The rain had not let up even for one moment after visiting Nuru only to receive his lackluster answers from the shamaness. Time was critical in all of his plans not to mention the need to get as much training completed as was physically possible and this left the ongoing situation of a continuous downpour. Its constant and incessant droll did not help matters but it also provided several opportunities. Sefu and Jelani did not bother with any training regimens while it was raining for whatever reasons they held. This decision meant there were very few watching and the training field was completely abandoned leaving it free to use so long as one did not mind the rain.

Verik visited Shahid and Altayih's dugouts which were damp and miserable from the rain to explain the necessity of continuing their training. Neither had been amused by this but Shahid had been quick to agree if it meant increasing his odds in the coming rescue attempt. Dragging them out in the early morning so they could practice with fewer probing eyes had been a bit of a task at first but it soon took. Verik had his own ideas on how to fight along with some of the tactics they would need to pull it off but this of course meant that the locals could know nothing, so what better way to keep them in the dark than when they were unwilling to get wet?

Unfortunately for them training to seize a ship was not even remotely possible as they lacked even a rowboat or raft to practice crossing on, but that left plenty of other opportunities to train for. While the driving rain kept everyone hidden inside Verik led them to a small area that was unused by the Wete and had Shahid do his best to mark off an area using stones, this outlined the mansion and the grounds surrounding it. They did not need to know all the details of the place, not that he knew them. However, having a marked area that roughly represented what they were up against gave them all an idea of the distances involved.

While it was far from precise, knowing the locations of the doors, windows, hallways, the main gate and the best place to climb the wall assuming it was no longer watched, allowed them to walk the imaginary grounds with Shahid. He had gone at night but his studying the compound during the day provided an edge as they walked in silence and undisturbed by prying eyes.

"Three windows on this side here?" Verik tapped the muddy ground with the but of his spear.

"Yes." Shahid nodded. "No way to open, has wooden seal over it, tiny slots in fancy pattern."

"How thick? Could we break them out if we had too?"

"Not know, did not check."

"Breaking through the window would draw a great deal of attention Captain..."

Altayih had wandered off a little to hum quietly while walking the length of the hallway as if to time it; he was catching on very quickly.

"True but never underestimate the need for a fast exit if a door gets blocked off by say... A guard who just happens to appear at the wrong time."

"Are we not slitting their throats to eliminate that possibility?"

"Yes of course we are, but I want nothing left to chance. Shahid? Were there any... Say, benches? Sturdy chairs or tables in this area over here when you first entered? What about outside?"

"Yes, outside but inside only small table."

"Where was it and how big?"

"Here, this long."

"And the door over here, do you remember if the hinges were facing you or were they not visible?"

"Not remember but back door here, open in."

"Mmm... We could grab a table and jam the door shut so we are left alone, it would at least buy us some time while we get your sister and escape."

"The front door is over here yes?" Altayih pointed to an unknown area and Shahid nodded. "Only one door leading to where the slaves are kept yes? Good."

Walking into the unknown area Altayih stood still and looked around before breaking into a run to the front door, stopping for a moment as if to unlock it and throw the door open he charged outside and ran around the outside of the building. Watching him run over the muddy and rocky ground Verik was already counting in his head how long it would take Altayih to get to the door, open it, run outside and round the building on the most direct route possible.

"Hmm... It will take them maybe... One full minute." Verik mused over the finding and was none to pleased.

"It took two minutes captain."

"Yes but they will know the way so I am reducing the time. However, we can assume they will be asleep, unprepared and probably take longer..."

"We block front door?" Shahid's suggestion was a good one and the other two nodded.

"That means bringing something with us to jam the door shut or maybe... What if we made a punji board?"

"What is punji?" Shahid was confused along with Altayih by the strange word.

"Simple, when we take the ship there will be plenty of time to spend preparing. All we need is a board with some nails driven through it or maybe... You know if we gather enough sticks we can make some really short spears and while Shahid and myself go in the back Altayih can take them to block the front. All he has to do is plant them in the ground in the garden over there... And then make certain they face anyone running out and into the night, they come charging out since the other door is blocked off and run into a row of miniature spears."

"Why not just block the door off? It would be much easier."

"It opens in not out. Boardging up the whole damn door would take too long and you hammering on it to drive in the nails would give us away."

"True. But if I may... What if she is no longer held here? What if she is across the mansion in this unknown area?"

