Day 4
Jessica Wildness slept well in her new room. It was warm and a lot cleaner. She even had a mattress of sorts.
It was still dark. She gathered her things hoping to leave on her betrothal dragon. But when she opened the door, two guards stood to attention. She smiled and made her way along. But the two guards followed her. She went into the dining hall were Magofilies was.
She sat next to Shane who was sitting next to Magofilies. Harnacus was on the other side of his father. There was an awkward silence. Then Jessica was summoned. The guards took her to the big table at the center of the dining hall.
Where General Spade held Jessica’s hand, lifted it up high and announced his betrothal.
The people cheered. Harnacus objected
“My General. I have engaged in courtship with this woman. She has even accepted my courtship gift.”
“Son. Be happy for me. For today your general prepares to be married.”
The people cheered but not as sincerely as before.
Customs where important in hard times. It kept a people as a tribe.
Shane suspected that maybe someone would be willing to help them escape. But how to ask?
“Marquez!” the general called
“Come here boy. You will teach my woman to ride a dragon.”
“Yes general” he said eager to please.
The thing about war and hard times is there are no good people. Only survives, people who make hard, bad choices for their own survival. The dragon riders had been doing this. They found healthy children, refugees, or even slaves and freed them to be among them. Well, some of them. Parents were given shelter and food in exchange for their services. The children if young enough were moved to another base and raised believing their parents had been killed by the queen and if they work hard and earn their place as a soldier then maybe they could become a dragon rider and one day help take down the queen and avenge their parents.
Beautiful women like Jessica were often given in marriage to a soldier at a trophy. A reward but usually the man could choose his wife and he had to win her over. After all, if she didn’t love him them, she wouldn’t be loyal to him. Would she teach their children things that could turn them against him?
A forced marriage was not their way not even in war. The fear that your own family could turn on you, was enough to hold off such barbaric ways. If your wife hates you, will she not try to kill you while you sleep? Skiopia women could be scary.
General Spade’s decision was not a popular one. But he had protected them and they feared him so they followed him loyalty as was part of the dragon rider’s way.
Shane waited on the roof for Jessica’s lesson to finish so he could start teaching her the language. Well so they both could start learning the language. He had found with Mag’s help a teacher, who usually taught the little ones to read and write, now she would help them too.
Shane blamed Mag for what was happening. If he had allowed Jessica to leave the barracks with him then the general wouldn’t have seen her and decided that a marriage was in order.
Jessica loved learning to ride a dragon. The beast was powerful and scary. But she was brave and this was the first thing on this world that made her feel free. She dismounted the dragon and hugged Shane who she hadn’t seen since the dining hall saga.
Her hair was a glorious mess, windblown and wild.
Jessica had been given a black dragon, one solid color with orange eyes.
“That was totally awesome” she exclaimed
“We have Laham lessons. We are going to learn the dragon people’s language.” He faked enthusiasm.
“This is good,” Jessica said
“When we can understand we can find a way out of here. Plus with my new pet...” she wondered off
“I need to name him”
“Focus” Shane interrupted her thoughts
“A forced marriage. Do you really want to be having babies with him?”
“Gross NO!” she protested
“Then we need a way out. Because from what I can understand he intends to marry you before the end of the week.”
Jessica’s face fell. Her already white completion became very pale.
They went into the room where a lady was standing. She had pictures with writing under it.
She gave them a scroll each. But she kept a hat pulled low over her face.
Strange, they both thought.
When they took a water break Shane quickly removed her hat relieving the most beautiful eyes.
They were dancing flames of lilac fire coming to the center rather than going from the center. With deep blue surrounding the center and white in between the flames.
“Wow” he said.
He had expected a black eye. Or a nasty scare. But instead, there were eyes of marvel.
“What incredible eyes” Shane said in awe
Jessica looked before she could cover her face again,
“Very interesting” Jessica commented.
Shane apologized as much as he could in Latin.
“I am very sorry. Your eyes are beautiful!”
A hint of a smile touched her lips before she hurried out the room. She had braided white hair. “Your name?” he called after her.
Jessica and Shane waited in the room expecting someone to come and scold them for chasing away the teacher.
“So, what are we going to do to get out of here?” Jessica asked
“I have two guards following me all the time. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are waiting for me outside the door. How am I meant to get away? I really don’t want to marry that old oaf. He is like a granddad. But smelly and mean. I think he knows we are planning to run… Are you even listening to me?” Jessica asked as Shane hadn’t replied to her at all.
