The Three Kings

by Slawomir Rapala

Chapter IV: Empty Heaven

part 4 of 5

“I guess we’re in Dilli,” said Xunnax, who stood beside Iskald.

The Duke’s eyes drifted towards the shore, where a crowd of people had already gathered, awaiting their coming and anxious to see the new shipment of slaves. Their impatient shouts could have been heard all the way up to the ship, where the boys pretended not to hear them, wanting to show that they had some pride still left in them despite the fact they were treated like beasts, if not worse even.

Iskald looked at the crowd of the potential buyers assembled on the shore. He could easily make the distinction between the Tha-kians and other groups of people who, the boy noticed, kept themselves apart from their hosts. Apparently even the rest of the slave-trading world was not fond of the treacherous Tha-kians.

Further up the coast, behind the crowds of people, Iskald saw the exotic city. It presented a beautiful sight to his weary eyes: the city shone bright in the morning sun; it was layered, with the grandest houses situated near the top, and those of the less wealthy citizens in the middle.

The bottom of the steps were designated for the commoners and were most crowded. But even here, most of the houses were constructed from polished sandstone and their flat rooftops were turned into tropical gardens, full of bright flowers and plants common to the South, but unknown to Iskald.

The massive palace, home to the King of the Tha-kians, was located at the final terrace and towered over the entire capital. It was a monumental building, almost the size of Jewel, carved directly out of a giant rock looking over the coast. It must have taken the builders years to fashion it into the perfect rectangular shape that it had now. Only the back wall remained untouched and it blended right into the slope behind it. It gave the entire building a raw, natural look, reminding Iskald just how far removed he was from civilization as he knew it.

But the entire sight, that of the city and the palace bathed in the afternoon sun, was so beautiful and picturesque that the boy had for a moment forgotten about the horror of the recent days and about the dreadful future that lay before him.

He was brought back to the harsh reality when Shira and other guards began to chain the boys together to form one long line. Each boy was locked into heavy iron shackles that chained his hands to the brace on his neck, which in turn was connected to the brace on the neck of the slave before him.

Chained together in this fashion, the boys were then hurried down the wobbly plank and onto the shore where the anxious crowd immediately surrounded them. The mob, starved for sensation, pushed and shoved each other to get to the front row, where they had the best view of the newly arrived slaves and could get the first look at the merchandise. The guards quickly made way through the crowd and forced the youths away from the port and into the city.

What followed was not an easy trip. The guards wasted no time in reaching for their whips and they lashed out on those boys who slowed the group. The crowd of people continued to surround them and moved along with them.

As they entered the streets of the city more and more people joined the group, the noise was increasing, and the mob became more violent. They felt nothing towards the poor wretches; they were little more than a commodity and a freak show at best.

Those of the crowd who were more ruthless wasted no time yelling or shouting at the boys, but instead they pushed and shoved them, forcing them down and others with them. Some grabbed sticks and clubs and beat the boys as they walked by, others hurled stones; a few of the boys fell down bleeding and crying.

The guards quickly approached, but not to calm the crowd or to diminish the violence. Shouting angry comments in Tha-kian, they unleashed their whips and lashed out on the boys, pulling them back to their feet and forcing forward.

Xunnax remained relatively calm during this exhausting run through the crowded street. Not once did he even look at the crowd that surrounded them and when someone hit him across the back of the head and forced him down to his knees, he quickly scrambled back to his feet before the guards even noticed what took place.

He walked with his head held high, his eyes fixed on the beautiful exotic rooftops, looking right through the people around him, through the people on the streets, people in the windows, on the balconies and terraces, those gathered on the roofs of their houses, all wanting to witness and to be part of the spectacle.

Iskald, however, the proud son of a powerful Duke, simply could not accept this. He was quickly overcome with an uncontrollable fury at the sight of the sensation-seeking and ruthless crowd of spectators. Powerless against their fists and sticks, the young Duke nevertheless fought back. He shouted and pushed back when the people came too close, he spat on them, and several times he managed to hit them back. He caused so much disorder at one point that Shira came over himself and hit him several times. The rest of the way the heartless guard walked by Iskald’s side, keeping a close eye on him.

Finally though, they managed to make their way through the crowds and the narrow streets and entered a large square located on one of the upper terraces. It was surrounded on all sides by tall buildings, most of which were households of the more important citizens of Dilli.

The guards forced the group of youths up on a platform erected in the centre of the clearing; here, they were allowed to stop at last. They stood in an unsteady row, looking around with frightened eyes, not knowing what was to come next. The crowds that had followed them from the port immediately surrounded the stage and their shouts and cries were deafening. The windows, balconies and rooftops of the houses surrounding the square filled with people as well.

Out of nowhere a Town Crier appeared. He silenced the crowd for a moment by beating on his drum and then he commenced to invite all the noble residents of Dilli to take part in a public sale that was to take place immediately in the Town Square. He urged them to hurry as there was only a limited amount of merchandise available and it would disappear rapidly.

As soon as the Crier left the square and entered other parts of town, the noise resumed as the people urged Shira not to wait any longer, but to begin the sale straight away.

To be continued...