Post by greentongue on Dec 29, 2010 19:20:35 GMT -6
They were awaken in the morning by a gentle rapping on their door. Two bowls of steaming Dna-grain porridge and two cups of Chumetl were brought in on trays. Each tray also held a bluish Dlel-fruit. A predictable breakfast for a new and unpredictable day.
Soon afterwards another man arrived with several envelopes. They could be told apart by the embellishments though two were sealed with the seal of the Onyx Anchor and one with a personal signet. The man, a minor administrator, explained that one of the Onyx Anchor ones was for the previously discussed cargo. Though he did not look as if he knew that that might be. The other was their letter of introduction for when they reached Urmish.
He explained that the one with the personal seal was for their current shipment. It signified that it was included in the caravan's manifest and Turning Wheel clan would take responsibility for its transport. Excusing himself he hurried off to make other deliveries before the caravan departed.
It was a bright morning and they could hear the bustle of many people as they began their morning routines. A basin of water was soon brought for each of them along with cloths. These last servants stayed with them explaining they had been assigned to accompany them to Urmish. Each had brought a backpack of some size that was filled with bedrolls and other essentials for the trip. The two muscular men wore loincloths of gray and dark green diagonal stripes. They awaited the commands of their new masters.
Haikon, having finished his breakfast, looked to Karlo and said, "Shall we, good friend?" He gestures for the servants to accompany them, and proceeded to join the caravan.
Karlo gathered his meager belongings and set in beside Haikon. "Gods give you luck brother." He turned his head to look at Haikon. "You're the closest I have to family, now. Know that you can always count on me to watch your back."
"Behold our mighty family, two strong! No one will stand in our way!" Haikon grinned and strutted, chest puffed out.
A crowd had gathered outside as the caravan was assembled. Rows of slaves in the markings of Turning Wheel squatted beside bundles of cane and wicker off to the side.
Morusai hi Ujjain could be seen strutting about. Six of his men were in position in the very front. The other four were standing to the side. Several palanquins were placed on the ground in the foremost positions. Their occupants not yet arrived. Four chests with built in handles were setting two by two just behind of the palanquins.
Many servants with backpacks full of supplies were jockeying for position behind the chests as they each claimed their patrons were clearly more important than the others. An importantly garbed man was clearly swamped with petitioners as he organized the assembly.
Your servants greeted a man to the side with a backpack at his feet. They introduced this man as the one assigned to carrying your merchandise and asked what position they should take in the assembly.
Karlo waited with Haikon, idly tapping his sword hilt as he awaited further instructions. Suddenly he turned to Haikon with a somber expression. "You shouldn't make fun. I was serious back there. I'm sure I have cousins here, but you're the only one I really know. We must look out for each other, in this strange land where kin are strangers."
Turning a serious face on Karlo, Haikon said, "I didn't mean anything but to make you smile. I count you as brother, too." He clasped Karlo's hand. "I have your back."
Haikon motioned to the servants to be patient. Turning to Karlo, he said "Let's speak to the caravan master about our place, shall we?"
Karlo seemed to soften, and nodded. "Yes, I am ready to get this started."
Joining in the crowd, Haikon and Karlo worked their way to the caravan master and his assistants. A small stepped platform had been set up for the master to operate from. A clamor arose from people trying to get the attention of an assistant and drown out those near them. A small pile of fruit, snack cakes, and trinkets was building up next to each assistant as they accepted inducements from the petitioners. As an assistant would write a name and pass it to the master, the master would add the name to his list. He would then mark the paper and return it to the assistant. The assistant then told the petitioner his position in the marching order. As that petitioner walked away others would take their place attempting to be next. It was clear from the crowd that nobody wanted to be the ones just in front of the bearer slaves.
As this was going on, a beautiful woman, wearing a gauzy purple outfit that exposed more than it covered, arrived at the second of the waiting palanquins. She was an obvious follower of Hrihayal. A man with the Jade Bird clan badge arrived and ascended the third of the waiting palanquins. A small contingent of ten Onyx Anchor warriors marched up and reported to Morusai hi Ujjain for deployment. None of the warriors were familiar to Haikon or Karlo.