“I wonder why she was covering her face. She’s beautiful. Those eyes are spectacular, she’s…” his voice faded off.
“Escape plans over her” Jessica interjected
“You can bring her with if she can help us get out of here. I am getting married in a few days and it’s not OK!”
“Yes, I have an idea. Show me where you found those people and bring your stuff.”
“When?” she asked
“Now” he replied still seaming dazed.
Shane had found her to be beautiful but why hide it. His thoughts raced. She’s hiding, is she a freak of nature? Is she a slave? Why did she run?
Jessica left the room and was followed to her new room where she stuffed her things into her bag, as much as she could and then put her coat over so her bag couldn’t be seen. She then escorted by two guards went back to the teacher room where she found Shane. He was pacing
“I’m back” she said
“With all my stuff”
“Your camera?” he inquired
“Yes”
“Good, take me to the sick dying people. It might give us leverage.”
“I have guards following me.”
“I am counting on it. They will have to follow us and we can take picture of them with the sick and if they run off to tell on us. Then we have an opportunity to escape”
“I don’t like it” Jessica said
“Do you have a better idea?” He asked.
They retraced her steps and the guards started getting nervous. She opened the secret passage and one guard left. They went inside and she led them down using the stone she had stolen for light.
Shane couldn’t believe a stone lit up. But then there where fire breathing dragons that people rode, so what’s a stone that glows?
The guard tried to stop them but Shane hit him with Jessica’s bag, and that was a heavy bag. While he was getting up off the floor they ran. Running was a bad idea as this part of the barracks as it was falling apart.
The floor caved in and they fell. Landing on the stone floor below wasn’t the worse of it. The stone that fell on top of them afterwards was.
Shane lay on the floor his head rang. He felt no pain at all. His vision was spotted. He tried to move his hand but he couldn’t feel it. He tried to move his legs and he couldn’t.
“Jess” he said into the spotted darkness.
But there was no reply. Shane’s vision finally began to clear and the light from the stone lit up part of the dark cavern. He became aware of his whole body at once. It ached and the pain was terrible. He tried to move but couldn’t. He could see stones covering most of his body.
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“Jessica, are you ok” he called into room.
But once again silence answered him. He heard a muffled sound. His pain increased. Someone was lifting the stones off of him. Three men’s faces appeared. But he had nothing to say as he passed out.
Jessica had run to get help for Shane. She was unable to free him from the stones. The first guard who had felt returned with others and she was happy to lead them to Shane. Jessica took pictures of everything. Her body ached but she was ok. Or so she thought.
Shane was not ok. Blood pooled around where he was. The men picked him up through him over a shoulder and carried him out.
Jessica decided to go on and get pictures of the dying people. So, she quickly ducked off. Leaving Shane with the guards. She battled to find her way back to the cages where she had seen those people. But when she finally got there, there was no one. Not one person in the cages.
She ducked away into the nook in the wall. There she waited wondering if anyone would come, and what happened to the people. It seemed like hours before she heard someone coming. But it was only fifteen minutes. She took pictures as the person came into view.
Harnacus stood in the room alone. It looked daunting, he looked scary. Even though she was sure he liked her. She wasn’t sure it would be enough to stop him from harming her. Afraid she stayed hidden. Unsure what her next move should be. Harnacus started talking as if to someone. Yet no one was there. He moved to the wall and extended a hand to Jessica. She reluctantly took it. Fear shone on her face. He continued talking as if she could understand. The faster her heart beat the dizzier she became. Her legs started to feel weak under her.
Harnacus held her up. Then he carried the girl back to the living quarters.
She had a concussion not that her current hosts understood that.
Shane West awoke on a stone floor. It was cold and damp. The air was musty a single candle provided light in the windowless room. As he sat up, he realised he was shackled to the wall. His body ached. His escape plan had failed gloriously.
He tried to examine the lock but the light was too dim for him to see clearly. He could see the candle which was out of reach and the dull cold chains that shackled him but he couldn’t see more than a meter around him. He felt like he wasn’t alone. That unsettling feeling when you cannot see anyone or hear anyone, was awful. He tugged at his chains. They were secure.
A voice from the darkness said
“Your efforts are wasted.”
“Who are you? Why am I here?” Shane asked
“You disappointed me. You were given opportunities to become one of us. But you squandered this gift. As the brother of the new queen. Anything you desired would be yours.”
“Are you crazy? I am not the brother of the queen.”
Then Shane began to put things together. He was the brother of Jessica in this world. Or so people believed, and the General wanted to marry her.
Does he see himself as king over his people?
