Chapter Five: Out of sight and out of hope
Novan's practiced eyes scanned the faces before him with deadly intensity at the almost three-dozen captives standing inside his big depository tent. He nodded in pleasure of his biggest catch ever. He was astounded that there were still people having the gall to traverse these plains all by themselves. He let out a haughty laugh. He was very pleased indeed.
His eyes then shifted to his right as a new comer came in.
"Ah, Mayarlos." He began to walk towards the identified man entering his big tent not sparing a glance at the other man who came with him.
"I did not expect you to be arriving so soon." He told him in a surprise tone.
"Business has been good and I want to be here early." Mayarlos replied with zest as he surveyed the new captives inside the tent. "I couldn't put it off too long." Mayarlos barely hid the greedy tone after seeing Thamin's catch today. "But," he faced Novan; "my traveling companion has some news of his own." He said and chuckled to see the Enerion's pending misfortune.
"Is that so. It can wait." Novan remarked and continued. "You are right. Business has been good indeed." The man said in agreement with Mayarlos.
"Why, Thamin will be bringing a hefty pouch for these fine additions," sweeping his arm towards the new captives.
"These are his?" Mayarlos said while arching a brow in amazement, falsely expressing his surprise.
"Quite," Novan remarked. "And what do you have for me?" elbowing the other man in some jest. Mayarlos started to worry and look slightly uncomfortable all of the sudden. Novan was in great spirits and looked non- threatening now. Still, he was uneasy that it might be his last in doing business with him had not Enerion misjudged the sisters' fiery spirits.
"Alas, my catch is not as many as Thamin but they are 20 heads that I have counted." Mayarlos replied.
"20 heads is not bad, Mayarlos," Novan said in a thoughtful tone, already his mind pondered were Nimros - the dark man from the North would use the prisoners for. Not a day would pass that he had standing order from the dark man. Nimros was his constant buyer and Novan could not help but be curious at what hard work of thralldom he would subject these poor souls for the rest of their miserable lives. Soon, he dismissed the thought, signaled another man to follow them, and together strode out of the tent to inspect Mayarlos cargo.
The four men proceeded into another tent were Mayarlos had brought the captives in.
Novan scanned the bowed heads of the captives while few gave him glares laced with their secret hatred on him. Nevertheless, he continued selecting the captives and appeared unaffected by the captives' abhorrence.
He perused them with cold efficiency, pulled one captive after another from the despicable queue, and designated him or her to a prospecting buyer.
"They are many children here, Mayarlos," commented Novan as he came to the latter portion of the collected prisoners. Separated from their parents, the children huddled together in fear. It was a decision made by their captors they should they become embolden and do something they will regret. The sounds of whimpering were distinct now coming from the two children standing closer together at one corner in deep fright.
"Please..." pleaded a mother who came forward from the line. She was roughly pushed back into the queue by a watcher.
"Spare them, please." She begged without skipping a beat as she looked over her two children crying together. "They are only ones I have left of their father." The mother continued.
"Please do not take them," the woman bit back the tears as she tried to steady her voice.
Novan suddenly lunged towards the mother. His face just mere inches from the woman's face now, a cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips. The woman turned away from the vileness of the man.
"You do not hold your tongue, eh, woman?" He remarked. He raises his hand as if to strike but stops and eyes wickedly at the man standing beside the woman. He could easily tell that this man was about to strangle him if not held by his guards.
"So, you think you can protect this woman!" Novan spat clearly turning his ire at the man.
The young man in his late 20's with black hair stared back at him with cold coal-black eyes. His lips drew to a fine line as he held much of his anger in check. Antagonizing the slave trader now will not do him, his sister and his nephews any good if he is killed on the spot. He kept his tongue and prayed the man not to lay a hand on his sister.
"Very well, we will keep your children." The man leered back at the woman after a moment's thought. Novan turned at his heel as he spoke with his duty-keeper. With a nod, the stout duty-keeper herded the prisoners consisted mostly of young adults and children outside the tent. Various protests rang inside the tent as the two children began to cry louder.
