Unbound: Slave to the Desert Sands

Step Carefully

      The morning was brisk, with the sun just beginning to hint at peeking over the jagged mountain tops ahead of them. A brisk frost thinly blanketed the leaves on the trees around the clearing the Razaak had set up the main part of their camp in. Kaia knew of course that the procession actually spanned far beyond behind them, where the slaves walked and slept in rope shackles. With a twinge of guilt, Kaia realized she was fortunate compared to them. She had slept in no shackles, and had been fed and warm. The feeling passed quickly as she eyed the guards standing around the clearing, performing their duties. A few of them readied their giant black horses nearby. The stallions stomped impatiently, steam billowing from their nostrils as it met the brisk morning air. Kaia knew just because she wasn't restrained didn't mean she was any less a prisoner here. She followed the two Creesan girls past them toward a large horse drawn cart that had Kala'ree darting all around it. Kaia had the peculiar sensation that someone was watching her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw on the of men with the horses looking directly at her. His black mask was already  pulled up over his face so that only his black eyes glittered at her. She noticed a belt of blood red fabric tied around his waist, something she had not seen on any of the other men. Kaia stared back some a second and  thought there might be something familiar in that stare but quickly came to her senses and looked around for the other girls who had gotten a few steps ahead of her by now. She hurried forward not eager to get left behind.

     They approached the cart which seemed to be surrounded by Kala'ree all bustling about with various tasks. Everything appeared to be moving at a fast pace. The horses were already hitch to the cart and even looked as though they had been freshly groomed. They were not like the simple mules that Kaia had seen pulling carts in Bleakburn. Those creatures had been much smaller, with salt and pepper, long wild manes and rather sleepy, gentle eyes. These horses were monstrous, easily twice the size of the mules with pitch black coats. Their names and tales were meticulously kept and around their ankles were little tufts of long hair that fell down over their hooves. Their eyes were sharp and dangerous.  Kaia was torn from her reverie as Naji and Pasha, the Kala'ree mentors approached them. Naji looked rather excited while Pasha's face held nothing other than cool indifference as they looked at the girls.

     "We'll be moving any minute. You three will stay with the cart and observe how things work. Do not not draw attention to yourselves, pay attention and learn how things are done." Pasha looked impatiently at the three of them and said. 

     "Do not fall behind or you'll be dragged back by your hair." She spit rather aggressively. Mary gulped loudly earning herself a glare from Pasha. "Understood?" She questioned. Mary and Sarah remained silent but bowed their heads respectfully. Kaia rushed to do the same, feeling once again rather overwhelmed that she did not know all of the ways to do things here. Without another word the two Kala'ree spun on their heels and left them alone to walk behind the cart which soon started to move. 

     The girls stuck close together as horses and people were moving all around them. The men of the king's guard would ride past them toward the front of the cart were most of the Kala'ree were to get food and refreshment. Most of them ignored the three girls completely but a few would openly watch them as they rode by. One even let out a long low pitched whistle as he trotted by causing his companions to laugh raucously beside him. Mary let out a terrified squeal which she tried to muffle, only causing the men to laugh harder. Kaia felt a shutter run through her and kept her eyes down. 

     Occasionally Kaia saw Azra, who was atop a great black horse, riding with confidence. Her chin which was held proudly raised was covered by a thin gossamer red veil that was held in place behind her ears. She worn no head scarf though and her long black waves billowed in the morning breeze. She was flanked by two other Kala'ree in yellow silks with similar transparent yellow silk veils over their mouths. They looked almost like guards the way they followed and watched the Ma'Kala'ree . And although Kaia often saw Azra stop and lightly speak to the men, laughing and chatting as though they were all old friends, Kaia never once saw the women in yellow silks speak.

     The day passed quickly, it was impossible for Kaia to tell how far they had traveled but the sun rose as they walked and they kept a good pace even with the path they walk along becoming steadily steeper as they climbed the mountainside. Kaia knew that these mountains were what separates Creed from the desert sand kingdoms but she could not remember having ever met anyone who had crossed them. Even with the sun at its peak the air steadily grew crisper as they ascended, and Kaia knew the night would be cold.

