She struggled to open her eye lids, they kept shutting stubbornly, still reeling under the effect of the tranquilizer. She occasionally caught glimpses of giant men and women, their towering figures looming ominously. A strange stench permeated the air, and she felt a heavy weight pressing down on her. She suddenly felt her nimble body being pushed and pulled about, the giants were clearly visible now, she strained and tried to sit up and see what was happening. As if an answer to her prayers, cold water was thrown at her face, bringing her completely out of her semi-conscious state.
She was trapped in a wooden cage of sorts with other prisoners, mostly adults. Presently they were being sorted and thrown to another cage.
“Nim laka, su'su rohara kashu'a jinro, dan lek fik jinara kashira (Not the girl, she’s too feeble and thin, let her join the other slaves),” said one of the females, who seemed to be in charge as another pulled Kanchi out and pushed her down next to the other slaves.
“Su'ru lek shali'a shalana, dan vulka'ri fik shalina treki (Now, he looks well fed, put him in the cattle cage),” she ordered as a rotund prisoner was pulled out and as per instructions was put into the cattle cage.
The sorting went on and Kanchi stayed motionless until the spectacle ended and one of the giant women screamed at her and the other slaves to get on with pulling the cattle carriage through the middle of the forest.
Kanchi and the rest of the slaves scampered to lift the cattle cart for the giant woman wielded a huge axe that could slice them into bits with one single blow. The cattle cart was heavy with the carefully selected heavier prisoners and the slaves therefore struggled to pull it. Kanchi felt her legs giving away under the weight but still pulled with all her might. Occasionally one of the slaves would stop and one of the giants would then whip them as punishment. They finally came to a stop at what seemed like the giants’ dwelling place close to a river. Huge tents had been set up, in the center there appeared to be remnants of what probably was a huge fire built the previous night, where Kanchi assumed the giants dined. Slaves were busy bringing water from the river, chopping wood, and taking back scavenged findings into a huge tent. The new slaves were also led away into the huge tent.
“Chaama, vulka'ri jel (Chaama, come here),” hollered the giant woman
An old slave woman immediately took her position as she kneeled before the giant woman, her face staring down, “"Jes, Mahaama (Yes, Mahaama)” she said in utter servitude
Mahaama, the giant woman, ordered, “Fik ti, dan vulka'ri jinro'ra jinara. Fol nu ra'ra Mahuthi's tenda (Take them, and instruct them well. Send the useless ones to Mahuthi’s tent)”
“Jes, Mahaama (Yes, Mahaama)” said Chaama, her head still bowed down.
As soon as Mahaaama marched outside the tent, Chaama signaled all the new slaves to come closer, “Listen carefully, you obey all the rules and you obey them well. The Jakkala giants don’t have a kind bone in their body and punishments will mean nothing short of a gruesome death. Now, head over to the river and clean yourselves. The sun will set soon and we need to start building the fire and the stakes.” Kashi shivered as she felt a chill travel up her spine, Chaama’s voice, though soft, was eclipsed by the palpable fear emanating from her elderly eyes. Kaashi gleaned from Chaama that the language the Jakkalas conversed in was apparently known as Rynolak. However, what baffled her was her unexpected ability to understand it, despite having no prior exposure to the language. She couldn't comprehend how she was able to follow this unfamiliar tongue, one she had never spoken, read, or heard before.
While Chaama refrained from sending anyone to Mahuthi's tent under Mahaama's command, the sinister lackeys of the Jakkalas slithered in and snatched away a group of women and young men for their master's vile purposes. Chaama's stomach churned as she witnessed the youths being dragged off, knowing the horrors that awaited them. Mahuthi was a depraved fiend, finding pleasure in inflicting unimaginable torment and subjecting his victims to merciless rape until their eventual, agonizing demise.
