Chapter 51

Darras fitted in with the natives of Sulimass owing to his skin tones, at least that was until he spoke. Fortunately the natives of the city seemed not to be bothered as Darras clearly had money to spend and this was a mercantile city, far more so than Dremmech. The city also seemed to specialise in vibrantly coloured silks, some of which, under Erren’s guidance, Darras purchased, exchanging coinage by weight for the bolts of cloth. He then arranged for the merchant to have them delivered by the freight network to Rachtelin, knowing Erren would intercept them in transit.

‘Thank you, my love, ’ a happy Erren responded once it was done.

“You’re welcome. I presume you have a reason for it as you can normally create such products with your power?”

‘It’s the same reason I had you have the Dwarven armour for Jertin made in Burralsteig, ’ Erren explained. ‘The trader here is a follower of mine and will soon be receiving commissions from the nobility of Rachtelin for his products, particularly when they see the gowns Callani, Liliba and Rienne will be wearing at the wedding.’

“You’ll be making the gowns?” Darras enquired.

‘No, the bolts will be delivered to each lady, addressed from you and I, ’ Erren replied. ‘Along with the address of a gownmaker who will have received a ... vision from me.’

“I see,” Darras chuckled, knowing it would happen exactly as Erren wished.

‘Now you need to visit my shrine. The acolytes there will have gathered some information for you.’

For all Erren was widely worshipped by the people of Asul, her influence did not extend into the ruling mercantile houses. It was these that were involved in the slave trade, much to the disapproval of the masses, though in truth the masses had no power to stop the trade.

“Greetings, sir Darras. We had a vision that you’d be coming,” a young man called Bensol greeted Darras as he entered the shrine.

“Thank you. May Erren bless your work and your lives,” Darras responded.

“We have information for you on where a potential slave might be available, though you will need to be careful in how you approach this as these traders are known to be utterly ruthless if they sniff weakness.”

“I know the type,” Darras nodded. “Why no priest here?”

“The King will not permit them, though will allow acolytes,” Bensol explained.

“I take it you’re a priest in all but name?” Darras chuckled.

“I am indeed. Fortunately Erren does not distinguish between such, unlike the Darmelans.”

‘I can be flexible, ’ Erren giggled in Darras’s mind.

“So her work goes on here, as much as it does in Fordel?” Darras asked.

“Yes, though we can work more openly here as the mercantile nobles really do not care what we do, so long as it does not infringe upon their interests,” Bensol replied. “They are also careful not to openly be impious in public.”

“I see,” Darras nodded. “Now, where is this slave being sold?”

The slave market in Sulimass was almost overwhelmingly oppressive with an atmosphere of despair coming from the caged and chained ‘goods’ for sale. Though Humans were not the only goods on display as several other creatures, clearly brought to fight in the arena, were also being held there. All these Darras viewed with an air of indifferent superiority, at least openly, which kept the various sellers respectful.

Darras’s size and well-muscled appearance also kept the various bravos who observed him at bay, though a group, clearly intent on causing trouble for Darras, did eventually move to block his way.

“Care to tell me your business here?” the leader asked.

“My business is my own and if you value your life you’ll step aside,” Darras replied indifferently.

All that produced was the leader spitting at Darras’s feet, before Darras exploded into action, driving his fist into the man’s stomach and stepping back as the badly winded man collapsed with a strangled gasp of agony.

“Begone before I decide your lives are forfeit,” Darras spoke in icy tones to the remaining now fearful looking bravos.

“It was just curiosity,” one of them blurted out.

“Twas not,” Darras replied indifferently. “You thought to waylay a stranger for some reason and paid the price. Now begone or feel my boot up your scrawny arse.”

They pulled their fallen comrade away, allowing Darras, who had taken the measure of the group, to walk on. He knew they were unlikely to come at him from behind, but also trusted Erren to warn him if they did. He had not walked far, however, when Erren urged him to halt.

‘They have an Elf here, caged!’ she snarled.

“They have lots of Humans too,” Darras replied curiously, wondering what the issue really was.

‘I know, but this one is special! She has healing powers ... undeveloped for sure, but still there, ’ Erren explained.

Darras mentally nodded and entered the building, being approached immediately by a corpulent male and his Orc guard.

“Welcome to Jareshi’s emporium of unusual merchandise, stranger,” he greeted Darras. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”

“My sources tell me you have an Elven slave,” Darras replied. “I’d like to see if she’s worth purchasing.”

“Ah, a discerning customer, though I must warn you, she’s but a child ... with a mean spirit too,” Jareshi replied obsequiously.

