A SLAVE, AN OLD MAN AND A MOUNTAIN GOAT 2.3

They finally secured shelter. A couple, who must have been about his age, were very friendly and enthusiastic about the request for two beds. Their faces changed when they saw who one of the beds was for. Dannke had to pay double. There were fewer and fewer coins left in his pouch. He hoped he would not have to return to Les Iuria before his mission was accomplished.

Shortly before midnight, the lady arrived with two plates of veal stew. Dannke hesitated, for he had not seen many cows in the area, but a meal was a meal. Fleas separated the vegetables as best he could and ate only the meat. You could tell from his expression that he didn't like it.

"You hyaenids don't eat that, do you?"

"Humans eat everything hot and cooked. We don't, we hunt and we eat the red meat. And we leave the plants for the animals we hunt. It's a pity, I'd like to eat the rats that live in the cellar.

"I don't think there are any rats. I haven't seen one since I arrived."

"You can't see them, but they are there. I can smell and hear the seven rats gnawing under the floor."

Dannke stirred the spoon and smiled.

"I think I have an idea. Tomorrow we'll sleep for free and you'll eat what you like."

The hyaenid smiled too, although Dannke wasn't sure if he understood what he was planning. Before the candle burned out completely, the old knight asked:

"How come you speak our language? I had a feeling that you would have your own."

"The matriarchs insisted. Ever since I was born, they have spoken to us in human language. We learned since we were very small. Some of the big ones don't speak it. I even got a few slaps for speaking it in front of the elders. Many hyaenids were against us learning it."

"And what is your language like?"

He thought for a moment.

"It's not words, it's like sounds. For example, when you're angry with someone, you don't insult them, you growl, ruffle your hair and show your teeth. When we celebrate a special situation, we sing. When we are sad, we cry. We use only a few words. I remember..."

The little boy made a strange sound laughter like, but it sounded sad.

"It means death, loneliness and silence. All at the same time."

Now he understood why it was so hard for him to speak sometimes.

"You communicate like animals. That might be the best, words leads to confusion. Since we invented them, we do nothing but move forward into a mysterious future without caring what we step on."

The little boy yawned. The old knight also yawned. Without words it was understood that they were both tired. This confirmed his theory.

"Rest, little cartographer. Tomorrow will be a big day."

He laughed, thinking of the anger the little one's presence would cause. Though his mission was diplomatic, he did not forget his warrior origins. It was a pleasure to see an angry face from time to time. That joy was gone the third time the hyaenid woke him. He twitched as if he had been stabbed in the back and cried like a wounded puppy. At least he didn't scream like the night before.

At dawn, before they left for the stronghold, they talked to the owners of the house. Dannke explained the benefits Fleas' sense of smell and hearing could bring them. Offended, they claimed they had not seen a rat in many winters. After a demonstration and the animal squealing desperately in Fleas' mouth, they apologized and agreed to reduce the price of their stay. Fleas gritted his teeth, the animal squealed loudly and stopped moving. When they went outside, he ate it in two bites.

Dannke mounted Surly. The goat looked sideways at Fleas and snorted, warning him to stay away. It would be faster if they could both ride, but Surly refused and there was nothing they could do to change his mind. He was a stubborn animal. The little one kept up the pace without too much trouble. Now that he was eating every day, he had become a little more agile. They walked up the main street to the entrance of the bastion that served as the territory's capital. Inside was the captain of the border troops, charged with protecting the integrity of the Iurian Empire. Dannke dismounted and handed Surly to one of the guards. Another one pointed his spear at the small hyaenid. Fleas looked frightened. He raised his hands in surrender.

"He is my slave and I need him."

"The hyaenids are not slaves, they are nothing but beasts," the one holding Surly's reins declared with great contempt.

"I agree, he is a beast, but he is my beast. And you will let it pass. I heard the hyaenids were welcomed a few days ago, so he wouldn't be the first."

The guard narrowed his eyes and glared at Fleas.

"Come in."

Dannke explained, standing between the wall and the entrance to the bastion:

"I might say this in vain, but I prefer this to silence it: you shall not say a word, you shall not make a sound. If you want to fart, keep it deep withing you until we leave. Don't look anyone in the eye. They will want to provoke you with their words. Don't show fear, anger, sadness, or even happiness. And if they tell you to do something, do it, no matter what it is. Do you understand?

He looked down and nodded listlessly.

At the reinforced double door, the knight was asked for his weapons. He had left his sword in the saddle, because it was hard to carry it everywhere at his age, so he gave them the knife he kept in his belt. The second one, hidden in his boot, was unnoticed. The little one had his bag snatched from him without even asking. They also patted him down, although he obviously had nothing else on him. As they entered, one of them said to the other, loud enough to be heard:

"The warriors were terrifying, but this one is pathetic. He should be executed out of mercy."

