Canu had mounted and rode off with Eshna before any of the men had had a chance to speak a single word. Caroman rode closely behind, struggling to keep up. Mota’s hut was a five-minute ride away. The rest of the clan slowly mounted and hurried to keep up. Emonu was not a clan member, but the those who were in the clan knew him well as an established townsman. He was often found at local taverns or in the streets conducting shady business despite his cheerful demeanor and kind posture. It was not Emonu that had brough the clan to Mota’s hut, though. It was the intrigue of the Floweress. No man would want to miss it, if she truly had the abilities to heal Emonu of the black poison.

It was a nasty poison, not often seen due to its high price and extremely deadliness. It was more of a poison seen in the north, but Ahod’s men must have had dealings with travelers from the north. Men from the north did not want to be known when the visited. The hatred stores up for them from southerners was mighty. The north stayed on the north side of the land bridge and the southerners stayed on the south side of the land bridge. That was how things were.

By the time the rest of the clan arrived at the hut, Eshna was already leaned over Emonu muttering in a tongue that none of the men had heard before. She closed her eyes, running a finger lightly over Emonu’s throat which had blackened from the poison. She had a glove over her other hand, which pinched a small amount of Floqseed—swishing it in her mouth.

There was a silent awe within the hut. Mota watched distractedly at the Floweress, mesmorized by the presence of such a woman. A Floweress had all the ability that a mere man of Mota’s ability could never conjure. Mota steadied himself with his cane, handing Eshna more Floqseed. She continued whispering mutterings that somehow sounded elegant despite having no meaning to the men who watched on.

Eshna spit onto her fingers. The floqseed had turned from its gray seed-like appearance to a black swirling mist in her fingers. She blew on it, willing it to land on Emonu’s neck where she had been rubbing. The black began to clear away from his throat. His color returned to his cheeks. His eyes slowly fluttered open and he looked as if he had never been sick. Twelve men stared back at him.

“What’d I miss?” asked Emonu, chuckling. His eyes moved to Eshna who stood over him. His mouth formed an “O”. His breathing increased and he furrowed his brows, confused. “Are you…a…” his voice trailed off, seeing Canu nod his head.

Eshna turned to Caroman now. “I am free now. I did as you said.” She had an accent that made her sound northern. She had grown up at Herbwood where all Floweress’ learn to do the things they are made to do.

Caroman gave a nod to her, turning to Canu. Canu allowed a grin to come over his face.

“Free from Caroman’s care. Not mine,” said Canu. “You’re with me now.”

“No. I was promised freedom. I demand it,” replied Eshna. She pulled her hood back revealing a very pleasant face. Her features were small and kind. Her eyes were a blue so light that they were almost white.

Elric blocked the door of the crammed hut. “No escape,” he said.

“We’re selling her at the slave auction!” shouted Judd, prematurely. Blivth elbowed Judd in the ribs.

Eshna made for the door, yanking a small knife from a shelf in Mota’s hut. Canu’s held stretched out like lightening. He snatched the blade, grabbing Eshna’s arms and yanking them behind her back. She kicked back, striking him in the groin. Canu grunted but didn’t release his grip. Elric approached Eshna and flung her over his shoulder. Canu held her arms and Bulig held her legs down. Mota administered sleep potion as she flailed and thrashed.

“I am sick of being traded like coin! Give me my life back. Give me my…” her voice trailed off as Mota injected Eshna with the sleep potion. Her body went limp almost immediately.

“She will wake in twelve hours,” said Mota. “She’d be a real asset to you, Canu. Although, she is worth more than any jewel or gem you can find in all of Terragar.”

“We’ll take coin,” said Bulig with his bushy mustache, chuckling.

“No. I’m still deciding,” replied Canu.

“Canu, come on. We have Mota, we don’t need the Floweress,” said Elunu. His gray hair was tussled and messy from the wind.

“Are we forgetting that she just saved my life? I think we ought to keep her,” said Emonu. He was still laying on the wooden table in the middle of the hut. Mota raised his eyebrows and pretended to be busy with his potions.

“You’re not one of us,” said Elric coldly.

