Tales of Erogenia: Book 3 - Chapter 6

Chapter 6:  Ape Master

Frhang did not let up; dragging his captives mercilessly behind him; halting only to drink whenever they came to a stream. Even at these stops he did not remove their bonds; instead he forced them to lie on their bellies and lap the water like animals. The Urtt looked over his shoulder continuously, not only to check on his captives, but to make sure that there was no pursuit. Now that he was alone a chance encounter with an Urulana patrol would have been fatal. Perhaps it was because of this or for some other reason that he did not pay as much attention to what was in front of him until it was too late.

He led them into an area of large limestone boulders. They were innocuous enough by themselves and they wound they way into them until they were comply surrounded by gigantic grey rocks. It was then that there was an almost human shriek of rage. Frhang turned in the direction of the sound, his yellow eyes wide with fear. Zenaria and Sulia followed his gaze.

About five yards away, perched on top of one of the larger boulders was an animal that seemed to be a cross between a dog and a monkey. It resembled the latter more than anything else and Zenaria had seen creatures like it before in the rainforests of Jingua, but they had been small, long-tailed animals that scampered from tree to tree. This creature was larger, with a dog-like snout sporting large canine teeth and it appeared a good deal more aggressive. It growled menacingly at them baring its fangs and adopting a hostile posture.

Frhang drew Zenaria's sword and gripped his mace in his other hand, temporarily letting go of the rope. Zenaria was surprised that he seemed so alarmed by a single animal, but she saw why when several dozen more suddenly appeared, scrambling over the rocks to stand next to the first beast.

"Baboons," Sulia whispered. "They are pack animals and we have strayed into their territory."

Zenaria was not too concerned about the animals' characteristics. It was their aggressive stance that had her worried. With her arms bound behind her she was helpless to defend herself and would even have trouble running if she chose to flee.

"Free us, Frhang. We can help you defend."

Frhang laughed, displaying a row of remarkably sharp teeth. "You think me a fool? You would ssstab me in the back asss sssoon asss the chance presssented itssself."

"You have my word that we would not," Zenaria replied. "Release us and I promise we will make no attempt to kill you."

"And I sssuppossse you would lie down and let me tie you up again. I am not that foolisssh."

"You would prefer to be torn to pieces by baboons instead? You are making no sense. I give you my word that if you let us fight beside you, we will allow you to go on your way."

"Ssso you sssay. I am not ssso ssstupid asss to trussst a human cow," Frhang sneered, his eyes firmly fixed on the horde of baboons.

Most of the animals were demonstrating fiercely; apparently building up their courage prior to attack. Their numbers had now grown to close to a hundred and they were edging closer, their courage growing as their odds improved.

Zenaria turned her head and saw that there were now baboons behind them as well. They were encircled with apparently no way out and the strength of their enemies growing with every heartbeat. Zenaria's looked frantically around, looking for someway out, but saw only more baboons. However, Frhang no longer had his hand on the tether he had used to lead them. She and Sulia were still bound, but there was nothing to stop them from making a run for it. But it was not in her nature to flee before an enemy especially under such doubtful circumstances. She resorted to her natural instincts.

"I will not die helpless because of the stupidity of an Urtt," she cried. She took a single step forward, closing the distance between herself and Frhang. She was far from being in fighting trim, but she put to use a technique she had learned from Tren, her first lover. Planting her left foot she pivoted, at the same time bringing up her right leg in a powerful swing that had the full weight and power of her body behind it.

It was too late that Frhang realized that she was moving. The ball of her foot drove into his body just where his sternum met his belly. There was an ugly crack and a cry of pain as the Urtt folded and dropped to the ground. Incredibly, considering the force of the blow, Frhang actually attempt to get to his feet, but he coughed, bringing up bloody phlegm and fell back gasping for air.

Zenaria had not hit the Urtt as well as she would have liked with her body off-balance due to the way her arms were pinioned, but she had hit him hard enough. Tugging Sulia after her she managed to squat and retrieve her sword. The Urulana Princess caught on quickly and turned her body so that Zenaria could hold the blade of the sword against it. Moving her body back and forth she managed to saw through the rope binding her elbows and then took the sword and cut through Zenaria's bonds.

