The Uprising (The Mamluks Saga: Episode 2) by Edward Lake

their peaceful demeanor. This is fantastic.
    The food was ready, and we all worked together to set the table. I couldn’t help but wonder. Where’s their servant? “Have you relinquished your servant?”
    Susan and Zydrunas chuckled as one. Then Susan clarified. “We’ve never used our servant. She lives here of course, but we treat her like family.”
    I narrowed my eyes. “Family?”
    Zydrunas nodded. “Yes. It’s a term from Earth that Susan taught me when we first met. It means loved ones , or relatives .”
    I smiled again, feeling the instant joy in my heart. This is how it should be. “I like that term. Very much so.”
    We took a seat at the table and started eating. Isabella was bashful and blushing as we carried on. Susan and Zydrunas showered me with questions. I answered them kindly, but hated talking about myself, and I was eager to learn more about them.
    “Forgive me for asking, but you seem so different from other Mamluks, Zydrunas. Why is that?”
    He nodded. “I am. There are many Mamluks like me who do not agree with the laws of our society, or the bloodthirsty conquest that Dalia began so long ago.” He looked at Susan and took her hand. “Still, it brought me to you, and for that, I am grateful.”
    I gave her a sorrowful stare. “And you, Susan? How have you dealt with the conquest of Earth?”
    She took a deep breath and her eyes watered a bit. “It was very difficult in the beginning. I lost everything. Then, when they began that horrible selection process with all the women, I snapped. It was just too much to take, so I tried to kill myself, but it didn’t work. And, luckily for me, I was picked by Zydrunas.” She turned and gave him a loving stare. “He was so kind and understanding. He even tried to help me escape, but in the end, I realized there was nowhere to go. So I stayed, and still, Zydrunas has never forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do. After a while, we became friends. And soon after, we fell in love.”
    I sat there in awe and stared at them with a big grin. “It’s so strange. I feel...connected to you both. Like I’ve known you my whole life.”
    Isabella finally joined in, showing that breathtaking, loving smile of hers. “It’s because you’ve felt alone for so long, Juozas. But not anymore.”
    Zydrunas reached out to me and firmly placed his hand on my shoulder. “Susan and I are prepared to join the rebellion, My Champion. We can help you end slavery and bring peace to the world.”
    I nodded proudly as I looked them over. I was overwhelmed, and determined to rise with them, to bring slavery to an end.  Family. That’s what we are. “Together, we will rise.”
    After saying my final farewell for the night, I boarded my ship and accelerated to the snowy ice lands as planned. When I arrived, I flew low and scanned the area. Shortly after, a reading of a life force came onto the screen. I was right by it, too.
    I leaned forward and checked outside. It was a big, four-legged creature with white fur, calmly walking through the snow. I stopped the ship and watched it for a moment. Clearly, the creature was native to Earth, and I wondered what it was called. Such a fascinating animal.
    I took off and continued to scan the area. Then at last, I got a reading of many life forces. I flew closer and the readings became more rapid. I looked outside and realized I was flying toward a mountain cave.
    If there were any runaway slaves nearby, I suspected if they saw a Mamluk ship they might start running. So as not to alarm them, I landed and grabbed a hooded, black cloak I had brought along for the trip. I put it on and apprehensively headed outside. The frigid cold was a shock to my system, and stepping through the snow took some getting used to.
    I paused about twenty feet from my ship and lifted my arm. I pressed a button on my sija that pulled up a holographic screen. On the screen, I could see the signals of the six mock-ships I had sent to the north.