"No!" came the strangled shout of one woman who looked at her daughter.
"Where are you taking them?" All the mothers in the group asked in unison as they watched helplessly at their children being led away. Soon a crack of whip snapped and the remaining captive men in the group desisted in attempting to overpower the slave watchers who held them against their will.
"Quiet!" Novan's voice was rock-solid and stared hotly at the group. "Be grateful that I do not send your children to the coal pits!"
He turned to his duty-keeper. "Finish everything here and proceed to the other tents." Novan ordered as he strode out of the tent, with Mayarlos trailing behind him. Unknown to them, Enerion stayed behind.
The other man mumbled compliance and signaled the rest of the prisoners out of the tent to be sent to their prospective buyers. He was about to leave the empty tent when he caught a movement at the far corner of the tent.
"Well...well... what do we have here?" The duty-keeper muttered in surprise as he looked down at the boy who was keeping close to the shadows.
"Mayarlos has missed his head count. He has 21 of you today." He roughly pulled the boy up but he did not get very far for something struck him from behind.
The boy landed back on the ground in a heap, as he had no strength to stand on his own feet. He turned his head upwards and faced the man that was standing in front him.
"Squeal or so help me, I will drive this very dagger into you." Enerion spat under his breath.
The boy glanced at the blade that gleamed under the low light inside the tent as the man grabbed him on the arms and strode near the entrance of the tent. He turned to look at the body of the duty officer lying on the ground, unmoving.
Enerion peered out at the entrance of the tent and surveyed his surroundings. Novan and Mayarlos were nowhere in sight and his horse was only a hundred yards from where they were. Novan's men were all preoccupied with transporting the captives to the other towns to give him any trouble. During his very brief stay at Novan's temporary base of operation, he was able to gather information that he might need later. He got part of the word that Nimros is Novan's best buyer and needs the most slaves.
He shook the boy hard as he looked down at him. "Listen to me, boy," his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do not think for a moment that I am rescuing you for whatever fate Novan had in store for you. But for now, I see you to be more of a profit to me than to him. If I hear anything from you, I will leave you for these wolves to pick on." He threatened and hardened his grip on the boy's arm that it made him burst to tears.
Enerion readied and soon half-carried the boy out of the tent and briskly walked to his horse. He kept an eye for anyone who could be looking at his way and prepared his dagger that he kept loose beside him.
They reached the horse with no other incidents but Enerion knew he was not free yet. He had to leave the enclosure soon. He quickly mounted his horse and set the boy behind him. The boy clung to the back of the man so hard that Enerion had to gasp for a breath. He was mildly surprised by the boy's grip but dared no more making untoward sounds upon them. Enerion clucked his tongue against the palate of his mouth and the horse took the command to canter slowly forward.
The boy looked back and began searching for the face that held him throughout the journey while he was feverish.
"Remember, boy. Keep your tongue." Enerion reminded and guided his horse to the nearby woods.
One of the mother's whose sons' were carted off to wherever town they would be sold, was the only witness in the escape of the boy whom she only met five days ago. She prayed for the safety of that boy and her children and hope one-day she would be reunited with them and he with his own family wherever they would be. She raised a hand for what she thought would pass as a wave while keeping her musings to herself, drawing neither attention to her or to the boy on the horseback with the man, she recognized as Enerion.
Inside another tent, "and here's your own payment, Mayarlos." Novan said giving him a heavy pouch of gold coins.
"Thank you, Novan," Mayarlos greedily said as he peeks into the pouch and his desire to the count the coins almost overcome him but decided to count it later. Not in front of Novan, that is.
"Now, what was it you want to tell me about?" Novan asked when he had completed his circuit of tents in the compound they temporarily set up. Wagons full of new slaves were wheeled away to different directions and he again turned to his companion.
"Well?" he pointedly prompted Mayarlos to speak up.
