Dino Riders, page 6
It was hard to look right at the man as grease covered his chin. There was broccoli in between his teeth, and somehow the pineapple glaze had gotten on the Governor General’s nose like the pig of a man had gone face-first into the plate. He was the epitome of every villain in a period drama, and my stomach churned again like it would toss out everything that I’d managed to swallow.
“I’m sure that I’ll do better,” I agreed when he looked at me expectantly, though I had no idea what ‘better’ meant in this case.
“Good, good,” he grinned and then patted his face with the embroidered napkin, tossed it onto the plate, and motioned for someone to take it. “Reverend Michaels said that you would be a good fit for us. Of course, I wanted to talk to you myself. The Good Reverend is quite capable at guiding our people in the right direction spiritually, but the good of the colony rests squarely on my shoulders.”
I nodded to encourage the pompous man to keep talking and fought the urge to smile. My theory about the battle for control seemed to be correct, and the Governor General’s face had flashed with contempt when he said Reverend Michaels’ name, even though they had the same posh accent like they’d grown up in the same neighborhood and had probably known each other their whole lives. I could definitely use that to my benefit to bring down the colony, especially if their history was based on competition for who was number one.
I decided then that the trip back home could wait until the monsters in human skin were taken down and the island was free again. There had to be some native tribes left, especially since I’d spotted younger slaves in the mansion that still looked like they had some life left in their eyes. The colonists wouldn’t stand a chance if we all gathered together to take them down, and then I could go home with the knowledge that no one else would be burned alive for supposedly practicing witchcraft.
“Now, I’m not sure how much the Good Reverend shared with you last night,” the Governor General continued. “But this island is completely overrun with those demon lizards that attacked you on the beach. And they only get larger the further inland you go.”
“I’ve heard,” I said.
“Good, good,” the pompous man said and folded his hands over his fat stomach. “They’re quite treacherous. Of course, they do at least keep the heathen population down, but those devil worshippers have managed to subdue some of the creatures. No doubt do to their blood magic.”
“Naturally,” I said and fought the urge to roll my eyes.
I’d been all over the world and had heard a lot of people accused of witchcraft and blood magic, but none of it had ever been true. Of course, being transported into another world had been just as impossible as dinosaurs roaming the earth. But I’d experienced both within the last forty-eight hours, so maybe the pompous ass wasn’t completely wrong.
“Now, as the leader of this great colony,” he continued without any hint that he’d picked up on my irritation. “It’s my duty to offer my people the best that there is to offer on this island. The Spurya and Frax have taken up residence somewhere on the other side of this massive floating rock, and I have no doubt that they’re trying to expand outwards.”
“Sure,” I shrugged and then watched as the slaves cleared away the dishes.
“This map here shows what we know of the island,” the Governor General said as the giant guard spread out a paper scroll.
The big man weighed it down with empty teacups that had been left on the table, and I leaned forward to stare at the lines scrawled out on the scroll. If the scale in the bottom corner was accurate, then the island was closer to the size of Australia than some deserted rock off the coast of South Africa. I made a mental note of where Spurya and Frax had made their own settlements, though they were so far away that it would take days or weeks to get there, and someone had marked several locations between the Anglish colony and the others with skulls and crossbones.
“Now,” the pudgy man continued as he scooted further to motion to a spot about five miles away. “This plot of land here is some of the best that we’ve found on the island. Some of our people have managed to clear out the heathens and devil lizards enough to claim what is rightfully ours as the Good Lord’s favored children. And they’ve made very nice homes for themselves. However, this one here still needs to be cleared.”
“Okay,” I said and sat back in my chair. “Is that the job that you asked me here to do?”
“No, no,” he laughed and waved a hand dismissively. “I have soldiers enough to do that particular work. No. I need a tracker and a hunter to clear the devil lizards that have surrounded the property.”
“Naturally,” I said. “And I’m just the man to do that.”
“Yes,” the Governor General said with a wide smile that showed the broccoli still stuck in his teeth. “As I said earlier, the colony is all abuzz with what you did on the beach with those tiny little vermin. They’re small, but quite ferocious. And yet you managed to come away with no serious injuries.”
I nodded and waited for the man to continue. He hadn’t actually asked a question, and one of the first things that I’d learned was not to give away more than you absolutely had to, especially not to someone who was power-hungry. I’d made that mistake in middle school with the popular jock, and it wouldn’t happen again.
“Now,” the man continued when I didn’t say anything. “There’s a young woman, a witch, that we’ve detained. She’ll know all about the property and the devil lizards that have surrounded it. She’s currently being held in our little prison. We don’t have much cause to use it since most of my citizens are well-behaved. But we’ve managed to keep the witch there for the time being.”
“Okay,” I said just to show that I was listening.
“She’s been quite tight-lipped since we brought her in,” the pompous man rolled his eyes and then waved at a slave. “Tea.”
“Yes, sire,” the man said in a thick accent before he rushed inside.