They all looked at the large blank space as the rain drove on sending mud splattering up on their legs. A true problem indeed because if she was held elsewhere even if just for one night their plan was suddenly pointless.

"We will cross that bridge when we come to it. More than anything we need to free at least one slave and question them if we fail to find her and that means leaving the other area alone. First we check her quarters, if that turns out as a dud then we turn our attention to the others and if she is beyond that middle door things get harder."

"Maybe sister no longer there?"

"Shahid, while it is possible I doubt they spent whatever they did on her just to turn around and sell her again. Altayih, how much does a slave cost?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"You have traveled more than either of us, do either of you know the answer? Both of you were slaves and had a price-tag attached."

"I may..." Shahid raised his hand a little. "When we sold at market sister sold for big sack of gold." He made a motion with his hands to indicate its size. "Very high price because young and... Good looking."

A grin crossed Altayih's face as he gazed at Shahid. "How much did you cost?"

Shahid glared, "Not that much, but you cost less!"

"Drop it. Alright, if she cost that much it is most doubtful they are going to just let go of such an investment."

Verik had a nagging suspicion as to why someone would invest such a pretty penny when the other two had sold for next to nothing by comparison. No one dropped a sack of gold that large on someone when the average, gender not withstanding of course, was nowhere near as high.

"So they keep her because she cost too much?"

"Yes Shahid, I for one would never let anything go if it cost me that dearly. I would be certain to get my moneys worth out of whatever it was and make certain it lasted a very long time." Verik looked at the worried look on Shahid's face. "Your sister will be there somewhere, we will find her and get her out. That's the deal we made and I keep my promises."

"What if she dead? What if they sell her? They not pleased with her when I watched, maybe-"

Altayih patted the stallion on the back a moment. "As the captain would probably say: there is no sense worrying about what we can not control. We are going and that is that. Captain, how are we getting in?"

"Over the wall of course."

"They will expect that and may have laid a few traps at the low point or made the wall taller..."

"I would expect nothing less!" Verik smiled. "That is why we are taking the ship, they have ropes and lots of it, sailing ships can not function without it. There are three of us and that means we can help hoist one up so they can climb over the wall and toss a rope back. Altayih, you are the most... Lithe."

"Thank you."

"We will hoist you up over here so you can climb onto the wall and check for traps before dropping down the other side. Once over secure the rope to this tree and throw it over so we can climb over."

"You assume they will have the rope but what happens when we leave?"

"Back the way we came but if that fails there is another tree down here on the corner. Not very big right Shahid? Hmm... Well maybe not but we can probably buy another length of rope while we are there with whatever we take off the former crew. Tie it off to something and throw it in so we have one for going in and one for leaving."

"That much rope. Take time to climb and guard not let us take time."

"Very true but there are three of us, it will be dark and one can lay in ambush. All you have to do is wait for the guard to come charging after the "thieves" and use your spear to gore them as they charge. Then again we can go with plan B."

"What is plan B?"

"Kill em all."

Altayih and Shahid stared at each other a moment with raised eyebrows.

"Captain, I thought we were trying to be very quiet?" Altayih shifted his head to the side a little. "Killing them all would alert everyone."

"Not if we slit their throats while they sleep."

Verik did not smile as he continued to walk around the area.

"Hooves make loud noise on tile, when I there my hooves make loud clack that bring guard."

"Yes but I know the answer to that one, you will be wearing shoes when we go."

"Shoes?" Altayih scoffed, "that would make it even worse! The metal would-"

"No not horseshoes! Cloth will be tied around your hooves so that as you step down the cloth under your hoof will muffle the sound. You wear horseshoes?"

"Very expensive but some do yes, you are serious about killing everyone there arnt you..."

"Deadly. With everyone dead it opens up some new possibilities for us such as looting the place."

"That murder." Shahid had gone from curious to wary.

"Murder is the act of killing without purpose or reason and we will be killing them for a very good reason, getting your sister out. Now the guards will probably have to die anyway so why split hairs over it? If we eliminate the guards outright that leaves only the owners and maybe a very loyal slave or two to fight for them."

"If they see our faces they will hunt us down and it will lead them here captain, it might not be so wise-"

"Masks. We have much to do before we are ready and I have much yet to tell you but we will be wearing masks and as much clothing as we can to hide ourselves."

