A Wild Ride (Kaitanu, Estrellir Konrath, Viszragoneszh)

[Viszragoneszh]

Goneszh dismissed any doubt that the horse was a Kelvic as he watched it scratch a message in the dirt. Before the animal was finished, the Dhani jogged over to tear a small clump of brush to wipe the roadway smooth of the letters. But at the sight of the reference to 'Morealis', he paused. "Morealis? That is-s my s-support as-s well. I am workman for Caleb, the S-spiritis-st. We mus-st get off the road. I have made the man think I was-s Rajor." A few quick swipes of the bush, and the Kelvic's message was gone. "We mus-st be leaving none of evidence of us-s-s being here. Hurry, into the bushes-s." It was only then that he truly noticed that the animal wore no riding gear, just a single strap holding a rolled-up item in place. There were already two reasons to feel the press of time. The sound of pursuing parties was growing in volume, and the man in the water was sputtering more coherently. Goneszh' sensitive nose detected tobacco now as well, but he did not necessarily equate this with a third presence, as the mild wind was coming from the sound of pursuit and could well just be members of the posse indulging in the herb. Goneszh knew that his rough brooming of the packed dirt would not fool a tracker with any real experience. He hoped that the appearance of the man that had been riding the Kelvic would either satisfy the searchers that they'd found their man, that his stumbling around the road would obscure the scratching on the ground, or both. In the meantime he intended to circle around with the horse, whose white coloring was going to be a detriment to his efforts. "Maybe you shift now, quick, before the groups-s are coming close enough for s-seeing it." He was worried that they may already be too close, but he was equally worried abut trying to hide a white horse in dark woods. If it lay down, it would probably not be seen, but then there would be no moving from that spot, and he was convinced that mobility was going to be essential. As if in response to the very thought of the white horse being seen in the shadows, his heat sensitive vision picked up a spot of body heat in the bushes a ways away. He turned away quickly before his detection was noticed. "Come on." he said to the Kelvic, waving him to follow. He still intended to circle around, but now he meant to head in the direction of this new watcher. He noticed now that this person was the source of the tobacco smell as well. 'Not very smart...' he thought, in regards to someone that tried to be secretive while soaking themselves in such a distinctive smell.

[Estrellir Konrath]

No matter how hard Estrellir listened, her hiding spot was still too far away from the two silhouettes to catch what was being said. The wind was blowing faint odors of sweat and brackish water her way. While the agitated voices in the distance carried far, it seemed the brown shape near the horse kept theirs down on purpose. All she could be sure of were hissing sounds, reminiscent of a particular speech pattern she’d heard before.

Still, she wouldn’t embrace the trap of jumping to conclusions with little to no knowledge. She needed more to be sure. The horse let out a low snort before it moved a little. Then the humanoid shape moved, approaching the white animal and speaking again. The way they fidgeted around each other revealed how they were on the verge of deciding something. The next few ticks, she supposed, would show a change in their body language that, in turn, would tell her what she needed to know.

In the meantime, however, the Konti was scanning her surroundings for opportunities. Wandering down the street, she’d used the shadow of the next building as improvised hiding place. By no means did it provide seamless protection from being detected. The side that faced the canal, however, was overgrown with unruly tufts of grass and reeds, obviously untouched by the Lorak beautification committee that had inspired all the talk last season. Running one hand along the wall for support, she slowly began to inch backwards and away from the broad street. The reeds by the water would provide a better hiding place as well as opportunities to signal to the mismatched pair, should it head into her direction. The shadows were deeper too in the west, whispering sweet nothings to her.

Around the corner, the Konti carefully worked her way along the back wall, ducking under two windowsills, until she arrived at the next corner. Between towering reeds and with boots sinking into wet mud down by the water, Estrellir could see less, but she also wouldn’t be seen by others. At the same time, she could hear more hissing and sounds akin to footsteps. After crouching down and adjusting her hood, she froze and listened.

[Kaitanu]

'Morealis' seemed to be a magical word; it settled over the tense air, lessening whatever gulf lay between kelvic and Dhani. Kaitanu could have no alliances but those that suited his master, yet here was a family tie suddenly linking him to this frightening, serpentine creature. Whatever the pale slave felt personally was of no importance. As Goneszh was a hireling to Caleb Morealis, Kaitanu was more or less bound to do as said hireling commanded. Provided the Dhani's plans did no disservice to Kaitanu's master, of course, or to the house of Morealis in general. So far, all Goneszh seemed to want to do was avoid detection, of which Kaitanu was heartily in favor.

