Once Loretta’s bloodlust had calmed down, she moved over to Tyler and Illuminus. She pressed her finger to Tyler’s neck.

  “He’s alive, when he wakes up, he’ll start coughing up blood and vomiting. His brain got rattled around from that blow to the head.” She spoke.

  Loretta leaned back, her eyes flicking to Luthor’s lifeless body. A small, grim smile played on her lips.

  “I still can’t believe it. That bastard Luthor is dead... and I’m the one who did it. He’s given my tribe so much grief.” She continued.

  “Tyler will need to be tended by the Sharp Spear shamans. Can you take him back there along with my two donkeys? I need to search the Flame Brotherhood camp for clues about Olaf. We’ll debrief in a few days’ time over there? I don’t know how your girls fared or what Tharek’s plans are, but I must hurry.” Illuminus said.

  Without waiting for answers from Loretta Illuminus rushed forward to the Flame Brotherhood camp, now a ghost town – well almost. In the middle of the camp, five slaves were shackled to a heavy pole anchored firmly in the ground. Their clothes hung in tatters, their skin marred with bruises and grime. Some sat slumped in exhaustion, while others stared at Illuminus with cautious hope.

  “What has happened? Did the Flame Brotherhood finally get what was coming to them?” One of the slaves will ask.

  “Something like that.” Illuminus will reply. “Do you guys know where Olaf might be? Pale guy with red hair.”

  “Yes,” another slave will reply. “Olaf was taken south a few weeks ago with other slaves. I think it was a few weeks ago. Look, can you free us? Luthor keeps the key in his tent.”

  “Which tent is his?” Illuminus asks. It’s a foolish question though because Illuminus then spots a tent much larger than the others.

  “Over there” a few slaves say in unison and gesture toward that tent.

  Illuminus then walks over to the tent and opens it. The place is a mess. Clothes and items are everywhere. Illuminus has no idea where to start. He stopped at Luthor’s bed and picks up his bedroll, giving it a good shake. A piece of paper falls loose - a letter. The letter read like this:

  Luthor bro,

  You are doing great work. We have a good arrangement here. You are acquiring our new workers, and our WM caravan is picking them up and dropping off your Austermarks. It has been harder to gather our new workers from the wilderness these last few years but your idea of expanding into the tribal region has worked well.

  If you ever get sick of the tribal lifestyle, come down to Phixgow for a bit and we’ll hang out and catch up.

  Garrick

  This letter answered some questions and raised others. What was the WM caravan? Olaf was probably taken south by one of those – to Phixgow or somewhere else? Also, Austermarks. It makes sense that Luthor would have a stash of coinage from his slave trading. Now on to finding his stash of Austermarks.

  Illuminus looked around the tent some more, the place was a mess. There was a bunch of shackles in the corner. Perhaps there was a key nearby to these shackles and the ones outside. Yep, it was right there amongst the tangled shackles. Illuminus picked it up.

  Now for finding the Austermarks. Scanning through the tent wasn’t yielding results. Illuminus decided to get down and dirty and sift through all the clothing, blankets and junk. It took longer than expected but finally he came across a cloth bag. He slowly opened untied it and opened it and peeked inside. There they were, Luthor’s ill gotten gains from his slave trading. Pulling out a coin Illuminus looked at it. On one side was stamped the image of a man ‘Blutgard’ and a date was spelled under his image. On the other side was an image of an impressive looking walled city on this side was spelled ‘one Austergrat’.

  Illuminus had found a very large amount of money far more by far than the value of his donkeys and the trading he had done so far. This was the bulk of the wealth of the Flame Brotherhood tribe. Then a thought occurred, when Tharek and his men show up here they’ll start asking questions and will want to account for everything. Making himself scarce is probably a smart move in order to avoid having to hand over the coin bag. After gathering some supplies and heading back to the slaves and handing them the key, he pushed off into the wilderness just as Tharek and the Sharp Spear warriors were arriving at the Flame Brotherhood camp.

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  19/05/81 ATE

  Illuminus was lucky not to be attacked on the journey back to the Sharp Spear Tribe. If brigands from the wasteland had spotted him and knew the kind of wealth he was carrying they would have surely attempted to attack him. Illuminus was down to his last five bullets. He had pondered returning to the Bunker and requesting extra ammo but then he’d have to explain what he’s been up to and that carried risks. Roderick may have realised Olaf is further away than ever and judged that him being a slave far away, the risk for the Bunker was diminished. Illuminus would then go back to be forbidden from leaving the Bunker. No, he had to continue, he had to go to Phixgow next and inquire about Garrick and the WF caravans.

