Location The Kenash City Gates

[Adi Skyglow]

1 Summer 514

And here Adi had thought she'd be the first person in Kenash for summer.

Damn.

There was a trail of footprints on the path leading to the gates of Kenash. The Vantha had no idea whose footprints they were, exactly, but she shrugged and continued her trek.

Well. It was Myaris' trek.

The horse had served her well-hopefully the poor mare would get a chance to rest in comfort here in Kenash for a time. It was only a thirty day trip from Riverfall to Kenash, but after the long haul from Avanthal to Riverfall, Adi was a bit surprised that Myaris was still okay with being ridden. But she was definitely proud of her mother's horse, who'd held up wonderfully on the trip that had been the past...wait, how long had it been?

Adi took a second to think back on her travels. She'd left...wow, she'd left in summer of 513. That meant it had been almost a year since the young woman had first left Avanthal for the Cyphrus region. A year since her last encounter with Drasna almost to the day. The Skyglow shuddered when she thought of him.

But you aren't in Avanthal any more, Adi. This is Kenash. This is different. You need to let everything from the past go and live in the present.

That would be easier said than done.

With a sigh and a smirk, Adi entered the gates, realizing she'd been stock-still on horseback in front of the entrance to Kenash for almost five chimes without moving. That was a little-no, a lot creepy.

NaJu Word Count: 263

[Kaitanu]

The 21st day of Summer in the Year 514 AV, 4 bells after dawn.

Summer in Kenash was already almost too warm for comfort, and the air was close and wet and too thick to breathe. An unfair comparison, perhaps, to the more dry and open grasslands just beyond and to the North. Sweat didn't evaporate very well within the unseen bubble of heat that surrounded the city, and flies collected in the air like clouds. Kaitanu always noticed this about such places. Cities were much warmer and more frightening, even in this laid-back, almost lazy plantation-town. It was the rapid movement of bodies across the narrow pathways over swampland, the bustle of merchants and slaves, the shouting and noise. There was no quiet here, especially for Kaitanu and his horse-senses. They were on overload anyway because he'd been ridden hard since dawn to get here, and there was no chance to calm down again. The Kelvic horse would have liked nothing more than to rest and eat. The sweat on his flanks did little to cool him off as the buildings and trees and bodies stopped the air from flowing past. Even his master seemed to be uncomfortable, wiping his brow frequently and muttering. Kaitanu was used to not getting his own way, so he just dealt with it and continued to plod on in silence.

As they passed through the market, the horse's ears pricked forward, catching his master's low curses. The human was tired, and looking for someone to buy his 'horse', but not getting much answer from the busy people. It was difficult to figure out where to go and whom to ask, all without attracting too much attention to himself. After his assassination attempt went sour, he'd had to get out quick and ride Kaitanu hard through the night to escape retribution. Now, he was just trying to get as much as he could for a quick sell so he could disappear. Kaitanu was a little too conspicuous as a horse anyway. He even made a conspicuous human, with his pale hair and deep blue eyes, but maybe someone here would want a pleasure slave or something. Groth was getting antsy, and willing to consider other options. Kaitanu could almost hear the gears in his mind turning, and that never boded well with the scruffy assassin. Groth was not, in any sense of the word, a moral man. Kaitanu wouldn't have any choice in the matter if his soon-to-be-former master sold him off into that kind of servitude. It hadn't ever occurred to the abused Kelvic that there could be any other way. This was all he knew.

Someone on the street mentioned the Auction Hall, so Groth jerked on Kaitanu's harness, urging him to go faster, breaking through his thoughts. It was a lot harder to tread the winding paths with four feet and a larger body, but Groth usually thought of himself first, and not his Kelvic horse. He had a firm destination now, and the Auction Hall finally loomed ahead.

Kaitanu no longer felt the raw fear he used to when changing masters. He went numb to such things about four or five masters ago. He wouldn't miss Groth, either, just like he never missed any of the others. The scars on his back and shoulders are telling enough of his reasons. About the only thing Groth did better than the others was make sure he was fed decently. Not too much, but Kaitanu had to be kept in good enough order to ride out on a moments' notice. Groth didn't have time to try and find another horse that could carry him faster or farther.

It was this point that Groth chose to focus on most as he began to bargain with Marshal Sitai, the Auctioneer. What Kaitanu lacked in sheer bulk, he made up for it with stamina and determination. At the moment, his head was hanging low with exhaustion, but he wasn't going to drop down dead, either. He was a bit thin, but at his prime, and just needed a bit more feed. He could pull, he could probably do a bit of battlefield work, too. Groth didn't tell the auctioneer how he knew this, but he'd stolen Kai off a local war lord after seeing him run hard during a rout.

