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x. It was late at night. Clarissa had watched as the group found a comfortable clearing and set up camp. Small fires were lit around the camp, casting light throughout the clearing. Nev Ironbar had thanked the group and took the time to congratulate everyone in turn on their skills. She had seen him spend some time alone with Aridena. She saw him gently embrace her and talk softly and sing to her as she wept, still shaken by her ordeal. Had she lost confidence in herself? Clarissa saw that Lav Kivelar had also been watching her, and when she later wandered off into the woods, Clarissa saw that he followed her a short while later. The group was now partying loud despite the hour. Clarissa looked around, and saw that most people had heavily indulged in the fine wine that Alupo had brought with him (and that he seemed to have an endless supply of.) Clarissa could not be bothered imbibing any wine, and noted that the only people marginally sober were Dennis and Cylene, who obviously needed to stay sober just to maintain the energy necessary for their constant cuddling; and Tafcho, who was off to the side by himself silently meditating. Clarissa had felt an affinity for Tafcho that she couldn't explain. He had spent time with her during the debrief and promised to help her develop her sword skills in the morning. She wanted to ask a bit more about that 'organising power' he hinted that was behind the Slaver Organisation, but that could wait as well. Off to the outskirts of the group were the quiet guards. Their names were Toby, Walker, Granduur, Westbury, McGurk and Newman. Each of them in turn had congratulated Clarissa for 'keeping it together' during the battle, and she felt a little more comfortable around them now. Could she see herself staying in the company? She wasn't sure. The only person who still looked at her as if she was out of place was Ehlranth, but maybe that was just the way he was because he didn't smile for anyone. He and Nev Ironbar weren't in the group, and one of the guards was missing: McGurk. Clarissa felt her curiosity gnawing and she decided to go look for them. She passed a gathering around a tree stump that was a makeshift table. There, Mahaern and Alupo were playing against the three from Dyvers. The chip pile were definitely larger toward Mahaern. As she passed, they called her to join but she ignored them, keen to find out where the missing team members were. She was wandering for a while, trying to avoid spooking the guards on duty, when she heard soft voices in the distance. She slowly edged toward them. It was dark, and she stooped low to hear. She could hear them clearly, and kept still. "How much longer must we endure the madness?" It was the voice of McGurk. "For as long as I say we must endure. Do you forget who you work for?" The voice of Nev Ironbar. There was silence for a moment. Then McGurk spoke again, "and you! You are worthy of much, much better than this!" "Let us just say that I share some of your sentiment, but it serves my purposes to be here today. I agree that this is a strong group, and is deserving some measure of... shall we say... protection from harm for now." The voice of Ehlranth. "Bah! And what of the group that follows us?" This from McGurk. Clarissa went rigid. "They know what to do. Don't concern yourself." This from Ironbar. Clarissa was terrified. She turned to get away and back to the group. She found herself disorientated in the dark and realised that she was lost. She couldn't hear the voices anymore, and wasn't sure where to go or what to do. She sat still and thought. What did all that mean? Could she be reading it wrong? Who could she talk to? Maybe Tafcho would know what to do. ... A light was suddenly apparent nearby, a lantern maybe. Clarissa scurried into the brush and attempted to circle the light and see who was making it. She looked around a tree and saw that the lantern bearer was Mahaern, and he was looking for something or someone. Should she risk calling to him? She stepped awkwardly on a branch and the decision was made for her. Mahaern turned and saw her, Clarissa temporarily blinded by the light. "There you are, Melina! I have been looking for you." "Mahaern... what..." He was moving toward her. "Would you care for a game of chance?" He sounded moderately intoxicated. Unsure of what to do, Clarissa backed away. She backed into a tree, and he was right in front of her. She was petrified. He reached up, caressed her face. "I'm so sorry if I scared you, I was just looking for a little company closer to my own age." "Is that all?" Clarissa asked, almost screaming. "Well... no, not really!" replied Mahaern, who then leaned forward and kissed her gently on the nose. He leaned back and smiled genuinely. Clarissa stared at him in surprise. She lost all composure and yelled at him, "YOU SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH!" Mahaern looked downcast, "Oh, I'm sorry... I'll go then..." He turned to go. "Dammit!" thought Clarissa. She grabbed him and kissed him back, on the lips this time. Mahaern generously returned the compliment. In each others arms, they failed to notice the movement all around them. As they parted, Clarissa felt a little dizzy. "Sorry, I got a little lost! Which way is it to get back to the camp?" she asked of Mahaern. "You got off the trail, I think, look over here!" Indeed, there was a trail. "Can we go back now? I am a little scared of being alone and I would feel much better back at the camp." "Sure!" said Mahaern, offering his hand. Clarissa took it. They walked back to the camp, and Clarissa was little more relaxed. Clarissa tried to remember a question she wanted to ask him