More Than Chains To Bind (3 page)

I brooded we had been damned unfortunate to be at the particular village when the Diolis had chosen to extend their raiding this far south. Our west coast had long been their prime target, being the closest to Dioland. King Morus would never have allowed Liander to come to the southern coast if he'd believed there was the slightest threat to his son's safety.

I wondered what had happened to Andim. He was of an age he wouldn't have been taken by the Diolis. As it was unlikely he would've sustained injury during the remarkably bloodless attack, I imagined Andim would get word to the king as soon as he could, but it would take days and it would be too late to stop Liander and I being taken to Dioland.

I saw some commotion farther down the line and I recognized that dumb fuck, Fortil, right in the middle of it, which meant, of course, Liander was involved. Damn, why had they chained me at the end of the line? I had tried to get nearer to Liander, but they shoved Ledo, the young villager I was linked to, and me to the end of the line and chained us there.

I managed to drag Ledo out to the side of the line as far as the chains would allow and I could see one of the guards having words with Fortil when the leader strode down the line. I couldn't hear what was said, but I saw him, the good-looking, tall guy with the long, flowing, dark hair, standing very close to Liander, and they were talking pretty animatedly.

I got a really bad feeling about this. Liander was doing it again--ingratiating himself with the locals--but that guy was no fucking local. He was a slaver and, knowing my charge, the guy would be panting for him already. Fortil had a rival.
Hah! Damn, damn, damn.

Liander, you'll be the death of me. Wouldn't mind if you had your cock shoved up inside me at the time and you were fucking my brains out. Don't want to die saving your virtue from some other bastard, though. I'm enough of a bastard for you, Liander, if only you knew it, and I want to live to show you.

I had this sudden vision of Liander pushed up against a wall. I'd grabbed him and shoved him there because I couldn't wait another minute to get my hands on him. I imagined he was just as desperate for me and held me tight against him as he kissed me with such passion I forgot how to breathe. I pulled away, gasping, and almost tore his shirt from his body so I could touch him before falling to my knees and unlacing his pants to rub my face into his groin. I needed to feel his skin against mine and inhale his aroma deep inside me. Liander...I needed Liander so much.

I literally had to shake my head to clear the erotic vision from my mind's eye, wishing it were a reality, a memory rather than a fantasy. It was true I desired his body, but I
needed
his heart and soul; it was the only way I could be complete.

Concentrating on the here and now, I looked along the line and whatever the disagreement had been about, it was over now. Mr. Tall-and-good-looking was striding off and the line was moving again.

Hang in there, Liander. I'll get us out of here somehow.

It would be a damned sight easier, of course, if we weren't being taken away on a ship. As far as I knew, no one who had been taken by the Diolis had ever returned home. Once we were taken away, we would be on our own. There was only one saving grace to this impossible situation: Liander wasn't alone. I wasn't sure how I'd be able to protect him, but at least I wouldn't be an ocean away.

I had my first look at the ship. I hadn't known what to expect. It was tied up at the end of the jetty and made the fishing boats look like toys by comparison. It was a large vessel with high bulwarks, which made it impossible to see the deck clearly, but I thought I could see the top section of what looked like cages. At the rear of the ship, the transom rose high and was lined with intricate carvings of mythical beasts. The whole was meant to intimate, and I have to confess it was working. I wondered what Hollis made of it. Thinking of my Guardian, I again thanked all the Lords of Creation I wasn't alone. As the Diolis dragged us on board it hit me we really were on our own. I couldn't see how anyone could possibly know where we would be taken.

Cor'lyn strode ahead of us, never even looking back as the guard holding our lead chain tugged to indicate we should move up the gangplank. Some of the villagers baulked, and the guards prodded the first pair onto the deck. Once on deck, I had confirmation of what I thought I'd seen. Two large cages made of hard black iven wood took up half the deck.

Once we were all gathered, in essence cowering in the shadows of the bulwarks, the long chains were pulled from the waist shackles. We were separated into two groups, and they shoved half of us to the right and inside one of the cages. The rest of the captives were pushed into the other cage on the opposite side of the deck. Frustratingly, Hollis and I were separated again, but now I could see him more clearly as he forced his way to the front of his cage.

