N18, The Ratmen’s Chief

I intently watched the three individuals as they approached the tannery from the slope. Unlike the other ratmen I had seen until now, that had a rather slender figure, they had strong arms and muscular chests, which made their appearance very intimidating. The two escorts were as tall as a human, and also resembled them a lot. They had short snouts, and a pair of dog like ears sprouted from between their messy hair, but their eyes, the top of their noses and their foreheads wouldn’t be out of place if they were in a man’s face.

‘I can’t even call them ratmen at this point. Those two are totally dogmen.’

This idea was further reinforced after I noticed the long tails swaying behind them. They were slender and had short fur, much like my own.

The two dogmen were wearing fancier versions of the tamer’s armor, but they didn’t have helmets at the moment. Their weapons consisted of long bone spikes with hide grips and fang ornaments, as well as big bone axes with black obsidian heads. Both of them also wore several necklaces made of fangs and claws, some of which had been painted with bright colors. I looked around expecting to see some mutts, but despite their tamer attire I couldn’t see any accompanying them.

‘They must be the guards of the bigger one.’

I focused my attention on the individual walking in the middle. He was about two heads higher than his guards, and a lot bulkier. With arms as thick as a log and a thorax so wide and strong that his back and shoulder muscles seemed to make a hump behind his head. The features of his face were similar to his two guards, a mixture of human and dog traits.

‘With that body it looks like he could easily wrestle a big lizard barehanded. Or tear apart my neck… Is he a more advanced evolution than the dogmen or just a variant like Number Two?’

I had no way to know it at the moment, but I leaned more towards the first option. That would mean the ratmen could evolve at least four times.

He was wearing a really elaborated outfit by the standards of this village. It was armor made of colorful scaly hides that had been reinforce in several places, with leather straps to adjust it and multiple pockets with smooth bone buttons that seemed to be full of stuff. Many big fangs and claws, as well as polished stones and feathers were attached to it, it seemed to be a mix of the tamer’s and artisan’s attire.

‘He is definitely the one in command of this settlement.’

The big dogman carried a more fancy version of his guards’ axes as well as a couple daggers of exquisite workmanship. Their handles were made of carved horn with a black obsidian pommel and their blades were hidden inside holsters made of a red scaly skin.

As the three individuals approached the tannery the boss stopped looking absentminded. He started inspecting his surrounding and finally focused his attention on Tone and me. At my side I could feel Tone getting stiff at my side. Seeing the tamer get nervous also made me a little unease.

‘Uh, did we caught his attention? I doubt he would be interested in a novice tamer and a dog, but maybe we shouldn’t be roaming around here.’

The trio came directly towards us and stopped just a couple feet away. The big dogman spared Tone a glance and then looked at me with a slightly amused expression.

“What are ya doing ‘ere?” The big dogman asked with his eyes fixated on me.

‘Oh! So this one can more or less talk the human language, he could improve his pronunciation a bit, but otherwise his diction is perfect.’

I was really surprised. Unlike the ratmen and tall ratmen, that spat their words with obvious effort, this individual could speak fluently. I took a peek at his guards wondering if they can do the same. Looking at their similar faces I guessed it was very likely.

“Dogh, cghurius, thgan, pgools,” Tone explained hurriedly with short words while pointing at the tannery.

“Hmm, I see, is dis ta dog I heard ‘bout? The one dat controls the dark one?”

“Ghes! Chif,” Tone answered him with a humble nod, confirming his identity as the chief of the village.

‘Uh, so he heard about me and Number Two. Well, it’s not strange. More than half the tamers and all the laborers working for them are on edge anytime he is near.’

“Ya’re quite cleva’, Ain’t cha?…” The chief said while pondering something. “Do ya want ta see ‘em? The tan pools.”

‘Oh! Will I finally be able to see the tanning area?’

“Hmm, did ya understand ma words?” The chief asked me with an inquisitive expression.

‘Shit! I had looked towards the tannery’s entrance without realizing it. What should I do now?’

I turned my head towards a random tent in an attempt to make it seem like my previous action had been just a coincidence. Then tried to look calm as I felt the chief’s gaze fixated on me.

