His eye's popped open at the weird sound that filtered through his ears, turning his head towards the source Verik made out Sefu's head in the door frame of Asha's hut. It was time to go, standing and making his way towards his new "commander" he was stopped as a finger pointed to the pile of equipment.

"Spear only."

Spear in hand he was led to the outskirts of Wete where a sack with straps waited, a primitive backpack by the looks of it made entirely from patched together cloth and anything else available.

It was still very early, the sun had only just risen signaling the start of the day but only the two of them were up. Asha had been left behind to sleep quietly and looking around he could see the forms of zebra's in little dugouts here and there. Somewhere out there was one filled by Altayih.

His instructions were very simple and easy to follow: this was an endurance test which would be followed by others to see just how much he knew about fighting. For now, Verik's task was to put the sand laden pack on and run to the distant hill, up the hill, down it then round the back and go straight to the river along a path.

He already knew this was going to end badly.

Not just because he had never been a good runner unless adrenaline was pounding in his veins but with the added weight there were very serious doubts about even getting up the hill. It was early morning so the heat was far less which was probably the reason Sefu had him out here so early.

The towering zebra had witnessed just how potentially deadly heat could be to him. Walking or pulling a wagon were one thing but running with a weighted pack was another. Pack strapped on Sefu motioned and told him to start running the short distance to the hill. This was no marathon by any means but it was still the second longest distance he had ever run, the first being in Alzamard.

He hated running, walking and hiking had always been his forte, he had hiked others into the ground over rough terrain but never been able to outrun anyone, even the fat ones. Then again running never served any purpose to him, others called it healthy or "recreational" but that was absurd. It was better to just walk because you would get there anyway.

However, he had no choice. Sefu said run, he ran. And he did, Verik started running the moment Sefu called for him to start and he was off, jogging down the road as he had been ordered and already the heavy pack was dragging him down.

At the bend in the road he turned up the hill well aware of the hooves pounding into the ground behind him ordering him to run faster.

Verik took it back, this was not a marathon. No, it was the marathon from hell.

Sun up and blasting its scorching rays across the landscape causing the temperature to shoot upwards quickly. Running up a steep hill was hell on earth and coupled with the pack made it nearly impossible as he gasped for air while pounding his legs in order to reach the summit.

As always Sefu just told him to run faster. There was no slowing, stopping or resting this was a straight run up the hill and then to the river.

It was not an act of cruelty nor indifference however. He knew better than that, Sefu started him out early enough to beat the worst of the heat knowing the odds would be entirely against him otherwise.

No, this was to see just how much he could take before collapsing. There were few dangers involved here, the timing had been picked carefully and he was rested. All that hiking in the blazing heat had also given him a degree of adaptation but that had only been for walking or helping to move the wagons but nothing like this.

Gasping for air he reached the top of the hill before a hand steered him towards a path going down the other side. Bending away and towards the river it was narrow and rocky but visible even with eyes stinging from sweat.

Going down was easier than going up but it quickly became a danger to not outpace oneself and stumble on the rocks which would result in a long, painful roll down the hill.

However long this new hell lasted he had no idea till he found himself stopped at the waters edge. Lungs heaving for air and soaked in sweat Verik just stared as something freed the pack before the world began moving.

A loud splash rang out as Sefu tossed him into the river snapping him out of the stupor in an instant. Squatting on the river bank just staring at him with a blank expression the warrior just stared on as his newest trainee rose from the shallow water sputtering and spitting out water.

Sefu assured him however this was far from the end for today, this was merely a break to keep him from passing out before the next test: fighting.

Verik had absolutely no idea how long they had been at it but the sun was burning a hole in him when they ended and what a painful mess it had been too. Sefu started him out with nothing but his hands then had him attack, it had gone rather poorly but Verik had done a fair share of studying if nothing else. A couple of times this foggy information had presented him with opportunities now and then allowing him to land a blow now or then which seemed to please Sefu.

However, the end came when he managed to bend just right without breaking anything in order to trip the giant zebra. His biggest mistake was trying to close the distance but being so exhausted he was too slow to dodge the hoof that struck out at his chest.

A mighty rush of air left his lungs as the hoof connected perfectly sending him flying backwards a short distance. The landing was not nearly as bad but it hurt all the same as he was left wheezing.

Zebras can really kick. Better not forget that.

Rolling onto his side and pushing himself up no retaliation came though as Sefu had simply waited. It was time to switch to weapons.

Which had gone no better, in fact it had gone worse. At least he knew how to throw a punch, kick or wrestle to some degree but fighting with the spear had been a fruitless expenditure of energy.

"Alright, you proved you can kick my ass from here till Sunday, now what?"

Sefu pondered his response while looking Verik's bruised form over before opening his own bag and removing a familiar salve.

"First treat burn. Never seen such poor runner but strong, can take many blows before falling." Sefu hummed to himself thinking over what to do next. "Tomorrow you keep training, maybe you never be good runner but can be good fighter." A smile crept across his face, "you even try to bite so you have vicious streak, that good. Rest today, tomorrow you join others for training."

