Day 59 continued

(Little Rat POV)

“An illusion, you say? What do you mean precisely?” [King Hensai]

“I mean, we are going to keep this slave camp running, in secret until you are properly provisioned and armed as a group. I mean most of the slaves, including any of those in the city we can trust.” [Tirmin gesturing widely] “In short most of us will break out of here. With the least amount of risk and the greatest amount of chaos and damage at the same time.”

“How will we deal with the gate? The soldiers?” [Karamech] “A surprise attack will have some success, but the gate itself is sturdy. The guards in place will be on alert if they spot a battering ram. They have a wide view of the area, they'll see us coming.”

“Oh, the gate is no problem. I will sabotage it just before you arrive.” [Tirmin smiling] “The guards will also be far less of a threat than you think. Like those here, their shouts of alarm can't be heard in the distance, because I can stop that. We simply need to cut down anyone that runs or can see us.”

“Ah! So that's why we only got three quarters of 'em instead of the whole bunch.” [Karamech cracking a smile] “They must still be goin' about work like normal!”

“Now that we have the area pacified, I want you three to clear out rest inside the barricade. While you do that I'll keep everything nice and quiet out here and cut down any fools that wander in here oblivious.” [Tirmin] “After that we clean up the corpses and blood as best we can, have any slaves that look reasonably like our captors dressed in the armor of the guards and then we can slowly prepare.”

“What if some noble with an escort comes sniffing around for a plaything?” [Karamech]

“Then we kill them all, after we lure them inside the barricade and away from the eyes of the city.” [Tirmin] “We're lucky so far, as we're fairly isolated where we are. We'll arrange for signs and guards to tell customers the arena is shut for the day... for 'repairs'.”

“These corpses that fell in battle and the blood, how do we hide them?” [King Hensai]

“Who says we have to? Strip 'em naked, pile 'em high on a bonfire face down and burn 'em. Tell anyone who asks they was slaves with plague and executed as a 'mercy'.” [Karamech] “It'll scare off buyers for weeks. Makes a good excuse for the arena to be shut: contamination.”

“Yes, not bad. If we have our fake guards explain it was a disease for only the ape-kin, it will also explain why there are so many other slaves still alive and why there are none of their kind as slaves any more. They are dead and cremated. It also explains why the usual people who run the camp are not here, they are sick and isolated to keep the illness from spreading. This thing practically explains everything we do, short of leaving the city.” [King Hensai] “Even buying good supplies... to feed the fictional quarantined people. They can't eat the trash we feed the slaves, can they? They will be locked up for months... I believe.”

“Oh, by the way... whatever you do in the barricade won't be heard outside as long as I'm here. So please go ahead and release any stress you might have built up.” [Tirmin]

“Try to keep the leaders alive for now, though. They might be useful for their knowledge of the organization. We want to look and act the part of these scum after all. When we have no need for them, then they can experience retribution.” [Princess Janess] “Particularly the old bastard that tried to break us... yes... I want to pull out his tongue by the roots as a goodbye.”

“Come sister, surely there are some that sate your anger among the lesser villains.” [Hensai] “If not, one or two of the leaders won't be missed sorely.”

Karamech chased after the siblings as they walked toward the barricade, shouting: “Wait highness... surely I must be first, to blunt the enemy!”

From that moment there was silence.

The field empty of life, of movement was quiet as a grave.

The stench of blood swirls around me. I don't know why, but it doesn't smell as terrible as it had before. Yes, when I first smelled blood there was the Butcher. The smell of it's blood reeked, but that was nothing. It was overpowered by the blood of Chirrik and his Mother. Yes. Mustn't forget that time.

The second time I smelled blood this strong was when I stabbed that man to death with Chirrik's battlefork. Then after that, as I slew the sleeping slavers. Then I felt nothing but satisfaction.

Now... I feel a sense of accomplishment. But it doesn't diminish the fury writhing deep down. These men were filth and obstacles, to be ended quickly. Soon... I will have time to visit my true enemies. I will not be merciful. They have earned much suffering. To have hurt Chanti, who is mine... there is nothing less than agony and death that can pay that debt.

I wonder when I began to feel so protective and possessive about her? Hmm. I remember when she had me enslaved... I considered her cruel, but Niala's punishments were equally cruel. The only real truth of this world I understand clearly: Harm for harm, kindness for kindness. In equal measure.

Except when it comes to that... I can't help but desire more suffering to these enemies of mine. It doesn't seem fair... but then how do you judge the depth of the harm they have done? I can't quantify it. All I can do is try to make up the difference and help balance up the debt they owe. I'm just myself, after all. It cannot be helped if my views are skewed.

In the end... am I evil too, I wonder?

An hour passes in quiet reflection.

Eventually a veritable horde of people leave the barricade and start stripping corpses. Ones with pointed ears and other anomalous body parts hide them under helmets and clothing. Those of our captor's race try to look the part. Few really do, since they almost all are beaten and malnourished. Some of those I assume were destined for the arena however look quite good. They will have to be our visible front. A few females are among them, some of the smaller ones almost swallowed alive by the size of their armor. They will only pass for slavers at a distance.

We have a goodly number of fake guards, Twenty five sets of armor are still intact enough to pass a casual eye. If we find someone who sews, perhaps one or two more may be salvaged.

The king and the other exotic people are still in the barricade, watching as the fake guards pile and burn the looted dead.

Hidden I watch as the fakes spread out and resume appropriate patrols and stations, one painting a warning sign to show the infestation. The spares are escorted back to the barricade.

To all eyes this would be a slave camp that has just tasted calamity. The bruised and tired guards adding an element of theatrics to the scene. We have suffered riots and lost profit to cruel fate.

I wait, watching as much for intruders as for traitors.