Kaitanu stood still and meek through this, and the inevitable poking and prodding to check his teeth and tackle. He was surprisingly quiet for a non-gelding, but he'd been broken too long ago even to react much to the scent of mares in heat. Marshal Sitai offered 300 gold mizas to begin with, but Groth wanted more, arguing that Kaitanu was versatile. He had the Kelvic shift to his human form, so the auctioneer could see that he was above the cut in the looks department. Marshal Sitai pointed out that he was scarred, to which Groth had the 'it came to me like that' rebuttal all ready.

They bargained for awhile, as the poor, tired, hungry and naked Kelvic waited for the inevitable. In the end, Groth had to be satisfied with 300 gold pieces and 5 silver, and he left without looking back. Kaitanu didn't feel the slightest pang, and filed into the holding pen almost automatically, with the other slaves and livestock.

It was here, waiting for the auction to begin, that he noticed a very small girl huddled in a corner, her face showing the fresh tear-tracks of a new slave. She couldn't have been more than his own age, but he guessed by her smell that she was fully human. The other slaves ignored her, though it would be a lie to say they didn't notice her plight. There simply wasn't anything any of them could do about it. Kaitanu knew this himself, but still, her wide, brown eyes tugged at him, as such things always did. He was too old to bond with a child, but still felt the tug of empathy.

Not daring to move too much, lest he draw attention to them both, he sidled up to her, crouching down very carefully behind the screen of the other slaves' bodies. She winced at first, and he noted the way her eyes raked with fear over his naked body. Being Kelvic, the concept of modesty was still a total mystery to him, so he figured she was just afraid in general. Slaves soon became accustomed to not having any privacy whatsoever. She still had a lot to learn.

"Don't cry, little one." he murmured, nudging her dirty shoulder with his nose, just like a horse. "Don't cry. They mustn't see that."

She didn't answer at first, unsure of what he was doing. A few fresh tears slid down her cheeks, and her breath checked in her throat. "Want….want my Mother…" she hiccoughed.

Kaitanu was glad that the general murmur of the pre-auction preparation drowned this out. Tears brought on whips.

"Don't cry." he repeated, knowing no words of comfort would help the situation. Kaitanu didn't tell her the truth, that she would likely never see her mother again. Instead, he reached up and smoothed away the tears on her cheeks, trying to smile the way humans did. His always came out a little lop-sided, since he hadn't learned normal human behaviors very well. "They will hurt you more if you cry. Keep it inside."

She looked at him, forgetting now that he was nude, or strange. He was the only one there paying any heed to her, and in her childish way, the only one she had left to cling to. This she did, wrapping her little arms around him suddenly and burying her face against his neck.

Kai went utterly still at this, even a bit rigid, but not out of actual fear or disgust. It was habit, only, and the next moment he decided holding her close would be best. The poor thing was sobbing against him, in a way that he recognized only too well. He'd been in her place when he was much younger.

"O-eh…..o-eh…" he murmured, trying to soothe her. "Let it out before you get up there. Don't let them see, hm? Be a strong one."

"No! I can't!" she wailed, and he had to hold her closer to muffle her cries. At least the other slaves weren't drawing attention to them. He noticed they began to make shuffling and murmuring noises, as though they wished to cover the sounds she was making. They did no more.

For his own part, Kai continued to hold the girl against himself, rubbing her back through the dirty smock she'd been given. Words were useless, so he used the only thing he had left. With his mouth close to her ear, he began to murmur snatches of an old song he'd heard once. If music was the only thing that kept him together, maybe it would help her, too. It was all he could think of, at any rate.

Hush you bye, don't you cry, go to sleepy little baby.
When you wake, you shall have, all the pretty little horses.

Browns and bays, dapples and greys, coach-and-six a' little horses.

Browns and bays, dapples and greys, coach-and-six a' little horses.

Hush you bye, don't you cyr, oh you pretty little baby.
When you wake, you'll have sweet cake, and all the pretty little horses.

A brown and a bay, a black and a grey,
coach-and-six a' little horses.

A brown and a bay, a black and a grey,
coach-and-six a' little horses.[*]


It was a simple song with a simple tune; nothing particularly unique or special about it. However, since his earnest wish was to calm and comfort the girl, emotion made his voice warm and soothing, and even beautiful in its way. He threaded his fingers through her tangled hair as she slowly calmed down. She remained quiet, even as his voice died away, and the buzz if the auction began around them.