"One of my men, Enerion had something to tell you but I do not know what it is." Mayarlos lied.
"I think not, Mayarlos!" Novan's voice changed to a sinister tone. "I have not seen any of my men." His steely glare was soon directed at him.
When Mayarlos continued to act innocent, Novan stood at his full height that made the other man stepped back in fear. "The four men that I obligingly sent you because you always complained of bandits on the plains, what happened to them, Mayarlos?" He ended and watched the man carefully.
Mayarlos suddenly fell backwards when his foot caught on a rope tied to the peg holding one side of the tent upright. He did not make any moves on getting up on his feet though.
"Have they deserted you?" Novan baited.
"Yes, yes, they have deserted me," Nodding emphatically at Novan. Mayarlos was so afraid that he would say anything and now that he clearly lied, it only doubled his fears.
"You lie." Novan pressed on as he stressed the two words. He could easily see from Mayarlos eyes that he was lying to him.
"They were four of my sister-sons that you killed!" growled the man. "For that you will pay with your life!" Novan, the executioner now passed judgment.
"No...no... It was not I, Novan!" Mayarlos frantically pleaded as he scrambled to his feet. "The Elves...Enerion said they were shot by the elves who went to rescue the girl."
"Foolish man," Novan huffed as he ordered one of his men to tie Mayarlos hands behind his back. Novan then reached into the man's pocket and took the pouch.
"I believe you will not be spending this now," He wickedly said.
Mayarlos went paler than usual and he was sent away.
"Novan, please. I'm telling you the truth!" Mayarlos shouted as he was dragged away.
"Search for Enerion," ordered Novan to one of his henchmen standing nearby. The man nodded and immediately went out calling eight more of his men to look for the missing man.
"Although I doubt Enerion will still be here," he mused under his breath. Again, his pitted face took a thoughtful frown. Nimros will be interested with this news of Elves still living in this time. He thought and walked away.
After a couple of hours, the man who Novan ordered to look for Enerion came back.
"We've searched the area but Enerion's nowhere in sight. Should we follow the tracks?" The man half-heartedly suggested.
Novan noticed the tone of the man and he knew that with numerous tracks leading out from the compound, it would be a waste of their time to follow all of them until the end.
"No," Novan answered. "That will be enough." He dismissed him with a wave of his hand and soon his men began disassembling their tents. His slave operation has to move out by late afternoon before any unwanted traveler may take notice and alarm the neighboring towns strong enough to thwart them. He passed by a wagon filled with new thralls for Nimros.
"Where are you taking us!" demanded a man inside the cage.
Novan scoffed as he took a moment to look at the man. "You will be taken to Nimros on the northern plains. From there, I do not know." He walked away.
The captives looked at each other helplessly.
"My children, I will never see them," a woman mumbled in tears as she leaned on her brother for support.
"No, Avalenne," began the man with black hair. "We will see Maven and Malavin again. I promise you that." He steely vowed to his sister and embraced her when sobs started to arise from her. The wagon they were in soon started to wheel away.
~*****~
Somewhere in an already darkened plain and thinking they had placed a considerable distance by steadily riding out well past in the afternoon, the rider and the boy finally stopped in their journey. The man unhitched the horse to let it graze at the nearby patches of grass and made a camp near a cluster of boulders that acted as a good shelter for the night. In his estimate, they have traveled almost a league and a half away from Novan's camp. Still, he made sure to stay away from the usual routes of the slave traders.
The boy squeezed his eyes shot as the tears fall down his little cheeks. He did not understand what was going on. He wanted to stop the bad dream. Why was it coming back again... and again?
The dream opens...
