"Anything that is a precious metal, jewels, clothes, or potentially useful to living in the outdoors."
The prince was sorely going to regret making her the one to look through the wreckage with him. Especially if he was expecting her to find anything off of which they could survive. She didn't know anything of these things. Fesh took a steadying breath, that wouldn't stop her from doing what she could. She had done this to herself after all. Oh, how daft she'd been!
Then again. If she had stayed behind then her brother would still be here like this but she wouldn't be able to be with him. Or he could have been worse. Gone the way of Sir Orran and the crew. She would be fretting at home, the landlord's son a constant fear and threat. Likely never to see her last surviving family again.
Thinking of the son, Fesh set her jaw as she tried to pull at a piece of the ship, her arm twinging at the movement. If there was one thing she knew, she'd rather be shipwrecked in a foreign country than be near the likes of that vile boy. The wretched creature.
XxX
"We will need to take our separate ways soon enough." The boy – a young man really, said to Zeepijeet as they walked along down a road that seemed to lead towards a small village, that had settled in one of the small streams leading to the ocean, in the distance. He was dressed in what was the standard Calormen clothes that he had left Archenland with and had made a light headcover that covered most of his face from some of the cloth that had washed up with them, so as to make others think he was the slave of a rich man.
"It is far from common to be walking with a ra- a mouse and far less to be having a conversation with one. As the wise sayings go, 'a man who speaks to the beasts of the earth is destined to live as them'. Or some such - " He paused at this, a thought seeming to take him, "Do you happen to speak the Calormen tongue?" He had kept his distance from her, always at pace or slightly behind. Never in front.
Zeep shook her head, "I'm afraid not, sir." Oh, how she wished her sword was at her side! But alas, this was a stealth mission and suspicion was far more likely to be cast her way with weapons or the like. As such, she'd taken off all accessories bearing only her light brown fur. Not that she had been able to keep a hold of them anyways. The only thing she had left was her small sword.
"Shame." He shrugged, "If you can go where few else can go you may have been able to hear what no others wanted to be heard."
"Is the common tongue not used?" Zeep couldn't help but ask.
"Among traders, the rich, and most common men speak common. Many use both. But there are plenty of others who only know the Calormen tongue. I learned it not long before we were cast to the streets as a child and Father insisted I continued to use it. Both have come into good use."
They walked in silence for a time, the boy casting glances at her. He put up a good front of being comfortable around her but Zeep had the feeling it wasn't true. She thought back to when he'd first seen her as he'd been investigating the pile that had ended up having Sir Orran beneath it. His eyes had gone wide for just a moment but he'd returned to the pile before giving a small start, raising the alarm. He may have been able to put aside his fears, but it didn't mean he didn't have them.
After a short time in that fashion, she sighed, "Do you have any questions, sir?" Her tone made it clear what she meant. It was better to get it out of the way before they truly started working together.
Arrosh slowed, his lips pinched together for a moment as he looked forward. For a moment, Zeep wondered if he would deny having any questions. Finally, he said, "Is it true that the northern people have to make sacrifices of their children to appease the animals?" The solemnity in his tone gave no suggestion of a joke, even the glance he cast at her was questioning and anxious.
"What?" Zeep spluttered at the absurdity of the question, "No! Where did you hear such a notion?" Of all the things she had thought he would ask, that wasn't it at all.
The boy was silent again, looking at her, inspecting her really. His shoulders relaxed some before he brought his gaze back to the road, a small smile on his face, "After what happened with Tisroc Rabidash, may he live forever, many tales have been told of the demons to the north." The mouse couldn't help but bristle at the word demons. They were animals. Not demons. Wasn't that obvious?
He turned his smile to her for a moment, "I'm glad to see that the tales aren't true so far." When she couldn't find words to respond, he continued, "I mean, you haven't stolen my soul in my sleep to put in another beast, or my eyes, as they can be said to carry the soul as well. You haven't threatened to turn me into a beast either, my ears turning into that of an animal's, my voice stolen. Or stolen my voice to sell to the mute ones." He nodded seemingly more to himself than her, "I was always suspicious that the stories may have been exaggerated."
"Exaggerated? Arrosh, sir," Zeep scoffed, "They're lunacy! Not a single one of those things are possible or true." By the Lion, she would have to make sure she was never caught by any others here if that's what they thought about Narnians.
"I'm glad," He stopped, offering her his hand and stooping some, "Shall we be friends then?"
Zeep took it, "Friends." What horrors had this young man been told about Narnia? And better yet, how much of it did he still believe? By Aslan, she hoped that, when he came to Archenland, he would realize how untrue it all was.
They began walking again, the silence more comfortable this time. It wasn't long later that they came to the beginning of stone walls marking the farm land surrounding the nearing village and Zeepijeet slipped into the tall grass away from view.