Kanchi headed to the river along with the rest of the slaves. Some of them were small children as young as 4 or 5. There were no old slaves though except for Chaama, probably the Jakkalas didn’t want more mouths to feed that weren’t resourceful. A gentle breeze blew against the faces as they headed down to the river but it seemed to carry an odd stench, something was decaying not far away. As they reached the shore the stench grew stronger, it was coming from the bony carcasses of some kind of animal floating in the water. With much of its body missing, only a scattering of floating ribs remained, likely picked clean by the Jakkalas like jackals feasting on a cow or goat. Further upstream, more carcasses floated. The overpowering stench proved too much for one of the slaves, who succumbed to vomiting before collapsing unconscious. Hurrying to aid the unconscious woman, Kanchi was taken aback to discover that she was with child. Tenderly, she cradled the woman's head in her lap, splashing her face with the cold river water fetched by another female prisoner. Kanchi gently rubbed the woman's feet and hands to restore warmth. Gradually, the woman regained consciousness and looked up at Kanchi.
"What happened?" the woman asked groggily.
“You lost your consciousness dear. Are you feeling alright” enquired Kanchi
"Yes, yes. I am feeling a bit better. Thank you," replied the woman weakly.
Chaama was alerted by one of the women about the incident and approached to examine the young woman. Upon discovering she was pregnant, Chaama's face clouded with concern. She whispered to one of her aides, who swiftly retrieved several reams of cloth.
" Drape it around your body to conceal your belly. The Jakkalas must never learn that you are carrying a child. In a few days, I will find a way out of here for you," Chaama instructed in a hushed tone.
There was an unsettling and sinister atmosphere surrounding the Jakkalas and their management of the camp. Kanchi couldn't shake the feeling of dread, wondering if she would ever escape alive. After cleaning up, they were ordered to gather large logs in the center of the camp. Following the orders of the Jakkalas, they constructed a tall stake in the midst of the gathered logs. Kanchi speculated that they were likely going to impale multiple carcasses onto the stake, as the size of the stake seemed too large for just one animal, perhaps even surpassing that of a deer.
As the sun gradually descended, casting a sinister glow upon the camp, the Jakkalas gathered in the central area. The rhythmic thumping of drums filled the air, signaling the commencement of what appeared to be a ritualistic event. A procession, led by slaves, advanced with a crate containing larger prisoners. The crate was lowered before the assembled logs, and from the midst of the gathering Jakkalas emerged what appeared to be the leader of their tribe. Adorned with a bone garland around his neck and his face veiled in ash, his blood-red eyes gleamed in the dim light. Gesturing for the crate to be opened, he selected five prisoners to stand before him.
Approaching the first prisoner, the chief scrutinized him before drawing a dagger and slicing the man's finger, tasting the blood. This gruesome ceremony repeated with each subsequent prisoner until the fourth one, where the chief, instead of spitting out the blood, emitted a guttural roar in an unfamiliar dialect. The drums pounded relentlessly, and the Jakkalas erupted into frenzied applause.
To the horror of Kanchi and the other new slaves, the chief suddenly plunged the dagger into the prisoner's chest Blood gushed from the prisoner’s mouth which was collected in a vessel by one of the aides. Meanwhile with a savage grin, the chief carved a deep incision, and went onto thrust his hand into the prisoner's chest to extract his still-beating heart. He devoured chunks of the beating muscle with a grotesque relish and the chief's teeth glistened with the blood of his victim.
As the body was impaled on the stake and the bonfire ignited, Kanchi watched in terror and revulsion as a human being was consumed by flames, destined to become a grotesque feast for the Jakkalas. The scene was nightmarish; the crackling fire seemed to mock the horror unfolding before her eyes. Her heart pounded furiously in her chest, and her breath came in ragged gasps as she tried to process the gruesome spectacle.
The Jakkalas showed no concern whether the flesh was cooked or not, as they leaped into the heart of the bonfire, tearing into the body and devouring it voraciously like ravenous jackals. Among the women, there was a fierce struggle over who would consume the male organ. Kanchi later discovered from Chaama that it was believed to enhance fertility and the likelihood of bearing a male offspring. The sheer brutality of the scene left Kanchi reeling, struggling to keep her composure amid the grisly feast.
Once the Jakkalas had retreated to their tents after their sumptuous banquet of human flesh, squirrel, and crocodile meat, with berries and vegetables foraged from the forest, the slaves were left with only the meager remains of vegetables and squirrel meat. Kanchi clung to her resolve to consume only the berries, avoiding any morsel of meat, despite the hunger gnawing at her.