After a few minutes of grumbling and milling around inside the cages, most of the villagers settled down. We were still shackled in our original pairings so I sat beside Fortil, but my eyes were on Hollis.

"He can't help you now," Fortil said, but I didn't acknowledge I had heard him. With a low growl, Fortil lay down, yanking on my ankle as he got as comfortable as he could. I ignored that, too.

I tried to take interest in what was happening on board the ship as they got ready to set sail, but for once a new experience couldn't hold my attention. I kept wondering what was going to happen when we reached our destination. The people of Dioland were still quite a mystery to our citizens. They may have been raiding our lands for some years, but our country was somewhat smaller. Besides, even if we'd had the numbers to invade and take the Diolis to task, we were not as comfortable on the waves as the Diolis were. All we could do was patrol the seas along our coasts and hope to forestall any raids. Sometimes we were successful; far too many times we were not. If they were now extending their raiding area, we'd be in even more trouble.

I wondered what had happened to Andim, ashamed I had hardly given the loyal man a moment's thought since my capture. I prayed he was safe and that in time he could get word to my father of my fate and that of Hollis. I didn't fool myself there was anything my father could do for us. Even if he were capable, the king could not risk starting a war to rescue two men, not even for his youngest son. I would never want that.

I wondered if it were possible any of our patrol ships were in the area. It would be our last hope of rescue. I studied the horizon in every direction I could see, but there was nothing. It was frustrating to be so close yet so far from the only help we would ever get.

I was pulled from my unpleasant thoughts by Hollis' voice calling my name--the new version of my name. Thankfully, word had already spread among my people. I was surprised to discover night already approached. One of the guards sauntering up and down between the two cages rapped a heavy wooden club on the sturdy bars of Hollis' cage and demanded silence.

Hollis stared at me, and I met his gaze.

I realized a few of the captives were throwing up, and I was relieved I was a good sailor. I had only traveled by sea once before, but I hadn't been afflicted on that occasion either. I knew Hollis was a good sailor, too; he had been out numerous times with the village fishermen.

A short time later, a couple of cauldrons were dragged on deck, and the guards passed out bowls of what looked like porridge together with cups of water. Knowing I needed to keep my strength up, I ate the food, which proved to be rather bland but filling. I noted Hollis had emptied his bowl as well. It appeared the young man chained to him was not able to eat anything; he was one of the unfortunate seasick captives. From what I could tell, Hollis was doing his best to get the man to drink some water.

A few minutes later, after Hollis had apparently persuaded his companion to lie down, Hollis glanced over at me and he smiled before he mouthed at me what I assumed was, Go to sleep. I shook my head, too wound up to sleep. Instead, I watched him. He didn't sleep either.

From memory I thought the nearest landfall on Dioland was about two days in good weather, though, of course, it was likely the ship was headed for a port much farther south and the journey could take up to six days. And that didn't account for bad weather. Damn, I regretted now I hadn't studied more about the raiders. My interest in the Diolis had always been more related to what little we knew of their history and customs. Hollis probably knew a lot more about the raiding side of things, but I couldn't ask him.

I looked over at Hollis, who was talking quietly with one of the other prisoners. I wondered what they were talking about so earnestly and for a moment I was jealous. Then I smiled as I realized how stupid I was being.

"More interesting thoughts?" asked Fortil, so close to my ear that I started.

"Damn it! Back off," I snapped.

Fortil just laughed and glanced over at the other cage. I followed his gaze and saw Hollis watching, an angry look on his features. I am not a violent man, but I could cheerfully have hit Fortil at that moment. We had enough trouble without making life difficult for each other. I smiled, and Hollis' expression eased.

It was actually four days later when I saw the ship approaching what was obviously a harbor. The masts of half a dozen ships were visible as the ship rounded the headland. We had been traveling parallel to the coast since early yesterday morning, and I had heard murmurings from a couple of fishermen who suggested the ship had moved nearer to land to avoid any possible patrols by my father's ships, though I doubted that as our ships stayed closer to our own shores.

