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She had withdrawn into a sullen silence by nightfall. It was too much effort to be angry, and too much trouble to feel sorry for herself; she settled instead for chewing on the ends of her hair and sighing dramatically every now and then, mostly for Devona's benefit. Not that it did any good, as the woman said nothing. She didn't even bother to look up, and Mal eventually had to give up on getting her to pay attention to her. The next morning came, then the afternoon, and Mal was dozing lightly out of a lack of anything better to do when there was a commotion. She sat up and glanced out of her cage. There were several men and a few frighteningly burly women, and one unlocked her door and hauled her out. They escorted her to another room and locked her in with two of the women, who promptly began to tug her clothes off before practically throwing her into a tub of water. It was too much of a luxury to have a bath again for her to complain about it, and she submitted to their attentions as they washed her hair and scrubbed her back. When they deemed her clean enough, they handed her what looked like two handcloths, and Mal held them up with a curious frown. "What are these?" "Your clothes," one of the women told her, and Mal laughed. "These are underclothes," she pointed out, as if this were a joke. "Can I have my trousers and tunic back?" The bigger one with a face like a horse glared at her, and Mal swallowed. It wasn't a joke. She hurriedly tugged them on, and then tried to rearrange them to cover more skin, but it was a futile effort. These... whatever they were, they showed her stomach and legs and nearly every inch of markings on her, and she uncomfortably crossed her arms over her chest as the women looked her over. "Good," the other said, then pushed her toward the door. She was ushered to a long line of people tied to a rope, and someone tied her own wrists in place. Devona was several spots in front of her, and Mal stared jealously at her floor-length shift and muttered epitaphs under her breath until the line began to move and they were led out into a very large room. There were men milling about, and a few groups of people tied up around the room. One of the slavers untied her from the line and led her to a corner where a few other women were standing, and about that time Malorik decided she would have to be dragged out of here kicking and screaming. There was nothing she could have done when she was bound and caged, but right now she was hardly clothed and very, very angry. If she was going to be sold, she would be the worst slave that they'd ever had, and with this in mind she gave the slaver a very sharp kick to the knee. "Filthy bloody slaver bastard," she hissed, and spat straight into his face. |
Date: Feb 06, 2005 on 06:34 p.m. |
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Saul entered with everyone else, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust from the brightness outside to the dimness within. The room was large and oval, and there were shafts of sunlight that came through three large windows in the ceiling and landed on a stage at the far end. Like a few of the others here Saul wore a black hooded domino, and he was surprised to see the number of people who were at ease with bare faces. It seemed only those fresh from Brindia still retained enough shame to conceal their identity. Until he'd learned what had become of Malorik he had not expected slavery to be so widely accepted in Guildsport that it did not hinder your image to be a known participant. Perhaps it was helped by the fact that no one who was not a participant would see you. They stood in rows, silent or chatting, and Saul's skin crawled at how nonchalant these people were. Their organization indicated much practice, and he tried not to think about how much human flesh had changed hands here. The slaves were led out in a line, tied together in a row, and the conversation around him lulled and then lifted again as they were sorted into three groups: women of work, men of work, and women of pleasure. There were no children, at least no children, though a few of the "women of pleasure" were barely older than girls. He spotted Devona as she was led to the far left. She walked slowly but steadily, neither holding up the line nor dragging it forward, and stood precisely where they arranged her. Saul decided at once that he would buy her as well and set her free. He could not conscience leaving someone he knew here with these wolves. He was looking at Devona and thinking these thoughts and jumped when there was a commotion at the other side of the stage. One of the young women was struggling against her captor, and Saul smiled grimly. Fight, girl. It will do you no good, but fight. She kicked the man who led her in the knee, and he gave her a casual slap that turned her head and made her stumble with her back to the audience. There was a murmur of interest from the onlookers. The girl had tattoos along her upper arms that flowed like wings across her back. Her hair was medium brown and straight and fell just past her shoulders, and when she turned he looked her full in the face for several seconds before he recognized her. Malorik. Her keeper tied her in with the others and she glared after him and then stood taller and glared at the audience instead. There were chuckles from a few of the audience members and speculation on where she might be from and what kind of a slave she would make. Saul set his teeth and waited for the thing to begin. The slavers began with the women of work. Each slave was brought forward and the bidding began. If