Chapter Fourteen: An Alliance of Equals
Tranith Argan: Book 3
Felanar and company have been freed from prison by Slakh and the saarks, allies to everyone’s surprise.
The group of fourteen walked north for several hours in the morning sunshine. It was a journey of twenty leagues from Polandolar to the base of the Red Mountains, but they were further west of the city and there was no need to turn east just yet to reach the base. Slakh and the saarks were headed much further north and could curve around at any point. Felanar needed to turn east at some point, but preferred to do so after they had gone far north of the city. As long as they were to the west of Polandolar, he figured the autarch would not be looking for them there.
As they walked, Alessa and Kara talked to each other in pleasant and unhurried voices. Dolen mostly stumped along in silence, but at one point struck up a conversation with a saark guard named Krend. He was a tall saark with heavy armor that he wore without complaint regardless of how long they walked. His hair was the usual black, oily straggle, but Krend tied his hair back out of his face, in a gesture that struck Felanar when he saw it as a statement of individual fashion. Dolen and Krend spoke about the march and other mundane matters, but then Dolen asked about the caves and mining and Krend responded with enthusiasm. Soon the saark and the dwarf were happily comparing notes about the life under ground.
The other saark guards marched ahead, behind, and to the side of Slakh, and he and Felanar spent the morning discussing life in the eastern lands beginning with his days in Brindledown and continuing to his brief kingship. One part of Felanar's tale made Slakh particularly interested.
“You said you were kidnapped on the Straits and then later taken by elves and then by a dragon,” he repeated to Felanar. “Yet you did not say who originally kidnapped you.”
Felanar nodded and said, “Do you remember when I said my first experience with saarks left me unimpressed? I was not talking about when we were taken captive to your mines. I meant when I was kidnapped. It was a ship of saarks who captured me that time, Slakh.”
“Saarks it was,” mused Slakh. “Ah, this is why you did not say at first. You wished not to offend me.”
“That is true,” said Felanar.
“You are polite to me, king of men, not like the autarch.”
“You have treated us well, Slakh, even when you had us as prisoners. So why did this ship of saarks kidnap me?”
“I am chief of my people in my mountain,” started Slakh, “but not chief of other mountains, nor of my people who take to the sea.”
“Are all saarks alike, or are the sea saarks different?”
“We are the same in appearance, but different in our style of life. Long ago a band of our brothers grew tired of trading with the farmers near the mountains. They thought that if they went elsewhere, perhaps they could find a people who would treat them with honor and not fear them. They traveled north and eventually found the sea. Fishermen were there and those who made a living trading treasures from the sea. My ancient brothers learned these skills in time, built their own ships, and began to trade. Maybe it is because sailors see such varied places, but these saarks were treated with more kindness than those who stayed in the mountains. In time they became well-known as traders of the sea themselves and since then my people have been split into two groups.
“As to why you were kidnapped, it would have to mean they thought they could get value from you in some way. Were they taking you some place?”
“It seemed like it,” said Felanar. “I overheard them talking and I think they were going to sell me to someone.”
“That makes sense,” said Slakh, “for over the years my people have become traders of anything, even of slaves. When people fear you, or even do not fully respect you, you become the resource when you need something distasteful done. You were being sold into slavery.”
“Slavery to saarks?” asked Felanar.
“No, it sounds otherwise from what you have said. If they wanted to make you a ship slave, they already had you and could have put you to work. They would not be selling to saarks in the mountains for we have no need to kidnap people from eastern lands. No, they were hired to do a job. They cared nothing about you other than as a source of gold for trading.”
“This was my first experience with saarks . . . and with grank!”
Slakh laughed heartily. “Not the best circumstance to learn to enjoy it, and the grank they serve aboard ships is not the best grank.”
“What we got in your cells wasn't very good either.”
“Well, we don't give the best to our prisoners, it is true. Here, try this.” He handed Felanar his drinking flask. The saark rescuers had brought him this flask, and it looked ornate with gold molding and encrusted gemstones. Felanar gingerly lifted it to his lips and tasted it.
“It is different,” he admitted with eyebrows raised. “Sweeter than I've had before, though there is an after taste that I still do not find particularly welcome.”
