A Greater Lesson

Chapter 15: A Deal's a Deal

Kolan contemplated on everything I had just revealed.  I had explained how the story of the “Golden Jaguar” had come to pass and how I’d met Rivka.  The only thing I didn’t care to explain was our back stories.  They would bring up too much pain and memories for both of us.  Besides, if he ended up leaving, he didn’t need to know anyways.  When he had asked how Rivka had gotten Roux, all I told him was that she had found him as a cub. 

He looked towards Rivka who was on her third large piece of jerky now.  I had to wonder if they had fed her at all.  Even though she was safe now, I still felt the guilt of letting this happen.

My mind traveled back to Kolan and what he might make of everything.  I recognized the fact that I wasn’t entirely honest when I asked for his help and that by helping us, he was now in danger.  I just had to hope he would let me fix this.  I could find a way around all of his problems, he just had to trust me.

Kolan sighed.  “Do you know what kind of trouble I can get in for this?  If Jerghund finds me I’m a dead man.”

“Join the club,” Rivka chimed in from behind me.  Jerghund must be the name of the man who ran the auction.  In that case, Riv was right.  He had threatened Kolan right before his betrayal and had threatened Rivka publically at the auction.  He’d always wanted me dead, he had tried several times.

“The way I see it Kolan, you have two choices.”  We needed him on our side, but if he refused, I could get him out of here.

“Either you can go back to Jerghund, we could make it look like we overpowered you, and you might lose your job, but you probably won’t die.  We could make it convincing too.”  We could have fun with that.  I just didn’t want it to seem like we were throwing him to the dogs.

“Or, you could travel with us to the far north, where me and Riv are headed, where nobody will recognize us and we can start a new life.” I looked back at Riv smiling up at me.  Warmth filled me, we were going to be happy together.  And we were going to be safe.

Kolan stood up.  “I’m sure you’re aware of the pig-face that Jerghund can be.  I’m sure I don’t want to work for him anymore.  And Garis?  He’s not the greatest person in the world either.”

Rivka and I looked at each other awaiting his decision.

“I’m in.”  He smiled and we cheered and danced around the cave. 

“Okay, okay,” I stopped Xik to grab his attention.  “You have some explaining to do for me.”

He looked down at me confused.  “Like what?”

“How did you convince Kolan to help, and how did you get our weapons when the shop was on fire and-”

“Shhh, okay slow down.”  He looked up at Kolan and laughed. “I can explain that too.” 

…He thought for a second and looked back towards the auction to make sure no one had followed.  “What do you got to offer then?”

I smiled.  “I got a lot of gold.  I know exactly where the ‘Golden Jaguar’ rumors came from.  The jaguar had gold dust in his claws, not because he was made of gold, but because he found a cave full of gold.  You help me, I show you where it is.”

He thought for a while and pointed at me.  “Okay, but if you’re playing me, the deal is off.”

I held up my hands.  “That’s all I ask.”

 “So what are you thinkin’?”

I looked at him and smiled. 

I led him inside the butcher shop.  I was so curious to see how Rivka had been living for the last couple of days.  Everything was pitch black.  I had to find some light before I could explain anything.  I felt around until I found a lamp in the corner.  The light that came from it shocked my eyes at first, but they soon adjusted.  The place reeked of blood and rotting meat.  The walls were covered with knives and weapons.  The table in the middle of the room was covered in bones and blood.  Carcasses hung from the ceiling.  I couldn’t imagine the fright that must have come to Rivka when she entered this hideous place.  I couldn’t grasp the concept that she had been held here.  She had to have at some point slept in here.  All the while she was with those fiends.