She watched as he continued on without her, his shoulders drawing in and head bowed ever so slightly. His limp was nearly gone now, yet he still held himself as… Zeep wasn't fully sure how to describe it. She had never seen another walk with their shoulders drawn in, his head seeming always ready to duck further. Defensive? If that was how slaves acted here, then he knew how to play the part well.
A small prick ran down her tail as a thought came to her. If he could play this well, what other parts could he play? No, she dismissed the thought. He had acted similar when speaking to Corin as they were discussing plans. Then even earlier, on the ship, he had a subservient way about him. It was simply how he had been raised.
XxX
"And here we are!" Corin gestured triumphantly at the small piles that they had harvested from the shore. Considering everything, he was pleased with what they had managed to find. Aslan's favor must be upon them. "We have some timber and canvas for a stretcher, maybe I could make a crutch even."
"I could do that, sir." Grethlas, the sailor, raised his hand, "I've made a crutch or two in my time." He was an older man, or so he looked as Corin hadn't bothered to ask an age, with greying brown hair and beard. He was from Galma but had been on the seas for most of his life. His accent was hard to place, it was if he'd taken a bit of each land thathe'd ever been to form his own way of speaking.
Corin nodded his thanks, continuing over their inventory, "I dare say we have enough canvas and rope, from that mast that came ashore, to make a few small sacks as well." He frowned for a moment, "A shame we only managed to find one knife but it will have to suffice. Then enough cloth washed up that it should be worth enough to get at least a couple night's stay in a place. I'll have to ask Arrosh about that when he gets back."
No jewels had been found, not surprisingly. Only a few had been taken. They had been for his rich trader outfit. Though, a handful of coins had been found in one of the crates that had managed to be intact and full of cloth. Apparently, it had been for luck or some such. A good lot of luck it had done. It was something at least.
Aravis looked over everything, stately as ever. He had used to hate that about her as a child. Thinking she was so stuffy and no fun. Cor was the one who'd been able to get her out of it from time to time for a good fight. But now he knew it was her protection from the world around her and, as the queen now, there was a certain bearing that was beneficial to have. It had come into good use on multiple occasions.
"It's too bad all of the food stores were ruined." She noted, "But it's good so much of the cloth washed up and shouldn't be terribly damaged. That should do much."
XxX
How long had it been since he'd been in Calormen? Months? Weeks? The low hum of the people would have been nearly sweet if it weren't for the fact that if they knew who he was he would more than likely be strung up or carted away to be stoned. Yet he hadn't seen a single parchment or etching. Mayhaps, it had all been forgotten.
It must have been a market day. There were the people on their mats, the chink of gold in bags, scents of perfume, flesh, and unwashed bodies all melding together. Slaves with their faces covered, others unveiled, and the common folk all mingling together. Women with their hair wraps and flowing dresses, the wealthier ones showing off what little jewels they had. It wasn't as if this village was one made up of anything much.
"Boy!" A loud, man's voice called from behind. "Boy!" Angrier this time. Annoyed at being ignored.
Arrosh turned to see a man standing a few yards from him, "Who is it that is your master? I have not seen you before."
"My master is down the way," Arrosh gestured down the road, keeping his head bowed in deference. Even as a freeman with his father, with his low station in life it had become a habit to grovel, "He has told me to go ahead and ask after lodgings."
"How many in his party?" The man didn't question the answer, it wasn't an uncommon occurrence to happen. The rich did not often want to be inconvenienced with having to wait if they could help it. He waived his previous question away, not caring about the answer. He had no space in his own dwelling. "We have no inn or official lodgings here. But the headman may have an open space."
"I thank you, master." Arrosh dipped his head a bit further, "Might I ask what town I have the pleasure of visiting?"
"You're in Tebalda, four days walk from Zalindreh, three from Tashbaan. Less if you have horse and cart." The man crossed his arms before pointing in a direction, "Headmaster Minneshan is at the center house. Go there." With that, he continued on his way. There were better things to do than entertain a slave.
Again, Arrosh bowed, "Thank you, sir. May the sun be forever bright in your eyes." With that he went towards the headman's house. Four days! Zalindreh was a mere four days away! By Etnos, Tash must be smiling at him despite everything.
Coming to the headman's home, he was met by the housekeeper at the side door and brought to the house steward, who said that the headmaster was dealing with business in Zalindreh for a time. But that it would be good if Arrosh's master would be so kind as to grace them with his presence in return for whatever sum of coin seemed good to him.
With that, Arrosh trotted out of the town, back towards the place he had agreed to meet the rat – mouse at. Hopefully it was there. A plan was brewing in his mind, it might work. Just maybe. He knew this land, this people. All they had to do was act the part right and it shouldn't be too hard. It may just work.
XxX
"Here they are!" Corin heard Morri call, his good arm raised in greeting as Arrosh and Zeep crested the hill. They made their way down and to the small group.