As for the Rajor, he had no reason to get in the way of Goneszh's attempts to frame them. His master had no alliance with the constrictors which his personal slave would be expected to support. It was all one to the kelvic whether the Dhani groups chose to squabble amongst themselves. Of course, Kaitanu was bound by law to tell his master of Goneszh's actions, in case they might come back to stain the family. Otherwise he would have let it go and forgotten it, just like anything else that wasn't immediately important to his master.

With their temporary alliance established, and having no choice left in the matter, Kaitanu made ready to shift forms as he had been told. Whether it was a good idea to do so or not didn't matter; even Goneszh's use of the word 'maybe' didn't have much bearing. As the Dhani hadn't said otherwise, Kaitanu took his suggestion to change to human form as a command. Immediate obedience in all cases was expected of slaves who, after all, could not possibly think or plan for themselves. Exhausted as he was, cold as he was, the kelvic only allowed himself to lie down in order to shift forms and not damage his precious bundle. The tapestry, which had been strapped to the horse's flanks, more or less stayed where it was as withers, crest and hock turned to shoulders, neck and heel. Instantly the kelvic was on his feet again, his pale, naked flesh standing out starkly against the darkness that surrounded them both. Blood from his wounds still rolled along his skin, but as the Dhani motioned him forward hurriedly Kaitanu took no time to dab it away. Nor did he stop to dress in the clothing he always carried with him. It wasn't a matter of modesty, but would have helped protect his weaker human form from the elements. As usual, taking care of his own needs would have to wait until he was permitted the time.

With almost casual strength, belying his delicate looks and build, Kaitanu hoisted the tapestry over his shoulder and followed Goneszh into the tall reeds. Behind them, and before them on the main road, the noise of pursuit was becoming ever louder. It was carried on a frosty wind, which whispered through the grass and over the water, upon which the lights of various shops began to appear, one by one, reflected on the rippling surface. Stars blinked coldly overhead, in and out as the huge shadows of swamp trees swayed and creaked like ship hulls on the ocean. Altogether it was not avery friendly night to be out and tramping naked through the slush and the reeds of a swamp.

In spite of this, Kaitanu knew it was better not to be in horse form at the moment, conspicuously silver against the black of the trees. The fact that both posses were still in pursuit proved that they were determined, and not at all likely to be merciful should he be caught. A smaller human shape would be easier to hide, and might throw them off the trail if they didn't know to look for a kelvic. Where Goneszh was leading him, however, remained unclear for several minutes of sneaking around the muddy bank. It was clear enough to Kaitanu that they were confusing their own trail, but the Dhani seemed to be heading all the time in a specific direction. The kelvic began to suspect that there was a third individual involved in whatever Goneszh was trying to do, and that they were to meet said individual in their present hiding spot. In horse form, he had earlier detected the sound of footfalls close-by, edging nearer and followed by the smell of tobacco-smoke. If that was not the Dhani's intention, they would both end up colliding with the third presence anyway at this rate.

It was not, however, Kaitanu's place to point out the presence of this third party to Goneszh, since the Dhani might already be aware of their presence. Kaitanu didn't know how Dhani senses worked, exactly, nor would he hazard a direct query on the subject. The kelvic hesitated to say anything at all. Goneszh would likely take offense either way at the implication that he didn't know something the slave did. Unless asked point-blank for answers, slaves were taught to assume that their masters and other freemen knew everything. Whether this was true or not didn't matter; a slave ought never to make his betters look the fool in any way. They were not even meant to speak without permission. Ironically, slaves were often blamed when something went wrong, as though they had somehow withheld vital information on purpose. Kaitanu well remembered the beating he received from Harkon when he'd shifted into horse form, only to find out that the Morealis mercenary didn't know how to ride. To assume he couldn't to begin with, or even to have asked him in the first place, would have been just as bad. The kelvic believed Goneszh would react in the same manner because that was how slavery worked. Avoiding pain meant keeping his mouth shut most of the time.

On the other hand, Kaitanu's first priority was to complete his master's errand. If Goneszh was heading for a trap it could endanger that errand, and also the hireling of Caleb Morealis. Between the two options, a beating now from one individual meant less pain in the future. Either way he wouldn't avoid trouble. Many times, a slave just couldn't win for losing.

Clearing his throat, but keeping his voice very low, Kaitanu spoke as they hurried away from pursuit. "Master Dhani, please forgive this slave for speaking out of turn, but there is someone in the shadows ahead." Anticipating a blow, he turned a little as he walked so it would hit him and not the tapestry over his shoulder.