Hmm. A trio are acting strange as they stand as sentries at the main entrance. They're natives of the city, from the smell of them. They are each looking toward the city in the distance, some ten miles away. Two stand by the road on either side while a third mans a desk.

I can hear them whispering. I'm only thirty feet away.

“If we tell the Chief Executioner we may be able to get our old status back...” [Fake Guard #1]

“Or even better raised a rank... but if we're caught they'll just kill us. It will come down to luck. If we run straight there we will show our loyalty.” [Fake Guard #2 at desk]

“I don't like our chances in the maze either.” [Fake Guard #1]

The third guard nods.

Time to act. They're about to run.

So start running at them first.

The one at the desk notices me out of the corner of his eye and turns to see the back of the hatchet hit him in the face. He crumples onto the table as his nose and the bones around his right eye break. (Tirmin is not at all familiar with anatomy, he has never seen a skull, other than those of the giants.)

The others didn't hear the strike but perhaps they sense the man behind them falling or expected a signal, because they turn from their posts at either side of the road to look back at us.

Seeing me and the man down, they pale. One tries to run while the other starts to make excuses.

“It isn't like that! We were only talking...” [Guard #1]

I sprint after the runner, catching up to him in a few moments. Tackling him from behind, I drop him to the stones of the road and bash the side of his head into them a few times, until he stops struggling.

The last one is still trying to make excuses.

“Pick up your friend, we are going to the barricade. If you run, I will not hesitate to kill you.” [Tirmin]

I throw the fallen man onto my shoulder as the other leads his stricken friend at the desk back, using his shoulder as support.

Inside the barricade, once I explain what happened to Hensai, the three are stripped. I considered leaving them in a cage, to remain in the city they loved so much. Karamech simply snapped their necks.

“Can't leave 'em alive if you want to stay here after we're gone. They know you and some of what you can do.” [Karamech]

I guess he has a point.

Three new fakes head out, this time only look-alikes of a different species. Like the ones chained with us on the slave caravan weeks ago. I can smell the difference, but the people native to this city all have such limited senses... how do they live like that? I can't imagine what it must be like. To be so deaf and insensitive to the environment.

Observing the other guards is pointless now they know I'm here and really they are already under surveillance from each other anyway. Particularly the non-native fakes. This is their only hope for escape.

Instead I follow as a pair go out shopping for supplies on one of the carts from the field, lead by a great four legged beast, with the contents of the dead guards purses as payment.

These two seem to be genuinely interested in escaping the city, as they were caught running away from the local garrison they had been stationed at and sentenced to die in the arena for desertion... apparently they actually want to explore the maze and see strange and incredible things. I guess there are people like me in every race, huh?

They really do make the purchases they were asked, even bargaining and haggling for just that little extra that they may need in the far reaches, if they make it that far. Never underestimate the value of even the most basic of supplies in the wilderness.

The next goal is to find the slaves already in the city that want to escape...

Tricky. The best way is probably to talk to those as strange as myself, those treated poorly for stupid reasons like appearance or species. They will be far more interested in escape than most, so that they can return to the places where they are considered normal.

Who knows, perhaps there is some organization hidden inside the slaves as well.

Coincidentally I run across one of the men that harmed Chanti yesterday.

I follow as he happily weaves through alleys to arrive at a small home.

It seems he was out shopping for his dinner. I let myself into his home after him, since he doesn't lock it.

I watch him go about his business, polishing his copper breastplate until it shines. Playing with himself. Going to sleep.

He wakes up screaming a few minutes later, as I have just clawed out his eyes.

I leave him fumbling around for a while, looking for his weapons (which I have dumped out the window) and for me. He realizes he's hurt badly, probably permanently. So he's desperately calling for help. Apparently the city guard are all quartered in this area. He is confused as to why no one is answering.

He may not hear me, but perhaps he senses my body heat or smell faintly because he suspects I'm still here. Or it could just be the fact he never heard me leave.

As he reaches his door I make my presence known, by hacking off four of his fingers with my hand-axe as he reaches for the latch. After a good bit of shrieking and rolling around I introduce myself properly.

“Hello. I don't believe we've met before. Yesterday you had quite a time with a lady I consider to be mine. So I believe it is fair I take what is owed. Your eyes for lusting after her body. Your fingers for caressing her flesh...” I take off the other hand at the wrist with the axe, as I say this. To even it out I prune off his remaining thumb as he thrashes around on the ground. “Your sex, for taking her by force...” I drive my heel onto what makes him male, contempt showing as I consider how vulnerable they are sitting outside the body. Mine are internal most of the time, after all.

He screams and begs for his life. Really? I have no care for that.

No, I just want your tongue.

Using the dagger I cut it out, holding his jaws open with brute force. I am surprised really how strong I am in comparison to him. I never expected the difference to be this much. Perhaps he's just weak.

“Now, don't you tell anyone about this...” I laugh. “The rest of them will be getting their share soon. Oops. That's a secret. Shush.”

I walk out, keeping his home silenced until I turn around a corner. His groans are loud, but quite muffled. It will probably be some time before someone bothers to make him shut up... the adjoining homes are empty, the owners probably working.

Hmm. I wonder if they have a healer like Niala? I doubt it. Lets watch and see. If they do, that is someone I definitely have to kill. My maim skill isn't high enough yet to ensure he can't talk about our encounter, with a regrown tongue.

What we learned:

YOU DO NOT FUCK WITH THE RAT NINJA.

Sorry this chapter is so late, I've been slacking off this week. (Actually I fell asleep several times during the process of writing it.)

Also I would like to offer thanks to those who have reviewed this story, both in the past and more recently I am always glad to hear from you what you like and don't like about the story. Next time on Re:Labyrinth Rick and the formerly body-snatched...