"What's your name?' she asked after awhile, sniffling.

"Kaitanu." For now, anyway.

"I'm Ana." she whispered against his neck.

"Ana." he repeated in his soft, low voice.

"Kaitanu?"

"Heh?"

"What's going to happen?"

He paused. "I don't know, little one."

Once more, she pressed her damp face against his neck. "I want to go home."

"I know." Then, he began to just hum the tune, and she fell silent for awhile longer. There was nothing he could do for either of them anyway. If they tried to escape, worse punishments would be meted out to them than he wished for a child to have to go through.

"Can you still hold me?" she asked, in a way that broke his heart a little more than before. Except with little children, he sometimes forgot this side of himself.

"Yes." Until the auctioneer turned their way, he would hold onto her, and sing his quiet song.


[*] (The origins of this song are unknown, but thought to be based on an African American folk song from the 19th century. Given his connection to horses, the slave topic, and my inability to write lyrics myself, I thought it appropriate.)

[Alexander Hamish Moore]

Summer 10, 514

Alex, born Alexander Hamish Moore in Syliras had become bored with the Kabrin Road after 7 years of traveling from Syliras, to Kenash, then to Riverfall, and back again. He didn’t get wealthy as a caravan guard, and any stash he made went to supporting his mother. Though with the news of her passing still fresh in his mind as the caravan approached the swampy city of Kenash, he was wondering if there was even a point to going back to Syliras. Of the few places he had been, he had come to the conclusion that his birth place was too stifling, and crowded. That was one of the reasons he had signed on as a guard when he was 15, to get away.

The dozen carts, and 50 men approached the gate of the Kenash, an iron wrought fence more for decoration than security and defense. It was unguarded, and left open like a child had forgotten to lock up after running out to play. The caravan paused outside the gate, and the caravan master turned to his crew and started to speak, “Ok, everyone stay at the Travelers Complex until I can get some lodging set up for us.”

Alex led his horse to the large stables that had been built to house the merchant horses, the city was rather beautiful. He could almost smell the opportunity and intrigue that leaked from every stone that had been laid on the mouth of the river. He would bring up his leave with the Caravan Master in the morning. For tonight, the caravan guards and watchers would unwind.

[Wes Morse]

32nd Day of Summer, 514

Wes was trailing along with a large merchant caravan, being inside of it, and keeping an eye on the produce as to make sure none of it was damaged nor lost. They had been on the road for a good deal of time, only making a couple of pit stops to load up stuff or to eat. One of the men was rather skilled at finding things in the wild, but if Wes had to be honest he was rather bored. None of the men had any interesting information to give out; well what did he expect from merchants. The rumors they had heard were rather outrageous if Wes had to be honest, but then again it wasn’t his place to comment.

”We’re nearly there!” Wes heard someone shout from the front of the caravan. It was a rather gruff and deep voice belonging to Alistair Branning. A rather large and tall man who had given Wes a few rides, he was pretty familiar with the man already. The rest of the group was constantly changing, at most he had seen someone only stay for 2 journeys before dropping off. ”Great to hear.” Wes spoke in a bored tone, it sounded more like he was sighing out the words. He peaked out of the caravan and saw gates in the distance. Well they still had a good deal to go.

So Wes killed the rest of his time by wondering on the past, pondering on past choices; it was a topic he usually liked to avoid. But he had nothing to do, and that’s when memories began to haunt him. He closed his eyes, and as he did so events began to flash in his mind, memories better left forgotten. He opened them once more and sighed, his tired eyes looked upon the caravan floor, even thinking about how this was put together was better than thinking of painful memories.

The caravan came to halt and nearly forced him to fall to the side as he was already sitting down. He stood up and began to stretch, before peeking to see what the commotion was about. The first thing he saw was an open large unprotected gate…This was just like leaving your front door open, he shook his head at the stupidity. ”You’re fine to go ahead Alistair, they left their gate open, not our fault.” He said calmly, no smile was apparent on his face. The group of caravans began to move once more, this time Wes continued to look out, he wanted to see this place. After a good bit of riding they found themselves near the traveller’s complex, Alistair really did his studying up of the city, as expected. ”See ya; Alistair and the rest of you, thanks for the ride.” He said calmly, he took in a deep breath of the air. The heat was something he had noticed a few days ago, but the humidity was hard to get used to; it was almost like it was strangling him. Still, he had thing to do, and people to meet, hopefully even money to make. Now… Where was he going to stay?

