Fan Fiction ❯ The Ameni Chronicles ❯ Part 2: Newcomer ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

DISCLAIMERS: This story is marked for:

F/M/M/M content
M/F content
Anal
DP
Furs
Gen
Het
Minor
Oral
Ped
Voy

In addition, this story is a WIP (work in progress) and the second part of multiple chapters.


Please see the note on Part 1 for information on this culture. If the answer is not there, feel free to ask me yourself via e-mail (social_phobe@yahoo.com).

Comments appreciated, the more specific the better. What did or didn't you like and why? Thank you.

* * * * *

THE AMENI CHRONICLES, PART TWO
NEWCOMER

THERE WAS MUCH chatter to be heard as the Kana Nehekhi and his unusual charge were escorted into the Apsiu settlement. Ameni stared with wide eyes at the city wall as it grew ever closer, and heard the sound of an alert, low and long, come from the gate. As soon as those within the settlement knew for certain who was coming, the heavy doors began to open and Kana swarmed out, coming toward them.

Ameni shrank back atop his Sha. He and Nehekhi had been provided with mounts by their greeters, although the Kana accompanying them found it odd that Nehekhi wanted the human to ride along with them. They had chattered with each other the entire time; Ameni had listened in on all of it, and continued to do so, suspecting that they did not know he could understand most of what they said. Sometimes they talked about Nehekhi and himself; then they would veer into completely different subjects, without any reason. He was surprised by their seeming indifference when they had been so shocked, before.

"I will just be happy to get back there. Do you know I have duties piling up to my ass? The general will kill me if he finds out I've been slacking. I was not even supposed to be in this search party."

"You are the one who asked for time off. Be grateful! I have to return to a mate who will nag my ear off..."

"Letting yourself be pushed around by women! Are you Moru or Kana?" The first one nudged the second in the ribs and they both laughed; Ameni blinked. How could he get away with calling his comrade a Moru, the greatest insult to one of their kind?

"Better to be pushed around by women than by HUMANS!" Ameni jerked, offguard, when the butt-end of a spear poked him in the ribs. The Kana surrounding him laughed when his face went red. Nehekhi's nostrils flared and he glowered at them, but said nothing.

"Oh, relax, Captain," the first Kana said cheerfully, and poked at Nehekhi as well. "You know I won't steal him from you, don't you?"

"That is right!" another one yelled from the back. "He has his own mate waiting to jump his bones once we get back!"

"At least I can brag that and you can't," the first retorted, and the laughter resumed. Nehekhi sighed wearily. Ameni tried to make himself look as small as he could atop the Sha, which snorted and suddenly belched. The laughter grew even more raucous and the first Kana slapped Ameni on the shoulder, nearly toppling him over.

"That was a sign! I do hope you know that, Moru-human. The gods just spoke to you."

Ameni grimaced at this blasphemy. "What are they saying?" the Kana in back asked. "I forget what THAT particular sign means!"

The first leaned back to look over his shoulder. "Do not ask," he said. "I'll tell you when you are a mite bit older! I fear that even though this human fails to understand what we speak of, he'll understand the look on your face should I explain it!"

Howls and hoots. Ameni flushed even harder. He glanced back at Nehekhi, who offered him the slightest sympathetic look before staring ahead again, seeming to ignore him. Ameni sighed miserably and slouched in his seat. The rest of the Kana left him alone now, though they did not stop talking and joking with each other.

The Kana who had been approaching from the gate reached them now, surrounding the small group and reaching up to grasp their arms. The talking grew even louder once Ameni was noticed, and many wide eyes stared at him, some of the Apsiu jostling to get a better look. The first Kana atop his Sha lifted his spear and started hitting at them, thwacking their shoulders and the tops of their wings so they winced and shuffled back.

"Like you've never seen one before? Back off and give us some room! I have half a mind to piss on one of your heads. My eyeballs are practically floating, I have not relieved myself in ages!"

"You're a dumb dog," somebody groused. "What is that thing doing with you? Did you find it along the way? What are you going to do with it?"

"You do know they make lousy Moru," somebody else insisted.

"And even worse dinner!"

