Vessel (5 page)

The whinny of a horse outside stopped him.

“The Envoy,” he whispered as he released me and ran outside.

I followed him to the doorway to see a carriage accompanied by several riders on horseback in bright scarlet robes, the colors screaming against the dark backdrop of the forest. Tiny metal bells on their saddles and bridles jingled, an eerie sound in our quiet valley. The carriage driver, the only man not in bright colors, was Weevil, a slaver I knew all too well.

Weevil wasn’t a tall man, but he was thick like the trunk of an elm with fists as hard as rocks. When he hit you, you knew it. He wasn’t a Reticent but most likely their hired guide. The sight of him terrified me more than any Reticent. His presence made Recks’s and Kinder’s escape even more unlikely. Weevil had been chasing and capturing slaves since before my birth. He showed little signs of age, except his long, coarse, gray hair and yellowing teeth, which he filed to points to look even more frightening. A blue snake tattoo slithered across his chest.

I hung back in Tow’s doorway, hoping I’d become invisible as the streets filled with people coming out of their homes. Panic threatened to overtake me as I realized it was midmorning. If the Reticents wanted to see the prisoners today, Tow would discover the key was missing from his belt. Without the cover of darkness, Recks and Kinder wouldn’t get far. Stealing a horse would be even less likely.

I pushed down my fear and stepped into the crowd forming around the travelers. I had to find out what the Reticents would do. I could leave the key in Tow’s house, make him think he’d dropped it, if I had to. I gripped the key in my sweaty hand. Helping my prisoners escape served no purpose now that Weevil was here. It might be more merciful to leave them locked in their cage.

I twisted my fingers together around the key and wished with all my heart for nightfall. The village men met the Envoy first while the women watched from the roadside. They held their horses’ reigns while the men in colorful robes dismounted. Being an elder and a village leader, Dine greeted them first. He and the oldest man spoke in low voices. I couldn’t hear them over the murmur of the crowd.

Master Dine called to Tow and after a brief conversation, Tow led the entire Envoy back to the house. I tried to back further into the crowd, but no one else wore a black tent like I did. It was impossible not to stand out. The Envoy members filed into Tow’s house followed by Dine, who spotted me.

“Chit! Come make some tea,” Dine ordered me.

Heart in my throat, I hurried into the house behind him. Inside, Tow pulled out chairs for his guests. I went to the fireplace with Tow’s empty teapot and started some water heating, lit a fire with some kindling and a flint stone. The four Reticent priests and Weevil ignored me as I worked in the next room, but their voices were easily loud enough to hear.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Master Tow. Mother Sun will surely shine on you,” said one of them.

“Master Dine, you’ve called on us and now we’re here. What’s happened?”

Dine replied in a submissive voice I’d never heard him use before. “Thank you for coming so quickly, Your Grace. I must apologize. We thought you would be arriving tomorrow. Not all the preparations for your visit have been made. I am truly sorry.”

“What preparations are those?” The voice was curious.

“I planned to slaughter a calf and prepare a feast in your honor, Your Grace.”

“A calf? That would be a most excellent feast indeed. Perhaps we could extend our visit Anders?”

I silently entered the room with the teapot and cups. The steeping tea lightly perfumed the room, but it couldn’t replace the smell of the unwashed men entirely. I poured the first cup and offered it to the most senior of the Reticents, a man nearly as old as Kinder, but much healthier. He smiled at me as if I were an amusing fool in my
billa
. He took the customary first sip, eldest first. I waited by the teapot for his approval, hoping he wouldn’t taste the
hippa
in the tea.

“Ah, lovely,” he said as he settled back into Tow’s best chair.

Approval given, I filled the other cups and served the remaining men.

“I hoped to be back to Gora early, but I suppose we could stay a spell. Could you prepare the calf tonight, Dine?”

“Certainly, Master Anders. You can stay here, and I will have my servant wait on you.” Dine gestured toward me, hovering in the back of the room should I be called on. Weevil spoke for the first time.

“Why is she in that contraption, Dine?”

“She’s monstrously hideous, but a loyal servant.”

“Is that the girl from Asia I sold you years ago? Weren’t nothing wrong with her then.”

He remembers me?

