Free WindDeceiver by Charlotte Boyett-Compo Page A

Yuri.
    Kharis smiled warmly at the laughing men as they came abreast of him. He bowed with respect, then straightened, momentarily taken off guard when he recognized Prince Sajin Ben-Alkazar.
    “My most humble greetings, Oh, Exalted One,” Kharis called out. “You honor us with your presence at our lowly establishment.”
    Azalon walked his horse forward and smiled down with what he hoped resembled jaded acceptance of their due.
    “His Grace has heard you have a fresh crop of young ones,” Azalon said in a bored voice.
    “He wishes to choose a few for his household.”
    Kharis bowed. “Of course, Sire! You are most welcome. Please, dismount and I will have a servant take you where you may refresh yourselves. My mistress will want to escort you personally to the nursery.”
    Sajin hoped to the Prophetess his dislike of the man and his disgust of the situation did not show on his carefully arranged face. He inclined his head in acceptance of the man’s offer. He swung his leg over his mount’s head and slid to the ground.
    “I would consider it a favor if I might be able to study your operation here,” Sajin said, ignoring Azalon’s heavy scowl and Yuri’s averted face. “I am interested in the aspects of slave breeding.”
    Yuri nearly choked and had to cough to hide it. He didn’t dare look up for fear his eyes would give him away.
    “A case of gobbling up more than he could swallow,” Sajin said in a bored voice. “The man is obnoxious, but a good servant.”
    Yuri choked again and had to turn completely around and stare back over the desert they had crossed to keep his composure. He listened to Azalon condemning him as well and finally found self-control enough to face the inquisitive slaver. He frowned heavily at the man, hoping to intimidate him.
    He
    did.
    “My mistress will provide you with whatever you want, Your Grace,” Kharis assured the Kensetti Prince. “If you wish a woman to warm your beds--“
    “I think not,” Azalon announced. “We won’t be here that long.”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Sajin corrected. “I might decide to bide a few days here to--“ he glanced at Yuri. “--observe what goes on.”
    Yuri choked again, coughing so hard his face turned purple with the effort.
    None of them saw Chase Montyne watching them from one of the windows of the main building. He was leaning against the windowsill, his fingers threaded together, smiling.
    “I can’t be sure, but I think one of the visitors is a man I know,” he told the woman at his side.
    “Friend or foe?” Sabrina asked. Her eyesight was not all that good and she had to squint just to make out how many men were with Kharis at the gate.
    “Yuri Andreanova is a man I would not call friend, but he is one of Conar’s most trusted men. I have no idea who the other two are.”
    Sabrina’s brows shot upward. “Do you think they are here to find the Serenian?”
    WINDDECEIVER Charlotte Boyett-Compo 40
    Chase nodded. “Aye.” He pushed away from the sill. “They’re here looking for Coni.”
    “Stay here,” she instructed him. “Let me see what they want.”
    Sajin looked around the luxurious furnishings of the parlor and was impressed. The carpet on the floor was worth a small fortune and the chandelier overhead had to have cost a sum to match.
    “My own receiving room at Jabol is not as imposing as this,” he said, fingering a richly woven tapestry. He looked around at his companions. “This is a woman of taste.”
    “And breeding,” Yuri snickered.
    Azalon looked to the heavens, annoyed with the two men. If he heard one more innuendo, he would murder them and be done with it. He was about to chastise them for their lack of decorum when their hostess entered.
    “Lady Sabrina?” Azalon inquired, bowing graciously to her. “We are honored.”
    She moved into the room, her dark gaze shifting over Azalon, widening only a little as she took in Yuri’s bulk, then settling with admiration on Sajin.
    “Your