Day 58

(Little Rat POV)

I take time to indulge in the pleasures of Chanti's soft body, but I can't fully calm down and in the end I exhaust her somewhat recklessly. I'm still struggling with how to take this city and it's nature now that I have looked it in the eye. Thankfully all this does is make her coo in pleasure.

I ask Chanti's opinion and I only find even that realization was childish. Slaves are completely disposable. I could tell the place called a 'brothel' was a place of lust by scent alone, I could also tell it was a cage of despair and suffering. I couldn't tell why at first, until it was clear that the females were not willing but coerced by violence and threats. I had heard things, but without context they were confusing.

Now I was eyes wide open and I was not going to take this kind of thing lying down.

Chirrik told me of the horrors of slavery but to see it was a nightmare. Even Chirrick whom I revere was unable to grasp or convey the depths of this sickness... I know that Chirrick is correct about one thing; this is a practice that has to be stamped out. It is something that I could not explain unless I were to use his words: it is 'evil'.

Yes, evil... I did not think such a thing existed that could be called anathema to freedom.

It is something that will be... no, must be eradicated.

The childish me wanted to 'buy' food and freedom. Gather gold to bribe and persuade. I was hopelessly stupid. How would a slave have access to money of that quantity legally? How would I explain it? How could I keep it quiet?

No, I could do nothing with money but make my enemies know of me and place myself into their hands. If I paid that money to the corrupt there is little chance I would get what it was worth.

So I turned my thinking around. I need food. Who has food, money and slaves in abundance?

And so I walked down the road, past homes and sprawling fields looking at villa after villa.

One of these villa had something happening that caught my nose.

Food, delicious and abundant.

I saw a cart entering the grounds and walked alongside it, past the gate guards who were on the opposite side. They were distracted and had clearly had too much to drink.

Using my hearing and nose together I could keep tabs on all the people here. Even the slaves were of the same race as the owner. This man... I saw him lifting a mug of some drink and lying through his teeth to the men on either side of him at the table. He smells familiar... ah. It's the man that imprisoned us as we entered the city. He talks about something called a senate and orders wine be given to all...

Perfect.

I keep out of sight as I move from room to room. There are few guards aside from personal bodyguards in the building. In one large room I find a wooden thing in front of a chair. I smell gold. In a locked part of the wooden thing (desk). I gnaw through it and claim a fist sized nugget of solid gold and beside it, Chanti's knife made by Chirrik.

I palm them both, putting them in the small sack I found the gold in. He took my gold, I reciprocate. I have to wait at the doorway as a man beats a slave before leaving, which only annoys me further. The young boy lies dead on the tiled floor.

The kitchen is busy, but unguarded and isolated.

From a side entrance I watch them preparing food. Suddenly the crowd vanishes... to collect empty dishes and announce the next course of the banquet. The chef is giving a long speech about the rarity of the singularly large piece of meat on a spit on a tray. I shove this into a linen bag that held vegetables. I take a bottle of alcohol as well.

I cannot spend much time on anger, but I have a few moments. The cart that brought me in is about to leave, or so the driver has said aloud a moment ago... I take metal skewers, snap the needle edges off and press them into several dishes. Look out for more than bones anyone who eats fish...

Running I reach the cart as it pulls away, entering one of the empty wine barrels being removed. It is filled with garbage, but it doesn't worry me. I kind of like it. The guards at the gate give the barrels a glance but hesitate to search the muck.

The cart is fifty yards down the road when yells come, demanding the driver stop. The missing food and the senator who suddenly gained a tongue piercing made my presence obvious. I really hope it was that violent bastard.

The guards search thoroughly for me... but I have been creeping through the long grass of a nearby field for several minutes now, since the guards were distracted by the raucous cries at the dinner long enough for me to evacuate. As they start to expand the search I'm already at the outskirts of the market district.

Directly heading to the slave markets I find my friends in the same cage.

Karamech does the same trick, yawning and shuffling over to cover my form with his own as I come to the cage wall.

He looks at me slightly accusingly as his nose wrinkles...

“I asked for food, but I won't stoop to eating refuse...” [Karamech]

“That smell is me; your food is still clean. I layered a large bolt of (table) cloth over it.” [Tirmin]

“What have you brought for us then Little...” [Karamech pauses awkwardly] “How?! How did you get the haunch of a horn beast...?!”

“I had other choices, was it not good enough?” [Tirmin] “I think I can do better if I try again.”

“Nay, you magnificent youngster... I thought you were special but this is too much. Who did you steal from and how did they make this delightful gravy? I taste pepper and spices too...” [Karamech taking a bite.]

“Some ass-hole. Oh... as for the sauce I believe the secret ingredient was the leaves of the Lerr herb dried and crushed. Simmered in a reduction of the fat of the meat with a touch of salt and cracked pepper to taste.” [Tirmin repeating the chef's speech about the meal]

“Well I must say Lit... I mean Brave One, I am suitably impressed. If this is my last meal, even I won't be disappointed! HAHAHA!!!” [Karamech]

“Is it really that good?” [One of the other two in the cage asks.]

“Better.” [Karamech]

“Let me have some then old man.” [????]

“Hmmm. Very well, I don't taste drugs or poison. I'll split it three ways, even I'm surprised by how much is here. This youngster... I want to give him something for this generous gift beyond measure. May I?” [Karamech]

“Pay him back in full, I'll allow it. Even clan secrets. He's worthy.” [????]

“Sorry but what is going on? I don't see anything you have that I could use.” [Tirmin]

“Knowledge, lad.” [Karamech]

“I already know a lot. My friend has vast information. He taught me about the crafting of iron and steel...” [Tirmin]

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“How...? I did not think your friend was a Franc!” [Karamech]

“A what?” [Tirmin]

“A giant lad, a giant.” [Karamech]

“Chirrik is like me.” [Tirmin]

“What?!!” [????]