Dine leveled a look at Weevil that would frighten most people, but Weevil was used to being hated.

“As I recall, she was quite a pretty little chit, in fact,” Weevil continued. “Almost kept her for meself. Maybe I should’ve.”

Anders looked at the ceiling and sighed.

“Are we really discussing the welfare of an insignificant slave, Weevil?” he asked without interest in the answer.

“You forget yourself,” another Envoy next to Weevil scolded under his breath.

Weevil turned his bloodshot eyes away from Dine to look at Anders, who shook his head.

“Don’t displease me again, Weevil.”

The slaver, as frightening as he was, balked and swallowed hard.

“I’ll go see about the horses,” said Weevil, moving toward the door. As he let himself out, I moved to collect his cup. My hand shook when I realized he hadn’t even drank half of the
hippa
. I pulled my hands inside the
billa
to hide my fear. Dine followed me to Tow’s kitchen.

“Stay here and clean this place up. Then come home and help with the feast,” he ordered. “Hurry.”

“Yes, Master Dine.”

I heard him say goodbye to the Envoy and leave. Tow busied himself hauling in extra cots borrowed from the neighbors while I swept the leaves out of the house and listened hard for some idea of what they had planned. The three younger Envoy members sat around Anders chatting about this and that, never once mentioning prisoners. Finally, the
hippa
kicked in, and Tow and I were ushered out so the Envoy members could rest.

Tow and I walked the short distance back to Dine’s house, me at my usual three steps behind. He hadn’t missed the key yet, and I prayed he wouldn’t need to look for it until morning. It sat safe in my pocket for now. My mind clicked. Maybe I could make it to the prison after the feast was served and they no longer needed me. Maybe I could slip off unnoticed. My hopes were rising again until I caught sight of Weevil sitting on the side of the road, sharpening a blade as long as my arm.

“Ah, chit!” he called, happy to see me, as if I were a favorite pupil of his from long ago. I hadn’t eaten in hours and became suddenly aware of how sick I felt.

Weevil stepped between Tow and I, blocking my path. Tow, busy with his own thoughts, kept going.

“What have they done to you, my pretty one? Let me see.” Weevil clucked as if he really cared. He reached to pull my drape aside, but I took a step back, and his hand clutched only emptiness.

“My Master forbids it,” I apologized. Dine never actually said the words, but I knew I wasn’t allowed to go out without the
billa
covering me. No one but Dine could look upon me. Perhaps he was ashamed of what his wives had done?

I tried to control my feelings, but the fabric in front of my face trembled along with me. More than anything, I wanted to run, but slaves couldn’t walk away from owners and masters until they were dismissed. Why had Tow left me? Weevil had me all to himself, and there was little I could do to protect myself without breaking some rule.

“You were mine before you were his, don’t you remember, chit? Your own mother gave you to me for a pittance, glad to be rid of you no doubt,” he taunted me as he moved in closer and reached for the cloth between us again.

“Please don’t,” I begged. “Master will punish me.”

I wished we weren’t on the street where everyone could see. If we were in the woods, I might be able to run away, but here, everyone would know I’d disobeyed. Punishment for such a thing could be as severe as death.

Weevil caught me by the wrist and jerked me toward him with such force that I stumbled into him. He shoved the drape away from my face with a rough, calloused hand, looked at me for a split second, and froze. Not even Tow had ever dared to look upon my face. I was as shocked as Weevil was when the sun hit my eyes, but I moved quicker than he did. I slammed my forehead into his nose, his jagged teeth cutting into my face in the struggle. Blood spurted from his nose and across my head before he released me and stumbled back. Dabbing at his face, Weevil saw his own blood on his dirty fingers and lunged for me. He tackled me, knocking me to the ground. I clawed at the dirt, trying to get away, my
billa
threatening to fall. Weevil grabbed my leg and flipped me onto my back like a turtle. I screamed when I saw Master Dine standing over me with his club. I raised my arms to shield my face. Instead of attacking me, Dine swung hard at Weevil, hitting him in the ribs and sending him to the ground at my feet.

“I’ll thank you not to damage my property,” said Dine as Weevil writhed in pain. Dine took a step back and addressed me, his chest heaving. “Get up, chit! You’re supposed to be at home.”

