through town and are soon exiting through the southern gate. Unbeknownst to Miko, on the far side of town, James is entering Korazan from the north.
Chapter Fourteen
As they approach Korazan from the north, a large complex of buildings comes into view over on the eastern edge of town with many pens full of slaves. “That must be where we’ll find them,” observes James.
“Let’s go,” Jiron urges.
“We need to get the caravan settled in first,” insists James. “Then we can go scout around for Tersa and Miko.” Seeing that Jiron is going to be stubborn, he continues, “If we don’t behave like an actual caravan, we might gain attention that could prove awkward.”
Seeing conflicting emotions running across Jiron’s face, he waits. After only a moment’s deliberation, he nods and says, “Okay, but let’s do it fast.”
“Agreed.”
During their approach, they notice a large caravansary off to the north of town, closer to the lake. When they turn to leave the road and head for it, Hakir and Hakim take their leave, continuing on toward town to deliver their goods.
At the caravansary, they find a suitable location and quickly settle in. After the horses and wagons have been taken care of, Jiron looks to James and urges, “Let’s go!”
James turns to Tinok and says, “Stay here and take care of things, okay?”
Tinok’s face begins to fall as he realizes he’s being left behind. Just before he starts to protest, Cassie calls over and asks, “Tinok, can you help me please?” Torn between conflicting desires, he finally says to James, “Alright,” as he heads over to see what Cassie needs.
By this time, Jiron has changed into native garb, having chosen one that partially covers his face. If there are people from the City of Light in the pens who would be able to recognize him, they won’t inadvertently give him away.
Taking Roland with them to act as translator, they make their way to the main gate leading into Korazan. Here, as nowhere else, the ratio of slaves to citizens is staggering. Wherever he looks, James can see slaves engaged in almost every facet of work. Hardly anyone is walking down the street without at least one slave of one kind or another trailing along behind. Many are carrying packages and other items, most though are simply following behind their owners.
James is totally disgusted by the whole thing and almost intervenes when they come across a man beating a young female slave for some slight infraction. Jiron takes hold of his arm which causes him to stop. “Not now,” Jiron cautions when James turns to look at him, “we have people, our people, depending on us.”
Coming to his senses, James realizes he was about to jeopardize the whole mission and says, “Sorry.”
“We understand,” Roland assures him. “But it’s too ingrained, too well established to do anything about.”
As they resume walking, James tries to shut out the crying, begging of the girl as she pleads with her master to stop, that ‘she will do better’. Similar scenes are played out over and over again as they continue toward the slave markets. All he can think of is to get Miko out of this as quickly as possible.
When they finally reach the fence surrounding the slave pens, the guard posted at the entrance holds up his hand and says something. Roland makes a reply as he slips him a couple copper pieces. The guard takes the coins and then nods as he waves them on through.
“What did you tell him?” Jiron asks once they’re past the guard.
“I simply told him that we wished to view the slaves before the next auction,” he explains. “It’s really quite common for a prospective buyer to do that. Usually you give some coins to the guard for the privilege”
“You seem to know a lot about slave market customs,” Jiron accuses.
“I took a trip down here a while back with an associate who was interested in purchasing some laborers,” he replies.
Once through the gates, they find themselves in a large courtyard with two large platforms on either side that most likely would be used during auctions. Off to one side, James notices several posts sticking up from the ground stained a dark red, it looks like its blood. One appears to have been recently used. Whipping posts, he assumes, shuddering.
Another slaver greets them as they walk across the courtyard and he exchanges words with Roland. Turning to the others, Roland says, “I told him we wish to see the girls. That we are from a northern brothel and wish to purchase some at the next auction.”
“When will that be?” Jiron asks.
Roland asks the man and then says, “Tomorrow.”
Jiron nods his head in understanding, “Thanks.”
The slaver leads them to a set of pens holding females and they walk slowly through them as if they were actually who they claimed to be. As Jiron searches the pens for his sister, James looks closely at the faces of those in the pens. The hopelessness, the fear and the degradation he sees there is almost more than he can bear. He feels a strong desire to let the magic destroy this entire complex and free everyone here.
Jiron looks anxiously at all the girls within the pens and then turns to Roland and James, shaking his head. Roland turns to the slaver and exchanges a few words before saying, “There is another pen which is full of recent arrivals. He says that you would not be interested in them as they haven’t yet learned their place and would be difficult at best to handle.”
Excited, Jiron says, “That’s where she would most likely be.”
Roland turns to the man and explains that they wish to see those girls as well, that many of their customers like to ‘break them in’.
The slaver nods in understanding and then leads them out of this holding area to another. The noise level in this one is much greater than the last as the majority of the girls are either crying or talking amongst themselves. When they enter, all the girls turn their attention on them and it suddenly gets very quiet.
James can tell the difference between these girls and the previous ones. Some of these still have a defiant look about them that the previous ones had lacked. Some even look with content upon them as they pass by, others are fearful and sobbing.
Suddenly, he hears a barely audible gasp escaping Jiron. Glancing at him, he sees him nod his head, indicating that he’s found her. “Roland, that’s her,” he says quietly, indicating a young woman with long auburn hair.
“You sure?” Roland asks as he locates the girl he’s talking about.
Jiron just stares at him like he’s stupid or something.
“Okay, okay,” he replies. Then he turns to the slaver and points her out saying they want a better look at her.
The slaver motions for two guards to come over and they enter the pen. When the girls realize they’re going to enter their pen, many squeal and they all press as far away from the door as possible.
When Tersa realizes that they’re coming for her, she tries to escape to the back of the pen but the guards grab her. Scared and terrified, she tries to get free of them but to no avail, they drag her out of the pen and bring her to stand before them. The slaver asks Roland if this is the one they’re interested in. With a nod from Jiron, Roland says that she is.
As Roland makes as if he’s inspecting her, Jiron stares intently into her eyes. Suddenly, her breath catches as she realizes just who is standing there.
He barely shakes his head, telling her to say nothing and then gives her a wink.
With a barely perceptible nod, she tells him that she understands.
Jiron indicates to Roland that he’s ready to go and Roland tells the slaver that they’ve seen enough. Once Tersa is put back in the pen, Roland asks if this batch will be auctioned at tomorrow’s auction.
Shaking his head, the slaver says that these won’t be ready for auction for at least a week.
When Roland relays that to the others, Jiron exclaims, “A week! We can’t wait a week.”
