Chapter 2
Disclaimer- Standard Nifty and I will just add, if you don't want to read it or can get busted if caught, don't. Easy enough done and I am not responsible if you screw up. The story is mine, and I am going to insist on its copyright. So hereby Battered Barbarian and his Boy is now copyrighted ( C ) by cezmail, my pseudonym on the net. Ask permission to post it elsewhere and I will most likely grant it, but doing so without is a violation of my copyright. Thanks for understanding.
This is all complete fiction. NONE of it is true. It has elements of fantasy violence ( explicit at times ), relations between a boy and a man, and sexual themes. If this is illegal for you to read or not to your tastes, DON'T READ! Otherwise, please look on down and if you have an opinion, let me know. I am more then willing to listen and reply.
This is a new turn of events for me, my first all complete fiction. It is based on a roleplaying character of mine, and with that, I move ahead with this new story.
Thanks for all those who liked the first chapter. made me feel I was able to convey this well and have fun while I was at it. I appreciate all what was send and thanks also goes out to all the other kind folks who have come across my story and read it. Thanks for all the emails and support. I am still with it and will hope to keep writing when I can. May not always write as often, but I am still here folks.
Dedication- I would like to pass along a special hello and thanks to Zustara, author of First Son. Thanks man for finding this story and urging for a new chapter. This one is for you. To all others, as before, feel free to email me with any comments. I gladly answer any and all. You can email me at cezmail1@yahoo.com
Chapter 2
Zert approached slowly. He was able to finally make out that the boy, maybe 9-10 summers, was trussed up tightly. He was gagged with cloth torn from his clothes, and the bindings were of rough leather and braided rope. The lad had brown hair, all messed up now from his ordeal, and the remains of his clothes were of rich cloth. His skin was dirty and streaked with mud and dried blood. It was with little natural blemishes, but there were bruises from his captivity and beatings. Zert could not make out the color of his eyes, as they were closed. The boy was shivering, probably expecting one of the Orcs to torment him or even kill him. Zert's heart beat faster, as he knew the kinds of fears that the lad had to be feeling.
Zert stopped a few paces away from the boy and sighed. He would have to go slow to help calm the lad, and the first step was to get him to open his eyes. In common trade tongue he called out, in as soothing a face as his ragged bass might allow. " Lad, your safe. I am not your enemy, nor do I wish to harm you. Please. open your eyes. Your captures are dead. "
The boy shuddered again, and now Zert could make out that he was crying, though silently. Zert waited, and after the boy seem to take in Zert's words and process that he was hearing a voice that sounded nothing like the two Orcs that had been his masters and tormentors, turned to his side and opened his eyes.
The boy looked in shock as he was able to see his possible rescuer. Zert was a tall man, standing close to 7 feet tall and very muscular. His face and arms were covered with scars from his various battles, but he had no hair what so ever. Not even eyebrows. His brown eyes were tinted with traces of yellow and his skinned well browned from his exposure to the winds and weather, as well as from his partial Orcish heritage. The skinned still bore touches of a dull green hint, again courtesy of the orc that had raped his mother.
Zert's face , while scarred, had an open look, as Zert tried to show his friendliness and not being aggressive. He had sheathed his sword after cleaning it, and had his hands open and spread out. His eyes seem to convey that he was telling the truth. As he saw the youth look at him and study him, he nodded and smiled. A grim smile that was distracted by bruise and split lip left over from his recent battle that had claimed his old Company and friends, but still one that expressed a rescuer.
Zert smiled a little wider. " No lad, I am slowly going to come closer so I can cut your bond. I am going to move slow so as not to scare you. I want to be able to allow you to move and not be imprisoned. Maybe then once the gag is off, you can tell me how you came to be here. My name is Zert, Zert of Clan Braggin. I am willing to get you to freedom, but that will be up to you. For now,. I just ask that you will listen and trust me that I mean you no harm. "
He gave the boy a look to see if he understood. The boy nodded and with that, Zert stepped closer, one step at a time, and drew his dagger. The boy's eyes grew wider and he shuddered slightly seeing the blade shine in the light of dusk, but he did not sob or move away. Zert paused and smiled again. " Its ok lad. Like I said, I just want to get you free. "
Finally Zert was there and with a couple of strong pulls of his dagger, he had cut the bonds around the boy's hands, feet, ankles, and arms. The rush of blood caused the boy to close his eyes in pain, and a few new tears rolled down his cheeks, but he made no sound. Zert patted the youth on the shoulder, being careful of his own strength, and then untied the gag and pulled it away from the boy's mouth.