All the while both women kept their eyes on the baboons, who seemed somewhat baffled by the events unfolding in front of them. They had not expected the intruders in their territory to fight among themselves and probably did not realize just how helpless Zenaria and Sulia had been, now however, they began to move closer once again, making raucous barking sounds. It was about that time that Frhang suddenly lurched to his feet.

He was spitting blood, but the same toughness that allowed him to recover from the blow that Zenaria had dealt him allowed him to pick up his mace and charge toward the surprised women, catching them completely off-guard.

Zenaria was unarmed; Sulia still holding her sword after cutting her ropes. Since she was closest Frhang aimed his first blow at her, but Zenaria had trained against far better fighters than the Urtt. The blow was powerful, but delivered without subtlety and she side-stepped it just in time, the mace grazing her shoulder as it swept by. Zenaria's right arm went numb, but she was able to spin away from a follow up blow.

His first target having escaped, the Urtt went after Sulia, swinging the mace in a blow that would have crushed her skull if it had connected. Stepping back, Sulia tried to defend herself with the unfamiliar weapon, holding the blade in front of her with both hands. But the sword was not the spear she was used to wielding, and Frhang batted the blade aside, striking at her head once more. This time she barely evaded the blow and Frhang charged forward, pressing his advantage as Sulia desperately back-pedalled.

Zenaria shook her injured arm, attempting to get some feeling back into it. She could see that it was only a matter of time before Frhang caught up with Sulia. She had to do something and so she hurled herself toward the Urtt.

Some instinct must have alerted Frhang, however, because as she was almost on him he suddenly whirled, his mace ready. Zenaria was forced to come to a complete halt and retreat as he turned on her, swinging the mace with deadly intent.

"Human cowsss," Frhang raged. "Think you can defeat an Urtt warrior? I'll kill both of you."

Zenaria backed away, her eyes searching for some sort of weapon. Frhang kept after her, positioning himself so that he could watch Sulia at the same time. Zenaria watched the gathering baboons. Fortunately, they seemed content to merely bark and watch the strange antics of those who had invaded their territory.

Other than a few rocks there seemed little available that could be used as a weapon. Warily Zenaria circled, trying to keep out of striking distance. Her right arm was useless and hung limply at her side; if she had been alone Frhang would probably have made short work of her. Fortunately Sulia provided a distraction. Even if she had no idea how to use the sword properly she was an imposing presence, standing over a head taller than the Urtt. Even an accidental blow would have been deadly and the Urtt kept an eye on her occasionally making a move toward her if she got too close.

Zenaria feared that Sulia might try something rash. Neither of them was in the best of condition, and even though he had suffered in the explosion of stream, Frhang seemed to be in the best shape of all of them.

Frhang suddenly charged toward Sulia, attacking her in a flurry of blows. Somehow in spite of her inexperience, she handled the sword well enough to hold him off, but he drove her back across the open space and would have pinned her against one of the boulders if Zenaria had not charged toward him once again.

Frhang whirled on her, the mace passing within a hand's breadth of her breasts. Zenaria stepped away, and Sulia, trying to take advantage of the distraction, moved toward him. But it had all been a feint; Frhang spun and only Sulia's quick reflexes kept her from being killed. She brought up her left arm and blocked the blow, but it was a painful save. The mace thudded hard into her and there was the ugly crack of breaking bone. Sulia cried out, falling back while Frhang readied himself for a killing blow.

He whirled the mace high over his head. Sulia did the only thing she could, lunging toward him and ducking beneath the mace, but her attack was awkward, the blade creasing his stomach, allowing him to move away from the attack.

Sulia was out of the fight. Her arm hung useless and her face was twisted in pain. Wide open to Frhang's attack, she tossed the sword toward Zenaria and then rolled to the ground to avoid having her skull crushed.

Frhang seemed to know he had won. Ignoring the fallen Urulana Princess he turned to Zenaria. "Sssurrender, cow and I will let you live."

