The Wolf at the Bridge.....

Jinks was only out for a few moments but it was long enough. Her head suddenly exploded with pain. She blearily saw three pairs of boots and heard one behind her as well. Were there more coming? She wasn't sure. Her head ached and she saw flashes of light that seared her eyes when she tried to move. A man leaned forward inches from her face, "We own you now.” Jinks thought to punch him and realized her hands were weighted down. She shook both hands and realized she was in chains. There were others in chains too. She raised her hand, waved, and smiled at them. One of the boots landed in her back, knocking her forward, "Think it's funny, do you? You'll learn." She inhaled deeply and coughed, the wind knocked out of her. The slavers laughed and prepared them all for their journey. While eyeing the slavers carefully, a young woman helped Jinks to her feet and whispered, "Don't anger them. They will beat you." Jinks nodded at her nd did a smaller wave. Jinks then gestured, raising her hand to her lip and then away. She bowed. "Can't you talk?" the woman asked quietly, keeping a careful eye on their captors. Jinks tapped her throat and shrugged. She began to gesture but the chains were heavy and after a moment she stopped. She shook the iron links and frowned. The woman leaned forward, "Kayla. That's my name." Jinks nodded and gestured quickly with one hand, moving the fingers deftly. "I don't understand. I'm sorry." Jinks sighed and shrugged. She gestured around her and looked at Kayla, questioning.

"They came after the dragon. These men.... they.... sell people and take everything. We couldn't even fight back," Kayla's voice choked and she started at the ground, trying to compose herself. "SHUT UP ON THE LINE!" the man walked down the line, glaring at them. He stopped in front of the barbarian, “Who are you??” “She doesn’t talk, sir,” Kayla whispered, still staring at the ground. “I wasn’t talking to you, was I?” Kayla stepped back fearfully and Jinks stepped forward making him focus his attention back on her. She was only a bit shorter than he was and he knew he was bigger but there was something savage in her eyes. The hatred burned through him and he was getting uncomfortable with her gaze. “You should get used to looking down. That’s what slaves are expected to do.” To his surprise, she did look down and even cowered a bit from him. He thought to grab her and slap her but he suddenly fell back, his nose exploding in pain. She had brought up her chains and hit him sharply in the nose. Blood spewed down his face from both nostrils and he gulped for air. He was on the ground and she was feeling through his clothes, trying desperately to find the key to the chains, when two others ran up. One pulled him away and the other pushed her back into the line. “I told you to stay away from her,” he told the bloodied slaver as he eyed Jinks, “She’s been trained to fight and I might be able to use that as a selling point. I told you: do NOT damage any of them! Damaged cannot be sold for best prices. Just keep them moving.” Another man helped him, putting Broken Nose’s arm over his shoulder and helping him away. “Dunno who you are but you did my job for me. I don’t have to stop them from torturing or hurting you and your friends. It really does bring down value and makes it harder to sell,” he was careful to stay out of her range, “but for the sake of morale, you will have to be an example. Some damage but not too much.” He took a club that had some spikes on it and smiled at her congenially, “Don’t worry. Three or so out to be enough. Also….I need you weak so…I think for you, you should be fed every other day. I mean, you have the training but I can tell, you are old. I have no doubt you have seen some wars. I can practically smell it on you. I was told you don’t talk. If you have strength of an old fighter, well done. Let’s see how much endurance and tolerance for pain you have.”