Richard Tuttle - Web of Deceit

Each of the Pikata people inspected the slaves. From their comments they were not thrilled with the quality of the slaves. They complained about the age and fitness of the slaves and generally acted disinterested. The only one to inspect Rejji was Marshal Ulmreto. He sized Rejji up as Wyant had when he joined the Zaldoni, but the Marshal was not impressed and moved on down the line.

Mistake was the only slave chosen when the Seneschal picked her out, after learning that the girl could read and write. The Seneschal and Mulando went off to one side and started bickering about the price for Mistake as the other slavers started putting the slaves back in the wagons. Rejji grew frantic at the thought of being separated from Mistake and tried to figure out what skills he could proclaim to have so that he would be chosen to stay with her. He hung his head in defeat as the slavers gathered up the slaves for his wagon and started to herd them back in.

As the slaver grabbed his arm to push him into the wagon, Rejji said, “Wait.”

The slaver hesitated a moment and Rejji turned to him. “I think I can sell a few more of us if you give me the chance.”

The slaver stared at him strangely for a moment and then started to push Rejji in, when another slaver spoke, “Why not give him a chance? The quicker we get rid of them, the sooner we can get out of this country.”

The slaver with his arm on Rejji hesitated again. He pulled Rejji back out of the wagon. “If you are thinking of doing something to make fools of us,” he warned, “I will make you very sorry.”

“No,” promised Rejji. “This place looks very nice to me and I think I can convince them that we have talents they can use. I am tired of living in a cage. I would rather be a slave here than continue riding. I promise I will try my best.”

“What talents do you have?” the slaver asked.

The commotion was starting to draw attention and Rejji looked around for the Marshal, but he had already left. He still hadn’t figured out what talents he could profess to have, but an idea popped into his head. He saw Bursar Wicado staring at him and the slaver and boldly walked over to him.

“Bursar, Sir,” Rejji said respectfully, “there is one in the wagon with me who can help you a great deal.”

The slaver Rejji had slipped away from came up behind him and Rejji could hear the man growling, but the Bursar looked amused.

“And you have great knowledge of what my needs are?” smiled the Bursar. “I suppose you ran an estate of your own in Fakara?”

Rejji shook his head. “No, Sir,” Rejji said, “but I know that your clova are very sick and in danger of dying. I also know one of the slaves who can help you with that problem.”

“Is that so?” the Bursar questioned as his eyebrows rose. “You are familiar with raising clova?”

“No, Sir,” smiled Rejji. “I am a merchant, but that doesn’t stop me from observing things. One of the slaves remarked on the good quality of your wasooki, but was astonished at the poor quality of your clova. He expects they will die if not cared for. He has a way with animals that is quite miraculous.”

“I am sorry Bursar for this display of rudeness,” the slaver behind Rejji intoned as he grabbed Rejji by the shoulder. “I will throw him back in the wagon.”

“No,” interrupted the Bursar. “I am interested in this animal healer. Leave this boy here too. I wish to learn more of him.”

The slaver looked genuinely surprised and asked Rejji whom the Bursar was requesting. Rejji described Bakhai and the slaver set off to get him.

“What type of merchant were you in Fakara?” the Bursar asked.

“I traded many things,” Rejji stated, “but I controlled the only supply of petrified shark’s teeth in Fakara. “I presume you have seen them for sale here in Khadora. I traded exclusively with Brontos of Khadora.”

“Hmm,” muttered the Bursar. “I am not into jewelry very much, but I do recall seeing those. Very expensive if I recall. How did you manage to get enslaved with such a lucrative business?”

“Bandits,” frowned Rejji. “They destroyed my entire village and my business with it.”

“Most unfortunate,” Wicado said. “Do you know how to read and write?”

“Oh yes,” smiled Rejji. “I know numbers as well.”

The slaver pushed Bakhai over to stand next to Rejji.

“I understand that you think our clova are sick,” the Bursar stated. “Why do you believe that?”

“I looked at them and heard them,” Bakhai answered.

“Heard them?” questioned the Bursar. “You can tell if an animal is sick by listening to it?”

Bakhai just nodded.

“Can you cure them?” Wicado asked.

“I don’t know,” Bakhai answered. “I would have to find out why they are sick.”

“And do you know how to determine why they are sick?” Wicado asked.

Rejji cringed and hoped Bakhai would not say that he was going to ask the clova what ailed them.

“Yes,” Bakhai answered. “I think I can figure it out.”

“Well if the price for you is not too high,” smiled the Bursar, “perhaps you will get the chance to prove your worth. I will go talk to Mulando.”

Rejji sighed as the Bursar stepped away and the slaver shoved him and Bakhai towards the wagon. He may have succeeded in getting Bakhai sold, but that only meant that he would be leaving both of his friends behind. The whole time he was selling Bakhai, he was trying to figure what skills he had that he could sell and had come up empty.

He saw Mulando looking towards the wagon and shaking his head as he spoke with the Bursar. Mulando called the slaver at Rejji’s wagon over and the slaver came back and fetched Bakhai. He took Bakhai over to stand next to Mistake. Rejji looked around hoping to see somebody performing tasks that he could do, but there had been only a limited number of skills needed in the village he grew up in. He could do almost any menial task, but so could all of the other slaves and that alone would not entice the buyers into choosing him.

While Rejji was looking around, he saw another traveling merchant with a wagon like the one that Brontos had. He saw the merchant staring at him, but the man looked away when Rejji made eye contact. It made him wonder if Brontos ever came to this estate. When Rejji returned his attention to Mulando, his heart sank. Mistake and Bakhai were gone, as was the Seneschal. The Bursar was heading towards the traveling merchant and Mulando was calling to his men to return to the wagons and prepare to leave. Rejji hung his head in despair and suddenly felt very lonely. He suddenly realized how much he enjoyed Mistake’s company and knew he would miss Bakhai as well.

The wagons started rolling and Rejji looked out to see if he could catch a last glimpse of his friends. Rejji’s wagon was first in the procession and it stopped alongside the merchant’s wagon. Mulando suddenly appeared at the rear and opened the door. He reached in and grabbed Rejji by the arm and motioned him out. He put his hand on Rejji’s shoulder and marched him over to the Bursar who was talking to the merchant. Without a word, Mulando turned and returned to the convoy and the caravan continued down the small road leading off the estate.

Rejji stood quietly as the Bursar and the merchant discussed the terms of a contract. Rejji did not pay attention to the conversation, but rather focused on the elation he felt at being left at the estate. Lost in his own thought, he did not hear the Bursar addressing him the first time. Suddenly the Bursar placed his hand on Rejji’s shoulder.

“What are you called?” the Bursar asked.

“I am sorry, Sir,” Rejji apologized. “I am called Rejji. Thank you for selecting me.”

The merchant climbed aboard his wagon and left as the Bursar led Rejji into the mansion. “We have strict rules here in Khadora that may seem foreign to you,” The Bursar said as they walked. “You shall never lie. If you do, you will die. If you try to escape, you will die. You are to speak only when spoken to, unless you and I are alone. I will allow you to speak in my presence. In fact, I would like to learn more about you. I am not sure why I purchased you, for you have no marketable skills that I can tell, but you intrigue me. You job here will be to do whatever I need done. I am sure I will find work for you.”