"What others? Thought you had a shortage of warriors."

"We do but a few are training, you will join them tomorrow."

"How many?"

"Three."

That was it? Just three? Out of over at least two hundred? Sefu's explanation was that there was no time for the others to train with all the work required in the fields so that narrowed down their options. In fact labor was in such short supply for carrying water that even the other warriors were now set to being water carriers.

There was another reason Sefu called it off for today as well: Verik had to make good on his word about providing irrigation for the fields and he could not do that if every waking moment of his day was spent training. Motioning towards the hill again Sefu told Verik that it would provide the best vantage point for seeing all the fields and figuring it out.

With that he left Verik behind with the salve, a gift along with his robe which Sefu had apparently nipped from the hut after seeing Verik out. Next time he would have to remember to bring it.

Sitting in the grass along the riverbank trying to get his energy back he stared at the clear waters wondering if he could really pull this off. Not just the irrigation but all of it. Planning, mapping and digging, which he hoped they would not leave to him alone or it would never get done but also just surviving.

Somehow he had to forage for his food since he was officially cut off from the village granary until further notice. Supplies were in storage thankfully but they would not last forever and he would have to start hunting and fishing immediately if he had any hope of staying alive, which also meant figuring out how to fish without a pole.

Hunting, that he could manage, he had always been a decent stalker but without a refrigerator it would all spoil. That meant a smoke house which was something completely unknown to the Wete but he was not about to give up red meat.

Ideas flowed as he did his best to remember all the books he had read so long ago on such matters but right now he was too worn out and burned. Wrapped safely in the confines of his robe he wandered up the hill with his spear and "pack" which Sefu had told him to hang onto; he was also told not to dump it out, Sefu would know if he did.

Climbing the hill to its summit Verik stared at the village in the distance realizing just how far he had forced himself to run or at least stagger. Sefu was right though, it was a magnificent view.

From here he could see all the fields with crystal clarity save the ones north of the village which were blocked by the hill Wete sat on. None the less everything was easily visible and taking a seat on the parched, cracked earth he brushed rocks and pebbles aside till he had a dirt surface to scribble on.

Using a finger he began tracing ideas into the sandy soil while examining the terrain and its various features, the heights and dips, bends, twists and turns or anything that would block a flow of water.

How had they never figured this out? Complicity?

No, they never had a need before now. Now the system had come crashing down in one mighty avalanche that was claiming lives bit by bit. What chipper news that had been, nearly one death every two or three days, Sefu had made that little statement in passing as it had been an issue with Tendaji.

Did they have the tools? Well if people could make a farm using stone tools these zebras could manage somehow not that they had not already.

Lines had formed in the distance while he kept sketching and wiping away his plans. Water carriers snaked their way from the river to the fields in a mass effort that would take all day long just in the hopes that they would get a mouthful of mush.

Verik knew that in the other cities and towns the nobility were probably already done with their morning feast of anything they so desired. In a few more minutes the slaves would probably be beating each other to death at the garbage can to see who got the choice scraps.

Sighing to himself his eyes roamed over the stretch of land closest to him before a smile began to worm its way onto his visage.

Rain was seasonal here so it came in a deluge. Now each deluge meant that a large quantity of water had to run off to somewhere and this meant natural channels would form over time. Here however the land was so flat it left nothing to see unless one was high enough to see the shallow indentations if you looked for them.

New ideas popped into his head as he studied the few patterns present but soon a plan began to form. The higher fields would always be an issue but if channels were dug and zig-zagged around most could be flooded at will to some degree. If nothing else mini ponds could be made to store the water to significantly cut down the travel distance.

Scratching away into the dirt quickly Verik guessed he could help them get at least half their fields watered directly with irrigation canals. Maybe not what Tendaji would want to hear but he would fight him tooth and nail over it because fifty percent was a hell of a lot better than zero.

Still, it would take a lot of digging to pull off...

"You are still staring at the water bearers, is something wrong?"

Verik snatched his spear and almost stabbed to his right before Altayih quickly talked him out of it with a string of apologies for having snuck up on him while he was so focused.

No, Verik explained, it was not the water bearers he was focused on. It took a little time to explain the deal he had struck with the chief but once he had finished Altayih stared at the distant fields nodding quietly before hearing the final bit.

"You bring water to half of his fields and that is the price for staying? No food, housing-"

"I get to stay, period."

Altayih snorted indignantly "Tendaji is getting the better part of the deal. You bring food to most of his village but see none of it, he cheated you."

"Probably. Then again its not like I have anywhere else to go. Much like you I suppose."

Altayih hummed, "true but you should at least demand compensation if it works. Would be wise to not give him all the details until you can get him to agree to giving you some of the harvest."

"I imagine he would threaten to throw me out, at spear point."

"If he did they get nothing and die of starvation."

"You are a rather shrewd fellow."

"Thank you" the Arabian smiled happily, "one learns to bargain very well when one travels for a living."

"Merchant?"

"No, I just like to wander sometimes."

