Slavers of the Savage Catacombs by Jon F. Merz Read Free Book Online Page B

prepared.” Gunj eyed him. “Have you ever ridden with a caravan before?”
    Ran shook his head. “Nope. I’m afraid I’m brand new to the experience.”
    “But you’ve done a lot of fighting in the past. That much is obvious.” Gunj turned back to the mules. “And someone trained you very well.”
    “My father was Murai. Do you know of them?”
    Gunj grunted. “I know what the Murai are. They are exceptional warriors.” He glanced at Ran. “But you do not fight like a Murai warrior.”
    Ran tried to laugh it off. “That’s very true. Much to the consternation of my father. He always wanted me to be like him, and I guess I failed at it. Never had a head for memorizing complicated technical movements and the like. I guess I just preferred to think about fighting in another way.”
    Gunj cocked an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
    Something about how the little man asked unnerved Ran a bit. Gunj was a worldly guy. He had no doubt seen his share of fighters over the years. Was it possible that he also knew about the shadow warriors? Ran guessed that it was entirely possible. Maybe even likely. But the question was, did he suspect Ran of being one? Or had his fighting style simply confused the smaller man? Either way, Ran would have to be sure to disguise himself as much as possible in his mannerisms and actions.
    Ran wandered around the warehouse and looked inside, spotting huge pallets of merchandise. He found Gunj again. “Are we taking all of that with us?”
    Gunj nodded. “Not to worry, we have the transportation to handle it.”
    “And the security to protect it?”
    Gunj laughed. “Well, that’s what you’re here for, isn’t it?” He moved off, humming a song to himself.
    Yasseh showed up a few minutes later with several workers in tow and hailed Ran when he saw him. “What brings you down here so early? We’re not due to leave until dawn tomorrow.”
    Ran tugged on his sleeve. “Is there somewhere we can talk? Privately?”
    Yasseh glanced at the men around him. “Leave us.” He waited until the men vanished and then smiled at Ran. “What’s this about? I hope you’re not reconsidering our employment arrangement?”
    “Not at all,” said Ran. “However, something has come to my attention, and I felt you should know about it so we can take the appropriate steps to counter it.”
    “And what would that be?”
    Ran eyed him. “There’s a plan afoot to rob your caravan.”
    If he’d expected Yasseh to look alarmed, Ran was sorely disappointed when the elder merchant merely let loose a hearty laugh. “Rob my caravan, is it? Is that what’s got you so worried?” Yasseh pulled out a long-stemmed pipe and started filling it with tobacco. “Let me tell you something, Ran. The nature of my business is that we are always under threat of attack. When you get as successful as I have become, the threat of robbers and brigands and the like is always with you. And we have seen more than our fair share of such things over the life of my company. It’s one reason why I take security as seriously as I do.”
    “I just thought you would want to know,” said Ran.
    “Indeed I do,” said Yasseh. “How did you come by this information?”
    “I overheard it in a tavern.” Suddenly, it didn’t sound as reputable as it had when Ran had played this scene out in his head beforehand.
    Yasseh clapped him on the back. “Listen, son, if everything that was spoken by drunks around a table in a tavern was to be believed, the world as we know it wouldn’t last a day. So many schemes and machinations have been born amid the tankards and liquid bravado that inhabits such places, yet have never seen the light of day. I’ve heard fairy tales of demons and dragons and dungeons filled with magical weapons and more gold than can be yanked from the earth itself. To this day I have never seen a demon. Nor a dragon.” He chuckled. “I may have seen a dungeon or two, but never one filled with gold or magic weapons.