Zenaria smiled. She had her sword, and although her right arm was numb, the Urtt was about to discover that a warrior of the Snow Leopard was trained to use her sword with either hand. She hefted the blade, her blood surging at its familiar weight and balance.

Frhang hesitated, realizing from her demeanour that he may have underestimated her, but Zenaria wasted no time. Her enemy was in front of her and every act of humiliation and brutality was fresh in her mind. She stalked her prey like the animal her tribe represented.

"Now you die, Urtt." She spoke the words calmly and with complete conviction. Fear flickered in Frhang's eyes and he took a step backward and then another. Zenaria twirled her sword and then closed at a run.

Frhang broke. Hurling his mace toward her, he turned and ran. It turned out to be a very bad idea. Like a damn bursting, dozens of baboons poured off the rocks and swarmed toward the fleeing Urtt. In an instant he was buried in snarling, biting, furry bodies. Zenaria watched for a few seconds as the Urtt was literally ripped apart and then ran to Sulia. Handing her companion the mace, she turned with her back to one of the large boulders and prepared to defend herself.

There was no point in running; Frhang's end had shown her that. Even with only two good arms between them they had a better chance of surviving if they stood and fought. However, considering the numbers and ferocity of their enemies Zenaria did not give either of them much chance of surviving.

The baboons finished with Frhang. After bouncing in triumph on his torn body they regrouped, climbing the boulders closest to Zenaria and Sulia until they faced them in a semicircle consisting of hundreds of barking, posturing baboons. Once again the creatures seemed to be working up their courage before attacking, assuming challenging positions and then retreating and then returning again. Gradually they edged closer until many of them were close enough to reach the two women in a single jump.

With her sword arm Zenaria reached to her left and touched Sulia on her shoulder. Then she prepared to meet the baboon attack. It was a simple gesture and since it was her right arm that Frhang had broken Sulia could not return it, but she gave her light-skinned companion a smile and raised the mace, indicating that she too was ready to die fighting.

The poignant moment, however, lasted only a few heartbeats. It was broken by the appearance of a strange figure that suddenly appeared on a large boulder just behind the baboons.

Zenaria's eyes widened in amazement. It was probably not the most amazing thing she had seen in her relatively short life, but it came close. She was not sure if the figure before her was man or ape. It appeared to be a combination of the two. It stood probably only a little more than half Zenaria's height and was clad only in a simple animal skin loincloth. Its skin was dark brown, similar to that of the Urulana. Bowlegged, it had arms that hung down past its knees.

Its face was also a study. Its nose was wide and the eyes deep set. A large gold ring pierced the septum of its nose, reaching down almost to its upper lip. There were matching rings in the lobes of each of its large ears and several gold bracelets adorned its right wrist. Straggly grey hair hung down over its shoulders, falling almost to its waist. If it was human it was probably the ugliest person Zenaria had ever seen. In its hand it held a wooden staff decorated with strings of small animal skulls. On the very top was the skull of some large carnivore, probably a leopard or beast of similar size. As it moved forward it was revealed that its large flat feet were bare, but that each ankle wore a circlet of tiny bells that tinkled as it moved.

Zenaria finally decided that it was male and probably human or some derivative of human. He moved through the pack of baboons until he was standing on the lip of the boulder and stared at the two warriors. "So youare an enemy of theUrtts. Thatis good. It willnotbe necessary tokillyou."

The words were slurred as if his tongue had difficulty forming the words. She was also struck by the deepness of the strange man's voice, noticing also that he revealed large ape-like incisors when he opened his mouth. Perhaps he was not so much a man after all, but at least he was not entirely a beast.

"I am the Princess Zenaria of the tribe of the Snow Leopard," Zenaria replied. "And this is Princess Sulia of the Urulana. As you see we are enemies of the Urtts and did not intend to trespass upon your territory."

"Princesses…" the strange man mused. A strange glow came into his eyes and then was gone. "You arehurt," he continued. "You willcomewith meand I willtendto yourwounds."

Something about the strange man made Zenaria decidedly uneasy, but she didn't think she could do anything other than what she had been asked. The sensation was returning to her right arm, but Sulia obviously needed further attention. "What do we call you?" she asked.