[Viszragoneszh]

The flash of light from the Kelvic's shift made Goneszh wince. He was sure it would be detected by the approaching pursuit, regardless of their probable uncertainty as to its relevance. When they got to the site and saw obvious hoof prints, but no such tracks leaving the area, they would put two and two together quickly enough. But that may not be the immediate concern. It did not suggest any certainty that they ought to go crashing into the brush after their quarries. There may even be a pause while they hashed out who was in charge. Humans were ever prideful of their standing, and would inject that stubbornness into their reluctance to surrender authority. the leader of one group would not necessarily give up his command too readily. Goneszh knew that he and this skinny Kelvic needed to take advantage of this. They were backtracked sufficiently to observe these dynamics as the two groups met at the road crossing. But after some comparing of notes and demands for action, all fell silent at the word of the woman still mounted, even the dogs. The man was dragged from the swamp. He was clearly disoriented, and spoke of being attacked while on horseback by one of the Rajor. 'So far, so good...' Goneszh thought to himself, seeing with satisfaction that the dogs were focused on his scent on the cloak he'd attached to the horse thief, apparently satisfied that they'd found their target. The woman dismounted and took a few brief passes of the area. "A Kelvic horse, you say? That must have been that flash we saw. So they did not leave the area..." Goneszh grimaced at having neglected to hypnotically impress upon his victim the belief that they had ridden off in the far direction. Further, the woman, whom Goneszh angrily recognized as Yvenna Lorak, had made mention of "they". She was not fooled. At that moment, the Dhani both hated and admired her. Still, the number of pursuers was diminished as she ordered the one band to take the thief back to town. Her instruction that he be fully healed, so as to be fit to properly receive his punishment brought a moan from the man and a grin from Goneszh. Goneszh looked over at his Kelvic companion, who only now seemed to notice the third person they had been circling around to confront, and had a sudden grim epiphany. He had admitted to being in the employ of Caleb Morealis while in his Dhani form! This would not do. His entire existence in town was based on the premise that he was a young Benshiran with a stuttering problem that cause his "s" to be so pronounced. It was mostly to avoid the awareness of the Rajor, while trying to free his Iyvess brothers. If his employer found out his true race, he presumed it would be slavery for him in short order. If this Kelvic blabbed his secret, all of the mischief he'd performed trying to set certain families against each other would be exposed. The Rajor would be delighted to add him to their ranks of slaves. He would probably get 'special treatment' even. He wanted to sink a toothy dose of venom into this lad right here and now, but the pursuit was too close. Truly, he'd like to eat the skinny little slave and be done with it. But that would take even longer, what with digestion and all. And there was this third person to consider, the one that smelled like tobacco. Goneszh decided he needed to gather up this other watcher and take them all into the swamp where he could get rid of them. It would not be long before the Lorak woman would find their trail. "Yes-s, I know there is-s third peoples-s. Come on." he hissed, wondering distractedly why the kid turned himself oddly at his response. He once again began a stealthy approach to the source of the tobacco aroma, hoping the kelvic would follow suit, and the Lorak woman would not.

[Estrellir Konrath]

The voices were approaching. Despite her new hiding place between buildings and the canal, Estrellir noticed the bright flash of light. It burned against the back of her eyelids as she pressed them shut for a tick. The white shape had shrunk considerably, so she supposed it was him that had shifted. Kelvic slave. Slowly the puzzle began to take shape before her hidden gaze.

The group seemed to halt and commands seemed to be given down the street. At the same time, the two others had left the beaten path and were heading through the tall grass into her direction. Estrellir held her breath. Had they noticed her presence? Likely. Kelvics tended to have exceptional senses in animal form and she didn’t even know what kind of creature the other one was. Gnawing at her lip, she briefly debated a careful and quiet retreat.

First, what did she know? A Kelvic in human form and someone with stuttering sibilant speech were heading into her direction. At least one of them had noticed her presence. There was a larger group behind them, although they had stopped moving for the time being. Now, what could be deducted from that? The large group was probably hunting for one or both of the fugitives. The Kelvic slave would be missed if they didn’t return to their master in time. The other person had reason to flee too. If they knew she was spying on them and were still heading into her direction… they hoped for her to help them escape their followers, willing or not. Having analyzed the situation as far as she could, Estrellir braced herself.

Advantages? Their identities would be revealed. The same was true the other way around, of course, but she supposed she already had a bit of a reputation. It couldn’t be avoided… with the things she did. If her assumptions were right, they also had reason to keep quiet about their encounter. No matter how she looked at the matter, Estrellir was burning for the opportunities it provided. No, she wouldn’t move. Wait and look.