Slakh laughed. “You need to learn to like it, but at least you can see that not all grank is as you tasted on board that ship.”
They marched through lunch and into the afternoon. When they finally stopped for the evening, they had made good progress and were tired. All except Krend who continued to show energy and strength, much to Dolen's admiration. They had a full meal from the packs of the saarks, Alessa eating some plants they had gathered as they walked, and then settled down for the night leaving two saarks on guard at all times.
They walked the entire next day before they could see the Red Mountains looming up in the foreground. They spent another night together and the next day it would be time for the groups to part ways. In the morning, as the two groups were preparing to depart, Felanar took Slakh aside.
“I have given a lot of thought to the words we have shared,” he began as the saark leader listened intently, “and even more thought to the way you have acted, both toward us and in your description of saark life. You know how I feel about slavery, and so you are not surprised that I do not approve of your method of obtaining extra workers. If I were in charge of the saarks I would shift mining methods around in order to maximize output with the workers at hand – saark only – instead of employing a system that depended on extra workers from outside the ranks of the saarks. Then saarks now used as guards could be employed as miners instead. Or if that proved not possible in order to meet the demand of the traders, I would look to hire extra helpers, not force them into slave labor.”
“They would not volunteer, at any price,” Slakh objected, “for they fear us.”
“I understand this now. I have felt this fear in my past too, though I do not have it any longer now that I have gotten to understand saark life. So while I do not approve of your methods, I now understand their source. I think if you could find a better solution, one that did not involve slavery, you would take it. It might take time, but I believe a better solution can be found, and I would like to help you find it.”
“How mean you?” asked Slakh.
“Just this: I would like to enter into a treaty with your people, to declare a peace between our respective nations, and for us to trade on equal terms in a way that benefits all our peoples. Although I do not wish to lecture you to end slavery, I do wish to provide some of the means that will encourage you to move beyond this system. I can promise you that you will find in Argan a nation that will no longer fear saarks, and who will trade willingly with your people. You have my word as king.”
Slakh said nothing for a moment. He lowered his head in thought. He started to speak a couple of times but then caught himself and stopped. Finally he raised his head, looked Felanar in the eyes, and said:
“King of men, you have touched me with your honor. It may be that I can never look at your appearance without feeling revulsion, just as it seems to be with you toward me, but I have come to learn the person inside your body, and I honor that person. I do not think it will be so easy for your people to overcome their fear of my people, but I believe you are sincere in your desire to try.”
Felanar stepped forward and embraced Slakh, hugging him close to his body with both arms wrapped tightly around his back. He then stepped back and looked at Slakh as if to say, See, we can overcome such differences in our appearance.
Slakh then bowed toward Felanar, causing several of the saark guards nearby to gasp and stare in wonder.
“I accept your treaty, king of men,” he said as he straightened up. “At your invitation, I will send envoys to Argan to discuss terms in the future.”
“I look forward to receiving them, Slakh, and I hope that such terms can be reached with all of the saarks, in the mountains or on the seas. We have enough mutual enemies these days, and should seek out friendships wherever they appear.”
“I cannot promise an end to slavery,” cautioned Slakh. “This is the way of my people for endless years. Such things do not change overnight, nor am I convinced that saarks will be accepted by people, your kind words notwithstanding. Still, it would be a better system to trade freely, if such is possible, and I will see what I can do.”
“As a gesture toward that end, may I ask a small favor?” asked Felanar.
“Name it, king of men.”
“Release two of your slaves, Pross and Jela. They come from a nearby village, I stepped in to help them, and I promised I would continue to help them. Release them as a gesture of your goodwill. Let them go back to their village home.”
“It shall be done,” said Slakh.
Felanar now bowed before the saark.
The saarks bade goodbye to the rest and headed north along the western flank of the Red Mountains which stretched far into the distance. For Felanar and the others, their way lay east in the shadows of the southernmost of the Red Mountains. It was late morning and they had plenty of time to travel yet that day.
“You did well, brother,” said Kara as they started marching. “I think some good will come of this new alliance, strange as it seems from our recent experience with the saarks. Slakh seems like a leader who can be dealt with honestly.”