The man had already half-turned as if to lead them, but he turned back. Raising bushy brows he looked at them with a somewhat puzzled expression on his face. "It hasbeen a longtime since anyonecalled meanything." He thought for a bit. "Callme Baugh. I think thatwas thename I lastused."

As Baugh moved off across the rocks, Zenaria exchanged a glance with Sulia. The Urulana Princess was shaking; barely able to stand. For a heartbeat Zenaria thought she was reacting to the pain of her injury, but then she realized that her quick breathing and dilated eyes was due to fear. "Baugh," the Urulanan Princess whispered. Sweat beaded her brow, running into her eyes. "Evil, he is evil."

Zenaria looked after the retreating ape-man. For all of his obvious power over the baboons, he did not appear particularly dangerous, but Sulia was obviously terrified, and was shaking so badly she could hardly stand. However, with her broken arm and the fact that they were still surrounded by baboons, there was very little that Zenaria could do. And Baugh had stopped and was waiting, his face unreadable, but his body language indicating his impatience. She took Sulia's good arm and to her relief the princess did not protest.

They followed Baugh as best they could. Zenaria did not wish to chance climbing the rocks with Sulia's injury and so they wove their way among the boulders until they finally reached a place where they were forced to climb. Fortunately, they were able to use a couple of smaller boulders to help them up. By this time Baugh had disappeared into a gap in the rocks, but there was no trouble spotting his baboon entourage and headed in that direction.

The way between the rocks narrowed until they were in a narrow passage barely a yard wide and were forced to walk single file. High cliffs rose on either side gradually coming together at the top until they almost touched and it was almost like being in a cave. Baboons scampered ahead of them and well as behind. Although none of the animals offered any threat Zenaria could not help but think that if they did, neither she nor Sulia would have much of a chance.

---

The narrow defile suddenly widened, opening into an area about thirty feet across. A small stream trickled down one wall of the cliff, filling a small pool and then overflowing to dribble away through a crack in the rocks. Vines and creepers climbed the steep rock surrounding the small amphitheatre offering a possible way out for those agile enough to climb them. Farther on there was a small cave that was evidently used by Baugh as a sleeping area. Just in front of the cave was a firepit and a pile of wood. Baugh was waiting for them just in front of the cave. He was seated on a simple wooden stool and was unwrapping a bundle wrapped in zebra hide.

He set the bundle before him, revealing a number of small pouches tied off with leather thongs and a number of needles and other instruments that seemed to be medically related. "I haven'tusedthis onhumans for quitesometime," he said. "But I think I candealwith yourinjury."

Sulia did not move. In spite of her injury she would not sit, but stood trembling next to Zenaria. Baugh gestured impatiently. "Sithere" he commanded, pointing to a boulder close to him. "I won't biteyou." Sweating, Sulia positioned herself on the rock and waited, controlling herself only with difficulty.

Baugh opened up one of the pouches and shook a white powder into a bowl made out of the husk of some sort of nut. Then he added a small amount of water from the spring and mixed it with a straw. He handed it to Sulia. "Drinkthis. Itwill dull thepain."

Sulia shook her head. "I am a warrior." I can handle pain."

Zenaria placed her hand on her companion's shoulder. The trembling had stopped, but Sulia was as taut as a bowstring. What was it she feared about the strange shaman? So far he had offered no threat, but Zenaria was tense, watching for any threat.

Baugh's thick eyebrows contracted. "Iam not questioning yourcourage, but I don'twantyou jerking when I setthebone. Do asyouare told."

His tone was almost threatening and Sulia reached out and took the cup and swallowed, grimacing a little at the taste of the medicine.

"Catchher whenshefalls," Baugh ordered Zenaria.

"What…?" Zenaria began, and then moved to catch Sulia as she toppled sideways.

"What did you do to her?" Zenaria shouted, lowering Sulia to the ground and reaching for her sword.

Baugh seemed completely unconcerned. "Please putdownyour sword. I didas I said I wasgoingto; I gaveher something todullher pain. Shewill awakeshortly. Pleasedonot wastemytime."