earlier in the day. What was it? The recruitment! "Mahaern?" "Yes Melina?" Clarissa was getting sick of this. Maybe should just tell him her real name, surely it wouldn't matter. "How did you..." they had turned a corner... ... and they almost walked into a tree. Impaled on the tree was the very dead body of McGurk. Horrified, Clarissa and Mahaern recoiled. Mahaern drew his sword and held his torch up. They saw over a dozen spears pointed at them. "Don't move!" A voice threatened... xi. The partying continued back at the camp. Alupo was glaring at Mary Hunter "By all that is fair, I hope Mahaern hurries back soon, his absence is costing me dear!" "Stop being such a sore loser!" replied Mary. Dennis and Cylene had joined the group as observers and they laughed at this. Nearby, Nev Ironbar was talking softly with Dinizael and Romanar. Ehlranth was speaking with Westbury. "Excuse me kind sirs... and gentlewomen!" A voice came from the woods. Swords were abruptly drawn as some of the guards came over. A halfling appeared who seemed gentle of both face and manner, "you will excuse the interruption at this late hour, I trust, but I have been sent here to inform you that you have wandered onto claimed land. While I am sure that this was an accident on your part, I must insist that you pay the tax that is now owing." The group looked at the newcomer with surprise and there was suddenly much laughter and scorn, and swords were holstered. The halfling looked quite unaffected by this. Gleeson spoke, "Ironbar, will you send this gentleman on his way, please?" Nev Ironbar wandered over and faced the halfling and with arms folded, he regarded the short newcomer. "Who is your master, good sir Hobniz?" "Oh, I work for the Cheyne's. Clan, Noble House, call it what you will." Nev Ironbar was silent for a moment. Gleeson of Dyvers was suddenly alert. Nev Ironbar spoke, "I have credentials here. You might care to look at them, they are quite valid... and verifiable. We are granted immunity to all tax impositions, and all interference for the duration of our expedition." They halfling produced a pair of eyepieces, and slowly scrutinised the papers that Nev had produced. He huffed and shoved them back toward Nev. "I expect that you paid well for them. These will not do, I am afraid." Members of the party stood up, swords were drawn again. Nev Ironbar stood up to his full height. "And why is that, my tiny friend?" The group was surprised when Mahaern and Clarissa were thrown into the clearing by unseen hands. Many more people appeared around the group, all armed. A few were humanoid and an elf appeared at the halfling's side. Cruel looking and brandishing a short-sword idly, she was using it to clean her nails as she leaned against a tree. She addressed Nev Ironbar without looking at him. "Your papers will not do, because we do not recognise your authority... and I am afraid that the tax is compulsory," with this, she stared right into the eye of Nev Ironbar. "The cost is your freedom!" A tall and pale blonde man appeared next to the elf. Wielding a staff, he looked around and addressed the group. "You are now the property of the SLAVELORDS! You will surrender yourselves and your possessions immediately if you wish to avoid personal harm. You are surrounded on all sides and will find that flight would be a useless and costly manoeuvre. Resistance is not tolerated..." With this, the blonde man faced more than a dozen bows and half again that many swords "...but not unexpected, of course! And infinitely more satisfying..." He looked no less relaxed. There was movement all around the camp. Many of the mercenary group looked uncertain about what to do. Clarissa looked up at Nev Ironbar, waiting to see what he would do. She saw him look directly into the face of the elf lady... and smile wickedly... xii. "STRIKE TO SUBDUE !" yelled the blond man with the staff. Immediately, there was melee everywhere, "...all except that golden CUR over there. Restrain him immediately!" Clarissa heard this but her attention was on Nev Ironbar. She was in tears now, tears of anger. "You BETRAYED US ALL!" She yelled. She saw Nev Ironbar turn back toward her and he began to gesture with his hand.... he then disappeared from sight. "NO!" screamed Clarissa, looking around for him frantically. She knew he was gone, and her mind swam. Was he a spell caster now as well? Who is he? What is he? The battle was taking place furiously. Clarissa couldn't focus on anything. She looked around and saw that Lav and Aridena had returned and were battling furiously. All of the group were fighting for their very lives, and yet more of the slavers were standing around the edges of the camp... watching... cheering their colleagues on... and ready to bar escape. Looking around, her eyes found Tafcho. He was surrounded by a dozen tall ugly humanoids, all pointing arrows and spears at him. His attention was focussed on the blonde man, who was walking very slowly toward him, swinging his staff dangerously. Clarissa's attention was on this encounter. The blonde man spoke, "all of the people here are heading for a productive life in servitude to a higher ideal. They will be treated as well as they give. All of them that is except for... well, the creature I see in front of me now." Clarissa saw the blonde man circle Tafcho. His face was a mask of malevolence and hatred like she had never seen in her life, and she considered herself well experienced after more than a few tavern brawls! Tafcho would not even look at the man. He spoke, to no one in particular. "Well, it would seem that the stories were..." The blonde man struck him with the staff behind the knees. Tafcho buckled but remained standing. He was silent, but