Kan struggled to his footpaws as the creature advanced. It was running now, evidently quite eager to reach them. A surge of fear swept through him as he realized his own weakness; he was half-blind, injured, and unarmed. Sakhyo was little better, and as he heard the desperate little scrabbles of her claws in the dirt, he knew she couldn't even manage to stand up.
When it was only a short distance away, the figure halted and began bouncing about like a madbeast, yelling in a shrill, piercing voice. "I found 'em, Cap'n! Over heeeere!"
In the next instant, a score of fully armed hordebeasts had swarmed into the camp and completely surrounded them.
Strangely, there was an immediate silence. The only sounds were soft metallic clinks as the soldiers shifted their weapons, and the soft buzzing of insects in the surrounding grass. Beside him, Sakhyo lay still and silent; whether she was conscious or even alive he didn't know. Blood still trickled sluggishly from his eye, leaving a line of sticky coolness down his face and slowly dripping off the edge of his jaw to stain the dust.
Hordebeasts were shoved left, right, and center as the ferret Captain forced his way through. With a growing sense of dread, Kan recognized Rend, a sadistic creature almost equal to his leader in sheer ferocity. That explained why the troops were so quiet and well-behaved, at least. And Rend was bound to remember him as well, though perhaps his injury would make a difference.
The Captain spoke, and in his harsh growl there were definite notes of impatience. "All right, wot 'appened here? You, stoat! Speak up!"
"I...we...the..." he stammered, overcome by nervousness and anger. The ferret's frown deepened, and Kan was racking his frozen brain for ideas when a voice came from behind him, and Sakhyo staggered forward.
"Oh, it were 'orrible, sir!" she wept, making it only a few steps before collapsing on the ground once more. "Me 'n my mate, Halek, we was travelin' when that pirate, that's 'er o'er there, sir, ambushed us! Ruined Halek's eye 'n wounded me bad, but t'gether we finished 'er off. We're just pore injured trav'lers, please say you'll help us, brave Captain!"
Rend eyed Kan once more, still rather suspicious, before transferring his gaze to the prone mink. "Halek, eh? What's yer name, ah...female?"
"Neza, sir," she cried, "but I'll be plain ol' dead soon if yer don't help us!"
The Captain's first instinct was to simply finish them off, though perhaps a bit of fun could be had with this Neza first. But his master had requested that they be brought back alive, and presumably untouched as well.
"All right," he barked finally. "I'm in a good mood t'day, so I'll let yer come back an' join our horde. We serve a powerful master, he'll lead us t' all the glory an' plunder yer heart could desire. Mind, yer prisoners now, so try any funny business an' the ants'll be pickin' over yer carcasses!"
The camp lay deserted behind them in record time; Kan barely had time to grab his sword and help Sakhyo to her feet before they were marched away at opposite ends of the ranks, separated by a mass of hordebeasts.
They marched the entire day without stopping, and as evening fell Kan saw the first of many tents and campfires appear on the horizon, as dark specks and tiny, bright points of light.
At a snarled order from Captain Rend, the soldiers moved forward at a triple pace. There was no chance to break free and run; a wall of spear carriers surrounded them with every step.
Hordebeasts glanced up curiously from their drinking and games as the newcomers and their guard entered the camp; but looked away again as they saw the hostages swiftly be brought before the main tent. There was no point to new creatures if they were going to be dead in a short time anyway, and nobeast wished to see on a full stomach what their warlord had in mind for these two.
The Captain halted his troops and entered the warlord's tent. Muttered growls mixed with the sound of Rend's voice, and soon the ferret returned. "Bring 'em inside," he snapped gruffly. "The Razorclaw thinks they could be spies, and he's not taking any chances. C'mon, you lot, get goin'. You'll know what 'appens when yer hear the screams."
The soldiers scattered to their respective tents. Kan's heart turned to ice, and he felt Sakhyo tremble beside him as they were shoved unceremoniously inside the tent.
He got one look at its occupant before Rend forced him to his knees, hissing, "Bow, y' mangy dog. Show some respect t' yer new master!"
A rasping, metallic snarl stopped the ferret in his tracks. "Leave him, Rend. Let him rise, aye, and look well, so he knows what spies and traitors face!"