Treachery

I looked upon my brother in shock because the one I loved and cared for had just betrayed me.        

         “How can you do such a thing?” I asked Nikom. “Do you not have the love for me as I do for you?”

         Nikom looked upon me with a stern look, but there was a flicker of regret.

         “This needs to be, Grason,” he muttered.

         I looked upon him with disbelief. My heart crushed by such a situation I was now encountering. It was the last thing I would ever expect in life.

         “Take him far away,” Nikom said to the men in black robes, standing in front of us. Then he looked at me once again. “I will tell father the unfortunate news of your death.”

         I rushed at him but knew there was no way to beat him or even get passed him. Nikom was the athletic one of the family. He stood a foot taller than me and had a muscular build that he would be able to lift me above his head with one arm. I would try but before I could do anything to him a fist connected to my abdomen knocking me back a couple of steps and doubled me over. I tried to breath as I gasped for air.

         Moments later the men grabbed a hold of me. I looked up at my brother one last time that night before a hood covered my head. He had a smirk on his face which brought an emotion I never had before toward my brother, hate.

         My body dragged then hands and legs tied as they carried me a great amount of distance until thrown onto a solid surface with bits of straw. I realized I was on a wagon as I heard the creak of the wheels as we started moving along.

         “No one will help,” I thought as I lay there. There was no good Samaritans in this town. Or more than likely too afraid to do anything or their life is forfeit. The reason why I came with my brother every time we went into town. No one would mess with me with my strong brother by my side. My protector. Now my betrayer.

         As the wagon rolled, I thought of the events that took place earlier in the day. Always started with the two of us doing tasks for our aging father. Working in the fields, feeding the animals, fixing our aging home, going to the market to trade, and other tasks.

         Today, Nikom worked in the fields while I fixed a hole in the roof. Both of us finished around the same time as daylight was ending. Tonight was my turn to cook the meal. Once we all sat at the table my father prayed for the usual blessing then we ate our meal.

         “Do you see the wonderful job Grason did on the roof?” my father asked my brother as he patted me on the shoulder. “Such fine work. Proud of him.”

         “Yes father,” replied Nikom.

         I glanced at Nikom and saw a flicker of a displeased look on his face before it changed to a smile. I thought nothing of it as I finished my meal.

         Not long after Nikom and I decided to head into town for drinks. We had a pleasant evening as we conversed and drank away. A practice that we have done on countless occasions.

         It was quite late when we decided to head home. Most places closed and the townsfolk fast asleep. We walked and at times stumbled along laughing as we recalled funny moments of the past. That ended when the men confronted us. I figured we had a chance to take them on, especially with my brother’s strength, but that ended with my brother’s betrayal.

         “I thought he had the same amount of love for me as I do for him,” I thought.

         Did I possibly pass out from too much drink, and now experiencing a nightmare? If so, then it was a long one. Not able to see a thing, jouncing around for what seemed like for ages. Eventually I could make out daylight through the hood, and not long afterwards the wagon stopped. Moments later they pulled the hood off and in pain closed my eyes to the brightness.

         “Time for a bite to eat,” one of the men said in a deep, menacing voice.

         “Where are you taking me?” I asked.

         “There are precious ores needing dug up,” the man replied as a better look of him showed a long, jagged scar running from his forehead to his chin on the right side of his face. “You will join my slaves to labor away. You are puny but you are young so will work hard and become stronger or you will die.”

         “My brother did this?”

         The man chuckled. “Yes, he did. That is why you will survive. One day in our kindness freedom will be granted, and you will seek out your brother for revenge. How I would like to be there to see the two of you meet.”

         “He is going to tell my father I am dead,” I muttered.

         “Your brother has no faith in you,” the man said with a grin. “He expects you will die as you labor for us. We will see,” he said with a snicker.

         “You will release me?”

         “Of course, but it will be years down the road. Do not expect to go back to a living father. Your brother will be the same age as your father is now. With our hard work you will be the stronger brother once you meet again. If the two of you ever meet again. We live in a harsh world so none of us could be around years from now,” he said and chuckled before he thrust an apple into my mouth. "Eat. We need you well-nourished for you will start working once we reach our destination."

         “Where are we going?” I asked once I took a bite, chewed, and swallowed.

         “To lands you have never been to before.”

         “How many days?”

         “Many. Now shut up and eat. I have other tasks.”

         I ate the apple and given lukewarm water to drink.

