yet her nose wrinkled as she approached the litter. "With all due respect to your diplomatic mission, would you object to taking a hot bath before you see our great queen? You stink like a goat!"
"You try running through the swamps to escape from pirates, and then being marched through the desert for a week." Arwen was determined not to show fear or ask forgiveness. She met the captain's eye with a steady gaze. The beautiful red-head was impressed.
"Welcome to the Golden City, brave lady. It is high time that Zuleika had a true account of the unearthly terrors of the foul swamp."
The captain clapped her hands, and two younger girls came rushing up with slippers and a silk robe. As they guided her into the cool, tree-shaded inner courtyard, Arwen managed a last backward glance at Omar the high counselor.
The little man was already giving orders for her litter to be thoroughly cleaned.