Gan Chono heard the steps, horrifyingly familiar, heard them even before his carnelian eyes fluttered open. Loud voices. He had no time to even sit up when the first kick caught his ribs, and this time he felt a snap. He screamed in agony. He found himself jerked up, and he was tied upright by a guard.

No, why so soon? He should not be back for weeks. I don't have the strength for more right now.

Gan Chono was filled with terror, the poisons that kept him foggy and incapable of any resistance had been halved over the last 5 days. Mentally, he was more aware, but there were not enough of the potions left flowing through his veins to keep his threshold to the pain manageable.

I may not survive this one. So close to those I love, and yet I may not get to see them again.

Gan Chono looked into pools of madness. Uncontrolled hatred. He had loved this half-brother once. How could that have been? He closed his eyes and waited as Shuurga removed the silence spell.

"Got an extra patrol tonight, my pet. So, I thought about how lovely the last visit was, and suddenly, I could not resist the urge. Anshi has some sort of dignitary visiting soon, and everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

So tell me. Anshi came into this game a year ago, with a brand-new caravan, lots of backing, strong livestock, and a high-powered task to do a treaty between Qian and Cloud Recesses. Five years before, he was found by that bitch Yenay, and as a result, spoiled rotten by the Lan brothers. He was nothing...a pathetic slave about to become a male concubine. How did he manage to escape that? I planned his destruction meticulously. How does he manage to survive every attempt I make to wipe him off the face of the earth?"

"YOU IDIOT! YOU COMPLETE MADMAN! I HAVE BEEN YOUR WHIPPING BOY ALL THESE YEARS!  HOW THE FUCK SHOULD I KNOW?" Gan Chono yelled in a sudden rush of anger, the broken rib jabbing deeper with every syllable. Shuurga saw him wince and bend into the pain

"Aw. Did I get you good this time? Well, suck it up, because this is going to hurt, badly. Sing away, loud as you can. Make our pretty Anshi proud."

He did not lie. The blow was to his already battered mouth, splitting the partially healed lip and knocking out a molar on the lower jaw. Gan Chono spit it out, blood flowing down in a stream, dark in the moonlight. He suddenly heard a voice outside.

"Is the Chieftain really back?" Gan Chono went white as a sheet. The voice belonged to Aasem.

"Yeah. And he is in a foul mood. Go back home kid. The prisoner ain't gonna need that food tonight. He'll only be fit for gruel after another session with the Boss, this soon. He'll be pissin' blood for a week."

Gan Chono saw Shuurga slowly focus on the conversation outside the tent. Do something. Distract him from Aasem.

He leaned forward and growled.

"Let's see what you really got, Brother!"

Shuurga took a step back. His face lit up with amusement. Then he began to laugh, shrill and high. He pulled out a pair of black, leather gloves and slid them on. After the third punch to the gut, Gan Chono lost count. Somewhere along the line, way before Shuurga stopped, he passed out.

The guard cut him down and Shuurga sneered. "If he is dead, dump him in some ravine for the animals. If he's not, get his new feeder in here to patch him up and make sure he is good for another session when I return. I'll be gone a while this time."

Aasem heard it all. He had gone around to the rear of the yurt and listened. Angry tears filled his eyes and he had to bite down on the large knuckle of his left forefinger to keep himself in control. He ran to the medic and begged for bandages, ointments, and even a few pain powders.

"Looks like the poor bastard survived."

"Not sure, but Shuurga wants me to tend to him. Throw in some sewing needles and thread. Please, Sir?"

"Why waste your time? The beatings will only get worse, until he finally beats him to death. You know, he was a brave kid when we left. Took on our burdens. Got us to safety. Then that bastard got a hold of us and his life really turned to shit. But he is Dilnur's son, tough as nails, and he did all he could for us. Here. This powder, put it in his water. It will help reduce swelling and bruising by half.

I don't dare give you these bottles here. " He looked Aasem straight in the eyes. " This will knock anyone out for 24 hours. Potent stuff. And you did not get all this stuff from me. Got it?" When he looked back, Aasem was gone and so was the bottle he had pointed out.

"Good luck, kid. That bastard catches you, you'll join Gan Chono in hell."

Aasem paused briefly at the quiet mess tent, then returned to Gan Chono's prison. The guard motioned him in.

"He was breathing last I checked."

"Thank you!"

"You think he's gonna make it?"

"We better pray he does. If he dies on our watch, the Boss will look for one of us to take his place." He moved an old rug over to the stove and he and the guard moved the unconscious Gon Chono closer to the warmth. Then Aasem reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of liquor. He smiled gratefully.

"Have a drink or two on me. Your help is appreciated."

"Just keep him alive. I'm outta here the second he dies. Not gettin' strung up there myself!"

Aasem began to wipe blood from the face, wincing as he did. He was startled when a hand clasped his wrist. A deep groan came from Gan Chono and his eyes opened.

"Damn it. He almost killed me this time," Came a hoarse whisper. Both men froze.

Gan Chono spoke again to the stunned Aasem, as he struggled to pull to a sitting position. It took very little effort for Aasem to force him back.

"He forgot to replace the silencing Spell."

"Lay back down and let me tend to your wounds. He said he would be back in a month. That gives us time."

"Time for what?'

This time, when Aaesm stared at him, Gan Chono was startled. He saw no softness, only steely determination."

"I am getting you out of here."