you tell me where I could find a slaver by the name of Buka?”
The two slavers perk up at that. “Buka?” one asks. “Why would one such as you wish to see Buka?” The other slaver moves in beside the first slaver.
“I…” he stammers then says, “I…that is we…have a mutual friend.”
“You do, do you?” the second slaver asks. “I hardly doubt that.”
“Who is this mutual friend?” the first slaver asks. “Maybe he’s my friend too?”
The second slaver grins. “Yes, who is this friend?” he asks.
Reilin glances to James and Jiron. Unable to follow the conversation, they are no help. “That is none of your business,” he asserts. “Are you going to help me or not?”
Shrugging, the first slaver says to the second, “It matters not I suppose.”
“True,” the second agrees. Turning his attention back to Reilin he says, “Buka is here.”
“Where can I find him?” he asks.
“He’s inside,” the first one replies. “Not sure where exactly, but he’s in there somewhere.” The second one nods as well.
“Thank you,” Reilin says then moves to rejoin James and Jiron. He glances back and sees the two slavers still watching him, an amused expression on their faces.
“Well?” asks Jiron.
“He’s in there but they didn’t know where,” he explains.
“If only we knew what he looked like,” James says. “That would simplify things quite a bit.”
“True,” agrees Jiron. Taking the lead again, he moves through the gates and into the slaver compound.
They enter a large courtyard after passing through the gate and find the auction still in progress. Over to their left on one of the long, raised platforms, a slaver is conducting the auction. A beautiful young woman stands naked next to him, obviously the one whom the people are currently bidding on. Behind the auctioneer stand another five waiting their turn.
Watching the girls being auctioned brings back the feelings in Jiron that he had when his sister Tersa was on a slave block. Before that time he had never given slavery much thought. But after that experience, he came to agree with James that slavery must be stopped and if possible, every slaver put to the sword. Or the knife as the case may be.
“We’re not going to find him out here,” James says. The few slavers in the courtyard are up near where the auctioning is taking place.
“I think you’re right,” agrees Jiron. “Unless he’s one of the ones taking part in the auction.”
They look around and find an unguarded door leading into one of the main buildings of the slaver complex. Moving ever so nonchalantly, they make their way across the crowded courtyard and toward the closed door. Before they reach it, Reilin places his hand on Jiron’s shoulder and says, “We got trouble.” He then directs Jiron’s and James’ gaze to the main entrance through which they entered. Guards are entering and beginning to fan out.
“Come on,” Jiron says as he quickens his pace to the door.
“How did they find us?” asks James.
“I don’t know and I’m not about to hang around to find out,” Jiron states. The last few yards to the door he practically sprints forward. He finds the door unlocked, opens it and rushes inside with James and Reilin right behind. Just as he closes the door behind them, a ruckus is heard coming from the courtyard. One woman screams and several men yell.
“Hold the door,” Jiron tells Reilin and then moves to an adjacent window overlooking the courtyard. He and James look out as Reilin braces the door with his shoulder. Out in the courtyard, the guards have two men in custody and are escorting them out the main entrance.
“They weren’t after us,” observes James. Then to Reilin he says, “You can relax.”
Reilin nods and moves away from the door.
They find themselves in a room with storage shelves on one side and a table with several chairs on the other. Two doors exit the room other than the one through which they entered. Jiron checks the one on the right while James listens at the one on the left.
“Quiet,” Jiron says after a moment’s listening.
“Here too,” states James.
Jiron opens his door slowly and looks out at a hallway extending away further into the building. Several doorways line both sides. The hallway is currently empty.
When James looks through his door, he finds a storage room full of chains and other paraphernalia that slavers might find useful. Turning back to the others he says, “Just a storage room.”
Jiron nods and indicates they should go through his door. “Lead on,” James whispers. Opening the door, Jiron moves out into the hallway. Passing slowly and silently, he listens for any noise which may indicate that someone is approaching.
As he reaches each door, he puts his ear to it and listens for a moment. When he fails to hear anything, he continues on to the next. At the third door where he stops and listens, he hears the sound of conversation coming from the other side. Motioning for the others to stop, he then moves back to join them.
“There are at least two people in that room,” he says pointing to the door. Then to Reilin he says, “See if you can figure out what they are saying.”
Nodding, Reilin moves to the door and places his ear against it. He listens for a moment then returns. “They are talking about another slaver,” he says. “Nothing of any importance.”
Just then, the door through which they originally entered opens and voices are heard coming from the other side. All three of them turn to look and find that a slaver is there with his back to them, paused in the doorway as he speaks to another.
Panicking, James grasps the handle of one of the other doors and throws it open. Jiron and Reilin both follow him in before he shuts it. A second after the door shuts, they can hear the other door close and the man’s footsteps approaching down the hallway.
Jiron pulls his knife and waits next to the door in case the man should enter. But the footsteps pass by the front of their door and continue further on down the hallway. Then they hear another door open and close. Putting his ear to the door, Jiron listens and finds the hallway quiet.
“I think it’s clear now,” he says.
“Should we even be in here?” James asks.
“We have to find Buka,” insists Jiron.
“I understand that,” James tells him. “But do you think he’s going to be very helpful to those he finds sneaking around?”
“We’re here now,” Reilin adds. “Let’s just find him and get the information we need. Then get out of here.”
Jiron is about to open the door to leave when they hear a door opening and footsteps approaching. They sound like they are coming from the direction the earlier footsteps went. They can hear two men talking as they pass by. Jiron looks to Reilin but he shakes his head. “Nothing important,” he whispers.
As soon as the two men are gone, Jiron opens the door slowly and peers out to find the hallway again clear of people. Moving out of the room, he continues down the hallway in the direction they were originally heading.
At the end of the hallway is another closed door, they continue on down toward it. Jiron still pauses at the other doors they pass and listens to see if anyone is there. When they finally reach the end door, he reaches for the handle when it suddenly opens up.
Three slavers stand there in shocked surprise at seeing them there. “What are you doing in here?” one asks.
Jiron is about to pull one of his knives when Reilin places a restraining hand upon his. Moving forward, Reilin asks, “Isn’t this the way to view the slaves?”
Shaking his head, the slaver replies, “No.”
“We’re sorry,” Reilin says, “we must have gotten turned around. Could you direct us to where we can?”
The slaver looks at him quizzically, and seems to be contemplating whether or not to believe him. Then he makes up his mind and nods, “This way.” Indicating for them to follow, the slaver turns around and begins walking down the hallway.
