A Warrior's Soul

A Warrior's Soul

Angry black clouds swallowed up the evening stars, blotting out the light that would have seen them through to Ennis. The army had to set up camp on the plains outside Pearron and hoped Ogdan and his men had not followed them this far. The beige canvas tents stood out in stark relief to the flat green land and they'd be spotted instantly if the enemy came within a thousand yards. Ferco was fully aware of the danger of this situation but he had no other choice. If they pressed on through the storm without the stars to guide them, he may lead his men straight into Ogdan's hands. Best to fortify their defenses and let the troops rest.

A cold breeze lifted Ferco's coal black curls and sent them billowing behind him as he stood watching the sky. His eyes narrowed in concentration, the blue oarbs shining brightly against his pale skin as he surveyed the campsite. Guards were on patrol and the tents were in tight formation. Every precaution had been taken to ensure the safety of his men, Ferco just wished he could do more.

His boots thudded softly against the ground as he made his way to his tent. As captain of the army the best thing for him to do right now was appear calm and well rested in case of invasion. The smell of beef stew and sandlewood incense drifted to his nostrils when he lifted the flap and the enticing aromas helped to calm his frazzled nerves. He unhooked his armor and let it fall to the ground, breathing out a mighty sigh as he was freed from it's encombersome weight. A jingle of chains was heard and Makai came scurying over from the back of the tent, gathering his master's armor and taking it to be cleaned. Makai was a small man, in many ways still a boy. He was short and lithe, not a hint of muscle decorated his wirey frame. Ferco tsked as he watched the bumps f his spine stick through his skin as Makai bent over the wash tub. Even being fed double a slave's rations, Makai's tiny body refused to gain weight nad his detiriorating health was a worry to Ferco.

He'd found him in a villiage called Tyrus at the beginning of the expidition. Ogdan had come through three days before and slain all the inhabitants, 16 year old Makai being the only survivor. Ferco had found him in a locked cabinet, nearly dead from dehydration and catatonic with fear. The troops wanted to leave him behind but Ferco saw something in the boy, something he assumed was pity, and claimed him as his slave.

It took three weeks before Makai started talking again, and he still refused to discuss his family or his past. Ferco would urge him, ask question about the battle he'd wittnessed or his childhood, but Makai would always just close his eyes and shake his head. He was quiet mostly and kept to himself. He learned his duties quickly and performed them without prompting. It was a great help to Ferco to have someone attend to the tedious tasks and he wasn't sure he could have made it through the campaigne without him.

"Come here," he beckoned to Makai once the armor was set out to dry. The boy came padding over, the firelight dncing on his olive skin and deep brown eyes. Ferco laid down on his stomac and felt Makai's slight weight press against him as he straddled his waist. Nimble fingers massaged his shoulders, sooting away the stress and tenstion. Makai had no muscles, no force in his grip, and yet his hands held an almost magical quality. He knew the exact place to touch to make the day's exertions melt away.

Ferco rolled over so the slave could work on his chest. The boy repositioned himself over his thigh, getting tangled momentarily in the long chain that kept him attached to the tent's center pole. It was a formality really. Ferco had no concern that Makai would try to run but custom was to keep slaves collared amd bound, especialy during times of battle. The heavy chain was cumbersome and a source of constant distraction as Makai went about his nightly tasks, Ferco would have liked to take it off but was afraid how it would effect company moral. The enemy was getting closer every day and the last thing they needed to worry about was a slave escaping and telling their location to Ogden. When they returned to Ennis, Makai could be alotted more comfort, until then he'd just have to manage.

A crack of thunder boomed through the sky and the boy froze, his face pale and drawn as he stared at the closed tent flap. Ferco noticed the small hands trembling against his chest and Makai's tiny voice squeaked out, "They're coming."

"Nonsense," Ferco said, removing the boy from his lap and patting his bare shoulder in an effort to comfort him. "It's just a storm, nothing to wrroy about. It will be over by morning."

Makai just shuddered, his eyes glued to the tent's only opening. It wasn't until the wind died and a patter of rain decended on the heavy canvas that the boy finally calmed and found the courage to move. As Ferco watched him climb off the cot and set to dishing out their evening meal, he wondered what horror the slave had wittnessed to spark fear so easily.

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An unknown noise awakened Ferco from his much needed slumber and he bolted upright in the cot, pulling his sword from the sheath at his side. There was a russle near the opening of the tent and the flap fell shut again but the tiny whimper of fear let him know he was not in danger. A heavy sigh passed his lips and he put his weapon back in it's casing. "Makai, what are you doing? Trying to startle me to death?"

"No Sir. I'm sorry Sir. I had a bad dream and I heard noises and I thought... I thought... Please don't be angry."

It was the most words Ferco had ever heard him say at one time, the boy must really be frightened. He motioned him over and heard Makai's gentle shuffle as he crossed the short distance. His feet got caught in the dangling chain, unable to see it in the dark, and the slave came flying toward the bed, banging his head on the metal frame. Ferco groaned and reached for his keys, unlocking the heavy steal collar. "I'm putting an end to this nonsense."

Makai flew into a fit of panic and he threw himself at Ferco, wrapping thin arms around his waist and sobbing into his lap. "No please Sir, don't turn me away. I wont wake you again, I promiss. They'll find me. They'll kill me. Please keep me Sir. Please."

Ferco untangled the arms from his stoamch, lifting the trembling boy to his knees. "Shh. Quiet, Makai. No one is going to harm you. I'm not turning you away, you serve me far too well for that. I was just trying to make things easier on you. Just calm down and everything will be alright."

Sobs racked his body and Makai clung to his owner tightly, unable to stop, as he cried for the first time since he'd been found. Ferco decided against sneding the boy back ot the floor to sleep and instead laid them both down on his small cot. He felt a tenderness he'd never known, a need to comfort and protect this delicate creature. He pushed a lock of Makai's hair, the color of fresh earth, away from his damp cheek and their eyes met. The boy's lips parted, flushed a deep red from his tears, and he started speaking.

He told Ferco about his family, his brother who died at birth and his farther who killed himself after being caught stealing wine. He spoke of a life as outcasts, being beaten by the other children of the villiage and spit on as he walked down the street. Lastly, he gave the details of the night of the invasion, he he'd hid in the cabinet, accidently locking it, and sat helpless as he heard his mother raped and murdered right outside. In one breath Makai answered every question Ferco had ever asked him, every secret he'd felt compelled to keep.

"I thought I'd die in that cabinet," he said, wiping his eyes with his fingertips. "Then you found me and brought me with you, even when they said to leave me behind. You take care of me and I feel safe with you. I try to follow orders, I try to be good, I just got so scared that it was happening again. I dreamed they came and killed you, Sir. I don't want that to happen."

A soft face burried itself in Ferco's chest, hot tears gluing their flesh together. He wrapped his arms around the boy tightly, amazed at the level of tenderness his warrior's soul was feeling right now. For a slave to become so devoted to his master so fast was practically unheard of and it warmed his heart and caused a strange stirring deep within.