~~~ His father was warding off the men with his sword while his mother in pure haste strapped something around his waist and soon unsheathed a short sword of her own in order to protect him from the men on horseback. They laughed at her, taunted her, and gave her lewd expressions of their lust for her. Sounds of metal clashing came to his right and he swiveled his head to see what was happening. He saw his father engaged in a sword fight with two men! His father successfully dispatched them with ease and readied himself to meet the next one. A laugh distracted Movlen. It was close to him that he screamed in fright. His fevered body could not make a move to protect himself but the man ceased any sound when his mother drove her short sword to the man's side. With a yell, another man came down on his mother; he warned her just time and saw her wounding him on the chest when he made a lunge for her. Then someone clamped a hand over his mouth! He could not scream another warning to his mother. For another man was behind her and slowly advancing towards her. A muffled scream erupted within him as he body wriggled hard on the ground. He watched helplessly in horror as his mother was struck from behind. His father, hearing the scream of his wife, was suddenly caught off guard. He ran immediately towards the man who slew his wife. They fought intensely, but the boy saw that the man had advance skills. He deftly parried the sword strikes coming from his father and soon the other man struck him in the mid-section thus mortally killing him as well. It was after that time when the hand was released from his mouth. However, strangely enough, there was no sound coming from his mouth now. He stared blankly at the lifeless bodies of his parents as the remaining men carried him off.
"The boy does not speak, Reckan. We should have left him," called out the man who was responsible in silencing with his hand over the boy's mouth.
"Never mind. Let Mayarlos decide what to do with him," the man named Reckan decided. ~~~
The dream ends.
The boy thrashed around the ground, making Enerion pause from his eating and knelt beside the once sleeping form of the boy. He shook child and realized he was struggling with his eyes close.
"Boy!" He yelled at the child who suddenly opened his eyes and were as big as dinner plates as he tried to take in the shift of scenes.
"You are having a bad dream! Wake up!" He shook the child again.
The boy repeatedly heaved several breaths and began to look around. It was a dream, only a dream. He said inside his head. It was dark and he could not see a light anywhere except from the stars above and their small campfire. He looked upwards again and watched the little lights blinked away.
Enerion studied the strange child and could see from the dim light of their campfire that whatever he was dreaming about; it was gone and he has started to settle down. Enerion laid the boy back on the ground but kept a watchful eye on him. He went back to his seat and continued eating his dinner.
"You should eat," he said a little later, pointing at the plate he prepared for the boy. "It's cooked rabbit. Not like what Mayarlos has been feeding you." He told the child. The boy rolled to one side as he looked at the plate before him. He slowly sat up as the aroma of the food, tingled his nose and a sharp pang of hunger etched inside his gut. He reached for the small plate and began to nibble on his food.
Enerion suspiciously eyed the boy. He had not heard anything out from the boy during their travel besides a whimper. He began to wonder about the child if he could actually speak at all. The silence hangs over them while the older man tries to understand his mute companion who was busy eating his food across the campfire. He had already finished his meal and had sat back when the boy finished his plate and drank from the cup. His little fingers wrapped itself on the crude looking water container.
"What is your name, boy?" Enerion asked aloud and didn't expect any answer.
The boy stared mutely at the man, his eyes devoid of a feeling.
"You do not have a name?" Enerion asked almost in a mocking tone.
"Let me name you, Lebolen. After my younger brother." He decided. "He was killed while sacking a town somewhere in the east." He nonchalantly related. "He would be fine raider now," he said and glanced at the boy who merely stared back at him.
"So Lebolen, pick up that plate and cup. Have them cleaned and packed in the bags," pointing at his saddlebag that was beside the boy.
When the boy turned and glanced at the saddlebag, Enerion sat a little straighter. "At least your hearing has not diminished." He observed. He leaned back and watched what the boy would actually do.
After a while the boy stood up taking the plate and cup with him, Enerion tensed. He had thoughts the boy would make a bolt out from the campsite any moment. However, the boy, did not do such a thing. Instead, the boy poured a small amount of water into his cup, plate, and washed it as much as he could and returned the utensils back to the bag.
The boy went back to where he used to lie down and stared at the night sky wondering if he will ever see his sisters again. Soon, he began to whimper as the memories of his parents came to his mind.