In the midst of her dazed and horrified state, her thoughts suddenly shifted to her satchel. The reminder of its existence was a beacon of hope in the midst of her despair. Inside were the directions and potions she needed for escape. The idea of leaving this forsaken place seemed distant and daunting, but the satchel was her lifeline. She needed a plan, a way out of this nightmare.
Determined, Kanchi forced herself to focus. She had resolved not only to escape but also to save all the prisoners and slaves, especially the pregnant woman. Chaama’s horrifying revelation—that the Jakkalas feasted on fetuses to increase their vitality—only strengthened her resolve. Kanchi's mind raced as she began to formulate a plan, driven by the urgency of her situation and the need to protect those around her.
Sleep eluded her, a distant dream beyond reach, as she lay amidst the cramped confines of the small tent. The discomfort of the thorn-filled, barren ground beneath her added to her restlessness, but it was the chilling cries echoing from Mahuthi's tent that truly haunted her thoughts.
Each cry pierced through the night, a stark reminder of the horrors unfolding just a stone's throw away. Despite her exhaustion, her mind refused to find solace in slumber, grappling instead with the anguish of those tormented souls and the palpable sense of fear that hung heavy in the air.
She sneaked out of the tent and went and sat by the river. The putrid stench had died down a bit having been carried away in the evening breeze across the river. As she contemplated her options for escape, she thought she heard that familiar whistle once more, strikingly similar to the one that had preceded the Jakkalas' dart attack.
Maybe it was just her imagination running wild, or perhaps it was a bird's persistent call echoing through the night. Regardless, the sound persisted. Then, she noticed the nearby tree branch stirring, and upon closer inspection, she discerned someone using it to signal her. Kanchi swiftly picked up a sharp pebble lying nearby and concealed it up her sleeve. With the possibility of a new threat looming, she didn't want to take any chances. With caution, she approached the tree. As she reached beneath the branch, a faint whisper reached her ears, "Can you climb a tree?"
"Yes," she whispered back.
"Good. Climb up slowly, and you'll find me. You don't need to worry; I have your satchel," the stranger assured her.
So, this stranger must have been the one who had whistled to her when she emerged from the cave. She couldn't help but wonder if they had stolen her satchel and were now attempting to strike some sort of deal. She knew she had to proceed cautiously.
As Kanchi ascended the tree, she caught sight of a figure perched upon one of its branches. The darkness initially obscured their features, but as she drew nearer, the stranger produced a lantern, illuminating their face.
To her surprise, the individual appeared to be a boy, perhaps of a similar age or slightly older than herself. Despite his rugged appearance, there was a certain charm to him, evident in the mischief glinting in his eyes and the wry smile playing on his lips. It was as though he found amusement in their encounter, as if he had been expecting her.
With a newfound sense of intrigue, Kanchi found herself drawn closer to the enigmatic stranger, her initial apprehension giving way to a growing sense of fascination. She had anticipated encountering someone older, yet here was a youth who seemed entirely at ease in this unusual setting. Who was this boy, and what was he doing up in the tree? These questions swirled in her mind, fueling her desire to unravel the mystery that seemed to surround him.
"We finally meet," he said, as if their encounter had been orchestrated all along.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued by his cryptic statement.
"I mean, I had been waiting to meet you ever since you ventured out of the cave," he explained. "Someone mystical had foretold of a stranger entering the forest from the south, and I was instructed to keep an eye out for you. Knowing the dangers posed by the expanding Jakkala tribe, I had already spotted their encampments and tried to warn you by whistling and gesturing towards the tree I was hiding in."
"Unfortunately, my efforts were in vain, as one of the Jakkala aides noticed you and fired a dart before you could reach safety. Since then, I've been trailing you, moving discreetly from tree to tree, blending into the branches to remain concealed," he explained, his words flowing without pause.
Kanchi couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. The revelation about the prophecy and this stranger's involvement in her journey left her bewildered. It seemed there were hidden layers to her quest, ones that Sambu Asan, her mentor, hadn't disclosed.