“You have put me in an unfortunate situation. Explaining your absence.”
A dark form moved in the corner.
“General Spade, forcing a marriage is not a sign of good will. What have you done with Jessica?”
“She is recovering from her wounds and will be protected from her curiosity.” He responded.
“Will someone be coming to attend to my injuries?” Shane inquired.
“No, you are now an unpleasant memory.” He said flatly and the dark form disappeared.
“General?” Shane said into the darkness.
There was no response. After a while Shane knew he was alone.
The candle was getting lower and lower. There was no way to tell the time. Shane feared that the general intended to have him die of dehydration before fetching his corps.
There was a scurry on the stones
“Hello” he called into the darkness.
Then a rat. A very large rat ran over his foot. It looked about the size of a small dog.
Shane pulled his legs up. His heart raced. Four red beady eyes moved towards him.
“Get!” he shouted
It moved back a little but then started making its way towards him again.
“I said, Get out of here!” he yelled again at the advancing eyes.
This time it stopped without moving back a little.
Then the four eyed rat charged him. It bit a piece out of his leg.
His already wounded body was now getting eaten by a rat while he was still alive.
It returned for seconds, and thirds.
I am not dying like this
Bleeding from his legs he moved so the chains that shackled him would provide some protection. But it wasn’t enough, it returned and bit another piece out of him.
“Well, if I am going to die so are you” he said to the rat.
Angry he moved again. Maybe I can chock it with these chains he thought optimistically.
The now very bold rat approached without fear but rather an intelligent toying.
Shane waited and waited for it to be right there. As it made its dine and dash move. He squashed its body onto the stone floor using the chains on his writs.
It performed and wiggled. It reached his hand and bit.
The pain caused Shane to loosen his grip. Desperate, he bit it back. But not hard enough to draw blood. He was concerned about the diseases it might have. But it kept biting pieces out of his hands. He bit harder, drawing blood. The rat squealed and released its grip on his hand. Shane bit again.
The rat cannot get away.
He bit and while holding tightly with his teeth he grabbed it in his hand. Scared, angry and a bit panicky he bashed the rat against the floor over and over. He wasn’t sure when it had stopped moving, or when he had killed it. But when he finally stopped hitting it against the floor, he was holding only half its body. He had bashed it until its body broke in half.
Covered in blood and shaking Shane looked at the dim light from the candle.
The candle was now a flicker and the light, was almost completely gone.
He calmed himself. What is around me that can help me? What can I use to escape these chains?
He tried to steady his nerves and think about his situation not giving into the fear that tried to embrace him.
The rat torn body, guts and bones sat with him in a pool of blood.
Bones
He took a bone and tried to open the lock. He kept trying until it worked
Three more to go
The candles wick was all that was alight. He couldn’t see anything anymore.
He felt around in the darkness. But without light he was unable to make progress.
At the point of tears.
Shane sat in the darkness so dark that even dark shadows couldn’t be seen. So dark it was like the darkness was alive in itself. It could be felt.
His eyes could not adjust.
I am going to die he thought, In a strange world with stranger people. I will be a missing person forever. Somebody never found. No peace for my family just the unknown.
Another rat will probably come and how will I defend myself in the dark? I am going to get eaten alive.
Being alone in a desperate and hopeless situation does breed depressing thoughts.
Jessica woke up from her nap. She was groggy.
Harnacus was sitting on a chair in the room. She was not in her room nor the room Shane now had to himself.
“Where is Shane” she asked
Harnacus came over. He spoke something to her but she didn’t understand.
“Shane?” she repeated.
He shook his head and looked at her with sadness.
Jessica ran out of the room. She went to her dragon where Marquez was.
“Shane?” she asked
The young man shrugged.
Jessica tried to get onto her dragon but soldiers grabbed her and took her to her room.
“Shane?” she asked again becoming distraught.
But no one answered her.
Oh, you don’t understand me.
She tried to use all the words she had learnt to ask where Shane was. But still no one responded. She asked again. But no one even looked at her.
I should have stayed in the room with Harnacus. She thought
She had played it nice. She had tried to fit in, kind of. But now she was invisible!
She started screaming like someone was trying to kill her.
The guards exchanged worried looks but stood in their place.
She kept screaming as loud as she could.
A man ran in with a bag. She guessed he was a doctor of sorts as he tried to give her stuff and rubbed green leaves on her bruises.
She kept screaming.
“Magofilies” she said and then kept screaming.
Finally, after now feeling faint from screaming Magofilies came in.
“Shane?” she asked.