“Unlike other rulers I have known,” smiled Felanar, who was feeling light-hearted at the thought of turning toward home in freedom.
“Does this mean you have changed your mind about giving up the throne?” asked Alessa.
Felanar shook his head. “No, I meant what I said even though it was said in pain and despair.”
“Then how can you conduct a treaty on behalf of Argan?” asked the elf, confused.
“I am still king,” said Felanar, “and I will remain so until I bring the kingdom back into line, and until I can effectively deal with the threat from Vélakk. Once I have brought peace to Argan, I will give up the throne and go back to a simple life before power can corrupt me.”
“Don't talk like that, brother,” said Kara with concern. “You won't necessarily be corrupted, and who would you give it to in your place? Ravesfel?”
“No,” said Felanar firmly, “ he shall never reign on the throne as long as it is within my power to prevent it. No, the throne could go to you, if you want it, or someone else who could rule effectively. I do not know at this time, but I will find a solution.”
“So you would see me corrupted?” asked Kara.
“No, Kara, that's not what I meant. I don't know what I will do. For now I need to come up with solutions to some problems, and until I do I will be king. One step at a time.”
“An effective way to march,” said Dolen.
“What?” asked Felanar.
“One step at a time,” said the dwarf grinning.
The day was beautiful and warm, and soon all problems were put out of mind. They marched along making good progress over the grassy plain as the Red Mountain range gradually slipped by along their left.
They had a few supplies that had been given them by the saarks including bottles to carry liquid. At present they were filled with grank, but Alessa assured the others that as soon as a good water supply was found that would be the end of grank in her bottle. Slakh said they would cross a few streams along their way before they reached the wilderness of the Great Plain. They could, and should, stock up on as much water as they could carry. This time of year was not as hot as it got during summer, but the Plain was a dry landscape to cross, and once you started down that path you had better have with you all that you needed for the entire journey. Slakh also said they would probably come upon a couple of small settlements along their path and could perhaps bargain for supplies, for which he had given them a few gold coins. Felanar wasn't sure how much he would trust local inhabitants, but he would decide when they came to such villages whether they appeared safe.
As for the grank, Felanar tried to assure the others that this was Slakh's special blend of drink, that it was not nearly as awful as the stuff they tried before. Dolen tried it, declared it “not bad,” and was satisfied. Kara was willing to try it, didn't like it still, but did admit it gave her strength. Alessa wouldn't hear of it no matter how much Felanar cautioned her about building up her strength before they began to march across the wilderness.
When night fell they stopped marching and set up camp. In the dry conditions, the night was cool no matter how warm the day, and it was tempting to build a fire. They decided against it until they were much farther along in their journey and reasonably certain they were beyond the sight of spies. They were in an open field of sparse vegetation and any fire they built here could be seen for many leagues around.
A cold meal consisting of vegetation found by Alessa and grank satisfied them sufficiently for sleep. After their marching, sleep came quickly and they had a restful night. The next morning saw the sun rising and bring warmth back into the world, with a few high clouds breaking up the monotony of the blue sky. They breakfasted and were soon walking east again.
By midday they spotted a few houses in the distance off to the side of the road and realized this would be one of the settlements Slakh had told them they would find. They stopped to discus their options.
“It looks like a farm community,” said Kara.
“What do you think, safe enough to try to bargain for supplies?” asked Felanar of his sister. “It looks isolated enough.”
“Who can tell in these lands?” mused his sister. “We are quite a way east of the Tri-Cities by now. Anyone living out here in this semi-wilderness is probably used to being self-sufficient. They might have no need of the autarch, and thus no automatic loyalty toward him either.”
“Then we should talk to them?” asked Alessa.
“Maybe,” said Felanar. “But not you, not if this region's attitude toward elves is any indication.”
Alessa frowned but said nothing.
“If Kara or I were to approach, our appearance wouldn't set off alarms, but our accents might. It would, at the very least, set off questions in their minds, I would think. No, I'm thinking there is one member of our group who could approach and be taken seriously as a traveler, and that would be our dwarf friend here.”