"Who are you?" she questioned, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "And why are you seeking me out? I don't understand any of this," she admitted, her confusion palpable. She needed clarity, a deeper understanding of the forces at play in her journey.
"I don't have time to explain everything right now," the stranger replied urgently. "The Jakkala tribe's aides could be closing in on us as we speak. First, we need to get you out of here. It won't be easy; they have aides scattered throughout the forest." `
"But I have a plan," he continued. "In a few days, it'll be the full moon, a highly auspicious occasion for the Jakkalas. They'll be indulging in revelry all night long, feasting and drinking. This is when we strike. I have a potion capable of rendering ten elephants unconscious. You'll need to slip it into the large basin of drink they'll be consuming that night. Within an hour, everyone, including the aides, will be knocked out cold."
"But be warned," he cautioned. "There's still a risk that some of them might remain awake. You'll need to rally some of the slaves to help subdue them. And remember, be cautious of whom you trust; they have spies within their ranks. And if push comes to shove, you must be prepared to defend yourself, even if it means resorting to lethal force."
Though Kanchi grappled with the notion of taking a life, she understood that desperate times called for desperate measures. However, her primary concern lay with the safety and liberation of her fellow slaves. She was determined to ensure that every one of them could escape the clutches of their oppressors and find freedom from the horrors of the Jakkala tribe's tyranny.
"We need to ensure that all the slaves reach safety," Kanchi insisted, turning to the stranger for guidance.
The stranger nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of the situation. "It won't be easy, but there are measures we can take to maximize everyone's chances of escape," he replied.
Kanchi listened intently as the stranger revealed the existence of an escape route leading to the northern province, guarded by the formidable Hounds of Nasuli. The mention of the Nasuli tribe, known for their fearsome reputation and their loyal army of hounds, sent a shiver down her spine.
"The Hounds of Nasuli..." Kanchi murmured, her mind racing with the implications of such a treacherous path. "They are formidable adversaries indeed, but if we can make it past them, we might find sanctuary for the slaves in the northern province."
She glanced at the stranger, a mixture of determination and apprehension in her eyes. "Do you think we can evade the hounds and make it to safety?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty yet fueled by a glimmer of hope.
“The northern province isn't where we're headed; our journey lies westward. But for the other slaves, it's a way out. The Nasulis won't harm them. With a medallion I possess, the slaves can pass the Hounds of Nasuli safely. Once they present it to the Nasulis, they'll be welcomed and protected. The Jakkalas can't breach the Nasulis' defenses; they're sworn enemies.” the stranger explained
This plan gives the other slaves a shot at escaping the Jakkalas' grasp and finding refuge with the Nasulis.
Kanchi's curiosity lingered as she turned to the stranger once more. "Who are you, and why are we headed west?" she inquired, seeking further clarification on their journey.
"Not now," he replied, a hint of resolve in his voice. "I will reveal everything as we begin our journey to the west."
Kanchi suddenly remembered her satchel and turned to the stranger, asking, "Where is my satchel?"
The stranger considered her question for a moment before responding, "Do you think you'll be able to keep it concealed?"
Realizing the potential risk, Kanchi conceded, "You're right. Just hand me the blue potion bottle from the satchel," she said, opting for caution.
"Take these," he said, passing both potion bottles. "The yellow one is what you'll need to knock out the Jakkalas."
"I see the aides approaching from afar. You better go back to the camp," he said urgently. Kanchi turned around and spotted an aide in the distance. The stranger's warning was warranted; she had to leave.
As she pivoted to bid him farewell, she was taken aback to find he had vanished into the shadows. He moved with a fluidity akin to a slippery snake, leaving her both impressed and unnerved by his stealth.
Kanchi descended the tree with caution, making her way back to camp. Silently, she slipped in and settled beside one of the sleeping slaves. Her heart raced with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. Tomorrow would be crucial; she needed to rally allies among the other slaves to plan their escape.
As she tried to fall asleep, the image of the stranger's face lingered in her mind, occupying her thoughts and stirring a whirlwind of emotions within her.
Well paced writing! :)
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