Chapter 20.1

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    The slave pressed sweaty palms together as Fat Ajould paced back and forth, back and forth.  He watched without moving as the master wrung is fat hands together, most likely in anger.  Sweat trickled down the man’s thick jowls.  Any moment now he would turn and strike.

    Fat Ajould had found the girl in the slave’s bed, in the slave’s arms.

    Slap, slap, slap – Fat Ajoul’s big feet pounded a thick rhythm on the wooden floor.  The slave tried to brace himself, but found he was weak.  Trembling.

    The slave had hidden Juel – she claimed that was her name – in the storeroom since the night she had appeared.  He snuck food to her, food from his own plate.  When Fat Ajoul was asleep or busy with a customer, he would let her slip into the alley to relieve herself, watching all the while for danger.  All the time he had known that it was wrong to keep her from his master, keep her all to himself, yet he could not bring himself to give her up.

    Slap, slap, slap – the feet pounded on.  Why didn’t Fat Ajoul go ahead and hit him?  The waiting was worse than the punishment.

    Abruptly Fat Ajould stopped and lifted his fists into the air. “Where has that food Talaski taken himself to?”

    Not what the slave was expecting.  The words were out of his mouth before he knew he was saying them.  “He ran off with Lord Fantail’s woman.”

    “What?”  Fat Ajould stared at the slave with wide eyes and quivering cheeks.  “That fool!  That idiotic fool!  And how do you know this?”

    “Whispers in the marketplace,” the slave forced out.

    “And you didn’t tell me?  In the same way that you forgot to mention her?” He poked a thick finger at Juel.

    “Not for me to talk,” the slave whispered.

    “Talk!”  Fat Ajould threw his hands into the air.  “I order you to talk.  The fool ran off with Lady Fantail?”

    Hastily the slave shook his head.  “No – with the woman who used to come here.  The one who looked at him.”

    “Princess.  The fool took Princess from under Lord Fantail’s nose.  Did he have the good sense to leave the island?”

    “It was thought.  But they were seen last night, together, at Ahauld’s.  And there Lord Fantail’s man caught up with them, and tried to put a spear through both.”

    “They’re dead?”  Fat Ajould gasped.  “Both of them?”

    “The man missed, and was taken by the Wizard Azygous.”  It was a name that the slave had not heard before, but it was whispered with both fear and delight.

    Fat Ajould blew out a heavy breath.  “He’ll not bother Talaski again, that’s for sure.  But Lord Fantail – he’s another thing.  I hope the fool has the good sense to leave the island.  But who will help me now?  You?  You barely talk.  And what of this girl of yours?  What am I to do with her?”

    “I can earn my keep,” Juel said bravely.
 
    “But you’re a girl,” Fat Ajoul cried.  He started to pace again.

    The slave stared down at the floor.  A girl, especially one still fresh and pretty, could earn much for her master in a place like this.  Sailors and laborers came here, and many would throw down good gold for a few minutes in the back.

    Suddenly Fat Ajoul stopped and turned.  He looked at Juel, apparently realizing the obvious.  “Yes!”

    The slave fought to distance himself from his plummeting heart.

    “We’ll bind you!”

    “Bind me?” Juel asked.

    Fat Ajould waved his hand vaguely over her chest.  “And put you in a young boy’s robe.  Cut your hair.  You’re thin enough that if no one expects you be anything other than a boy, that’s all they’ll see!   And you’ll be safe, under my watch.  Well?  You’ll get meals and a place to sleep, and you can keep any tips that come your way.”

    “I can sleep here?”

    In the master’s bed, of course, the slave thought sadly.  He had so enjoyed these past few nights, not just her but the comfort of another as he slept.

    Fat Ajould waved vaguely at the slave.  “I thought that was already settled.”

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