Warriors [4] Theros Ironfield by Don Perrin Page B

what I can teach. Remember that you are still a slave, especially outside of this building. In here, though, you are my apprentice first and foremost. What is your name?”
    Theros stared, amazed. Always before, he’d been known as “slave.”
    “Theros.”
    “Now, Theros, get to work.” Hran had grinned.
    The movement of the ship jolted Theros back to the present. He sighed. Hran would be pleased if he could see him today. Theros was free, and no longer had to do the work of a slave on the ship.
    But even the lowest-ranking minotaur would rate higher than Theros. He would always have to wait to speak until he was spoken to. He could have no say in politics or administration, nor could he hold any official position. He could not own property.
    So what was Theros to do now? Where would he go? He had no desire to return to his own homeland, somewhere in Nordmaar, which he barely remembered. He imagined himself catching fish, day after day. He was a warrior, not a fisherman!
    Three days out to sea, Huluk finally appeared on the deck. Theros walked over to greet the minotaur officer and extended an arm in support. Huluk refused the help.
    “The surgeon says that I will always walk with a limp, but I will be fit for fighting in a month or two. I need the exercise. Walk with me and keep me company.”
    “Commander, could I ask you for some advice?” Theros fell into step beside the minotaur.
    Huluk grimaced. “Oh, now that you are free, you have decided to adopt me as your father, is that it?”
    Theros smiled. “No, sir! I wouldn’t dream of … well, that is, I would be honored to … I mean …”
    “Relax, Theros. I was joking. Now what is it that you want advice about?”
    Theros hesitated, trying to frame his thoughts into words. The two walked over to the rail. Huluk leaned against the bulkhead.
    “They’ve done wonders for me down below, but it will take weeks before I can sit in a chair. Sargas be my witness, I hate elves! Now, what is it you want to ask me?”
    Theros turned to the minotaur officer. “Where should I go from here, sir? I am a weapons-smith. At least, I
was
an apprentice weapons-smith. I can’t work as a smith in a minotaur army. Minotaur law forbids it because I am a human.”
    Huluk was thoughtful. “We can be so shortsighted sometimes. If you want to continue as a smith, Theros, there is only one option open to you. You will have to go back to your own race. Freedom in minotaur society is not equality. You need the respect of the people for whom you are working. It seems that you must find yourself a human army.”
    “I don’t even know where to look. How do I get to human lands? How do I present myself?” Theros was perplexed.
    “Ah, yes.” Huluk said, nodding. “You have been a slave most of your life. You have not been among very many humans. When I was younger, I was a junior officer, much like Nevek. We were in central Ansalon, fighting alongside Dargon Moorgoth, a mercenary human commander from somewhere called Sanction. We were fighting with Moorgoth to conquer the island of Schallsea, in the Newsea. The raid that we jointly planned went poorly, but not becauseof any mistakes on Moorgoth’s part. He might be someone to try to find.”
    “Sanction? Where is that?” Theros asked.
    “It’s a city somewhere in the middle of continental Ansalon. I do not know where, exactly. Yes, Sanction is where I would look for humans who might have need of a skilled smith.”
    “Thank you, Commander. I will take your advice.”
    “I will introduce you to a ship’s captain named Olifac. He is supposed to be running weapons in that area. He will take you where you wish to go, provided you work for your passage.”
    Theros nodded. “Thank you again, Commander.”
    “Before you go, you should at least spend some time as a smith in Lacynes. You are a free human in minotaur society, and we minotaurs are among the most skilled smiths in all of Krynn. Why not sign on for a year or two,