continued to reduce their numbers.
“I will kill you. You know that don't you.” Nadirah said with cool indifference as the man nervously snapped the first chain to her wrist. Giving a hiss as if the metal had suddenly burned him, the man jumped back and prepared to bolt, but paused when Nadirah stayed where she was, watching him with the passivity that one watches an insect that just happens to be within the line of sight.
“Naughteh girl.” The man chided, scowling at the tarin with anger he was too afraid to genuinely feel. “You just mind yahself now, y'heah? Or it's the whips fah you and no dinneh!” The man's accent grew thicker as his agitation increased.
“Shut up.” She replied calmly. “Your voice annoys me.”
The man's face flashed red with shame and anger, but he said nothing more, watching her warily as the remaining chains were attached to her shackles and a thick metal collar was snapped around her neck. The heavy chains rattled loudly with every movement and hampered her walking, allowing her only short steps as she was led to the gate and then finally out of the fighting ring.
“Keep back, folks!” The announcer's loud call sounded over the excitement of the gathered crowd. “The wolf caller is a heartless and merciless killer, as you all just witnessed! For your own safety, please keep behind the ropes and do not approach or try to touch her as she passes. We'll have our next fighters stepping into the ring in just a moment so sit tight!”
As she walked past, the man before her and the dwarf behind, Nadirah turned her head to look at the announcer, her eyes narrowing to angry slits, although she said nothing. She was imagining his gaudy red silk shirt to be stained with blood instead of dye. The announcer gave her an arrogant smile, then turned his back to her, attention returning to the crowd as he called out the names of the next pair of slaves that were being led to the fighting ring. A few of the gathered crowd continued to watch Nadirah with rapt fascination as she was led away, but most of them had already forgotten her in favor of fresh entertainment.
A short distance away, blocked from spectator view, Nadirah was led into a small wheeled cage and her chains her carefully attached to a thick metal ring bolted to the floor. All of her bindings were closely checked before a bowl of watery stew and chunk of stale bread were left just within her reach and her keepers left to take care of other business. Her wounds were left to heal on their own without treatment.
“Home sweet home.” Nadirah muttered quietly, her chains ringing out as she gave them a light tug against the ring. “Be it ever so humble...” Slowly, the doe lowered one of her arms to the straw strewn floor and rested her weight on her elbow. “The service here sucks and the food is terrible. I don't know why I keep coming here for my vacations.” The corners of her mouth twitched with the attempt of a smile at her joke, but the effort died away quickly. “It's not fancy, but it's the best I can do. And you'll be safe here. For a while, anyway.”
Slowly and carefully, she uncurled her fingers to expose her smuggled prize. The tiny pile of feathers remained perfectly still for several breaths, then the sparrow lifted it's head and looked around, giving a peep once it was satisfied. Dragging it's broken wing, the bird slowly hopped off of the doe's hand and settled to the floor of the cage before looking up at the tarin expectantly and giving another chirp.
“Don't worry, little one. You'll be safe as long as I'm here.” Nadirah spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “You'll be safe as long as I'm here. You're on your own when I'm not. But maybe it'll be alright, since neither of us will be on our own anymore. Would you like some bread?”
Author's note: Barring any unexpected bursts of undeniable inspiration, this will be the last story in the Wolfcaller Chronicles Promotional Collection, and I decided to save the last story for the one responsible for the legend. Nadirah the Wolf Caller. This story is but the barest hint of her early life and book one begins long after this point. Her past, including what she's doing as a pit fighter for a traveling caravan, will eventually be explained, but not for some time. As you read The Wolfcaller Chronicles, you will come to know a tarin much different than the one here, and you will wonder what could possibly have made her into such a creature. You may even be tempted to think she was born that way.
If you do harbor such thoughts, think back to that broken winged bird and know that she was not always the way she is now, and maybe someday there will be hope of her someday returning to the ways of her past. Before she was unalterably changed into something her world has never before seen. A monster in tarin form.
I hope you enjoyed reading this short story as much as I enjoyed writing it. As I said, Closer Than Kin is the conclusion to the promotional series that give a glimpse of a strange and faraway land full of alien creatures and interesting races like those mentioned in this story. If you liked this story and maybe even the rest of the series, then keep an eye out for book one of The Wolfcaller Chronicles, coming soon! (I'm aiming for December or January)
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