Enerion sighed it was going to be a long night for them.
Novan's practiced eyes scanned the faces before him with deadly intensity at the almost three-dozen captives standing inside his big depository tent. He nodded in pleasure of his biggest catch ever. He was astounded that there were still people having the gall to traverse these plains all by themselves. He let out a haughty laugh. He was very pleased indeed.
His eyes then shifted to his right as a new comer came in.
"Ah, Mayarlos." He began to walk towards the identified man entering his big tent not sparing a glance at the other man who came with him.
"I did not expect you to be arriving so soon." He told him in a surprise tone.
"Business has been good and I want to be here early." Mayarlos replied with zest as he surveyed the new captives inside the tent. "I couldn't put it off too long." Mayarlos barely hid the greedy tone after seeing Thamin's catch today. "But," he faced Novan; "my traveling companion has some news of his own." He said and chuckled to see the Enerion's pending misfortune.
"Is that so. It can wait." Novan remarked and continued. "You are right. Business has been good indeed." The man said in agreement with Mayarlos.
"Why, Thamin will be bringing a hefty pouch for these fine additions," sweeping his arm towards the new captives.
"These are his?" Mayarlos said while arching a brow in amazement, falsely expressing his surprise.
"Quite," Novan remarked. "And what do you have for me?" elbowing the other man in some jest. Mayarlos started to worry and look slightly uncomfortable all of the sudden. Novan was in great spirits and looked non- threatening now. Still, he was uneasy that it might be his last in doing business with him had not Enerion misjudged the sisters' fiery spirits.
"Alas, my catch is not as many as Thamin but they are 20 heads that I have counted." Mayarlos replied.
"20 heads is not bad, Mayarlos," Novan said in a thoughtful tone, already his mind pondered were Nimros - the dark man from the North would use the prisoners for. Not a day would pass that he had standing order from the dark man. Nimros was his constant buyer and Novan could not help but be curious at what hard work of thralldom he would subject these poor souls for the rest of their miserable lives. Soon, he dismissed the thought, signaled another man to follow them, and together strode out of the tent to inspect Mayarlos cargo.
The four men proceeded into another tent were Mayarlos had brought the captives in.
Novan scanned the bowed heads of the captives while few gave him glares laced with their secret hatred on him. Nevertheless, he continued selecting the captives and appeared unaffected by the captives' abhorrence.
He perused them with cold efficiency, pulled one captive after another from the despicable queue, and designated him or her to a prospecting buyer.
"They are many children here, Mayarlos," commented Novan as he came to the latter portion of the collected prisoners. Separated from their parents, the children huddled together in fear. It was a decision made by their captors they should they become embolden and do something they will regret. The sounds of whimpering were distinct now coming from the two children standing closer together at one corner in deep fright.
"Please..." pleaded a mother who came forward from the line. She was roughly pushed back into the queue by a watcher.
"Spare them, please." She begged without skipping a beat as she looked over her two children crying together. "They are only ones I have left of their father." The mother continued.
"Please do not take them," the woman bit back the tears as she tried to steady her voice.
Novan suddenly lunged towards the mother. His face just mere inches from the woman's face now, a cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips. The woman turned away from the vileness of the man.
"You do not hold your tongue, eh, woman?" He remarked. He raises his hand as if to strike but stops and eyes wickedly at the man standing beside the woman. He could easily tell that this man was about to strangle him if not held by his guards.
"So, you think you can protect this woman!" Novan spat clearly turning his ire at the man.
The young man in his late 20's with black hair stared back at him with cold coal-black eyes. His lips drew to a fine line as he held much of his anger in check. Antagonizing the slave trader now will not do him, his sister and his nephews any good if he is killed on the spot. He kept his tongue and prayed the man not to lay a hand on his sister.
"Very well, we will keep your children." The man leered back at the woman after a moment's thought. Novan turned at his heel as he spoke with his duty-keeper. With a nod, the stout duty-keeper herded the prisoners consisted mostly of young adults and children outside the tent. Various protests rang inside the tent as the two children began to cry louder.
