Chapter 5
Caleb awoke with a start, as the disorientation of sleep left him he found himself leaning against a hard, wet surface. In the darkness he could make out a stone wall, and metal bars. The distant drip and trickle of water somewhere only helped to enforce the chill that was on him. Caleb had lost track of time; how long had it been since he had woken up under the arm of a great hairy beast, his house aflame and fading into the night. This place, it was out of a nightmare. He would never have imagined a place like this could exist, it was like the stories Daddy used to tell.
The clop of heavy boots made of metal and bone began to grow louder. Gravelly voices muttering curses unheard assaulted Celeb’s ears. The cold damp stone pressed against his back, he had backed into a corner. A faint light appeared down the hall through the bars, it grew brighter and suddenly a torch came into view, revealing in its faint light a gnarled hairy face with teeth that didn't all fit inside the mouth. The creature wore a fur uniform and a helm that seemed to be crafted out of several skulls. It walked up to the bars and rattled them with the torch. “Food time, man pup!” it said with amusement as it tossed a stale chunk of bread at him. The bread hit Caleb in the chest and bounced off onto the ground, he slowly edged his way over to the bread. His arms and legs didn’t seem to have the strength to carry him right now. This bread represented the nourishment that his body so desperately needed. “Come man pup, eat, you need your strength” the creature sneered. Caleb reached the bread and brought it slowly to his mouth, it smelled horrible, but his stomach seemed to have more pull right now than his sense of smell.
The creature seemed to get bored of watching Caleb and started to walk away, grumbling about, “having to waste food like this.” Caleb sat in silence as he ate, the bread was gone quickly, and he was left once again, alone, in the dark damp place. He drifted in his thoughts because it was the only thing to do and it helped to keep out the pure terror that threatened to consume him. Time passed uncounted and he was brought more bread, the procedure was the same, the same taunts and annoyance, but this time there was another figure with the creature, all Caleb could see was a hood and cloak. Caleb ate his food and the creature left again. It wasn't until he had finished eating that he noticed the figure was still there watching him. He could not see a face or anything more than the hood and cloak; a reddish color from what he could tell, edged with a silver pattern.
“You are not what I had imagined master Caleb” said an old scratchy voice. “I always pictured you as... taller, and quite a bit older.” Caleb caught the glint of teeth from the shadowed face, was he smiling? “You don't even know who you are do you,” the voice gave a rough laugh, “Perhaps you need some instruction, yes, that's it, we can teach you, and then your power will be ours.” The figure turned and walked away, leaving unanswered questions in Caleb's mind. What does he mean I don’t know who I am, I am Caleb son of Nis. And what did he mean about power, what's going on here? Daddy, Mommy, where are you? Please come find me! With these thoughts he drifted into sleep.
He was awakened by a loud clang and a lot of commotion. There was yelling and screams, and fire. The bars had been ripped out of the settings, and there was a figure standing silhouetted in the fire light, a bow in hand with an arrow nocked. “Get up boy, we’ve got to get out of here before they summon the battle wargs!” came a man’s voice, “Come ON!!” the man grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to his feet. This pulled Caleb out of sleep completely and as he shook his head the man started moving quickly forward, the light from the fire revealed his face as that of a younger man. He wore a stained black leather tunic and his blond hair was tied back in a ponytail. Caleb followed close behind him, and watched as several creatures like the one that brought him his food came into view, dangerous looking swardaxs in hand. before Caleb had time to count them they each had an arrow in they’re skull. Caleb stayed as close as he could to his new savior and did not pay heed to much else aside from the man in front of him. Eventually things calmed down, by then they had left whatever place he had been behind, and when he finally took time to look around at the surroundings, all he could see were trees.
The forest was so thick that it was still dark, it was hard to keep up with the man. Caleb seemed to trip over every root and get caught on every thorn while this stranger drifted through the woods like a specter, making almost no noise and walking as easily as if he were strolling down a well traveled road. And then quite suddenly they entered a clearing, there were several tents pitched here and there were some other men tending to the camp.
The man Caleb had been following walked into the middle of the crowd of tents where smoke was drifting up into the sparse branches. The grass and underbrush grew thick in this clearing, taking advantage of the light; the only bare patches were what had presumably been cut out by the men when building the camp. There was a fire burning low and spread out, and there were three men tending to it, making sure that it didn't jump the small stone ring that had been built around it. One of the men turned when he saw the man with Caleb, “Welcome back Blackfox,” the man’s gaze shifted between Caleb and Blackfox, “Who’s the runt?”
“I don’t know yet, they had him locked up though, and anyone they don’t like, I do.” Blackfox said in a deep baritone voice. “We can find out more about the kid later, boys...” He made a hand signal that Caleb didn’t understand and suddenly there were a lot more men standing there, they came out from every bush and from behind every rock imaginable. Without counting Caleb guessed there had to be at least fifty of them. They were all holding armfuls of food, weapons and other supplies. “The shadow keeps us well this night, our raid was a success!” Blackfox let out a hearty laugh and everyone began going about cooking food or sorting supplies, Caleb was left to sit on a stump by the fire as Blackfox joined in the sorting.
Caleb stared into the flames, remembering that awful nightmare, how long had it been since that night? He tried to calculate it out in his head, if they fed me once a day, then at least twelve days, at least... He didn’t know for sure, maybe that hadn’t even fed him some days. At any rate he seemed to be safe now, I hope, he thought looking at the ragged band of men who were now arguing about who could drink more. They seemed nice enough for now, Caleb relaxed a little at that thought and looked back to the fire. Again the nightmare replayed in his head, he gave a shiver and turned away to look at something else, anything else.
Without warning Blackfox plopped himself down beside Caleb, “So what’s your story kid? Why in the nights flowing shadow were you locked up in that wormhole?”
“I...” Caleb stammered, it seemed like it had been a long time since he had uttered words, he wasn’t sure if his throat would work right. But to his relief it worked just fine, “I was taken from my home by those... things, and they locked me up in that place, I don't know why...” He felt his eyes began to water, “I just want to go home...”
Caleb felt Blackfox put a hand on his shoulder, he tensed at first and then relaxed again, “Where you from kid? I’m not usually one to go out of their way for a stranger but I was a lost kid once too.”
“I’m from Strim.” Caleb said in a voice smaller than a mouse.
Blackfox’s face grew dark, “I will not be hasty in my words, I will take you to your home, but I don't think you will like what you find.” His face changed again suddenly, “But enough about that for now, boys, bring our guest some wine and meat! I’m sure he’s hungry after the accommodations of the ogres. “ he let out another hearty laugh, and drank deeply from his wooden cup.
Blackfox’s words rang in Calebs ears, I don’t think you will like what you find. What had happened? His thoughts were cut short though when a wooden bowl of steaming rabbit was thrust in his face. Its smell made his mouth water, and his stomach remembered what hunger was. He began to eat and enjoyed just the sensation of eating something that was not moldy bread. As he finished he could feel weariness wrapping its arms around him; he was warm, he was fed, and he was tired. And then, he was asleep.