Chapter 127:
“Is that everything?” The Seocurian Slave House owner asked Anton. “These slaves are cheap and some very unwell. Will these be enough?”
“Absolutely.” Anton kept his face flat. “They will work as they recover.”
“Of course.” The Seocurian bowed, a barely restrained sneer on his face. He thought he had just removed useless stock at a great price. No one in the Slave House, Seocurian or Beast-kin, could guess what was really happening.
“Send them to The Snowberry waiting in the docks.” Anton turned to leave.
“Of course.” The man, and several female assistants bowed deeply again. “We will be waiting for your next visit.”
“Shouldn’t be too long.” Anton returned a wave. “If you have any more like these we’ll purchase them as well. I’m sure you and your bosses will be glad to be rid of them.”
“I will send word. Safe travels.”
“And to you.”
A Seocurian soldier opened the door back to the scorching heat of Kolopti, the most southern Seocurian port. It was slightly smaller than Rusaddir and heavily reliant of trade with Graterious, but most importantly it held a modest Slave House.
“Everything’s so much easier with money.” Anton held a gold coin to the sun. “It’s almost like a drug.”
“Six hundred of my people are about to be free.” Kal pulled close to Anton. “What are they going to say?”
Seocurian soldiers led the procession of Beast-kin towards the docks. As a whole, they looked slightly worse than those they rescued from Danafra. Most had mottled fur and scars, patches of infected and worm-riddled skin, torn off ears and damaged limbs. They looked truly pathetic.
Degrade them to the point of mangy beasts to justify your treatment of them….
There wasn’t much of a selection in Kolopti, mainly feline and canine with a few reptiles and some sharks thrown in for good measure.
“Come on.” Anton continued walking, not sparing a look towards the Beast-kin. “There are a few things we need to prepare.”
---[]---
Anton raised a brow, glancing at the salt-stained walls of the dock fronting warehouse. “Four hundred silver? That’s from now until next autumn?”
The warehouse owner nodded. “These warehouses are underneath the protection of the Seocurian army, Graterian. No one would be so foolish to try and break in. Well, a Graterian might but never a Seocurian. They understand the punishment for burglary.”
“Enslavement?” Verona asked softly.
“Exactly.” The Seocurian passed over a small piece of sheepskin paper. “This is proof of your ownership. I’ll inform the guards of your description…” His eyes lingered on Kal’s mask for a considerable time. “Please be aware that if you don’t have this you won’t be able to access the warehouse. And don’t forget to declare everything that passes through the gates and docks for tolls. Failure will result in seizure of goods and possibly yourself.”
“I understand.” Anton smiled.
The man bowed his head and left, leaving the four standing before a large warehouse. While it was similar to those in Atros it had an undeniable Seocurian aesthetic. Anton liked the style, but such thoughts were tainted by the knowledge of who built and maintained it.
Verona checked that no one was in eavesdropping range. “Another step completed. Our first portal to Seocuria.”
“I don’t know if this is the safest spot.” Kal murmured. “Someone could just walk in and find the stones. That’ll be enough for someone to have a closer look. And then they find Atros and then…”
Anton pulled her close. Kal relaxed slightly but still kept an air of nervousness as Anton opened the small access door. Old and musty air blasted his lungs, cobwebs hung from every corner, several rats ran along the old wooden beams, chittering at the presence of uninvited guests.
“You paid too much for this.” Cetina sighed. “You should at least have a clean floor.”
Large clumps of dried hay, from some unknown previous holder, lay scattered over the stone floor. Though dry Anton smelt the faintest whiffs of faeces. One quick glance to Kal confirmed his assumption.
“It’s just rats.” Kal chuckled. “At least I hope it is.”
“We can only hope.” Verona kicked away a clump with her foot.
Anton ensured the door was shut. Kal removed her mask, brushed away the tiny beads of sweat running down her face and unruffled her ears.
“There’s really nothing here.” Verona mused.
“Perfect for us.” Anton smiled.
“And we’re just going to put the portal stones in the middle of the room?”
