Day 3

News was spreading in Point that a killer was on the loose. Having killed men in and out of town, gossip spread. Even in such a big city gossip was like wild fire. People liked to talk, it made them feel important in a city where no one noticed or cared.

No one got involved and no one challenged the queen’s soldiers.

Even though it was a big city people lived in fear of the queen and what she would, could do. Therefore, her soldiers did as they pleased. Because who would dare to stop them.

But Joe had killed three soldiers. A few slave traders and set the slaves free.

This was news worthy gossip. A woman killing men and a mysterious weapon all around one city.

Finally, one of the slaves that had followed Joe came into the tavern. Joe was badly injured and lying in a bed type thing. The tavern owner had left to fetch the physician.

Natrica, had fallen asleep by Joe’s side.

Spice slipped into the room. Joe was awake but not looking good. She looked at Joe’s wound and ran out and gathered worms, bringing them back and putting them on Joe’s cut. It was already showing signs of infection.

Then she ran out again. Gathering some herbs, and ground them up. When she came back, the physician was there.

“Who are you?” he asked in harmony with the tavern owner.

“Spice, she is my master, and before I was slave to Orga the great physician.”

“Oh” said Bran the physician.

“What are you using there?” he asked

She explained her method.

Slaves were educated as it made them more valuable. Even though they were treated badly sometimes and sold from master to master. They were very knowledgeable, and often knew more than a free man. As a free man bought a slave to do it for them.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Natrica watched, she wasn’t sure who was who. She knew Joe and the tavern owner and that was it.

Joe was cleaned up and then once the Tavern owner Brawl and the physician Bran left,

Joe spoke to Natrica.

“I got two horses; we must move to another town. I killed those men and the one who attacked you got away. Someone will be coming for us we must run before they kill us. Load everything on the horses, and when you are ready come fetch me.”

“Um….” Natrica began,

“I can’t ride a horse.”

“That’s fine,” Joe said.

“Buy yourself some shoes,”

Spice came in and looked at them with her big honey eyes.

“Thank you” Joe said.

Spice repeated the words like she was trying to memorise then.

“I will go sort thing out” Natrica said leaving in a hurry.

Joe tried to communicate with Spice.

“Joe” she said touching her tummy.

She then gestured towards spice who said nothing. This was repeated a few times

The she said “Spice, Joe, Spice,” Spice smiled.

Joe spent most of the time waiting, learning nouns from spice. Things she could point to or touch.

Joe was very disciplined and had learnt many languages.

Natrica however was having a hard time. She was scared of horses, so putting things onto the horses back while it moved, shaked and flicked its tail at her….. Well, it was terrifying.

However, she was determined.

She didn’t buy shoes as no one was willing to sell to her.

That afternoon she came back with food and the horses loaded.

Joe introduced Natrica to Spice.

“Natrica this is Spice, she will be coming with us.”

“Ok, can she lead the hoses?” Natrica inquired.

Joe was put on a horse as she couldn’t walk far. Spice lead both horses and Natrica led the way. As they walked through town, people stared.

“Why didn’t you get shoes?” Joe asked noticing Natrica walking in heals.

“No one will sell to me” she shrugged,

“Not even the men who came and watched me dance.”

Joe stopped the horses. She tapped her shoes and pointed to Natrica’s feet.

Spice nodded understandingly.

Joe said

“Give Spice money to buy shoes for you.”

Spice went and got some flat closed boot type shoes for Natrica.

Natrica put them on.

‘At least they were new and no one else had already worn them.’ Natrica thought

Joe, Natrica and Spice where walking down the streets of Point.

Point was a busy city and more slave traders were coming into town.

“We need to find somewhere safe to rest” Joe said.

Spice looked at her cut. It looked like she had been poisoned, but with what?

Her herbs had helped but not as well as she expected.

They come to a small inn and paid for a room and stable for the horses.

Natrica was still very scared of horses and having horses push her about with their heads hadn’t helped.

“How much money do we still have?” Joe asked

“Only five coins” Natrica replied.

“We must leave town tomorrow.” Joe said.

She unpacked her newly acquired weapons.

Spice looked at them and realised what poisoned Joe. She took three coins without asking and ran off.

“Hey!” Natrica called.

“She sold our money” she hung her head.

“We’ll get it back” Joe replied trying to get up.

Joe, had a fever and was too weak to get up.

‘Am I dying? she wondered.’

Spice came back with terrible smelling things which she insisted Joe drinks. She put brown red goo that looked like congealed blood on Joe’s wound.

“I guess she’s not a thief” Joe murmured.

Natrica was worried about Joe and spent the night by her side.

Also Spice snored, so staying up was easier than she expected.