Despite their attempt at stealth, lacking in one case, acceptable in the other, she saw them coming. First came a scaly slithering shape. The Konti’s mouth curled at the corners. Of course, the sibilant speech. Not a Rajor though… a distant cousin, perhaps, but the dull coloring didn’t look right. Maybe an Iyvess? Next the white Kelvic in human shape carrying some kind of fabric ware. The slave brand stood out on his face, although she still couldn’t make out its shape. As they approached, Estrellir rose out of the thick undergrowth, taking both hands out of her coat pockets. Be prepared. With the hood still in place, the shimmering scales and opalescent gnosis at the back of her left hand would give the Konrath away nevertheless.

[Kaitanu]

There was, quite unfortunately, nothing Kaitanu could do to prevent his shift of forms from being seen. Had he not been so deeply trained to obedience by a lifetime of harsh treatment, he might have argued with Goneszh about the matter. There were a great many things he might have done differently. His only breach of slavish behavior was in the warning about Estrellir; that was all the boldness the kelvic could afford. Even if some part of his mind couldn’t help turning certain things over- i.e. why a hireling of Caleb’s should be out at all hours- it was not his place to judge such things. Right or wrong, he followed along after the Dhani, placid and silent.

Through the shadows of softly-swaying plants by the riverbank, Kaitanu watched the two pursuing groups meet, and listened with a chill as he and his new companion were discussed. He knew Yvenna Lorak by reputation, and had observed her more than once when his master had dealings with other Dynasts. She was a formidable woman; proud, determined, and not to be crossed. Should she catch Edmund Morealis’ personal slave hiding in the rushes she would not let him explain himself. Not that the kelvic would have dared to try. Every time her piercing eyes scanned the shadows around them, he felt as though she could see him clearly; Kaitanu half-expected to be called out at any moment. Yet no summons came, which surprised the pale slave. Yvenna Lorak knew where he was; he was sure of that. Why did she not come for him? Or, if she was more interested in Goneszh, why hold back?

These questions faded after a few moments’ stay in his mind, and nearer concerns took his attention. Next to him crouched the slithering form of the snakelike being, but Kaitanu felt no safety in that nearness. He knew well enough that the Dhani could, and probably would, throw him under the cart to save his own hide. Or, what was more likely, he would devour the skinny kelvic once their pursuers were out of earshot. There was no anger or resentment accompanying such thoughts. Of course the Dhani would turn on him; that was the way of the world. Kaitanu’s only real wonder was if he could escape death for another day and return his master’s tapestry in one piece. Goneszh was looking at him with a peculiar gleam in his strange eyes, even as he motioned for the slave to follow. Perhaps he wanted to get to a better place for eating? With enemies before and behind, Kaitanu had little choice but to trudge along after his companion, not wishing to turn his back on the Dhani. At least, not until he got to more solid ground. The snakelike tail before him seemed to slide along the muddy bank without any effort. Contrarily, his own small feet and stick-thin legs were barely able to support even his slight weight without sinking, much less the added burden of the tapestry over his shoulders. Every time he moved forward the kelvic would hear a sucking noise of mud and water. If Yvenna Lorak had chosen to set the dogs on them he would have had no chance to run. As for the Dhani, he needn’t wait much longer for a meal. It wasn’t as though shifting would do Kaitanu any good now. And what of the person hiding in the shadows ahead?

Kaitanu did not have to wait long for a view of the newcomer, though it was not much to go on. A hooded figure, very small in build, wreathed in the remnants of tobacco smoke, rose above the tall grasses before them. If it was another Dhani then this one was in human form, though Kaitanu had his doubts. Judging from the little skin he could see, this humanoid creature was as pale as himself, so perhaps it was kelvic, or Konti. Maybe it was just a very white-skinned human; he didn’t know. What struck him more than anything was the faint shimmer coming from the creature’s skin. As they drew closer he could see a scaled pattern on the backs of its hands, which flickered with each movement. This stranger was a Konti, and therefore also female.

With that realization, Kaitanu felt slightly more at ease, since Konti were not known for being vicious in general. In addition, this one smelled of smoke, and he only knew of one Konti who used a pipe. The kelvic could be wrong, but as his keen eyes searched for other evidence, he caught the edge of the tattoo on the back of her pale hand…the left. It had to be Estrellir Konrath, an ally of his master. The thought was both comforting and panic-inducing. If she was not somehow in collusion with the Dhani she would report Kaitanu to his master, and that would earn him a good thrashing. Nevertheless, she had proved to be at least somewhat supportive of the Morealis interests, so at least the tapestry had a chance of getting back in one piece. That was the best he could hope for, anyway.