“I hoped we wouldn’t have to do that.” Anton nodded to the rear of the warehouse. “And it looks like we won’t have to.”
He nodded to a small secluded room at the rear, really just a partitioned area. Nevertheless, it was more than enough for them.
“Do you have the stones, Cetina?”
When the last was in place the white disk formed. However, there wasn’t another set in Atros, not yet at least. He needed to have a discussion with the Dwarves about establishing something more secure than just a barn protected by a half dozen disinterested guards.
“Perfect.” Verona kissed Anton’s cheek. “Now we have a near constant stream of Beast-kin coming back to Atros. And I’m sure the Seocurians will be more than happy to get rid of the sick ones.”
“Some could barely walk.” Cetina mused.
“We’ll make them better.” Anton smiled at the girls. “Just giving them a decent meal and bed will be a start.” He stroked his beard. “But not too much. If you give someone who’s starving a lot of food it could kill them. Not something I want on my mind.”
“And how do we keep people out?” Cetina asked. “Kal’s right. They could just break down the door and then find this.”
“I have an idea. Can any of you see another way in except the main and the little access door?”
A quick search revealed no additional entrances, but it didn’t mean there was a loose board hidden by wooden planks. The rats had to get in somehow.
“Nothing?” Anton chuckled. “That makes things easier then.”
Verona playfully leant forward and smirked. “Another stone?”
“No.” Anton ruffled her hair. “Not this time. I don’t even know how I could do that. Apart from having one repel…” He sighed. “I was going to cast a prayer over the door like our packs, so only a few people can open it, but that’s actually a good idea.”
“I wasn’t actually being that serious.” Verona laughed. “Since you’ve found that’s a thing it’s like the people I’m married to only think about rocks.”
“I…” Kal raised her hand but let it drop. Her most devastating attack had been with a smoking prayer stone. “It’s not that bad.”
“So what’s your plan?” Cetina rested her hand on her pommel.
“Does someone have a stone that I could use?”
“There’s a spare in the bag.” Cetina passed him a small smooth stone. “Just in case something happened to the others.”
“Thanks. Now…Tethra, Goddess of Prayer, make this stone repel the thoughts of anyone that looks upon it except for those present. May they forget their original purpose and move to other tasks.”
The stone glowed faintly with the loss of mana. Anton placed it at the entrance of the small dividing wall, where it would be seen before the portal.
“That’s a good start.” Anton nodded gently. “Tethra’s power just seems more and more like it’s open to abuse. Did she ever have many people that bared her Glyph?”
“Jira seemed content to let me have my power.”
Jira said that you ripped the power from her in some sort of rage. She was more than a little pissed…How come Kal didn’t do something like that? Or Shawn or Jocelyn? Their gods have some power at least.
“We should leave a Strohierite bound Lightning Crow here.”
Anton took a small Strohierite stone from a pack and bound a Lightning Crow within. Their tests showed that the creature didn’t disappear, at least for a few days, or could be forced back into the stone. However, they didn’t need to eat and were content to sit and wait for instructions. He placed the stone in the furthest corner and instructed the crow to incapacitate anyone that entered the side room without them. Anton knew that it might make things difficult but the creatures were open to receiving new orders, seemingly without consequence.
Anton patted the small Lightning Crow. “I think that should be enough. If the door were to shock someone or simply refused to budge no matter what keys they used would instantly arouse suspicion. And even if we bared the door they could just break down the wall and come in. Just having someone forget why they came in here would be best, that way they'd think everything's normal. And this little guy behind that. We’ll keep the portal off on our end until we need it.”
“I wonder if we’ve run into these before.” Verona tapped the glowing stone with her gloved finger. “The Accursed Forest could be full of them but we just simply walk past without remembering.”
“We certainly could have. I’m sure that a Principle Mage would know something’s wrong. But that’s something we can work out later…Imagine if there’s an entire community surviving in the forest. Perhaps that’s how the Goblins and other monsters seem impossible to eradicate. Always a safe refuge with these things. Maybe something made from the White Realm…”
“That’s a troubling thought.” Kal refastened her mask. “To think the Old Gods are inadvertently responsible for the Goblins continued menace.”
“Maybe misused magic…” Anton stopped at the door. “Then there are those Ancient Listener cultists. They seemed pretty friendly with the Goblins. Somehow. We need some Beast-kin to make this next step easier. They’re not just going to walk through a shining white disk in the bowels of a ship on their own accord.”
---[]---
Anton rested a hand on the side door of the barn in Atros. “Thank you for coming.”
“What do you need us for, Anton?” Rasha asked. The blue Minotaur leant against the wall with her arms folded, one hoofed leg against the wall. “Is something wrong?”
“Not exactly.” Anton rubbed his temple. “But I have the next batch of Beast-kin ready to arrive.”
“Already?” Marion scratched the fur on her cheek. “I don’t know if everything’s ready. I’ve been working with the others and we’ve only just started to get ahead building homes and getting a good food supply.”
Anton nodded. “True. But if we don’t do it now it’ll never get done. And these Beast-kin don’t look like they’re in a very good way. Probably worse than Eider was when we found her. Lots of missing fur and open wounds. That sort of thing.”
Eider groaned, her hood pulling tight. “And I thought being nearly blind was bad.”
“They were going to try and take you away very soon,” Irso said, the crackle in her voice echoed throughout the barn.
“Yeah…” Eider nodded glumly, her forked tongue licked at the air. “I know. But I still don’t like thinking about any of it.”
“So how can we help?” Ulyaa asked.
“I need someone that Beast-kin will trust. And that’s not going to be a human or a half-breed. I want them to know that everything’s going to be alright.”
“When they get here it’ll be fine.” Irso shrugged. “Who cares if you have to carry them in? Or even throw them?”
“I’d still prefer not to.” Anton glanced at Kal. “I don’t know if Kal’s the best person for this, so I need some volunteers.”
“I’ll do it.” Rasha stepped forward. “But…Will I be the right for this?”
“Maybe.” Verona glanced at Anton.
“If they see someone like you, someone who could easily rip an iron link from a pillar, working alongside us it might help.”
Rasha smiled faintly.
Anton clapped his hands. “In fact, it might be best if you all come. If you all did it might make a real difference.”
“Right…” Rasha trailed off, if anything she appeared a little disappointed.
Anton motioned to the open portal behind them. “The Beast-kin are going to be terrified and utterly despondent. It might take you a bit to get them moving, let alone convince them.”
“It might be best to bring a few through first,” Marion suggested. “If we do that they can go back and tell the others what this place is like.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Much easier to believe someone you know.” Anton nodded. “Sounds good. Please, head through and we’ll be right after you.”
“So how does this work?” Eider stopped just before the shimmering white edge of the portal.
“It’s very simple.” Anton pushed her onto the disk.
Eider looked back in surprise as she stepped onto the disk. When she completely passed the edge the portal flashed white and Eider disappeared.
“Is she on the boat now?” Rasha asked.
“I think it’s actually a ship. But, yes.” Anton received an odd look from the Drakeling. “I’ll head through, just in case she’s panicking.”
Anton forced himself not to say the word again. Eider’s panic attack hadn’t repeated itself and she didn’t need anyone talking about it, let alone behind her back. Anton took one final glance at the Beast-kin and stepped through. His mind spun in every direction imaginable until the light dissipated. A groan came from a hunched over Eider, Cetina rubbing her back as she struggled to keep her legs straight.
“How are you doing, Eider?”
Eider glared at him as he stepped off the portal, her eyes nothing more than angry slits. “What is that? Why does it feel so awful?”
“I don’t know.” Anton held her back and chanted a healing prayer. “Seems this is just a side-effect that we can’t quite work out. Besides, you’ll only be going through it a few times.”
Eider suppressed a gasp, requiring another pat from Anton. “It’s still horrible. If I’d known what would have happened, and it wasn’t you, I’d have run straight out the door.”
Anton gently patted her head as she righted herself. “Now, where are the others?”
The portal flashed and Marion and Kristof stepped through. After a step they groaned and held their heads hard.