Many of the baboons had crowded closer, their posture threatening; but an even larger threat loomed from above. Swinging down one of the thick vines was the largest monkey Zenaria had ever seen. Covered in black hair, it was at least twice her width although not nearly as tall, but so powerfully built that it probably weighed two or three times what she did. She saw as it reached the bottom that it lacked the prehensile tail she had seen on other monkeys and guessed that the huge animal was some sort of relative.

"Youseethat amongtheapes I havemanyfriends," Baugh commented. "Donotworry; Saughwillnot harmyou provided youdonothing tomakehim angry."

Zenaria lowered her blade. The odds were not exactly in her favour, but it would not have stopped her if she thought Baugh had harmed Sulia. Since the Urulana warrior was still breathing she felt that she had little choice but to trust the strange little man; at least until he did something really threatening.

Being surrounded by baboons did nothing to reassure her, and the hulking presence of Saugh was even more unnerving, but she could do nothing except hold Sulia while Baugh tended to her.

Moving to Sulia's side, Baugh tested her broken left arm. "Bothbones arebroken," he muttered almost as if speaking to himself. "Splinteredtoo. Thiswillbe a littletricky."

He tenderly probed the arm, and then from the zebra skin medical kit he had unrolled he took out two long clean white bones and lined them up along the area of the break. He took out two more and placed one below the wrist and the other on top. Very carefully he wrapped the bones in leather and then tied everything in place with rawhide thongs creating a crude but effective splint. Zenaria thought that was all there was going to be to it, but what Baugh did next surprised her. Placing his hands on the splinted wrist he closed his eyes and seemed to meditate.

Zenaria had seen only one thing like this before and that was when Varden used his healing powers. She waited to see if what Baugh was doing would have the same effect.

It was several hundred heartbeats before Baugh open his eyes again. His dark brown eyes met Zenaria's. "Itwilltake her aweekorso to completelyheal, but theboneshave beenset properly. Nowshe mustrest, andfrom thewayyoulook so shouldyou."

Zenaria looked around the small amphitheatre rather dubiously. It seemed a rather unpromising place to stay, but Baugh did not seem the least put off. "Youmay sleep overthere. Donotworry there willbeno rainand I willhavemy companions bringbedding. Itwilldo untilbetter quarters canbefound foryou."

It was about that time that Zenaria began to wonder just how long Baugh expected them to stay. She was more than used to rough camping and had no need of any elaborate preparations. What really bothered her, however, was that she was not sure whether she and Sulia were guests or prisoners. Certainly if Baugh decided that he wanted to keep them from leaving it would be a formidable task to fight their way past hundreds of baboons, not to mention the huge monkey.

Picking Sulia up, she carried her across to the area that Baugh had indicated and set her gently on the ground. Zenaria settled beside her and waited. She was almost overcome by fatigue, but fought to stay awake so that she could keep an eye on Baugh. In spite of the fact that he had helped Sulia, she realized just how helpless she was when faced with his powers. He was obviously some sort of shaman and therefore someone to be respected and perhaps feared. Exhaustion, however, won out over duty. In spite of her best intentions Zenaria could not keep her eyes open.

She awoke sometime later to find that it was now dark. Someone, almost certainly Baugh, had covered her with a woven grass mat that substituted as a blanket. Beside her Sulia was still sleeping. Her even breathing seemed to indicate a natural sleep and Zenaria supposed that like her she was probably recovering from the ordeal she had been put through.

Carefully she pushed aside the mat and got unsteadily to her feet. Every muscle in her body protested, but she persevered. In front of Baugh's cave a small fire was burning, throwing flickering light on the surrounding stone walls.

Baugh emerged from his cave and shambled toward her. "I havesentmy companions forfood. Theyshould returnsoon." Zenaria noted that Saugh was gone along with most of the baboons, but she supposed that most of them were very close by. Just outside the cave was a pile of simple building materials.

"Thereisroom foryou toconstructa simpleshelter until furtherarrangements canbemade," Baugh said. "Tomorrow wewill talkof suchmatters."

