Web of Deceit (17 page)

“Are you daft?” growled the angry soldier.

The friendly soldier started laughing. He laughed so hard that he dropped his sword. He bent down and retrieved the sword and shoved it into its sheath.

“What are you laughing at?” asked the angry soldier. “Is he trying to bribe us?”

“Not exactly,” chuckled the friendly guard. “He is making a simple wager. There is nothing wrong with that. The funny part is the wager is based upon what we determine. Clever. Absolutely clever. He is offering us the chance to earn three hundred gold without breaking any rules. He is right that whoever decides her guilt or innocence is only going to have the two accounts to go by and she hasn’t really left the estate yet. They may believe her. They may not.”

“And if we let her go free and she does escape, it will be our necks,” the angry soldier declared. “Three hundred gold is a lot of gold, but I don’t need gold that badly.”

“On my word,” Rejji stated, “if she so much as thinks about escaping, I will not only alert the guards, but I will take my own life. Hear me, Mistake. On my grandfather’s soul, I will take my own life if you ever try to escape this estate.”

Mistake started crying hysterically and the angry guard rose. He looked at Mistake and then Rejji. He finally looked at the friendly soldier and nodded his head.

“I believe her,” the friendly soldier declared, “but I will certainly keep my eye on her in the future. I am afraid you lost your bet lad.”

Rejji expelled the breath he had been holding and smiled grimly as he handed the pouch to the soldier. “I am indebted to both of you,” he said softly. “And I will keep my word, I promise.”

“The two of you need to get back to the mansion now,” the angry guard stated. “Right now.”

Rejji nodded and helped Mistake to her feet. She clung to him and he walked her across the field. He walked her slowly and the two soldiers dallied behind them. When he reached the mansion, he went around to the kitchen entrance to avoid being seen. Rejji sat Mistake as far away from the kitchen workers as he could and then went and got her a cup of tea.

“I am going to be in trouble anyway,” sobbed Mistake. “I did not do my chores today.”

“So you will be in trouble,” soothed Rejji. “Take the punishment and be glad you are alive. Mistake, these people have hundreds of years dealing with slaves. I am sure prior slaves have tried every trick in the book to get out of here. The soldiers know them all. If there is way out of this bondage, I will find it, but it will not be by escaping. That just isn’t going to work.”

“I thought you were dead or sold off,” sobbed Mistake. “It has been weeks and nobody knew where you had gone.”

“I am sorry,” Rejji said. “I had no warning myself. The Bursar took me on a trip with him to Khadoratung. We just got back and he told me I could have the rest of the day off to say hello to my friends. I was heading for Bakhai before returning to the mansion. I am glad I happened along when I did.”

“Where did you get the gold?” she asked.

“I earned it in the capital,” Rejji smiled. “I learned a lot about trading while I was there.”

“And I just caused you to lose it,” she sniffed. “I am sorry, Rejji.”

“You don’t need to be sorry for that,” Rejji said. “I only earned the money in hopes that I could buy your freedom. I have no other use for it. If it paid to give you another chance then it was worth it. I have no regrets over it.”

***

The gaudily dressed merchant stood looking out the window in the Bursar’s office. He saw Rejji and Mistake go by and disappear into the kitchen entrance of the mansion.

“That makes twenty of them, Sebastian,” the Bursar said as he piled the last piece of paper on top of the others. “I see now why you have such a large wagon, but are you not afraid they will escape? The wagon has no bars to keep them in.”

“I use chains,” Sebastian said as he turned from the window. “Much easier to deal with. I can release one without worrying about the others getting free. It eliminates the need for helpers to watch them. I like traveling alone.”

“Yet you were kind enough to deliver me and the boy here from Khadoratung,” reminded Wicado.

“Well, I had to return here anyway to pick up the slaves you are selling me,” smiled Sebastian, “and I do enjoy your company. I meant the typical guards you can hire these days. I don’t like dealing with them. I would rather travel without them.”

“I understand and appreciate your service,” smiled the Bursar. “The return trip by barge is much too slow and boring.”

“My wagon can hold more slaves,” hinted Sebastian. “Are you sure those are the only ones available?”

“I am afraid so,” answered Wicado. “Trang desires to keep the rest, whatever they are worth. Perhaps on your next visit we will have more, although I doubt we will be purchasing anymore of them.”

