enough!â he whispered.
âHow is that possible?â Silas demanded. âI thought you were a prince!â
âSilas,â Parvel scolded. âIâm sure he wasnât planning on buying four slaves.â
âWe can buy Rae back later,â Jesse said, trying to calm Silas. âOnce this misunderstanding is cleared upâ¦.â
âYou donât understand,â Silas said flatly. The bid was up to twenty-eight sceptres. âIn District Two, rich merchants often have more than one wife. They especially prefer beautiful slave girls.â
âWhat?â Jesse sputtered. âYou donât mean that Raeâ¦.â
One of the men with a ridiculous feathered hat called out, âThirty-two sceptres!â He was so fat that he had jowls instead of a chin. And Rae might have to marry him?
âForty sceptres.â This bid was from a Patrol member. Bright against the standard dark blue Patrol uniform was a red armband. Jesse had never seen one before. Perhaps it means heâs an officer of some kind . The thought was not comforting. Patrol members were known for being cruel, and their leaders even more so.
No one raised the bid any higher, though the shrew man tried to bring it up. âSold!â he declared. The fat man practically had to wrestle Rae to get her to come down from the platform. Although she kept her head high, Jesse saw a flicker of fear in her eyes as she passed them.
âIâll die before I let him take her away,â Silas said, and though there was little emotion in his voice, Jesse believed him.
âI will speak to him,â Prince Corin said, putting his hand on Silasâ shoulder to hold him back. âPerhaps my influence will count for something. He may be reasonable.â
âItâs clear that youâre a stranger here,â Silas said. âReasonable is not a good word to describe most Patrol, especially the palace guards.â
So that was what the red armband means.
Prince Corin was not going to be discouraged. âJust the same, I can try.â
âCouldnât you kick him like you did that thief?â Jesse blurted out. Prince Corin gave him a withering look. âIt was just an idea.â
But when Prince Corin returned, Rae was not with him. âHe will not give her up,â he said, shaking his head. âNot for any amount of money. He said that Lady Taralyn needs a new maid. Her last one was dismissed from service yesterday.â
In spite of himself, Jesse breathed a sigh of relief. âThen sheâs not going to be married to anyone?â
âNo.â
The next question was obvious. âWho is Lady Taralyn?â
âGovernor Eliasâ daughter,â Silas replied, looking grim. âWhich means that sheâs one of the richest, most powerful women in District Two. If she wants Rae as a servant, she will get her.â
âI am sorry about your friend,â Prince Corin said.
A rich, powerful prince apologizing to his slaves. Jesse almost laughed at the ridiculous situation.
âNo,â Parvel said. âYou did what you could. And we are grateful.â
Now what? Jesse wondered. He was already hot, standing in the middle of the crowd in the bright spring sun, and his head was beginning to ache from the noise.
âNow I must return to the governorâs palace. You are free to go,â Prince Corin said. âMy debt is paid.â
Jesse expected Parvel or Silas to lead them away, perhaps to find Roddy and think of a way to rescue Rae. Instead, Parvel stayed firmly where he was, staring off into the distance with a thoughtful look on his face.
âPrince Corin,â Parvel said slowly, âwhere did you say youâre going, again?â
âThe palace.â
Jesse exchanged a glance with Parvel. Exactly where we need to go . âCould we speak to each other for a few momentsâ¦alone?â Parvel asked.
âCertainly.â Prince
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley