Two days later the ship docked at Shoro, a massive bustling city of several thousand, just a little larger than Tresh had been. As the ship pulled up to the pier Blade noticed how different it was from the cities of Itega.

The buildings seemed like forts because they were made mostly of stone and wood, while Itegan cities were made mostly of wood and paper because of the Winds of Char that were so strong they could knock down buildings, and when the Berga moved below ground they created tremors so strong they could topple the strongest of stone buildings, however Blade had never been present when one of the behemoth, hidden berga moved underground. He had felt minor berga move but that was all. It was said when the bigger berga moved sometimes mountains would spew fire and death.

Shoro, however, didn't seem to be bothered by berga and made their buildings quite strong, probably strong enough to defy the winds of Char. Another major difference Blade detected was the smell, Shoro smelled filthy. Blade nearly gagged at the smell when he disembarked the ship to see some strangely dressed soldiers who looked like nothing more than pathetic kangoes. They were wearing filthy leathers and carried poorly made weapons, almost as poor as darkone weapons. They also looked different than the people from the Empire of Tigers, their hair was red and they all had mustaches but no beards, although it looked like some were trying to grow one and failing, in the Empire of Tigers everyone had either black hair, occasionally brown and blue or brown eyes. The people of Shoro differed in that they were much more filthier, had reddish brown hair and had mostly light brown eyes. There was one however that stood out from the rest, a tall almost handsome individual except for a scar along his jaw. Instead of worn leather he was wearing a glistening chainmail coat and carried a thin sword on his hip. The strange warrior watched the kam tentatively disembark the ship, most still filthy and tired from the battle, but they had been fed well aboard the ship.

When most of the kam were off the ship looking at the strange city the warrior stepped up onto some barrels and yelled out in nekkars.

"I send you greetings from the Overlord brave warriors. You have fought well. I have been sent to help you adjust to your exile." Several kam grumbled at `exile,' but they knew it was true and the hard reality dawned on them. No longer did they have a Sechevah, Sreyman or Sadar to serve and protect them, they were now leaderless and homeless with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and the weapons in their hands. Few kam actually knew the man to his left or right.

The kam Blade had helped was named Tornac, one of Kantash's kam. They both talked little during the brief journey, each wondering what his future held. The kam said he owed his life to Blade but neither knew if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"If you will please form a line in front of me I will direct you to where the families of you lord are staying and perhaps you can meet your fellows there.

"Are there any Sreymen or Sadar present?"

The kam milled about restlessly, knowing full well there had not been a noble on board their ship to take charge. Even kam from another chon would have followed the orders of another noble.

"Alright, please form a line in front of me," he said stepping down from the barrel as another ship threw her ropes to some men on the pier and prepared to unload. Another soldier went to meet the kam who would be disembarking.

Blade got in line behind kampar Tornac and before he knew it his turn had come.

"Your affiliation?" the soldier asked.

"Marik Sreyman," Blade responded dully.

The soldier consulted a scroll, "Inn of the Twisted Goblet, it's down this street take your first right, then your third left and then second right. It's on the Bondor's Avenue. Next."

Tornac was waiting for him. "Where are you going?"

"Twisted Goblet," Blade replied. "And yourself?"

"The Dragon Masher," the kam replied. "Blade, I thank you for helping me, I won't forget you. If there is anything I can do let me know," the kam bowed to Blade, holding his bow.

"Tornac, take care of yourself, I wish you well." Blade said returning the kam's bow, releasing him to rise.

Tornac nodded and left while Blade stood there watching the him leave. Blade looked around him at the hesitant kam, reality a painful knife in their side. More than one was maimed or injured and in need of a healer.

Blade shook his head, once proud and feared warriors they all now looked lost and defenseless in this strange new city in a foreign land where the customs were so different they could only guess at them.

For more information please contact me at warcat@usmc.net