A Wilderness Journey from Ravok to Syliras (Solo)

[Jeremiah Maccabee]

OOC : Cooking, Currently at 1 While Missil stayed with Ar'kel in the tent and Soryn and Sishel got the fire going, Mac went off in search of plants. Rill had taught him a good deal about which plants were edible and which were not. He returned with wild kale, some mushrooms, and a few wild potatoes. He filleted the trout and tossed them on an iron skillet that had been heating over the fire. He chopped up the kale, the mushrooms and the potatoes and tossed those in as well. When the fish began to sizzle he flipped them over and put a little salt on the cooked sides. When they sizzled again he repeated it. Then he divided the fish, greens, mushrooms and potatoes among the five of them. Ar'kel wasn't hungry but Mac made her eat her portion anyway. After dinner Mac brewed some tea. They brought Ar'kel out by the fire and the five of them sat around the fire drinking tea and chatting. Later that evening, after the women had gone to bed, Mac and Soryn smoked pipes and talked. Mac said, “I don't understand slavery. It just doesn't seem right to me.” Soryn was silent for a while and then said, “Think of them as indentured servants. I know it's not quite the same thing, but there is an analogy there. Their freedom is limited, but they are fed and clothed and housed and generally well-treated. At least in Riverfall. Their treatment varies from place to place I suppose. Sometimes they are educated. Some become relatively prominent members of Akalak society, within certain limits of course.” “What led you to be a slaver?” Mac asked. “I'm not,” Soryn said. “A slaver typically captures people, enslaves them and sells them to the highest bidder. I purchased these girls from a Konti representative. The deal is that they will serve in Riverfall for ten years, after which they will be returned to their homes. For every two female's born to them, one will be allowed to return with them. It was a business transaction. I am the broker, so to speak.” Mac sat up long after Soryn had retired, smoking his pipe and thinking about what the man had said.