Awaken (14 page)

“
And what have you found
here Toole?” His booming question is directed to the leader of our
captors but fans out over the crowd with its sheer forcefulness. I
can feel Finn trembling beside me. The man named Toole steps
forward.

“
We found them in the
mountains Busher. The dwarf says they are traders but they was
carrying this.”

He hands the huge man my iron shooter.
It looks tiny in his massive hand, like he could crush it no
problem. He studies it.

“
H’m. This is army issue,”
he says. He turns his attention to us, his dark eyes studying our
faces.

“
A girl, a boy, and a dwarf.
I can see your need to keep them bound Toole. They are a dangerous
bunch indeed.”

This is met with much snickering and
laughing from the other Raiders. Toole reddens at the giants words
but he don’t say nuthin.

“
Untie them for the god’s
sake. That is no way to treat our guests.”

Immediately his bidding is done and our
ropes are removed. Finn’s skinny wrists are chafed and bleeding and
he rubs them to ease his pain. Mine are about the same but I refuse
to show them any weakness. The giant smiles at us, his teeth a
startling white in his dark face.

“
There, isn’t that so much
better?”

“
Yes, thank you kind sir,”
Tater says gratefully and I glare daggers at him. He shrugs his
shoulders at me but falls silent.

“
Excellent! Now about this?”
he waves the iron shooter. “Would any of you mind telling me the
story of how you came about this? For I am sure it is an
interesting one indeed.”

None of us speak. The giant waits for a
moment, looking at us expectantly, then sighs.

“
Please, do not be like
that. I promise no harm will come to you from us. I am just asking
for a simple explanation,” he says, in a most pleasant
manner.

I make a decision. I don’t know if he
can be trusted but I see no harm in telling him the
truth.

“
It was left behind by the
Prezedants Army. They attacked our villages…mine and the boys.
Killed our kin,” I say. My voice breaks a little at those words but
I go on. “They came from the sand lands in big metal
machines…veacals… I know them to be now.”

I reckon this interests him ‘cause he
takes a step closer to me. I back up a pace…I cain’t help myself.
He bends over and stares me straight in the eye.

“
You saw the Prezedants
tanks? In the sand lands?”

“
Aye…if that’s what they’re
called,” I say, looking back at him, eye to eye. “They’re real….as
real as you or me.”

“
And when did this
occur?”

I shrug.

“
I cain’t rightly say. I’ve
been traveling for weeks now I think….just walking the sand lands
‘til I come across Finn and Tater. We’re just travelers like Tater
told your men.”

He’s staring at me but his words are
directed more to himself I think.

“
I had heard stories of his
tanks traveling the sand lands but I hadn’t thought it
possible….”

He brings his attention back to
me.

“
And where would such an
unlikely trio as you be traveling to?”

“
Littlepass Sir,” Tater
pipes up. “I have business there you see. It is a very profitable
city for a lowly trader such as myself. The two young folk….well
you have just heard of the misfortune that has befallen them. I
have merely taken them under my wing since they have no other kin
to look out for them.”

The giant laughs. It’s so loud it hurts
my ears and I wince.

“
Well aren’t you the
magnanimous one,” he says to Tater. Tater nods, smiling himself
now.

“
Indeed. As my dear mother
used to say, small in stature…big in heart.”

The giant nods. “A nice sentiment to be
sure.” He waves the iron shooter again. “So you came by this by
pure misfortune then? You have no associations to the Prezedant or
his army?”

Tater by now has taken to talking to
the giant like they are long lost friends.

“
Oh dear me no. No, no, no,
we are in no way affiliated with that group of
barbarians.”

“
Ah….good.” He studies the
three of us standing in front of him and gives us that brilliant
white smile again. Then he nods.

“
Throw them in the cage with
the other prisoner,” he says to Toole and turns his back to us
dismissively.

“
Yes sir.”

Shocked, I watch as our original
captors start to advance on us. What the hell just happened here?
We had answered all his questons…why would he want to lock us
up?

“
Wait! No!” I push away from
the raider trying to capture my arms and yell at the giants
retreating back.

“
You lying bastard! You said
no harm would come to us!”

I can hear Tater hissing at me through
the corner of his mouth “Shut up girl!” but I’m simmering mad and I
don’t pay no heed.

The giant stops at my words, turns on
his heel and walks back to me. He looms over me with his sheer size
but I stare back at him defiantly. He looks me up and down for a
bit and when he speaks his voice is soft.

“
Oh but I did not lie girl.
No harm will come to you…not while in my possession. You are more
valuable to me unscathed.” He runs a finger down my cheek and it
takes all my willpower not to shrink from his touch.

“
You, I think, will fetch a
very high price indeed. I know of a buyer who would be willing to
pay a kings treasure in iron for a chance to break that spirit of
yours. Oh no, I will not harm any of you…but what happens to you
all after you have been sold…well for that I can make no
promises.”

Tater unexpectedly escapes from his
captors grip and falls on his knees in front of the
giant.

“
Sir! Kind Sir! I am but an
old man …I am of no value in the flesh trade. These young folk, yes
they will fetch you a good price indeed but me, I will gain you
nothing! Please kind sir, just set me free and I will be forever in
your debt!”

I ain’t certain who I hate most at this
exact moment, the giant for threatening to sell me or Tater for
trying to save his own miserable skin! He looks down at Tater
kneeling in the dirt at his feet and regards him like he was no
more than a pile of mule droppings.

“
You are quite right dwarf,”
he says, and Tater sags in relief. “You are of no value. Tool, kill
the dwarf.”

Toole yanks Tater to his feet and I’m
shocked to see the half man is smiling! He has truly gone
mad!