"I have heard one cannot even tan their hides decently. Look, the only hair he has is on his head."

"Let me have him!" A gray Kana in black lappets pulled out his sword, licking his chops and grinning. "I can think of a few things I could do to that pretty bronze hide!"

Nehekhi's ears and wings both flared. Ameni saw his hand go for his own sword. Before he could act, however, the lead Kana brought the butt of his spear down on top of the offender's head with a solid thunk, making him grunt and drop to the ground like a sack of stones. Those around him laughed and pointed.

"Back off, dungball. Do you like the taste of urine? Because I'm just about to piss in your mouth if you get in my way again."

"It would be no different from what he lets his Moru do to him every night," somebody commented, and everybody howled and slapped their knees as the group rode through into the city. All except for the injured party, Ameni noticed; peering over his shoulder he could see two others helping him to his feet, the Kana rubbing at his head and giving Ameni the most venomous look he'd ever seen. Shaken, he turned to face ahead again and tried to shove the unpleasant exchange from his mind.

"I apologize, Captain," the lead Kana said as they passed through the gates. "You know how they get...in addition we have had a few run-ins with some strays seeking a tribe and I fear they may have had an influence on our own."

"I know you do not control them," Nehekhi sighed, rubbing at his eyes.

The lead Kana cast a look at him, then at Ameni, then ahead. "I'll take us straight to your household. The physician can see to you there. I'll speak with the general on your behalf while you get some rest."

"This is not a wise idea," the second Kana retorted. "Not with that thing with him." He sneered at Ameni. "Some explanation will be needed."

"I will go to my household first," Nehekhi said in an irritated voice. "Then I will see to the general. After we are done."

The second Kana looked ready to speak again, but the first glared at him so he shut his mouth. "A wise idea, Lord," the lead Kana said, and they spoke no more.

Ameni could do nothing now but watch the street pass by, lined with houses and Kana, some with their Moru, some without. The taverns were just beginning to open at this time of the day, and all those who passed gave Ameni the oddest looks. Many paused to stare at him more closely; even a few Moru carrying goods had to be prodded by their master into continuing. Ameni spotted a Kana official walking past with two small children following him; one was a boy perhaps of about ten years, the other barely a toddler, holding the older one's hand, but both wore Kana lappets and sported wings. They looked up at him with large dark eyes, and their father snapped at them before noticing what they were staring at. Then he too got much the same look. The Sha plodded along.

Ameni had never seen Apsiu children before.

Neither had he ever seen Apsiu houses...not that they were much different from human settlements. The only differences he could see were the slight roughness of the architecture--as if the Apsiu were not quite as skilled as their human counterparts, which he didn't doubt--and the scarcity of decoration. Whereas in any human settlement, one would find all sorts of paintings and reliefs of daily life upon all the walls within sight, here there was little decoration to be had. Aside from a few paintings upon the walls of some of the bigger households, depicting Kana warriors slaying their enemies and taking their slaves, he could not find any other paintings or reliefs within sight.

Still, he was surprised by how...human everything looked. Aside from the inhabitants.

His attention was diverted when a large group of Kana suddenly gathered around them, talking and shouting and waving all at once. Many hands grabbed at Nehekhi; it took Ameni a moment to realize these were friends and not enemies.

"Welcome back, Brother!" somebody shouted.

"What is it with you and the desert? How many times must you get lost before we have to tie you down?"

"You need a leash, Lord!"

"Good eve, Brother! Welcome home!"

Ameni was puzzled that Nehekhi seemed to have so many brothers. The big Kana beamed at his friends and grasped their arms each in turn as they crowed and waved at him. Ameni was nearly forgotten in the press, until the first Kana, who had descended from his mount, grasped Ameni's arm and pulled him down as well. He and the second Kana kept Ameni between them as they walked toward one of the houses on the right; Ameni craned his neck to see if he could find Nehekhi, but the Kana had been absorbed by the crowd.

"Come now, stop dragging your heels, human," the first Kana grumbled, tugging him along. "I told you I have to go relieve myself!"

"We should just let them all mob him too," the second groused, but Ameni stopped resisting and was led inside.

