Free The Godspeaker Trilogy by Karen Miller Page B

to the godgate wayhouse when you are ready to travel. You must wait there until the next godspeaker caravan departs.”
    Abajai bowed again. “The god see you in its eye, godspeaker.”
    “The god see you also, Trader Abajai,” the godspeaker replied. She walked away then, with the slave Vortka a pace behind her.
    “Obid,” said Abajai. “Fetch your fellow guards and the camel-boy.”
    As Obid did as he was told, Abajai turned to the two Traders waiting silently for the god’s business to be done. “Trader Ederog, Yagji will show you our camels.” Yagji and Trader Ederog went to haggle over the beasts, and Obid returned with the other guards and the camel-boy. Abajai nodded to him and one other, almost as tall and strong as Obid. “Stand away,” he said. “You remain in my possession. You others stand with the merchandise.”
    Watching the guards Abajai no longer wanted, Hekat saw their eyes go wet with fear and sorrow. But they said nothing to Abajai, they obeyed his nod. They were slaves.
    “Trader Rogiv?” said Abajai. “Here is our merchandise. Inspect it. I invite you.”
    Trader Rogiv looked at the waiting slaves, then turned and pointed. “Trader Abajai, what about that one?”
    Hekat held her breath, she stared at Abajai. Trader Rogiv’s pointing finger was a stab in the heart.
    “That one belongs to me,” said Abajai. “She is not for sale.” His deep dark voice was cool, and strong. In his face a warning not to argue.
    Hekat felt herself melt inside. I will not sell you in Et-Nogolor . So he had told her, and so it was proved. He was Abajai, his word was his word.
    Then it was Trader haggling, as the camels and the slaves were sold. When it was over and the Et-Nogolor Traders had departed to fetch for Abajai the promised coin, Obid and the other slave began unloading the camels and packing all their goods into the empty cart. Yagji supervised them for a small time, then returned to Abajai.
    “Aieee, Aba,” he said, pouting with displeasure. “Must we travel with a godspeaker caravan? There are so many of them in a caravan. You know what it will be like. They live and breathe and sweat out the god. To be close like that, it makes me frightened! I lose my appetite, I cannot eat. Would you have me skin and bone by the time we reach Et-Raklion?”
    “Better skin and bone in Et-Raklion than dead on the road between here and there with all your plumpness bleeding,” said Abajai. “The god saw us, Yagji, when it sent us that chosen slave. No other price would buy us the protection of a godspeaker caravan. If the other warlords should send warriors against Et-Nogolor only godspeakers will be safe on the road to Et-Raklion. You know it, we have seen trouble like this before.”
    “And had hoped to never see it again!” cried Yagji. “Warlords fighting are bad for business!”
    “Yes,” said Abajai, and patted his shoulder. “But do not dwell on that. We have good profit from this caravan, and business at home that must be tended, remember. We have been many godmoons on the road.”
    Yagji sighed. “Yes. I know. Our villa is likely a tumbled ruin, that Retoth cannot care for it properly without my strict supervision.”
    “You know he can,” said Abajai, laughing. “He always does. But we will both be relieved to see it again.”
    The Et-Nogolor Traders returned with their payment. When the sale was completed and the money safely added to the coin box, Abajai nodded to Obid and the other slave. They harnessed themselves to the heavy cart, and followed Abajai and Yagji away from the slave pens.
    Walking between the Traders, Hekat looked up. “Abajai, why did the god see that slave?”
    “So it might serve in the godhouse.”
    She frowned. “Serve how?”
    “That is not our business.”
    “That slave,” she said, after a moment. “He had a name. He told me.”
    Abajai tugged her godbraids. “Slaves have no names, Hekat. Not until a master gives one, with the giving of the scarlet