Using her newly acquired words she tried to ask
“Where is Shane?”
But she said something more like
‘Pain, sky light, Shane’
Magofilies inquired into Shane’s where about and finally a slave boy told him where Shane was and that General Spade wanted him to die and be eaten by the rats.
Shane saw a light; it was getting brighter.
Maybe I have lost too much blood, he worried.
Another rat had been eating him and in the dark, he couldn’t defend himself.
I’m dying, He thought
The light came into view and Magofilies too. He carried a lantern and keys.
“This is your fault” Shane said
“You kept us as prisoners here. You wouldn’t let Jessica come with me to gather supplies to heal your men and now the crazy General Spade is making her marry him and … and he wants me dead.”
Shane ranted on in a mumble as his body was fading.
“You were never my prisoner” Magofilies said.
“Yes, I was. Which would have been fine… but we were. You wouldn’t let us leave.”
“It was not safe for you.” Magofilies answered.
“Or maybe you just wanted the lady for your son. Prisoners with some privileges.” Shane insisted.
“Save your strength. We need to get you out of here and somewhere safe. Until the prince arrives.”
“You are a savage,” Shane said weakly
“Thank you.” Magofilies said as if receiving a complement.
“The worst kind of person. Pretending to help while working your own agenda.” Shane accused.
“Are you not making plans which you haven’t shared?” Magofilies asked.
Shane was quiet. He didn’t have the strength to fight.
Mag unlocked the chains and lifted Shane to his feet. He then put an already dead body in Shane’s chains.
Shane was taken to a room in the wall. It had been used to store wine and only slaves went there.
He arranged that more than enough wine was taken to the kitchen pantry to ensure no one would need visit this now recovery room.
“Please let me see Jessica and speak to her.” Shane requested.
“I can have a letter delivered and that is all. Everyone must believe you are dead.”
“Thank you.” Shane said.
Shane wrote Jessica a long letter in English so no one could read it even if they wanted. Upon giving Magofilies the letter he said
“If I die make sure Jessica gets away from General Spade. He was calling her the queen and I don’t believe he will treat her well. He thinks he is your king”
Magofilies kept his composure not showing that this news was concerning to him.
Could the General be forcing this marriage because he believes Jessica is a royal?
If that is his reason then, was, he planning to overthrow Queen Tiffany and declare himself the new king of the land. Would Chayim have a king that is not a royal and a queen that doesn’t even speak the language?
How unfortunate it would be if the queen fell ill not long after taking the throne leaving everything to the new king.
Could General Spade really plan something so dishonorable?
Magofilies wondered.
But since Queen Tiffany’s rule many had done dishonorable things. They had survived by living in the grey. Having dirt on their faces and blood on their hands.
Jessica Wildness, received the letter from Shane. Delivered by Magofilies. She quickly read it.
Dear Jess
I know I don’t really like you but I do not wish harm upon you either. General Spade is a bad guy. He tried to kill me. If you get a chance to leave, don’t wait for me, go.
This world is crazy and I might die here. But you might still be able to get home.
I know you can’t drop it or just let it be. But keep your promise to follow other leads before going after my father. Look for the truth, don’t be sure of anything until you have the whole picture.
Regards Shane
After reading the letter Jessica was very distressed. Her mind raced, should she run?
Should she try to find Shane?
What if General Spade catches her again?
What was she willing to do for freedom?
Shane had been of great comfort to her and she respected him. He was one of the good ones. Even though he had only known her for a short while. She felt like he did know her, or at least understood her.
She decided she wasn’t going to leave without Shane. She was going to instead put on the greatest performance of her life. If she could find out where Shane was and what was really going on here.
In a world where she doesn’t know the language.
Then she would prove she was the greatest detective ever. This made her smile a little.
Magofilies was unsure of himself. He was the captain of the 5th troop. He was respected by all the men in his troop and he had the respect of the other captains.
He was good to the slaves in his charge and they had told the other slaves of this.
He protected his people and he served with as much honor as he could. He knew sending word to the prince was the right thing. He just didn’t know what to do while waiting.
Waiting is something many people battle with. Patience and uncertainty are usually a bad combination for mental health.
Harnacus came into the room
“Father I am doing to do something that will disappoint you. I am asking for forgiveness” he looked at the floor.
Then standing to attention he continued
“Thank you for being the great man you are. You have inspired me and given me the courage to make the hard choices.”
“What are you going to do?” Magofilies asked
“I am going to free Jessica. Take her back to her father’s house. If my betrayal gets me shunned…”
He paused unsure of what to say.