The inside of the household was little different from most Kemeti houses he had seen. There was more decoration in here, in the form of riverscapes painted upon the walls, and colored tiles beneath their feet. He was led into a room toward what he assumed must be the back of the household, and here a few more Kana were waiting. Ameni was relieved to notice that Nehekhi was one of them; somehow this group had gotten ahead of him. Nehekhi's face lit up on seeing Ameni, but he just nodded curtly at the two flanking him.

"Thank you, friends. We can handle everything now."

The two Kana gave Ameni a final look before turning away, nostrils flaring. "Call if he causes any trouble," the first said, and they and the others--aside from one thin Kana--left the room in silence.

Nehekhi turned to the thin Kana and murmured something to him. The other Kana glared at Ameni but turned away and started digging around in a box sitting on the table. Nehekhi gestured at Ameni to sit down in a chair that stood behind him, and Ameni did, although the other Kana gave him a dirty look.

"Where are we?" Ameni whispered in his own tongue.

"To be in my household," Nehehki replied. The thin Kana eyed them with suspicion but didn't interrupt. Nehekhi noticed Ameni's attention and shook his head. "To not understand us. To be safe here."

"What are we doing?"

"To take medicine. Lost in desert long; need food, and medicine. Medicine first, then sleep, then food. To stay here now." He glanced up when the other Kana handed him a small cup, and nodded. The Kana turned away and Nehekhi looked at Ameni again, leaning forward.

"Ameni to be all right?"

Ameni nodded, staring down at his hands. "Yes," he sighed, though in truth he felt miserable. He'd never been very close to anyone in his village, not even Kahef...but he found himself missing it something terrible by now. "It's strange here," he murmured.

Nehekhi's brow furrowed in worry. "To take care of you, Ameni-human. No need to worry." He paused, then said, "To let Ameni-human know all need to know, if want. Just to ask. Clear things up, take away worry, yes?"

Ameni lifted his head. The look on Nehekhi's face was so hopeful that he had to sigh and try to push his sadness away. "I know you mean well...I'm sorry I do not appreciate it yet. I think I need a little time."

Nehekhi nodded. "To give plenty of time. Rest, then food...Ameni to be fine." He took a drink from his cup and Ameni finally noticed the red lappets he wore, dangling down in front of his ears. It wasn't as if he'd never seen them, for they had been rather hard to miss whenever the two of them had made love; the odd things always dangled from Nehekhi's skullcap, even when the rest of his clothing had been abandoned. Ameni had never seen him take the cap off once, not even when they had coupled under the stars.

"Nehekhi-Master," he said, and Nehekhi nodded again to show he was listening. Ameni tentatively pointed at his skullcap. "I've been wanting to ask you...what is that you wear upon your head? I saw that all of your people wear them...all of the Kana, at least. One of those escorting us had blue ones, and another had black ones." He glanced at the thin Kana, still fiddling around with his box, and nodded at him. "He wears white ones. What do they mean? Why do you never take them off?"

Nehekhi reached up to touch his head, as if not having known the cap was even there. His fingers traced a lappet. "Oh. To mean these?" Ameni nodded. "To be difficult to explain in Kemeti," Nehekhi admitted. "To try, though...humm...Ameni's people to wear decorations? Amulets, necklaces, signs of rank? Esteem?"

Ameni paused. "Yes...some of them. Our soldiers wear signs of rank, and I suppose our priests wear insignia, to tell what order they are from. Is that what your lappets are? A badge of your rank?"

Nehekhi nodded. "Each Kana to wear. Moru too. To be sign of pride. Like wings." He flared his wings as if to illustrate. "Different colors, to show rank, occupation."

"I heard them call you 'Captain.' Is this what red means?"

A nod. "Red for captain. Blue for lieutenant, black for sergeant, lesser soldier. Other colors, not in army."

Ameni glanced at the thin Kana again. "What is white?"

"White to be physician, priest, healer." He leaned toward Ameni again and traced a claw along some markings on one lappet. "To see these? Markings of tribe, which master served. Name of tribe here--Red Tribe--name of general here. My name here. See?"

