Stirrings

Her gaze burnt a hole into the back of his head, and if she could have willed it, it would have burned his black heart right out of his chest.

Like a wolf sensing a rabbit, Wing spun on his heel and met her gaze. His black eyes seemed like the coming of a raven’s flock; evil, cold, and utterly without mercy. She met his glare and held it, her terror and hatred evident in her eyes, but the child didn’t back down. Not one bit. Wing continued to stare at her, at first with murderous anger, but gradually a sort of understanding made its way onto his cruel face. He saw it. He saw her complete hatred for him. He saw it and he understood. The evil slaver smiled at the little girl.

"Well, well. It appears as though you have been harbouring a secret little one. A very bad secret indeed." As she cowered down in renewed fear the smile on his face became broader and even more cruel.

"Yes, I can see on your face that you despise me. I am surprised to say the least. I thought that I had taken on fatherhood duties!" Wing laughed raucously at the joke, spraying saliva, and several nearby cronies joined in.

"Enough!" he shouted, and everyone silenced instantly. Friends and foes alike may have loathed Wing, but he commanded tremendous respect and fear. "The question I have now is what to do about it. Should I perhaps stake you out near Nashidni territory?" A collective shudder went through the ranks at the mention of the cannibals. "Should I give you to the ‘efreets and appease the Lord of Horses?" Several grunts of approval came from nearby. Wing continued to stare deep into her pale, blue eyes.

"No. I don’t think any of those will do." He reached up and stroked his long, thin moustaches. He stared deep into her eyes, like a hawk considering a mouse. A smile started on his face. As he continued his scrutiny of her, it grew until it seemed to go ear to ear. He nodded to himself, almost as if in approval of his own plan.

"Yes child. I have thought of something for you." A sadistic chuckle escaped from his lips. "Yes, something very special indeed. I am going to take you to meet a friend of mine." He laughed long and deeply, and finally broke his gaze to look upon the sun kissed dunes to the east. He laughed again, for much longer this time.

"Yes, very special indeed!" His bellowing laughter filled her ears.

She wished with all her heart it would stop.

"Where in the third Hell is he?" the Sergeant fumed. "This should have only taken a few days and here we are on our second damn week, with no God’s cursed horse thief in sight! Damn it all, I want him found today!" He ended his tirade by spitting a wad of tadschi on the ground, then glaring at his lackeys.

They all shifted uncomfortably on their feet and looked anywhere but at Sergeant Billo. No one said anything for there was nothing to say. Two weeks to catch a wretched horse thief was far too long and they would all catch it from Captain Na-Weh when the patrol returned to the kinlawinani. The only thing they could do was was complete the mission and return to face the music.

"Li-Dep!" Billo shouted. Everyone looked to the north, towards the forest, and saw the tracker Li-Dep trotting back to the patrol. Billo motioned Li-Dep to hurry up and Li-Dep ran full out to the Sergeant, coming to a dead stop while saluting.

"No time for any of that nonsense!" Billo growled.