“Many around the country have decided that they are not worth the cost of their keep,” nodded the merchant.

“Well I am glad you have found a market for them,” Wicado said. “I will mention your name to some of the other estates. Perhaps they will want to dispose of the worthless creatures.”

“Perhaps,” smiled Sebastian, “and I thank you for spreading my name around.”

Sebastian picked up the papers from the Bursar’s desk and inspected them. He turned to leave and hesitated before returning to stand before the Bursar’s desk.

“There is one other thing you may help me with,” Sebastian said.

“Name it,” smiled Wicado. “I will do what I can.”

“Seeing as I have empty slots in my wagon,” Sebastian began, “I could use some other types of slaves. I have a customer who is interested in the goings on in Fakara. Would you happen to have three or four recently arrived slaves from that barren land?”

“We get a great deal of our slaves from Fakara,” nodded Wicado. “I am sure there are some we can do without.”

“They must be recent arrivals to satisfy this customer,” reminded the merchant.

“Hmm,” Wicado said. “We have only had one shipment recently.”

Wicado walked to the window and stared out as if he was thinking upon some important matter and wished to dwell upon it. He turned and looked at the merchant.

“I do not think we are ready to sell those in the last shipment,” the Bursar stated.

“I would offer a fair coin for them,” pushed Sebastian.

“It is not the price that troubles me, friend,” smiled Wicado. “I am sure the Seneschal would sell them as your offer is generous enough. It is personal I guess. The boy Rejji is among them and I have grown attached to him. He reminds me of myself in my youth. The other two are his friends and I would not like to see the sorrow in his eyes if they were sold. I hope you understand.”

“It is not good policy to become attached to slaves,” reminded Sebastian. “Only ill can come of it. Farewell until next time.”

Wicado nodded as a courier came in and handed him a note. He read the note as Sebastian was leaving.

“Wait,” called Wicado. “Let me speak to Trang and I will return promptly. Have the wagon loaded, but do not depart yet.”

The merchant nodded as Wicado crossed the hall and entered the Seneschal’s office. He emerged several minutes later and saw Lam coming down the stairs.

“Lam,” Wicado ordered, “find Rejji and send him to my office right away. Then gather up the slaves, Mistake and Bakhai and bring them around front. They will be leaving with the merchant.”

Wicado spun and headed for his office without waiting for a response from Lam. He sat down at his desk and filled out more slave transfer forms. He finished the forms and stood in front of the window gazing out. Rejji arrived and coughed to make his presence known, but Wicado remained silent at the window. After a few awkward moments, Wicado turned and Rejji could see the barest trace of tears in the Bursar’s eyes.

“You asked for me?” Rejji asked.

“Yes, Rejji, I did,” Wicado answered. “You are being sold.”

“Why?” quizzed Rejji. “Have I done something wrong?”

“No,” answered Wicado. “I have just been informed that I am to take on an assistant. Your services to my office will no longer be needed.”

“I understand,” frowned Rejji. “Still there are many other things I can do here. I do not mind working the fields and I have been good. I don’t want to be separated from my friends.”

“You will not be separated,” Wicado said with a faint smile. “Mistake and Bakhai are going with you.”

Rejji walked over to Wicado and hugged him. “Thank you, Sir,” he said. “I would die if I lost them.”

Wicado stiffened and returned to his desk. “There is no guarantee that your new owner will keep you together,” he stated. “It does sound like the three of you are desired for your knowledge of Fakara though and that is a good sign that you will be treated well. I shall remember you always, Rejji. You are a fine lad and have done well in everything asked of you. The merchant that drove us back from Khadoratung is waiting outside. Take these papers with you.”

Rejji picked the papers up and stared at the Bursar for a moment, but Wicado’s head was down and he would not raise it to make eye contact, so Rejji left. He exited the mansion and saw the merchant’s wagon with Bakhai and Mistake standing behind it. The merchant was there as well and he watched Rejji approach. Rejji handed him the papers and he nodded.

Rejji glanced at Mistake and saw that she had been crying again. Rejji supposed that she thought she was being sold without him. He smiled at her and she broke into a big grin.

