I rocked side to side with the motion of the carcasses, as every bump and turn made itself known. We’d just managed to conceal ourselves in the nick of time before the guards had entered the Butchery. I scrunched my nose up, hoping that it would help keep the smell of the cow at bay. I also breathed as shallow as I could, partly to keep quiet, but mainly to keep that scent at bay.

  Even these days, if I am in a small space, I can still taste that carcass. It’s odd the things that stick with you, isn’t it?

  With the number of carts at the Butchery that were being moved. I reckoned there were at least forty or fifty men. Their heavy footsteps, strains and swears gave them away.

  “How many are these for then anyway?” A nasal, high-pitched voice squeaked.

  “There are twelve carts, so how many do you think you eejit?” A gruff voice answered.

  “Well, they could split the supplies amongst them, I suppose.” The nasal voice said, much quieter than before.

  “We ain't paid to suppose, now haul.” The voice barked.

  “Don’t you think this whole thing is dangerous?”

  “HAUL.”

  The nasal voice had the right of it in my opinion. This was dangerous. Just not for them. Unless they got in our way. There was a thud before the journey suddenly got a lot smoother. I could hear the rat-a-tat of a wheel rolling on wooden boards. We must be on a bridge of some kind, or a drawbridge perhaps? The smoothness didn’t last long, as a sudden halt sent the carcass lurching forward. The dull wet thud of wood and meat accented a pain in my head and neck as I had no way to cushion myself.

  I was sure Stallivindium’s butchers wouldn’t need a meat tenderiser, given how these guards pulled the carts. I heard footsteps from the back of the cart walk around me to the front. Another set approached from further ahead.

  “Meat delivery, eh?”

  “No mate, I just thought I’d bring twelve carts of dead livestock to the keep for the fuck of it.” The guard I'd named Gruff Voice answered. It made sense that he was the one talking; I didn’t peg the nasal one as a leader.

  “That’ll probably get you a week of night duty.”

  “It’ll be better than staring at your face all day.”

  “True that. On you go. Place each cart in the marked zone and ring the bell when you leave.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know the drill.”

  The carts picked up pace again.

  #

  I was damp and cold, and my body was dying to stretch out and restore some feeling.

  The cart had been stopped for a few minutes now, and I heard sighs of relief coming from the voices I’d become accustomed to. They all trudged away before a loud bell rang out, echoing throughout whatever room we were inside. I waited one hundred counts before squirming my way toward the opening of the carcass. I gritted my teeth and pushed the flesh aside as I freed my head.

  I immediately took a deep breath of slightly less corpsey air and flopped out of the cow, sliding my body, feet first, off the cart and onto the floor. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust. I tucked my swordstick into my belt.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Small sconces lit the room in gloomy light. It felt more like a hall, to be honest. It was entirely stone, with large pillars as thick as four men at regular intervals in a square layout. My cart was in the middle of one such square while the others were all arranged in a row, square by square. There were no windows or loosing slits, so I imagined we were probably somewhere underground. Which made sense if this meat was for cooking. Cellars were cool, and the meat had less chance of spoiling.

  As I looked around the room, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. There was no sign of any other food, no hooks for hanging the carcasses. Not even any barrels or crates.

  The others gradually emerged from their carts, although I noticed that Sila had to help Gertha out of hers. A pig corpse had slid over her hiding spot's opening.

  I made my way over to the others slowly, before stopping and retrieving my bowstring from inside my boot. I strung it onto my bow and then hung the bag from my belt. It would do as a makeshift quiver; I’d just have to remember that the bag covered them entirely. Finally, I stroked the medallion around my neck. Eggs was safe inside through whatever magical fuckery the Arcuzane had access to. All I needed to do was break it to release them. I stopped stroking the medallion and glanced around the room again.

  “This shit’s weird. I don’t like it.” I whispered

  “At least we’re inside. Let’s find a way out and see what these fuckers are up to.” Gertha said, her words punctuated by the clack of metal on tooth.

  I sniffed. We were all covered head to toe in viscera. I shuddered from the cold.

  “You got any magic that can…sort this all out?” I asked Gertha, gesturing to the sodden, crimson mess that was my clothing now.

  “Yes. But I don’t want to use up metal if I don’t have to. We don’t know what we’ll deal with here.” She said, her teeth chattering.

  “Makes sense,” I said, silently cursing Fizzmouths. What I’d give to be warm right now.

  We all snapped to attention at muffled grunting and groaning coming from the far side of the hall. The familiar sound of gate chains being hauled reverberated through the room as chain links passed biting gear teeth, and what sounded like a metal gate slid upward.

  A red and orange light bled into the hall from the far side like a sunrise, blinding me. I shielded my eyes with my arm. Fighting back every urge to call out for fear of giving us all away.

  “Off you go, my little weapons. Feast!” A voice called out. An eerily familiar voice.

  I saw fast-moving shapes snatch past the red and orange light.

  “What was that?” Sayo hissed. Her scabbards called out in response as her blades came free.

  Rapid footfalls of flesh and claw scraped on stone and echoed throughout the room. The slap of leather on air sent my heart racing.

  “Get away from the carts. Behind a pillar.” I said sternly, nocking an arrow onto my bow. For all the good it would do me. I slid behind a pillar two lengths from the carts so I could keep an eye out in the dull light.

  “Close the gate for now. Let them enjoy their break.” The voice commanded. To murmured acknowledgements to the guards. They’d not heard us at least, but I’d heard them. I’d heard him. It sounded different when it wasn’t dripping in disdain.

  “Tullen?” Gertha clamped her hand on my shoulder.

  My mind and my heart were racing, competing to see who would be faster.

  I knew he was here in the city, but what was Mavev Tlatz doing here specifically?

  “They’re rearing Li’ards,” I said.

  Sayo and Sila joined us behind the pillar. Sayo blades in hand, while Sila carried a bow, as I did.

  “Mummer’s balls,” Gertha swore.

  The gate slammed shut with a dull clang,

  Something screeched close by before wings fluttered. My mind was filled with visions of the Fell Dragon, but I knew there was no way one could be in this room. It was far too small.

  “Ah, we can take one Li’ard!” Sila whispered with a confidence I admired but pitied.

  Eleven other screeches bloomed in the darkness, and I nodded to myself. Bloody typical.

  Flesh collided with wood, and the carts creaked under the weight of the hungry beasts.

  Feeding time had begun, and we needed to be out of this room before we were noticed.

  “Follow what I do exactly,” I whispered, as I started creeping away from the safety of the pillar.