Avarice Secret Unquiet Ch 22

Exodus

It had been an excellent performance, no matter the troubles on Jhary's mind the crowd's appreciation always lifted his spirits. He lived for the accolades of the audience, after all, it helped him forget.

The bard had barely closed the door to the room he and his companions shared when he was drawn to Kario's concerned visage, as he stood holding a crisp, white note, neatly folded.

"I haven't peeked, but I assume she is gone." Kario said quietly.

Jhary reluctantly took the note and read it slowly. His eyes opened wide at the information the missive contained. It was not at all the simple farewell note he was expecting. "Oh Lord!" He dramatically put a hand to his chest and took a deep breath.

Kario remained quiet, allowing his friend to fumble through the written contents and steady himself.

"Not only is Aurianne gone, but she saw Aran a few days ago and didn't tell us, he's a labor slave apparently, in a wood yard on the southeast side of town. Damn! I think I know where that is." Jhary was in a fluster, he wanted to go after Aurianne with all his being immediately. She could not be so far. However, he had to try and rescue his friend. The man of verse and song was very torn, as to which action to take.

Kario stayed Jhary with his hand offering words of advice. "We need this Aran if we are to go north. I don't think we should face his tribe alone, they sound formidable."

Jhary dropped his shoulders and sighed. The note was still clasped in elegant fingers. "You are right." He said as he tucked the note into the folds of his jacket. He would keep this memento of her should he not see her again. Something his heart had become afraid of.

*****

Some two hours later both men stood in the darkness of an iron building, surveying the Johansen wood yard. With all, they owned sitting on the ground beside them. The strong silvered moonlight made the surveillance of the large compound fairly rudimentary. However, it made the idea of approach intimidating.

Jhary's mind was elsewhere, it should not have been, but he was thinking only of Aurianne on her way north.

"It's not going to be easy to get in there, and it's so bright tonight," Kario commented in a low whisper.

Jhary nodded, still scanning the dark piles of lumber reluctant to advance. "Yes, the romantic lady moon is our enemy." Jhary sighed. "I fear there might be guard dogs in there, and that over there looks like the residence. I think I can even see a candle burning? See it? Someone is probably still up."

Kario nodded. "Yes, I think it is a candle balancing on the windowsill. I don't think a slave would be in there. Maybe that cement outbuilding?"

Jhary scanned the compound. He nodded in silent affirmation of his friend's guesswork, wishing he had more of a stomach for these brash endeavors. "I'm going to throw a stone, hopefully, if there are dogs in there we will know for sure."

"Alright." Kario said, chewing his bottom lip, and fingering his blade for comfort.

The sound of the missile was loud in the ensuing, expectant silence. The thrown stone clattered to a halt. Silence again prevailed, and the two men looked to one another. It was time to find a way in.

Both men left their cover and for want of a better disguise decided they should just walk about, and appear that they were traveling the streets with no agenda. This was a poverty-stricken area, and such activities were commonplace. Even this late many were out and about, some who looked to be transients just as they did. The fencing about the woodyard was in good repair, and reams of cruel ribbon wire adorned the tops of the mesh barrier without respite.

"Damn it!" Kario exclaimed looking up at the endless barbs that crowned the enclosure." I could get in there without too much effort, but getting you in is going to be a chore."

"What do you have in mind?" Jhary inquired with hesitancy. Immediately wishing he hadn't.

"It's a bit risky, but I could transform into something small. If I didn't stay in that form for very long I would be fine. I could go in, but I assume your savage friend would be wanting to see you, not me. I'm not sure that would help, and well the gate isn't going to open from the inside either. It's locked."

Jhary's hair prickled on his scalp. He really was not at all comfortable with this magic talk. So he decided to head it off swiftly. "Nope, you will wait for me out here with our belongings. I am going to go over the top in the back corner. The wire is less there and I have that high pile of stumps to land on. I should be able to get out that way also." The bard was trying hard to appear much braver than he was inside.

"Very well then." Kario acknowledged.

The wire bit mercilessly into his flesh in various places and rent his fine clothing. Jhary cursing himself and his idea of honor. He half slid down the woodpile and landed in a graceless heap at its base. The man of music froze in the shadows listening, barely daring to draw breath, waiting to be doubly sure he had not been detected. Beyond, the single white candle burned on the windowsill, and there was no movement from within the flat roofed residence. The only sound was the beating of his own heart, to his own ears it was a thunderous uproar.

Before him well lit by the moonlight, stood a low roofed shelter, its corrugated iron roof supported by four sturdy posts, beneath which stood a huge, now rusted saw blade. It was mounted to a motor bolted into the concrete, driven by frayed belts, and had not seen use for many seasons. An assortment of large hand saws and axes also stood leaning in this shelter.