“The rarity value alone could be worth it,” Darras shrugged.

The first impression he had when the sullen girl was brought in was that of wondering if she was an Elf. Matted hair concealed her ears and there was little of the fire in her eyes that Darras expected in an Elf.

“She is untouched?” Darras asked, having been prompted by Erren.

“Oh yes,” Jareshi replied. “We are most careful with the rarer items.”

“A hundred gold then,” Darras deliberately bid low to watch Jareshi’s reaction.

“Come sir, a rarity such as this is worth ten times that amount!” Jareshi exclaimed.

‘A thousand if an adult and cleaned up and an idiot spendthrift as a buyer, ’ Erren snorted.

“Do not be so greedy. She’s a child and seemingly uncared for,” Darras replied in cool tones. “Two hundred at a stretch.”

“Her appearance is her own doing, she refuses to bathe,” Jareshi replied. “Still, mayhap five hundred, as your point on her being a child is valid enough.”

Darras and Jareshi haggled back and forth until finally Darras had the price down to three hundred and fifty but only then if the girl was cleaned up and dressed appropriately. This Jareshi promised, but pointed out that the girl might just undo any such actions.

“Just do your best,” Darras nodded. “I’ll be back within the hour, possibly with another purchase.”

“At your command, sir.”

Darras then left and headed towards where Bensol had informed him a slave from an attacked ship might be, his purse considerably lighter than from when he’d arrived. He’d also warned Jareshi not to brand the Elf so as not to destroy her innate value, simply chain her.

‘Thank you, my love, ’ Erren spoke.

“You’re welcome,” Darras replied. “I just hope she behaves until I can get her through the gateway.”

‘You’ll manage, ’ Erren replied cheerfully.

“No doubt I will,” Darras chuckled.

The stench of unwashed humanity hit Darras hard when he entered the yard where this slave might be as individuals were kept caged and essentially lived in their own filth. Darras however acted indifferently to this and simply wandered around looking at the slaves, occasionally halting for a careful scan by Erren. Although watched by several brutish men, Darras was left alone to wander so long as he didn’t do anything but look and finally Erren identified the male they were after.

“Seen any worth your time?” the proprietor asked when Darras signalled him over.

“This one I think,” Darras indicated, pointing out the man.

“Hundred gold. No haggling, take him or leave him,” the proprietor replied.

“Hmm. Very well, but he’d better not be diseased.”

“He isn’t. He’s healthy too, your risk.”

Darras handed over the coins to be weighed as the man was brought from the cage, still collared and clearly wary, if co-operative.

“Want it branded or gelded?” the proprietor asked indifferently.

“As is, he won’t be getting near any woman of mine,” Darras replied as a bill of sale was drawn up and he was handed a leash.

“Follow me, do not cause me issues and you’ll be well treated,” Darras told the slave. “Cross me and you’ll regret it.”

“Yessir!” the man replied.

“Got a name?”

“Halber, sir.”

“Follow me. I have to pick up another then we can leave this city.”

Darras made his way back to Jareshi’s followed by a compliant, for now, Halber. The man was clearly looking for an opportunity to make a break for it, though the chains and collar limited any such in the city as he’d be an obvious target for the various bravos who’d hope for a reward in capturing him.

Back at Jareshi’s Darras examined the Elf, simply getting glares back, though admittedly she was a lot cleaner. She was also collared and chained as well, something that the weight of which was clearly causing her some issues. Darras simply picked up the bill of sale, thanked Jareshi and just picked the squalling girl up, throwing her over his shoulder. Followed by Halber, he made his way out of the slaves’ quarter back to the shrine to bid Bensol thanks and farewell.

“Greetings, sir Darras,” Bensol hailed him as Darras approached. “I see you found what you were looking for and more.”

“Erren asked me to retrieve the girl,” Darras explained. “Can you have their health checked? Halber has signs of scurvy.”

“Of course. Come on in.”

With Erren’s presence around Darras, Bensol’s prayers were answered swiftly and Halber’s health returned. The Elven girl apparently was healthy, but clearly had trust issues as she hissed, spat and attempted to bite anyone coming near her.

“What are your intentions for them, Darras?” Bensol asked, having been requested by Darras to drop the ‘sir’ title.

“Halber will be coming with me to speak to Earl Graccen about how he ended up as a slave; the girl goes to Erren and hopefully back to her people,” Darras replied, making Halber look interested.

“You ... you were looking for me?” Halber asked.

“I was. The missing ships and crew are of interest to Torgillon,” Darras replied.

“I see. So I’ll get to go home ... a free man?”