5 Chapter 5 –James Memories -The fallen noble kid (2/2)

Buk'Huki gallop and keep galloping toward the Iron Desert City, without rest as if he knew that if he stop he will put his owner life into danger. It been 12 hours since they depart from the Arthur caravan, the brown wind body was on heat as James who was riding the horse can feel his leg grew warmer as it was close with Buk'Huki body.

Foam started to come out from Buk'Huki mouth since 2 hours ago and it make James worry, but no matter what he do the Brown Wind did not want to stop and keep galloping toward the Iron Desert City. He did not know where did Buk get his strength to move forward with high speed even though his body was almost at the end of rope, he keep moving forward as if Buk did not even care about his life anymore and only thing in his mind is to get James to Iron Desert City.

4 hours later, Buk'Huki fall, his body can't move no more, but his head keep bobbing up and down toward the iron city. With his last seconds of life, Buk'Huki saw that James was still near him and was crying while patting his head. With last strength that he can muster, he give a loud angry neigh at James as if he was shouting angrily at James asking James why he did not keep moving forward toward the Iron Desert City.

Knowing Buk intention, James did not want to let his best friend sacrifice to waste. With tear streaking down from his eyes like waterfall, he firm his resolve he give his best friend last pat on the head then take out small knife from his lil pouch. He cut part of Buk mane while saying "I will take part of your mane so a part of you will always be with me and we will always stay together!"

He arrive at Iron desert city later after 20 hours after Buk'Huki last breath. He feel lucky that no one was chasing after him, he then remember that he was going to iron desert city while there are other person that his father send to silver desert city wearing same black robe as him and also riding brown horse. He sigh "One more life is gone…"

When he arrive it already almost night, iron desert city was a city that was surrounding by 31 meter tall wall. At front of the gate he was stopped by the gate guard. He freeze for a moment as he did not know what to do, because this is the 1st time he was stopped by gate guard in his entire life.

There were 10 guards infront the gate, each of them was brawny and was arm with scimitar and leather amour. They wear plain white keffiyeh on they head as to protect they head against the burning sun of the desert in the morning and noon.

One of the guard spoke to James with harsh tone in golden sand empire language "Hey! HEY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"

"To…to…to go inside the city" Startled by the guard harsh tone James respond with what came to his mind

"You are not local are you? Everyone here know that to enter the city they need to pay gate tax 1 silver coin! No money no entry!" say the same guard.

"Huh, looking at what you wearing you look like a beggar, you must don't even have a copper coin. Don't standing infront the gate if you don't have money! You are only blocking the … ah who the fuck just slap my head!" before the other guard can complete his sentence his shouted with pain as he rubbed his head to ease it from pain.

"It me you got problem with that!?" rebuke the other guard who was wearing red blood keffiyeh.

"No… no don't have problem with you captain…" bead of sweat started to form on his head as he face the guard captain.

"I swear that if you keep being simple minded you will never go up in rank… sigh what a hopeless guy"

The guard captain looking at James, and then he spoke to James with indifferent tone "Kid you don't have money right?"

"I do… do not have any money on me…" James wanted to say that he have 5 gold coins but he then remember that his father once say that "if you do not have strength to protect your wealth don't ever show your wealth infront of other as it will be your end"

"AHAHAHAHHAHA…. You don't have money on you, so you can't enter the city. But! I have a way for you to make money." The guard captain pause for a while to make it sound mysterious and trying to make James feel interested in his offer.

"H…how is it?" asked James

"How about you become an iron miner?" reply the guard captain with smiling face.

He knew that he was under the chase of golden mane family and need a place to hide, the offer from the guard captain was like a pie that fall from sky for him, without delay he say "yes!" To guard captain.

The guard captain did not waste time and bring James straight to the miner camp. It took them 1 hour ride by horse to reach miner camp from iron desert city. The camp was below the desert mountain.

When they was near the camp entrance the guard who was guarding the camp give salute to the guard captain while he just give a little nod to the guard. Inside the camp there was hundreds of tent with only 1 large tent.

The guard captain bring James to the giant tent as it is where the miner camp manager stay in. "Haris, I bring you another miner. Don't forget my share!" shouted the guard captain from outside the giant tent.

"Ahh…it was you Faruk, my lucky star! Don't worry I will never forget your share" say Haris as he come out from his tent, while carrying a pouch that contain 20 silver coins.

"Hahaha…It was great pleasure to doing business with you Faruk as you always bring able men to my camp" Haris laugh as he throw the pouch to Faruk.

"As long as you have enough money, I will always send you the work force" reply Faruk as he catch the money pouch.

As soon as Faruk get his reward he hastily return to the city as he afraid that his superior will find him did not do his job instead sending labourer to the miner camp.

Haris was fat middle aged man who have round face same shape as his belly. Haris did not give James a second look and just call his assistant to do the job for him "Rashid! Come here and explain our rule to this new comer!". Haris job is more or less then just accept new miner while the other job was giving to his underling, no wonder that his face become so round that when he smile his eyes just become a line.

Rashid come with haste from tent beside the giant tent as he heard the manager shout. "Yes sir! Don't worry I will handle it! Don't waste your time with mere new comer sir, please go take a rest so that you can retain your handsomeness and younger look" say Rashid to please the manager.

"Stop licking my ass or I will throw you in the middle of desert tomorrow!" scolded Haris.

"No sir! What I say is all the truth, if you don't believe me you can look at yourself in the mirror" declare Rashid as what he said is the truth.

Haris give light "Humph!" as he fake angry and walked into his giant tent, but his smile betray his action.

"Hey dude, what your name? As you heard my name is Rashid the manager right hand man" Rashid voice out his name at the same time asking James for his name.

"My name is James G…Red Wood" James almost blurted his real name.

"Look like you are not from here? You must be wondering why they just not post job appliance at the iron desert city instead sending people who can't pay gate tax here?" Rashid pause for special effect. "It not that they don't wana to they have done it before but people inside the city did not want to do heavy job with less pay. They also try to force some people into labour but the people they force just stop eating no matter what management do, be it whips or cane it have no effect on them, they are stubborn than a mule!"

While they walking toward the storage tent Rashid explain to James "Let me explain the rule here before I give you your tent and pick axe" he pat James shoulder. "Every days from day 1 you here until days 30 your food is free, you will be given 3 loaf of dry bread, 1 bucket of water with salt per day but you will need to mine 200kg iron ore a day. Only after one month can you earn your coins but you will no longer receive any free food and water, if you broke your pickaxe or tent you will need to buy it yourself."

Like businessmen Rashid explain the price of item that sell inside the miner camp "For every 100Kg of iron ore you will earn 15 copper coins, we do sell dry bread and water here for 4 copper coins a loaf and 2 copper coins for a bucket." Rashid give the small tent to James while asking for conformation "did you understand? If you understand than go pick a empty spot and set up your tent, sleep early and wake up early"

"Yes, I understand" reply James as he take his tent from Rashid. He pick a place that near the end of miner camp as it have large empty spot. As he done set up his tent, he walk in his tent and put his head on his arm while looking at the tent ceiling. His stare did not last long as he fall asleep right few second after he stare at the tent ceiling because of exhaustion.