Three days and nights we traveled northward. We spent our nights in the paddy, with a canvas thrown over to keep out the rain, of which we experienced only a small amount on the third night. At last on the fourth day our caravan arrived at a coastal city - by what name I know not. I was aware however, of much larger ports on the southern side of the Kingdom where most of the trade is conducted. Nevertheless, the hustle and bustle of the city was enough to make a humble farmer such as myself squirm with insecurity. I felt a sense of embarrassment as people stopped what work they were doing and eyed us as we passed.

From there we left the wagons behind and boarded a ship bound for the island of Khorinis. It was a short journey, and an unusually mild one, so a sailor told me, as the channel separating Khorinis from the mainland is very turbulent year-round. We sailed around the southern spur of the island and into the sheltered harbor of Khorinis. Although smaller still by comparison, the port of Khorinis was bustling. The harbor district was full of movement, with smells of fish and spices. Of one point of interest to myself however, is that no one seemed to pay us any attention at all. I surmised that as we got closer to our final destination, the sight of prisoners must be all too familiar. It was mid-afternoon, and the ship required unloading; so Velaya and I were promptly marched up to the barracks which overlooked the harbor, and locked into separate cells, where we spent the rest of the night.

The following morning we exited the barracks from a different entrance connecting to an upper part of town. Much like the first time, I was marched out of jail, and there were four wagons awaiting us. Only this time an extra supply wagon took the place of the coach from the previous leg of our journey. I surmised this was the main concern for the King’s man in the cylindrical hat, as he was ranting up a storm to some local militiamen. Gestures flew back and forth, and I even believe the emissary resorted to foot-stomping as a dapple colored and rather tired looking mare was brought around. He eyed it up and down with a hateful sneer, and straightening his hat, (which had been slightly dislodged in the heat of his debate), proceeded to climb into the saddle. It was at that point that it became clear why he was so adamant about riding in the box rather than on horseback. He did manage to get his left foot into the stirrup, however in doing so his long robe got caught up as well. As he extended to pull himself over, the slack was lost, and the sudden jolt caused him to fall to the ground, smacking his face on the saddle in the process! Blood immediately gushed forth from his nose, and once he picked himself up, ran over to a bucket near a well and worked most diligently to clean himself with water. Everyone witnessing the scene thought it hysterical; only the militiamen made an effort to conceal it. Velaya was holding her stomach and nearly doubled over with laughter, while I was a little more reserved, unable to completely detach myself from reality.

Once the buffoon regained his comportment and mounted the horse properly, we left the city by means of the north gate and tumbled along a steep and rutted road. The whole region I observed was extremely mountainous, and absolutely covered with thick vegetation. The oxen pulling the wagons were finding the inclines formidable and progress was slow. By midday however we leveled out and began to see some small farms and the like. Towards dusk we arrived at what appeared to be a small barracks at the foot of a sheer granite cliff face. We proceeded inside the gate and came to a halt in the courtyard. As the oxen and horses were cared for, one of the royal guards that had been escorting the convoy since the beginning, informed us that although we were only a couple of miles away from the Penal Colony, we would spend the night there. Apparently we were right on schedule, and a contingent of prisoners would be waiting for their supply deliveries on the morn. So, for the sixth night of this journey, I lay down in the straw bed of the wagon, and tried to sleep.

My stomach was churning as my anxiety grew, knowing that we were finally here. Sleep fled my eyelids and the morning again seemed as if it would never come. Right at dawn everyone stirred out of bed, got in order, and we departed; this time through a gate on the opposite side of the courtyard from which we entered. This new gate exited onto a narrow path which cut straight through a cleft in the mountain. We did not travel far before we arrived at a widened out plateau. There the tarpaulins were pulled off of the wagons, and the men got to work unloading the cargo. From my vantage point I could not see how far the precipice dropped below us, but could make out that the goods were being loaded onto a large pallet that was lowered down a sort of slanted elevator by means of pulleys and a wench system. Several minutes would pass, and then I would see the pallet return to the top. There sounded to be around a dozen or so men unloading the supplies at the bottom. I overheard one of them give a cry of elation as he discovered a crate full of beer. He must have just opened a bottle when his superior flew off the handle. He commanded the man to put down the bottle at once, for the supplies - ‘all of them!’ the man spat, were to arrive safe and sound at the castle before distribution.

This transfer of goods continued for an additional five or six loads. As the last of the goods were placed onto the pallet, the King’s agent called out that it was time for the prisoners to be sent in. Two of the guards came over to the wagon, unlocked the cage door, and brought Velaya and I out. As we were brought near the platform it was realized that there was only enough room left for one of us.
“Bind her hands and put the girl on first,” said the foremost of the guards and the only one acting in the least bit genteel.
I asked him: “I don’t understand; where is the great barrier?”
“We are standing right in front of it,” he replied. And then as if feeling guilty for not being more forthcoming, he continued: “You cannot see the barrier, usually... see here, watch as the girl is sent through.”
The winch lever was released and with a sound of “clickity clack, clickity clack,” the pallet abruptly began to lower. For an instant I saw a purplish glow form around Velaya and then disappear.
Sensing my wonderment, the guard answered: “The barrier only affects living beings, they can pass through the barrier going in, but not back out.”
“What happens if you try?” I asked.
“Don’t try.. Trust me.” Was all he answered.

Standing near the edge, I could now see the men down below, and the drop of about thirty feet, with a pool of stagnant water around and underneath the elevator framework. The men were a mixture of grunts who were doing the most work of loading the supplies onto carts, and some guards that were dressed almost identically to certain regiments of the King’s own army. This greatly puzzled me, yet I was not given much time to ponder the matter. The buffoon in the Robe of State soon became impatient and started to fuss.
“We don’t have time to wait for these wretches to winch the thing back up! Just throw him in now!” Two of the guards promptly grabbed my arms and dragged me toward the edge.

The decent fellow spoke up:
“Stop! I need this man for something first.” Then, addressing me he said: “I need you to take a message to the high magician of fire. The seal must not be broken or else you will be killed upon delivery. Complete this simple task, however, and I am sure the magicians will reward you handsomely.”
I was a little bewildered at this sudden request, when the agent piped up again.
“What is this all about?! I didn’t know anything about this! Let me see that message!....”
As he went to grab hold of it, I took a deep breath and said:
“I’ll take the message on one condition.”
“What’s that?” Asked the guard.
“That this idiot shuts his mouth!”

I was taken aback by the conviction of my own impulsive words, yet they were well received by everyone save the agent. The exasperated guard was only to happy to oblige.
Clasping his hand around his sword handle, he spoke: “You heard the man. Shut your mouth, sir, or you will lose it.” The robust agent’s face turned beet-red, and it was clear that he got the message. Feeling quite content with this small little victory, I was handed a small canister bearing the King’s own seal. No sooner had it been shoved inside my trousers when I was given a violent shove, and I plunged over the side. For an instant of time, I felt myself entering the barrier, as if thousands of tiny little ants were crawling over my body. Then a moment later, I felt intense stinging pain as I landed back-flat into the water with a tremendous splash.

I would have cried out, but my breath was knocked from me. I swallowed a fair bit of water, and immediately began coughing profusely. I stood up and staggered forward to the edge of the pool, wiping my eyes as I went. As I moved my hands away, yet before I could focus, I heard a gravelly voice say: “Welcome to the colony!”
With that I was struck in the face with tremendous force, rendering me completely unconscious.

Continued in: 'The Savage World'