“You stupid straw-eater! How many times do I have to tell you not to hit them? They are our goods! Do you see a potter smashing his jugs? Or a farmer cutting limbs of healthy cows?” a deep and strong voice buzzed in Madie’s ears.
“What was I supposed to do? The girl was screaming, so I had to shut her up!” a much younger voice spoke, high-pitched and with a hint of fear.
“Look at her, you moron! She is the top quality, young and fair-haired. A smallest damage would drop the price instantly. That man is a good fighter so it doesn’t matter how many scars and bruises he has, you could have hit him instead! If you want to continue our family tradition, you have to listen to me. Thank God we have that old hag with us that made sure the girl will be fine. But this my last warning and as a punishment I’m cutting you profits.”
“You shall give me some credit, father. It was my idea to use a meat as bait to find war refugees hiding in these forests.” The other voice replied.
“Yes, the meat that attract also dangerous animals. Speaking of it, I’m starving. Come on son, let’s get something to eat. Hopefully that old hag has the soup ready or I’ll.....”
Both voices were too far away now for Madie to hear the rest of their conversation. She couldn’t fell anything covering her head and slowly opened her eyes. Thick and slightly rusty iron bar just few inches from her face was not a good sign.
“Well, little one, I‘ve managed to fetch us a ride in a comfortable chariot.”
Madie swiftly turner her head to the direction Adam’s voice came from and involuntary screamed. His right eye was purple and swollen, a bundle of his hair stick together with something that looked like dried blood and he had bruises all over the face and hands.
“What happened? Who did this to you?” she asked quietly, feeling sorry for him.
“Well, I hate to admit it but it turned out you were right about those chunks of meat. These slave traders are getting better every day.”
Madie almost fainted again. “Don’t just sit there and do something! We have to get out of here!”
Adam sighed and pointed to his face. “I’ve already tried. Look, you’re gonna be all right. You are pretty and young, so they will sell you to a rich household.” Ignoring him, she grabbed the cold metal bars and tried to wiggle them, but all that happened was that she got her hands greasy and dirty. After few attempt she had to admit to herself how silly the idea was. And that it was her own fault they were in this mess in the first place. She could had been on her way to court in the company of Berno and soldiers, safe and sound. Doing something for the kingdom and her family. Letting all of them down because of her selfishness made her feel awful. Only now she fully realized the consequences of her actions and tears rolled from her eyes.
“Look, we can try to escape once we will reach some town and you can send a message to your grumpy friend. There is no need to cry.” Adam said with bored voice.
“You think I’m just a spoiled weak brat, don’t you.” She mumbled quietly. “But there are lives at stake. I can’t afford to wait for the right opportunity, people rely on me. I have a task and I will complete it.” Talking more to herself than to Adam, she wiped her tears with a torn dirty underdress sleeve and looked around. Lock on the cage was too large and heavy to open with force. The floor was also made of iron, with some rotting wooden plank and straw on the top. Further away were three small tents, hidden by pine branches, and a pair of starved horses mounted on a nearby tree. All six slave traders sat around the tall fire with a cooking cauldron and were served by an old woman. Madie noticed that the woman grabbed two small bowls and pour the remains of soup into them. Then, turning around, she started to slowly walk towards them. The woman was dressed in ragged clothes and her dirty old face seemed to be signs that she was a sort-of-a-slave, too. Without a word, she put the bowls outside the caged carriage, but within their reach.
“Please, help us!” Madie whispered desperately.
The woman smirked and whispered back: “What can you two beggars offer?”
Madie moved her hair to one side and pointed to a golden earring with her spare hand.
“I can give you more.”
The old woman licked her upper lip and nodded. “I will come later tonight.”
Slowly walking towards the fire, Madie watched her with a smile.
“You see? I will get us out of here tonight.”
