Awaken (32 page)

“
Can we go in? I’d like to
meet those women.” I was full of questions about what Tater was
telling me. What kinda women were they to do that sort of thing for
payment? I wanted to know.

“
Oh for the gods sake Tara!”
Jax mutters at me and I just stare back confused.

“
What?” I say, still not
getting what his problem was. Ain’t he ever seen animals go at it
before?

“
Trust me Jax, Finn will be
in no way affected by our little side trip. I grew up in a house
like this...and I turned out just fine! But if it troubles you so,
you all can stay here with the animals while I procure a room for
us. I’m sure my friend can provide us with one that is somewhat out
of the way of the main...clientele.”

Jax seems to be okay with what Tater is
suggesting but I sure as hell ain’t going to stay out here. I want
to see what has Jax riled up so. It cain’t be that bad. So I leave
Finn with Jax and the nags. I can hear Finn’s rapid fire questions
as I walk away.

“
What’s an ill house Jax?
What kinda women did Tater say they was? How does a woman treat her
wedded husband? How come I cain’t go in? What’s an
elephant?”

And Jax’s “Drop it Finn….never you
mind. Finn I ain’t telling you that! Huh?”

It makes me snicker some. Good luck
trying to shut Finn up on this one. Once something got stuck in
that boy’s craw he don’t give up on it easily. Tater looks back at
me trailing him with raised brows but just shrugs as I accompany
him into the dim interior of the sickly house.

The first thing I notice is the smell.
It’s an odd combination. It was like sickeningly sweet berries and
stale smoke and unwashed bodies all rolled into one. I wrinkle my
nose and pull my wrapper up a little higher but Tater don’t seemed
to be bothered at all. In fact he is smiling, looking round the
little room with affection, like he was home. The room is oddly
furnished. There ain’t nuthin in it but cushioned seats and layers
of silky looking cloths hanging from the ceiling. I ain’t even
noticed that there is a door behind some of the cloths ‘til a woman
walks through, almost like she was appearing out of thin air. Her
appearance is very similar to the woman we had seen earlier, face
heavily painted and her dress barely there...so low cut that I’m
afraid her chest is gonna fall right out in front of us. Tater
don’t seemed to be afraid of this at all though...he is smiling at
her like she was a vision from the gods. Unlike the other woman
however, it seems to work for this one. She walks with grace and
dignity...her look almost...queenly. That’s the word that pops into
my head. At seeing us her eyes open wide with surprise.

“
Why I’ll be....Tater! I
haven’t seen you in forever my friend. Where have you
been?”

“
Hello Duchess. I hope we
find you well?” He goes to her and they embrace like they truly
were long lost friends.

“
As well as the gods will
allow,” she responds, bending slightly and dropping a kiss on his
wrinkled cheek. “Are you here as a gainful customer?”

“
Regretfully no,” he says
and sighs in disappointment.

She notices me then and she eyes me
sharply, whatever else she was about to say cut short by my
presence. She looks me up and down, sizing me up.

“
And what have you brought
me here old friend? A new girl perhaps?”

Tater looks back at me in surprise,
like he almost forgot I was there.

“
Oh dear me, no. No not this
one. I’m afraid she’s too...prickly for your establishment. She
would chase all your customers away.” They laugh and I ain’t quite
sure but I think I have just been insulted...again! She keeps eying
me, then shrugs he slim shoulders.

“
Pity. With a little work
she would have made for a very profitable investment.”

“
No, I wouldn’t waste your
time on this one Duchess. She is just a poor orphaned child I found
in the sand lands. I escorted her to Littlepass for she has family
in the city...somewhere. But I am in need of a great favor Duchess.
We had a rather unfortunate encounter with some raiders in the
mountains...barely escaped with our lives.”

At her sharp gasp he continues.
“Indeed! They have robbed me of everything and I’m afraid I am now
rather down on my luck. Until I am able to earn some coin I was
wondering if you would be generous enough to offer me a room. I
would pay you back of course. Maybe something out of the
way....back alley so we do not interfere with your daily
business?”

Loud laughter comes from the room the
‘duchess’ just came out of and I find myself itching to see what
was going on back there. I stand on my toes trying to peer past her
shoulder but all I can see is the gauzy curtains. Suddenly the
curtains are pushed aside and a man and woman emerge. Eagerly, they
make their way to a staircase built alongside the back wall. If
there was any doubt in my mind of what Tater was trying to tell me
earlier, it is cleared up by the way the man is groping the woman
as they make their way up the stairs. Oh my! Cheeks flaming with
embarrassment I look away, back at Tater and the duchess. They
don’t seem to be the least put out at all...like they ain’t even
noticed! No wonder Jax don’t want Finn in here. I hate to admit it
to myself, and I sure as hell ain’t going to admit it to him, but
he was right.

The duchess smiles at Tater and it
surprises me at how that smile makes her painted face look so much
younger.

“
Of course my dear...I could
never say no to you Tater, you know that.” She reaches into an
unseen pocket and pulls out a ring of keys. I didn’t even think
that dress could hide a pocket, let alone the key ring! Sorting
through she pulls one out and hands it over.

“
Here, it’s the room above
the stable. Rarely gets used anyway so may as well make some coin
for it.”

Tater bows to her regally.

“
Thank you Duchess. You
truly are a generous and noble woman,” he says.

“
Yeah yeah... I will expect
my full payment. And just make sure you and your...orphan girl
leave it the way you found it.”

