Son of Soron (29 page)

Ashuna understood this logic. “Very well then, Ashuna will go to Pailtar with you.” Ashuna liked the idea of traveling with the lord and boy warrior, they took on great odds with little fear. He would enjoy the prospect of joining them in battle.

With the matter settled, Verin arranged with Paulo to have the horses and the rest of their gear taken directly to Balta. Paulo let them know that Captain Berthal and the Lady Bonita were at their disposal for as long as necessary. They could sail to Balta once they finished rescuing the girls.

Paulo walked the men down to the docks where he introduced them to the captain. He explained to him that he was under the orders of Verin until no longer needed. Once they were on board the ship Nathan gave Paulo one last goodbye.

“Paulo Ventego, it has been an honor to meet you and I cannot thank you enough for your help. It means a great deal to me. I am in your debt.”

Nathan was relieved that, thanks to the assistance of Paulo, the duke would not get far away before they could cross the narrow strait. “You are welcome Nathan Stoneblood, good luck on your journey.” 

The Lady Bonita was a cutter, a small but agile ship. It could not carry a large amount of cargo but was among the fastest ships in the sea the captain assured them. “No merchant ship would get to Pailtar before the Lady. Even with a couple hours lead. We will likely pass them in the dark. I’ll sail a bit of a wide birth around them so they don’t suspect we’re following them.”

Nathan didn’t say anything to the captain but he knew that he was telling the truth. They had only been a sea for an hour, but Nathan could tell, through his a’kil bond with Ava, that the distance was closing.

Traveling across the sea was a very new experience for Nathan. The crisp salt water gave the air a different texture. The motion of the craft, as it cut through the ways took a while to get used to. He mentioned this to Verin. “The sea is a moving thing, the waves and swells of the sea cause the rocking motion. Many first-time sea travelers spend the majority of the journey getting sick. You are handing it well.”

It had been late afternoon when the Lady Bonita had set sail from the port of Venecia, and now night was coming fast. Nathan asked the captain about sailing at night. “It is not a problem on a night like tonight. With no clouds, the stars give you enough light that tell by the shadows if you are close to hitting anything in the water. The narrow strait is deep water so no worry about running aground. Sailing all night will not be a problem for us or the merchant ship. We should arrive at Pailtar around dawn, and the merchant ship will be a couple hours after that.”

By nightfall, Nathan was accustomed enough to the motion of the ship that he was able to get some sleep. Comforted by the fact that they were so close to getting the girls now, Nathan drifted off into a deep sleep. Around midnight, Nathan felt something change and awoke. They were no longer behind the merchant ship. They were now ahead of the duke, the captain had been right. Nathan relaxed and went back to sleep, he wanted to be refreshed for whatever lie ahead.

While Nathan was sleeping, the winds that had been moving them along quickly died off and it wasn’t until an hour after dawn that Pailtar came into view.

Chapter thirty eight

PAILTAR, A DUSTY GOLD and dirty cream-colored canvas with speckles of minty green, was different from anything Nathan knew. Gone were the hues of blue and green that dominated the views of Solotine.  Sand and adobe buildings were the prominent features of Pailtar, with strange looking trees and little vegetation
.

When they left Captain Berthal and the Lady Bonita at the docks of Pailtar, it was agreed upon that the captain would wait there one week. If they had not returned by then it was likely they never would. As they gathered their weapons and gear, Ashuna told them of a small hill to the southeast that overlooked the city. He would meet them there later that afternoon. Ashuna went off to spread the word among the slavers that three girls were entering the city soon and if they liked living, would avoid doing business with the duke.

While Ashuna was scaring the crap out of slavers, Nathan and Verin went through a bazaar, purchasing water skins and food. Between Pailtar and Morthon were only a few watering holes. If they had to follow the duke and his men for long, they would need the skins to keep hydrated. Once they had the water skins and food, they went in search of the hill Ashuna had described.

