The slaves were provided with the same equipment as the soldiers to fight off the cold but without hot water bags. Artur thought that he would freeze to death at that rate but while the outside was killer-frost-freezing, the interiors of the tents were warm like a kitchen. Artur saw some glowing red stones within the tents and guessed those were the sources of the heat. Magic, he presumed.
The slaves were put to work immediately. Some, mostly the adults, were to move the supplies which were brought along. Some were to set up some more tents and some were just made to do random things.
They had not met up with the main camp yet, but Artur heard that the colonel who led the army had gone to meet up with the general and leader of all the troops, Lord Khan.
Artur made sure that he was placed in the group that was taking care of the supplies because he had to find their stuff and get them back. In the meantime, he asked Eustace to prepare a place to hide them and since they were lucky enough to land in the same tent, somewhere they would both be able to monitor and reach easily at any given time.
His heart sank when he saw the multitude of boxes in the ship that looked identical to the one he hid their equipment and money in.
'These bastards, how the hell am I supposed to find the box now?' He wondered 'Man, this is so frustrating'
He never expected that there would be that many boxes that was why he ignored the idea of sneaking it on to the ship the night before but now that it had come to this, he had to do what he could and find that box or they would have come to this icy land of agony for nothing.
'It was wise to mark the box on all sides. I only thought of that thanks to Eustace but it's good. I'll just stay at the entrance and watch out'
Which was what he did.
His patience was pushed to its limits when he had gone over a hundred boxes and still had not found his treasure box.
'How depressing'
He had no choice still; he had to find the box. He closely monitored all the boxes as they were brought from the back to the front and after what seemed to be an eternity, he found it. The box with a small 'X' mark at all the edges. The boy who was carrying it seemed to be finding it very heavy and out of 'the goodwill of his heart' Artur decided to help him.
The boys who were responsible for moving the boxes moved them to a tent a bit far off and they had to go around the camp to reach it. Artur only had the chance to retrieve their bags when they were behind the camp or possibly inside the tent. He had to make the boy go away no matter what.
***
Eustace was starting to panic a little. He wondered if Artur had already been caught. It was never like him to be so late. Three hours, he had been gone for three hours just because he wanted to get two bags from the soldiers' supply boxes. He had already prepared their hiding spot by digging a hole in the ground near their sleeping space and using the blankets that the soldiers gave to them to cover it up.
All his fears were dispelled when he saw Artur walk into the tent with his coat looking a bit stuffed at the stomach. Success, as it seemed. Artur stealthily moved across the tent, not drawing attention to himself until he reached Eustace. When he got close Eustace cleared the blankets, and he immediately put the bags into it.
Everything was back on track.
All the slaves were allowed to rest but food was not included in the agenda for them, they would have to wait for nightfall before their next meal. It was no bother for Artur and Eustace. They would soon leave this torment so no need to complain, just patience.
They both decided to sleep so they could save their energy, you never knew what could happen. They slept, guarding the hole.
Artur had gotten so used to the noise around him that he slept through it and the moment silence descended, he opened his eyes. Seemed like Eustace also observed it in his sleep because he opened his eyes just after Artur opened his. They found themselves in the midst of a deafening silence. Everyone could feel it, someone was here, and it was not someone ordinary.
The entrance of the tent suddenly flew open and soldiers marched in. These soldiers were in a different uniform from the one that the slaves knew the soldiers to be dressed in and good lord, it made them more terrifying than the other soldiers. Their black apparels cover in black armor and black iron helmets with white plumes and black masks attached to them. Artur was surprised because they looked familiar.
'Hold on, are we cosplaying Jumong?'
As the soldiers walked in they separated from each other until there were two lines with each soldier facing another. They saw the colonel outside in the dark but he was standing to the left with some other men who also seemed to be forming a line. It indicated that someone of high respect was around.
'Could it be...'
Someone's foot went over the threshold and entered first, revealing a huge leg full of thick muscle. They really seemed to take their time. The foot was accompanied by another and with the rest of the person's body. They were tall, muscular, and full of... Life? Yes, this person looked like they really wanted to beat someone up. His eyes telling of rage and his thick, black, forest-like beard. He was also dressed in a black apparel like the others but with no mask, helmet or armor. He looked around at all the slaves, scanning each one with his eyes and leaving none out of his sight.
Artur could feel the pressure coming from this man, a truly strong person. This man was someone to be reckoned with.
'Is this Lord Khan?' Artur wondered but he changed his mind 'This man is undoubtedly strong, but he is not the source of this pressure that I'm feeling. Show yourself'
His guessed correctly. After this man, came another man. He was shorter than the first man but could not be considered a short person. The moment he stood in place his aura filled the tent. It was like being in the presence of a god.
Lord Khan. His presence was so strong that all the slaves were compelled to lower their heads but of course, hard-headed Artur and Eustace were staring at this man without flinching. Artur was also feeling it but was trying his best to put up a bold front. Eustace, he did not really care. He was still tot sleepy to care about some warlord and his presence.
Lord Khan scanned the tent just like the first man did and he noticed Artur and Eustace still staring at him. He grinned at both of them. His face carried the expression of an evil politician who had just found a fall guy. It was really weirding Artur out.
'Don't look at me like that bro, are you some kind of pervert or something?'
"John" He called for the colonel who answered immediately.
"Yes, my lord?"
As John came in and bowed before Khan.
"Is this the group?"
"Yes, my lord"
Khan pointed at Eustace and Artur, making John to also look at them. He wondered what they had done that made Khan to single them out from the rest of the slaves but if they had done anything to make him angry, they would undoubtedly suffer grave consequences. As a devoted follower of Khan, John was ever ready to fulfill his wishes, destroy his enemies and punish his offenders.
These two, they were going to be no exception.
No, they were.
They were just mere slaves and yet they dared to anger his lord, he felt some anger starting to erupt in him like when a little child's favorite cartoon character was insulted by another child. They would both be dead by morning, all Lord Khan had to do was say it. Just to give the order and they were finished.
"Those two at the back, the grown one and the kid beside each other..." Lord Khan said and paused "Add some more rice to their plates tonight and give them some beef with that"
'What?'
"Please come again my lord" John said.