“Yeah,” agreed Bulig. The two big men loomed over Emonu menacingly. They could be obedient to Canu when needed, but they were thieves and pirates at heart. Violence was in their nature. Emonu shied away, throwing his hands up dismissively.

“Let us sell her at the slave auction and we will all be wealthy for the rest of our lives! We will never have to assassinate another thief ever again. We can move to the north where the land is fertile and the ladies are fine,” said a man called Richar. Men snuffed at his mention of the north.

“I’ll take the coin, but I will never go north. This side of the land bridge is home for me,” said Elunu snobbily.

“Sell her,” said Elric slowly, staring down Canu with an angry look. Canu did not seem bothered.

“She is mine and I will do with her as I please. I am the one who tracked her for nearly three weeks, paying off spies to track her down,” said Canu.

“We have a shared wealth, Canu. It’s the way of this clan to make shared decisions even if it is a private matter. Your capture of the Floweress could prove life-changing for all of us,” said Radax. His eyebrows were finely done so that they were extremely thin. His spectacles hung loosely on his nose.

“What do you want with her? Sex?” asked Elunu, bluntly.

Canu pinned Elunu against the wall, shaking the hut and causing multiple flasks and glasses to shatter on the floor. “I will do with her as I wish,” said Canu through bared teeth.

When all were asleep, Canu went to be alone. He sat along a small valley, overlooking the swooping sands below him. Nothing but sweeping dunes sat before him, illuminated by a starry night sky.

“The potion only works half as well on a Floweress.”

Canu jumped, baring his sword. His breathing came raggedly. How had he not heard her coming?

“What’re you doing here? Who let you go?” asked Canu.

“You can put your sword away. If I wanted to be gone, you would never see me again,” said Eshna.

Canu sheathed his weapon which hung in a scabbard along his hip with a short sword and another dagger on the other side. His warm furs hung along his shoulders atop his leather.

Canu slowly walked towards the Floweress, oddly entranced. Why had she returned?

“How did you find me?” asked Canu.

“Your master did the same thing,” said Eshna.

“Hyltir,” said Canu contemplatively. “Come, sit.”

Eshna tentatively followed Canu to where he was sitting.

“Your men want to sell me. But you want to keep me,” she said.

“Yes. I do,” replied Canu.

“I will not serve you. You are not like Hyltir. You are not like others,” said Eshna.

“What do you mean?” asked Canu.

“You’re weak. You are too kind. That is why you could never lead like Hyltir,” said Eshna.

Canu grew defensive at that. “You don’t know me.”

“You can tell a lot about a man by the way that he treats a woman,” she replied. Eshna leaned back in the sand, resting on her elbows. Her green gown was magnificent, leaving Canu to wonder how she had gotten her hands on it. Caroman must have given it to her.

“What did Caroman say to you?” asked Canu.

“It is between him and I,” said Eshna. Her blonde hair blew gently in the night breeze.

“You say I treat people too kindly. I can get a whole lot worse,” said Canu as he bore his dagger. He pointed the blade at Eshna’s throat slowly.

“You won’t do a thing with that dagger. Don’t make a fool of yourself. I will lose what fear I had left of you,” said Eshna.

Canu lowered the dagger, his jaw hanging in disbelief mixed with amusement. “You are bold, Floweress. I bargained against all my men to keep you. You ought to be thankful,” said Canu.

“I don’t want to be trapped with you. I want to go home,” said Eshna. “Although, you are not so bad as Hyltir. Time will tell. Men change quickly.” Eshna blew a strand of her from her lips.

“Where is home?” asked Canu.

“North.”

“North is a big area.”

“I know. And unless you mean to take me there, I will not tell you anything more,” replied a defiant Eshna.

“Why? I will not hurt you,” Canu replied. He paused, seeing Eshna disbelief. She was smirking. Canu had not seen her smile before—even if just a small smirk.

“I have been told that before. I have had many masters since I was taken from my home,” said Eshna.

“When did that happen, if you don’t mind me asking Floweress?”