the slave had special talents in the kitchen or in the house, these were listed. As the patrons bid the worker at the end of the row held up a hand, and when the bidding was finished the buyer was handed a receipt. The slave was brought to the holding pen to the side of the stage for payment and retrieval at the buyer's convenience. When they came to Devona it was only mentioned that she had been a Suna slave from birth, but that alone seemed to increase her value. Saul bid for her with several others and won, and wondered at the simplicity of it as he watched her led away. She went without protest or joy and did not even glance in his direction as some of the others had to see what her new master or mistress might be. Not so Malorik. By the time they reached the women of pleasure many of the bidders had been replaced by men who had interest only in the final group. Malorik was the second to be led up to the center, and she jerked at her lead. Ripples of outright laughter met her resistance now, and instead of hitting her again her guard just pulled her along and held her in place from behind while the bidding proceeded. She tossed her hair back and glared at them all. Saul bid and bid again, and when it was over she had cost him almost three times what Devona had. When the bidding was closed Malorik sought him out and glared at him, and Saul made his way over to the holding pen. He handed his receipts to the guard, who led Devona out first. Malorik had a mutinous expression on her face, and the guard took note. "Shall we tie her for you, master?" the man asked, insinuation heavy in his voice. "A bit of a fighter, that one." Saul did not trust himself to speak and merely nodded, and Malorik was wrestled to the floor and tied hand and foot. The guard handed him a neatly wrapped package. "Her original costume, master," he said by way of explanation. "There are coaches by the back way, if you'd prefer." There was amusement in the man's voice now, amusement at Saul's obvious discomfiture, and he nodded again, eager to leave by any way. One of the guards hefted Malorik over his shoulder, and Saul took Devona's lead and pulled it gently. She came forward immediately, and he followed the guard out through the door the slaves had entered by. There were coaches for hire here, and the guard piled Malorik's furious form into one of them and then put Devona into it more gently as well. Saul threw him a gold coin to make him go away and then turned to the driver. "The Signet," he said tightly and then climbed in after the women and shut the door. |
Date: Feb 06, 2005 on 08:59 p.m. |
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She kicked and cursed and fought, but even as she held her head high, her cheeks were burning with humiliation. It was the most shameful thing she had ever experienced, and it made her struggle that much harder, to show them all that she was not someone who would submit to another's will. It did no good, her rebellion. The man guarding her dragged her up to the stage and held her in place when it was her turn to be sold, and she glared at the audience like a furious queen. Some man in a black domino was the one who finally bought her, and when she was returned to the holding pen, she discovered that he had bought Devona as well, and her eyes narrowed. Her guard noticed the look on her face, and he offered to tie her up for her buyer. She resisted him as she had the others, and he had to wrestle her down before he could bind her hand and foot and carry her out of the building. She was thrown into a coach, and was already pulling at the ropes around her wrists when Devona was placed on the seat beside her. Mal moved as far away from the other woman as she could, and glared at her. "You've gotten me bought as a whore," she said furiously. "Now will you teach me to act as a slave instead of a noble?" The coach door opened again, and she fell silent. Their buyer stepped in and sat opposite them, and she bared her teeth at him before drawing her feet up under her and turning her head away. She did not want to see him. You think you've bought me, slaver, but you cannot own me. |
Date: Feb 06, 2005 on 09:52 p.m. |
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The coach set into motion and Saul wasted no time in pulling out his knife and cutting the ropes that bound Devona's hands. She didn't resist, and when he was done she let her hands fall into her lap more naturally. She did not look up or even appear to notice him, and she didn't respond to the sharp-sounding remark that Malorik made in Suna, if it was in fact Suna she spoke. He turned to Malorik and started to reach for her hands to untie them and then looked at the fury on her face and thought better of it. He wanted a chance to explain himself without having to fight her off while he was doing it, and she might be more amenable to reason if she had more to gain by listening. Her clothing left little to the imagination. Though he generally felt no compunction about looking at women in scant or no clothing, it seemed indecent somehow to look at this one when he had seen her in battle. It made him feel slightly like he was looking at one of his men in desire, and he hurriedly stripped off the hooded domino cloak and draped it over her nearly naked form. "Are you injured?" he asked gruffly, knowing full well that she was not but not knowing how else to speak to her. |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 08:59 a.m. |