Altayih sighed, "and the ship will be providing the clothing then yes?"

"Even if its just some tarps they throw over the goods to keep it dry, yes. We will be dressed either in rags or riches when we go."

Asha was picking her way to the granary for the daily ration and struggling, the mud was incredibly slippery from the sheer number of hooves that had churned it into a deep, smooth and wet carpet. Sibi had already slipped once and fell flat on her flank but Mabi was back in her hut where it was safe and dry thankfully. Helping her friend up so they could keep walking with increasingly careful steps Asha wondered a little about her soon to be husbands sanity.

Everything was a muddy or water soaked swamp and while the crops they raised loved the weather and grew by inches daily it left the rest stuck covered in mud. Going to the river to bathe was almost pointless as the mud would simply reapply itself while walking back to their homes and those living in dugouts were even less fortunate. As the ground soaked up the rain even the most sturdy little hole with heavy cover was slowly becoming damp and muddy.

"You husband mad to be training during rain like this."

Sibi was finally standing having saved her pot from the mud by allowing herself to fall thus sacrificing her dignity and flank to the mud while the rest of her remained unscathed. She almost reached to brush the mud off before thinking better of it and resigning herself to the fate of being soaking wet and caked in mud until she could at least deliver the food back to her hut. Ears splayed back she gingerly continued walking towards the granary and the huddled masses as they waited to step under some shelter if only for a few fleeting moments.

"He say it important to train no matter weather, prepare you for anything."

"Verik get sick that way, get those other two sick to!"

"Maybe but he right, if this not bother them nothing will."

"Hut still leaking?"

"Yes but not all, part that fixed not leak, he make it leak proof!"

Sibi flipped one ear around from its splayed state before taking another careful step, her hoof sinking deep into the mud.

"How he do that? Only Nuru not have leak when it rain because it so thick and yours not thick!"

"I make lots of mats and he place them on roof and cover with wet clay then we bind the cover back on."

"It really work?"

"Not always but he make it work finally."

"Maybe I get my husband do that... Wait, only half roof fixed? Which side fix? Yours or his?""

"He fix my side not his."

"But you not let him sleep where it leak hmm?"

Asha nodded making Sibi smile.

"So you finally sleep in same bed yes?"

"Yes... No."

"Tell, tell! Never hear of zebra sleeping with predator before."

"Nothing to tell!"

"Bad liar, not tell me you sleep in same hut on same mat and nothing happen."

"It true! We only..."

"Yes, yes?"

Asha opened her mouth to say something before clothing it. Sibi watched a moment before narrowing her eyes and finally she gave her friends arm a harmless punch to continue.

"We hug."

"Eehehehe!"

"I not tell you anything anymore!"

"No that..." Sibi laughed, "that sound just like you. You hug! Hehehe! Spend all night sleeping and hugging predator like it nothing. This I must see one night."

"No."

"Oh but it be so fun to see."

"No!"

"When you marry many try to spy on you, that I know."

Asha's head darted sideways with an annoyed look in her eyes but Sibi just laughed at her.

"What, you think you marry him and no one curious? Everyone speak quietly but keep it secret from you and him."

"I find them and beat with stick."

"You be very busy then."

"You also spy on us then?"

"No but still curious. What he look like anyway?"

"See him often so why ask?"

"Not that way." Sibi gestured. "That way."

"I not see him that way yet."

"Yet? Ohh so you try to sneak peek hmm? That why you want to bathe so close all the time and why you get close?"

"That not true!"

"No, you love him but still curious too hm?"

"Yes... But that none your business!"

"It is when friend marry strange creature that is so violent. Many rumors floating around about what he maybe do. But, I not worry about that, worry about you instead." Sibi reached out and tapped Asha on the side of her head. "You follow advice I give yes?"

"I am fine and he too! Love him because he nice and do many nice things no others do. He-"

Asha felt her legs go out from under her and as her vision swirled with faces she saw Sibi reaching out to try and grab her. However, Sibi failed and as Asha fell she felt her leg collide with something and another yelp filled the air. Slamming down into the mud with a loud, wet splat another sound filled the air, the sound of something breaking.

Her own pot was safe, held up in the air with one arm but the rest of her was laid flat out in the mud making her cringe as she felt the mud and dirt sink deeply into her fur. Asha was already cold and wet but laying in the mud made it even worse and sitting up with a little help from Sibi she could feel the mud try and suck her back down. A wet schlopping sound could be heard as she finally pulled free and sat upright before looking to see what she had collided with.