He was leaving. Not just for a woman but for his soul. Somehow, he hoped this right act would make up for his wrongs. But he was also hoping for a chance with Jessica.
“I am proud of you” Magofilies said
He saluted his son and left him to try free Jessica.
His heart wanted to help. But he was a man who followed orders even ones he disagreed with.
General Spade come into Jessica’s room. A slave girl was with him. She had a string with knots tied in it.
“How would you like your dress?” he asked.
But Jessica couldn’t understand.
Irritated he sent for the teacher.
Pragyaparamita was brought in. Her big lilac eyes were hidden under a low pulled hat.
She had her equivalent of a chalk board with her. She drew pictures of dresses.
Jessica began to get the idea. But she pretended she didn’t. However, this didn’t work for long. As General Spade slapped Pragya across the face and shouted at her.
Jessica felt terrible. Playing dumb wasn’t going to work. She needed a better plan. Then it dawned on her. One of woman’s oldest tricks, pretending to love someone, gaining their trust. It was worth a try.
Pragya tried again Jessica began to follow. She needed to draw the dress she wanted. Since she wasn’t an artist, she kept it simple. Even though she wanted something more glamorous as it would take longer to make. She settled for a dress her drawing abilities could design.
General Spade sat around for this, watching the young women draw dresses. He liked simple, practical and her dress was.
Jessica decided to get him involved, have his opinion so to speak.
The slave woman measured her and wrote this down on a scroll.
She gave Jessica different color material to decide on, none of the options were white.
Guess a widow in this world doesn’t get white. She thought.
But in Chayim white was not a bridal color.
She held up the colors to her face. Using facial expressions like a big smile, a straight face and a frown she asked the other women what they thought.
She actually began to enjoy herself. Choosing dresses and planning her outfit. She narrowed the colors down to red, green or gold.
It was quality material with bright strong colors.
She turned to General Spade, she held up the green then the red and then the gold. Watching his face, he seemed to like the green.
But she didn’t, tempted to choose green she told the slave woman she needed to see.
The mirror got a quick spit and rub. Jessica liked the red one most. It was a flattering color on her.
So, with hesitance she made her decision. She really wanted to learn the language so she asked the general if Pragya could stay and teach her. Touching his arm, she asked
“Please can she stay and teach me?”
She reached for Pragya who was now afraid. Then looking up at the general as if he wasn’t a monster, she pulled the chalk board over.
The general agreed, watching the women enjoying themselves had been a good feeling. It had been so long since anyone was happy. This is why he had to do what he planned.
Jessica listened and tried to learn as much as she could from Pragya.
She decided to plant a seed, one that would inspire questions.
So, she tried to ask about Shane using the words she had learnt.
Then she left it, hoping she had inspired questions as to where he was.
Then she asked about wedding customs? This turned out to be important.
Dragon Riders had certain customs. Customs she hoped she was misunderstanding. Like public consummation of the marriage.
Pragyaparamita came from the Viden tribe. They were knowledge keepers. They were able to learn from you, everything about you and remember it objectively without it affecting the way they see people or behave. They were logical, methodical and very unemotional in general. But those raised outside of their people, who didn’t learn from their elders and didn’t practice their customs. Well, they did develop emotions and un-objective feelings. However, their ability to learn everything through a kiss and stay unattached to this knowledge remained.
Pragya had lied. She had told General Spade that she was a Carsta and that even though she looked like the Viden she didn’t have their abilities.
So, she was used in other ways since her knowledge keeping skills were useless to him.
But since the General got lonely and so did his men. She had been passed around the barracks a few times. Gaining knowledge with every kiss and trying not to be noticed by anyone as it usually didn’t go well for her.
However, she had shown an ability to teach and explain things so she was given the task of being the children’s teacher. This was somethings she liked.
She had been sixteen when a general from another barracks ‘found’ her.
By ‘found’ we mean kidnapped her from her walk in the forest collecting herbs for medicine. He had sent her as a gift to General Spade.
A Carsta was someone who had one parent from one tribe and the other parent from another tribe. This practice was looked down on and most times a Carsta didn’t inherit any strengths from either parent. Making them look different yet being like someone from the Terra tribe. (Who are as such, simple humans.)
There was a coastal city or so stories went. That parents who created Carsta children could go there. This was a city for the outcasts who had no tribe. As it was shameful to have a child or marry someone ‘else’.
But it still happened sometimes.
Also, Carsta children grew up and had more children. So, a place for them was needed and they made a city for themselves. Tolerant and inviting to all. Far away from the civilized world.