Chapter 18: Pamtha

Pamtha sat next to Tilda by the fountain. Tilda hated priests and priestesses. She basically hated anything involving the church. Their whole 'religion' was sham. From her experience, there were two kinds of priests; The greedy selfish kind, and the fanatic blind follower. As such, Tilda was skeptical of the old woman's intentions to say the least.

She asked, "So... why are you, a priestess, helping me?"

Pathma's arms flared out as she talked, "I had a dream. Twas the Divine Maiden herself told me. 'Seek the servant who is missing the rabbit', I knew what it meant immediately."

"You did?" Tilda asked.

"Ha! Not at all," Pamtha said, "That was a joke. Who could even know what any of such gibberish means. I studied it for a week, thought the rabbit was a star, some figurative nonsense. I didn't take it literally, but then I saw you and the meaning came to me."

This lady was a wackjob. Tilda clarified, "You do know I'm looking for a girl right? Not a rabbit. A girl that was kidnapped and is possibly at a slave auction right now?"

Pamtha said, "Of course I know that."

Tilda doubted the authenticity of Pamtha's claim. She said, "Are you sure you're a priestess... you don't seem to have their... propriety."

In other words, Pamtha didn't have the same demeanor as the other priests; with their holier-than-thou, stuck-up, always looking down on others attitude. Pathma was crazy, but she acted genuine.

Pamtha said, "Those priests at the church don't even know what they believe anymore. Lost the meaning in the verse if you know what I mean."

Tilda asked, "Do you know what you mean?"

Pamtha said, "Of course I don't. A joke. It was a joke. Youngersters can't take jokes nowadays."

Tilda was confused but decided it was better not to waste time clarifying the woman's insanity. Instead, she got to the point, saying, "So what's the plan? Are we going to dress up in secret disguises and bluff our way in?"

Maybe they could find masks and Tilda could borrow a priestess robe. Priests were allowed anywhere and everywhere, especially in unlawful areas. To most, a corrupt priest was worth their weight in gold.

"Heavens no!" Pamtha said as she smacked Tilda on the head, "What are you, crazy? That would put us both in absorbent amount of danger. You think these legs can run away? An emergency comes, an urgent one, mind you, and you think I'll just spring hop my way out like a prancing gazelle? No, no, no."

The image of Pamtha prancing out the tavern almost made Tilda smile. She asked, "So what is the plan then?"

Pamtha huffed, "If only we knew the location of the auction. Then we could do some real damage."

Tilda had to pause for a moment to check if the woman was serious.

Tilda said, "I know exactly where it's at. I watched them take her there."

Tilda was careful not to point at the tavern. She didn't want to make it obvious in case any passersby were eavesdropping.

Pamtha hopped to her feet, saying, "Did you really?! That's perfect! Perfect! Come with me."

Pamtha began waddling away.

"Wait, where are we going?" Tilda asked as she followed. She was much too tired to think clearly.

༻✧༺

Cosaria did not know where she was at. When the men finally took off her blindfold she was already chained to other sorry looking people in a cold dingy room. They were aligned in two rows and each person wore around their neck a board with a number on it.

A young man with white hair, about the age of twenty, strode down the line of people, giving each a passing glance, as if he were selecting which slab of meat to take home for dinner. Two attendants strolled behind him while Wizen led the way. Wizen was describing each person as he passed, saying, "Yes, this one is one-twelfth percent demon. A descendant of the great Loakie."

"That percentage is too small to have inherited any significant powers," The young man mumbled. Then he stopped in front of Cosaria.

He said, "This one looks promising."

Wizen said, "She's new and yet as tame as a little lamb."

The young man took a step closer to Cosaria, saying, "I sense diving powers." It was a useful attribute for any slave to possess such abilities. He turned to one of his attendants and said, "Take down her number. She shall be the prize I take home with me tonight."

Wizen grinned, happy to have a definite sale and said, "Very good Sir Ferris. Come too, look at our other products here."

Then Wizen continued to lead the young Lord Ferris through the line of chained humans.

༻✧༺

Tilda asked, "What are we doing here?"

She and Pamtha stood in front of the city guard headquarters.

Pamtha said, "We're getting help. You think we can just barge in there all by ourselves, bluff our way through and then escape as if by magic? Nonsense. Ludacris. Do you see these arms? Do these look like arms that could win in a fight?" She shook her sagging arms as the flabby skin jiggled ferociously. "No, no, no. The best option is to go to the authorities."

Tilda said, "So we let the local guards handle it? They're probably involved in it. We can't trust them."

Pamtha said, "Don't you worry. No worries. I know at least one that we can trust. He was in love with my best friend."

Tilda rolled her eyes as she said, "Great."

She would count herself lucky if this 'friend' was able to walk without a cane.

༻✧༺

Hapilt, the Carneth captain of the guard, hovered over a table that displayed the map of the city. According to his intel, today was the day of the illegal slave auction. He had been working to uncover this ring of secret villains for months. Too many people had gone missing and yet still, somehow, all his leads had dried up. If a miracle didn't walk through that door now, then he would lose dozens of helpless victims. Again.

"If only we knew where they were located," he muttered under his breath.

Cadwold, one of Hapilt's chief guards, entered and said, "Captain, Pamtha says she has some important info for you."

Hapilt sighed and muttered, "Probably another one of her crazy half-baked visions." He didn't have time for this. Yet, because he had no leads, he had all the time in the world. "Alright, let her in."

