Valley of Lukana
Last day of festival
Morning
'She has been in the valley of Lukana, undergoing punishment before her final execution…she disregarded the orders. Not only did she leave, she almost bumped into royalty. Not just anyone, the Duchess' the head of Lukana reported.
Pereguin's eyes were almost shutting down. She could barely hear their conversation. Yet, she was still being flogged as if she was alive. Her whole body was numb because she almost bumped into the Duchess during the festival.
'What's her price?' the Duke who was being spoken to asked.
'She is almost without worth…two dyms will do…for formality sake' the head replied.
The Duke walked to where she layed helplessly. Pereguin could not see but she could feel a presence. She could feel her spirit preparing for a flight to the second life. Her system was almost shutting down. As the Duke squatted in front of her, they stopped flogging her.
'How many strokes now?' he asked.
'Just 95…for today' they replied.
The Duke studied her for a while.
'I will buy her for a hundred dym. Will you sell her?' the Duke finally said.
'Duke Jumbadi…that is a big waste of…okay…we'll get her for you' the head stammered, full of joy because he was going to earn some money.
What struck Pereguin was the fact that it was the Duke of Jumbadiway. The one that could not beg for her. She wondered why he wanted to spend a hundred dym on her when she was about to die. Her stomach made a loud sound. She was hungry, weak and distabilized.
The soldiers grabbed her roughly and removed the chains around her brutally. As her eyes opened a bit, she could see the Duke standing and watching with his servants and horse men. She had lost stamina. The more they tried to raise her up, the more she fell.
'Get her on the horse! We have to reach Jumbadiway as soon as possible…' he ordered his servants.
As they dragged her, she fell down.
'In an hour, clean her up and make sure she looks better…I'll not want my horses to be infected' he added.
Despite the fact that she was at the verge of death, she was dragged. She could not tell what happened next because she lost consciousness.
The Duke went up to the Duchess' Palace to give his last greeting before leaving. As he got there, the Duchess smiled and walked up to him, getting up from her sophisticated throne.
'Duke Jumbadi…so you really want to leave…why don't you stay for a week or more…' she began, reaching out for his neck with her adorned, glowing arms.
He took her hands and dropped them calmly.
'Actually came to tell you I want to take the slave that almost bumped into you…'
'Really…Duke you did not come to see me? I thought…'
'Duchess, I've paid a hundred dym, can I have her?' he cut into hastily.
She paused and studied him for a while with almost teary eyes. She broke the gaze and then started pacing to and fro before the Duke.
'You know Lumbidimaway kingdom is the headquarters of slaves! Why did you have to waste a hundred dym on a less effective slave?' she questioned finally.
'Duchess, I know you have the ability to give away slaves the way you like but I have chosen to buy this one' he replied. 'We value slaves in my land, we don't get them for free or send them to Lukana!' he added.
'Young man, you dare not raise your tone at me! This kingdom is mine and I operate it the way I like!' she yelled back. 'Get ready, pack your stuff and leave my kingdom now! With that slave you bought for a hundred dym!' she added and walked away hastily.
The Duke was used to her touchiness. No one could correct her or tell her anything she did not want. He smiled briefly and walked away with a few servants.
Pereguin's eyes were gradually opening when a letter blocked her view. Her eyes opened instantly and she read the letter eagerly. It read;
'Pereguin,
Come with me and I'll make you my duchess.
Duke of Jumbadiway Kingdom.
Immediately she was done reading the letter, it disappeared. Was it all her imagination? In thoughts, she fell into deeper unconsciousness.
The servants managed to carry Pereguin all through the journey. It was a long one through the desert and forests of the land. They placed her on a horse, supported by some tools and ridden by one of the horsemen. None of the servants could even tell why he picked the slave. He never did that personally. People were assigned for that. The servants were irritated by the new slave as all sorts of insects, especially flies, followed her.
'Duke, we should camp here. It's already late' an official suggested.
The Duke agreed and everyone in the caliber stopped. The servant riding Pereguin shook her rigorously as she was so deep into sleep. When Pereguin finally woke up, she jerked in shock as if she had no idea what had been happening. They all looked at her, including the Duke. That was when she realized she was the only female there.
'What about the new slave?' an official asked.
'We are all camping in the palace here…the Duke here is a friend' the Duke said after discussing with an official.
They rode for a while before arriving at the palace. The palace was not as great as Lumbidimaway's but it was unique in its own way as it was in the desert. Everyone jumped down the horses while the Duke and his official walked into the palace. Pereguin was confused. She also jumped down and stayed with the servants.
'What are we going to do with her?' the servants gossipped loudly.
She only stood, looking at them and thinking. They paid no attention to her. At her point, she just started trying to fix her almost falling cloth. As she was tying a knot, a letter dropped on her chest. She was tense. Most times, the letters brought bad luck.
Pereguin,
Sorry you have to stay outside. The Duke of this kingdom despises slaves.
Duke of Jumbadiway Kingdom.
Pereguin looked at the palace. She wanted to see the Duke looking at her and be sure it was him. Unfortunately, no one was looking. As she looked back, the letter had already gone. Pereguin was confused. A part of her was convinced the letters were real but the major parts felt she was insane. Reguin could not see the letter that day,no one else could see it. Maybe she was mad.
The Duke was not coming out and it was getting darker and darker. The servants had already set out a tent for themselves. She looked at her tattered self and lay next to the horse in the dark cold night.
Days passed, nights went. Finally, they arrived at the Kingdom of Jumbadiway. It was known as the great city of gold. Though Pereguin was a slave, she had heard a lot about the kingdom. The city was a quiet but lively one. As the Duke, his officials and servants rode on the decorated carpets, the sound of trumpet came up, followed by the drums, the singers and then, the dancers. They displayed skillfully and joyfully before the Duke. People from all over the land came and praised. Pereguin did not believe there could ever be this much joy in life. She smiled, enjoying everything in awe.
At the end of it all, everyone went back to their place of work and the Duke entered the palace, blessing the people. Pereguin's eyes searched everywhere for the Duchess of the Great Kingdom who should most likely be the Duchess of Lumbidimaway's archenemy. Her eyes surveyed the beauty of the city. It was awesome. All the maids had beautiful jewelry and original waist beads resting on their hips. She could not believe commoners, talk more of slaves, could be that well dressed.
As Pereguin was about to move further, the guards stopped her by crossing their sword against her.
'Who…what…wah …what should I do…?' she stammered.
They looked at each other, muttered words and laughed out loud. Pereguin was sure they wondered what she was. In Lumbidimaway, she looked normal but In the very city she was, she looked odd. She had always been miserable so she was barely embarrassed.
'Where is she?' a woman asked.
The guards pointed at me and together, they let out mocking laughter.
'How do I start with her…' she laughed. 'okay…' she began.
Pereguin wondered who the woman was. Maybe she was the official in charge of slaves. She felt like a dunghill before them.
'At least, the journey of making her fit in can start today' the woman said to herself as she walked with Pereguin. Pereguin trailed behind like a helpless refugee.