The warm caress of sunlight on her shoulder woke Sabit from slumber. The bed she lay upon was soft. No chains encircled her wrists. The A fountain burbled nearby. The scent of springtime jasmine filled the air. Rising from her couch, Sabit took in her surroundings. She lay in a lush garden of vibrant blooms … Read more
Sabit couldn’t stop herself from trembling as the slave merchant loomed over her. She had felt fear before, of course. Storms would ravage her homeland every summer. As a girl, Sabit would crawl under the sacks of grain in the storehouse to hide from the from the rolls of thunder that seemed powerful enough to … Read more
Sabit glared at Heguir with hatred smoldering n her eyes. “I was going to let you live. But now you are a walking dead man.” “That is powerful talk for the woman chained to the wall,” Heguir said. He loomed over Sabit just out of the reach of any kick she might throw. “You are … Read more
Sabit struggled to wake from the pack of terrors that piled upon her like wild dogs in her slumber. Her head pounded. Her throat burned. Cold metal weighed on her wrists. Forcing open her eyes, Sabit slowly focused on the dimly-lit roof far above. Distant sunlight smeared across the ceiling of rough stucco. She lay … Read more
As Heguir dove forward, Sabit lifted her spear. She had promised the flesh merchant that his blood would flow for betrayal. Sabit always kept her word. The billowing cloud of purple-grey vapor enveloped Sabit as she thrust forward, plunging her senses into darkness. She felt her spear taste flesh, but there was no answering cry … Read more
Heguir’s slave camp rose up out of the plains three parasangs to the south of the crossroads where he had insulted Verdandi’s wine. Near enough to the crossroads that he could buy and sell unfortunate souls from the aloof towers of Lytrops to the Broken Coast and beyond. Far enough from the watchful eyes of … Read more
“I will take your eight silver qirsh for that trouble-making wretch you wanted.” grumbled the slave-merchant Heguir. He walked a pace before Sabit, each step careful. He held his hands folded in front of him, the long, ornate sleeves of his robe concealing the tight ropes binding his wrists. “That was the old woman’s offer, … Read more
The square-jawed warrior looked as Sabit. “I am Heguir’s bodyguard, not a seller of skins like him. If I left my post for your silver, I would be no better than he is. You look as though you’ve known the crucible of battle. You know the loyalty of which I speak.” Sabit nodded. “I do … Read more
The air was thick and hot inside the tent. Sabit watched the two figures facing each other across the woven blanket on the floor. A look of impatience masked her face “We will give you eight silver qirsh for the woman I described,” said Verdandi, taking a sip of wine from a clay cup. “Surely … Read more