As they got near the front of the crowd they were able to determine from the talk that the master of this caravan was Runmaru hi Thrizelu. A man that had made this trip many times. He was known to be obsessed with timeliness and if the final positions were not resolved soon, all the late registers would be walking behind the slaves.
"Hm, looks like we should just hang back Karlo. We'll get the position we want for free! What do you think?" Haikon spoke sotto voce, of course.
While speaking, his eyes flicked over the purple-clad temptress...
Karlo followed Haikon's gaze. "You do mean in the caravan do you not? Indeed, it may be better to be left with it rather than to appear eager for it." He chuckled and gave his friend a light punch on the arm. "And I saw her first."
Haikon laughed ruefully. "La. Since we have a dna-ant's chance of making her acquaintance, I will allow that you saw her first."
With some more last second applications and a word from the master, the assistants stood. There was some grumbling amongst those left unassigned about the impropriety of leaving them from the front of the caravan. Another uncovered palanquin arrived and Morusai hi Ujjain boarded it. The caravan master went to the remaining covered palanquin and after a brief word with his assistants, he climbed in.
The assistants spread out and began calling out the order as the caravan lurched to its feet. The dew was just beginning to dry in the sun of a new day. From his palanquin Morusai hi Ujjain called out orders to the guards. They formed up and began to march out of the village. Behind them came the covered palanquins, with their curtains fastened back. The notes of a musical instrument being tuned could be heard over the voices of the people. A mixture of people from different clans, mostly Onyx Anchor and Red Ax, followed the palanquins away. Their retainers were next with bundles and packs.
Spaced along each side were guards, on the left four Onyx Anchor, on the right four Red Ax. The overseers of the slaves got them moving in line. The last group of Onyx Anchor guards waited until the remaining people in the caravan started moving, then they too fell into step.
A comfortable pace was established and the caravan moved north. One of the slaves had a hand drum that he used to maintain the pace. It was not so loud that the music being played in the front of the line could not be faintly heard. The sand under foot was lumpy in places but the path they followed was often used and easy to travel on. As they traveled, Morusai hi Ujjain on his palanquin would move up and down the column.
The trees on each side offered some shade during the morning hours. Occasionally they would pass through a village and vendors would approach the caravan offering their food, drink, and lotions for sale. Most of the best items were purchased before those in the back had a chance to partake.
Haikon dubiously fingered his pouch. "I'll try not to spend it all in one place," he said ruefully.
The same routine went on each day. As evening drew near, the caravan would enter small clearings beside the road. The various retainers quickly staked out the best locations and started setting up their patron's tents, lighting cooking fires, and preparing their camps. As each group entered the clearing, sections of the remaining area are claimed. Grain and dried meat was distributed from the caravan's stock and prepared by the servants for their patrons. Additional items bought during the day were used by those that purchased them to supplement these basics.
Only the edges are left open by the time Haikon, Karlo and the others with them arrive. They have the choice of making their camp at the roadside or near the jungle's edge. The roadside has some local traffic moving between the nearby towns. The jungle's edge is barely cleared. The chests are placed between the roadside and the palanquins.
"Haikon, what say you? Making our camp by the roadside would give us the perfect vantage point."
Haikon got a dreamy look on his face as his eyes drifted towards the palanquins. "You said it, Karlo."
Karlo gave a low laugh. "Focus friend. Besides, I thought we decided said trinket was beyond the grasp of the likes of us?"
From the three sided square formed by the palanquin, melodic strains could just be heard. As usual the mighty were enjoying their evening entertainment. Karlo and Haikon's mat was laid out for them to sit on while the servants squatted to the side.
The weather and other events of the day were discussed with their nearest traveling companions as they swatted the incessant bugs. Everyone agreed that they had made good progress in the last five days. If continuing at the same pace, they should be halfway to the sakbe road at the edge of the Flats.