  Arriving back at the Sharp Spear camp, it was much diminished. Tharek and his warriors and not yet returned. Looking around the camp, Illuminus found the tent of the tribal shaman and Tyler was inside lying down.

  “How’s he doing?” Illuminus asked the shaman.

  “He is greatly troubled, the violence has not only injured his body but also his soul. I have administered some healing herbs but his path to healing shall be a long one.” The shaman replied.

  “Understood, can I speak with him? We have some things to discuss.” Illuminus asked.

  “Make it quick, he needs his rest.” The shaman replied.

  Illuminus move over to where Tyler was lying down. He leaned in close to speak softly so the Shaman could not easily hear.

  “How are you doing? You put on quite the show going toe to toe with Luthor.” Illuminus said.

  “I know, it was wild. I could have died, but I can’t say it wasn’t exciting. You really do have brought me along into an exciting life” Tyler replied.

  “I’m glad you didn’t die and have also kept your positive energy. I know where we must travel next – Phixgow. A settlement to the south I’ll get closer to finding Olaf there and perhaps you can get some medical attention. Not that I don’t trust the shaman’s work. He’s talking about your soul being damaged from the violence.” Illuminus said.

  “So, you are keeping me around for more of your grand quest.” Tyler replied and smiled.

  “Dude, finding Olaf is important not some mad quest I decided to go on. By the way where did Loretta and her girls go?” Illuminus said.

  “She left to go back to her tribe, some of her girls died in the battle. She seemed conflicted.” Tyler said.

  “Understandable. Look Tyler, we have to depart soon – preferably within the next hour or two. Before Tharek and the warriors return. For reasons I’ll explain on the road. Can you walk?” Illuminus said.

  “I can walk but not for long, I’ll have to ride one of the donkeys. The issue is convincing the shaman to let me go.”

  “I’ll go prepare everything and return here. I’m serious when I say we have to leave soon.” Illuminus says and then departs the tent.

  Gathering the donkey and supplies didn’t take long. However, Tharek and the warriors were returning and one of them approach Illuminus.

  “There you are, you left so soon after the battle Tharek didn’t have time to congratulate you and Tyler and Loretta and her warriors. He’s waiting for you in his tent, I’ll take you there.” One of the warriors said.

  “No need for that, I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Illuminus replied.

  “I’m afraid he insisted I take you there as soon as possible.” The warrior replied and reached for his arm.

  “I said I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Illuminus replied panicking and drawing his handgun.

  “Alright, chill out man. But do come soon.” The warrior said and left.

  Illuminus then rushed over to the shaman’s tent with the donkeys prepared. He had decided that the time to nicely ask the shaman to release Tyler had passed. He rushed in and flashed his handgun saying

  “Tyler is leaving now, and you are not stopping me.”

  “Look at yourself, and how violence has wounded your soul. Take him then, you both are far beyond my abilities to heal.” The shaman will reply.

  Illuminus then lifted Tyler up and led him to the donkeys outside the tent and mounted himself and Tyler on them both and hurriedly escaped the tribe southwards into the wasteland.

  20/05/81 ATE

  They had travelled through much of the night to get some distance from the Sharp Spear tribe. On the second day of travelling Tyler spoke.

  “I believe the danger has passed. Perhaps you should now tell me what you did to piss off the Sharp Spears? They are very spiritual and relaxed so it must have been bad.”

  “Look I just did what was necessary. After the battle I went ahead into the Flame Brotherhood camp to look for clues about Olaf. There I found this letter – have a read if you like. Luthor also had this bag here full of coins, a heavy bag full of coins. I need them to expand this caravan and find Olaf. If Tharek found out about the coins he’d demand that they be shared with the whole tribe. I think he knew something was up when he returned and demanded to see me.” Illuminus said.

  “No wonder they’d be pissed, you robbed them of their battle loot. How very sly.” Tyler said.

  “You don’t understand Tyler, we need the coins to grow our caravan. What are they going to do with the coins? Just sit on them and keep them in reserve until a caravan visit their tribe which hardly ever happens.”

  Tyler takes the letter and starts reading.

  “WF caravan? I have no idea what that means. But I understand why you want to go to Phixgow now. Are you ready going to go around and ask for this Garrick? There are tens of thousands of people in the settlement, and what if Garrick doesn’t want to be found?” Tyler says.

  “I’ll figure something out. Unless you have any ideas.” Illuminus says.

  “Nah I’m the brawn, you’re the brains.” Tyler says.