      As the day passed and the Kala’ree seemed to become a little more comfortable with the three Creesan girl’s presence among them and even gave them simple tasks to keep them busy. When a meal was needed for a king’s guard Kaia was to give the Kala’ree a handful of dried meat from inside the cart. Sarah, walking along beside her handed off a knot of bread and finally Mary walking behind them was given a skin of water. The Kala’ree used large hollowed horns as cups for water. The horns were so large Kaia could not even imagine what beast it could have come from. Certainly whatever it was did not exist in Creed. The tasks were simple enough and Kaia found some peace in the easy job. In a way it reminded her of her duties in the Rusty Nail, the little inn and pub she and Miss Bucket had run together. She had always found such pride in seeing their happy customers fed and full. Yet although Miss Bucket never liked to hear about it, Kaia had always known she wanted something more from her life. Never in her wildest dreams had she guessed her path would lead her here, however, as a prisoner to the most brutal army that had ever existed. And serving them lunch on top of that. She was lost in her memories for a while after that, until she heard a shrill shout from ahead of the cart.

      A Kala’ree woman Kaia didn’t recognize was running toward them, grilling her wrist in her other hand. A cloth was wrapped around the hand and already the cloth was turning a dark, menacing red color as blood rapidly soaked through. The caravan rapidly came to a halt as everyone turned to watch what was happening. From behind them hoof steps approached and Azra’s horse galloped up, still flanked by her two yellow silked Kala’ree. They smoothly dismounted and approached the woman, Azra’s expression remained completely calm as she quickly took charge of the situation. She tried to sooth the injured Kala’ree and determine what had happened. They spoke in such quiet, rapid Razaaki that Kaia had difficulty understanding but she was able to presume that the woman had stumbled carrying knife for meat carving. The poor woman’s face was frantic as she apologized profusely as if she had offended Azra in some way. Azra simply ignored the groveling as she carefully peeled back the bloodied cloth to reveal a horrific gash through the palm of the woman’s hand, bone clearly visible and covered with dirt and small stones from the hitting the ground after the woman fell. 

     “Calm yourself, Riya, it’s not so bad,” Azra cooed in a soothing tone, although Kaia thought she must be lying to make the Riya feel better because the wound looked grotesque even from a distance. Riya, however, did look like the words made her feel better. Azra nodded briskly to one of the Kala’ree in yellow and they both sprung into action. One of them whipped a pack off the saddle of her horse and pulled out various gauzes and jars of what appeared to be ointments and tonics. The other looked around for a minute with her eyes finally settling on Mary, who instantly stiffened. 

     “Water!” The Kala’ree in yellow barked in Razaaki, “Bring the water!” But Mary, whether frozen in fear or simply unable to guess what the woman wanted, didn’t move. Kaia looked at Mary in alarm, obviously the girl didn’t speak Razaaki but wasn’t it a bit obvious they would need to wash out the wound immediately? Clearly not. As quietly as she possible could, desperately aware of all of the eyes on them she hissed,

     “The water skin Mary, they want the water!” But it was too late. Quick as a snake the yellow clad woman strode up to Mary, standing uncomfortably close to the girl who shrunk back in fear. The Kala’ree snatched the water skin with one hand and drew back the other and unleashed a terrifying blow to the small girl’s face. Mary collapsed with a squeal and neither Kaia nor Sarah moved to help herd unable to help themselves from gaping and fearing to make the girl’s punishment worse. The Kala’ree had already spun on her heel and returned to Azra’s side, who, Kaia suddenly realized, was staring directly at her with a look of puzzlement. She shook her head slightly as though clearly a thought and turned to assist the two women in yellow in cleaning and dressing the wound. Soon enough the injury was stitched up and bandaged and the caravan was back on the move, with Sarah and Kaia urging along the battered and shell shocked Mary.