Earlier Kurshetl, the man camped on their right, had purchased several eggs and he offered to share some of them as a small favor.
Accepting his offer of the eggs, Haikon and Karlo had their servant cook them up with the grain and meat allotment. Added with the herbs that Karlo had spotted earlier along the road, it made a welcome change from the otherwise plain fare.
That evening the men took their normal turns keeping an eye on their possessions and the chests. During Haikon's turn on watch he noticed a bazaar occurrence.
One of the men from the middle of the caravan, a servant by his dress, walked to the edge of the clearing to relieve himself. Suddenly the dissonance of the jungle noises stilled. As the man turned around to return to his bed, he staggered forward a step then flew backwards into the jungle like he had been launched by a catapult. Soon the normal sounds of the jungle returned. No one else seemed to have noticed the event.
Shaking Karlo to his feet, Haikon called out "Guard! Guard!" He grabbed his weapons, keeping his eye on the spot where the man was snatched.
He did not allow himself to be distracted from also keeping an eye on the chests.
Once Karlo is awake, told him "Keep an eye on the chests while I tell you this. Someone's servant was just snatched into the jungle, over there. This may be a distraction, so while I tell the guards what I saw, can you keep an eye on the chests?"
Karlo nods, "Aye, I'll watch them like a Kyni. Looks like we chose the right camping spot, no?"
There were two guards on patrol around the outside of the clearing. Each on opposite sides of the camp making slow circles at the edge of the camp. Hearing Haikon's call a guard in the livery of Red Ax approached. "What is the problem here?" he asked.
In the distance the other guard could be seen paying attention to them as he continued walking his rounds.
"I just saw a man snatched into the forest, over there. He was making water, then he jerked as if I rope had caught him, and he flew into the trees." Haikon motioned in the appropriate direction. "Maybe we should awaken more guards?"
The guard pulled out a whistle and began blowing it. The other guard, in Onyx Anchor livery, came running. In the warrior's area men sprang up grabbing their weapons. Several came running while others woke their companions.
"Show me where you saw this happen," demanded the guard. The two of them headed for the site Haikon had seen the man disappear from. Several warriors with torches arrived augmenting the scant light of the two moons. Haikon repeated what he had seen to them and everyone searched the area. The tracks were clear in the sand and a wet spot showed where the man had relieved himself. There was slight drag marks on the returning tracks then nothing. One of the guards spotted some strange footprints at the very edge of the jungle. They were a little larger than man sized and shaped like a series of three 'T's. None of the men had seen anything like them before.
There was a heated discussion between the guards. They decided to wait on Morusai hi Ujjain's judgment of what they should do. Returning to the guard's camp, Haikon once again recounted what he had seen to Morusai. The guards substantiated his testimony with their findings. Morusai determined that it would be a waste of time to go crashing around in the jungle at night looking for a mere servant.
He ordered the guards tripled and tried to assure the now agitated camp that everything would be fine. "There is just a rogue animal on the loose. We will light torches around the perimeter. That will keep it way. Don't wander into the jungle on your own and everyone will be fine," he told the crowd.
There was a bit more discussion amongst those that were awake. Seeing the six guards patrolling with torches helped calm return to the crowd. Haikon returned to his camp site after being reminded to summon the guards if he saw anything else in the jungle. Slowly quite settled on the entire camp.
From his vantage point Karlo saw all the commotion but could not clearly follow what had been said. During the entire time nobody had tampered with the chests.
Haikon squatted back down with Karlo. "Looks like we picked an exciting camp area, anyway," he said grimly. "Apparently something chose to pick off a member of the caravan. The tracks looked like this," and he drew them in the dirt for Karlo. "Guess it wasn't a diversion after all," and he shrugged. "Hold your water for daylight, if you want my advice. Thanks for watching the chests. I'll resume my watch, try to get some sleep."
