Chapter 113: Food and Equipment

“From this day forward, forget your names!” Igna declared. “You are Number One, you are Number Two, and you are Number Three! You will address me as Commander, and refer to the Spirits of Valor beside me as Lords. Is that clear?” The dragonkin commanded the three Icelandic soldiers at her feet, replacing their names with codes.

As she issued orders, an aura of natural authority radiated from her. Now freed from those heavy shackles, she wore a solemn black robe. The slave merchants’ robes were all pure black. In the flickering orange firelight, hollow skeletons stood behind the black-clad dragonkin. The dragon girl’s unique vertical pupils made the three young Icelanders feel like they were being stared down by a ferocious beast.

Momentum – this intangible, invisible thing – truly existed. When you encounter a pack of hungry wolves alone on the tundra, those massive bovine-sized predators baring their fangs, glaring at you with steaming breath, you understand what momentum feels like. Show any sign of retreat, and the wolves will mark you as weak, pouncing to tear flesh from your limbs and crunch your bones.

The huddled Icelanders now felt the dragonkin’s overwhelming momentum. “Yes, Commander!” they answered in unison, not daring to meet her gaze.

Wade also sensed Igna’s ferocity. The dragonkin was ruthless – she could silently peel scales from her own flesh without complaint, meeting the slave merchants’ cruelty with icy indifference. Such a person made an ideal commander. Wade didn’t know if she had prior combat leadership experience, but judging by her knowledge, her tribe wasn’t primitive. Her status within the tribe must have been high, otherwise she wouldn’t have had access to so many books or developed such formidable willpower.

“I’ll repeat – you are now only Number One, Number Two, and Number Three! When I call your numbers, there must be no hesitation. My commands and the Lords’ orders are to be obeyed unconditionally. Understood?” The dragonkin issued her second command.

“Understood!” The slave marks made the three men frighteningly obedient, leaving no room for rebellious thoughts. This mental control magic had proven extremely reliable through time and countless cases – even if ordered to die, slaves would comply. Compared to death’s pain, the brand’s torment was far worse. After prolonged conditioning, a slave’s actions became completely controlled by their master.

Igna and the skeletons untied the three men. It was time to leave the cave. The slave merchants’ possessions were loaded onto small sleds – pine boxes secured with ropes and packed into burlap sacks lined with soft woolen fabric for cushioning.

Wade also confiscated all crossbows and wooden arrows. The skeletons and Numbers 1-3 emptied a snow sled, packing about a dozen longbows and a dozen hand crossbows together. The arrows were bundled in sheepskin and secured to holes along the sled’s edges with stones.

The slave merchants’ food stores were taken too – substantial winter provisions meant for feeding demi-human slaves. This included rock-hard preserved rye flatbread, smoked seal jerky and sturgeon jerky. Several jars of fish oil were loaded onto the sleds along with a barrel of rum.

Wade didn’t need to eat – these were rations for the dragonkin and the three men. Resources around the Dragon’s Spine were scarce. Even when snow melted, not a single tree grew nearby – only some snow moss could be found. Survival here posed major food challenges for humans. The slave merchants transported all provisions from elsewhere – only long-lasting processed foods, no fresh meat, eggs, dairy, let alone fruits or vegetables.

This wasn’t suitable human habitat – only the complex border terrain attracted lawbreakers conducting illicit activities. Ten more minutes passed as Wade finished loading everything.

Clutching a brass wind-up pocket watch, its second hand finally moving, Wade now had a timekeeping device. Helburg’s churches had large public pendulum clocks, while water clocks and candle clocks served elsewhere. Pocket watches were luxury items worth several gold coins – salvaged from a dead slave merchant. Its hemispherical casing housed slightly bulky mechanics, but it kept time accurately.

Outside, darkness had fully descended, the night shrouding the snowfield as howling winds arose. The dragonkin donned her hood while the slaves were ordered to shed Icelandic uniforms for black robes.

Many valuable items remained in the cave – knights’ full plate armor, soldiers’ swords – but the sleds couldn’t carry more. With their small numbers, extra equipment would only burden them.

The reindeer pulling the sleds still lived. The pirates had brought six reindeer for three small sleds. The panicked animals suddenly calmed upon seeing the dragonkin.

As the dragonkin stroked their heads, the beasts instinctively bowed in submission. “Dragonborn blood exerts pressure on reindeer,” she explained. “Similar to dragon fear – I can command most beasts.” All six reindeer docilely lowered their heads.

Wade nodded, gesturing toward the snowfield for Igna to drive the sleds farther away. “Can anyone operate sleds? Raise your hands.” Two of the three slaves raised theirs. Igna assigned Numbers 2 and 3 to the food and crossbow sleds while she boarded the one carrying sea charts, jewels and magic scrolls with Number 1.

Pulling the reins, they guided the reindeer-drawn sleds to stop some distance away. Before departing, Wade decided to finish the job, directing movement of pirate corpses to the cave entrance. Mia channeled magic into the bodies before Wade led her back to the sleds.

A tremendous explosion followed – the long-prepared Corpse Detonation spell. The cave entrance collapsed as accumulated snow cascaded down like a tide, triggering a minor avalanche that buried everything beneath rock and snow.