"What news do you bring, friends?" The prince grinned at them, "Are we near Tashbaan?"
Arrosh nodded, his eyes bright, "We're near the village of Tebalda, sir, four days journey from Zalindreh and three from Tashbaan."
"By Aslan, that's the kind of news I like to hear!" Corin slapped Arrosh on the back, looking to Zeep he asked, "What do you think of the area, Zeep?"
"It appears to be a safe enough village, sir." She answered, "No sickness seemed to be infecting the place and I've located two good exit paths from the town if needed." She looked to Arrosh, "Tell him of the lodgings you secured."
"Lodgings and everything?" Corin cocked his head in good humor. The deaths of the day pressed on him as well as the whole situation they were faced with. Orran had been a good soldier and an even better friend. They had saved each other's lives more than once on the battle field, he'd grown up with him in court. He would have to deal with that later. For now, his team needed a leader and good moral.
"In our previous plans, I was to act as your slave." Arrosh was saying, he shrugged, "So I did as such and secured us lodgings at the headmaster's home. He is away on business but his house steward agreed for us to spend the night in return for whatever coin you deem right."
"Well, it's good we're only three days from Tashbaan." Corin raked his hands through his hair, "For we don't have much to give."
The young man looked over their findings, "This should get us to where we need to go for the time being. You could also hire us out for work, which would help."
"Who?" Several voices asked at once.
Arrosh ducked his shoulders some, "Well, Miss Fesh is too fair for anyone to believe she is a slave or servant, they would think her to be Prince Corin's daughter or likely wife. The – Zeepijeet cannot be anything but hidden. Morri is unable and would be assumed to have beenhired protection before his injury. Grethlas could be a hired man, or possibly a slave, but myself and the queen were to be slaves and will be viewed as such either way." He hesitated for a moment, "So, there are three you could hire out for our stay. It would be better to trade for traveling food with what we have."
Corin nodded, pensive, it didn't feel right to have Aravis working. It was one thing for her to pose as a slave for a couple hours and another for her to be truly working. She was the queen for Aslan's sake. But there didn't seem to be another way around it. "I'll take your word for it, Rosh. How far is this village?"
"Not far," Zeepijeet answered, gesturing the way they had gone, "Two miles, three at the most."
"Then let's get a move on!" Corin clapped his hands, "I want to get there before the sun sets. Everything has been portioned out to carry. Hopefully we can trade this cloth sooner rather than later so we won't have to carry it for long." With that, he started to pick up one of the packs and everyone followed suit.
XxX
Before they started their march, Morri with the crutch Grethlas had made up and his arm in a sling, Arrosh slipped beside Corin. He eyed the make shift pack on the man's back and the one Fesh carried. He could take Corin's and Grethlas could take the girl's. Though, looking at her, she didn't seem much younger than himself. She was more than likely near his own age.
"Sir, if it pleases you, when we get in sight of the village, I will take your pack and it may be best for Miss Fesh's pack to be taken as well." He had been told to be a guide, so he would. They were going to be objects of suspicion whatever they did, but if they acted the right way it could be eased. He wasn't about to let the discomfort of suggesting something get in the way of rescuing Iliz.
"Ah yes, I'm to be a haughty shadow's merchant and Fesh," He paused, looking over at the girl who was slightly ahead of them as Zeepijeet led the way, keeping close to the side of the road so as to be able to dart into the grass at a moment's notice. "Do you think it would be believed that she was my daughter?"
Arrosh looked at the man, he looked somewhat younger than the king but not by much. He couldn't be older than thirty but was not in his early twenties either. Fesh was too old to be assumed to be a daughter and it would be asking for trouble if she posed as his sister. Arrosh could already see the offers of marriage if that was the case.
"I'm afraid not, master." Arrosh answered, "I would recommend she pose as your wife."
The prince grimaced for a moment before shrugging it off, "That's what I was afraid of. I can't blame her for coming, poor girl, but it has made everything a bit more complicated."
"I'll go tell her," Arrosh started to pick up his pace before turning, "Please, sir, don't be afraid to act harsh and," He tried out the word the man had used earlier, "Haughty. It will be expected of you – and Miss Fesh. It would be best not to arouse too much suspicion."
"Unfortunately, you speak the truth," Corin said, looking like he wouldn't enjoy the task before him, "I never did like how your well to do folks acted around here. But if it gets us where we need to go, then so be it."
Arrosh couldn't help but send a silent plea to the gods, despite not having an offering, that all would go well. Four days was both terribly close and terribly far. Much could happen in that time.
A/N: There's a good chance that this will be my last update on this site, tbh. I've been bombarded with spam messages every time I update and it's getting annoying. If anyone's interested in continuing to read this, it'll be on a03. Thank you to those who have kept up with this. :D