Karlo gazed at the drawing of the tracks. "I heard them say it was a wild animal. I've not seen tracks like that from any animal. Be especially watchful, friend." With that, he returned to his bedroll.
=
Soon afterwards another man arrived with several envelopes. They could be told apart by the embellishments though two were sealed with the seal of the Onyx Anchor and one with a personal signet. The man, a minor administrator, explained that one of the Onyx Anchor ones was for the previously discussed cargo. Though he did not look as if he knew that that might be. The other was their letter of introduction for when they reached Urmish.
He explained that the one with the personal seal was for their current shipment. It signified that it was included in the caravan's manifest and Turning Wheel clan would take responsibility for its transport. Excusing himself he hurried off to make other deliveries before the caravan departed.
It was a bright morning and they could hear the bustle of many people as they began their morning routines. A basin of water was soon brought for each of them along with cloths. These last servants stayed with them explaining they had been assigned to accompany them to Urmish. Each had brought a backpack of some size that was filled with bedrolls and other essentials for the trip. The two muscular men wore loincloths of gray and dark green diagonal stripes. They awaited the commands of their new masters.
Haikon, having finished his breakfast, looked to Karlo and said, "Shall we, good friend?" He gestures for the servants to accompany them, and proceeded to join the caravan.
Karlo gathered his meager belongings and set in beside Haikon. "Gods give you luck brother." He turned his head to look at Haikon. "You're the closest I have to family, now. Know that you can always count on me to watch your back."
"Behold our mighty family, two strong! No one will stand in our way!" Haikon grinned and strutted, chest puffed out.
A crowd had gathered outside as the caravan was assembled. Rows of slaves in the markings of Turning Wheel squatted beside bundles of cane and wicker off to the side.
Morusai hi Ujjain could be seen strutting about. Six of his men were in position in the very front. The other four were standing to the side. Several palanquins were placed on the ground in the foremost positions. Their occupants not yet arrived. Four chests with built in handles were setting two by two just behind of the palanquins.
Many servants with backpacks full of supplies were jockeying for position behind the chests as they each claimed their patrons were clearly more important than the others. An importantly garbed man was clearly swamped with petitioners as he organized the assembly.
Your servants greeted a man to the side with a backpack at his feet. They introduced this man as the one assigned to carrying your merchandise and asked what position they should take in the assembly.
Karlo waited with Haikon, idly tapping his sword hilt as he awaited further instructions. Suddenly he turned to Haikon with a somber expression. "You shouldn't make fun. I was serious back there. I'm sure I have cousins here, but you're the only one I really know. We must look out for each other, in this strange land where kin are strangers."
Turning a serious face on Karlo, Haikon said, "I didn't mean anything but to make you smile. I count you as brother, too." He clasped Karlo's hand. "I have your back."
Haikon motioned to the servants to be patient. Turning to Karlo, he said "Let's speak to the caravan master about our place, shall we?"
Karlo seemed to soften, and nodded. "Yes, I am ready to get this started."
Joining in the crowd, Haikon and Karlo worked their way to the caravan master and his assistants. A small stepped platform had been set up for the master to operate from. A clamor arose from people trying to get the attention of an assistant and drown out those near them. A small pile of fruit, snack cakes, and trinkets was building up next to each assistant as they accepted inducements from the petitioners. As an assistant would write a name and pass it to the master, the master would add the name to his list. He would then mark the paper and return it to the assistant. The assistant then told the petitioner his position in the marching order. As that petitioner walked away others would take their place attempting to be next. It was clear from the crowd that nobody wanted to be the ones just in front of the bearer slaves.
As this was going on, a beautiful woman, wearing a gauzy purple outfit that exposed more than it covered, arrived at the second of the waiting palanquins. She was an obvious follower of Hrihayal. A man with the Jade Bird clan badge arrived and ascended the third of the waiting palanquins. A small contingent of ten Onyx Anchor warriors marched up and reported to Morusai hi Ujjain for deployment. None of the warriors were familiar to Haikon or Karlo.
