Chapter 3

When Tony and Terry first saw Linnel they weren't sure they had arrived. Yana and Lissel had spoken a lot over the last two days of the wonders of Linnel. From the descriptions they had expected to see a large town with many inhabitants and numerous shops selling goods of all kinds. Instead the city consisted of the tents of several family/tribes surrounding a small area (about eight to ten acres) of stone walled buildings with hide roofs. None of the buildings were taller than one story and most consisted of small rooms in which the few permanent inhabitants slept. They could only see men under hide shades with tables full of wares that they showed to anyone who came near. The buildings surrounded several open spaces that had slopes surrounding them to make bowl shaped arenas. Only several buildings identified by Tim Abrahamson as belonging to the shamans were larger, but even those had hide roofs due to the numerous earthquakes caused by the separating super continent.

The 'memories' of Tony told him that the cities were normally safe havens were all were welcome and fighting was prohibited. The only permanent inhabitants were clan less men who had lost fights and were too injured to travel with the herds or those forced by circumstances of their own or other's malice to flee from their tribes. The cities grew up around these men who did the work, such as smelting or tanning that the wandering tribes were unable to do. These men were of low caste but since their work was so necessary to the tribes they extended their protection to the inhabitants despite their caste. Killing a city dweller without cause was considered an insult to the family/tribes that controlled the area on which the town stood.

The city was filled with ambitious men on their matrimonial journey who felt themselves good enough fighters to bet their lives on their ability. Those without ambition or who weren't good enough fighters stayed around their tribes and were seldom given wives. This further reduced the possibility that men who could not defend themselves would be given the chance to breed. These men often became the shamans of the family/tribe. These men provided medical care as well as passed along the verbal history of the family/tribe to the city shamans. The city shamans acted as a gathering place of the collected experience of the families/tribes.

When the troop arrived they went not to one of the buildings but to a large tent. After they dismounted, Tim dismounted and waved his hand at several men, who came forward to take the horses. Turning back to Tony he came to a formal stance and recited a formula that he must have said thousands of times, "You are welcome to the tents of Abrahamson. Eat and drink without obligations other than that of a guest." Turning to one of the troops who had come with them he told him, "Show my guests to the visitor's area and report back to me." After that he entered the tent and ignored Tony and the women completely.

This would have been considered rude behavior on Earth, but Tony and Terry's 'memories' told them that this was normal. Tony was regarded as of being of low status having only one wife and thus required the family head to give him little notice. Only after he had joined a family tribe would Tony receive more attention. Despite this Tony could see Terry getting mad at how she was ignored by the family/tribesmen. She opened her mouth and Tony was quick to interrupt before she could say anything. "Wife, get one of the servants to bring the horses!"

Terry gave him an angry look and then stopped to say something to Lissel. This allowed her to remember that they were no longer on Earth and she kept silent. Her eyes showed that she was going to let him know what she was feeling later on. Relieved that she had not said anything to get them into trouble, Tony gave her a grateful look. Terry glared at him for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders.

During this they had continued to follow the trooper to an area different from the rest of the city. Here the area was filled with young men and women, all wearing matrimonial clothing. Tony could see many of the men practicing while the women were doing all the work around the tents. The trooper led them through most of the area until he reached a spot where the tents were less dense. Having done so he left without having said a word through out the trip.

Tony looked around the area and noticed that the tents had servants wandering around the area, unlike most of the city that they had gone through. Many tents had strings of horses and several packs around as well. Making sure to be quiet, he turned to Terry, "Looks like they sent us to the high rent district at least."

Terry was still angry, "Did you see the women while we were coming here? They were doing all the work while the men were just sitting around or talking. I can't believe the women let the men treat them that way."

Her voice caught the attention of another man standing near by. "Silence your woman! Your mother must have hated you to give you such an ill-mannered wife!"

Tony realized he had to respond to this or be considered weak and a target for a challenge. "As you say, she is my woman! I need no advice from another man!"

The man looked offended with Tony's response and was about to draw his sword when an older man came hurrying over followed by several armed troopers. "No fighting in the town! If you have a problem with each other we will arrange your fight quickly."

Reluctantly the man let the sword slid back into the scabbard. Curtly he nodded and turned back toward the nearby tent. The older man watched him until he entered the tent and then turned to face Tony. "I am Robert Abrahamson and we are here to place a value on your inheritance for the fights."

"What if I don't want to fight?" Tony asked curiously.

The man looked at him as if he was insane and then must have decided that it was a rhetorical question, "Of course you may decline if the value does not meet the half you are wagering but we are renowned for fair valuations. We also make sure that weapons are equal and will keep any outside interference from affecting the fights. Your winnings will be kept safe until the fighting is over. On this you have the word of the family Abrahamson."

