"We had our own kingdom in Taung. I was a prince, but my father was murdered along with my brother. I'd been accused of killing them. I stood trial and was acquitted. But the judge who acquitted us was, himself, killed by the King's steward. His men hunted us, but we escaped. They stole my sister's child before killing my sister and her love. The poor child was one years old at the time. She didn't deserve to lose her parents. The steward runs my kingdom and hunts me along with my family every single day. We lived in Lumber House for month, which was long enough. We needed to go."
"Why?" Lindi began, "Why tell us this? There must be a major bounty upon your head. Otherwise why move so often?"
He sighed, his wife smiled and looked directly at Heather. She opened her mouth to say something, but her body slumped, and she turned to her baby. Holding the boy and rocking him softly.
"You're right, the bounty is as high as thirty thousand gold pieces for our heads combined. Only five thousand separately."
Lindi held her head and stared with wide eyes. "By the gods" she breathed.
Heather shook her head. "It's too much, sounds like swindling."
"I can see why you'd think that. Thirty thousand gold is a ridiculous amount of money. But,"
Matthias, if that was his real name, paused and a slow smile worked its way up his lips.
"It's considerably less within Taung, especially for a king and most especially for those who live within the Taung Trade Web"
"Web?" Lindi asked"
"It's a series of roads which are well protected, fast and filled with gold. All the Black continent's gold passes through there at some point. It's there," Matthias suddenly burst out laughing. "It has never crossed my mind that they might just double cross the bounty hunter. The idea of money being passed over had always been a comforting thought."
"Sorry" Heather sighed.
"Don't be, this has its own hollow comforts"
"You've yet to explain your honesty Matthias. We Black Air Raiders are not known or famous for our humility, fair play and humanitarianism or any other 'isms."
Matthias shrugged. "I didn't know that, but I would have told you anyway." He seemed to pause, thinking seriously. "Do you believe in prophecies?"
If Heather and Lindi were dogs their ears would have risen, tails wagging.
Lindi sat up. "Prophets, and visions are the backbone of our beliefs. We have entire temples to display the most fascinating of depictions. Every royal fort has a special underground chamber. Within those priests control a roll of special symbols that only the 'gifted' can correctly depict, as they move at random. Every king or queen must follow them."
"Wow, ours is not so impressive. We simply have oracles. But, I digress, the question you ask is a good one because this vision is one you must hear. My wife is the one who should tell it though. It's her vision."
Heather and Lindi looked to Matthias's wife. She bowed but looked away, distraught.