Clarissa read the pain on her face. She was fighting back tears and she tried to run to him, but rough hands restrained her. The blonde man spoke again. "I choose to use the word Ixslav to describe what I see before me and that which I have just struck with my staff..." "I know the word," said Tafcho, a look of disgust on his face. He was struck hard in the chest with the staff. He spat blood and struggled to breath. Some of the spectators cheered and others applauded. "Ixslav describes perhaps the lowest and most rotting excreta that has been ripening in the hottest of sunny days. I know of no creature that would not willingly avoid a mound of Ixslav. That which I see before me is not even worthy of the title, and thus I am sick to my stomach." Tafcho looked downward, struggling to breath. The blonde man began circling again. Clarissa thought of him as a shark. She thought that she would kill this man, and would enjoy doing it If only she could get to him. "That which I see before me had two arms and two legs. It is dressed in garments that would seem to indicate that it has some knowledge of an ancient art that was stolen from my blessed people." The man was addressing the crowd that was watching the spectacle. People were clapping in tune, exhorting him on. "The Ixslav before me will will now be given the opportunity to demonstrate how perfect those skills are, and how wrong it is that they fall into the wrong hands." The blonde man cast aside his staff and stripped off his garments above his waist. Clarissa was ashamed that she thought him good looking. He was perhaps a few years older than most of the twenty mercenaries, and underneath his shirt was the most toned stomach and chest she had ever seen. He posed as if to challenge Tafcho to a brawl, but then turned suddenly to the crowd and smiled. "Remember, this will be the fairest of fights!" He said as he turned back to Tafcho. Tafcho was standing and looking hard at the blonde man. Clarissa saw the most odd of expressions on his face, a mixture of pity and hatred. Who was this blonde man, and why did he hate Tafcho so? Tafcho was perhaps the most noble soul she had ever met! Clarissa saw Tafcho crouch back and assume a stance of threat, she couldn't describe it any other way. The blonde man did the same in response. They stared at each other, waiting for the other to do something and the spectators were silent. Clarissa was frantic, the blonde man was looking at Tafcho, and it seemed that he was retching, trying to be sick. Clarissa wished she was back home at bed asleep, knowing a piping hot breakfast would be ready for her when she woke. If only the madness would stop... if only she could look away, but she couldn't... ... a dozen bowstrings were loosed. Clarissa watched and saw Tafcho move faster than anything she had ever seen. His arms were a blur as he had managed to knock a few of the arrows out of the air. He had caught another two, but the rest struck him in the face or chest. He fell to his knees. Clarissa watched as the blonde man seemed to balance on one foot as his other leg lashed out and kicked Tafcho in the neck. Clarissa heard a snapping sound and watched as Tafcho fell over lifeless. She heard the blonde man speak, "you see? The fight was completely fair! It is disgusting that a scion of the Suel should be anywhere near a mound of Ixslav. I must change my footwear immediately! Ha!" The crowd around the camp cheered him loudly, and he bowed with a flourish, obviously enjoying the attention. Clarissa struggled. She wanted to kill this man more than anything and she wanted nothing else right now. She struggled and wished that she could be free to do so. And then, a miracle happened as she was free. She looked around and saw that the monsters that held her captive were dead... but how? Hovering over one of them, she saw Gleeson. Bleeding from over a dozen wounds, he was in terrible shape. His skin was even more pale than the skin of the blonde man. He came near and Clarissa could hear him whisper. She saw him looking at the blonde man with a hatred that seemed to equal hers. "I give you the highest blessing of Trithereon that I can give you right now," he said, hand on her shoulder. He looked into her eyes "Go..." he whispered. And Clarissa ran... ran toward this man. She was so consumed with passion that she didn't even notice Gleeson fall dead behind her. She didn't even notice the others that had died around her. She ran right toward the hated man. She could see him now, and he wasn't even moving. She stopped as she ran right into a stone wall... ...Or so it seemed. She had run into something that had stepped out in front of her. She looked up and stared into the eyes of a giant. It looked like the shaggy face giants that had been killed that afternoon, but it's skin was blue, and it seemed to be wearing fine clothes. It also looked taller, more upright and not so slouched. Then it spoke to her, "Hello there!" it said. "You have got to be kidding!" Clarissa thought, "GET OUT OF THE WAY!" she yelled at it. It reached down and picked her up by one hand. She was level with its eye. "I simply can't have you threatening Brother Kerin over there. Why, he would have me killed! He might still have me killed! The only thing I can think to do is to subdue you, like he said!" Clarissa pulled out her short-sword and stabbed the creature in the hand and it dropped her. She grinned and ran toward the man again... Kerin? Was that his name? She was caught from behind. "No, I don't think so, brat! You can sleep!" Clarissa yawned... and indeed, she went to sleep... To be continued: Return to the Dungeons of the Slave Lords (in which Clarissa makes a new friend. His name is Despair)