“Slaves,” the Governor General huffed. “You always have to hold their hand. You’d think that they’d learn how to be proper workers, but you know how heathens are. Barely more intelligent than the pigs that roll around in mud all day.”
I stared blankly at the Governor General and fought the urge to smash a teacup over his head. The fact that he wanted to send me outside of the colony was enough to keep me calm, especially if it meant that I might be able to meet with someone from one of the tribes. I could sneak out, make friends, and then come back with enough forces to burn the whole place down and free the slaves.
There was no doubt in my mind that the witch they had imprisoned was another Spurya, or maybe just some headstrong woman that they didn’t agree with. She might even be one from one of the tribes since the Governor General said that she knew the area well enough. If I could convince her to help me, then we could both be free, and once the colony was destroyed, I could find a way back to my own world.
“Now,” the pudgy man said as the tea was served. “As I was saying… The witch has been quite tight-lipped since we brought her in. She knows exactly what kind of monsters are lingering around her land, I mean, the colony’s property, but she refuses to tell us.”
And there it was.
The witch was probably a single woman that had a good piece of land that everyone wanted. Likely a widow, since I sincerely doubted that they’d give property to anyone but a man. She’d no doubt refused to give them the deed and had been accused of witchcraft shortly after, just like the English had done back in my world whenever a woman didn’t bow to pressure from men.
I liked her already.
“Now,” he continued, and I suddenly had a deep hatred for that word, especially said in a nasally voice. “I want you to gather the information you’ll need from her and then go clear out the property. The reward will be quite substantial. At least, if you make it back alive.”
“And how do you want me to get the information?” I asked. “If she hasn’t spoken up yet, then I’m not sure she will.”
Especially if the guards had treated her in any way similar to the Spurya man whose body still smoldered on the pole below us.
“Oh,” he waved off my question and then took a long sip of tea. “I’m sure you’ll find some way to make her tongue wag. I had hoped that some time in the cells would encourage her to come to her senses, but it seems that isn’t going to happen. I’m officially giving you carte blanche to do whatever you have to do to get the information from her. And tell the guards that they can have her when you’re done.”
“Naturally,” I seethed through gritted teeth. “Should she be alive for another barbecue?”
The words dripped with sarcasm, but the Governor General either didn’t notice, or he completely ignored it. He looked down on the courtyard below as the guards came to untie the Spurya man, sighed, and then ran a hand over his balding head.
“It’s not necessary,” he finally said. “It’s not good to give everyone that much entertainment. They come to expect it. No. Just get the information from her and then let the guards play. They’ve done a good job over the last few weeks of restraining themselves. They deserve a treat.”
“Sure,” I said and stood so fast that I almost knocked over my chair. “Should I come back with the information, or do you want me to go directly to the property?”
“You can go directly to the property,” the Governor General said with a dismissive wave. “Have the guards give you something to fight with. I’ll expect the results within two weeks. If you don’t return by the deadline, then I’ll assume that you’ve either abandoned us, or gotten yourself killed. If it’s the former, then you’ll be branded a traitor, and I’m sure that you know what we do to traitors.”
The pompous man smiled up at me with a malicious light in his dark eyes, and I’d never had to fight the urge to punch someone so much in my entire life. The Governor General would have his just rewards as soon as I’d gathered enough people to my side, but for the moment, he had more weapons and enough soldiers and colonists to put me in an early grave.
“Where is the prison?” I asked.
“You were there this morning,” he said and then grunted as he pushed his large body out of the chair. “I believe that you met with two of my guards over coffee. A gift from me. Of course, they did have to pay for it, but it’s a blessing that I even allowed them to buy it. Coffee is quite expensive since I usually use it to pay for the equipment brought from the Old Country, and only the most privileged in the colony can buy it. It should be a luxury, as the Great Reverend Michaels says. What we grow here is the best in the world, a treat, but they do their job well.”
I nodded and thought back to the two disgusting men that I’d met that morning. There was no doubt in my mind that they’d assault the imprisoned woman the second that they were given the chance, and a plan to save her came to mind. I followed the Governor General back into the gold and copper room and then watched as the pompous ass pulled out a smaller scroll with another map drawn on it.
“This is for you,” he said. “Of course, the interior of the island has yet to be explored, but I’m sure that a tracker like you will be able to find your way around. This is more to help you find the right piece of land. I’d hate for you to do all the work of clearing the devil lizards only to find out that you’d been in the wrong spot.”
“The woman might be more helpful than the map,” I said but took the scroll and tucked it into one of my pockets. “You said that she knows the creatures that live there. She’ll be able to guide me.”
“The witch stays in prison,” he snarled and then smoothed out his satin tunic. “She cannot be trusted. If you can’t get the information that you need from her, then you’ll be expected to go in blind. But I’m sure that you can coerce what you need from the little… witch. As I said, you can do whatever you need to do. Indulge yourself.”
Oh, there was definitely history there. The more that I learned about this supposed witch, the more I liked her.