‘Thankfully dogs can’t sweat.’

“Wat'eva, c’mon, follow me,” the chief said, apparently losing his interest on me. He urged us to move with a motion of his arm.

We crossed the hide covered entrance behind the chief and his guards. Inside there was a spacious area a bit smaller than the walled grounds where the fierce rats were trained. Heaps of hides and other things were piled up against the walls, and in the center many scaly skins were submerged inside numerous circular pools that had been excavated in the ground. A few ratmen laborers were stirring some of the pools while a couple artisans supervised the process and gave orders from time to time.

Looking around I noticed a pile of brains as well as some dark wood that was being ground into fine powder by a few laborers.

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‘So that’s where the black dust comes from.’

They got it from the dark roots I had seen from time to time in the caves. I wondered if they used them just to add that unnerving smell to the skins or if it was also part of the tanning process.

I focused my attention on the back of the tannery where some pools were steaming. Full of curiosity I slowly took a couple steps towards them.

‘Could that be…’

I looked back. Tone was glaring at me. His face screamed that he wanted me to stay by his side, but he was too intimated by the chief’s presence to raise his voice. I smirked at him, and with no one making a move to stop me, joyfully strolled towards the source of my curiosity.

Once I reached the pools I confirmed my suspicions. It was warmer near them. They weren’t at the boiling point, but the water seemed hot to scald someone.

‘Where in damnation are they getting hot water from?’

The ratmen didn’t wood or coal, they didn’t cook, and I hadn’t seen any of them carrying water inside the village. They drank from a few puddles that formed near the eastern edge of the cavern or from the ones that we passed by during our hunts.

While wondering if the pools were natural springs that had been given form or if they were filled using another method a few ratmen laborers appeared from a small entrance in the cavern’s wall carrying big waterskins.

‘So there was another exit here!’

Unlike the other village entrances there weren’t any fortifications nor guards here. Given the fact that this place was very important for the settlement there had to be a good reason for their absence.

‘There has to be some other obstacles that protect this exit, or is it a dead end?’

Taking note of the possible fourth escape route I kept exploring the tannery for some time. Once I was done I got back to Tone’s side, who kept staring daggers at me for a long while. Meanwhile the chief was chatting with the tall ratmen in charge of the place, with his two guards standing silent behind him.

“Dog, did ya got yer curiosity satisfied?” The chief suddenly asked me.

‘A bit, it would be better if you told Tone to let me move freely.’

“Do ya want ta see the slope next?”

‘The slope? Yes! Of course!’

“Hmm, so ya can understand me after all.” The ratmen’s boss said rubbing a hand on his chin.

‘Damn!’

I had made another mistake by turning around to look at the slope after hearing the chief’s question. Nothing good could come from him learning that I was able to understand them. The more the ratmen underestimated me the better would be for my future plans.

“Ya’re an interesting fella,” said the boss. Then with a smile that looked highly intimidating to me he added. “I’ve been looking for a dog like ya fer a long time, I will keep an eye on yer growth.”

‘Ugh, this is not good. Is there any way to mislead him?’

I refrained from looking around frantically as the gears of my mind turned at full speed. I contemplated several choices, but all of them had some downsides. Finally I gave up and decided it was best to stay quiet.

‘Anything I do could backfire. I should try to avoid him as much as possible from now on.’

…

A day had passed since my encounter with the village’s chief. I hadn’t seen the big dogman after leaving the tannery, but I had been thinking a lot about him.

‘An intelligent creature that won’t kill me on sight. He may be dangerous for my plans, but he is also my best chance to find some information about this underground place.’

Rather than keep stumbling in these caves without knowing anything it would be better to try to communicate with him. That was the decision I had reached after mulling about yesterday’s events all night. The chief’s attitude towards me seemed favorable, but I couldn’t be sure. If possible I would like to observe him for some time.

‘But I can’t keep postponing finding my other minions…’

I was starting to get impatient and was seriously considering to leave the village by myself. Then I would bring them to a safe location where I could reach them with easy. That way I would be able to escape with all the band members at any time. After that, if the chief wasn’t annoyed by my little escape and seemed reasonable enough I should try to establish a dialogue with him.