The boy, finally able to open his mouth, opened and closed it to stretch the muscles. He did the same for his limbs as well, getting the blood to circulate and feeling was restored to his body. He looked at Zert, gratitude and hope showing for the first time.
" I.... I thank you Master Zert. I was so scared I was going to get eaten by those bastards. " He shed some more tears as he recalled his terror of his imprisonment. " My name is Zax... Zax Greendragon. I'm not even sure where I am. Or how long it has been since I was captured. Do you know where we are? "
Hearing the name of Greendragon got Zert's attention. He had indeed heard of that name, as that clan had been famous since old Lord Zargon had arrived with his people and carved out the Barony of New Leir from the remnants of the fallen wastelands that had been the Duchy of Dar. No one was sure where the Greendragon's and the Amani had come from, but they were a strong people and fierce fighters. How had this lad, Zax, ended up here?
" Well Zax, I am not sure where exactly we are, but we are on the borders of the Barony of High Hallow and the Barony of Highridge. I think we are about 7 days journey from Port Nayr, if we could go straight. How did you end up being a prisoner of these Orcs? " Zert looked about to see if any movements might be about, but they were in a sheltered spot and he could not see much.
Zax breathed out a little and stood up shakily to continue his stretches and take in the bodies of the two Orcs that has promised to eat him if he did not do all they said. He seemed not to be scared of the bodies, just what they would have done to him had Zert ended up on the losing side. The Orcish features of Zert, from the enlarged canine teeth and the heavy boned arms and legs sank in more, and he just studied Zert more.
Then in a declaration." Your an Orc! "He stared in anger at Zert, Zax's body tensing from feeling lied to and betrayed.
Zert's face flushed hearing this. " Boy, I will tell you just ONCE! Never call me an Orc, or I will leave you here to rot. Now I am a Half Orc, Yah and true, but I am a MAN as well. I am a sworn priest of Rawndalla, and I have an oath to kill every last Orc I can find. "
The anger and the deadly tone that had so quickly come to Zert's
voice made Zax step back in fear. His eyes widened even more and Zax started to wonder, had he gone too far? Was he to be left along in the middle of Orc Country?
Zert's anger flashed away when he saw the expressions crossing the boy's face and he chastised himself for letting the boy get to him with the outburst. In a calmer voice, but with his face still flushed from his anger, he continued. " Look Zax, I swear to you by Holy Rawndalla, that I truly am willing to be a friend and get you to safety. Just I am very sensitive when someone calls me what you said. Maybe someday I will tell you my story, but please, NEVER call me that again. It is a deadly insult. Just watch it. "
Zax nodded as he heard Zert's words, but he still kept his distance and no return of the trust was visible. He waited to see what Zert would say next. It was not a long wait.
Zert again asked. " Please, tell me how you were captured? "
There was a pause while Zax worked out the words, and then he started in. " I was with a small contingent of Chessentan traders and my own bodyguard. I was to take an apprenticeship with the Master of the traders. The Master Trader was stationed in Port Nayr and was a friend of my father, who is the cousin of the Baron of New Leir. I was to learn from him and act as a liaison for our people. "
" We had made our way out of Perth, on our Northern Border when we were attacked by many Orcs, Goblin's and a HUGE Ogre. The Ogre seem to be the leader, and shouted commands, in what I assume was Orcish. My guard captain, my cousin, was the first to fall from a spear from the Ogre, whose name I was to learn was Blood Ax. We were taken by surprise, the outrider's having missed the ambush. There was a shaman with the orcs and his spells, along with the feriousity of his followers, felled many of the traders and their own men. "
" I had a total of 5 guards and one by one they dies, though Vicores was able to get a spell off that killed the shaman. Blood Ax, the Ogre, swung his named weapon and killed my friend. Vicores shielded me with his body and Blood Ax stopped the Orc's from killing me for spite and sport. Called out some commands and they left me alone, while they started to loot the caravan. Blood Ax gripped me with his huge hand and studied me. Then in Common, He said, " You be Zax, You do what Me say, or you die. me Blood Ax, and I your Master. Do all I say, or you end up dinner and skin as my cloak. "
I believed every word that beast said, and I was tied up and gagged, and then carried by Blood Ax for several meals and sleeps. That was the only time he let the gag out, and I was much too sore and scared to ask questions. I think we traveled northeast, but it was just too hard to keep track. I am not too sure where you say we are, but if we can make it to Port Nayr, Master Burble will be able to see to my needs and safety, I am sure he will reward you, or if not, contact my Father and my Lord Baron. My father is one of his Councilors. Please see me to there. I need to let my Father I am still alive. "
Zert had been listening to all this, and he knew that Zax was a noble in his own right. Being the cousin of the Ruler of the Amani was powerful stuff indeed. The reward would be substantial, and would help Zert to make a new start, maybe even form his own Mercenary company. He would of course Tithe to the Church, but a man still had to eat and make his earnings. When Zax had finished and asked his boon, Zert was not even thinking of saying No!. Indeed, he would go an extra mile to help the very young boy, so lost and taken from his family and friends.