"No!" came the strangled shout of one woman who looked at her daughter.
"Where are you taking them?" All the mothers in the group asked in unison as they watched helplessly at their children being led away. Soon a crack of whip snapped and the remaining captive men in the group desisted in attempting to overpower the slave watchers who held them against their will.
"Quiet!" Novan's voice was rock-solid and stared hotly at the group. "Be grateful that I do not send your children to the coal pits!"
He turned to his duty-keeper. "Finish everything here and proceed to the other tents." Novan ordered as he strode out of the tent, with Mayarlos trailing behind him. Unknown to them, Enerion stayed behind.
The other man mumbled compliance and signaled the rest of the prisoners out of the tent to be sent to their prospective buyers. He was about to leave the empty tent when he caught a movement at the far corner of the tent.
"Well...well... what do we have here?" The duty-keeper muttered in surprise as he looked down at the boy who was keeping close to the shadows.
"Mayarlos has missed his head count. He has 21 of you today." He roughly pulled the boy up but he did not get very far for something struck him from behind.
The boy landed back on the ground in a heap, as he had no strength to stand on his own feet. He turned his head upwards and faced the man that was standing in front him.
"Squeal or so help me, I will drive this very dagger into you." Enerion spat under his breath.
The boy glanced at the blade that gleamed under the low light inside the tent as the man grabbed him on the arms and strode near the entrance of the tent. He turned to look at the body of the duty officer lying on the ground, unmoving.
Enerion peered out at the entrance of the tent and surveyed his surroundings. Novan and Mayarlos were nowhere in sight and his horse was only a hundred yards from where they were. Novan's men were all preoccupied with transporting the captives to the other towns to give him any trouble. During his very brief stay at Novan's temporary base of operation, he was able to gather information that he might need later. He got part of the word that Nimros is Novan's best buyer and needs the most slaves.
He shook the boy hard as he looked down at him. "Listen to me, boy," his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do not think for a moment that I am rescuing you for whatever fate Novan had in store for you. But for now, I see you to be more of a profit to me than to him. If I hear anything from you, I will leave you for these wolves to pick on." He threatened and hardened his grip on the boy's arm that it made him burst to tears.
Enerion readied and soon half-carried the boy out of the tent and briskly walked to his horse. He kept an eye for anyone who could be looking at his way and prepared his dagger that he kept loose beside him.
They reached the horse with no other incidents but Enerion knew he was not free yet. He had to leave the enclosure soon. He quickly mounted his horse and set the boy behind him. The boy clung to the back of the man so hard that Enerion had to gasp for a breath. He was mildly surprised by the boy's grip but dared no more making untoward sounds upon them. Enerion clucked his tongue against the palate of his mouth and the horse took the command to canter slowly forward.
The boy looked back and began searching for the face that held him throughout the journey while he was feverish.
"Remember, boy. Keep your tongue." Enerion reminded and guided his horse to the nearby woods.
One of the mother's whose sons' were carted off to wherever town they would be sold, was the only witness in the escape of the boy whom she only met five days ago. She prayed for the safety of that boy and her children and hope one-day she would be reunited with them and he with his own family wherever they would be. She raised a hand for what she thought would pass as a wave while keeping her musings to herself, drawing neither attention to her or to the boy on the horseback with the man, she recognized as Enerion.
Inside another tent, "and here's your own payment, Mayarlos." Novan said giving him a heavy pouch of gold coins.
"Thank you, Novan," Mayarlos greedily said as he peeks into the pouch and his desire to the count the coins almost overcome him but decided to count it later. Not in front of Novan, that is.
"Now, what was it you want to tell me about?" Novan asked when he had completed his circuit of tents in the compound they temporarily set up. Wagons full of new slaves were wheeled away to different directions and he again turned to his companion.
"Well?" he pointedly prompted Mayarlos to speak up.