“Ugh.” Kristof groaned and wandered off the portal, Anton took his muscled arm. “That’s almost as bad as the drugs they gave us.”
Anton chuckled. “It can’t be that bad.”
“I want to be sick.” Marion almost stumbled back into the portal before Kal guided her away. “Kal, why did you let Anton make something so awful?”
Kal gently patted her mothers’ hand. “It’s fine. You get used to it.”
Rasha and Ulyaa stepped through next. Both suffered from the distortion but Anton and Cetina pulled them through. Anton was surprised how warm their bodies were, though that might have been the surprise that he held their hands so delicately, even Rasha’s who felt like he was a child grabbing an adults’. Irso came through last, her Drakeling heritage gave her some sort of immunity to the distorting effects, though she had to scrunch her eyes several times.
“Everyone ready?” Anton asked.
A dull murmur of agreement came back. Rasha raised her hand as she looked at the chain link almost ripped free from the wooden pillar. Marion sniffed at the air.
“Do I smell blood?”
“Oh...” Anton stopped at the door. “We had a little run-in with some pirates. Don’t worry.” Anton raised his hands to placate a worried Marion. “It was barely a fight. They were smart enough to realise the dangers of wooden ships and fire. Especially after I set one alight.”
“Please tell me when we get back.” Marion's voice was almost pleading.
“I will.”
Eider licked at the air, nodded in confirmation to the others.
Anton opened the door to a waiting Ceccitol and Tuccac.
“It’s strange that you can just bring people through that portal like that.” Ceccitol glanced at Rasha, the blue Minotaur had to duck underneath the door. “Especially a giant like her.”
Anton saw her eyes glance to Rasha’s voluminous chest and then to her own. Hers weren’t unobservable but compared to the Minotaurs, and many of the women present they were rather sad. Except for Eider, much to her continued annoyance.
“Wow,” Eider whispered to Anton. “They really don’t look good.”
Anton shook his head. “No, they don’t.”
The Beast-kin all sat huddled in the shadows cast by the dim light. Upon seeing the Beast-kin with the humans and Dark Elves they were equally intrigued and terrified.
“Are the human sailors on the deck?” Anton asked.
Tuccac nodded. “They are.”
“Make sure they don’t come down.”
“I think they’re going to talk about six hundred slaves just disappearing.” Those closest to Tuccac began to panic, their bodies folding in on themselves as they contemplated their last moments in the dull musty confines of this ship.
Anton sighed. “Please do your best, everyone. See if you can find a Beast-kin that’s receptive. Even one will do.”
The Beast-kin began to disperse through the huddling masses. It was clear as day that they barely recognised that they were once like them, cowering at any sign of being noticed and praying to long presumed dead gods for salvation.
Why did Marion know about Tethra?
Anton caught Irso painstakingly move through the masses of cowering Beast-kin.
I suppose the Drakelings had something to do with that. But where did Kal’s medallion come from? There’s no way they’d be allowed something that big. Did she steal it from someone?
Anton waited in silence until a few fresh Beast-kin were standing. They were scared and utterly terrified, those with tails had them tucked tight between their legs as they were slowly brought to Anton. Of all the Beast-kin Eider was having the most success, with four canines and two felines with her.
“It’ll be alright,” Eider spoke softly to the Beast-kin. “I thought it was the end too. But you’ll see how much better things will be. Trust me. I was almost blind, my scales were peeling off and I was having trouble walking. But then Anton, this man, healed me and brought me to my new home, a place safe from Seocuria, and soon it’ll be your home too.”
None of the Beast-kin believed her, not that Anton really expected them too. The reality was simply too outlandish. Eider had trouble directing the Beast-kin into the small room. Kal didn’t need to tell him why they were so frightened.
Anton’s eyes were drawn to the closest Beast-kin, his arm had been broken and healed terribly, the blunt end of the healed bone pushed against his skin.
“Does it hurt?” Anton asked softly.
Fear drenched the Feline’s face. “I’m fine!” He screeched. “I can still work! You won’t even notice this, I work just as hard as everyone else.”