" I can and will be happy to do that. I made my vow, as I said I would, to see you to safety. If that means Port Nayr, well I have lived and been based in that large City. I was on my way to that city when I encountered the two dung heaps that were keeping you prisoner. " He paused and made a decision. " Zax, I know that you have to be very sore and tired.. But I think we need to make some time before we cab try to set up camp and rest. I will help lead you, and even carry you if you need, but between the smell of death from the bodies of the two piles of shit, and possible following Orcs, I do no like the idea of staying here."
He patted Zax on the head and pulled off his pack, He took out some packets of rations and handed them to the youth, along with his waterskins. Zax tore into the food hungrily, but did give his rescuer a slight smile. Zert took the time to search the two bodies. He looked over first Sanhok, and all that he found worthy to take was the Orc's pouch of coin and baubles. He gave it just a quick glance and tucked it away in his belt. Then he went over to Kask's remains. Here he took a little more time, as he suspected that Kask had been more then just a grunt. Besides the pouch of treasures, he found a bone tube sealed at the ends, a strange disk, and map.
The tube he decided to look over at a later time to give it more attention. The disk he made out was a combination of the rune of the Broken Hand along with a superimposed black hand with strange writings along the side. Zert had never seen the like of it before, but did not think the news would be good for him or Zax. Finally he looked over the map. It had stains from food and darker touches that he was not quite sure. It was made from some kind of skin, but normal parchment. It had a texture that seemed funny.
The map had some renditions of the northern quarter of the land, with the coast that he was not too faraway from on one side, the great Velver River on the western on the other. It has the outlines of the Baronies of High Hallow and High Ridge and some markings and symbols that he was notable to decipher. The one thing that got his attention and made his stomach tighten were arrows coming from the Outer Quarter, where the Orcs had come from and the seal of Kalen Dahl, the Demon leader of Goria. That was ill news indeed.
Zert took his mind off the map and went back to Zax, The boy had finished off three meals of rations and drank most of a skin, He seemed to have recovered some more and able to face what to come with a new will and energy, Zert took Kask's spear, that the boy could use as a staff and a weapon.
" Ok Zax are you willing to go on? I do not know this territory at all, but I can see in the dark, so we will not be using a torch. Selene is near full and rises soon, so you will be able to see some, and I will guide you. I will not travel all night, but I want to make some time away from the battle here. Have you any talents or skills I should be aware of? "
Zax looked down, his eyes closed as he thought, He decided to be honest some more. "I ... I can cast a few spells,. My friend Vicores helped to teach me the basic's of being a mage, and he was going to continue my training... well if he had lived. " He let a couple of tears flow in memory of the Half Elf that had not only been his guard, but a friend.
Zert said nothing, taking the news in stride. Well that was helpful, and he let the boy alone as they started off. Zert had to focus his attention on stepping carefully as he guided himself and the kidnapped lordling. They traveled without talking for close to three hours before Zert felt comfortable enough for them to locate a camp. He find another hillside and behind a rise of jumbled rocked, he located a alcove that sheltered them on three sides. They would be out of any winds and could risk a small fire.