"One of my men, Enerion had something to tell you but I do not know what it is." Mayarlos lied.
"I think not, Mayarlos!" Novan's voice changed to a sinister tone. "I have not seen any of my men." His steely glare was soon directed at him.
When Mayarlos continued to act innocent, Novan stood at his full height that made the other man stepped back in fear. "The four men that I obligingly sent you because you always complained of bandits on the plains, what happened to them, Mayarlos?" He ended and watched the man carefully.
Mayarlos suddenly fell backwards when his foot caught on a rope tied to the peg holding one side of the tent upright. He did not make any moves on getting up on his feet though.
"Have they deserted you?" Novan baited.
"Yes, yes, they have deserted me," Nodding emphatically at Novan. Mayarlos was so afraid that he would say anything and now that he clearly lied, it only doubled his fears.
"You lie." Novan pressed on as he stressed the two words. He could easily see from Mayarlos eyes that he was lying to him.
"They were four of my sister-sons that you killed!" growled the man. "For that you will pay with your life!" Novan, the executioner now passed judgment.
"No...no... It was not I, Novan!" Mayarlos frantically pleaded as he scrambled to his feet. "The Elves...Enerion said they were shot by the elves who went to rescue the girl."
"Foolish man," Novan huffed as he ordered one of his men to tie Mayarlos hands behind his back. Novan then reached into the man's pocket and took the pouch.
"I believe you will not be spending this now," He wickedly said.
Mayarlos went paler than usual and he was sent away.
"Novan, please. I'm telling you the truth!" Mayarlos shouted as he was dragged away.
"Search for Enerion," ordered Novan to one of his henchmen standing nearby. The man nodded and immediately went out calling eight more of his men to look for the missing man.
"Although I doubt Enerion will still be here," he mused under his breath. Again, his pitted face took a thoughtful frown. Nimros will be interested with this news of Elves still living in this time. He thought and walked away.
After a couple of hours, the man who Novan ordered to look for Enerion came back.
"We've searched the area but Enerion's nowhere in sight. Should we follow the tracks?" The man half-heartedly suggested.
Novan noticed the tone of the man and he knew that with numerous tracks leading out from the compound, it would be a waste of their time to follow all of them until the end.
"No," Novan answered. "That will be enough." He dismissed him with a wave of his hand and soon his men began disassembling their tents. His slave operation has to move out by late afternoon before any unwanted traveler may take notice and alarm the neighboring towns strong enough to thwart them. He passed by a wagon filled with new thralls for Nimros.
"Where are you taking us!" demanded a man inside the cage.
Novan scoffed as he took a moment to look at the man. "You will be taken to Nimros on the northern plains. From there, I do not know." He walked away.
The captives looked at each other helplessly.
"My children, I will never see them," a woman mumbled in tears as she leaned on her brother for support.
"No, Avalenne," began the man with black hair. "We will see Maven and Malavin again. I promise you that." He steely vowed to his sister and embraced her when sobs started to arise from her. The wagon they were in soon started to wheel away.
~*****~
Somewhere in an already darkened plain and thinking they had placed a considerable distance by steadily riding out well past in the afternoon, the rider and the boy finally stopped in their journey. The man unhitched the horse to let it graze at the nearby patches of grass and made a camp near a cluster of boulders that acted as a good shelter for the night. In his estimate, they have traveled almost a league and a half away from Novan's camp. Still, he made sure to stay away from the usual routes of the slave traders.
The boy squeezed his eyes shot as the tears fall down his little cheeks. He did not understand what was going on. He wanted to stop the bad dream. Why was it coming back again... and again?
The dream opens...