“I…”
This is going to be a long process.
“Please give me your hand.”
The Beast-kin winced, desperate not to show any frailty or weakness. Anton felt the trembling off this poor, terrified creature. He chanted a healing prayer, just to fix the malformed limb. His limb clicked as mana flowed from him and into the Beast-kin. He looked down in shock, flexed his hands and rubbed his arm.
“How?”
“Magic.” Eider chuckled. “They have magic that can heal anything. And this is one of the few humans that actually wants to see us free.”
The Beast-kin glanced at Eider, her smile was a little intimidating with all her sharp teeth, and then to Anton.
“T-Thank you.” He bowed his head. “Thank you.”
“Do not worry yourself over it.” Anton gently patted his hand. The fur was nowhere near as soft as Kal’s fur. “But I want you to help us however you can. That goes for all of you.” Anton looked at the others, all stunned by the healed wound. “But right now I need you to follow Eider.” Eider gave a tiny wave. “It’ll be a little strange, and I know that you probably have doubts trusting the words of a human but I need you to trust me on this. Can you do that?”
It’s not like they have much of a choice.
The Beast-kin slowly nodded. Anton smiled and stepped to the side, ushering them forward. Inside several Dark Elves waited with their weapons drawn. At least it would be enough to discourage any last-second attempts at a breakout. With a tentative tap of the white disk the new Beast-kin stepped through with Eider following closely behind, Anton heard her grumble something just before the jump. Over the next several minutes the others led their Beast-kin through the portal. Anton healed each group, as an incentive of sorts which truly appeared to calm their nerves.
“The way you were talking.” Cetina tapped a hand on the wooden wall. “It sounded a lot like the Church of the Holy Father. And those people in Graterious.”
“That…That wasn’t my intention.” Anton frowned lightly. “But, in this instance, it might actually be the easiest way to get my message across. Come across as some sort of saviour.”
“At least it’s better than what you said in Soulthor.” Verona sniggered.
“Yes. Yes, it is.” The portal flashed as Eider and several Beast-kin stepped back through. “But this will work.”
The Feline Beast-kin raced past and knelt amongst their friends. Eider moved clear of the door and stood before Anton, taking great pains not to accidentally stand on anyone. Both of the Minotaurs had come dangerously close to that.
“They love it,” Eider whispered, a smile on her scaled face. Her tongue licked at the air. “They just stood still for so long. Watching humans and Beast-kin working and living side by side.”
“And our refugees?”
“I don’t think they were too happy to see the Seocurians but seeing the other Beast-kin not lashing out…” Eider scratched her cheek. “I think for now they’re just confused. Everyone else that came through looked the exact same. Just…stunned.”
“Thanks, Eider.” Anton patted her shoulder. “It wouldn’t have worked without having someone they can trust. Can you slowly free the Beast-kin and send them to Atros? Not too many at a time, and make sure they get settled?”
Eider nodded furiously. “Of course, Anton. I’ll make sure they get to Atros safely. Is it possible that I could keep doing this in the future? I really like it. The looks on their faces are fantastic. The way it changes from hopeless to ecstatic. Truly wonderful”
“Sure. Having someone dedicated to this would really help. But make sure that you don’t get hurt, in case there’s an incident. Your safety comes first, alright?”
“It’ll be more fun than picking fruit.” Eider laughed. “Still so much better than being back in Seocuria.”
Anton swore that her hips were swaying slightly as she walked, even her tail appeared to flick slightly.
Well, I guess mine does that too now. I wonder what they’ll say when they see this. Not until we’ve got the Dark Elves sorted out.
“Now what?” Kal asked.
Rasha and Irso stuck their heads through the door. Anton pointed to Eider as she began to move large groups of slaves to the door. Irso chuckled at Rasha, who clicked her tongue, and moved through to the masses of slaves.
“Once they’re through we’ll head up and speak with Wilford,” Anton said. “Hopefully it should be straight to The Shadow Isles. But I’d like to speak with Marion first.”
“Why?” Kal frowned lightly.