"What matters?" Zenaria asked. "And what arrangements?"

"Tomorrow," Baugh replied. "Butthereis justone thing. Youandyour companion didsay that youwereof royalblood?'

"We are," Zenaria replied. "But what of it?"

"Wewill discussit later. Fornow I willhelpwith yourshelter."

Baugh's help consisted of having his baboon companions put together a shelter. Very surprisingly they proved quite adept at construction, responding quickly to the barks Baugh delivered. By the time the shelter was built, Sulia was awake and other baboons had returned with food. It was mostly fruit and nuts, but it was plentiful and tasty enough even if it wasn't what the two women were used to. Washed down with tea brewed over the fire, it soon filled them up. As they ate Zenaria watched Sulia. She seemed to have overcome her fear of Baugh; either that or she was disguising it well.

Baugh ate with them, his manner of eating more typical of an ape than a man. But even while he was eating Baugh's eyes never left them.

Zenaria was certain that something was coming, but she had no idea what. She was suddenly acutely uncomfortable with the fact that she and Sulia had been stripped of their clothing by the Urtts. Baugh, however, said nothing during the meal or after except to offer to look at her wounds.

"I thank you," she replied. "But I'll be fine in a day or so. Then perhaps Sulia and I can do something for you to repay your hospitality before we leave."

"Thattoo canwait until tomorrow. Nowyourest." Without another word Baugh rose from his sitting position and moved in to his cave shelter.

Zenaria and Sulia looked at one another. It appeared that there was little more to do than take his advice. Retreating to their tiny shelter they crawled in and lay down on the bed of grasses and leaves that they had created.

In the semi-privacy of the shelter Zenaria looked at Sulia. "What is that man? Why do you fear him?"

"He is a legend among our people," Sulia whispered. "A legend of betrayal and evil. I had thought that he did not exist. But now that I see him I cannot help but fear him."

Zenaria sat, folding her legs beneath her. In the tradition of her people a story-teller was not interrupted and she waited for Sulia to continue.

"I do not remember the story very well. It was told to me as a young girl, but it was said that Baugh was once a powerful shaman who used his powers to take the honour of a princess. For this he was punished with eternal exile and a mighty curse was laid upon him that he live his life among the apes, doomed to their company for eternity."

Zenaria nodded and waited, but Sulia gave no more details.

"That is all I know," she concluded. "I am afraid the tale was told to me when I was but a child and I remember nothing more. Only that he is one to be avoided."

Although her story was short, Sulia seemed exhausted, no doubt partly due to broken arm and partly due to the ordeal their Urtt captor had put her through. She yawned widely, stimulating Zenaria to do the same. Zenaria moved from her sitting position and arranged their bedding. As Sulia lay down and covered herself with the grass blanket, she settled beside her. Within a few hundred heartbeats Sulia's breathing showed that she was slipping into sleep.

They had been sleeping in one another's company for more than a week, but other than their captivity in the Urtt cages, this was the first time they had slept close to one another and alone. Zenaria could not help wondering what would happen if she reached out and touched Sulia. But she made no attempt to do so. She was still so sore that making love was the last thing she wanted to do. And she remembered Baugh's comment that Sulia would need several days to heal completely. With a sigh of regret she closed her eyes and slept.

---

She and Sulia awoke to the barking of baboons; not a surprising event considering that the animals seemed to quarrel at the drop of a nut. Also not surprising was the fact that Baugh was waiting for them.

He poured tea as they approached. "Isee thatyouboth appear muchstronger. Sitandeat."

"I thank you for your skill in healing," Zenaria said as she sat and picked up a cup. "My companion seems much stronger." Sulia said nothing but nodded her agreement and picked up a ripe fruit. They spent the next few heartbeats eating while Baugh waited.

Finally, when they had finished he began to speak. "Youhaveboth offered torepayme forhelpingyou. I require justonething andthatis that oneofyou shouldstay. Once youhavemade thatchoice theother maygo."

"Stay?" Both women spoke at once.

"I requireamate," Baugh stated bluntly. "Eitherofyou woulddonicely. But I leaveit toyou."