As they got near the front of the crowd they were able to determine from the talk that the master of this caravan was Runmaru hi Thrizelu. A man that had made this trip many times. He was known to be obsessed with timeliness and if the final positions were not resolved soon, all the late registers would be walking behind the slaves.
"Hm, looks like we should just hang back Karlo. We'll get the position we want for free! What do you think?" Haikon spoke sotto voce, of course.
While speaking, his eyes flicked over the purple-clad temptress...
Karlo followed Haikon's gaze. "You do mean in the caravan do you not? Indeed, it may be better to be left with it rather than to appear eager for it." He chuckled and gave his friend a light punch on the arm. "And I saw her first."
Haikon laughed ruefully. "La. Since we have a dna-ant's chance of making her acquaintance, I will allow that you saw her first."
With some more last second applications and a word from the master, the assistants stood. There was some grumbling amongst those left unassigned about the impropriety of leaving them from the front of the caravan. Another uncovered palanquin arrived and Morusai hi Ujjain boarded it. The caravan master went to the remaining covered palanquin and after a brief word with his assistants, he climbed in.
The assistants spread out and began calling out the order as the caravan lurched to its feet. The dew was just beginning to dry in the sun of a new day. From his palanquin Morusai hi Ujjain called out orders to the guards. They formed up and began to march out of the village. Behind them came the covered palanquins, with their curtains fastened back. The notes of a musical instrument being tuned could be heard over the voices of the people. A mixture of people from different clans, mostly Onyx Anchor and Red Ax, followed the palanquins away. Their retainers were next with bundles and packs.
Spaced along each side were guards, on the left four Onyx Anchor, on the right four Red Ax. The overseers of the slaves got them moving in line. The last group of Onyx Anchor guards waited until the remaining people in the caravan started moving, then they too fell into step.
A comfortable pace was established and the caravan moved north. One of the slaves had a hand drum that he used to maintain the pace. It was not so loud that the music being played in the front of the line could not be faintly heard. The sand under foot was lumpy in places but the path they followed was often used and easy to travel on. As they traveled, Morusai hi Ujjain on his palanquin would move up and down the column.
The trees on each side offered some shade during the morning hours. Occasionally they would pass through a village and vendors would approach the caravan offering their food, drink, and lotions for sale. Most of the best items were purchased before those in the back had a chance to partake.
Haikon dubiously fingered his pouch. "I'll try not to spend it all in one place," he said ruefully.
The same routine went on each day. As evening drew near, the caravan would enter small clearings beside the road. The various retainers quickly staked out the best locations and started setting up their patron's tents, lighting cooking fires, and preparing their camps. As each group entered the clearing, sections of the remaining area are claimed. Grain and dried meat was distributed from the caravan's stock and prepared by the servants for their patrons. Additional items bought during the day were used by those that purchased them to supplement these basics.
Only the edges are left open by the time Haikon, Karlo and the others with them arrive. They have the choice of making their camp at the roadside or near the jungle's edge. The roadside has some local traffic moving between the nearby towns. The jungle's edge is barely cleared. The chests are placed between the roadside and the palanquins.
"Haikon, what say you? Making our camp by the roadside would give us the perfect vantage point."
Haikon got a dreamy look on his face as his eyes drifted towards the palanquins. "You said it, Karlo."
Karlo gave a low laugh. "Focus friend. Besides, I thought we decided said trinket was beyond the grasp of the likes of us?"
From the three sided square formed by the palanquin, melodic strains could just be heard. As usual the mighty were enjoying their evening entertainment. Karlo and Haikon's mat was laid out for them to sit on while the servants squatted to the side.
The weather and other events of the day were discussed with their nearest traveling companions as they swatted the incessant bugs. Everyone agreed that they had made good progress in the last five days. If continuing at the same pace, they should be halfway to the sakbe road at the edge of the Flats.
Earlier Kurshetl, the man camped on their right, had purchased several eggs and he offered to share some of them as a small favor.
