Curse of the Jackalmen

prologue

{Dedicated to the awesome person who made the amazing cover!!!}

I'm no expert on ancient cultures, so please tell me of any huge errors!

A/N 2019 So.  I wrote this when I was 13 and that was many years ago.  I leave it posted because I am so proud of my young self for sticking with an idea for so many chapters and deep in my heart I still love these characters and this idea.  I ended up stopping this story as I aged because I realized how much I did not know about the time period I was writing and that began to ruin it for me.   Interestingly, a few years later I became a classical studies and archaeology  major in college.  Honestly this story is part of the reason I'm in this field.   Long story short, this tale isn't great but it is a testimate to my past self. 

The port-side market was a place of squalid splendor where braying donkeys surrounded by clouds of flies were sold alongside delicate gold jewelery. Money from every known land was accepted, and trade was just as welcome. Shouts rang in the slightly stale air, broadcasting wares and reduced prices.

On this day, the marketplace was exceptionally busy. A ship loaded with goods from Rome itself had docked during the night, and now new salesmen spread blankets, and set up shades over tables to spread their wares and attract customers.

Every.style of clothes was visible, from turbans and robes of the Saharan, to flowing togas, and short linen skirts of the Romans and the Egyptians. Everyone was equal as far as profit was concerned.

The last product to be showcased was the slaves. From menial mining to considerate nannies, bondage was a huge part of society. Without it, life could not go on. A variety of ages and races stood shackled near a gaudy booth manned by a very sleazy looking salesman.

A tall, comely man, obviously one of wealth and from Rome judging by his tunic and toga that draped effortlessly about his strong frame entered the semicircle of booths.

He appeared at ease with the bustle of the market place; more blasé than average. He had an arm wrapped protectively about a woman who had barely entered middle age. She had dark eyes thickly lined with Kohl, pale, pale skin that looked as of it never saw the Sun, and straight black hair. She was wearing a dress made from white linen and gold sandals set with crystals. Her countenance was stony as she argued with the man.

"I honestly don't see the point in this! As I have stated before, I believe not a word of it!" The man, her husband, turned his eyes to the heavens and patiently replied.

"We've discussed this before. I'm not doing this because of that I'm doing this because I would have done it anyways!" He grimaced and started walking again, a little more briskly.

They came to the gaudy booth and the salesman, who had beady eyes, unwashed hair and an aquiline nose, greeted them. He could tell that they were wealthier than average and tried to put on a good show.

"'I bid you Good Morning, Sir and Ma'am."

"Morning." grunted the man. Dentrilous, for that was his name, was in a curt mood. The salesman look slightly ruffled, but tried to keep things running smoothly.

"What are you looking for in a slave? A cook, a companion, a house-keep?"

"We're looking for both a guard and a companion. For our son." Once again, Dentrilous was terse.

"I have a variety that could serve such a purpose. They came from Rome earlier. Received basic training at the gladiator school, but were sent to be sold." He lead them to a small group in the back, near a larger stream of the delta.

It was mostly boys, aged between nine and fourteen, rugged looking and muscular. In the midst of the group, talking excitedly in what sounded like Greek, was a girl. She looked maybe ten and had plain brown hair plaited down her back. She too appeared strong and capable.

"Any one of this group would fit your purpose. Perhaps one of the boys....?" He prompted.

"They're too obviously guards. t'would attract attention." Kyrapatri seized the reins of managing the purchase. The salesman hesitated, obviously not expecting that.

"well.. All the others are domestics, unless you'd take the girl...."

"Hm... maybe... what can she do.....?" Kyrapatri appeared thoughtful, but doubtful as well.

"much. Hemite, Come here!" he shouted at her. The girl turned and stalked over, a slight glare creasing her brow.

"Yes sir?" She asked politely.

"What can you do?" Prompted the salesman. He was met with a glare that said lots of things.... Her eyes flickered around the area, landing on the stream near them. Without looking up, her hand slowly moved to the table and seized a sizable knife.

In a sudden burst of movement, she threw it hard and fast. With a satisfying slam it appeared in the head of a crocodile that had been inching towards the back of the booth. Kyrapatri gasped, the salesman swore and Dentrilous nodded in approval.

The small smile that had come to the lips of the girl disappeared when the salesman gave her a heavy backhand to the cheek.

"fetch the knife." He ordered.

"But....fine.." She consented, cautiously walked to the crocodile. With tentative hands, she knelt near the corpse and started pulling at the knife. Suddenly, everything escalated. The crocodile, still partially alive, knocked her sideways and clamped it's mouth on her knee. She cried in pain and pulled the knife the rest of the way from it's skull.

In frantic desperation, she stabbed the head again. The croc relaxed it's jaws and she pulled her leg free. Flipping the animal onto it's back, she slashed it's leathery throat. But even this did not kill it. It clawed her with flailing limbs, opening a gash on her cheek. She gasped and quickly stabbed the knife into its belly, drawing it down to open up its guts.

Breathing hard, she took the nearly dead animal and threw it into the water where it was sweapt downstream, leaving a swirling trail of blood. She stood up, turned around and limped back up the bank to the booth where the salesman was waiting.

"Your knife sir." She said simply, holding the now bloody blade out. Dentrilous chuckled.

"We'll take her."

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