Jhary careful not to knock any of them over in his passing, paused at the rack containing a selection of razor-sharp axes and carefully withdrew one he felt he could heft. His attention was divided between glances at the home beyond, and the smaller concrete building that stood not too distant. The most likely place a strong slave could be securely housed.

With great care he advanced on the concrete brick outbuilding. There were two metal doors on the other side, one with a grating insert. It was obvious at one time this had been a public convenience that had been repurposed in this new age.

The grate was set high in the doorway, and Jhary not being a tall man had to strain on tiptoe to see within. There were no other openings in the modest outbuilding, except a small vent high up in the back wall, and the inside of the cramped space was bathed in darkness. It was then he heard the clink of chain, perhaps the manacles of a captive. Looking harder he could see an expanse of light flesh, a naked man's torso laying supine on the floor nestled in old straw. With his heart in his mouth he softly called his friend's name...

Aran had been dreaming, jumbled recollections of violence and despair. Even sleep offered little respite from the brutality of the conditions he now suffered. The warrior woke suddenly sitting bolt upright, eyes immediately trained on the door of his prison. He was unsure what had roused him.

"Aran?..."The voice so very familiar to him called down.

A laugh, deep and guttural emerged to Jhary's straining ears. He pulled his face away from the mesh unnerved. Perhaps the poor wretch was no longer in possession of his faculties? Jhary had been a fool to come here quite possibly. He glanced nervously over his suede-coated shoulder one more time, to assess the house beyond. Thankfully no movement came from within, then back again to the steel grated door. He almost fell backward to see Aran's rugged visage close to the grate, and looking hard at him. Nose pressed to the metal.

"Jhary?"The warrior whispered hoarsely and with an air of incredulousness.

"There is no time." The bard replied, relieved his friend still appeared to know him. "I'm going to break this lock, it's going to make an unholy noise, so we will need to move fast after I do, okay?"

Aran nodded, face twisted with a crazed smile.

Jhary wasn't the largest man, and he was afraid he might not be strong enough to break the lock with one sweep of the axe. So he took aim carefully, executing the mightiest swing he could muster. His fears were unfounded, as the clasp fell off the metal door and it swung open, to reveal his friend shirtless and fettered in heavy chains.

Though Jhary had not made a huge ruckus. There ensued a noise from inside the house, someone waking. The lone candle was removed from the window sill, and the fluttering light from it drifted through the domicile.

Both men turned. Jhary felt Aran's bulk close to him, large hands seeking the axe he held. The bard gave the weapon up gladly, confrontation was not to his liking.

"We have to go, they have heard us I think." Jhary entreated softly. "I think you can make it out, this way..." He tugged at Aran's arm, the muscles felt like steel. The savage man was not listening, and if he was, he gave no outward sign. Jhary quailed, why did his adventures with this warrior always have to play out like this?

The next moments unfolded with rapid and blurred swiftness. Jhary plucked at Aran urging him to come back toward the rear of the compound, pleading. He had no idea where Kario was, he could not see him anywhere. Aran immobile, frozen in a defensive crouch, eyes set firmly on the front of the home, waiting for the door.

OH no, no no no!, Jhary thought with regret as the heavily shackled man moved with surprising agility toward the opening door. He could not understand for the life of him, why Aran did not choose to simply run away and taste his freedom. He did not want this to end in yet another bloodbath.

The big man moved swiftly and was on top of the figure as it emerged unsuspecting from the doorway. In a flurry of blue skirts Imogen was pressed to her back before she could even make to scream. Aran's large hand pressed tightly over her mouth, as the candle she was carrying rolled away and sputtered out its life in the dust.

"You make one noise I will slay you all." His green eyes burned with a killer instinct.

Imogen saw the danger and complied, letting her body go limp beneath him.

"Is your father awake?" Aran demanded.

Imogen shook her head from side to side though that was somewhat difficult with Aran's considerable force on her.

"You are a lying whore, we all know that." He spat in her face with great disdain. "So you are going to come with me." Imogen's face went white. "You come quietly and without fuss, or I will return and slay your father and son, do you understand?"

Imogen was cornered. She now rued her deceit with all her soul. However, it was too late to undo it. She could not bear the thought of her little boy being harmed, and had to trust her father would leave no stone unturned to find her. She had lived long enough in this violent age to know the threat to her family was real. She nodded at the savage man who squatted over her, his eyes constantly glancing into the half open doorway of the dwelling she had called home. Satisfied her father was indeed asleep, Aran made to depart.

Jhary fidgeted some distance behind longing to be gone, this rescue was not playing out as he had planned. He watched Aran haul the curvaceous lass to her feet and turn toward him. The bard had not expected hostages. He shook his head resignedly and led the way.