Tony had realized that he would have to fight since he had first 'remembered' when they arrived on Ain. The idea of actively seeking a fight was still foreign to him though and frankly scared him silly. There was nothing he could say in response after the Abrahamson official invoked the honor of his family. Any argument would have been an insult to the entire Abrahamson family/tribe.

His silence must have been taken as permission to look at the goods in the saddlebags as the official quickly went to them and began looking inside. Terry looked as if she wanted to say something but had the sense to remain silent as well. When he had finished inspecting the goods, the official gave Tony a token. When he looked at it questioningly the official explained, "That shows you have goods in excess of 1000 hanta. It will take the lower caste fighters time to obtain enough goods to challenge you. This lets those who feel they can win, challenge those of equal caste. Men in the same caste may challenge any one of a lower caste at any time. If someone of an equal caste challenges you, we will make a determination if the value of the goods offered is enough. Your servants may draw food and fuel from the provisions tent until then. If you need to purchase anything else, there are the city merchants."

Having finished, the official turned and headed toward another new arrival. Terry began to say something but Tony gave her a warning glance. Terry shook her head rebelliously then turned to order Yana and Lissel to pick up provisions for tonight. Tony instructed them to find out anything they could about the people in the area from the other servants. Terry and Tony quickly put up the hattl and placed the packs containing their personal items into the tent. When Terry and Tony got inside Terry exploded, "I can't stand the attitude of the men around here! They treat women like they're not even human. I don't think that any of the men spoke to a woman the whole time we've been here except to tell her to do something. And the women just let them do it!" She looked at Tony, "You better not expect me to act like that."

By this time Tony was getting mad as well, "I do expect you to act that way in public! All you are doing is endangering both of us! I've had twelve year olds who act more maturely. Like it or not we are going to be spending the rest of our lives here, so you better learn to adjust!" For a moment Terry glared at him until she suddenly lowered her head in submission to his demands. Tony was still angry, "I've put up with enough of your shit. Either you listen to me or I'll win another wife and you can survive on your own. I intend to survive and prosper here with or without you!"

When Tony finished there was a silence suddenly ending with Terry breaking out in tears. "I want to go home!" she blurted out. "I'm scared of being treated that way and even more of learning to accept it as normal. I miss my family and friends!"

Tony wasn't sure how to handle this. He did know that she would have to stop reacting like she would on Earth. Awkwardly he held her, "Terry, I'm scared too. I never thought I'd have to kill someone in cold blood just to live. I don't know if I can. We aren't on Earth anymore and I don't know of any way to get back home. I miss my family and friends too. We have to get over it though or the AI will win. I will do my best to protect and support you. That's all I can do, honey."

They cuddled together comforting each other until they heard Yana outside scratching at the hattl's entrance. "Master, an official of the fights is here."

Reluctantly they disengaged and Tony went out to see what the official had to say. This was another Abrahamson representative whom they had not met before. He held in his hand a token similar to the one Tony had received. "You have been scheduled for your first fight tomorrow at two hands after sun break. An escort will be here to show you the arena." He took the token from Tony's unresisting hand and walked away without another word. When he turned, still numb from the challenge, he saw Terry's face. It was drained of blood and scared. Without a word he entered the hattl.

Later Lissel and Yana came in, bringing the evening meal to Tony and Terry where they sat in the hattl. Looking at Tony for permission, she began telling them of what she had learned from the other servants. Tony's challenger was the man who had partially drawn his sword earlier. Yana told them that he had won two fights already and was known to be a dangerous fighter. He was regarded as an ambitious man who seemed to pick fights with men who had just arrived and had as many goods as he could manage to match. The servants regarded him as a cruel man who delighted in making their life difficult.

Terry interrupted her at this point, "What are his weaknesses?"

"He is said to favor the saber and is very strong with his offense. The servants said he tends to overpower his opponents quickly. If a man can withstand his attack, they believe that he will quickly tire and provide openings in his defense. His weakest weapon is the spear."

Tony had a spear but had never used it. This in combination with a small buckler was the main armament of the lancers who backed up the horse archers in war. This was rarely used in single combat and may have been why it was his opponent's weakest weapon.

"Who determines the weapons we can use for the fight?" Tony asked.

"The city shamans will cast omens and decide which weapons are to be used that day so no one has an unfair advantage." Lissel answered.

That was the extent of what they had been able to learn so far and they went to bed. It was a long time before Tony got to sleep though. For much of the night he stared at the roof above him wondering if he would be around to see it tomorrow.