Blinded by the Sun (Erythleh Chronicles Book 4) by Catherine Johnson Page B
Authors: Catherine Johnson
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Apparently the rumours of his displeasure at the state of this sorry business had not been enough to dissuade anyone from their usual practice. Normally he was proud to call himself King of Vuthron. On this day he was not.
Each time a prospective buyer came within two steps of one of the lots, someone would jump forward to list the salient points about temperament, beauty, ability, skills, or the sweetness of their blood. Confronted by the blank, deadened cast of their eyes, the way that their shoulders hunched and folded inwards, and the bruises and grazes, Kavrazel could tell that all the words were lies. All the slaves were close to being naked, if not totally so. Many had been given some form of loincloth. Considering that the blood toast was traditionally taken from the wrist, Kavrazel knew there wasn't one good reason why any of the potential slaves should not be dressed fully, except for perhaps their arms.
Kavrazel stood tall to look around the room, over the heads of most of those present. It seemed that a significant proportion of the potential slaves were women. As he walked the aisles, he paid attention to his fellow prospective buyers, who were - without exception - male. He had no doubt that in the absence of his presence many would have taken advantage of the half-dressed state of the wares, to fondle them as if they were fruit at a market stall. Indeed, some seemed to be present with only the intention to ogle the goods for sale. The blood toast was supposed to be an honoured tradition, yet this meat sale had all the appearance of a market for brothels.
"Is it always this bad?" Kavrazel murmured to Shinu.
"Almost always so, Sire," Shinu answered.
"We should consider ourselves lucky." Kavrazel was incensed by the foolishness of the traders.
"Yes, Sire. At last estimate, twenty per cent of the population were slaves."
"One in five in this country, and they have hatred for us instilled from the very first. Should they decide to rise up..."
"It would be disruptive, Sire."
"I will not have these imbeciles endangering their own country so. By Taan, I will stop this." Kavrazel said in a low, fervent voice.
Shinu made a small bow towards Kavrazel. "I will do anything I can to aid you."
Kavrazel was still seething at the stupidity and arrogance of the traders, when a flash of something otherworldly accosted his attention.
Eyes.
Her eyes were the first thing that caught him. They were so bright; the contrast between their singular colour and the tone of her skin was so disparate that she almost looked as if she were blind. Those green orbs, as bright as those of any cat, caught him fast. It took him a moment or two to realise that the woman was looking through him, rather than at him. Once he comprehended that, he realised that the black depths of her pupils were too large, even considering the dim light. She had been drugged.
She was standing as the others, but leaning heavily on a crutch that was propped under her arm. The lad who was watching her was not flicking her with a switch to make her stand to attention as potential buyers passed. She was more clothed than most. A thin shift of some shimmering fabric had been pulled about her and belted at her waist, but it was almost transparent. If she hadn't been all but insensible, Kavrazel thought that she might have realised that she was the most covered, and yet the most naked person in the room. Her leg caught his eye next; it was bound between wood and bandages. It had obviously been seriously injured and necessitated the crutch.
"What happened here?" Kavrazel asked.
He was answered by the young lad at the woman's shoulder. Evidently, due to her injury, she was not so much of a problem that she required an adult to watch over her. "She broke it, way back when. It's almost healed now, Sire."
Kavrazel did not doubt that the break had not actually been the woman's fault. Likely, she had
Each time a prospective buyer came within two steps of one of the lots, someone would jump forward to list the salient points about temperament, beauty, ability, skills, or the sweetness of their blood. Confronted by the blank, deadened cast of their eyes, the way that their shoulders hunched and folded inwards, and the bruises and grazes, Kavrazel could tell that all the words were lies. All the slaves were close to being naked, if not totally so. Many had been given some form of loincloth. Considering that the blood toast was traditionally taken from the wrist, Kavrazel knew there wasn't one good reason why any of the potential slaves should not be dressed fully, except for perhaps their arms.
Kavrazel stood tall to look around the room, over the heads of most of those present. It seemed that a significant proportion of the potential slaves were women. As he walked the aisles, he paid attention to his fellow prospective buyers, who were - without exception - male. He had no doubt that in the absence of his presence many would have taken advantage of the half-dressed state of the wares, to fondle them as if they were fruit at a market stall. Indeed, some seemed to be present with only the intention to ogle the goods for sale. The blood toast was supposed to be an honoured tradition, yet this meat sale had all the appearance of a market for brothels.
"Is it always this bad?" Kavrazel murmured to Shinu.
"Almost always so, Sire," Shinu answered.
"We should consider ourselves lucky." Kavrazel was incensed by the foolishness of the traders.
"Yes, Sire. At last estimate, twenty per cent of the population were slaves."
"One in five in this country, and they have hatred for us instilled from the very first. Should they decide to rise up..."
"It would be disruptive, Sire."
"I will not have these imbeciles endangering their own country so. By Taan, I will stop this." Kavrazel said in a low, fervent voice.
Shinu made a small bow towards Kavrazel. "I will do anything I can to aid you."
Kavrazel was still seething at the stupidity and arrogance of the traders, when a flash of something otherworldly accosted his attention.
Eyes.
Her eyes were the first thing that caught him. They were so bright; the contrast between their singular colour and the tone of her skin was so disparate that she almost looked as if she were blind. Those green orbs, as bright as those of any cat, caught him fast. It took him a moment or two to realise that the woman was looking through him, rather than at him. Once he comprehended that, he realised that the black depths of her pupils were too large, even considering the dim light. She had been drugged.
She was standing as the others, but leaning heavily on a crutch that was propped under her arm. The lad who was watching her was not flicking her with a switch to make her stand to attention as potential buyers passed. She was more clothed than most. A thin shift of some shimmering fabric had been pulled about her and belted at her waist, but it was almost transparent. If she hadn't been all but insensible, Kavrazel thought that she might have realised that she was the most covered, and yet the most naked person in the room. Her leg caught his eye next; it was bound between wood and bandages. It had obviously been seriously injured and necessitated the crutch.
"What happened here?" Kavrazel asked.
He was answered by the young lad at the woman's shoulder. Evidently, due to her injury, she was not so much of a problem that she required an adult to watch over her. "She broke it, way back when. It's almost healed now, Sire."
Kavrazel did not doubt that the break had not actually been the woman's fault. Likely, she had
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