[Thrall]

47th of Summer, 514 AV The sun would soon be setting, it was just now beginning to slip below the horizon and the last of the travelers were slipping through the gate. Thrall hurried to follow, though he kept some distance behind as he did not wish to startle anyone. Some did not take well to an 8 foot tall hairy Jamoura coming behind them looking as though he were in a rush. This was a new adventure for Thrall, as he had never been to Kenash in all of his years of travel. certainly he had heard rumors of their wealth, but they were just that... rumors. Now was the time to see if everything he had heard was true. Bringing up the rear, Trall grasped the edge of the stone lip that was the top of the gate, looking back over his shoulder to the setting sun that was just about to set. For a moment he let himself become lost in thought as he watched Syna's track below the horizon. He had traveled long, and far, and for whatever reason he now found himself here in the swamps of Cypherus. It would be new in many ways, perhaps not all for the better. Still, Thrall could not shy away from the possibility of what might come. Who knows, maybe he would come to love this city for all its traits, good and bad. The sun finally fell below the horizon, stars beginning to overflow the sky as Leth made to claim his domain. Releasing the gate Thrall stepped back into the city, closing his eyes and sucking in a breath. With the shine of the moon that climbed the sky the change that overcame Thrall swept through him fast and strong. His fur lit like sparkling moon beams as hair was swept away to be replaced by smooth, glowing skin. The hair on his head grew longer, the black flowing back to be replaced by pure white of freshly fallen snow. From his temples then his horns sprouted, twisting back and around his head to weave into the hair, a crown of black that sat to designate his race for all who might see. Though he lost some height, he still stood at over 7 feet tall, and he opened his eyes to look up at the sky. One hand brushed over his hair as he gripped the iron of the gate with the other, beginning to pull it closed as he was the last traveler to pass. Then, with the gates closed he would offer a nod to Leth's heavenly body and turn, heading toward the city of Kenash and what mysteries and wonder awaited him there.

[Calters]

65th of Summer, 514 AV

Calters shuffled his backpack from one shoulder to the other as he shuffled closer. He took in the tall stone gates and long iron fences on either side. The ground crunched beneath his feet and the shadows of the tress cooled select spots on his back and chest despite the heat of Syna.

It wasn't that he was too scared to enter. On the contrary, he was tired and more than ready to finally have a bed and perhaps a nice pint of ale. The reason he hesitated was the utter lack of security. Guards were absent and the gate yawned wide before him.

After only a tick of thought, Cal decided that it was okay to go in. There might be guards inside, he reasoned. So, stuffing his supplies into his bag, Calters took flight for what he hoped was the last that night and stumbled into Kenash on weary wings.

[M'Wanii]

21st of Summer, 514AV As the city crept into view over the waves, M'Wanii smiled. The boat ride over had been nothing short of torture but at last they were nearly there. She was tired, her mouth tasted of pickles and her back ached from being cramped into a barrel each night but that was over for now. The loud cries of orders being passed from bow to stern echoed down the long spikes of her ears as the Svefra sprung into action around her as excited by the prospect of land as she was. Ha no surprise there. Landdwellers no matter how much they loved Laviku would never truly be able to live within his domain. Anyone stupid enough to try lasted about three chimes before Dira swept them away, leaving their lifeless body to become food for the sea. Catching herself gazing longily at their destination, the charoda remarked how different it was from Syliras. An assortment of colourful structures open to the air with little smugs that were people moving in between them. Nothing like the self proclaimed city of peace's huge stone walls and suffocating design. It seemed not all land dwellers were the same after all. How interesting. What was the name of this place again? Ke- something. Ked- Ker- Ket- Ken.... Kene- Kena... something. Either way she wouldn't be staying long, the amphibian's real destination was further down the sea. Unfortunately this had been the only boat willing to take her along with them and then after this they were heading north again to Alvadas, a city near by a Charodae settlement. Whilst being amoung her own people would have been nice, her goal lead her south for the time being besides who was she to interrupt their trade route? The vessel was half way in by now, the edges of the land coming around to huge the small section to water to the city. They were close enough now M'Wanii decided. Checking to make sure her belongings were securely inside her bag, the charoda slung the strap across her body and made her way to the wheel of the ship. Stood there bellowing out ordered the blue eyed female captain gave her passenger a quizzical look. You could see all her thoughts reflected in those clear flecks of the ocean. What does this one want? We hadn't even docked yet. Shooting her best grin at the woman, M'wanii slowly made her way to the rail of the ship. “Thanks be to you for travelling me this far.” Not bothering to waste another tick aboard the vessel, the charoda clumsily vaulted the rail and threw herself into the water. A thunderous splash sounded as she traversed the plane that separated the two worlds of land and sea, feet kicking her forward at a decent speed. She was naturally a good swimmer, any sea dweller who wasn't didn't last long. Out pacing the wooden boat that had saved her so much energy, the land raced up to meet her. Beaching as gracefully as a webbed footed grey female could, the charoda stomped confidently onto the beach. Head held high, skin wet and dressed only in her old trousers and tunic, M'Wanii had reached Kenash.