Zenaria and Sulia simply stared at him, thunderstruck. It was several heartbeats before either of them could speak and when it was it was in tones of complete outrage.

"Nothing you have done for us deserves such a payment," Zenaria answered hotly. Her nudity now made her distinctly uncomfortable. She was more than conscious of the way Baugh's eyes flickered over her breasts and belly. She had felt that stare before on the slave auction block in the Sandakar city of Uhra Don.

"Nonetheless itiswhat I demand," Baugh replied. "Itisyour onlychoice. Ifyourefuse then neitherofyou willbeallowed toleave."

"I will die before submitting to such a demand," Zenaria cried. She snatched up her sword and leaped to her feet. Sulia followed, picking up the mace they had taken from Frhang.

Baugh did not move, regarding them calmly across the flat rock that served as his table. He seemed completely unconcerned that two armed warriors stood only a sword's reach away. "I sawhowyou foughtforone another," he said. "I knowthat neitherofyou woulddo anything toendanger thelife oftheother. Andifyou attackme youcanbe certain youwillbothdie."

Baugh didn't have to point out what he was talking about. Saugh squatted just a few feet away, peeling a banana, but with one eye on the two women. Several dozen baboons also perched nearby, their posture definitely menacing. And then there was Baugh himself. Zenaria had great respect for shamans. Their arcane powers were quite capable of rendering her warlike skills impotent.

However, an Erogenian warrior was not one to be cowed by a simple threat. "I will not submit to such a request," she stated. "If it means my death, then that is what I choose."

"Itwas not yourdeath I hadinmind," Baugh replied, but that of your companion. "Wouldyou sentenceher todeath inorderto selfishly preserve yourownhonour?"

But Sulia too was having none of Baugh's blackmail. She moved next to Zenaria. "No one fights for me. And no one takes my place. I side with Zenaria. We die together." In spite of the fear she had shown the previous day, she seemed to have regained her courage and assumed a fighting stance, her still-bandaged arm held across her chest.

Baugh did not answer. Instead he got to his feet and raised his staff, the tiny skulls rattling as he did so. Zenaria and Sulia prepared to fight, expecting an attack. They were not wrong, but the form and direction from which it came caught them completely unprepared.

Their first hint of the attack was a rustling in the vines that climbed the steep walls of Baugh's refuge. Zenaria immediately thought it was the baboons moving to attack and she whirled to face them. But it was not the baboons, but the vines that were moving. Leafy tendrils reached toward her and Sulia; wrenching away from the cliff face as they sought to seize them.

Their movement was slow, but the vines came from all sides, moving toward them with deadly certainty. Zenaria swung toward Baugh, but it was too late, the shaman had retreated toward his cave, leaving a solid wall of snarling baboons backed up by Saugh between him and any danger. He watched serenely as his green minions crept toward the two women.

There was no place to retreat. Already several of the green tendrils were brushing against their legs. With a swipe of her sword Zenaria cut through a wrist-thick vine that was threatening to encircle Sulia. In return the Urulana Princess attempted to bludgeon a vine that was snaking toward Zenaria.

Of the two weapons, Zenaria's sword was most suited to fighting the vines, but she hated using the fine steel blade for chopping wood. There was, however, no other choice. As green tendril after green tendril swayed toward them they hacked and slashed, desperate to keep from being overwhelmed.

But the vines were not their only enemy. As Zenaria cut back one more vine, a small shrub at her feet suddenly swayed toward her and encircled her ankle with its flexible branches. It wasn't much, but it threw off her timing causing her intended strike to miss a cluster of vines that were moving toward her. Immediately one of them wrapped itself around her wrist while another encircled the blade of her sword. With a frenzied jerk, Zenaria wrenched the blade free and then cut through the vine around her wrist, but several more vines seized her; one grabbing her just above the right knee and another looping itself around her waist.