“I want to know how she, and therefore you, even knew about Tethra. It’s not just knowledge you’re born with.”
---[]---
“Where did I hear about Tethra?” Marion sat on a crate on the furthest side of the secluded room next to Anton. “I’m not actually sure. I know that I was very young.”
Anton rested his boots, his feet were very sore from being cramped, onto a smaller crate. “I really wanted to know. I don’t know if it’ll make a difference to Atros but I want to know more about you.”
I know Kal will like us getting along better. I think we do right now, but it’s tempered knowing that a human’s sleeping with her daughter. And with another human.
“Is it alright for me to stop?” Marion asked, leaning forward and scratching at the ground with her clawed feet. As she moved forward her chest, easily in the top three of Atros, shifted. Anton was curious, for a moment, how far the fur travelled…
“Everyone else is continuing to work.” Marion nodded to Kristof, trying his best to lead some young Beast-kin through the portal. They were clearly intimidated by his muscular size and required a more gentle touch from Eider and Ulyaa. Nevertheless, he continued on as best he could.
“It’s fine. No one’s going to complain that you’ve taken a few moments off to talk to me.”
Marion chuckled. She leant back against the wall, her clawed hands picked nervously at the skin surrounding the claws. “Thank you. For saving us. And my daughter. I didn’t think she would be alive after all this time.”
“I wish that we could spend some more time in Atros.” Anton smiled. “Actually get to know you. But fate has a way of dashing those hopes.”
“Yes…So, you wanted to know where I heard about Tethra?”
“And the medallion. The one Kal wears around her neck. I don’t think you made that or would have been allowed to own something made from silver. Maybe keep it hidden somewhere. But definitely not in those cages.”
“Before…” Marion shuffled backwards. “I should start from the beginning, I suppose. I was very young when I first heard about Tethra. Before the riots that consumed most of Danafra everything was a lot more relaxed. We slept in…bunkhouses they called it. Anyway, I started talking to an elderly Drakeling. There wasn’t much else to do.”
Marion checked that Kristof had left and leant close.
“The only other thing to do was have sex…The Seocurian’s encouraged it and some of us were more than willing to take it.”
Marion coughed. “Anyway, he told me about the Old Gods but Tethra was the one that stuck with me. I actually found the medallion while working in…” Marion ran her hands through her hair. “I don’t even like thinking the name, let alone saying it.”
“Was it Kal’s…Father?” Anton asked very softly.
Marion nodded, her shoulders drooped along with her ears. “Yes. Him.” Her body shuddered at merely the thought of him. “It was part of his collection of ancient artefacts. But it was near the back and covered in dust. I planned to sell it and got caught…That was the day that I was given Kal.”
Anton didn’t say anything.
Marion slapped her thighs to dispel the silence. “But, that was a long time ago. I’m sorry to say this, Anton, but there really wasn’t anything special about it. I just wanted it for the silver, so I could sell it. After the incident, I ran home and hid it. I didn’t think about it again until I gave birth to Kal.”
“Fending off the other Beast-kin…”
“I had help.” Marion smiled. “The Drakeling Elder told everyone to back away but it didn’t stop them. I wounded more than a few.”
“Do you remember the other artefacts that were with the silver medallion?” Anton gently raised his hand. “I know it’s an unpleasant memory but it is important. And…If it’s important to Rafiki then all the more reason to steal them.”
“You don’t need to convince me about that.” Marion smiled. “Let’s see. There were a lot of medallions and trinkets, but they were made from wood or iron, so they couldn’t be sold for much. There were a lot of books and staffs. I don’t know what they were for. But there was a pile of these yellowy brown stones. Hundreds of them. Some were as large as my head but most were slightly smaller than my fist.”
“Were they eleven sided? It’s very important if they are.”
Marion was taken aback by Anton’s intensity. “I, I think so. It was a long time ago.”
“I think we’ve got our first target once we’ve dealt with The Shadow Isles. Do you know which house he lives in?”
“No. He doesn’t live in Danafra anymore. Some of the guards…trying to torment me, said he lives in a fortress inland. I don’t think he’d leave his possession’s inside Danafra.”