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He cut Devona's bonds, and Malorik cursed and glowered at him, waiting for him to let her free so that she could attack him. He seemed to know better, though, and sat back for a moment before tugging off his cloak and spreading it over her. The movement brought him close to her, and she stared at his face. She hadn't known what to expect, but it certainly hadn't been him, and she gaped openly at the mercenary captain as he sat back and looked her over. "Are you injured?" "You," she whispered, and then set her jaw and glared at him again. "What is this, some sort of game? You sell us for your bounty and then buy us as your slaves?" |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 09:59 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
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Saul glowered at her. "You are not my slaves. You are not slaves at all. If you will give me your word that you will not attack me then I will cut you free." |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 10:09 a.m. |
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Her righteous anger hesitated at that, and she blinked and then frowned at him suspiciously. Something wasn't right here; she did not trust to think he would buy and release them out of some protest of slavery or a desire to make amends, and she looked at him more closely. He seemed angry but sincere, and she decided that should it come to it, she did not have to keep her word. At least she would be free. "Very well," she conceded, and turned away so that he could cut the rope that bound her hands behind her back. He moved closer, and she tilted her head to smirk at him, her eyes sparkling. "I will refrain from killing you." |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 10:38 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
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He kept his knife lowered, met her eyes and moved no closer. From here she smelled faintly of mint and juniper. The cloak had slipped away from her and he could see the scrollwork of tattoos on her back. "You'll refrain from trying, Malorik, or you can stay like that until we get to the inn." |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 11:02 a.m. |
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Her smirk faded, and she met his gaze with a level stare of her own. "I will not try at all," she said seriously. "You have my word." He nodded and cut the ropes, and when she lifted her feet he cut those bonds too. She wiggled her fingers and then rubbed her wrists, sighing with relief. It felt so good to be free from cages and ties, and she stretched a little before drawing the cloak around her and curling more comfortably on the seat. "Why did you do this?" |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 11:35 a.m. |
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Saul glanced at Devona, who seemed uninterested in everything, and then back to Malorik. "You are a courier, yes? You were hired to carry something across the Vesari?" |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 12:01 p.m. |
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Her expression closed in upon itself, and she was all suspicion and paranoia again. She had not expected him to think her a noble any longer, but few knew her to be a courier, and she wondered who had told him such a thing. First a bountied run, Varn, and now this? "Who told you that?" she asked guardedly, and nudged an elbow toward Devona. "I was hired to guide her to Lahkis. Is that why you ask?" |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 12:21 p.m. |
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He shook his head in frustration. "Do not lie to me any more, Malorik," he said in an angry tone. "I know that the man who rode the horse we took from your caravan was part of a courier pair and he rode next to you. Was the courier someone else?" He looked at Devona again, but she did not look up. "Devona." She brought her head up and kept her eyes down. "Is this woman a courier?" "I do not know," said Devona in a transparent voice, devoid of any will. That set him back a moment. "Are you a courier?" he asked. Devona paused. "I was." "What were you carrying?" asked Saul, beginning to lose his patience. "A girl," answered Devona, "but she is dead." Saul was silent for a moment and then turned back to Malorik with a questioning look in his eyes, but Malorik remained defensive and silent. "Answer me, Malorik," he said when she offered nothing. "Are you a courier?" |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 12:35 p.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
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Devona was no help at all, and the captain seemed determined to get his answer. Mal ignored him as long as she could, but he knew about Reno, and most likely about the box, and it did not really matter. She had neither, after all, so it would do him no good. "Yes," she said shortly, sounding extremely sullen. "Why do you care? I don't have whatever it is you're looking for, sandrat." |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 12:42 p.m. |
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"No, you don't, or much of anything else," he retorted, "but you know where the box is. It was stolen and handed to you for delivery to someone in Lahkis, and I was supposed to bring it back. I got one from your caravan master, but it was the wrong one." He eyed Malorik critically. "You hid it, and not on your partner's horse. Where is it?" |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 01:17 p.m. |