Adam reached for the bowl with food. “I wouldn’t be so sure, little one. Just get some food while we can.” Madie frowned at the crudely carved wooden bowl with smelly stew-like food inside. Back home, she always had the best pieces of meat spiced with exotic herbs. This food smelled more like something they would give to pigs. Disgusted, she turned her head from it and watched Adam using his hands to empty his bowl. At that moment, he reminded her of those pigs.
----------------
Later that night, after the group went into their tents and only one of them was left to guard the fire, forest became scarily silent. Adam was still dubious about the old woman, but Madie already put aside her golden earrings and nice purple dress, wearing only plain underdress and torn overcoat. The pendant was too valuable to her to give away – even at the price of freedom. It didn’t take long for the guard to fall asleep, undoubtedly with vital help of old woman. Madie could see her silhouette approaching slowly towards their cage, strangely illuminated by the fire in the background.
“So, what do you have for me?” she grunted in low voice. Madie was about to handle her the bowl with items, when Adam’s hand slapped over it.
“No. We will give these to you after you will let us out.” He said in perfectly calm voice. The woman didn’t say anything and turned around, walking towards the fire. Madie felt anger raising in her chest and was fighting the urge to slap him. But before she could start yelling at him, he grabbed her shoulder and pointed her body towards the fire again. The old woman coming towards them was carrying a burning stick of wood, illuminating her dirty clothes and wrinkly face. When she was close enough to burn them with the fire, Adam moved his hand and showed her the golden earring and purple clothes.
“That’s all?” she said, sounding disappointed.
“Here’s a fine dagger.” Adam replied and detached his short dagger, sneakily hidden underneath tunic.
“You have no more hidden jewellery, girl?” the woman asked.
“I...well, your men took my belt with gold mounts and also my finger ring. This is all I have, please, trust me!” she almost cried out, resisting an urge to touch the amulet. Is her sentiment more important than her mission? Was she acting selfish again? Maybe the stone would be enough for their liberation...
“I want your hair.” The woman grinned.
“Her hair?! What would you do with them?” Adam asked, sounding disgusted.
“Many noble women want fair and beautiful hair, like hers, and they pay a lot of money for them. I am from south so I know, unlike those idiots sleeping in the tents.” She replied impatiently, pointing at Madie’s messy hair. She felt an instant relief and with a wide smile and without a single word, she grabbed Adam’s dagger and cut one braid just underneath her ear. When she was about to cut the other one, a strange flickering light appeared again in the forest, with several voices whispering at once. But this time, she could swear she understood the words the voices repeated over and over again.
“Follow the oaks. Find her. Help her.”
Closing her eyes, Madie cut the other braid and put them both, together with the dagger, next to the plate.
“Gold earrings, fine clothes, dagger and hair. Is it enough now?” Adam asked, still holding his hand over the items.
“It is sufficient. Now I’m going to unlock the cage, but I need to warn you not to play any trick on me. I will go my way and you can go your way. Deal?” she finished, walking towards the massive iron padlock.
“And what about the slave traders?” Madie asked, eying the tents and fire.
“Don’t worry, girl. I’ll take care of them.” Old woman grinned in a way that made Madie uncomfortable. But there was no time for chat. Madie could see Adam eying his dagger, but fortunately he caught her gaze and silent gesture of disapproval. Finally they heard the click sound and squeaking metal door. In silence, both of them hurried out, leaving their precious items behind. Madie stopped next to the cage and gave the old woman a long stare.
“Come on, little one, we need to hurry.” Adam hissed and grabbed her hand. The woman watched them with no interest, but Madie didn’t turn away her glaze. In the fading light of the burning stick, she found the woman’s lose hand and firmly squeezed it. The woman instinctively stepped back and tried to lose the grip, but Madie didn’t move and whispered quietly:
“Thank you. I wish you good luck and safe journey.”
Adam tightened the grip on her other hand, impatiently dragging them away, but the last thing she saw was a confused old face illuminated by a dying flame.
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