“Oh well. Once we’ve dealt with The Shadow Isles, and while the Dwarves are moving in…There’s so much happening at once.”
“Once that’s done will you be taking a break? I would like some time to talk with you both, and not in the bottom of a ship.”
“Me too.”
Anton turned his attention to the portal. This time Rasha led a small group through. Though Marion didn’t speak a word she was irritated by Rasha. Not immensely but Anton could see the subtle creases and expressions.
She must have seen the two sparing and enjoying themselves.
“Didn’t think you were the type to get jealous.”
“What?” Marion’s claws gripped into the side of the crate. “Why do you say that?”
“Your tail. The way it moved when Rasha walked in.”
Marion manoeuvred her tail into her lap. Though not as long as Kal’s it still was one of the longest, shorter than his, though it lacked the three fan ends.
“It was behind my back.” Marion threw Anton a derisive look. “So you would have had to be looking at my butt.”
“No. Just the part sticking out. I know what it means by how it behaves.”
Marion grumbled. “If you were just to take Rasha as one of yours things would be a lot easier. Though she was a pain she’s straightened up a lot since you freed her. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. You already have three…”
Anton laughed. “That might be a little too much, even for me. I’m more worried that she’d hurt me accidentally, she’s the second strongest here, after your Kristof.”
Marion smirked. “Yeah…Big old lump.”
“There’s just one more thing I want to know.” Anton began. “And this is something that I’m sure that Kal doesn’t know, but how did she escape Danafra? I know there was a fire and she was thrown from the wall…From what I know you aren’t the kind of person who would just do that.”
Marion stretched out her legs again. “Rafiki…I hate saying that name, he found out that Kal could have children. So he wanted to find out what a quarter-breed was like.” Marion shook her head. “Something about how his blood created a perfect half-breed. A lot of them are sort of mismatched. They’ll have arms and legs that are fully Beast-kin and the rest isn’t.”
“Though they never saw the next day, did they?”
“No. No, they didn’t. I knew that it was going to happen the next day, Rafiki wanted to do it right, whatever that means. A lot of drugs and…So I managed to convince some of the local leaders to riot.”
“You started an entire rebellion?” Anton smiled. “To save your daughter. That’s some real determination. I’ll definitely need to keep an eye on you then.”
“Only if they’re willing to have sex with a full Beast-kin.”
“What?”
Marion looked around. “Don’t tell Kristof this but I did what I had to do to save my daughter. A lot of Beast-kin wanted me. And for a long time.”
Marion bounced her breasts up. “Men tend to get distracted by these.”
“So you managed to convince a whole bunch of horny men…Was that before or after the riot?”
“Both.” Marion chuckled. “Though after the riot I didn’t need to fulfil many of those requests. Some of them weren’t smart enough to ask for it before the riot. Anyway, while they did their thing, they were looking for any excuse to riot and bring down the Seocurian Empire at this point, even though that's impossible for us, I took Kal and tried to escape. I ran into this mercenary, he looked a lot like you, light skin I mean. He was fighting against a Minotaur, so I grabbed a wooden pole nearby and broke his leg.”
Alfred?
“I didn't stop to find out what happened to him. When I reached the wall I could see the entire city was burning. I didn’t expect that. But I saw the Seocurians had taken control of the gates and they had started to flood the walls. Hundreds of soldiers, and they weren't taking prisoners. There was only one thing I could do. I found a patch of bushes near the wall, told her to run and threw Kal over. I…” Tears welled in Marion’s eyes. “I wish I didn’t have to make that choice. But it was the only way for her to survive. She wouldn’t have had even a slaves life. If I couldn’t get her out I’d have made sure she didn’t suffer Rafiki.”
“One day.” Anton patted her leg. “One day we’re going to make a move on the Seocurian Empire. I intend to break it. And soon too. If we were to capture Rafiki, would you kill him?”
“Is that even a question?” Marion asked very softly. Her voice sounded identical to Kal when she was angry, a faint growl underlying each word.
“I suppose not. But right now we need to help these poor souls get the help they need.”