“Rejji,” the merchant said, “you may call me Sebastian. Seeing as I know you can be trusted, you may ride up front with me. You shall perform chores for me until we reach your new master. You may start by making sure these two are properly shackled. I must go pay the Bursar. I will return shortly.”

Bakhai climbed into the wagon, but Mistake stood her ground. “You aren’t really going to put those on me, are you?” she asked Rejji.

“I am,” Rejji said. “Are you so quick to forget what almost happened this morning? We have not even left the estate and you are thinking about it again. Be glad that the reports of you trying to escape will not follow you to our new home.”

“Home?” Mistake squealed. “My home is in Fakara, not in chains.”

“Get in and let me get your shackles on,” frowned Rejji. “I will try to talk with the merchant after we are under way. Maybe he can be bought.”

“With what?” scowled Mistake as she climbed into the wagon. “I already caused you to lose your gold. Now you have nothing to bargain with.”

“I will still try,” smiled Rejji as he fastened the shackles on his two friends. “If we are going to be near the capital, I know I can make money there. I will promise him an exorbitant sum for the three of us.”

“Maybe it won’t be so bad,” Bakhai offered. “This merchant’s horses are well cared for. Wouldn’t he care for us as well?”

Rejji looked at Bakhai and shook his head. He climbed out of the wagon to see Sebastian coming down the steps. Sebastian indicated that Rejji should climb aboard up front and then silently took the reins and started the wagon rolling. He did not speak as the wagon left the Pikata estate and turned onto the road leading to Sintula. Eventually, Rejji could not take the silence.

“How much did you pay for the three of us?” Rejji asked.

Sebastian gazed over at Rejji and shook his head. “You seek to buy your freedom from me?” he asked.

“Yes,” confirmed Rejji. “I do not have gold now, but I can make it and you know I can be trusted.”

“I know you can be trusted to ride up here with me,” Sebastian smiled. “That is not exactly the same thing as trusting you to deliver on a promise when you are out of sight.”

“But I cannot make the gold to pay you if you do not set me free first,” reasoned Rejji. “I am willing to pay you double what you paid for us.”

“That is an awfully gracious offer,” Sebastian remarked, “seeing as you have no idea how much I paid for you. I could make up any price I wanted to. Have you not thought that far ahead? Or is it that you never plan to pay me anyway so the amount is irrelevant?”

“No,” promised Rejji. “I would pay you. I guess what I am saying is the amount is not important to me. If I had work my entire life to pay you back, I would do so, as long as we did it as free people.”

“So you think your two friends would help you in repaying this debt?” queried the merchant. “Have you even consulted with them about this plan?”

“No,” admitted Rejji, “but I know they would stand by me in this.”

“They would, would they?” chuckled Sebastian. “Suppose at camp tonight I let your girl friend sleep without shackles. Would you care to wager if she would be standing by you come morning?”

Rejji was stunned. “What makes you single her out?” he asked.

“You did not answer my question,” Sebastian retorted. “I have a large bag in the back with my things. In it you will find a tin of bocco. Fetch it for me while you strive to come up with your answer.”

Rejji crawled into the wagon to get the tin from Sebastian’s bag. He crawled over to Mistake and whispered that the merchant was considering the sale so that her spirits would lift a bit. He crawled back and found the large bag. The back held mostly clothes and Rejji felt around for the tin, but the bag was too fully packed for his hand to reach the bottom. He started pulling out clothes and piling them alongside the bag so he could locate the tin. Rejji halted when he lifted a black cloak out of the bag, a black cloak with a hood. He tried to visualize the gaudily clad merchant in the black cloak and couldn’t, and yet his discovery scared him greatly. He returned to searching the bag and eventually found the tin of bocco. He placed the tin on the floor and neatly put the clothes back into the bag. He closed the bag and grabbed the tin as he crawled back into the seat of the wagon.

Sebastian pulled a pouch off his belt and handed it to Rejji. “Fill that with bocco for me, lad,” he said.

“Did you have to wait long for us in the capital?” Rejji asked as he filled the pouch.

“The timing of your return from Khadoratung was convenient for me,” answered Sebastian. “Have you thought of your answer?”

“I have,” nodded Rejji as he handed the pouch to the merchant. “If I asked Mistake to stay in camp when she was unshackled, she would stay. Now that I have answered your question, answer mine. Why did you single her out as one who would run?”