Letting Goneszh slither on ahead, Kaitanu kept back a bit, head bowed, and did his best to look deferential. No word would escape his lips unless he was spoken to, nor would he make eye-contact. Kaitanu had the humble gestures of a slave down to an art. Hopefully it would be enough to reduce his inevitable punishment.

[Viszragoneszh]

Goneszh choked back a curse. 'Why do these two have to be so damned white?' he thought angrily. Here they are trying to hide, at night, and these two practically glowed. And with the Kelvic's smell of horse sweat and this woman, who he assumed was a Konti, reeking of tobacco, it was a wonder they were not already surrounded. Then again, it might enhance his own fortune if pursuit continued. His scent might be lost among these foreign smells. And if he ducked out at the right time, their bright tones might draw eyes past him. He grinned slightly, 'Hai, their silhouettes may even burn a night-blind image into the eyes of the Lorak woman herself.' The thought of their antagonist brought his focus back to the road, and his grin faded quickly. The woman was examining the broken bit of bush he'd used, and then, as expected, examined the road's surface. Her head turned back and forth a couple times and she called for one of the dogs. In short order, Goneszh could see that both she and the dog had found the head of his escape path. "Damn!" he hissed, turning to the Konti with a sneer. "You should not s-spy, woman! We need to leave, but you might betray us-s. If this-s mob takes-s me, I will s-say you were contact! We three will hang together like one. Hors-se boy and I may es-scape if you keep mouth shut. But have you ever been tortured before? S-such pretty white skin...all black and blue and s-swollen. You will talk and know it! You need to come with, now." Even as he said it, an odd turn of events unfolded. He heard the Lorak woman insist on checking other trail heads, citing the possibility that the initial one was a decoy. She acted satisfied that they had collected their perpetrator already. One of her men argued that the man had been in the swamp, and would not have arisen to be seen if he was waiting for the pursuit to bite on a false trail. The Lorak woman glared at him and he wilted visibly. "Very well." she announced loudly, "After we have checked other trail heads nearby, we will check this one. If this turns out to be legitimate, it will not grant them more than a few chimes advance. And going will be too slow in the swamp for them to make much headway. I think it far more likely they will head back into town while we waste our time here." Goneszh was stunned and puzzled. 'What is she up to? She had the wit and the eye to detect the brush I used on the road. She surely sees no sign of any other tracks to any other trail heads. She has already referred to us in plural. She knows...but is delaying pursuit.' He took only enough time to reexamine his own logic before turning back to his companions. If they had been speaking, he'd taken no notice. It suddenly dawned in him that, as a representative of a family that was not suffering from any of his recent exploits, this woman may actually want him to escape. She had come so close to nabbing him already that he could not believe she did not already suspect him personally, to some degree anyway. But his actions had not hurt her Dynasty. Perhaps she wanted only to confirm his identity to establish the assurance that this mischief would continue to bypass the Lorak. Perhaps she too had something to gain, some agenda which was served, by his troublesome sowing of suspicions among the Rajor, Ackina and Draer. Now he turned to face the Kelvic and Konti both, "WE mus-st go! Now! I am not know why, but she is-s giving chance to us-s now for leaving. Quietly! S-save talk for the s-swamp, after we lose them."

[Estrellir Konrath]

Permission to mod Goneszh


As the mismatched pair approached, more details were revealed to the Konti’s violet eye. The unfamiliar dull coloring of the scales. A light and pale figure. The tattoo on his cheek, identifying him as Morealis slave. It was then that his visage rang a bell too. She’d seen him before, several times around Edmund. Personal slave then. That detail was noticed and tucked away in the recesses of her mind for later use. Estrellir merely shot him a glance before shifting attention towards the Dhani.

His obvious unease and stuttering almost tickled a grin, but then he insulted her. Lips pursed in distaste. How could he dare to assume things about her! True, eavesdropping was hardly clever. True, she hadn’t spent time on a proper disguise. But it wasn’t her freedom, her life at stake. Thus her confidence was unwavering.

Estrellir merely put her hood over her locks once more, tucking any loose strands into the shadow of the fabric, and shrunk back into the undergrowth. An easy feat, given her size. The Dhani puzzled her though. Definitely no Rajor, she knew now, but his identity continued to evade her memory. It’d be easy enough to ask around for a Freeborn Dhani as there couldn’t be too many, she merely had to bide her time. “You know nothing of my reasons, so don’t assume. I, however, know whose slave you’ve borrowed and who you are, but I’m still curious.”