Despite his chains, Aran hauled the girl up the pile of tree stumps and over the fence with relative ease.

Kario was indeed patiently waiting in the shadows on the other side. He seemed confused by the taking of a hostage and began to speak. "Err won't she..."

Jhary nodded his head vigorously from side to side imploring his companion to cease his line of questioning.

Aran was last over the fence and landed heavily in his chains making a loud clank in the otherwise deserted alleyway.

"We better not tarry here," Jhary whispered. I think the best thing we can do is probably go down to the river, away from the bridge, and look for a way across."

"I have to lose these chains," Aran interjected, grabbing the girl before she got the mind to run or yell.

Jhary contemplated the confining steel fetters. Aran was right, but they could not linger here. "There is farmland to the east, we can remove them there without drawing attention to ourselves."

Aran nodded, and they set off through the dwindling shanty town of the east side.

*****

It was well beyond midnight and fortunately, they remained unnoticed exiting the sprawling district. An escaped slave in the Bridge was no small matter, and it was very obvious Aran was owned property. The low slung tin shacks, and meandering dirt walkways thinned out and were left behind, as they stumbled into a large, plowed field. The soil was freshly turned and there was a faint tinge of green as the new crop emerged from the rich alluvial soil. Not too far distant was a dark stand of trees, they headed for those.

Safely hidden from view Aran as best he could struck off the chains from his fetters with the axe. Sparks flew electric blue and sodium white. He still wore the steel bracelets and anklets, a nuisance, but they would have to wait. Relieved to be free of the confining chain that hindered his every motion, Aran squatted on the sandy soil and looked to his companions. This was the first time he inquired of Kario, green eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Who is he?"

"He escaped from the slaver's compound when we did." Jhary answered." This is Kario, and he has been a great help." Jhary answered.

"We?" Aran tilted his head, eyes narrowing at the bard's answer.

"No, no, I mean I, it's been a long day." Jhary internally panicked at his rather careless slippage.

Aran didn't miss the confused question on Kario's face. Something was askew. However the warrior said no more, he would rest and deal with it later. There was plenty of time to fathom the truth of the term 'we', however at this moment it was wise they leave the Bridge as swiftly as possible. By sunrise, Aran would be missed, and daylight was only a few precious hours away.

Aran pointed to the snaking trail of the wide river ahead that cut deep into the landscape. "Those cliffs run a long way steep and vertical, we might be able to scale them at some point on foot, it would be beneficial to have horses, but I don't see them swimming a river this wide." It was not a good scenario.

"I guess we will have to go on foot?" Jhary acquiesced, he really didn't fancy bumping about on a saddle-less horse anyway. His ever-fertile imagination was making a mental tally of all the crimes he was up for if he were ever brought to trial at the Bridge.

However at Aran's mention of going north, his thoughts again went back to his redheaded companion. He was already in a fluster, recognizing he needed to watch his mouth better, and hope Kario didn't mention Aurianne directly, at least for the time being. Jhary knew at some juncture he would have to explain.

However he wished to be long away from the Bridge first.

*****

It felt good to leave the confines of the Bridge, and Aurianne would not be returning to it any time soon, if ever. The city had proved cloying for one of her nature, and now the young woman could understand her mother's reluctance to congregate or visit such places.

She lay low over the back of her horse and made good speed across the dunes, neither pressing the animal nor holding her back. Beauty ran and frolicked happily at Isabou's heels. She rode in this fashion for the best part of an hour when a sudden, ominous thought, caused her to slow her mount to a standstill.

The cool wind was lightly fluttering the russet mane of her horse in the dark, and the skies for the first time in many weeks were free of cloud, offering a very spectacular view of the Milky Way haphazardly cutting through the blackness above like a careless sprinkle of icing sugar.

Aurianne looked up at the night sky and took a deep breath. What am I thinking, her mind shouted, yet she sat in absolute silence whilst her horse fidgeted beneath her. This isn't just about me anymore. She looked to the sand and the shaggy black companion who gazed up at her with golden trusting eyes, and back to the strong arch of Isabou's mighty neck.

"I'm not thinking, am I?" She said aloud to her animal companions. She sighed and turned her mare about, back toward the direction they had come. There was no water to be had for miles, she didn't know the area at all, and what about the poisonous fallout that Jhary had been so afraid of, not to mention the prospect of roaming slavers, and the packs of subhuman ones.

She had not thought this through. Her need for vengeance had dulled her wits and endangered both her and her companions, and she felt foolish as she sat there in the darkness. Though she was loathe to return to the river, it was probably the best course of action given the circumstances. She would need to provision better and plan more strategically, before journeying north.