         It was not until later that we started moving again. This time I did not have a hood over my head so I could see my surroundings. It did not matter that I could see since I did not have a clue where I was. No surprise since I never travelled great distances. Mainly just to the town or surrounding forest around home.

         The days ticked by which after the first full day they cut the rope binding my arms and loosened the ropes around my legs.

         “Keep the ropes tight for too long will result in you being no good to us,” the scarred man told me with his usual chuckle.” Just do not get any ideals of trying to escape. We have a couple of expert archers, and if that does not stop you, we have ones with good aim with the axe. They will take off your feet,” he said as he slammed his fist on the wagon. “You can still get around scooting on a cart. We just need your arms to pick and dig.”

         He left me as he laughed hysterically.

         We moved on and the ropes around my legs were finally undone so I walked the rest of the way to the destination.

         There were times I thought of running away, not caring if an arrow took me down. But chances they would just wound me then it would be the loss of my feet. Even if I escaped, I would not have a clue where I was going. As long as I was away from these ruffians. But then the risk was too high and one day I would confront my brother.

         The day came we reached our destination and I saw more enslaved like me of all ages. Ones that looked similar in age to my father or others half my age.

         “How can the rulers of this land allow such barbaric treatment?” I thought. Later, I would find out it was the ruler in charge of such an operation.

         After that day of arrival, the days ran the same for who knows how long. To go underground day after day and work in the mines was excruciating at first. For the first few weeks I wondered if I would survive as I dug, loaded, pushed, pulled, carried, and other painful work habits. Once my shift ended, I went to an exceptionally long building with cots and immediately fell asleep. As time went by it became easier to work so once done there were times I played dice or card games with my fellow slaves.

         There were men just like me when it comes to the build of their bodies, so thoughts of revolting came to mind, but upon seeing the guards I knew there was not a chance. They were all giants and more muscular. I also saw the guards in action as they quickly eliminated slaves who fought back or tried to escape. It did not matter about the size or strength because the guards were excellent at what they did.

         Three of four years went by when it all changed. The ruler of the lands close by the one I was captive in invaded. Half of the guards watching us left to join the army to defend their land.

         “Time to revolt,” one of my good friends, Stinlok told me one night. “With all of us we shall win our freedom.”

         “I am with you,” I told him.

         “It will be two days’ time as the news goes around. Be careful that the two spies among us do not find out.”

         I nodded my head as I thought of freedom. But will I ever be free? Maybe the body but my soul might never recover and remember those pleasant days of years ago.

         The day of our revolt the plan was to attack once the sun went down, but the invading army beat us to the punch. As we worked underground we heard a commotion above ground. The few guards down with us quickly left as we stayed where we were until the sounds of battle ended. Then we waited for the guards to return but they did not. Eventually, we went above ground and came across our saviors. They had taken out our captives and now we were free. But I was about to be surprised.

         As I sat on my cot resting and trying to take in my freedom the captain with his soldiers entered the building. I glanced up then looked back to the ground. Footsteps approached and stopped near me.

         “Grason?” the familiar voice asked.

         I looked up and saw Nikom. In a flash I was up and hands around his neck. The soldiers nearby took out their swords to thrust them into my body.

         “Stop!” Nikom cried out.

         I squeezed tighter, but once I looked upon his face, I saw the sorrow in his eyes. It looked like he had aged years. I loosened my hold until I dropped my hands. The countless thoughts of taking out my brother dissipated as I stared at him.

         “I am sorry for my foolish act,” he told me as he rubbed his neck. “I deserve death by your hands.”

         “Why?” is the only word I could say.

         “Jealousy. Deceiving myself. Being so foolish. Letting my hatred control me.”

         “I had such love for you Nikom. I would never hurt you. I would die for you just to be deceived by you.”

         “Forgive me brother. I have been searching for you not long after I did my despicable act. I did not know where they took you. I was starting to think that I lost you.”

         “Father?”

         “He is hanging in there. He believes you are still alive even when I told him you were dead. I pray he is still around since it has been months since I was home.”

         I looked at my brother and could see that his soul was as tortured as mine if not more. The pain I felt for years started to dissipate. My hatred melted away. Next moment I gave him a hug.

         “Let’s go home,” he whispered in my ear.

         The tears flowed as I was finally able to release the pain in my soul.

         Nikom was able to be relieved of command, so we were able to head home to see our father. To return to our glory days as I learn to forgive. Once home we all embraced, and happiness came upon us all.