“A long time ago. I was a girl. I had just gotten my assignment from the Herbwood. I was serving a lord. He was a good lord and a good man. I did not serve him more than a year before it all happened,” said Eshna. She was downcast at the mention. Canu did not want to pry more, but he was curious.

Canu had not remembered anything about his childhood since washing up at the shores of the south, by the southern coast of the land bridge. His earliest memory was awaking in a strange place, surrounded by curious faces of men without teeth and mangy hair. He was a boy of twelve at the time. He considered mentioning as much, but he contained himself. He had already spoken more with the Floweress than he had ever thought.

“I wanted to keep you, Floweress. We can make a home for you here,” said Canu.

“Why? Why do you want me to stay so bad? So, I can heal you every time you or your men suffer a fatal wound? I am sick of that if that is what you intended.” Eshna had a scowl across her face and her arms crossed. It hadn’t taken much to changer her mood. Canu noted her inconsistency.

“Do not be cynical of me and my men. I will hold you against your will. But, if you choose to go, it must be at the slave auction. Your price is too high for my men to let you go. I would be hunted and killed by my own men if I let you go. You know this,” said Canu despairingly. “I feel for you because I can see your tragic tale unfolding. You have my word; you will be your own person as a part of my clan. It will not be like my master, Hyltir Hasamon.”

Eshna didn’t respond. She was hugging her knees to her chest, overlooking the sweeping dunes ahead of them. They sat in silence for a few minutes.

“Hyltir was troubled. He struggled with things. With power, plunder, coin. But it was also more than that,” said Eshna.

“More than that? What more is there than that besides women and land?” asked Canu.

Eshna chuckled. “You know nothing, Canu.” She had never said his name before.

“I know nothing,” said Canu.

“Yes,” replied Eshna. “Hyltir was dealing with darker powers than you know exist. Powers that come from Mekdah.”

Canu shivered. Why must she pronounce the name of Mekdah so bodly and without fear? It could summon someone…or something. Or so the tale goes.

“Who was Hyltir in league with from that…land…”

“Mekdah?” Eshna finished. Canu cringed.

“Yes, that land.”

“It is beyond your comprehension. Some things are better left unknown,” said Eshna.

“No,” shouted Canu. He rose to a crouch before Eshna’s face. “I must know. I want to know what is out there. You were wish Ahod when that sorcerer was with him. Who was he?” Canu demanded an answer. Eshna could sense his angst.

“What will you do in return for me if I tell you?” she asked.

“Nothing,” replied Canu, “tell me or I’ll have you in bonds and chains every night that you ever sleep. Beside my bed. By my feet. I swear by it.”

“Do you think that bothers me, naïve man? I have slept with diseased men on a floor made of soot and corpses, feeding Hyltir with my free hand until he sleeps from gluttony and torn up stomach. Do you think a quiet night’s rest at the foot of your bed troubles me?”

Canu realized the foolishness of his bargain. “Why must everything be bargained for? Let us speak freely.”

“Promise me one thing, regardless of what I tell you,” Said Eshna.

“Tell me what it is before I promise it. A good man never swears an oath of unknown conditions,” said Canu.

Eshna just laughed. “It is not an oath. You’re a nomad freeman, not a lord of a castle. A promise is different than an oath you naïve fool.”

“Stop calling me that,” replied Canu.

“Calling you what?”

“That word that you keep saying.”

“Naïve,” questioned Eshna, amused.

“What is it that I must promise?” asked Canu.

Eshna paused, a serious look coming over her face. “You will not sell me for coin.”

“For coin…” Canu pondered the request. “I don’t know if I can—”

“Yes, you can,” interrupted Eshna. “I will not be traded like some impersonal object. I will fall into hands much worse than your own. You are soft and gentle, like a leaf blowing in the wind,” said Eshna. She could tell it was evoking a reaction from Canu. His face was contorted into frustration.

“I am no leaf. Leaves don’t free Floweress’ from the hands of bad men and sorcerers.”

“That is fair. You’re still naïve, though,” said Eshna.

Canu waved his hands dismissively. “Okay, anyways, Floweress…I will not trade you for coin. You have my word. Now, tell me of this sorcerer that was in Ahod’s company. And of Hyltir, who was he in league with?”