"Hmm... On that note, you do know that Tendaji made you my responsibility correct? If I sink, you sink with me or so I am told."

He smiled at him before sitting down beside Verik.

"Yes, Jelani explained that last night but you have no reason to worry, like I have said: I have nowhere to go now."

"Two soaked rats on a sinking ship?"

"Correct."

"I take it once you get what you need you are going to take off wandering again."

"Of that I am not certain... There is a new curiosity I have, you."

"That could be a very unhealthy one considering my track record."

"Maybe so but you are the only one I have ever heard of who offered and encouraged a freed slave to violate the law to free their family. Not only that but you even said you would arm Shahid if he desired a weapon, did you?"

"Yes, did he leave already?"

"Hmm, this morning while you were fighting for your life with the big one. He was insistent on going immediately and said he was already in debt enough without accepting anything more."

"Probably be dead by weeks end."

"Maybe so... But you at least gave him the chance, that is why I am staying."

"Because you owe me a debt?"

"Yes... Well not entirely true, I have my own motives yes? But you are unheard of, no one acts as you have. No one. Helping others? Yes. Take them in? Yes. Free a slave, offer to arm them then send them off to break the law? Hah! Never."

"Are you waiting to see if my ship sinks then?"

"Perhaps, but I also want to see how far it goes. You claim to be a mercenary but you have no company, no others to serve you."

"Alright stop, I can see where this is going and that was just a bunch of bullshit I made up to satisfy-"

Altayih held his hands up. "I know, I know. I am not a fool but it was a good idea. What better way to become more convincing though than to actually have your own mercenary company?"

"Gilding the lily are we? There is no company and if there were what would it be? The duo? Two impoverished souls versus whatever happens?"

"Knowing you, you already have plans. Your kind do not accept authority, that big zebra knows this when he looks at you but accepts it. The chief however... He can not allow it but must put up with it because you just might save his village."

Verik's eyes narrowed as a glare formed which only made the chestnut colored Arabian smile that much more.

"I am right then, you do have plans. Big plans. You are not just going to sit here and wallow in this misery-"

"I already did that on another world."

"Hmm, either way you are the type that when given a chance to seize something you will. Am I right?" Altayih continued to eye him carefully.

"Yes, now what is your point?"

"That you are an honest one and one that I am willing to bet on. You are not a fool either, you are quick to threaten but also quick to free."

"You make me sound like a tyrant."

"To survive this and most certainly to do whatever you have planned being a tyrant is part of the job description."

"What are you getting out of it then?"

"A chance for revenge."

"That is both a useful tool and a slippery slope."

Altayih nodded carefully, "yes but I believe that if I stay around you long enough I will get my chance."

"Against some poor sod who angered you or the slavers?"

"Slavers. You have proven you have no love of them with your actions so it is safe to assume you will butt heads with them at some point and when you do..."

"Should they turn out to be responsible for your... Incarceration shall we put it? You want first crack at them."

"Correct."

A beaming smile was written across the equines face as he glowed happily at Verik's deduction.

"What I have planned might fizzle out before it even begins, if Tendaji gets even a whiff of this."

"He will not."

"It could take a long time, months to get things into motion, maybe years."

"I am very patient."

Verik regarded his new companion carefully for a minute before motioning back towards the village.

"Then I should probably figure out how to get Sefu to bring you into the fold for training and how to feed you because Tendaji damn sure is not going to allow you to pilfer the granary."

"Indeed we, shall. Captain."

This one was dangerous, an equine who had been wronged, enslaved and was now seeking revenge on them for it. It was only right though, in his... Hooves... Verik would be doing the same right now, making deals to get back at them.

"And if you get your revenge? Then what."

"Maybe I will stay or go... It depends." Altayih stared intently at the village mulling over what his future might hold. "Time will tell but I have a question of my own... Why?"

"Why I am going to do whatever it is I am planning?" Altayih nodded in response. "Because I know from experience I will never get what I want by playing things like I have before. Playing the game... I refuse to just "play the game" anymore, I have been given a second chance at life and you can be assured it will not go to waste. Neither can I attain it though by being peaceful because every single thing I have seen and learned since coming here proves that is impossible. If I want to own something there is only one way to do that: war."

"What is it you want then?"

"A home. Not just a home but one I can well and truly call my own because I earned it."

"You could always go into the mountains-"

"No, I am not going to go sit up on a mountain and pray each and every day the "king" or sultan, whatever you call them does not come looking for me. I will not be resigned to the barren wastes because it is the only place I can be left alone. No, I am going to kill every bastard that gets in the way of me getting my own home wherever it will be."

"You will need an army and weapons for that."

"Then I will start by hunting down the bandits and raiders, I will hunt the hunters and slaughter them one band at a time then turn their weapons against them. I will find others who are willing to take the chance and somehow train them, turn them into a fighting force then burn this nation to the ground if that's what it takes."

"It will probably be a long, bloody road to hell and back."

"I would expect nothing less of this living hell."

Author's Notes:

I had some spare time to do a little editing. Rushed editing, maybe update again next week but no promises.