Tam glanced at his wrist. It seemed like a terribly long time ago, but he had once sat outside a horse stall on a ship talking with a beautiful, sweet girl named Netty. She had woven the small bracelet from horse hair and hay. As he looked at it now, he found a few golden strands that must have belonged to her.
He dabbed the crumbs that had fallen on his pants, refusing to lose the tiniest morsel. He said, “It’s a trivial thing, a minor token—a gift from someone I had thought to court. Then, I realized she was far above my station, and it would never happen.”
“So, you fancied a real lady. Can’t imagine one giving out bracelets made of grass and hair. Who was she really? The weaver’s daughter?”
Tam scowled at him. “You’re right. She isn’t a lady. She’s a princess.”
Uthey laughed. “Of course, Kingsman, you would think to marry a princess. Mayhap your princess will sew you a new suit and clean your boots, too. I almost envy you your tumor. You may be crazy, but you dream a pleasant life.”
Tam picked up a small, mushy potato covered in sprouts. He took a large bite and was thankful for the moisture, despite the bitter taste.
Uthey leaned over and whispered, “You need to take more.”
Tam’s chewing was made more difficult by the dryness in his mouth, but he finally swallowed and said, “I took my share. Everyone needs to eat.”
Uthey nodded toward the newcomers. “The skinny ones won’t make it anyway.” He looked back at Tam. “Your eyes are innocent, and you smile too much, but your body is fit. You might be useful in a fight. You need to stay strong.”
“I’ve seen my share of trouble,” said Tam. “Had some run-ins with bandits, took out a few slavers when they came for me, and I was in Skutton at the time of the attack on the King’s Tournament.”
“Hmm, I might’ve caused a stir when they took me, as well,” said Uthey. He nodded toward the others. “I’ve noticed something about the pairings. It doesn’t seem random. The woman and that man—they’re both the good-looking sort, a bit soft. Nobles like that kind of thing around their estates.” He nodded to the next pair. “Those two are scrawny. Not sure what good they’ll be. Those two over there are strong.” He looked back to Tam. “I think they put us together for a reason, and I doubt it’ll be a plush plantation for you and me. We’ll need to keep each other’s backs where we’re going.”
“Where’s that?”
Uthey shrugged. “Don’t know, but it’s sure to be full of men like us.”
One of the larger men, a curly-haired fellow with a flat nose, said, “Hey, what’re you two going on about over there?” He looked to the others for support. “They’re talking about us. They’re plotting something.”
Malena’s partner pulled her into his lap. “Come here, darlin’. Best keep you out of their way.” Malena pushed and kicked at him, but he held strong as his hands started to roam her body.
Tam said, “Stop it! You leave her alone or—”
“Or what?” The man lifted his chin toward where the slavers lurked. “Remember, what happens to me, happens to her.”
“Only if they think we’ve been causing trouble. If you die of natural causes, she gets a new partner.”
“Natural causes?” The man laughed. “You think to starve me to death? Maybe wait ’til I die of old age?”
“Ain’t none of us gonna die of old age,” muttered Uthey.
“All the more reason to have a little fun before I go,” said the man.
Tam stood and looked back at Uthey, who grumbled but followed as he stepped across the cage. The others stood as well, in anticipation of a fight. The woman scrambled out of the man’s lap and backed away the length of her restraint. Tam faced her partner with determination. The big man who had voiced his discontent moments before stepped up to Tam’s left. Tam elbowed him in the stomach and then backhanded his temple, sending the man crashing into his partner, and causing the two of them to fall into the other men. Ducking a swing from the woman’s partner, Tam thrust his open palm in the V below the man’s sternum, just as Rezkin had taught him. He felt the small bone break away, and he knew he had used enough force for it to have punctured something vital. As the man doubled over, Tam backed to his side of the cage. He gave the other men a warning glare, and Malena’s partner slid to the floor holding his abdomen. Tam retook his seat, and Uthey followed.
The gasping man looked at him with fury in his eyes and said, “When I catch my breath, I’m going to make you pay for that. Then, I’m going to make her pay for it, too.”
Tam met the man’s dark gaze. “You’ll be lucky to see the morning. Either way, you’ll not be in the mood to bother her.”
Uthey looked over at him and grinned. “You will do well in a fight, so long as you don’t kick the lion.”
A bubble of laughter broke through Tam’s misery as he thought of how Rezkin might respond. He said, “I am the lion.”
Tam awoke the next morning to a squeal. Malena said, “He’s dead. By the Maker, he’s dead.” She yanked the chain around her neck as if it might fall away with the effort. “Get it off me.” She gripped the bars and screamed for the slavers. “Help me! Get him away! He’s dead.” Her frantic gaze darted around the cage. “I can’t be chained to a corpse!
Uthey nudged Tam and said, “You killed him with one strike. I was standing right next to you, and I barely saw it.”
Tam was also a little surprised. Rezkin had told him the technique could kill a man, but he had not truly expected it to work. His muscles began to tighten with anxiety as Malena’s cries finally caught the attention of their captors.
“What is it? I will make you suffer if you waste my time,” said the nearest slaver. He was a gap-toothed man with long, stringy hair gathered into multiple messy braids. Shells and other small trinkets were tied into the locks as well as his plaited beard.
“Please,” said Malena. “My partner is dead. Please take him away.”
The man looked at her, but he did not appear to understand her words. Tam said, “That man is dead. He should be removed before the rest of us succumb to his illness.”
Another man approached, this one bearing a large stick Tam had seen him use to beat people, sometimes even other slavers. “What is happening here? What trouble have you caused now, Fiero?”
Fiero pointed into the cage. “I’ve done nothing, Ipon. One of the prisoners is dead.”
Ipon opened the cage, and dragged the dead man out, pulling Malena with him. He looked the corpse over and said, “No blood. No marks. Did you give them water?”
“Same as the others,” Fiero said, waving to the other cages.
Ipon pointed to Malena. “What is she doing in there?”
“We were holding the two of them for Lady Askiva.”
“I know that, you idiot. Why is she with the men? Lady Askiva will not want her if she arrives with child.” He pointed to the dead man. “I’m holding you responsible for this, Fiero. His price will come out of your pay. You lose nearly as many as you sell. If I didn’t keep constant watch over you, we would have none to sell at all.”
“That’s not true, Ipon. It’s not my fault. These are Barbarus’s slaves.”
“Gah, you blame Barbarus. If you were one of the other men, I would beat you senseless.”
“But you know his are always half dead when they arrive.”
“I can’t argue with that, but you should know that means they need extra care when they get here. How did I get stuck with an idiot for a son? Put her with the women and get rid of this one.” As Ipon walked away, he shouted, “And give them extra food and water.”
Uthey leaned over. “What did they say?”
Tam glanced at him in annoyance. “Weren’t you listening? They think he died of thirst. They’re going to move her with the women and give us more food and water.”
Uthey’s gaze followed Fiero as he dragged away the body. He said, “How did you know what they were saying?”
“I’m not deaf,” Tam said.