The Land Below our Feet COMPLETE

BARRIER

Iktan sat in his cell, nervously rubbing his hands together and trying to keep the sickening humidity at bay. He had been tossed down there as soon as he was captured. Somehow, they must have deducted he held some kind of knowledge. Because they had been coming to get him daily and taking him to their leader… That was the scariest part of his day and he had still not gotten used to seeing those horrific stone-cold eyes burning with fury as the barbaric man lost his temper every time he tried communicating with him despite the obvious language barrier.

At least they had managed to learn each other's names... Iktan pointing at his chest while he repeated his out loudly and clearly to him.

-Njál- The brute had blurted out signaling towards his swollen pectorals and cracking an intimidating toothy smile. So, that's how Iktan had learned the name of his captor. That was the easy part.

Making himself understood had become a greater challenge. So, he had started slowly, showing him small everyday things and repeating each of their names over and over to him.

-Corn- He would mouth exaggeratedly, showing him the cob and waving it at his face, then taking a small bite – Eat. See? You eat corn- Iktan explained, placing the cob into his hand and urging him to dig into it.

As days passed, he found Njál was making slow but steady progress, and he eventually could even manage to utter simple phrases.

There was only one thing that the large golden-haired man enjoyed more than torturing his captives, making them fight each other or getting black out drunk on Ahau´s confiscated liquor. And that was having Sehira by his side. Iktan could tell he was infatuated by her and that he yearned for the ability to make himself known and comprehensible to her.

But for now, he seemed happy with grabbing her by the neck and forcing his tongue into her mouth at all times. Ever since he had spared her life, she had become his personal toy in return. Spending her nights warming his cold and repulsive bed.

Iktan shivered at the girl's fragile sight. He could not imagine the horrors she surely had to endure in the privacy of the shadowy chambers of the palace he had taken possession of. Njál was certainly not a man who was familiar with rejection… And he made sure that was not even a possibility at all.

But as vile as he found this. Iktan was nothing but a prisoner himself, and there was little he could do about it. He was barely playing his part and hoping it would help him to survive long enough to figure out a plan.

Little more than a few of the royal members had been kept alive. Most of the prisoners had already been killed by now. The majority had died within the very first day. Some others even had a little more time to reflect on it, before meeting their tragic end.

They had kept the women only, which they took turns to defile. Their screams and agonizing crying tearing his ears and haunting him each night.

Ahau remained in his filthy dungeon day and night. He was now a sack of bones as they barely fed him enough to keep him alive. His past glory days long forgotten. His once proud figure, reduced to a sickly-looking sad wretch.

The sound of footsteps brought Iktan back from his reverie as his tired eyes focused on the hazy figure quietly approaching his cell.

-Who is there?- The former cleric whispered in fear - Show yourself!

-Quiet- A feminine voice hushed him as he made out Sehira´s face under the shadows, covered by a dark hood that concealed most of her voluptuous body.

-What are you doing here?- Iktan muttered in surprise - If Njál´s men find you, they will crack a hole in your chest with their booming sticks.

-I know that. Do not worry. The guard is deeply asleep. I saw him snoring loudly at his post- Sehira hurriedly mumbled- But we don't have much time.

-What do you want?- The man asked, nervously scanning the hallway for any sign of movement.

-I need your help - The girl explained - You must rush your language lessons as much as you can. Njál is meant to speak our mother tongue as soon as possible. It is the only way to extract the information I seek. We need to learn all about their plans and intentions if we want to get ahead of them before it is too late.

-It is very thin ice, the one you are walking on, Sehira- Iktan shook his head worriedly - You are going to get us all killed if you are not careful.

-What is this excuse for a life we are living worth anyway? - The girl replied defiantly- I'd rather risk dying in my battle than keep existing in this miserable slavery. Will you join me in this fight or are you going to be the same coward you have always been?

- I do not have the luxury of being brave - The man breathed out sadly- I never learned how to fight or even defend myself. I have never done anything but hide in a temple and pray to be left alone.

-Prayers are useless now, Iktan- The girl scolded him harshly- I know you cannot be violent, but I want what you do best: I need you to put that ingenious mind of yours to good use and help us start a rebellion.

-What if we get caught?- The young priest asked doubtingly, tugging at his ragged clothes.

-We won't if we are wise enough- Sehira nodded firmly at him - We are not making any desperate moves. We will wait until we are completely sure we can get away with it.

-Fine- He sighed resignedly- I will put some thought into it… See if I can come up with an actual plan. But for now, you keep your head low and do not dare to die on me.

-I won't- The girl whispered, turning around and starting to walk away- Not before I rip Njál´s steaming bowels out of his dying body with my own two hands.

-That is an ambitious wish you have- Iktan murmured with a cautious smile - May the gods grant it to you.