“
On the other hand good sir,
I am quite the impressive storyteller, musician and court jester if
you like. I’m sure your band of merry men…and women, would enjoy
nothing more after a hard days raiding then an evening of pure
entertainment. What do you say good sir? Keeping me alive can be
very beneficial to your well being and that of your
entourage.”

The raider leader looks confused at
this turn of events. He studies Tater like he cain’t believe what
he is hearing. Then, unexpectedly, he laughs at Taters attempt to
save his skin.

“
You are truly entertaining
dwarf,” he says between his bouts of laughter. He looks out over
the group and calls to someone.

“
Meela, come
here.”

A tall, striking girl about my age
joins the giant at his side. She is dressed like the others but
wears no paint on her golden skin. Her hair is covered with
feathers and beads and hangs straight down her back. I ain’t ever
seen a more perfect face…or a colder one. The giant takes her
hand.

“
I will let you decide the
dwarf’s fate my daughter.”

She regards us with her cold flat eyes,
then shrugs, apparently not the least bit concerned that a life
hangs on her decision. What kind of people are they to treat a life
so casually, I think.

“
I do not care either way
father. But if he speaks the truth then maybe I shall let him live
to hear his stories and his music. If he can keep me entertained
for a while then he shall live…for a while.”

“
So be it then!” the giant
announces, beaming out at the crowd and they respond with a roar of
approval. “You are truly fortunate dwarf. My compassionate daughter
has spared your life. It would be wise not to disappoint
her.”

“
Thank you! Oh thank you
kind lady!” Tater says falling at her feet now, but his groveling
is making me stomach sick and I don’t want to look at him anymore.
Instead I stare at the girl with all the hostility and defiance I
can muster at the unfairness of the situation. She stares back, her
dark eyes like chips of flint. Then, half smiling, she steps toward
me and starts untying my neck wrapper. Slowly she removes my gift
from gra’da and wraps it about her own neck, staring at me, daring
me the whole time to do something about it. I can feel my cheeks
heating up with my anger and I so desperately want to push her away
but I don’t do nuthin. I let her have it. Then her eyes travel down
my chest and fall on the leather thong. She pulls my flower, my
born day gift from Ben, out of my tunic and holds it on the palm of
her hand. There ain’t no way in hell I’m going to let her take
that! I grab her wrist and stare into her face with a heated
“No!”

She looks surprised, like she ain’t
used to not getting her own way. I push her hand away but I’m
totally unprepared for what happens next. She throws a punch to my
face! I can feel my lip split at the contact. Then before I can
react she punches me in the ribs. I bend over in pain, the breath
knocked out of me. I can hear the raiders round me all jeering,
laughing now, they’re enjoying the show. She grabs my hair and
jerks my head up hard, stares into my face.

“
You dare touch me
sandlander!”

She’s yanking on my hair so hard its
bringing tears to my eyes. I can hear Finn calling my name, but I
cain’t answer him to let him know I’m okay. She yanks the flower
from my neck, snapping the leather. She lets go of my hair and
pushes me back now that she has her prize. I stumble a bit, spit
the blood out of my mouth. She holds her prize above her head,
victorious, laughing, reveling in the cheers of her people. I see
it in her hands, my one last link to Ben, to Rivercross, to
everybody I ever loved, and a red hot pulsing starts in my blood.
It feels like my blood is set aflame and there’s a buzzing in my
ears, and I know there ain’t no way I’m going to let her have it.
Before I even think of what I’m about to do I straighten up and go
at her with a flying kick to the stomach. She is thrown backwards
and lands on the ground in a heap and I’m on top of her before she
can get a breath. My fist bashes her in the face and her blood
sprays out over my hand but I don’t stop. It’s like the sight of it
sends me into a frenzy. I bash her again and again, then I get her
by the throat, both my hands wrapping around her neck. She’s
grabbing my arms, trying to get me off of her neck but she cain’t
budge me. I start squeezing, my hands possessing strength such as I
ain’t ever known before. Her eyes are bulging now, and I can smell
her fear, but I don’t stop. I cain’t stop. I’m aware of other hands
grabbing at me, voices yelling but I focus on the face in front of
me. My hatred is so overwhelming it’s all I can feel, all that I
know. My one and only thought to snap her damn neck!

I don’t know what it is that hits me
but the hard whack on the back of the head stuns me enough for me
to loosen my grip. The second whack sends me into
oblivion.

“
Tara! Can you hear me?” I
know the voice to be Finns but he’s yelling so loud! Why’s he
yelling? His words are echoing round in my head adding to the drums
already beating inside of there. I want to tell him to stop yelling
but I don’t say nuthin ‘cause it hurts to even think right
now.

Shizen! ...what happened? But then I
remember the Raiders.

“
She ain’t answering Tater!
I think they’ve gone and killed her!”

“
She’s not dead
boy.....she’s too thick skulled to be taken out by a blow to the
head. She’ll be fine.” This is from Tater. He don’t sound the least
bit worried, not like Finn. Good to know he’s so concerned about
me.

“
Ain’t they killed you yet?”
It comes out as a croak but his answering snort assures me he
understood. “You sniveling coward,” is what I want to add but I
don’t.

“
See Finn, I told you she
was fine.”

I open my eyes to Finn’s worried face
looming above me. He’s so white every freckle is standing out
against his pale skin. I can tell he’s been crying but now he
smiles at me in relief.

“
Tara! Thank gods...you’re
okay.”

I cain’t help but smile back at his
obvious joy to see me alive but it makes my split lip crack again
and that reminds me of the girl...and my reaction.

“
I’m fine,” I say. “Help me
up will you.”

He pulls me up to a sitting position
and right away I get dizzy. I gotta stop getting hit in the head I
think, as I reach around to feel the damage this time. The back of
my head is real tender but there’s no lump...no blood. I probe a
bit more with my fingers but there’s nuthin!