Steel Hounds

Jatu

She hurried around the busy corners of the narrow streets. Keeping her mouth covered with her ratted cloak to not only block the stench of rotting flesh but the diseases that took the life out of the foul smelling corpses. She turned another corner onto a brighter, yet not any less stench filled, cobble stone road. She lifted her head, eyes darting from under her hood, spotting her hovel with the dripping roof down the way. Making her way past the dwarves arguing over the value of mere trinkets and the gathered elves to praise a well self-maintained centaur, she kept her eyes wandering for the red-bearded man.

She moved towards the thin framed door before she could even touch it she felt the thick breath creep through her hood and onto her neck. Her hairs stood on end as she scrunched her nose and turned. Before her, stood two large Ogres, between them,  was scrawny hunched over troll, staring at her with beady black eyes. The women could tell by the trolls toothy grin Rodul would be visiting soon.

"Jatu, you know what time it is? You know what day it is? Hehe, do you?" The troll giggled like a crazed child killing an insect for the first time and finding joy in it. She stared down at the little green man, debating whether or not shove her boot into his yellow-toothed grin.

"Troll ask question," the Ogre with the minor underbite huffed, sending a thick puff of moist air into her face.

"I do, although, I'm afraid he will be disappointed." Jatu's faded green eyes flashed from the reflective surface of a mirror being carted behind the beasts. She looked at her hazy reflection for a brief moment before the troll clears his throat and she shifts her head downward to meet his gaze.

"That'll be most enjoyable, I can hardly wait", The troll snickered. Brongis continued giggling as the company of three slinked off and blended in with the crowd. Jatu exhaled heavily and turned to the door. Taking in another breath she opened it. Inside was dark and smelled of mildew, the sound of the outside street barely seemed to echo inwards. 

"Vact tu jahn" She whispered, the door slammed shut and orange lights shone from the corners of the room, filling it with a warm buzz. Charms and trinkets hanging from the ceiling dinged against one another from the brief air movement. She made her way from the front of the room, around a cluttered table and ducked under a tilted shelf over filled with herbs and odd liquids to the back of the tight space. Moving quietly she opened a crooked doorway to a calmer, less vibrant and more comfortable room.

In the back corner was a half sized on the carpeted floor, beside the bed was yet another cluttered surface area. Shelves covered the walls and a ridged desk shoved into the little wall space opposite of the bed. Under the thick grey blanket rested a small frame of a child. Jatu shrugged off the cloak and sat at the foot of the bed. Rubbing the sleeping girls dark skin fondly. The girl's bright yellow eyes fluttered open and gazed up her mother.

"Is it time again, mummy?" The girl asked sitting up. Jatu nodded and ran her fingers through the white hair of the child.

"Come, Ambra, mummy needs your help" Jatu smiled softly and took her daughter's hand. The two ducked into the crowded orange room. Motioning for Ambra to stand back, Jatu opened the door to find a slim man with pulled back red hair and piercing blue eyes to stare back at her. Behind him was a covered cart, the sheet covering the load was stained and ripped. In the corner, Jatu could see a large claw hanging out.

"Rodul, I apologize for the inconvenience but it has been too short of a time period since the last-"

"I don't want your apologies or excuses I want you to do your only job. Bring my men back, and get your payment." The man stared at her, stiff and intimidating. Jatu nodded hesitantly and moved off to the side, Ambra joined her, clinging to her mother's fabrics. The two Ogres from earlier entered, carrying three corpses in total. Two well-built trolls and small, seemingly young, Orc.

"The Orc obviously died of starvation, the other two flesh wounds to major arteries, that I can save but the Orc..." Jatu knelt down on the floor and inspected the bodies, Ambra looking over her shoulder.

"At least save the two useful idiots that were killed by a pathetic Minotaur, I don't really need the boy. He came a bit smaller than we wanted." Rodul said harshly while turning to the door. "Actually don't waste your time on him. He's useless..." Jatu looked at the malnutrition affected body. Ambra placed her small hand on her shoulder. Jatu looked into her eyes for a moment before standing.

"I can bring back all three. It will be difficult and pushing my limit, but I can do it"

"Good, next time don't try to get out of our agreement."  Jatu's jaw tightened before she had even started, she could feel the exhaustion. Ambra patted off, returning shortly with a bowl of thick white paste and a stool. Jatu whispered her thanks to the child before kneeling once more before the first body.  

"Vact ju", said Ambra, the lights dimmed and the room was still. 

"eh ka vu jah" Jatu began her chanting while smearing the paste deep into the wound across the chest of the troll. She repeated the chant over and over again, eventually, her eyes closed and she swayed slightly, unsure whether it was from her work or how light headed she started to feel. She stopped suddenly at the sound of a sharp inhale. She looked around, seeing Ambra in the corner, ready with the stool to catch her if she got too tired. Jatu glanced down and saw the heavy breathing Troll. She repeated the process once more on the second Troll, covered in wounds from the horns. 

Jatu attempted to stand after the second troll took its' breath. Ambra rushed over quickly to help her rest on the uneven stool. Breathing heavy, Jatu looked at the lifeless orc.

"I could help, mummy" Ambra suggested quietly.

"You are so young...yet so ahead of your few years." Jatu smiled weakly at her, she nodded and knelt back down on the dusty floor, Ambra besides her. 

"Hands out like this alright? Fingers spread a little bit, there you go" Jatu adjusted her daughter's hands before sprinkling an odd colored petal around the body.

"Tak viel fura bin," Ambra began chanting, squeezing her eyes shut and sticking her arms out as far as she could. Jatu smiled to herself before joining to the chant. The two kept at it for what felt like hours when the room had a certain buzz fill it. Ambra opened her yes and looked down at the boy.

"Mum, he's breathing" Ambra tugged on her sleeve. Jatu stopped her repetitive chanting and looked for herself. The Orc was breathing, shallowly but still taking in oxygen. Jatu nodded and flinched as she heard banging on the door. She stood tiredly and opened it to find the giggling troll and Rodul.

Rodul stepped in and looked over the three, he turned suddenly and struck Jatu. Jatu turned back calmly, not reacting to the stinging across her face. Ambra stood quietly in the corner, looking away. Brongis giggled in the door way, shufflinghis feet slightly in place.

"I wanted them alert! I needed them for an attack tonight" Rodul growled through gritted teeth.

"I did what I could, they are alive." Jatu said, keeping her eyes forward.

"I don't care if they are alive if tehy are just usless sacks of meat when i need them!" Rodul stood taller and took a breath.  "I will be back in a week, you better rest up, I'll probably end up bringing double" Rodul rushed through the door, sending in one of the Ogers to carry the resting bodies, the troll stood for a moment with a large grin on his face. His laugh could be heard once he follwed the Oger out into the street.