Accepting his offer of the eggs, Haikon and Karlo had their servant cook them up with the grain and meat allotment. Added with the herbs that Karlo had spotted earlier along the road, it made a welcome change from the otherwise plain fare.
That evening the men took their normal turns keeping an eye on their possessions and the chests. During Haikon's turn on watch he noticed a bazaar occurrence.
One of the men from the middle of the caravan, a servant by his dress, walked to the edge of the clearing to relieve himself. Suddenly the dissonance of the jungle noises stilled. As the man turned around to return to his bed, he staggered forward a step then flew backwards into the jungle like he had been launched by a catapult. Soon the normal sounds of the jungle returned. No one else seemed to have noticed the event.
Shaking Karlo to his feet, Haikon called out "Guard! Guard!" He grabbed his weapons, keeping his eye on the spot where the man was snatched.
He did not allow himself to be distracted from also keeping an eye on the chests.
Once Karlo is awake, told him "Keep an eye on the chests while I tell you this. Someone's servant was just snatched into the jungle, over there. This may be a distraction, so while I tell the guards what I saw, can you keep an eye on the chests?"
Karlo nods, "Aye, I'll watch them like a Kyni. Looks like we chose the right camping spot, no?"
There were two guards on patrol around the outside of the clearing. Each on opposite sides of the camp making slow circles at the edge of the camp. Hearing Haikon's call a guard in the livery of Red Ax approached. "What is the problem here?" he asked.
In the distance the other guard could be seen paying attention to them as he continued walking his rounds.
"I just saw a man snatched into the forest, over there. He was making water, then he jerked as if I rope had caught him, and he flew into the trees." Haikon motioned in the appropriate direction. "Maybe we should awaken more guards?"
The guard pulled out a whistle and began blowing it. The other guard, in Onyx Anchor livery, came running. In the warrior's area men sprang up grabbing their weapons. Several came running while others woke their companions.
"Show me where you saw this happen," demanded the guard. The two of them headed for the site Haikon had seen the man disappear from. Several warriors with torches arrived augmenting the scant light of the two moons. Haikon repeated what he had seen to them and everyone searched the area. The tracks were clear in the sand and a wet spot showed where the man had relieved himself. There was slight drag marks on the returning tracks then nothing. One of the guards spotted some strange footprints at the very edge of the jungle. They were a little larger than man sized and shaped like a series of three 'T's. None of the men had seen anything like them before.
There was a heated discussion between the guards. They decided to wait on Morusai hi Ujjain's judgment of what they should do. Returning to the guard's camp, Haikon once again recounted what he had seen to Morusai. The guards substantiated his testimony with their findings. Morusai determined that it would be a waste of time to go crashing around in the jungle at night looking for a mere servant.
He ordered the guards tripled and tried to assure the now agitated camp that everything would be fine. "There is just a rogue animal on the loose. We will light torches around the perimeter. That will keep it way. Don't wander into the jungle on your own and everyone will be fine," he told the crowd.
There was a bit more discussion amongst those that were awake. Seeing the six guards patrolling with torches helped calm return to the crowd. Haikon returned to his camp site after being reminded to summon the guards if he saw anything else in the jungle. Slowly quite settled on the entire camp.
From his vantage point Karlo saw all the commotion but could not clearly follow what had been said. During the entire time nobody had tampered with the chests.
Haikon squatted back down with Karlo. "Looks like we picked an exciting camp area, anyway," he said grimly. "Apparently something chose to pick off a member of the caravan. The tracks looked like this," and he drew them in the dirt for Karlo. "Guess it wasn't a diversion after all," and he shrugged. "Hold your water for daylight, if you want my advice. Thanks for watching the chests. I'll resume my watch, try to get some sleep."
Karlo gazed at the drawing of the tracks. "I heard them say it was a wild animal. I've not seen tracks like that from any animal. Be especially watchful, friend." With that, he returned to his bedroll.
=