He wasn’t listening. Other voices mingled with hers, farther away, but still close enough to remind them of the danger they were in. When the Dhani turned around to face her, judge her, Estrellir merely waited. No use arguing now, he wouldn’t listen and they’d all lose time. So she swallowed her pride and the protest at the tip of her tongue. “Let me show you a few shortcuts around here. They’ll help us reach the swamp faster.”

With that, she took over and led them through back alleys, little more than beaten paths, along windowless back walls and along deserted side canals. Estrellir knew how to tread softly, weaving in and out of shadows, and the Dhani was slithering through the grass with barely a sound. Still, the voices and excited howls of dogs stayed behind them, keeping a certain distance, but never fading. As if the Lorak had attached herself to their heels, determined to chase them to the other end of Cyphrus. They never touched the East Bank road, instead staying at the edge of the map. Eventually they came out near the Terraces where Estrellir stopped behind a cluster of skeletal bushes and low trees covered in moss.

“I don’t know a thing about what lies beyond. You take over from here.” The words came out sharper than intended, implying a vague threat. If he waylaid them, she would drag out his identity and keep a violet eye on him. At least one. Estrellir still didn’t know what the Dhani had planned, but she was beginning to form theories.

He didn’t object. As they started moving, Estrellir fell behind to watch both their mysterious leader and the slave closely. For some time the ground became more even and easier to traverse. During that part, she inched closer to the slave. “You’re Edmund’s, right? What’s your name? If you don’t do anything stupid, I’ll make sure you won’t be hurt too badly. Promise?” She spoke softly, with a careful glance at the Dhani. Perhaps he reminded her of Mell. Perhaps she wanted Edmund to be indebted to her. Whatever it was, Estrellir had come to a conclusion. Trading information, secrets and favors was simply more exciting than needless bloodshed.

[Kaitanu]

Kaitanu was no more in control of his own pallid complexion than Estrellir, though she at least had the advantage of a cloak. Even if he kept the illusion of being quietly stupid and obedient, the kelvic was very aware of the dangers surrounding them all. Kaitanu knew how he stood out in the darkness, how strongly he stank of blood and sweat, and how much of a liability he was to Goneszh if the Dhani kept near him. If he was just given the chance to pull out his clothing and cover up it would do more to hide the kelvic’s pale form. That was, of course, not the only reason he hoped to cover up. The skinny kelvic was starting to tremble from cold and exhaustion. Kelvics were not as hardy against the weather in their human forms, though they did much better than a normal human would under the same circumstances. Kaitanu thought with longing of the simple shirt and slacks hidden away in his satchel, which was tied to the long, wrapped tapestry slung over his thin shoulder. They weren’t sturdy enough for real cold, but better than going without. On the other hand, he had nothing with which to bind his wounds, meaning he would get blood on them. Master Edmund would not be pleased to have to replace what he had bought for his personal slave. Really, the kelvic was damned if he didn’t and damned if he did.

As these problems were gone over silently, Kaitanu remained very much aware of his chance companions, as well as how he could avoid trouble with either of them. The threats Goneszh lobbed in Estrellir’s way were neither surprising nor unexpected. Mentioning torture didn’t even make Kaitanu so much as wince. He’d seen quite a bit of it in his short lifetime so the idea was no longer shocking. Torture was, in fact, quite normal, though he would prefer to avoid it if at all possible. At the moment, however, he was resigned to facing some in his near future. In spite of Goneszh’s words it would be Kaitanu who would bear the brunt of any violence from the Lorak woman and her pursuers.

It was, therefore, with astonishment and some relief that Kaitanu heard the Lorak woman misdirect the pursuit. Though the kelvic said nothing, Goneszh was echoing his sentiments to a ’t’. What was Yvenna Lorak doing, and what did she mean by it? To turn from such an obvious trail made no sense, not unless she believed there was some greater advantage to be gained in giving them a head start. It was possible that she would follow the real trail on her own and catch them out, an idea that was not at all pleasant to the kelvic. Goneszh and Estrellir might have enough use in themselves to satisfy her political machinations, but Kaitanu was a different story. There was little Yvenna Lorak could gain from bargaining with him, beyond the obvious. He would rather not be blackmailed into spying on yet another master; it never ended well for him.

Wishing to avoid the Lorak woman, Kaitanu needed no urging to press on into the murky shallows of the swamp, even if there was the danger of becoming a meal for Goneszh. At least he could avoid being identified by a third party. Estrellir knew him for what he was, and she might prove trouble in her own right. Kaitanu understood enough about Kenash politics to know that Estrellir would use him to her advantage, notwithstanding her friendliness with his master. He’d seen plenty of allies turn on one another when it was to their own benefit. The only question was what she had in mind.