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"Why should I tell you?" she asked loftily, giving him a look that told him she knew how valuable this information was. "It is still my package to deliver, wherever it is now, and you were already paid for it. I am not in the habit of handing contracted goods over to mercenaries." He gave her a dark look, and hers grew more smug. "Give me a good reason to tell you. And--" she added, pointing her finger at him, "do not even bother threatening me. You would not have gone to this trouble if it wasn't so important to you." |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 01:55 p.m. |
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Saul ground his teeth at her stupid insolence and would have replied but the carriage came to a stop. He got out and the women followed them, and he paid the driver and led them around to the side entrance. A few of the serving girls looked at them curiously, but he got them upstairs and to his room without any real trouble and shut and locked the door behind him before turning back to Malorik. "You're not a noble. Quit acting like one," he said coldly. "You are in no position to strike a bargain. Whatever worth you had as a courier is gone the moment the caravan leader sells your package and you know it. I don't see how he trusted you to deliver anything but trouble for him, but that doesn't matter now." He'd been advancing slowly toward her as he spoke without really intending to, and he stopped a few inches from her and stared down into her face. "You tell me where the box is and I will take you to it. You can take it to your contact and then I'll take it from him and you can go your way and I will go mine." |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 02:13 p.m. |
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It was one thing to know that her reputation as a courier was all but gone, but quite another to hear him say it to her face, and in such a condescending tone. Her eyes narrowed and she wanted to hit him, despite her promise, and she turned her head but did not back away. "You do not have to remind me what a precarious position I am in, especially when you are responsible for placing me there." She glared at him then, and glanced briefly toward the door, but he had locked it and he was right. She had nothing right now, and he was giving her a very generous offer. Pride told her to refuse his concession, but rationality quickly reminded her that once she lead him to the box, her part of the bargain was completed, and there was an edge to her smile this time. "Fine," she said, leaning closer until their faces were almost touching. "But I want my swords back." |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 03:16 p.m. |
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He wanted to pull away from her but it would have made him seem weak, and so he just looked back at her impassively. "No," he said with finality. "You ride with me and we keep to the Desert Road. A woman with swords will only attract attention." |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 04:03 p.m. |
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"A woman without will draw just as much," she reminded him, but he would not be persuaded and she gave up with a sigh. Now it was disconcerting, being so close to him, and she backed away from him a few steps. "May I at least have my trousers, then?" She pulled the cloak aside and frowned down at her bare legs. "It is rather drafty in here." |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 04:22 p.m. |
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Saul looked at her with amused disdain and tossed the little package at her. "Please make use of them," he said sourly, "and give me the cloak when you're done. It'll need washing." |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 05:44 p.m. |
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She caught the wrapped bundle and made a face at him, an expression that was somewhere in between amused and insulted. The slavers had at least been kind enough to neatly fold her clothes, and she tugged on her riding trousers and slipped into the undertunic with a pleased sigh. Much better. Now decently dressed, she shrugged off the cloak and wadded it up before throwing it at him, but he only smirked. The floor was rough beneath her bare feet, and she wriggled her toes in irritation and looked at him expectantly. "My boots?" she asked, her tone hopeful, and he turned to dig around in a satchel near the bed. She was surprised that he had kept them, but said nothing, and when he tossed them at her sat down on the floor and put them on. He was watching her, and she looked up at him closely. She wanted to say something, but wasn't certain what, and settled for a question instead. "...what's your name?" |
Date: Feb 07, 2005 on 07:46 p.m. |
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He dug into his packs for her boots and dropped them on the floor in front of her before starting the search for her tunic. "What's your name?" she asked, and he slowed for a minute and then continued. He hadn't remembered that she didn't know his name. "My name is Saul," he replied diffidently as he located her clothing and handed it to her. "You're not my prisoner, Malorik. I can find the caravan master on my own if I have to. He'll have made Lahkis by now. Just hope that whatever's in that box will be hard to move." He turned away from her and tied up his satchels again. "I can trust you not to steal out of my packs? I need to check in with Fel. Don't go downstairs. Rhodos and Vidon are around and I don't want them to see you. They will not be coming with us." It felt a little strange to speak to her as if she were another man, but it was easier than trying to speak to her as if she were a woman. |