Ameni nodded. "So your lappets tell all about you. They tell your name and rank, your profession, where you are from, and who you serve."

Nehekhi nodded and smiled. "To also tell if Kana or Moru. Very important. To always wear." He looked up when the physician--for Ameni realized that was who the thin Kana must be--returned, holding another cup. He looked at Ameni with obvious distaste, then back at Nehekhi, who nodded. Nehekhi gestured at Ameni.

"To drink? Medicine, to help feel better. Rest, and then eat."

Ameni accepted the cup, trying to avoid the physician's malevolent stare. He took a sip, then a drink, downing the cup's contents in almost one swallow. Nehekhi stared at him as he wiped his mouth and let out his breath. He met the Kana's eyes again.

"I have yet to thank you, Nehekhi, for bringing me here. I know I will grow used to it, it will only take me some time."

"To not worry, Ameni-human. To have as much time as needed. To take you to see my Moru; they to tell Ameni what need to know."

Ameni would have thanked him again, had not his eyelids suddenly begun to droop. He rubbed at them, then yawned, then rubbed at them again. He couldn't believe the sudden feeling of drowsiness that descended upon him, seeming to drag his weight down into the chair. He struggled simply to hold his head aloft and his eyes open, when it hit him--

My drink! Poppy!

He peered down into his cup, but saw nothing but the dregs of the beer he'd been given. He dragged his gaze up to meet Nehekhi's, and he could tell from the look on the Kana's face that he knew what had happened.

"You...drugged...me," he mumbled, his words slurring together.

Nehekhi gave him a sympathetic look. "To be best," he said softly; then, "Rest, Ameni-human," were the last words Ameni heard, before his head slumped to the side, his body going limp and the room going black.

* * * * *

Murmuring noises. Where only silence had been before. Ameni shifted and felt something prickly beneath him...straw? In the desert? Had Nehekhi made him a bed of it?

Nehekhi-Master.

I'm not in the desert anymore...

Ameni fell still and slowly opened his eyes...to find at least four or six other eyes staring at him. With a gasp he came fully awake and jumped back. The few creatures crouching before him did likewise, staring. He looked around him to see he was lying on a tiled floor with straw beneath him, surrounded by the wingless Apsiu. He suddenly remembered where he was.

Nehekhi-Kana.

Moru quarters.

He sat up slowly, so as not to startle them, peering around. He had nothing to fear from these Apsiu...they were merely Moru, slaves. Peaceful creatures, from what little he knew. They stared back at him curiously, and he tried to count them. Seven males. Three females. Two adolescent females, and a young boy. Followed by several children, barely more than toddlers. One of the females held a baby to her breast. Some others--adults, aged ones, children--sat and stood around the walls, also looking at him. Their noses twitched as they caught his scent. He had no idea how long they had been staring at him, nor how long he'd even been here.

Ameni drew himself up completely. He could tell they were curious about him. They all wore the same sort of metal collar around their necks, with the symbol of what he assumed to be Nehekhi's house. These were Nehekhi's slaves.

He paused a moment, before venturing, "Do...do any of you know my tongue?"

The Moru cocked their heads, looking at each other. Then they started parting, forming a path. One of the males who had been closer to the back pushed his way forward to look down at him. Ameni noticed his wings and started to cower back, before realizing that he would never fly again...the bottom of one wing hung in pathetic tatters. An old wound, but effective in crippling him. He was no longer a Kana.

"I speak Kemeti," he said, in Ameni's tongue. He paused, then said, "You are human."

Ameni let out his breath in relief. Although he could basically understand the Kana tongue, he found it difficult to speak, and he had no clue how to speak or understand the Moru tongue. "Yes," he said.

The winged Moru's wings relaxed slightly, and he bobbed his head. He spoke in an oddly soft voice. "I am Thi'usa, formerly of the Kana."

"Yes, I saw...you were wounded?"

"Yes, in a raid, upon..." he trailed off, looking uncomfortable "...upon one of your villages."