Pamtha and Tilda walked into Hapilt's homey office. It was still professionally civil, as one would expect from a captain of the guard, but it had more domestic objects, like paintings, cushions, and a rather large wooden statue of a canary bird.

Tilda noticed that Hapilt was an imposing man with broad bulky shoulders and a strong physique. He could have been in his forties, mid-fifties at the oldest.

Tilda said, "I thought he'd be older."

Pamtha turned on Tilda and said, "Is that cause I'm old? You think old people can't have young friends? You think all old people's friends are dead? Well, my friend that he was in love with, she's dead, but that's no reason to assume she was old."

Hapilt already didn't like where this conversation was heading. He asked, "What do you need Pamtha?"

Pamtha said, "Hapilt! How are you? How is bachelor life?"

Hapilt repeated his question. More slowly and firmly, with a tinge of annoyance in his voice, he said, "What do you need?"

Pamtha said, "It's not what I need, it's what you need. Go ahead Tilda, show him."

Pamtha pushed Tilda forward. Tilda had no idea what she was supposed to do or what Pamtha expected her to do.

Pamtha pointed to the map on Hapilt's desk as she said, "The map, show him."

Tilda studied the map then pointed to one of the smaller town squares. She asked, "Is this the fountain?"

"Yes," Hapilt said.

Tilda moved her finger to point to a small building as she said, "Here's the location of the slave auction."

Hapilt did a double take. He said, "Are you serious?" That building, he couldn't remember if it was a tavern or a warehouse. But that location, the lack of surveillance in that area. It all made sense now.

"I saw them bring Lady Cosaria there. Through one of these back alleys. I think it was this one," Tilda pointed.

Hapilt put his hand to his head. "A Lady? Now they're going after nobles? This has gone on far enough," he stared down Tilda asking, "You're positive? Positive this is the place?"

Tilda looked again, "Next to the fountain. Yes. This is it."

"Cadwold!" Hapilt called out.

Cadwold appeared in the room.

Hapilt said, "Mobilize the troops. We're ending this nightmare today!"

Cadwold's eyes lit up as he said, "We found the location of the slave auction scheduled for today?"

Hapilt grinned, "We did."

༻✧༺

The bidding had started and Cosaria was next in line. She stood in front of a crowd of masked aristocrats with her head down, trying not to give way to her fears. She had grown so comfortable in the Arquix estate, but the dream had ended. She knew it had been too good for a worthless piece of trash like her.

The young white-haired Lord Ferris had entered the bid and was quickly out bidding every other person. Soon, Cosaria heard the auctioneer say, "Sold." It was over.

Suddenly, a servant burst through the doors and yelled across the room, "The guards have found us!"

Frantic pandemonium broke out as people rushed towards the exits. Carneth guards smashed through the doors knocking over servants and aristocrats in their way. Hapilt led the charge and ordered, "Don't let them get away."

Women were screaming and there were a few cries of pleading, "please, I can't be caught. This would ruin my family." One bidder fell over and was being trampled by the others trying to escape. Cosaria saw, for just a moment, Ferris, cover his head with a cloak and disappear behind a back wall, unnoticed by the guards.

In minutes the guards had control over the room and were seizing every incriminating piece of evidence they could find. Most of the guards were keeping watch over the aristocrats they had caught, Wizen included. A little less than a third had gotten away, but considering the overall size of the group, the operation was a huge success.

Hapilt approached the chained slaves and said, "Don't worry. We'll have you all freed and returned to your families soon. You-"

He halted in front of Cosaria.

"Seredith?" He said.

Cosaria looked up. Seredith had emerald green eyes. This girl's eyes were sky blue.

She asked, "How do you know my mother's name?"

"I-" Hapilt stumbled.

Cadwold approached Hapilt and said, "Sir, there's some more prisoners in the back."

"Right," Hapilt said, regaining his sense of authority. He had to admit, seeing Seredith's child in a slave auction was the last thing he expected from his day.

༻✧༺

Hapilt escorted Cosaria to the fountain where Tilda and Pamtha waited.

Hapilt said, "Here you are."

"Lady Cosaria!" Tilda said as she ran to her and brought her into a tight hug. She was real and she was safe.

After Tilda finally released Cosaria, Pamtha grabbed Cosaria's face and studied her.

Finally, Pamtha said, "You look just like her!"

Tilda asked, "Just like who?"

Pamtha said, "Like my best friend. Seredith! Come, we must have lunch."

Pamtha began to take Cosaria away when Tilda turned to Hapilt and said, "Thank you Captain Hapilt. I'm kind of surprised that it went so smoothly." She had assumed there would be more danger and drama. She half expected to get stabbed again trying to defend Lady Cosaria.

Hapilt nodded and said, "My pleasure. We'd been searching for these crooks for months. We had intel that they were holding an auction today but we didn't know where. It is because of your information that all this was possible."

Pamtha had overheard their conversation and called over, "Could you imagine if she had tried to go in there herself! She'd likely be dead. Or have been caught herself."

Tilda hurried over to Pamtha and Cosaria as she said, "You don't know that."

Pamtha pointed at Tilda from head to toe as she said, "Look at yourself, you haven't slept in over 24 hours. You're in no condition to make solid judgements. Now come, you need food."

With that, Pamtha led the two young women away.

Hidden from a distance, a cloak figure watched the exchange. Through gritted teeth Ferris spat, "I won't lose my prize today."