“Is it a skill?” [Karamech]

“I don't think so. He just knows stuff about everything. He knew about gold and slavery long before we left our home. He is only a few weeks older than me!” [Tirmin]

“Interesting. Some kind of sage? No. You said he crafts weapons, yesterday.” [????]

“Not crafts. Makes. The parts flow together, the things he makes are beyond the skills of the best I have seen in this city by much.” [Tirmin]

“I very much want to speak with this weapon sage...” [????] “You are here to aid him, to what end?”

“To steal resources, to cripple and weaken this city so that he can deliver the fatal blow.” [Tirmin] “To bring an end to this hateful corruption that is named slavery.”

“And then?” [????]

“I don't know.” [Tirmin]

“There is no long term goal? His decision, while noble seems very short-sighted.” [????] “That kind of thinking, I don't see it as a flaw but still... once he is done will he strike out at the next enemy? Is he truly capable of capturing this city? Or holding it?”

“... I don't know about what he will do after... but yes. He can take and hold this place. Against anyone or thing the maze can throw at us.” [Tirmin] “I have seen the ancient legend of our kind felled by his weapons. The 'butcher'. If he can do that, I know this city will fall.”

“You saw this?” [????] “What kind of powerful weapon could bring down a...”

“I killed it.” [Tirmin] “With a sharp thing. Like a huge dart.”

“That can't be...” [Karamech]

“Silence.” [????] “He isn't lying. He doesn't know how to lie by anything but omission. Can you not smell it on him? He has a Natural Vessel. Those are rare. Only the clever and powerful will ever see them.”

I sniff myself. I don't smell much, besides garbage.

“On your hand. The ring. It is what I speak of.” [????]

I understood it was strange. The ring made of fern fronds and moss. But no one has ever noticed it before, not even the guards when they searched me. What Chirrik calls an artifact.

“You can see it?” [Tirmin]

“Yes. It marks you. I have decided to share a little more information with you. I wish to meet your 'Chirrik'.” [????] “Yes I have much to discuss with him over his short-sightedness if he is who I suspect.”

“Who are you? Only Karamech has given me his name.” [Tirmin]

“Hmm. Well I trust you, it will only mean my death is slower if it is known... I am what you would call a king.” [????]

“Um... no. I don't know what a king is. A leader?” [Tirmin]

“Pfft... yes little one, I am a leader. But don't tell anyone.” [King ????] “I am named Hensai. Karamech there is the last of my bodyguard... and the quiet beauty beside me my older sister Janess.”

“So... Karamech is not a leader?” [Tirmin]

“No, but he is not of the same status.” [King Hensai]

“Status? What is this?” [Tirmin]

“Which isolated back cave have you crawled out of? Surely there is some kind of organization in your kind?” [King Hensai]

“What?” [Tirmin] “We lived as we liked, we owed nothing to another. You speak as if it is natural to be controlled by others born to do such things... but are we all not simply born? I have known many of my kind, but only two have ever been what I would call leaders. I have seen many in this city 'born' to rule over slaves. They are not good at it. But then you should know that 'King' because now you are a slave. Even slaves can be kings.”

“You bastard!” [Janess snapped]

“No... calm down sister. He is not wrong. We lead an army of one... we have no claim to rulership in a cage or an arena.” [King Hensai] “Interesting, we are commoners. I'm not sure how I feel about that.”

“Less than serfs.” [Janess scowling] “But to kick us when we're down is not polite, vermin.”

“Let me make up for that then... wine?” [Tirmin offering a bottle]

“It seems I am not the only king among slaves. How is it, Old Man?” [King Hensai]

“Like the grapes were sung to sleep everyday and pressed by the silky furred thighs of maidens...” [Karamech]

“Surely you exagger...” [King Hensai taking a swig] “...king indeed. King of thieves and slaves. Such a fine vintage, how did you get a hold on this magnificence?”

I smiled before answering. “Compliments of the royal vineyards and the audacity of a certain Senator... they only dared to have a taste and intended to return it. I really hope responsibility falls on the one I loathe. I understand it is the very last of that batch and they were fearful it would be noticed missing.”

“How old?” [Karamech]

“I believe they said it dated back to the founding of this city.” [Tirmin]

“Haha! The irony it ends drunk by the enemies of that city, and slaves at that!” [King Hensai] “Cheers for this chance to piss in the eye of our captors!”

“Well. I'll dispose of the bones and the empty bottle, when you're done. While I hate to rush you, the guard changes shift in an hour... then we will be discovered.” [Tirmin]

“Janess, Old Man... dig in. Hurry.” [King Hensai] “I do hate rushing this feast...”

“For now, gain sustenance to survive. I have a target preparing to leave in a two days. I'll see to your escape shortly before that. I'll have more details tomorrow with your food... it probably won't be as good but I'll try.” [Tirmin]

“Lad... yer class it be thief?” [Karamech]

“Actually...” I rub the back of my head embarassed. “I don't have a class, I didn't pay attention when Mother tried to teach me.”

“Old Man... tomorrow teach him properly.” The king shaking his head. “You and your friend are rather shocking people, did you know that?”

What we learned:

Karamech is not the leader here...

The king knows Rick somehow.

Senators who steal from their own kings... don't live long happy lives.

Not one of the ape-people realized Janess was a female...

Chanti kicks little rat out of her house until he washes his fur.

I intended to write a chapter split between both Rick and Tirmin to showcase the new skill upgrades and such... but the first half swallowed the whole thing! Sorry about the delays... I'm on holiday so I'm just chipping away when I feel like it until Wednesday. I'll try to have a Crab chapter up next and then back to Rick.