It began with the slaver announcing he had force collared a new bond named Tula (told in the first person from Neve's perspective)....
....when I saw the new bond, the slaver was running his hand slowly over her thigh. I noted the new girl was naked with long, flowing black hair, but instead overhearing some louder talking nearby, I turned toward the camp wall.
Quickly, a red arrow whizzed by my ear, then another and another, one striking my arm painfully. I quickly stumbled back from the wall, but we were under attack so I turned to run back and blew the horn as loudly as I could. By then, the outlaws were scurrying up a grapple, so I threw my slight frame against the heavy rock lever, groaning as the sticking lever finally gave way.
Although engendering much profanity, the cascade of rocks did not slow them down much though as they managed to scale the wall as I tried to hoist another bag of rocks. The only free remaining in the camp, the slaver, tried to save me but they captured him as well. After stealing a key to the outer gate, the Mori strangely left as quickly as they had come taking no captives.
Afterwards, I showed the new girl a rock and tried to explain how to throw it. It then became clear that she spoke very little of our language and showed little interest in my words.
A short time later, the slaver leashed the Pani woman and drug her out of the fort where a man waited to discuss matters with him.
The man, after some bantering, agreed to lay down his weapons in order to gain entrance to the camp...wanting to discuss the rightful ownership of the beast which we began calling the Pani girl....this Tula...
I had seen him before, but he never names himself. His accent is rich and deep -- heavily Torvie. His manner is brusque and he is frequently has his face hidden in a rough fabric. On this cold night however, he was bare-faced and I could gaze -- as boldly as I dare-- upon his striking features.
We all then went to the long hall so he and the slaver could discuss further over mead. Nearing the long hall, the slaves stripped off their kirtle. The Pani, not understanding the command to strip, had her kirtle ripped off by the Torvie man. We entered the darkened hall, the slaver left the Torvie's weapons by the entrance and they sat down at the low table.
The Pani girl managed to serve the Torvie after some confusion. I served the slaver warmed mead and bosk steak, which was no small feat given my arms were trembling and rope burned from the Mori pirate attack earlier that night.
After partaking of drink and food, the slaver and Torvie negotiated for the Pani girl. The slaver suggested, "I'll return her to you, if you swear your allegiance and join our camp and defend it with your axe and bow."
The Torvie responded thoughtfully that a friendship could develop like an uncurling talendar, given enough time and that he would gladly swear to the camp but said sheepishly that he did not have his weapons. The slaver then returned the weapons to him.
The Torvie stood up, raising the double axe above his head and roaring in a deep Trovie accent, "I swear my allegiance on my axe to this camp as a friend..." The Pani woman did not understand much of his words other than "axe" and "friend" and trembled.
The slaver invited the man to stay in the dungeon. Offering him a fur to use and the use of the dungeon in case he wanted to correct the foreign girl.
The Torvie man and girl remained in the camp for a long time that night. Alternating cries and groans could be heard far from the long hall as all gave it a wide bearth.
As they left the camp that night, to sleep under the stars, I wondered if they would be back....but for some reason....she had no doubt that they would again see these new friends.
To be continued?
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