“Now,” the Governor General said with another smile that dripped with venom. “Once you’ve learned what you need, the guards will see that you’re supplied for your trip. As I said, you only have two weeks to complete your task, so the sooner you get the information that you need, the better. And if you can’t pry the details from the witch, then I suggest you leave without it. No later than tomorrow morning.”
“Sure,” I shrugged and then nodded, turned, and left the asshole behind before my rage could get the better of me.
The giant guard was still near the door with his eyes glued to me for any signs of an attack, and the arquebus slung over the big man’s shoulder wouldn’t miss at such a close range. I just needed to hold on a little longer until I could figure out a way to bring them all down, and the imprisoned woman just might be the key.
“Try not to die out there,” the guard sneered as he opened the door to let me out into the hallway.
“Thanks,” I said without a smile.
The mansion was packed with slaves that rushed back and forth as they finished their daily tasks, but no one looked directly at me. I heard chains clink together as I reached the first floor and saw an old man dragging heavy irons on his ankles as he brought a vase from one room to another. He glanced up at me, and his eyes went wide with fear before he hurried away like I was about to strike him for making eye contact.
The Governor General definitely needed to die. And so did everyone that willingly worked for him.
“Mr. Owens!” the teen from earlier shouted as he rushed up to me. “Are you done? Did the Governor General give you instructions? I heard that you’re going on a hunt to clear some land. I wish that I could come with you. It would be such an adventure. Killing the devil lizards and heathens. I’m so jealous.”
“Death is never pretty,” I said with a sideways glance at the kid. “Lives should never be taken unless absolutely necessary.”
“Of course,” he said and started to skip beside me. “It’s an honor to get to kill the heathens and devil lizards for our people.”
I sighed and shook my head as I headed toward the prison. The kid had been completely brainwashed to think that murdering random people was perfectly fine, though it seemed like everyone in the colony had been, especially after that display with the Spurya man. I’d never be able to convince any of these colonists that human life was sacred, no matter where a person came from, and if I dared to say that aloud, someone would probably turn me over to the authorities as a warlock.
“Don’t you have work to do?” I asked as I hurried across the colony.
“Tons,” he laughed. “But I wanted to make sure that you got to the prison okay.”
“I doubt that anyone is going to attack me inside the colony,” I said with a sideways glance at the teen. “You should go.”
“Alright,” he sighed and then waved goodbye with another bright smile. “Have fun interrogating the witch! And kill lots of devil lizards for me.”
The teen skipped back toward the Governor General’s mansion, and a shiver ran down my spine at how casually he’d wished me well in torturing someone. Any doubts that some of the colonists should be saved flew out the window, because if the kid was that bad, then the adults would be worse, and there would be no changing their minds just because the leadership was different.
“Some evil is easy to see, K.O.,” I quoted Addo as the guard shack came into view.
Back home I would’ve turned the entire colony over to the authorities, but on the island there was no one to report them to except for the Spurya and the Frax, and they were no doubt just as bad. It would be up to me to free the slaves and the remaining tribes from the Anglish colonizers.
But first things first. I needed an ally, and the imprisoned woman might just be that person.
“Welcome back,” the acne-covered guard laughed as I walked up to the guard shack. “Word is that you’re here to see a witch.”
“I am,” I said. “And I have a few questions for her.”
Chapter 5
“Questions,” the pimpled guard laughed. “I’m not sure she’ll answer any, but you have fun trying to get them out of her. We haven’t been able to get anything from her since she was brought in.”
“She’s a right piece o’ work,” the other guard snorted and then stood to grab an iron ring with a single key. “But maybe you’ll have better luck.”
“Thank you,” I said as the younger man started toward the cellar-looking door. “Is the prison underground? Doesn’t it flood during the rainy season?”
“Sure does,” the first man said with a wicked grin. “But who cares about the scum in here? Most aren’t alive when they come out anyway. And those that are tend to be headed to the fire or the gallows.”
“Naturally,” I said in a dry tone.
I followed the soldier to the cellar door and watched as he bent down. The mist from the morning had completely cleared, and I could finally see the little air tunnels that had been dug into the earth. I shuddered at the thought of being encased in the earth, which had to be like being trapped in a coffin even with the vents. There was no doubt in my mind that the supposed witch and I needed to get the hell out of the colony sooner rather than later, and the guards’ complete disregard for their charges only confirmed that.
“Is it true that the General Governor is giving her to us when you’re done with her?” the other man asked and slid the key into a heavy paddock lock.
“Yep,” I shrugged.
“Well, in that case,” the pimpled guard snickered and then licked his lips as he stood. “Make sure to leave something for us. She may be a headstrong witch that doesn’t know what’s best for her, but she’s a beauty. I can’t wait to get a taste of her.”
The lock clicked open, and the younger guard quickly opened the cellar doors wide. They fell so hard on the earth that the thin wood wobbled and threatened to crack in half, but the guards didn’t seem worried about that possibility. Stairs led deep into the darkness below, and the two men stood over me with hungry eyes like hyenas ready to devour their prey.
