With nine full Midanna clans upon the same quest, the camp was large indeed. Each clan numbered greater than twenty hands of warriors, some walking about with Rilas and myself, some taking their ease where they had set their sleeping leather, some practicing at weapons, others gone about the business of hunting for the camp’s provender or standing watch about its perimeter. After a few reckid of walking, we came upon a clearing which was guarded by many warriors armed with sword and spear, in the midst of which were more than ten hands of males, bound hand and foot with leather, their throats also circled by leather which held them fast to trees. The captives, city males by the appearance of their cloth body coverings, were for the most part hard used, their cloth coverings slit open to display the sight of male strength, their eyes dull from pain and use of the sthuvad drug. Some moaned in their misery, yet some were recently enough taken that they had not yet learned the proper manner before their captors. They fought the leather which bound them, sweat glistening upon their hard, strong bodies, curses falling in fury from their lips. There were three of those who fought so, and their eyes came to me when I paused to inspect them.
“Hunters from the city we mean to take,” said Rilas, indicating the males within the clearing. “We take no others than those who approach our camp too closely, for we do not wish to alert those within. They are far too few for the needs of our warriors, yet must we make do with that which Mida sends us. After the city is ours, our warriors will have the pick of the captives.”
“You there!” called one of the three males as I nodded at Rilas’ words. “You in the breech!”
“Silence!” snapped one of his guards, a Hirga by the white of her clan covering. “The war leader wishes to hear naught of male prattle!”
“Prattle!” exploded the male, his broad face atwist with anger. “When I speak to a wench, there is naught of prattle about the conversation—for the wench is not allowed speech of her own! By the look of her, that black-haired wench stands high among you, and therefore do I demand that she attend me! She, at least, may comprehend the jeopardy you all stand in!”
The Hirga scowled in insult and raised her spear to attend the male with its haft, yet I stepped forward and stayed the blow. Many males, in supposed superiority, speak freely of that which a warrior wishes to learn, in an attempt to force the warrior to bow to his will. Should this male be as foolish as others, surely would he speak of Bellinard and what changes had occurred since last I had been there.
“You wish to speak with me?” I said, moving farther toward the place where the males lay. The eyes of all three were upon me, their gazes moving from breasts to thighs and back again, finding pleasure in the sight of Jalav. They, among all the others, had coverings which were whole, showing they were as yet untouched.
“I do not speak with females,” growled the male who had called to me, his dark eyes attempting to master mine. “I am accustomed to commanding, they to obeying. My men and I are to be released at once, else will it surely go harder for you when the High Seat’s guard have captured all of you. I, myself, will buy you when you have been declared slave, and your conduct at this moment will determine what treatment you receive at my hands. Now: have us released, and with speed!”
Closely did the male look upon me, clearly expecting immediate obedience to his will. Easily might it be seen that the pompous oaf knew naught of value, therefore did I turn to the Hirga who stood not far distant.
“I was mistaken in believing this male wished to speak with me,” said I to her evident disapproval. “As he commanded, he is to be released at once-in the charge of whichever warriors wish his use. You are to see to it.”
“At once, war leader,” laughed the Hirga, turning to gaze upon the frothing fury of the male, who had heard my words. I ignored his shouts and demands as I returned to Rilas and the others who awaited me, recalling the hatred which had filled Ceralt and Telion when they thought upon their use as captives. Much had they cursed their time at sthuvad use, recalling naught save humiliation and pain, burning to be avenged against those who had used them so. And yet, when it had come to the use of Jalav, naught save pleasure did they think they gave her, no bitterness, no humiliation. Males are peculiarly sightless in their doings, knowing no more than their own desires, their own needs and wants. To speak with one was an exercise in frustration; to reason with one an impossibility. Males possess no reason, no more than the children of the wild.
“The males seem angered,” Rilas chuckled, walking beside me as I continued on. “Males are ever angered when warriors teach them their place.”
“They will soon have little strength for anger,” I observed, seeing the number of warriors who came at the Hirga’s summons. The males themselves no longer shouted and cursed, for the sthuvad drug was even then being forced upon them. They would be made to serve till the drug’s lust left them, rendering them incapable of further service till the drug was given the following time. In such a way must males be used when many wished to use them, for males were not like females. No drug was needed by Sigurr’s males when they took the use of the females of the set accompanying me, their rightful spoils as the males of the set had been for Mida’s pets. Much had the females screamed and thrown themselves about in attempted escape, yet the males, in laughing pursuit, had netted them all. They had each been stripped of the leather they wore, forced to stand bare before the males who meant to take them, then one by one were put to their backs and used before the others. Few had found enjoyment in their use and, as the time passed, true pain was brought to them. The number of Sigurr’s males was large, far larger than the number of females to be used, yet each male had taken his full turn before the wretched females were released. I had been made to watch the proceedings by Mida, shown the doings through her golden mists as we sat within her chamber, forbidden to turn and walk from the sight. Shortly thereafter I had been required to face Sigurr’s male with blades, and great had been my pleasure when my point had entered his chest. Would that Sigurr had not reclaimed the life of the male.
The walk beneath the trees of the forest continued, Rilas directing our steps to the left of the captives’ clearing, toward another small clearing among the greenery. I thought little concerning this new direction, yet once we had neared the place of fewer trees I saw something that captured my attention as a zaran captures its prey. The clan coverings about the bodies of the warriors there appeared to be the red of Silla trash. My head came up as my hand went to my sword hilt, yet Rilas’ hand came to cover mine.
“You are not mistaken, Jalav,” said she, a hardness having entered her tone. “They are indeed Silla, yet have we agreed upon a temporary truce with them. They have lately escaped capture by males, and have offered their swords in our cause should we allow them opportunity for revenge. I have not yet given my final decision upon the matter for they are, after all, Silla, yet do I feel we must consider their offer carefully before rejecting it.”