I struggled to stand, my forehead aching from my attempt at self-defense. Did Dine see my act of disobedience? I scolded myself. If Dine knew what I did, he’d lock me up for punishment, and my prisoners would be the Envoy’s next sacrifice to Mother Sun. How could I be so careless? But Dine shoved me toward home, giving me permission to run. For once, I didn’t mind the push. As I turned the corner, I saw Weevil’s furious eyes still on me. He wanted my life now, and he was determined enough to take it from me.

***

The Envoy slept well while I spent the next few hours slaughtering, cleaning, and cooking their meal. I was stupid to waste my
hippa
in their tea. There would be no need to use more tonight. They’d be drunk on meat and honey wine. No one would go looking for prisoners tonight, no one but me.

Because Dine’s house wasn’t large enough, tables were set outside and an enormous bonfire built in the street. The moon, two days shy of full, shone on the festive Envoy in their loud colors. The nightly aurora, Mother’s Love, was especially vibrant, flickering hues of green across the night sky. Dine’s family wore their best as well. Several of the village women served food and drink, happy to have the privilege of waiting on such esteemed men. No one noticed when I disappeared after dinner.

I emptied the remains of several dinner plates into a rucksack and added several hunks of fresh bread and a flint stone. With the key still safely in my pocket, I set out for the ruins. Although it was dark, the aurora bathed the forest in light. It was easy to find my way, almost too easy. I thought once or twice I heard footfalls behind me, but I never saw anyone. I quickened my pace and ducked off the trail.

***

As usual, the ruins were like a tomb. The only sound from inside was Kinder’s ragged breathing.

“Recks!” I called. “You must wake up. It’s time to go.”

I saw him stir, shaking Kinder awake. He came to the window.

“What is it?” he asked, his fingers gripping mine through the tiny window.

“The Envoy arrived today. They’re here. And there’s something else you should know.”

“What?”

“They brought a slaver with them.”

“Do they mean to sell us?”

“I don’t think so. This man, no one escapes him. He’s called Weevil. You mustn’t let him catch you.”

“I’m not afraid. I’ve escaped such men before.”

“There’s no one like Weevil. Don’t risk it if you can help it. He doesn’t hesitate to kill.” I wished for once Recks could see my face so he’d know I meant what I said. Instead, I dug my fingernails into his hand to emphasize my point.

“Okay, I get it,” said Recks. “Did you find the key?”

“Yes,” I whispered, fumbling around in my pocket for the piece of iron. My hands shook as I tried to find the keyhole in the darkness, the key clinking on the door each time it missed.

“And the horses?”

“They brought five. I’ll show you where they’re being kept.”

Finally, the key found its mark, and the door swung open. Free at last, Recks stepped out and embraced me in a tender hug.

“Thank you,” he said, releasing me. It took a moment for my voice to come back; I was so surprised.

“I brought some supplies for your trip.” I handed him the bag of food. “Can you walk, Kinder?”

“Its walk or die,” he answered. “Lead the way, Alana.”

I smiled when he said my name. “Follow me,” I said, turning to climb the stairs.

Kinder leaned on Recks, who pulled his thin frame up the stairs.

“Is it far?” he asked.

“Yes. We have to go around the village. The horses are kept on the other side behind Master Tow’s.”

Kinder coughed hard even though he was leaning heavily on Recks. I stopped to let him catch his breath.

“You must be quiet. There’re many people out tonight,” I warned. “Perhaps we should wait until later?”

“Oh, just leave me,” complained Kinder bitterly. “Save yourself, Recks.”

“But you were going to take us to Lhasayushu. Don’t you want to go home?” Recks insisted.

“You don’t need me. Just head east.”

“Nonsense. You’re coming.”

“I put us all at risk. Leave me,” Kinder insisted.

“Perhaps if Kinder waited here, we could get the horse, and you could return for him,” I said.

“That’s a good idea. Once you’re on the horse, you’re safe, Kinder. We’ll get you out of here,” said Recks.

We left Kinder hidden under a crumbling stone bridge with all the supplies and the blanket. Recks followed me like a shadow through the moonlit pine forest around the outskirts of the village. As we crept closer to the sound of music and laughter, he slipped his warm hand around my cold one so unexpectedly I jumped.