Stranded(water everwhere!)

[arcon]

Slowly they made their way through the harbor.
There was just enough light from the crescent moon
to make it safely into the inlet leading up to the small encampment of former slaves.

"Did you feed the boy today, Arzak?" Talon asked.

"Maybe I did maybe i didnt". Arzak scowled irritated by the timing of the remark.

"He's no good to us dead". Talon scowled back at his estranged partner. The tension between the two
seemed to grow with each day of this joint venture. Many an hour hed been ready to ignore
his highly educated standards and morals and simply cut this mans throat....and he would if he
didnt need him as an end to his means.

Talon quickly changed the subject. "whats the plan?" he asked.

Arzak, didnt even look up but slowly he started to talk. "First we slip in and secure our ship.
Ill leave two gaurds. You take a group of six men
approach the huts from the rear. Flank out left and right in case they run for the forest.
Ill take my fighting men in from the front. We kill the men who fight us, and take the women and
children for slaves."

"Why cant we capture the men?"asked Talon.

Arzak glared back at him with a look of disgust.

Talon said nothing.

[arcon]

The first four men Arcon found were dead. There was now way to know their true identity. Niki's
father had managed to pull himself inbetween to boulders but having no place for his legs was unable to remove himself from the path of the boar. His eyes were beginning to glaze and he was just minutes if not seconds from death when Arcon found the proud hunter. Arcon could not speak Mannoas language. He only knew a few words.
Arcon knew the words Mannoa kept repeating....
over and over in his painful trance he said the names of his wife and son. He held Arcons hand as the last bit of life left his body speaking Niki's
name. He seemed to point to something just ahead as his head slowly bowed.

Arcon turned and about ten yards away was Mannoa's
spear...planted deep into a black boars heart.
As Arcon pulled the weapon from the dead animals body he was remembering Arconia, his queen, his knights. Many many miles away from all he knew....again he had a mission.
As he turned to the direction of the village....
he could see dark clouds of black smoke bellowing up.
There would be no time to bury the dead. Mannoa's spear in hand he ran in the direction of the camp.

[arcon]

Niki's hands were bound behind his back. Hed been thrown in some sort of small storage area. The screams had finally stopped for nearly an hour it
sounded like everyone was being killed. His tears were finally gone and he felt only numb from his fear. His mother his grandfather......were they still alive or had he heard their screams?
This was the very thing his father had feared.
He wished hed never gone to other side of the island. It was his fault. All of this was his fault. He began to cry again. Maybe he could just die in this little room and the fear and pain would end.

[arcon]

Arzak stared at the morning fire as Talon walked up upon him from the rear. "From the head count Id call it a success." Talon remarked. Hows your hand?
"Ill live", Arzak barked back.
"And the woman? Talon asked.

"She'll never stab anyone again. Ive made sure of that. Lets be done here and get off this stinking
island. Ive got a bad feeling about this place.

Arzak didnt say anything. He knew better than to tease a cobra. Arzak rattled....now that was something new to him.

"All their boats are burned. The five that got away will rot on this island if we dont ......

"NO", we dont make time to hunt them.
We leave and we do it now! screamed Arzak.

Ok, the old man ....what about ...HIM? Talon asked..attempting to be humble.

"leave him he's dieing"replied Arzak.

Talon just stared for a moment in disbelief.
Something must be wrong. Arzak showing mercy...this made no sense.

Arzak stood up turned and said..."We sail in one
hour."

[arcon]

Arcon slowly entered the camp. The small huts including the one that had been his home were still smoldering. The first two huts had been empty but upon entering the third which wasnt burned he saw the lifeless body of Niki's mother. It was apparent what had happened to her. Judging from her finger
nails she had put up a strong fight. Arcon knelt
by the woman,as he closed her eyes he noticed the ivory ring upon her finger. Slowly he removed the ring, knowing it would be important to Niki one day.
Suddenly he heard a moan.....someone was alive...
As he made his way outside the hut he heard it again. As he made his way around to the side of
the hut ....there was his friend....the wise old
man.

"Rest easy my friend you'll be ok. Im here now."

The old man could barely opened his eyes and was trying to speak.

"shhhhhhhh, save your strenth,"
replied Arcon.

"No, I must", he whispered .
"You must find them. " Arcon shook his head.
"The slave traders,took women,killed our men,Niki's mother......

The old man began to sob. Arcon held his head,
gently he wiped the old mans face as he gained his composure.

"Go to the west side of the island, hidden there you will find the only boat weve completed.
The mast is not up. Youll need two men to help you
raise it. I know at least 5 escaped. If youre lucky you can find two. Look under my bunk in my hut. Youll find a compartment in the floor.
There you will find the sails that will fit the rigging.

Niki is missing, please find him Arcon...please find him. " Then the old man was silent.


Arcon sat and watched as the setting sun began its
fall toward the sea. He was thinking of his wife and good queen , Zelda. Many months had passed since hed been missing. How was she? Had she given him up for lost? And Arconia....? he could
only guess. There were many who would love to rule. Could Zelda hold them at bay? Did she even care anymore? Yes, she cared. His Zelda would not
abandon her people.

Arcon knew he had the power to return. He could order the boat to come about and the men would obey. Why was he trying to catch slave traders?
It was reported to the wise old man that they were outnumbered 3 to 1 . What chance did they have aganst these seasoned fighters?
Arcon had five good men ....boat builders and good hunters......not warriors.
So why?
For Niki...it had to be for Niki....hed saved Arcons life and now his mother and father were both dead.
The night hed landed on the island near death Niki
had built the fire that saved his life but gave
away their position.
All Niki had now was his Grandfather ...and he was now close to death.


Two days later:

It had taken much longer to find the men that had
escaped the slave traders. What was worse was trying to communicate with them. Without the wise old man to tranlate Arcon had to result to drawing pictures in the sand. Hed convinced them
to help raise the mast on their only unburned boat on the island and to set sail in search for Niki. The old man was hanging on but Arcon held out little hope for his survival.

They had been at sea now for almost a full day.
It was hard to know exactly what the men were talking about as they slowly workd out the bugs in the new boat. It was only when the old man was
awake and had the strenght to tranlate that Arcon knew exactly what was going on.
The elder had told him of a chain of islands to the west that might be the destination of the slave traders. It was the closest inhabited land
they would reach. It was a three day sail with favorable winds. They had two more to go.

[ 02-28-2002: Message edited by: arcon ]

[ 02-28-2002: Message edited by: arcon ]</p>

[Swordsman]

One last post, better make it good...

[lochinvar]

bumping

[Rayen]

Bump for Crin