Ameni held up his hands, feeling suddenly embarrassed for the slave, though he didn't know why. "Please, do not be ashamed of it...it was in the past. I doubt I will ever return to that world." He looked around him, then felt a weight around his own neck and touched his hands to the cold metal surrounding it.

"You must wear that," Thi'usa said, a bit sheepishly. He indicated his own collar. "We all must. To keep us safe. As long as we wear them, the other Kana will think twice about starting trouble with any of us. They show that we belong to Nehekhi-Master."

"How did I get in here?"

"This is our living space. It is much better than those of many other Moru. The master cares for us greatly. He brought you in himself."

"I can't remember..."

"You were very tired. You slept even as he carried you in in his arms. He put the collar on you as well. He does not usually do this himself, but the other Kana in this tribe can be...troublesome."

"As I feared." Ameni tried to keep the distress out of his voice as he thought again of their reception at the gate.

Thi'usa shook his head. "Oh...please do not fear too much, human...the master is well known and respected, it takes much for one to cause trouble for him." He peered at Ameni, now seeming curious himself. "If it is not too rude for me to ask...what is your name, and how did the master come to choose you as one of us? I have never seen one of your kind so close before."

"Oh...my name is Ameni. We were lost in a sandstorm. When it departed, we were the only ones left. We traveled through the desert on our way home. But the way was so long. Your master..." He trailed off, wondering how indepth he should go. Would it even be wise to let Nehekhi's slaves know that the two of them had done more than merely travel through the desert together? "...Your master...was kind to me on the journey," he finally said. Thi'usa noticed the pause but said nothing. "And I was kind to him. By the time we came across his camp, he did not wish for me to leave."

"Were...were you then forced to come here?" Thi'usa's face grew tense.

Ameni shook his head quickly. "Oh--no. I came willingly. You were right in that your master is kind." Another look around. "This is nothing like what I have heard about Moru dwelling places..."

"No, it most likely is not. I am supposing you have heard many cruel things about the Kana, but they are not all like that. We are allowed to stay within the house proper itself. Most of the others keep their Moru outside, in stalls. Master is good to us."

"How did you end up here?"

"Oh." Thi'usa got another sheepish look. For a moment Ameni was tempted to tell him he didn't have to answer, but the Moru spoke up anyway. "After I was wounded...I was no longer Kana to the rest of my men. I was made Moru. Nehekhi--the master--bid on me, and won me. I expected him to have great fun tearing me apart, or some other torture."

"Why?" The question slipped out before Ameni could stop it.

Thi'usa reddened a little. "Well...it is dishonorable for a Kana to become Moru. Surely you have heard this?" Ameni nodded. Thi'usa paused, then shrugged. "But he did not torture me. He brought me here to live, with the rest of his Moru. He never tried to beat or humiliate me the way the rest of the others would have. He treats us very well. I have become...used to it here."

He fell silent, and Ameni nodded thoughtfully. "Well...it seems that I am placed with the best master possible, if I must stay here..."

"Oh, yes, human...you have nothing to fear from him. He's good to us," Thi'usa said quickly. Another pause, then he cocked his head to the side. "You must still be quite tired, Ameni-human."

Ameni had not even noticed how he was rubbing his eyes and yawning, until the Moru brought it up. Though he'd awoken with a start, the effects of the poppy were still clouding his mind. He disliked the thought of telling Thi'usa that their master had drugged him...from the sound of it, the Moru held Nehekhi in high esteem. "Yes...we walked a long time," he murmured. "And I have yet to eat, though I'm too tired at the moment...tell me, Thi'usa, can you also speak the language of the Kana? I'm assuming you can..."

"Yes, of course. That and the Moru tongue. I know all three. Why? You wish for me to teach you?"

"Yes...I would appreciate this, if I'm to live among the Moru...you see, I understand much of the language of the Kana, but it's difficult for me to pronounce properly...your words were not meant for my tongue, I suppose."

"Of course, of course...it is not as difficult as it seems. Of course I will teach you. You will speak Apsi as well as any of us, and very quickly, too."

"Thank you, Thi'usa...you are most thoughtful."

The Kana flushed and averted his eyes, but Ameni could tell he was pleased with himself. There must be very little to do that was of use, living in slave quarters day in and day out. Perhaps learning a new language would be a good diversion for both of them.