“Aye,” nodded Dolen, “known we are for our travels it is true, but over land, not water. Dwarf-folk are in the eastern lands, not here.”
“They might not realize that, Dolen,” said Felanar. “I'm guessing you can explain yourself as a traveler looking to stock up before heading across the Plain. They might wonder at your appearance in these lands, but that wonder might aid us. If they are so surprised at seeing a dwarf, they might be less concerned about the question of what you are doing in these lands than the fact that you exist at all! Furthermore, it is Kara and I who are most searched for by the autarch. If word reaches this far, I don't think it is your description that will be paramount. I think you might be able to make this work, Dolen.”
“I am willing,” said the dwarf.
“Fine,” said Felanar, “the three of us are going to circle around north to the other side of the settlement. When you are done, meet us on the other side along the road. Here is the gold you'll need. Try to get as much as you can for it.”
“And Dolen,” said Kara, “when they ask where you are traveling to, tell them you are going to head north across the Plain, not east. Just in case someone later comes along and asks.”
“Good idea,” said Felanar. “All set?”
“Aye,”
“Then off you go,” said Felanar, as he, Kara, and Alessa started walking to the northeast while Dolen walked purposefully in the direction of the small settlement.
By late afternoon the other three were camped out in eyesight of the road off in the brush. They were a league or so on the other side of the settlement. They talked quietly while they waited. Alessa kept an eye on the direction from which they had traveled, and as the sun was beginning to set she announced she saw the dwarf making his way down the road. They all got up and moved toward the road to meet him.
“All is well?” asked Felanar as the dwarf approached holding supplies.
“All is well,” said Dolen as he halted and started placing items on the ground. He had a couple of extra packs, a good selection of foodstuffs and several gourds of water.
“You did well,” said Alessa. “How did you explain yourself?”
“As you suggested, Felanar, I told them I was traveling in these lands and headed north across the Plain. 'Oh, that is hard country' said the wife to me, and I acknowledged it but said my traveling party and I were hearty walkers not daunted by dry land or long distances. 'Where is your traveling party?' the husband asked. I told them my fellow dwarves, three in number, I said, were camped out near that hill to the north.” He pointed behind him as he said this. “'What is your destination?' the husband wanted to know, and I told him Brinham, and I sincerely hoped I had remembered the name of that town correctly, but he nodded his head and seemed to accept it. They seemed like nice people, farmers, isolated types who know the importance of showing hospitality toward a traveling stranger. I would have been back sooner but they insisted on feeding me an early supper and it hardly seemed right to turn it down.”
“Well this is a fine thing,” laughed Alessa in mock indignity, “we are reduced to scrambling for weeds in the wilderness to feed our hunger while our dwarf friend feasts and drinks by the fire. Is that ale I smell on your breath?”
Dolen looked embarrassed but quickly said, “I brought some for the rest of you!” He pointed to the gourds on the ground. “It's quite good, the ale. And I have food that will serve us well. And here is your gold back.” He handed the coins to Felanar. “They would not take it. They said caring for a stranger is reward enough. I finally persuaded them to take a couple of coins, just to be able to trade for needed supplies, and the husband finally did, but nothing more would he take. These are good people, Felanar.”
“To be found in any land,” said Felanar. “I can imagine the people of Brindledown taking care of a traveler in the same way. Well, good, this is what we need to sustain ourselves. We can drink the ale in the meantime, and when we come to the next stream we will stock up with water in its place. Shall we march some more tonight?”
“I wouldn't mind some supper myself,” said Kara, eying the supplies.
“Actually, neither would I,” said Felanar.
“Then let us stop here and enjoy some food,” said Alessa, “and tomorrow begin the long stretch of wilderness that awaits. Come, Dolen, will you enjoy more supper with us?”
“Oh, I couldn't,” said the dwarf, “really couldn't.” He looked down at the supplies on the ground. “But if you insist, I could find it in myself to partake of a few items.” The others laughed as dusk settled around them.
• • •
The guard cried out in pain as the rack was ratcheted up another notch. His uniform was half-stripped from his body, and what was remaining was torn and covered in sweat and blood. Gashes across his body showed where earlier cuts had been made. His hair, wet with perspiration, hung over his face. He groaned as the torturer paused for a moment.