They exchange a bit more conversation
but happily it’s cut short by some ruckus from the mystery room.
The duchess quickly excuses herself and I eagerly follow Tater back
out into the courtyard. I breathe in deep the moment we are
outside, trying to cleanse my nose. I wouldn’t exactly call it
‘fresh’ air but it was much better then inside. Finn and Jax are
still standing by the nags like we had left them but Jax ain’t
looking at me with the ‘I told you so” look like I was expecting to
see. Instead he looks angry and anxious. Why? I think. I take a
couple of steps toward them, wondering what it is this time that
has him looking like his innards were tied up in a knot when out of
the corner of my eye I catch a quick glimpse of movement. Before I
can turn around something hard and cold is driven into my back and
a voice speaks almost directly into my ear.

“
Do not move.”

I watch unbelievably as the courtyard
fills up with brown robed Army. They move quickly, silently,
shooters drawn and held on us from all directions.

“
No! Not Now!” I think. “Not
after we have come so far!”

They circle us completely, cutting off
any exit, any chance of escape. What was happening here? I thought
Tater said we had nuthin to worry about? That only the iron mines
were heavily guarded? Why was the Army here? And how had they found
us so quickly?

Jax catches my eye and his gaze slides
to the saddle bag on his horse. Our shooters were in
there!

I know right away what he is thinking!
He moves for it quick, but not quick enough. One of the soldiers
whacks him across the back of his knees and he goes down
hard.

“
Jax!” Finn cries but he
don’t run to him. The soldier’s between him and Jax prevent him
from doing so. Jax struggles back to his feet, not bothering to
hide the anger on his face.

“
Try that again boy and the
next time you won’t get back up.” The sneer on the soldiers face as
he stares down at Jax is full of arrogance and I can tell Jax is
just itching to wipe that smug look right off of his face, but he
don’t . He may be angry but he ain’t totally stupid. Tater steps
out in front of us all, his hands held up in surrender.

“
Calm down gentlemen...this
is all a misunderstanding. I think you have us mistaken for someone
else. We are nothing but a group of travelers, minstrels, traders
just looking to do some business,” he says, a disarming smile on
his face.

“
Is that so old man?” This
from the same soldier who had spoke to Jax. “A dwarf, two boys, and
a girl. A very distinct group is it not? The exact same sort of
group an Army squadron was sent out to pick up weeks ago, and from
which only two survivors returned. You can see why such a group
entering our city walls has raised our suspicions.”

Tater nods. “Yes, yes I can see where
you may think that but really we are just travelers. Harmless,
entertaining travelers. As a matter of fact if you know of anyone
looking for our services ....”

The soldier rolls his eyes impatiently
and interrupts Tater.

“
Enough talk old man.” He
turns to his men. “Take them all.”

“
Wait!” He stops and turns
back to us at Taters command. Tater drops his hands and steps
boldly up to the young man and I tense. What the hell was he
doing?

“
Where is your commanding
officer?” he asks.

The young man looks taken aback. “I
am...”

“
No you are just a trainee.”
This time it is Tater who interrupts the soldier. I am shocked at
Taters words...his tone. What was he playing at?

“
You are just a little boy
playing soldier. Who is actually in charge here today?”

“
That would be me.” The
voice is mild, pleasant and comes from the shadowed alleyway. He
steps into view and I am surprised to see a potbellied round little
man with a balding head and round silver spectacles sitting low on
his nose. If it weren’t for the Army getup you would believe he was
just a neighborly sort. He ambles over to Tater, his chins wobbling
from his effort.

“
Hello Naryz...I thought it
would be you,” the half man says.

“
Tater.” The fat man nods
and I feel a huge wave of relief washing over me. Tater knew
him...just like the other guard. It was going to be
okay.

“
I have information for
you,” Tater says.

“
Is that so?” The fat man
sounds dubious.

Tater nods. “Indeed. First things first
though, in anticipation of what may occur I have to inquire about
your diligence. Are you equipped with serum today?”

“
As you well know Tater we
are always prepared. Why do you ask?”

“
And the reward still
stands?” Tater’s words are puzzling me. Where was he going with
this?

“
It does.” The fat man nods
again, making his chins wobble some more.

“
Then he will be very
pleased for I have brought him a wonderful gift indeed. This girl
standing before you is probably one of the most powerful new bloods
to come into his possession for a very long time.”

Wait! What? What was Tater saying?
Shizen! Why was he telling them I was a new blood?

“
And you are sure Tater? He
has been disappointed before and trust me old man...you do not want
to disappoint him.” The fat mans words are meant for Tater but he
is eyeballing me like I was suddenly a piece of meat on a plate.
I’m stunned, unsure of what is going on. Did Tater truly just say
those words or is my mind playing tricks on me?

“
I am sure...I have seen it
with my own eyes. She is a true new blood in every sense of the
word. And the two with her are her willing accomplices.”

Jax’s “Bastard!” bursts out, shocking
me, and he lunges for Tater snarling like an animal. He is
immediately taken down by half a dozen soldiers before he can get
anywhere near him, and disappears under the barrage of
bodies.

Jax’s yelling, it brings me out of my
stupor and I finally realize what is happening. No! It cain’t
be!

I stare at Tater with
uncertainty.

“
Tater? What are you doing?”
I whisper disbelievingly.

He ignores me entirely and turns back
to the fat man.

“
I shall expect my payment
to be prompt.”

The impact of what is happening hits me
like a punch to the gut.

“
You bastard!” I echo Jax
only this time it don’t come out as no whisper. “You lying
traitorous bastard!”

I move at him quick, my intent to wrap
my hands round his scrawny neck. But like Jax I am instantly
restrained by numerous hands. Struggling against them I stare at
Tater’s back with hate filled eyes.

“
How could you do this! We
trusted you! I trusted you! Look at me Tater! Dammit...look at me!
You betrayed us all!”

I can hear Jax still struggling against
his captors and Finn’s quiet sobbing but my focus is solely on the
half man in front of me. I need to understand. I need to know why
he would do such a thing to us. He turns then and his eyes are
cold, ruthless, not like the man I had come to know at
all.