I sought out Hollis in the opposite cage. Looks and signals were all we had been able to trade over the past few days, and I missed the sound of his voice, the rumble of his laughter, his snort at something outrageous, his snarl when he was angry. Lords, but I just missed his presence. I had been growing afraid this separation might be more than temporary, that when we reached our destination in this strange land I might never see him again. I found that more terrifying, more painful than whatever else my future might bring.

A sailor shouting nearby brought my thoughts to a sudden halt. I saw he was calling to a man on the quay, which was much closer than I had realized. The sailor was preparing to throw a ship's hawser to the man so he could toss it over a large stone bollard. There were other lines being thrown to tie off the ship, and there seemed to be noise everywhere. I tried to see into the town beyond the crowded bustling dock, but I couldn't see much. It didn't appear to be as large a settlement as I had expected.

I half-smiled to myself at the thought: expected? By the Lords of Creation, how could I expect to understand this alien place where it was acceptable to steal folk from their homes and treat them as little more than cattle? I could almost hear Hollis telling me I thought too much. I wanted nothing more right then than to see his eyes twinkle as he uttered those words to me, so close I'd be able to feel his warm breath on my face.

Lords of Creation, please, please, don't let him be taken from my side.

It wasn't much later they came for us. I saw Cor'lyn watching as the guards opened the gates to the cages, calling for us to behave and not try anything or we would be sorry. As if we weren't sorry already. We were drawn out of the cage in pairs again, the leading chains were fed through the waist rings and we were led toward the gangplank.

I looked over my shoulder to see where Hollis was, but the guard shoved me forward.

"Keep moving," he admonished, and, as I turned forward again, I caught sight of Cor'lyn watching me. I dropped my eyes, having no wish to draw his attention any more. The man unsettled me.

It didn't take long before everyone was led down the gangplank to the quay. As my group was there first, I was able to watch as Hollis disembarked. He caught my eye, and I was a little disconcerted when, instead of the expected smile, he almost seemed to stare through me. Then abruptly I felt eyes on me and knew instinctively that Cor'lyn was watching once again and that Hollis had been aware of it. I decided to take my lead from Hollis, planning not to make my interest in him so obvious.

We were led from the quay past other ships loading or unloading cargo, but we didn't see any more slaves being brought ashore. We walked down a narrow, twisting path, passing a small fish market on one side opposite a long, low building with a swinging sign indicating it was an inn of some kind. As we came to the end of the narrow path, we found ourselves on a wide paved street, with high buildings on each side made of stone with tiled roofs. I couldn't tell how big, or otherwise, the place was.

The area did not seem very busy, just a few people walking or riding horses, and once I saw a wagon down a side street. Toward the end of the avenue, I saw more people and I realized I was seeing this society's version of a shop. It had no glazed windows or doors; the whole interior area was exposed to the street with awnings open to either side. The roof was formed by another large sheet of canvas. Inside, customers milled about, inspecting the items for sale. As we were marched past, no one seemed to take any notice of the long line of chained men and women. It was apparent slavery was a part of life here.

The climate was very similar to what we were used to, maybe even a little warmer as we were farther south. Just as I was wondering how much farther we would have to walk, we were led off the main thoroughfare down a narrow side street, which ended in a pair of very heavy wooden gates about nine feet high.

Cor'lyn called out and a man leaned over from the top of the gate, presumably on a walkway up there, patrolling perhaps. The man called to someone below and there was the distinct sound of a lock being turned, a large lock by the sound of it. Then the gates swung open, and we were led inside.

We entered a large open area, which I could only think of as a compound with its hard, sandy ground. It was roughly hexagonal in shape and its perimeter was bordered by large constructs. There were four distinct buildings with double doors opening into the compound, each separated by the continuing wall, as tall as the gates, but slightly lower than the buildings. Inset into each section of wall was a gate, four in all, like points on a compass.