The hill was about a half mile outside the city and gave a good view of it and all the roads out of the city. It was a good location to keep an eye on things. But, not close enough for anyone to recognize them as strangers. They were sitting on the hill waiting for Ashuna when Nathan turned to Verin. “They are here. Ava is in the city now. “

“Good, you being able to tell where Ava’s location gives us an advantage. We can prepare an ambush or follow them until we get an opportunity to get the girls safely away. But for now all we can do is wait.”

The time seemed to stand still as they waited. Finally, Ashuna came up the hill late in the afternoon. “I have seen the girls, all three are safe, but the oldest one has not been treated well.

Nathan did not immediately grasp Ashuna’s meaning, but Verin did.

Ashuna continued, “I have spoken with all the slavers, none will accept the girls. Ashuna has done as he promised. But if you permit it, Ashuna would like to stay and assist you further.” Ashuna was not one to sit aside while his friends fought.

Verin thanked Ashuna. A warrior like him would help even the odds out greatly. Ashuna volunteered to go back into the city and spy on them, but Verin explained that would not be necessary. Nathan knew where Ava was.

Ashuna gave Nathan a careful look. “You are a’kil?”

Nathan nodded.

Ashuna just grunted. “This is good, some Chundo are a’kil. Magic blood is useful for a warrior.”

Suddenly Nathan had a thought “Ashuna you should go back to the city. We are going to need horses.” He couldn’t believe he almost forgot such an important fact.

Meanwhile as the Ashuna headed back to the city, the duke found his plans going awry. “None of the slavers will take any of the girls.” Bailmont had spent the entire day working his way around Pailtar trying to find someone to sell Sharon and possibly Rose too, depending on the price offered, but it mattered not. Once any of the slavers realized that these were the girls that Ashuna had mentioned, they wanted nothing to do with speaking to Bailmont. They did not even want to be seen in the same street as Bailmont. It was as if he carried the plague.

“What do you mean none of the slavers would take the girls. Were you asking too much?” The duke was incredulous; a slaver not wanting young pretty girls was unfathomable.

“No I mean I could not give the girls away. There are Chundo warriors looking for the girls and no slaver will have anything to do with them,” replied Bailmont.

Now the duke was worried. His plans were going awry. The Chundo were fierce warriors and if they were looking for the girls it meant nothing but trouble for him. ”Alright, we take all the girls with us, I’m sure you won’t mind keeping the older one around longer anyways. If the Chundo are in the city looking for us then we need to leave now. Have the men prepared to go as soon as possible.”

“I already purchased horses and food sir. As soon as you are ready, we can leave.” Bailmont was damn efficient. The duke should not have been surprised that his otherwise detestable servant would always be ready and prepared for any situation. As distasteful as the man was, he still served a purpose. The duke needed him now more than ever.

…

Ashuna returned to the hill with the horses. The duke and his men were already leaving the city with the girls. Nathan pointed out the group of horsemen, as they made their way out of the port city. ”There, that group is the one.” Verin counted the horses and riders. Fourteen riders minus the three hostages left eleven. The duke must have picked up a couple local guides.

While they rode, Verin explained some of the logistics of Mithbea to Nathan. “There are three main kingdoms in northern Mithbea. Pailtar sits at the most northern tip of the continent, the kingdom of Thune is far along the eastern coast, Balta along the western coast and Morthon in the middle, to the south of Pailtar. From Pailtar to Meron, the capital city, is mostly badlands, desert with little vegetation or water. There are a few watering holes along the way, tonight they will likely stay at the closest watering hole. This would be a good place to try retrieving the girls.”

“Ashuna agrees. Tell me, when you attacked those bandits back in the mountains, at what time did you attack?” asked Ashuna.

Verin smiled knowing exactly what Ashuna was suggesting. “Right before first light, when the sentries are most tired. I think you are right we do it the same way.”

Knowing where the water hole was and where Ava was, allowed Nathan and his companions to take a route that did not directly follow the duke and his men. By doing so, they avoided any chance of the duke’s men noticing that they were being followed.

This was wise because Bailmont himself had dropped back to check the behind and see if anyone was following. When he caught back up to the duke and the others, they were already making camp at the water hole.