Eshna’s face darkened. “Many men will not believe it. The effect of time is that old tales and stories become fable. Men forget what has happened since the beginning of time.”

“Who can know what happened since the beginning of time? No one knows what happened yesterday” said Canu. Eshna shushed him with a finger to her lips.

“I am not done,” said Eshna.

“Sorry, Floweress,” said Canu.

“It’s Eshna, not Floweress.”

Canu gestured for her to continue.

“They are from Mekdah. The sorcerers. The Blacksoul servants. They serve the chained lord who was bound to the Abyss long ago. Hyltir fell into league with a manipulative man from Mekdah. He was like Maziq, but much more powerful. His words were cunning and somehow mesmerizing. I became entranced by him, much like Hyltir. It is bad news that these Blacksoul servants are appearing in the south. We are closest to Mekdah, so the northern kingdoms will know of the Abyss’ weakening hold on the chained lord and his servants.”

Canu’s brows were furrowed. Deep creases in his face showed his confusion.

“What are you speaking of? The chained lord?”

“See,” said Eshna. “Not even you know of the most dangerous darkness in this world. Too much time has elapsed. I know these things because of Hyltir. The Blacksoul servant lured him back to Mekdah, promising him a place at the right hand of the chained lord. Hyltir sold his life to the chained lord. I do not know if we shall ever see him again. I hope not, for if he returns to this land, he will be much more powerful than we have ever known him,” said Eshna.

“You believe that?” asked Canu.

“I do. I saw this myself. Did you already forget the snake sorcerer Maziq?”

“No, I remember…” said Canu. His mind was distant.

“Hyltir was infatuated with me for many years. It was until he encountered the Blacksoul servant that he was manipulated into leaving behind everything he had to go to Mekdah. Many men look for his holding now to try and take his wealth. There is violence in Bargetar,” said Eshna.

“You know much. I have heard of the violence in the land of our neighbors. I have not been to Bargetar in a while,” said Canu. “So, this chained lord…”

“Have you not heard the stories when we were children?” asked Eshna.

“I do not remember my childhood. It is blank in my mind,” said Canu.

“Oh,” replied Eshna, “I am sorry.”

“It is fine, go on,” urged Canu.

“It is the story of Ravnus and Kavinar. The two brothers—they were the first men to walk the land of Ulda. Kavinar was the first born, so he was given all Ulda as his gift. Ravnus was the second-born and expected to serve Kavinar as a loyal and faithful brother. And you can imagine what happened from there,” said Eshna.

“Ravnus overthrew his brother?” asked Canu.

“More than that. Killed him—if it can be believed. Many do not believe the tale anymore. Although, long ago, all Ulda believed in it. The chained lord has been locked in the Abyss for far too long,” said Eshna.

“That is enough for tonight. What you mean by all of that is that Hyltir is not returning, right?”

“Yes, you could take it that way if you please,” said Eshna.

“It is getting late, let us return,” said Canu. He rose to his feet and then pulled Eshna to her feet.

They began the walk back. But they did not head to the clan’s house, Canu led her to his private home which was hidden in a wooded area. Men stood guard all around his home. They straightened their posture at the sight of Canu.

“Your men?” asked Eshna.

“Yes. I pay them good coin to watch over my place. This is my home.”

“I am invited to your home?” asked Eshna. A wry smile was spread over her face.

“Come inside,” Canu led her by the hand to his bedroom.

“Must I sleep at your feet as you had insisted earlier?” asked Eshna in jest.

“I will make an exception this one night. Tonight’s sleep is an invitation to my clan. You are not my servant, but rather my equal. You can sleep in a bed and eat at my table. That is something I can promise,” said Canu.

Eshna slid into his bed, pulling thick furs and animal drapes over her green gown.

“Well? Does the great Canu of Terragar never sleep?” asked Eshna.

Canu only chuckled, walking to the doorframe.

“I will sleep out here. I have more thinking to do. Sleep well, Floweress,” said Canu.

“Eshna,” she corrected him.

“Eshna,” said Canu, closing the door.