Dannke looked at the hyaenid out of the corner of his eye. He gritted his teeth and swallowed his grief.

In the absence of a throne, they were received in a garrison with many suits of armor scattered around a simple square table with eight chairs. At the head sat Commander Bristz Cranewall, a serious-looking man with black circles under his eyes and red hair. The Cranewalls were related to the kings of Balabia and were said to be the first to conquer the new lands where Les Iuria was built after the exile of the islands. The fact that a Cranewell found himself in this arid and forgotten land was a clear indication of the downfall of his lineage, and his dark circles showed it.

"An old knight and a hyaenid. As a story, it is hardly credible. Tell me to what I owe this pleasure."

The reluctance was obvious.

"It is an honor to meet you. My name is Dannke..."

"The legendary bastard knight," Cranewell interrupted, his voice animated for a moment. "Your hands have conquered territories and won victories thought impossible. Despite your origins, you have achieved great things. But your deeds are not known to the youngest. My ancestry and your triumphs are things of the past. What cruel god has brought together two losers, condemned to oblivion, to look at each other as if in front of a mirror?"

He had instructed the hyaenid not to react to provocations, and now he found himself fighting the impulse to jump across the table and slowly hang him.

"Greary are the thoughts that assail you, Commander. In such sunny territory, who would have thought that such a great shadow could nestle in your head? No god sent me, but his representative. Our ruler..."

"Has died," he interrupted again. "The plague has taken him. Rumors fly faster than falcons."

"Her Majesty, the Empress," he continued, "wishes to remind you of the importance of unity and the divine power that resides in the court."

The captain looked at him unblinkingly, his eyes fixed on Dannke's as if to probe the depths of his soul.

"I understand, this is the reason for your visit. The Emperor is dead, and the nobles are circling the throne like a pack of wild hyenas," he glanced at Fleas. "And the Empress wants power for herself, so she seeks alliances. Please, sit down. You, not your filthy pet, let it pour us wine. Over there are the glasses, and here is the bottle."

As Fleas struggled to remove the cork, much to the captain's delight, Dannke insisted:

"We both know that it was not Fanafer who ruled. The Empress always showed great intelligence and political skill, and it was she who convinced him to reinforce the wall when the savannah became a danger."

"You support this decision yet bring one of the dangers of the savannah with you? Your hypocrisy is amusing, to say the least. We both know that no woman has ever ruled us. Not when we were Balabians, not when we were Narpalese, and not now that we are Iurians. You spoke of unity, and I speak of tradition. It is not my concern who sits on the throne from now on, as long as that candidate comes from the Iurian nobility. My loyalty is to the Empire, and my duty is to defend it from outside threats. If your concern is that I open the gate to the forces of the Sun Kingdom, let me tell you that I will not do so. The wall will remain closed.

Finally, Fleas was able to open the bottle. He poured two glasses, but gave the first one to Dannke, a rude gesture.

"You say the wall will remain closed, but you opened it for the hyaenids. Next to me is the proof. I don't know what you were looking for with the tribes, and I don't care, I just need to know that you won't do the same with the solars.

The commander took the cup between his forefinger and thumb and tipped the contents aside, then looked at Fleas. The little one did not give him the satisfaction of a response.

"The tribes wanted a peace treaty. A treaty we accepted in exchange for certain benefits. Among them, the escort of our caravans to the southern ports and the supply of troll labor. They seem to enjoy hunting them, and they serve us. Of course, this is only temporary, and as soon as this stupid idea of a wall is discarded, we will use this peace to exterminate them. I don't care whose idea it was to build it, let alone reinforce it, because I think it's lousy. But as long as my mission is to protect it and keep threats from getting through, I will do so. I believe in tradition, nobility, and honor. Tell me, bastard knight, what do you believe in?"

Dannke took a sip, then waved at Fleas and offered him the rest. He accepted and drank. He frowned and stuck out his tongue. It must have been the first time he tasted wine.

"I believe in many things, Commander. One of them is that you are an idiot. I may have many winters, many aches and pains, and many badly welded bones, but I'll still break every tooth in your mouth if I find out you opened the wall."

Dannke thought he would yell at him angrily, but instead he just gave an annoyed chuckle and said quietly:

"That won't stop you from being a bastard. No one can deny their heritage."

Then he fell silent, surrounded by his beloved darkness.

"What's wrong with a woman ruling?" Fleas asked as they left the bastion. "We were always ruled by females. And how terrifying they are."

"Human females are scary too, little one. You'll meet the Empress and see for yourself."