Free Slavers of the Savage Catacombs by Jon F. Merz

brought the entire convoy to a slow trot before exiting the main gate. Ran watched as he turned in his saddle, took a long look at the caravan, and then waved to someone. Ran turned and saw Ejul sitting astride a horse of his own. He raised one hook in his father’s direction then turned his steed and rode off back into Chulal.
    Ryu gave a single squawk and shook its head so a few feathers fluttered off its nape. Ran nodded once. “I know.”
    Yasseh clapped once, and the entire caravan started up again. The city guards held back and opened the rear gate. Yasseh sat at the head of the procession and led the way through the huge stone portal and outside the main gates of Chulal. Ran glanced back over his shoulder but saw nothing to indicate that Tanka was anywhere about. Of course, Tanka was a seasoned shadow warrior. Spotting him would be next to impossible.
    Ryu fluttered its wings once, and Ran took that as a sign the falk wanted to fly for a bit. “Go ahead.”
    Ran raised his arms, and Ryu took flight. Ran watched it circle high overhead before darting off over the nearby hillside.
    “Where is he going?”
    Ran glanced to his right and saw one of the other security warriors riding nearby. Ran shrugged. “To hunt, I’d imagine. He’s quite good at it.”
    The warrior nodded. “I’m Kuva. I heard you were Ran.”
    “That’s right.”
    Kuva was broad across the shoulders, and his arms hung like meathooks as he gripped the reins on his horse. “Heard you were the only one of us to get the okay from Gunj. How’d you manage that?”
    Ran smiled. “I didn’t let him win.”
    Kuva grunted. “I’d say you’re surprising, because your build isn’t all that muscular. But then again, neither is Gunj. And that little twerp beat the stuffing out of me. I’m still nursing a sore shoulder thanks to him.”
    “Appearances can be deceiving, I guess,” said Ran. “Isn’t that the old saying?”
    Kuva rubbed his shoulder. “Yeah. But before Gunj, I’d never lost to anyone.”
    “There’s definitely more to him than meets the eye,” said Ran as he watched Gunj steer the wagon he drove. “I don’t know where Yasseh found him, but it’s clear the man knows how to fight.”
    “And fight well,” said Kuva. “I’m just glad he’s on our side.” He chuckled. “For that matter, I’m glad you’re on our team as well.”
    “Thanks,” said Ran. “Do you know the others that are working with us on this journey?”
    Kuva shook his head. “Nope. I only just hired on a few days back.”
    “What were you doing before that?”
    Kuva shrugged. “Nothing good. I think the city authorities were getting ready to chuck me out for being a beggar. I’d nearly lost everything I owned in a card game. Plus, the drink held me fast in her grip, and I indulged far too much. I finally got my stuff together, grabbed my sword, and approached Yasseh. After Gunj put me through the wringer, I was hired on.” He nodded toward the front of the caravan. “I owe that man a lot. He could see I was a mess, and he gave me a break anyway. I think that speaks volumes about the type of man he is. You know?”
    Ran nodded. “Absolutely. He strikes me as a good man. It would be terrible if anything happened to him while we’re on his team.”
    Kuva patted the heavy two-handed sword strapped to his side. “I’ll be damned if I’ll let that happen. Not on my watch.”
    Ran watched him move off to resume his place on the right flank of the convoy. The caravan slowly wound its way up into the low hills that surrounded Chulal. The road was wide and well-traveled, but Ran suspected it would not stay that way for long. The way west was a dangerous one, and larger roads gradually gave way to smaller tracks and trails. Here and there, he could see where locals had attempted to build a better highway, but in other places, the forest loomed in, trying to reclaim the ground for itself.
    Ryu returned close to dinner time. Ran sniffed the scent of