[Eivl]

Eivl lowered her altitude sharply as she realised that she was just above the Kenash City Gates. After having flown over 900 miles to get here, avoiding other birds and insects on her way over, and quite exhausted despite her habits as a child, she took a good long look at the place she would be calling her home from now onwards, assuming her application as a Freeborn was permitted. I think I've researched their culture enough... And I'm confident in my ability to speak formally, though I still have to work on my tone... Eivl reassured herself, and hovered her way inside the unguarded gates. She would think a little about why the gates were usually unguarded later, but for now she was going to focus on trying to find her way to the Magistrate's Office to file her application. I hear they brand your hand when you're approved... I hope it doesn't hurt too badly. What if I accidentally touch it while bandaging it? Or what if I'm not allowed to bandage it? And what if I'm not allowed to rinse it out? Doesn't that mean I can't swim around either? She stopped, finding a sturdy looking branch nearby where she could rest and reconsider her choices. Maybe I should go somewhere close by. I could just be a visitor, and have a place outside of Kenash instead of inside. But thinking more about it, she figured it would be most convenient to stay here if she wanted to gain the trust of the people to find any information about her parents, and resumed her journey further into the city, asking people about the Magistrate's Office along the way. Being very careful about who she asks of course.

[Catriona]

. 1 Fall, 514 AV Catriona walked through the gates, bag slung over her shoulder and cloak around her shoulders. She gazed upwards at the tall Cypress trees and smiled as their leaves danced in the breeze. She liked it in Kenash already. It had been a while since she had stayed put and her feet ached, as well as her heart for somewhere to settle for a while. Pausing for a moment she turned her face up toward the sun as it beamed down upon her and smiled. She breathed in deeply enjoying the smell of the start of fall. ``Funny they would have a gate and no real wall`` she noted quietly to herself. Soon she made her way down the road to the Traveler`s Complex to soak her feet and get a nice hot meal.

[Viszragoneszh]

The Arrival - 4th day of Fall, 514 Were it not for the necessity of maintaining his racial deception, Goneszh would have found it amusing how every stranger he encountered doted in concern over the "poor boy", and asked what had happened to his traveling company? So certain were they, that he was surely the lone survivor of the perils of the wilds of Mizahar, that they always approached with offers of succor. 'Offers of ssslavery more like.' Goneszh muttered to himself, pasting a patient smile across his face. He had learned years ago that his unusually small stature and coloring gave people the idea that he was of that human race and culture called 'The Benshira'. At least, as long as he stayed in human form, the one he considered the least genuine of the three he could take. But this worked well enough to break new social ground, since there seemed to be no one with any particular contention against the desert people. The one exception to that being the insufferable Eypharians. And, of course, his crude, land-based Dhani cousins. The two being the primary reason he and his mother, Viszra, had left Eyktol. But he went nowhere new without being sure to investigate the culture thoroughly before revealing his true race to anyone. As a Dhani, and a Spiritist, he was often looked upon with apprehension for either cause. He wondered if it would be any different in this new place, this "Kenash". He could see extensive, well-maintained properties that suggested great wealth held by someone. 'Probably a very few.' he thought cynically. Had he not seen it time and time again, he might have made a more generous assumption regarding the degree of possible altruism to be found in the ruling class. His brown face became pensive as he relived the incident that had robbed him of his mother, and gave him his attitude towards rich humans. But it was pointless. She was gone, and he went on. It was part of some poem he'd learned from some Benshirans, and now it sadly applied to him as well. Looking around, he could plainly see that slavery was a major part of this culture. He shrugged this off as he came to a large gate. There was a uniformed man standing nearby that Goneszh took to be a guard. The man gave him a thorough enough glance to establish that he was, in fact, a Benshiran kid. Goneszh suppressed a scornful chuckle and passed through, seeking the "Traveler's....something..." as he'd been advised to do by one of the first group of strangers that he'd encountered after the Sea of Grass had changed to cultivated fields.