Another zebra had been knocked down and was now trying to stand up with a furious look on their face as they glared at her as if to will her out of existence. Standing upright proved to be a challenge for them both as their hooves slid in the mud threatening to throw them back into its cold, sticky embrace but as the glaring continued Asha's ears laid back.

"Stupid, clumsy little bitch! See what you do?"

Following their arm she looked at the large broken pot that lay in the mud. There had been too little cushioning for it to have survived and this its size and weight that had no doubt made things even worse. It had probably flown up into the air for a moment before coming back down thus giving it just enough force to break on one side rendering it useless.

"Sorry! Slip in mud-"

"You not pay attention and this happen! Not care! You break pot and you pay for new pot!"

How could she? Asha had nothing left from her portion of the proceeds from the journey as it had all been spent long before coming here. Getting a new pot from the local potter was not without its problems as his family was always pressed hard in making so many with so few hands. While the Wete supplied themselves with whatever basics they required the rest was exported to Iuny for sale. Indeed, her pots had been free but it meant waiting in line until they became available. No one had the money to buy anything and the potter was being supplied by the tribe so some things were free but not always.

Verik's arrival had meant the need for a few extra pots which she had been given but that meant waiting a long time till she could get more. What would happen if she lost one of her own and had to give one away to sate them? How long would she have to wait? Asha understood their anger but neither could she afford it.

"I not afford a new pot but-"

"No, you pay or replace!"

"Enough! What happen?"

Their attention was drawn to a short zebra mare who held a walking stick ready and it took a moment to register that she was Nuru's grand-daughter Subira. A long, heavy pause filled the air as everyone either backed away or remained safely mute. Nuru had a degree of fear that permeated everywhere she went because of a myth like mystery that surrounded her presence. Subira on the other hand was a world of her own, she did not hide away in her grandmother's hut all of the time and was not afraid to speak her mind.

It was a little fact some learned when her barbed tongue seared their ears and if that failed she was not adverse to giving them a good wallop with her walking stick. Something several had learned in the past when they made statements that might have been insults to Nuru or made unwanted suggestions or solicitations towards Subira.

Pointing her stick back and forth between the two she waited until the infuriated zebra had calmed herself before lowering it.

"That one trip me and break pot!"

"Not true she slip in mud!" Sibi was speaking well ahead of Asha leaving her younger friend to stand there with mouth open but no words forthcoming.

"I not ask you, I ask her..." Subira pointed at Asha

"It true, I slip in mud and when fall my leg knock them down."

Subira looked at the muddy skids where hooves had flown out from under their owners before looking at the fuming mare and pointing down.

"Lucky to not break bone, you say she do this on purpose?"

"Ye-... No." Subira's expression did not change from a challenging glare causing the other to stutter. "But she break pot! Clumsy fool owe me new pot!"

"Hmm... You have only one pot?"

"No."

"You know why Tendaji make sure everyone have more than one pot?" The mare shook her head. "Pots break. Mound of broken pot on other side of hill if you not believe. It rain and make things very muddy and some slip every year and pots break, bad luck."

"But my pot!"

"You bring pot that big?" Subira walked through the quagmire carefully before using her stick to roll the large object around. "Nothing in it, no loss... You bring smaller pot and it not break so easy, easier to hold and when slip you not loose grip."

"But-"

"You only mad because it her. Yes, you get new pot in time but this accident and no blame. It happen, now go get new pot from home and no more yelling like foal."

Eye twitching the other mare fumed silently before leaving in a huff. Subira stared at Asha a moment before walking over and asking if anything hurt or was broken while giving her mud soaked form a careful look.

"Stay away from that one yes?"

Asha nodded, "why you say that? She mad because it me?"

"That mother of one your husband kill."

"Oh..."

"It not fine but you not worry either, nothing you can do yes? Nothing broken so you be just fine."

Subira walked back to the gathering outside the granary leaving Asha to call out a thank you at her as she left, all she received in return was a small, awkward wave. Sibi watched a moment before trying to pat her someplace less mud soaked.

"We get food, take home and wash off in river yes? Or maybe you go hug Verik like that so I see look on his face."

"Why I do that?!"

"Because it funny. Come, lets go."

Author's Notes:

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