~~~ His father was warding off the men with his sword while his mother in pure haste strapped something around his waist and soon unsheathed a short sword of her own in order to protect him from the men on horseback. They laughed at her, taunted her, and gave her lewd expressions of their lust for her. Sounds of metal clashing came to his right and he swiveled his head to see what was happening. He saw his father engaged in a sword fight with two men! His father successfully dispatched them with ease and readied himself to meet the next one. A laugh distracted Movlen. It was close to him that he screamed in fright. His fevered body could not make a move to protect himself but the man ceased any sound when his mother drove her short sword to the man's side. With a yell, another man came down on his mother; he warned her just time and saw her wounding him on the chest when he made a lunge for her. Then someone clamped a hand over his mouth! He could not scream another warning to his mother. For another man was behind her and slowly advancing towards her. A muffled scream erupted within him as he body wriggled hard on the ground. He watched helplessly in horror as his mother was struck from behind. His father, hearing the scream of his wife, was suddenly caught off guard. He ran immediately towards the man who slew his wife. They fought intensely, but the boy saw that the man had advance skills. He deftly parried the sword strikes coming from his father and soon the other man struck him in the mid-section thus mortally killing him as well. It was after that time when the hand was released from his mouth. However, strangely enough, there was no sound coming from his mouth now. He stared blankly at the lifeless bodies of his parents as the remaining men carried him off.
"The boy does not speak, Reckan. We should have left him," called out the man who was responsible in silencing with his hand over the boy's mouth.
"Never mind. Let Mayarlos decide what to do with him," the man named Reckan decided. ~~~
The dream ends.
The boy thrashed around the ground, making Enerion pause from his eating and knelt beside the once sleeping form of the boy. He shook child and realized he was struggling with his eyes close.
"Boy!" He yelled at the child who suddenly opened his eyes and were as big as dinner plates as he tried to take in the shift of scenes.
"You are having a bad dream! Wake up!" He shook the child again.
The boy repeatedly heaved several breaths and began to look around. It was a dream, only a dream. He said inside his head. It was dark and he could not see a light anywhere except from the stars above and their small campfire. He looked upwards again and watched the little lights blinked away.
Enerion studied the strange child and could see from the dim light of their campfire that whatever he was dreaming about; it was gone and he has started to settle down. Enerion laid the boy back on the ground but kept a watchful eye on him. He went back to his seat and continued eating his dinner.
"You should eat," he said a little later, pointing at the plate he prepared for the boy. "It's cooked rabbit. Not like what Mayarlos has been feeding you." He told the child. The boy rolled to one side as he looked at the plate before him. He slowly sat up as the aroma of the food, tingled his nose and a sharp pang of hunger etched inside his gut. He reached for the small plate and began to nibble on his food.
Enerion suspiciously eyed the boy. He had not heard anything out from the boy during their travel besides a whimper. He began to wonder about the child if he could actually speak at all. The silence hangs over them while the older man tries to understand his mute companion who was busy eating his food across the campfire. He had already finished his meal and had sat back when the boy finished his plate and drank from the cup. His little fingers wrapped itself on the crude looking water container.
"What is your name, boy?" Enerion asked aloud and didn't expect any answer.
The boy stared mutely at the man, his eyes devoid of a feeling.
"You do not have a name?" Enerion asked almost in a mocking tone.
"Let me name you, Lebolen. After my younger brother." He decided. "He was killed while sacking a town somewhere in the east." He nonchalantly related. "He would be fine raider now," he said and glanced at the boy who merely stared back at him.
"So Lebolen, pick up that plate and cup. Have them cleaned and packed in the bags," pointing at his saddlebag that was beside the boy.
When the boy turned and glanced at the saddlebag, Enerion sat a little straighter. "At least your hearing has not diminished." He observed. He leaned back and watched what the boy would actually do.
After a while the boy stood up taking the plate and cup with him, Enerion tensed. He had thoughts the boy would make a bolt out from the campsite any moment. However, the boy, did not do such a thing. Instead, the boy poured a small amount of water into his cup, plate, and washed it as much as he could and returned the utensils back to the bag.
The boy went back to where he used to lie down and stared at the night sky wondering if he will ever see his sisters again. Soon, he began to whimper as the memories of his parents came to his mind.
Enerion sighed it was going to be a long night for them.