He paused and threw up his hands dramatically.
‘… the armies of Ilsig returned early from their mountain campaign and put a
swift end to the uprising. The survivors fled south … here … along the
coast.’
He indicated the route with his fingers.
‘The kingdom waited for a while, expecting the errant slaves to return of their
own volition. When they didn’t, a troop of cavalry was sent to overtake them and
bring them back. They overtook the slaves here, forcing them back into the
mountains, and a mighty battle ensued. The slaves were triumphant, and the
cavalry was destroyed.’
He indicated, a point in the southern portion of the mountain range.
‘Aren’t you going to tell about the battle?’ Ran-tu interrupted.
‘That is a story in itself… requiring separate payment,’ Hakiem smiled.
The boy bit his lip and said nothing more.
‘In the course of their battle with the cavalry, the slaves discovered a pass
through the mountains, allowing them to enter this green valley where game was
plentiful and crops sprang from the ground. They called it Sanctuary.’
‘The valley isn’t green,’ an urchin interrupted pointedly.
‘That’s because the slaves were dumb and overworked the land,’ countered
another.
‘My dad used to be a farmer, and he didn’t overwork the land!’ argued a third.
‘Then how is it you had to move into town when the sands took your farm?’
countered the second.
‘I want to hear my story!’ barked Ran-tu, suddenly towering above them.
The group subsided into silence.
‘The young gentleman there has the facts of the matter right,’ smiled Hakiem,