Date: Feb 08, 2005 on 10:24 a.m. |
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Saul. "I doubt they will find a buyer, and not without considerable difficulty," she told him confidently. "I don't run anything that isn't valuable or important. Though you seem to disbelieve that," she added, with a small scowl, and then waved a hand at him. "Go ahead with your business. I will stay here with Devona until you return." He nodded, and she got up and stepped over to where Devona stood. The woman had said nothing further after Saul's questions in the coach, and she didn't look up when Malorik approached her. Mal touched her shoulder gently, and bent down to glance at her face, but her expression was blank and she sighed. "Devona?" |
Date: Feb 08, 2005 on 11:02 a.m. |
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"Devona?" Saul glanced over. The woman brought her head up immediately at the sound of her name but said nothing, and Saul shifted uncomfortably. "She's free to go," he said to Malorik quickly. "There is no reason for her to make this journey." He found a small brown pouch and held it out to Devona, who took it when it became apparent that was what he wished her to do. "You're free to go," he repeated more forcefully, and Devona nodded but did not meet his eyes or move toward the door, and so Saul pulled it open himself and left instead. |
Date: Feb 08, 2005 on 12:21 p.m. |
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She waited until he was gone before laying a hand on Devona's arm, but was no more successful in getting a reaction from the other woman this time. "Devona?" she asked again, and when she got no reply, Mal gently pushed her over to the bed and made her sit down. Devona said nothing, and Mal knelt in front of her so that she would have to look at her. "He's set you free, Devona, but I am not going to leave you behind until I know that it is what you want. You are just going to have to speak with me." Her brow furrowed. "Say something." |
Date: Feb 08, 2005 on 12:34 p.m. |
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Devona looked at the southland woman because she would not go away and replayed in her mind what the woman had said in Brindian. Brindian had dips and stops that let you know where the words began and ended, just like Suna. Even the southland language was a little like it, just a little rougher. Vesari was smooth. It flowed without interruption and made it hard for most people raised on the other continent to learn it; inflection could alter the meaning of almost any word. Until it was spoken well it did not yield itself to whispers. "What shall I say?" she asked calmly in Brindian. "That I am not what you hated now, that I am not a slave? I am not a slave." |
Date: Feb 08, 2005 on 01:23 p.m. |
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"I did not hate you, only that someone would force you to such servitude." Her voice became quieter. "I saw the whip scars on your back, Devona. That is... that is wrong," she said, her tone becoming angry. "You could do nothing to deserve such a thing, and now you are free. No master will mistreat you again. If you would like to travel with us to Lahkis, please do, or I will carry a message to Raspeth for you. It is your choice." |
Date: Feb 08, 2005 on 01:57 p.m. |
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Fury gripped Devona and made her stand up and glare at the younger woman. "You who are a child, you who have never served any but yourself and have never known the lash on your back, you dare to tell me what I do and do not deserve? You know nothing! You understand nothing! Say nothing!" Her voice had grown to nearly a scream, and the sound of her own voice raised in anger made her eyes widen slightly. With an effort her hands unclenched and she brought her eyes back to the floor and calmed herself. "I am sorry, Malorik," she said softly without looking up. "I know you are my friend. I will not travel with you, but if you would you can take a message to the girl for me." |
Date: Feb 08, 2005 on 03:09 p.m. |
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posts: 1144 since: Mar 03, 2001 |
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Malorik stared at Devona in openmouthed surprise, then quickly dropped her gaze to the ground. She felt guilty for a reason she couldn't define, and ashamed, too, for having made the other woman so furious. She didn't understand it and didn't want to anger her further by asking, and waited until Devona was done speaking before venturing to apologize. "I am sorry too, Devona," she said contritely, and glanced up at her. "I did not mean to be so thoughtless. You have kept us both safe through this, and I would not question you again." She tried for a wan smile. "You are my friend too, and I am sorry you won't be traveling with me. I am sure that Raspeth will miss you, but be happy to hear that you are alright." |
Date: Feb 08, 2005 on 03:48 p.m. |
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Devona met Malorik's eyes. "Tell her nothing of me," she said softly. "Tell her that her mother is dead and that she holds her title, and if she values her life she will not return to Sunan." Malorik nodded slowly, and Devona unlocked the door and left the room. |
Date: Feb 08, 2005 on 06:35 p.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 1144 since: Mar 03, 2001 |
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Date: Feb 09, 2005 on 06:48 p.m. |
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All times are CST -8. |
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