“This one has a name. It is called Nahlia. She is healthy and fertile. You will be happy with your purchase, my lord.”

I watch my seller points at me. I didn't know what he was saying, but I wanted to grab his finger and point it back at himself. It was already the next day and a buyer had come for me. He was with a Ryoken girl named Lani. That's what he kept calling her. I didn't know what my buyer was saying, but he called himself Maur Crescendo. He would stop to choose his words with my seller. Bargaining wasn't his thing. He wanted exact prices and a fair trade.

Maur mentions something to Lani and she stares at him. He signs some papers angrily and looks at me. I recoil in my cage. Maur had weird eyes. They were black and frightening. His irises expanded as he covered them with his hand for shadow. I didn't feel natural. They matched his odd quirks and presence.

“What is this place...,” I sulk.

Out of nowhere Maur starts speaking in Neandelerian. It seemed like Lani also spoke my language. A wave of relief spreads over me and I grab my cage bars.

“Yes! I am grateful for this.”

I smile at Maur, as he glares in my direction. He didn't seem to notice me too much. He fumbled around a lot and Lani was leading him around in the bright areas. He looked wealthy like Luer. His equipment was well-designed. We probably manufactured bits and pieces of it when we had a city. Sadly, Cepertine was gone. Maur approaches me and I react in fear,

“Hey there. I'm really skilled at managing things,” I smile. “I'll do whatever you ask.”

“Perhaps you can tell me what Luer is up to. It's the main reason I bought you,” replies Maur with all seriousness. He waits for me to answer him. I didn't know what to say. I nod quietly to myself. I would think of something later. It would work out when the right words came. They weren't coming to me. I flatten my smile.

“I know a lot about him. Just tired. Can I tell you later?”

Maur keeps his composure. I could sense the heaviness of his armor and equipment. Lani was the same. Lani darts up to my cage and I hear a jingle. I shake my wooden cage bars excitedly as she takes the key and sets me free. I get out and stand awkwardly in front of my new friends. I stretch in a non-nonchalant way and force a yawn.

The room becomes quiet and my seller speaks to Maur again, interrupting him. I pick at my clothing and wipe my hair. I watch as more documents are signed. I become nervous biting my cheek, hoping they wouldn't return me like they did to one slave. Not all purchases were final. Lani's eyes dart to me and then at Maur, He speaks calmly.

“You two should bond and look out for each other. I have a death match to worry about. Ask her about Luer. His camp. Anything useful.” Maur bumps into my seller and pardons himself by knocking him over with his arm. The seller gives into an angry shouting, but is ignored. Maur walks out of the tent, as if he knew the street. Being in Capara seemed to make him angry and frustrated. I watch him pause outside the tent. It looked like he was calculating his steps by memory. He didn't want to mingle with the inhabitants.

I glance at Lani and try to avoid eye contact. I eye her knee-blade against her leg. She had eyes like Tayt and she was focused on me. I wave. I almost thought I recognized her. We don't say anything to each other and leave the tent.

Some time later, I end up in Maur's mesa. He had me pass his test to enter. It was a little weird, but I think he shows everyone the first time. It goes like this.

“Maur: I'm surrounded by yes men. They say yes to me and do whatever I ask. Yes all day long. No one thinks. Everyone says yes. It's frustrating when you need some honesty. Do you understand my frustrations?

Me: Yes.

Maur: You may enter my abode.”

I look around the room I'm in. For now, I was in a bedroom. It was calm feeling and organized. I was getting to know Lani. She was trying to teach me her language. Maur was off fixing my room up with a few of his bodyguards. He said it was hospitality on a whim. I listen to Lani.

“When I needed help, I did this.” Lani holds up the hand sign for “Lam Lathi” across her face. She said her tribal friends would come join her and help.

“Oh. Like this?” I mimic.

I don't pay Lani much attention. She was teaching me Ryoken words and phrases. I was distracted with my new room. We were in one of many and I was given a room to stay in. Maur had a lot of rooms in his abode. Most of them were free of windows and had thick curtains if they did. They were beautiful like the dresses the Caparan upper classes wore.

I glance over the antique finish in the room. The cherry wood furniture seemed familiar to his mesa home and I take a look at the bed. The sculpted pineapples of the bed posts welcomed me. The smell of traders’ spices was richer than the mustiness of Capara’s streets. There were several clean cups, set for drinking guests and a dimming wall light. The whole far wall was covered in books. There were so many, I wanted to read them all. Unfortunately, they were written in a language I didn't know. Lani taps my arm to get my attention.

“Thanks for teaching me,” I say shyly.

I fiddle with my clothing some more and think about Tayt. I didn't know how it would work out, but I had to try and get this Maur guy to help. He had some weighty power in the city. A better time would come later. I didn't want to wait too long though. I jump on the bed.

I peel back the covers and curl up. Lani stops me.

“Mmm... You can't sleep here, Nahlia. This is Maur's room.”

“Sorry....”

I pull back the covers and try to make it look nice. I walk out of the room as Maur enters. I didn't know why Maur bought me. I tried to tell Lani everything I knew. I was worthless. I tried not to stretch the truth, either. Nothing seemed to be what she was looking for. I look quietly at Lani as I leave. She was the friendlier of the two. I didn't know who else lived here, but I would try to keep to myself. Escaping was on my mind too.

Tomorrow I wanted to ask about Tayt. I remember staring at each other as he left. I felt guilty. Sorry wasn't enough for what I had done behind his back. I never meant for it to be. I was beginning to doubt my hopes that everything had cooled over. Tayt deserved better than a disfigured ingrate.