"Where should I sleep tonight?" he asked, rubbing at one bloodshot eye and glancing around the room. The other Moru all still stared at him, tilting their heads curiously and murmuring to themselves.

"Oh." Thi'usa started. "Apologies. That straw is not very welcoming...please allow me to make you a bed." The Apsiu rose and nudged his companions out of the way, as they still stood staring at him. For the first time Ameni noticed that many of them were preparing bedding--straw with cloth coverlets and small pillows--upon the floor, several snuggling in already for a long night's sleep. He watched them longingly, his eyelids drooping. No matter how long he had already slept, he still needed more. Thankfully, Thi'usa was not long in returning with a blanket and pillow; he nodded Ameni to his feet and led him to a spot by the wall which had not been taken yet. Ameni gave a huge yawn as a family of Moru settled nearby.

"Here...you will be able to find your way to the toilet easily from here, without waking anyone, should you wish," Thi'usa said. "If there is anything you need during the night, I will be not far."

"Thank you, Thi'usa."

"You are welcome, Ameni-human."

He spread out some straw on the floor, draping the blanket over it. Ameni accepted the pillow and settled down on the loose bed, patting down the covering and sighing. He burrowed his head into the pillow and yawned. No matter how bare the surroundings, he was grateful now for what little he had. It was certainly much more than he had ever expected. His stomach growled, but he reminded himself that food should be waiting when he awoke...Nehekhi had yet to break his word on anything. The growling settled, and his eyes fluttered shut.

He heard Thi'usa and the other Moru move away from him, giving him privacy, and drifted back into a deep slumber...

* * * * *

Dreams came back to Ameni, though they were nothing like those nightmares he had first had on being stranded in the desert with Nehekhi. Firstly he dreamed he came to the gate of the northern village, finding it intact, and feeling relief that the people had not been slaughtered as they had in his earlier dream. On the other hand, he was puzzled as to why they paid him no attention whatsoever, no matter how long he walked amongst them. He waved his hands in their faces, and shouted hellos, but they continued weaving their clothing and pounding their grain as if he were not even there.

Someone touched his arm, and he turned around, grateful to be noticed by at least one lowly person.

He blinked in surprise to find it was Thi'usa. "Come, Ameni-human," he said. "You do not belong here anymore. These are not your people."

"Yes, they are," Ameni stammered. "This is where I was born, where I lived my entire life."

"But it is your home no longer. See? Already they no longer know your name." Thi'usa nodded at the women and men and children as they made their way to and from their homes. Thi'usa touched Ameni's collar, drawing his attention to it. Ameni looked down at the same symbols he had seen upon Nehekhi's lappets. Nehekhi's name.

"This is where you belong now. With the master."

Ameni's heart began to sink--I am a slave now, nothing but a slave--but Thi'usa took his arm and turned him away from the village, the two of them approaching the path that led out toward the river on the one side, and the desert on the other.

"Do not grieve, Ameni-friend. You are welcome with us."

Ameni lifted his head and saw with surprise that he was not alone with Thi'usa. The rest of the Moru from Nehekhi's quarters had gathered on the path, and they stretched out their arms to him. He saw them smile at him, and felt an odd feeling he had never felt before. He felt as if he truly were welcome among them. Almost as if...he belonged with them. Something he had never quite felt, even in his own village.

His pace picked up, and he allowed Thi'usa to lead him toward the other Moru.

"Please do not be afraid to come with us, Ameni-friend," Thi'usa said.

The others chorused their agreement. He didn't know how he understood what they said, but he did. "Please come with us, Ameni-friend! Please do not fear. Come with us. Be with us."

One of the girls stretched out her arms and smiled, dimples forming in her cheeks. "Please do not be afraid, Ameni-mate," she said, and though he started at the name--did she just call him her mate?--his step did not falter. If anything, it picked up now, and his fingertips reached out to touch hers as her voice began to fade and echo, growing distant, breaking apart.

"Please do not be afraid...please...not...please..."

* * * * *


(Part Two Continued...)