Chapter Thirty

There were thirty-two captives in all, ranging from the ages of eight to eighteen. They sat around the fire, bound and gagged, while the narrow-eyed guards kept watch. The firelight made their red hair shimmer and seem as though it was afire. But their eyes were dull and hopeless, and their faces bore bruises given to them by their captors.

The festival celebrating the successful raid on the Akanep village was about to begin. Soon the village people would arrive, dressed in all their finery, and the dancing and feasting would start. The chief would then choose one from among the thirty-two children to add to his collection of slaves. The rest would be taken away to spend the night in the cramped, dirty slave tent, before they were carted off the next day by the slave traders.

One girl, however, was not slumped in despair like the others. Her eyes still shone bright and clear, they were the eyes of a clever mind; and they darted back and forth over her surroundings as she sought an escape route. She wore simple garments consisting of a tunic, long-sleeved undershirt and leggings just like all the others, but she was different. She was Liyah Akanem, a Scorpion princess, daughter of the late chief Arathak; and younger sister of Azar and Zahir Akanem. At just twelve years old, she was the prettiest girl in the whole tribe, and clever to boot. In her heart she knew that her tribe would not leave her and the rest of the captives here to be sold; but a worrisome thought gnawed at her like a termite: what if they were all dead? What if no one was coming to rescue them? Her head and heart quarreled, clouding her mind, and she was soon sick with worry. She couldn't think anymore… they were all going to be sold…

The drum sounded, pounding her eardrums, its low sound piercing the night. It was calling all of the people to the center fire.

Her heart fluttered in fear…

Moving stealthily through the shadows, the riders moved into the camp. And then Azar gave a signal, and Káizahur was rearing up, powerful hooves slashing at the air, whinnying a war cry that shattered the taught night air. Thundering hoof beats erupted; filling Seto's ears, and his mount took off, following her herd. All around him were screams and savages shouts and the scraping of metal on metal as the Akanep drew their swords and unleashed their fury. He hung on for dear life as his horse charged down a Renunep on foot. There was a sharp crack as her hoof connected with the Viper's skull. He shouted in agony and his sword clattered to the ground. He went limp and fell over.

A roaring sound filled Seto's ears, and the smell of blood and death flooded his nose. He had just killed a man… his stomach heaved painfully, and he struggled to keep his dinner down.

The falcon gripped tighter onto his shoulder. "Seto," she whispered soothingly. "It's all right. It was just a Viper. Akanep war horses are trained to do that."

It wasn't just a Viper. It was a human being…

Feeling sick, Seto wished he never had come. But his mount was charging off again… they seemed to be in a village common of some sort, there was a large clearing in which tents were arranged around in a circle. The sounds of battle were happening all around him… the central fire flickered, throwing weird shadows onto the tent walls. Seto saw Azar gut a man with her sword as her horse trampled another… he closed his eyes, wishing for it all to be a dream…

A sharp pain stabbed his shoulder, and he was blinded, biting back a scream. Blood was soaking through his shirt; a violet-fletched arrow was embedded in his skin, piercing him, ripping his flesh, causing unbearable pain…

The falcon's scream tore the air, and a silver blur whizzed by him, viciously slashing at the archer who had shot him. The man screamed and fell to the ground, trying to ward off her attacks with his arm to no avail. She left his face in bloody ruins, slashing him again and again with her talons.

Seto gritted his teeth and looked around for any of the kidnapped Akanep children. Most of them were already sitting on horses ridden by Scorpion warriors, but a few were still cowering in the shadows. He chose one, a small girl who could be no older than his brother, and urged his horse toward her. She ploughed through the battle and they came to stand before the girl, who was hiding her face, trying to make herself as small as possible. The firelight set off gleaming red highlights in her hair. It was almost hypnotizing.

The horse whinnied and stamped, and the girl looked up. She seemed to recognize the animal, and cried out in joy. Seto offered her a hand and hauled her up into the saddle, where she sat in front of him. She seemed to know how to ride much better than he, for she took the reins immediately and steered the horse toward another lost child, a young boy who had tears running down his face. They helped him up onto the horse, where he clung to Seto fearfully.

Seto felt funny inside. He brushed the feeling away just in time, for a Renunep rider was barreling toward them with a murderous look in his eye. Grasping the Millennium Rod, Seto conjured the same shield as he had done the day before, but disconnected himself from it so that he would not be hurt. The Viper slammed into the shield as if it were an invisible wall, bouncing off of it. The horse lost its balance and went tumbling to the ground, crushing two more Renunep.

The battle was over. The Scorpions had won. The girl who Seto had rescued was steering their horse to follow the rest of the Akanep, who were leaving the village.

The falcon alighted on his shoulder, a proud glint in her golden eyes. Her talons were painted with fresh Renunep blood. "Good work, Seto!" she praised him. He grunted something incoherent in reply. He was trying to concentrate on withstanding the pain in his shoulder, which was returning now that the adrenaline was receding from his bloodstream. The falcon noticed this and gave a sharp intake of breath. "Oh, Seto! You're hurt!"

"Yeah," he replied, gritting his teeth in annoyance of people who stated the obvious.

The falcon was now fidgeting in a state of anxiety. "Oh my goodness, I hope you haven't lost too much blood… As soon as we get back to where the others are waiting, Asim will heal you."

Seto nodded grimly. The young boy behind him said something in Akaneben.

"He wants to know if you are the High Priest," said the falcon with a smile in her voice.

Taken aback, Seto said, "Well, yeah, I guess so…"

The falcon said something to the boy, who squealed and grabbed on to Seto so hard that he thought his ribs might crack. The boy chattered to him excitedly.

"It seems you have fans," the falcon murmured in amusement. Seto rolled his eyes.

Soon they came to the dune where the rest of the group waited, including Joey, Téa, Yugi and the oldest and youngest of the Akanep, bearing travois laden with supplies and tent parts on their horses. Asim numbed the spot where Seto had been shot before removing the arrowhead and healing the wound. Seto changed into a clean shirt behind his horse while a great commotion arose as families were reunited. The girl who he had rescued seemed to be the sister of Azar and Zahir. It came as a mild surprise at how much affection and relief the twins were showing at the return of their sister, especially on Azar's part. Seto didn't think Azar was capable of showing that much emotion.

Finished changing, Seto mounted his horse again and the falcon went back to her usual perch on his shoulder. "By the law of the Akanep, adults are duty-bound to return favors. Since you saved Azar's little sister, who isn't an adult in the Scorpion community yet, Azar owes you."

"But it wasn't a favor."

"It doesn't matter. Azar is the closest one to Liyah, so Azar is in your debt."

"But I don't want Azar in my debt."

"Will you stop being so impossible? If I were you I would feel glad to have Azar on my side."

"I don't feel glad."

"Glad about this, or glad in general?"

"This conversation really isn't getting anywhere," Seto pointed out sourly.

"My point is, Azar is indebted to you. It could come in handy later."

"Whatever," said Seto, suddenly impatient. "You can leave now."

"Fine," the falcon snapped, flouncing away (if it's possible for a falcon to flounce). Seto shook off a guilty feeling and urged his mount forward, for the group, now much bigger, was starting off again. They numbered at about sixty, moving across the night sand like a dark wave.