road? Shouldn’t they be cutting down trees and hauling in dirt? But then, what did he know?
None of the tents looked any bigger than any of the others. Nothing to indicate where Lord Valance might be. Perhaps there was more of the camp on the other side of the ring of wagons that formed a perimeter around them. He turned down the next row headed for the outer circle of carts, carriages and wagons. They were pushed in together tightly except for a few places where they had left a large gap, as a sort of gate way through the ring. But the gateways were crowded, and he didn’t want to have to explain where he was trying to go and what he was doing in the camp in the first place. Best to keep low, he thought.
So he found a relatively deserted section of the ring and squeezed between the back of a wagon and a fancy looking buggy, popping out on the other side. His leg caught on the wagon’s hitch causing him to stumble and catch himself awkwardly. He looked about to see if anyone saw, hoping he hadn’t made a scene.
Fortunately, the area was just as empty on this side as it was on the other. Carts and wagons formed a second ring a couple of yards beyond the first, creating an alley way in between. Peaking through the second row, there was nothing but trees beyond. No more camp, as he had supposed. Perhaps this alley between the two rings would lead to something else.
The closest gateway wasn’t too far off to the left, so he decided to wander down the alley in the opposite direction. After a few minutes, the two rings began to converge causing the alley to narrow and then end abruptly. There were several large black carriages at the very end where the rows converged, much like the one he saw Valence riding in when they first ran into him in the swamp. These were perhaps his? Would he be camped near them? Possibly, he thought.
As he moved closer, he noticed one of the carriages rock slightly as though it were bumped. Then a moment later it rocked again. Either someone was knocking into it from the other side, or someone was inside.
“That’s strange.” He muttered, approaching it cautiously.
He heard foot falls behind him, causing him to whipped around, instinctively, just in time to see two large Zo guards rushing towards him. He ducked and turned to run, but it was too late. One grabbed him by the neck and pulled him straight, the other lifted him by the arms and slammed him up against one of the black carriages.
“What are you doing here?” One of the guards demanded.
Handers gasped for air, the soldier’s firm grip choking him. “Looking... for... Val...lance.” He tried to answer.
“You're looking in the wrong place.”
The guard eyed him suspiciously. “What business do you have with Lord Valance?”
“He… invited us… to the camp.” Hander squeezed out.
The guard eyed him for another moment as though trying to decide what to do, then dropped him. “We’ll verify.” The other twisted his arms behind his back and pushed him forward. They steered him in between the black carriages at the end of the alley.
Sure enough there was another small section of the camp on the other side. He’d have been happy with himself for guessing correctly if it wasn’t for the pain and embarrassment. They passed several large tents, each one easily five times as large as his own. Eventually, they stopped at the back of an even larger tent sitting in the center of this second camp.
Another large Zo man stood guard by a closed flap of the tent.
“We have a visitor.” The Zo, twisting Hander’s arm, said to the guard by the tent. He nodded and disappeared inside. A moment later the tent flap flung open.
“What the problem?” Lord Valance shouted as he stepped out.
“Oh.” He dropped his angry demeanor as soon as he saw Handers.
“OK, Let him go! Let him go.” Valance put his hands and Hander’s shoulders.
“We caught him back by the carriages.” The Zo that had been holding his arm said before releasing his grip.
Lord Valance raised an eyebrow at Handers.
“I was looking for your tent.” Handers explained. “I wasn't aware there were areas off limits.”
“My apologies.” Lord Valance lifted the tent flap and motioned for Handers to join him inside. “I'm afraid they have a tendency to over react.”
Handers rubbed his wrists as he