“Any sign of followers?” asked the duke.

Bailmont shook his head. “No my lord, there was no sign of anyone following, but from what our new scouts tell me, there only a few watering holes between here and Morthal. So if they are coming, we would not be hard to find.”

The duke, still nervous about the Chundo, relaxed a bit when Bailmont reported no one following them. “Okay, we will have three watches, three men per watch. Bailmont you are on first watch.

It was almost midnight when Nathan, Verin and Ashuna closed to within a mile of the watering hole. Nathan had been working on a plan for a while, and was now ready to share it with the others.

Chapter thirty nine

“ASHUNA, WHAT ARE the chances of you sneaking into the camp, past the sentries?” asked Nathan.

Ashuna smiled. “The chances are very good. What is your plan?”

“Verin will sneak up and get close to their horses. He will find whatever sentries they post near them and shoot them. You will sneak into the camp, cut the girls free and take them to the horses. You and Verin put the girls on the horses and take them back to here, grab our horses then take them all back to Pailtar. Without horses, they cannot catch you going back to Pailtar.”

Verin could not argue with the plan so far. Sneaking in killing a few sentries and riding out with all the horses sounded much easier than three men trying to fight eleven. “Alright, but what are you going to be doing while we are sneaking in and stealing the girls and horses. How are you getting back to Pailtar without a horse?”

Nathan had a grim look of determination on his face. “When Ashuna gets the girls to the horses, I will provide a distraction so you can get them out safe.”

“As for getting back to Pailtar, it is not that far. I can travel on foot and only be a couple hours behind you” Nathan paused; he knew his plan had flaws when it came to his own part, but he was more concerned with getting his friends out. “Just get the girls to the safety. If I don’t make it back, take them to Balta with you. They will need someone to look after them.”

Ashuna shook his head. “You take too much of the risk, let Ashuna stay and fight while you ride with the girls.”

Nathan gave a laugh. “I’m taking too much risk? You two are the ones having to sneak into the camp without getting yourselves killed. Besides, in the time it takes you to get the girls on the horses Verin will be doing a lot of damage with his bow. There will be hardly anyone left by the time you are gone.” Nathan sounded more confident than he felt. He was nervous that he would not be up to the task and that either Ashuna or Verin were much better candidates for this dangerous mission, but Nathan simply could not ask a friend to take this risk. It was his job to do.

Verin was not so sure of this. But, he had witnessed Nathan fighting amongst the bandits without armor. With his new vraber skin clothes and weapons, Nathan would be a formidable opponent for any number of enemies. They would do it his way.

Once it was time to move they split up and separately made their way towards the camp. Nathan was crawling forward until he was about a hundred feet away from the camp. He stayed in that position and watched, trying to see movement. From what Nathan could tell there were two sentries, one by the horses, and one walking a perimeter around the camp. Wait no; a third was sitting up in a tree.

Nathan carefully slid his bow up beside him and put the quiver of arrows beside him. When the time came, his first shot would be into the palm tree.

Suddenly, Nathan saw the sentry walking stop and bend down. When the sentry was bend down he seemed to disappear right into the ground it was still so dark out. The sentry quickly got back up and continued his rounds back closer to the camp. The sentry appeared to have a different gait now. Nathan realized that it wasn’t the sentry. Ashuna had killed the sentry and taken his place! Nathan had been watching the whole time and hadn’t noticed the change, and from the lack of noise in the camp no one else had noticed either. Nathan silently congratulated Ashuna. The warrior was stealthy, silent and deadly.

Ashuna, now pretending to be a sentry, walked slowly past the girls towards the horses. Then like it was an afterthought, he turned and went back to the girls. Putting his hand over their mouth’s he gently woke each one in turn. Softly whispering into each girl’s ear to stay silent and nod if they understood. Once each girl had nodded Ashuna whispered to all three. “I am with Nathan Stoneblood. When I rise quietly get up and walk with me to the horses. When I get on a horse you do the same, understood?”