Sulia was not doing any better. Vines were wrapped around her left ankle and thigh, while another resisted her efforts to dislodge it from around her waist. The mace was poorly suited to smashing the flexible vines, tending to knock them away rather than breaking them off. Zenaria fought to free herself, slashing through the vines holding her and then pivoting toward Sulia to help free her. But even as she raised her sword several more vines grabbed Sulia, pulling her toward the dense mass of vines still hugging the cliff. And then a thick vine entangled her sword arm at the same time as several more woody tendrils closed over her ankles and thighs.

Heaving their bodies, Zenaria and Sulia battled to break the grip of the vines, but every heartbeat saw another green tentacle wrap itself around an arm or leg until they were eventually held so fast that their efforts to escape became futile. Gasping for breath, and still straining to escape, Zenaria realized she was caught. Filled with rage, she could do nothing as Baugh once again approached his captives.

"You have us," she panting, sweat stinging her eyes. "But I will not submit. You will have to take us by force."

"I intend todono suchthing." Baugh answered calmly. "Thechoice I offered stillremains. Oneofyou mayleave andtheother muststay."

"Why would we agree to such an offer?" Sulia asked. "Do you think we would willingly betray the other in order to earn our freedom?"

"Nevertheless thatis myoffer. Choosenow orremain prisoners forever."

Both women struggled once more against the entangling vines, but they were held fast. Zenaria could not move her arms and the vines were wrapped so tightly about her that she was having trouble breathing. Sulia was in no better shape and finally gave up, realizing that there was no escape.

"Forever?" Zenaria echoed.

"Youwillbe guarded dayandnight. Therewillbe no escape untiloneof youagrees."

Zenaria stopped struggling. She was just exhausting herself to no purpose. It was obvious that with his command of the apes and the power of his magic Baugh could hold them for as long as he chose. She and Sulia faced not one jailer, but hundreds. Resignedly she faced the inevitable. "If I give myself to you, will let my companion go?"

"No," Sulia cried. "Do not do this. I forbid you to sacrifice yourself for me."

Zenaria spoke quickly before Sulia could volunteer herself. "I will stay, but you must promise to help the princess return to her people."

Baugh answered over Sulia's cries of outrage. "Itwill bedone."

"No," Sulia screamed again. "I will stay too."

"Thechoice hasbeenmade," Baugh replied. "Youwillgo and yourcompanion willstay."

Sulia continued to protest, but Baugh was adamant. He ordered the baboons forward to take Zenaria's sword and Sulia's mace.

"Yourweapon willbereturned whenyouleave," Baugh said to Sulia. Already the vines holding the Urulana princess were loosening, but surrounded by dozens of baboons and with the hulking presence of Saugh, she made no effort to resist.

"I wish the princess to be escorted until she is free of here and safe," Zenaria insisted. "Carry out this promise, and I will do as you wish."

"I will return," Sulia promised. "I will return and avenge this humiliation."

Baugh seemed unconcerned by the threat. His ugly face creased in what Zenaria supposed was his version of a smile at her promise of cooperation. With a wave of his arm he released her from her viney prison.

"She must have food and weapons," Zenaria insisted, "And a proper escort to see her rejoined to her companions."

"I need no help from a bunch of baboons," Sulia growled.

"Nonetheless, theywill gowithyou," Baugh stated. A solid wall of baboons moved toward Sulia, presenting as much a threat as a promise to protect her.

"Go, Sulia," Zenaria said. "I will be alright."

The expression on Sulia's face indicated that she held not the slightest faith in Zenaria's assertion. Slowly she turned away and then suddenly turned back. "I will return," she promised. "I will return and make this ape-master regret his actions."

Zenaria nodded her acceptance, knowing that Sulia would not be deterred in her actions no matter what she said. Then, her face still clouded with anger Sulia turned and stalked off, accompanied by her baboon escort.

That left just Baugh and Zenaria.

The shaman met her eyes and gave his version of a smile. "Donot worry, princess. Igavemy word andwillnot goback onit. The PrincessSulia willbedelivered safely tohercompanions whethershe desires anescort ornot. Andnowitis foryou tocomplete yourpartof theagreement."

Zenaria took a deep breath. She suspected that the next few hours were going to be the longest of her life.

Continued in Chapter 7

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