Zax sighed in exhaustion and his limbs cried out in pain from his bindings and the days of captivity, He collapsed at the base of the alcove and just lay there, Zert took his bedroll and spread it out for the young boy who he had come across. He tucked it around Zax and as the boy fell asleep in a fetal position, Zert gathered up some dead wood and lit a fire. His mind wandered on the coming journey and the quest he had taken on. There were many more days of danger about, especially if the Orcs were on the move. The sooner he could get to Port Nayr, the better for both of them.
Zert, as tired as Zax, but not wishing to let any harm to come to him, decided to stay up most of the night, keeping guard and warding his new charge, Zert had never been one to be a bodyguard, but had on occasion. Much different from his start in the Pits. Zax's sleep was filled with various dreams that caused the boy to moan and shiver at times, but with a slight touch and stroke on the boy's back, he calmed down. Zert sat next to Zax and his warmth caused Zax to finally slip over till he wrapped himself around Zert's left side. Zert took his arm and lay it around the youngling, giving care to the boy. His ordeal with being a prisoner was over, but the turmoil was far from over.
Sleep finally took Zert as the moon reached its zenith and the next thing he new, he felt movement at his side., Memory was not so quick to return, so his reaction was sudden. He rolled to his other side as he grabbed his sword, looking all around for possible foes. All he saw was young Zax smiling at him as he tended the fire, building it back up. Zax's blood and heart settled down a little and he lowered his sword. " So you do have some skills worth keeping eh? "
Zax's expression was worried at first, then he took it all as a tease. He smiled even wider, his white teeth really adding to the face that was quite handsome for a human. " Yeah, I do. heck, I can even wash myself without any servants. " This dig at the stereotype of a spoiled noble got Zert to smile as well. This kid was alright and would not be too much of a burden.
They ate a quick meal of some warmed rations and washed in a pool that they found at the bottom of the outlet of the alcove. Zert took the time to erase as much as he could of the camp, but he as no outdoorsman like Darin had been. While Zax' removed his cloths to give his body a decent cleansing, Zert saw that he had a linen loincloth that had seen better days. He wishes he had more cloths for the lad, but the only other option they might have had was the stinking garb of the orcs, so what Zax had would have to do. Maybe they could reach a village or a farm to trade for some others to fit young Zax.
Zert took the time to make his prayers to Rawndalla, meditating on his thanks for allowing him to rescue his new charge and hoping once he was done to join in the fray to fight back and decimate the Orcish incursion. Zax watched in silence as the Half Orc finished his prayers, looking over the large creature who was his new guardian. Zert was not handsome, but any sense of the word, but his strength and nature added an image of something that the boy could appreciate. His survival depended on the burly and scarred warrior and in a few ways he reminded Zax of his Great Grandfather, Lord Zargon.
Once Zert was done, he moved closer to Zax, who had dressed himself again. " I know you still have some wounds and pains from your being a prisoner. Now that I have recharged myself with my Goddess, I can lessen them. Hold still a moment. " With a quick plea for energy for Young Greendragon, and a movement of his holy symbol, Zax felt a charge of tingles run from his head to his toes, and the soreness and aches faded, but not completely, The bruises healed up and lessened and at the end, Zax felt he was ready for the new day.
He gave Zert a quick hug, taking them both by surprise, but did not pull away. " Thank you Zert.... for everything,. I would be dead, I know it if you had not come to find me. Thank you. " He stared into Zert's eyes as he continued." I promise, I will listen to you. Your truly a Hero. "
This really touched Zert, who had never been called that before, let along by someone as handsome as this youth was. Zert had so little love as he grew up in the Pits, except for his mother and Old Gander, He had several friends and companions in his days of freedom and wanderings, but never this look of devotion. He was not sure what to do, so he just nodded and smiled.
" Ok lad, we need to be on our way. Gather up your gear and weapons and we shall be off. " Once they were ready, the made their way to head to the southwest. The sun was fully up by now and with the light from it, the journey of deliverance was begun.
Ok here is the end of Chapter 2. Had some nice comments from fans. Keep them coming and I will see if this is to continue. I have more to write if there is a base of readers.
Check out my other story- Monterey Delights at http://at.nifty.org/nifty/gay/young-friends/monterey-delights/
and for Zustara's First Son, http://iomfats.org/storyshelf/hosted/index.htm and look under Zustara Orur.
Praise me, flame me, or just tell me where I may improve or screwed up. I am more then willing to reply and we can see what the future holds. Email me at cezmail1@yahoo.com.
Thanks
Charlie