Wary as ever, Kaitanu followed in the freezing muck after Goneszh and Estrellir, the sounds of pursuit never quite lost behind them. Whatever Yvenna Lorak had in mind they never saw hide nor hair of so much as one of her dogs, much less the woman herself. Yet her presence seemed to hang over them still. It urged the three companions on, in spite of their mistrust of one another, and the mounting exhaustion of the lone slave.

Kaitanu was finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the others, though he did his best not to betray his growing weakness. Stronger than he looked, the tapestry slung across his back was still large and heavy. It weighed him down into the soft ground with every step, and had to be carefully maneuvered around low-hanging tree branches or other obstacles. Frigid air stung the kelvic’s bare skin, freezing him down to the core despite the extra effort of slogging through the mud. The open wounds on his bare flesh were still bleeding lazily, dark rivulets mingling with sweat and grime. Most of the cuts were not deep, but the loss of blood still made him somewhat dizzy, not helped by lack of proper sleep or food and the day’s events.

In spite of this Kaitanu soldiered on without complaint. Given how skilled he was at hiding behind a calm mask, it was hardly wonderful that the others paid him little heed. So long as he kept up they had no other reason to worry about him. A freeborn in his condition would have inspired horrified stares, maybe even sympathetic action. At the same time, slaves were universally overlooked as a rule. It would no more have occurred to Kaitanu than to the others that they should offer assistance of any kind. Besides, it wasn’t as though they could take the time to do anything about it, even were they so inclined. The area around the Terraces was not nearly far enough from pursuit for anyone’s liking. At least beyond that the ground was more stable, but Kaitanu wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep up the pace. After all, he didn’t know the intended destination. For himself, it was several miles back the other way at Blacksugar. That would be a test of endurance all on its own.

As the weary slave considered his options, he noticed Estrellir slowing down her pace gradually, despite being unencumbered herself. It soon became clear why as she addressed him in low tones, not wanting the Dhani ahead to hear. The slave listened with head bowed respectfully, not betraying what he felt or thought of Estrellir’s offer as it affected himself. When he responded to her inquiries, it was in a soft, extremely polite voice.

“Mistress is very perceptive. I am Kaitanu, personal slave of Master Edmund Morealis. My only wish is to fulfill his commands to the best of my ability.” Briefly, he inclined his head a bit more in her direction. “I am at your service, Mistress, and will do all I can to aid you, insofar as my master’s goodwill permits.”

Such a non-answer would, he hoped, not offend or anger the Konti. Kaitanu had no freedom of his own to accept or deny her requests, or make unauthorized promises. As Estrellir and Edmund were friends, there was a tacit obligation for Kaitanu to serve her, but at the same time he could not jeopardize his master’s interests. Estrellir’s promise to lighten his punishment didn’t inspire the relief or fawning gratitude she probably intended. The kelvic knew she wouldn’t even try without wanting a hefty price in return, and he could guess well enough what it would be. In the end he fully expected her to either forget or consciously renege on such an offer, so there was no point getting his hopes up. It was nothing personal against her, just the way of the world.

Farther ahead, the Dhani sped up, a little beyond where the last branch of the Terraces fanned out over the water. The golden light from their windows shone in the rippling water, and voices and laughter could be heard from within. It was a sound Kaitanu was both used to and completely separated from, merriment being the province of the freeborn. Though his mind was occupied with more pressing matters, he couldn’t help wondering, for a moment, how it felt to laugh. The freeborn did it so often… Then the thought was gone and he had to push harder to keep up with Goneszh. The Dhani seemed to be heading toward the water, but his head moved as though he was scanning the houses of the farthest branch of the Terraces. At length he halted, his long tail curling a bit in the damp earth, and motioned for them to come closer. Kaitanu was rather startled to see the slightly-glowing eyes of the Dhani turn to them. It was eerie and unpleasant the way they shone out from the dark silhouette, like dying candle flames. By that time everything was in shadow around them, though Kaitanu shone silver against the black shapes of trees and water. Even if he tried to run he'd be easier to spot than the other two. The kelvic was not keen to get any closer to that snakelike darkness but obeyed without a murmur, tense and shivering. Hopefully they would all part soon, then perhaps he could find some warm corner, out of sight, and prepare for the long journey to Blacksugar. It was a struggle just to stay on his feet at this point; he wasn’t sure how much further he could go.

