Chapter 13

I arrive at Wadi Halaf early the next morning. My father didn’t indicate whether his message meant he had news affecting Amina and her sisters, or whether there are new slaves I might be interested in buying. There is a small caravan in the main yard which is preparing to leave after an overnight stop at Wadi Halaf. It’s a common enough event at this time of year, and one which prompted my early arrival. If slaves are on offer, the caravan master will want to conduct business as quickly as possible to avoid delaying the caravan’s departure.

I locate my father in his study and wait for him to conclude whatever he is doing. He escorts me into one of the larger meeting rooms and introduces me to the caravan master and a merchant travelling with him. Both men are wearing robes that identify them as westerners.

“We understand you both seek information about Sultan Iniko and his family,” says Rafa, the merchant. “I have just travelled from the west. There are plenty of rumours but only a few definite facts. What seems certain is that Sultan Iniko has been assassinated and his concubines slaughtered. Last week there was a public execution of his children. Rumour has it that a few of the Sultan’s children escaped, but nobody knows for sure. Everything is in chaos. The whole region is in turmoil and people are fleeing in all directions.”

“Thank you, Rafa,” says my father. “Your news supports what we have previously heard but couldn’t believe was true. You mentioned that you have some slaves you wish to sell. Rachael may be willing to make an offer for them.”

“Yes. Before I set out for here, I received many approaches from desperate citizens wanting me to convey their sisters and daughters to safety. Few could pay for the women’s journey, so most of the women had to surrender themselves into slavery. I have conveyed seventeen newly enslaved females ranging in age from eighteen to thirty-six. All are fit and healthy and some are well educated. I am offering to sell all of them to you as a single lot.”

I don’t normally buy slaves in bulk. I prefer to hand pick the ones I think are worth training and then selling them for a good price. While western women usually attract a high price at the local slave auctions, so many being sold at once will depress the market. More so if I intend to sell Amina and her older sisters as well.

I accept Rafa’s offer to inspect his slaves. They are weary and terrified after all they have gone through. But as Rafa says, they all seem fit and healthy. Two appear to be pregnant. He has taken the precaution of keeping them chained in a coffle to prevent any of them trying to escape. Rafa hasn’t bothered having a slave-mark tattooed on their shoulders, although that isn’t uncommon. Instead he has used a dark dye to mark each woman’s arm with an identifying number. It’s a little used western practise I’ve only seen used a few times. In their ancient tradition a newly enslaved woman is no longer referred to by her name. Instead she is given a number or letter identifier. It’s purpose is to ensure the slave understands her transition into slavery. These days the practise is rare, and our local custom is for an owner to allocate a new name to a numbered slave once she has been purchased.