“Again I put it to you,” whispered the autarch in the guard's ear while the torturer stood nearby, “that you were in league with the saarks, they paid you off to let them out.”
“No,” groaned the guard, “it is not true, eminence, I swear to you by all that is holy it is not true!”
Namonikkar glanced over at the torturer who was dressed in black robes and a hood pulled low over his forehead. The torturer stared back and nodded slightly as if to say he thought the prisoner was telling the truth. The autarch turned back to the prisoner.
“They got into the palace with ease,” he said in a low voice that unsuccessfully hid his rage. “How do you explain this if it was not done through bribes?”
“They were swift and many and vicious in their rage, eminence,” the guard said animatedly now that it seemed the autarch might accept his explanation after all instead of torturing him to death. “My men were caught off-guard by their rage. They fought them, I swear, and there are many dead guards who gave up their lives for your safety.”
“But they failed!” yelled the autarch, making the prisoner flinch.
Namonikkar started to pace the room.
“I have sent for Vélakk,” he said, “and soon his men will be here and I will have nothing to show them. Your men have put me in a terrible position! I have nothing, nothing at all!”
The guard said nothing and the torturer kept his head low.
“How could they escape without notice?” Namonikkar continued in distress. “Did not your men consider they might try to leave via another way out? Did they not think to properly guard all the entrances?”
“We had guards, your eminence,” said the prisoner, “they were throughout the palace, and the saarks killed several as they made their way to the walls.”
“But the entrance they took was not guarded!” roared the autarch. “How is that not treachery?”
“No, no, it is not treachery, I swear. We had all the entrances guarded, but they went out a servant's door while there was a cry for reinforcements at the main entrance.”
“And how could they know of such a door without assistance from within?” asked the autarch.
“Your eminence, their leader has been to the palace before,” said the prisoner, “and no doubt has seen the layout of the building.”
Namonikkar continued pacing. “Slakh,” he muttered, “yes, he is a clever one for a saark.” More pacing. “He is taking revenge on me for my treatment. But never mind this, I need to focus on Vélakk before his men show up. I need a solution. I need something quickly.”
With a gesture the autarch told the torturer to release the prisoner. He then quickly strode out of the dungeon and headed for his throne room. Upon reaching it he called for his counselor to be in attendance, and he soon showed up, bowing low to the autarch.
“Your command, holy one?” asked the counselor.
“Where are the escaped prisoners likely to travel first?” asked the autarch. “East, straight home? North with the saarks and to the sea?”
“Eminence,” began the counselor, “the saarks are certain to go straight home to their mountain. If you send out the army, north is the way they should travel to catch them.”
“Fool!” yelled the autarch, “do you think I care about the saarks? It is the man and his sister I am concerned with. I can guess where the saarks will go, and the elf will go back to Elaria, and as for the dwarf he can crawl under a mountain as far as I care. It is Felanar and his sister I need. That's who Vélakk's men are coming for and now I have nothing to offer them! I must have them back or else I will have Vélakk's wrath to deal with and it won't be my head he takes! So what do you think, the boy and his sister, will they go back to Argan under the current circumstances? Or will they go to Elaria?”
The counselor bowed low again. “I would expect them to go to Elaria for no other reason than this is an inexperienced young man who will look for help wherever he can find it. He lost his throne and will need assistance gaining it back. If he travels with the daughter of Llarand, it is clear where he will go for this assistance.”
“Yes,” nodded the autarch, “that sounds right to me. Elaria it is. But which way do they travel? With the saarks?”
“Hardly, eminence, for they were prisoners of these same saarks. No, they will not think of them as friends to travel with, I wouldn't expect.”
“True,” said the autarch, “there will be no friendship there. So if they won't travel with the saarks, they probably won't want to go north to the sea, for that way lies saark country. But do they head for Elaria by going east first? That is barren country, but perhaps they do not know that. Are they ignorant enough to head northeast, straight toward Elaria across the length of the Great Plain?”
“They do not know our lands, eminence, so that might be their most likely route.”
“Send for Jamoku,” said the autarch with a growing smile.