‘Or whatever I can manage with this body, maybe I can draw signs like those of the humans.’

While thinking about my plans I saw that some members of the hunting party were back. I had been waiting for Number One and Number Three near the eastern entrance alongside Tone.

‘Uh?’

One of the dogs that returned was badly injured, it had blood all over its back and was almost unable to walk. Having a bad feeling I quickly approached it.

“Woof!” The nearest dog barked at me. I could tell he was really anxious.

‘Shit! You are Number One, then the hurt one must be Number Three. Why can’t I recognize you at a glance after so much time!’

I examined Number Three’s wounds. He had some nasty bite wounds on his back and hind leg. Judging by their size they had been left by a big lizard.

‘Damn! This is serious.’

Lizards’ teeth weren’t big, but they were sharp, and with their strength who knew what else might have happened to Number Three during the fight.

The tall ratmen led him to a spot out of the entrance path and the dog immediately plopped down. Number One was watching the scene with a worried expression and I myself was not sure what to do. I was unable to apply first aid with this body.

The novice tamer in charge of Number Three knelt by his side and began to apply some black paste on his wounds. As he was doing this some other ratmen came closer.

“Bginds! Gwater! Ghurry!” The knelt tamer asked them.

“Gno! Laghte, wgounds, deep,” a veteran tamer that had just arrived answered him. He was the same one who led my first expedition.

“Gno! I, tgry,” Number Three’s tamer said with stressed gestures.

“Dogh, saghcrifighce, nough!” The veteran insisted raising his voice.

“Groarr!” I couldn’t tolerate his words any more and jumped in front of him.

‘I’m not letting one of my subordinates die just because a talking rat says it.’

Number One stayed close behind me and the tamer hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching for his bone spike. His three dogs were also glaring at me, but they wouldn’t move without their master’s orders.

“Groarr! Grrr groarr!” I roared loudly. I was sure Number Two would hear me and rush here. He was difficult to control, but right now I needed as much help as I could find.

“Ghsit!” Tone ordered me in a panic. “Great, dogh, mhagter, ghait!” He begged the veteran extending his arm.

The veteran stopped moving and glared at Tone. “Ghat? Chongtrol, dogh!” He shouted at him with an enraged expression.

“Ghait!… Chif… Ghatch, dogh. Chif! Tghell!” Thinking fast, Tone covered for me by mentioning our encounter with the village chief.

“Groarr!” At that moment Number Two arrived sprinting, his tamer nowhere to be seen.

I quickly moved to intercept his course. “Grrr, groarr!” I growled to make sure he wouldn’t mistake me for an enemy. Number Two stopped in front of me. The situation was very tense. A crowd of ratmen had noticed us and were watching the scene develop from a distance.

I walked up to Number Three’s side and called my subordinates again with a quiet bark, then patted the ground with my front paws repeatedly to order them not to move. We needed to protect Number Three until the situation calmed down.

The veteran had been staring at me since he heard Tone’s words. I glared back at him, but refrained from roaring.

‘Go away, asshole!’

His expression was showing clear hostility. He was surely pondering the consequences of starting a fight with us.

“I, chif, agsk.” With these three words the veteran took his hands of his bone spike and relaxed his posture. Then he called his dogs and left with an angry expression.

I watched the tall ratman head towards the slope with his mutts in tow and turned my attention on my wounded subordinate. He was being treated, but no one had brought the binds and water the novice tamer had asked for. Tone was still staring at the veteran so I touched him and pointed at Number Three with my head.

“Bginds, gwater, nough,” Tone immediately understood my request and asked the laborers present to bring both things.

Soon Number Three was being bandaged while someone poured water in his mouth. He was still conscious, but was breathing with difficulty. After making an effort to drink he collapsed and stood on the ground with his eyes closed.

‘Damn it!’

At that moment I decided I would stay by his side until he woke up. I would need to postpone finding my other minions. Later I would make some arrangements to make sure me or one of my subordinates always kept an eye on him, just in case the veteran schemed something.

‘Don’t you dare die on me, lazy bastard. I promise I will give you some salted meat once you wake up.’