The Savage

Part 3: Chapter Six: Rory

The swamp around them began to lighten, taking shape again. The heavy canopy hid any view of the pale morning sky. It was full light before Rashad finally stopped feeding the fire and let it die.

They peered down through the broken trap door. As expected the horses and packs were gone. All they had left was the flagon and salted meat Rashad had brought up the night before. Fergus's body was no where to be seen, but the trail in the mud where he'd been dragged into the water was clear. Grass and saplings were smashed to the ground from the hasty retreat of the giant snake. Despite all the signs of the night before, there appeared to be no immediate danger. The birds chirped and the swamp seemed still.

The rope ladder was lay crumpled on the ground below, so with Rashad going first the men dropped carefully down.

"Should we search for the horses?" Rory asked.

Rashad shook his head, letting a long, high whistle. Only the morning's birds had anything to say in return. He whistled again.

Crashing through the foliage came one of the mules, pack missing and covered in mud. It seemed just as relieved to see them as they were it.

Riding two to a mule was slow going, slower than the day before as they picked their way along the path. Sun down came too quickly and they were forced to make camp.

Finding a small patch of higher ground Rory set a boundary circle as Rashad gathered what he could to make a fire.

"Everything is too wet." He complained as he eyed Rory's job of the boundary.

"Will it light?" Rory asked, squatting next to him.

Rashad shifted away, "I can get it to light I just don't have anything dry enough to feed it with." He looked up into the canopy above them.

Rory shivered, "I suppose we're spending the night in the dark."

Rashad grunted his unhappy response. "I'd rather not." He stood. Picking his way over to a large winding tree, its smooth trunk no bigger around than he was, Rashad wrapped his arms around and shimmed up. Rory stared in awe at the resourceful boy. When he came back down he carried a bird nest and a smile. Inside the nest were four eggs.

"Dinner and a fire!" Rory marveled.

Rashad blushed, going back to work on the fire. It was comforting to have the fire, knowing it kept the animals at bay. Rory wasn't sure how well he would have done without it. Sleep would be difficult even with its warm glow.

"Do you think the snake will come back?" he asked poking at the eggs on the fire.

Rashad stared in the fire and shrugged, "Not likely. But there are other things out here to be worried about. Worse things."

"I don't want to know." Rory replied hastily.

Rashad shrugged again, "Suit yourself."

They sat in silence for some time when Rory finally asked, "How'd you come to be in Fergus' service?"

Rashad's brow lowered into a frown, "He bought me."

"But you're not a slave." Rory objected.

"Not exactly, no. But I was one of twelve children and my parents couldn't feed us all so they found someone who would pay. You don't have to be an islander to be bought and sold."

It was the most Rashad had said at any one time, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize." Rory apologized.

"You don't have slaves in Duthaich?" Rashad asked.