“Purssssuit issss left behind, but not far.” the Dhani hissed at them both. “I am not running during night where we will be caught under treessss or in bushesss.” Gesturing to the Terrace buildings, he added, “I know of empty house to go to during night and not go through front gate. We will use ssshhhhallow water to hide horsssse boy’sss ssscent and desssssside what further to do.”

There was something about the way the Dhani spoke that made Kaitanu think he sounded a bit off, as though he was trying not to sound tired. Then, he wondered if Dhani became sluggish in the cold the way regular snakes did. It certainly couldn't be doing Goneszh any favors. The prospect of going through frozen water with an irritable and possibly hungry Dhani was not pleasant. However, he could not think of any other way to get out of this mess. Even if there was a moment to shift back to horse form the other two would cause trouble. Kaitanu needed to be diplomatic to get through this alive…and before he passed out.

[Estrellir Konrath]

“Good. Very good.” Ever so slightly sarcastic, Estrellir nevertheless committed his name to memory. As a slave, he had to meet expectations in both speech and action. The Konti understood that he was taking the path of least resistance in order to return himself and his precious luggage. She too would rise in the Morealis’ favor if she brought their slave back in one piece and relatively unharmed. However, beyond that another opportunity was presenting itself to her. She simply didn’t know how to make use of it yet.

The flickering light behind windows and along piers of the Terraces stood out against the inky sky. After looking at the circles of light, the darkness around the fugitives seemed to have deepened. Estrellir was glad that the Dhani had stopped for her eyes were just adjusting to the shadows again. As always, they were whispering and thickening around her like a protective cloak. In some way, she was relieved that night had fallen. The dark fabric of her clothing allowed her to blend in with her surroundings. Hiding her pale face under the hood, she’d be all but invisible.

The Dhani’s suggestion, if it was one, didn’t particularly appeal to her, but she also understood that he wouldn’t forgive her if she parted with them now. By revealing herself to him, she’d effectively tied herself to the fugitives and become one of them. The Lorak woman and her posse didn’t pose great danger to her, but the Dhani with his glowing eyes did. So she gave an affirmative noise and reluctantly shrugged out her cloak. If they were swimming or even wading through the water, it’d weigh her down. Instead she tied it around her waist and tucked all loose ends into the knot. Lastly she took off her boots. The Dhani slipped into the water with barely a noise. Estrellir would wait for Kaitanu to follow before going in herself. As a Konti, she didn’t mind the water, not even its chilly temperature, instead she relished its feeling on her skin and scales. She lowered herself into the brackish water completely with only her head peeking out. That way most of her pale form was hidden under the surface.

The Dhani led them under the pier and along the backs of the houses where fewer windows cast light on the dark waves. Estrellir could still feel the ground under her bare feet when they halted near one of the last houses. A wooden ladder led to a back door. The Dhani climbed up with practiced grace, unlocked it and let them in.

Furniture was sparse and gave nothing away as to what kind of person owned the hut. A candle was lit. Estrellir untied her coat and squeezed out swamp water. Her boots had gotten wet too, so she remained barefoot for the moment. As they gathered around the candle, her thoughts began spinning again. The house provided a good start for future investigation. Did the Dhani own it and if not, who did? She had to admit his idea of seeking shelter for a while wasn’t completely off. Their scents couldn’t be trailed in the water, so the Loraks had no choice but to comb the entire city for them.

Meanwhile the Dhani had started talking about their next course of action. He seemed to have some kind of plan, but only shared the key points with them. Estrellir noticed he was speaking and moving more slowly than before. Was it the cold or the water? She still knew nothing of his breed. There were water snakes too, after all.

While he spoke, Estrellir kept an eye on the slave. The water had revealed his exhaustion and the state of his wounds. After a moment of consideration, she reached for the satchel tied to his tapestry and found what she’d been looking for: his shirt. Ripping it into strips, she held the fabric into the water for a moment before cleaning his wounds. The Konti knew nothing about medicine, so all she did was wipe at the cuts until they looked clean. Then she tied strips around the biggest cuts. Exhausted from blood loss, he wouldn’t be of much use.

Their self-proclaimed leader didn’t seem to mind the Konrath treating the slave, but he’d finished his explanation by the time she was done. “So you truly will mislead our followers, going back to the city proper, while we continue through the swamp? What makes you think we’ll do what you say instead of turning you in?” A subtle glint of mischief lay in her eyes.

Her argument was met with another string of barely veiled threats. He’d find and torture her if she deserted them… Oh my. Estrellir suppressed a grin. He’d calm down soon enough and then order them around like he’d done before.