The Crystals of Mida

5 The High Seat—and a price is set

For some time I had been in the darkness, though how long a time I knew not. For a space, there had been nothing and no one, a silence to match the darkness. I watched the darkness, and listened to the silence, and then I slept, my back against the wall, the chains holding me fast. I awoke to a small scraping sound, and then my leg was bitten by something with the smell of animal to it. Quickly I struck at the sound, causing the thing to squeal in pain and fear, and then I struck again and again, till no further sound came from it. With groping hands I found the limp body, broke its neck to be sure it was dead, then fed upon it, using its blood to replace that which flowed from my leg where I had been bitten.

The chains with which I was bound kept me from moving more than a short pace from my original position, yet I was able to reach the water which ran from the walls on my right. It took many handfuls to slake my thirst, and then I brought a bit of the water to my leg, where the unseen animal had bitten me. The bite no longer bled, but it throbbed somewhat with pain, so I pressed the water upon it to draw the pain away. In that realm of eternal darkness, it was no surprise that the pain remained.

A time later, a scream broke the silence. I knew the sound of Comir’s voice, and called to her that she was not alone—and reminded her that she was yet a warrior. Her faint reply of obedience barely came to me; then there were no further screams. As warriors we sat within the darkness and silence, awaiting whatever would come.

Six times I lured unseen animals to me so that I might feed, before there came the sound of steps beyond the door. Metal was slid aside, the door opened, and quickly I squeezed my eyes shut against the brilliant glare of a torch. Footsteps neared me, my arms were once again held, and the cuffs of metal were removed from my wrists, only to be replaced with smaller, smoother metal as my arms were forced behind me. Next was the collar about my throat opened, that, too, being replaced by another, smaller collar of the same sort. The cuffs about my ankles were opened, though not replaced, and roughly I was taken from the room to the space beyond the door. I heard the sound of chain and saw a male in leather and metal bring a chain to the collar about my throat. The chain barely touched the collar and was held there, and the weight of the chain added itself to the collar.

The male then moved aside, and I saw, the chain also running to them, Fayan and Comir, facing from me, their arms, too, behind their backs. Presently the chain moved again, and I turned a bit to see Larid added behind me. When she and Binat were secured, the males, one holding the chain before Comir, one to either side of us, a fourth with a torch, moved in the direction we faced, pulling and pushing us with them. He with the torch was left at the large door, and then we retraced our steps to the air above.

The dimness of the uppermost space was not so great that a torch was needed to see the door in the wall to the right, yet was there one in a sconce beside it. The door was opened by him who held the chain, and the brightness within again caused pain to my eyes. We stumbled along a wide, well lit way, whose walls were smooth, pinkish stone, and which was floored by smooth, even squares of stone of a different sort. This way led to an open doorway without a door, and then did we tread a cloth of many colors, and see bright blue silks upon the pinkish stone of the walls. Males we now passed, and slavewomen as well, all of whom moved from us with disdain, for surely we brought the stink of the depths with us.

In a matter of a short time, we came to another doorway, this one thrice the height and width of the others seen. No door hung within its dimensions, entrance instead being barred by two hands of males in leather and metal, armed with spears as well as swords. Between these males we were led, to the room beyond, and never had I seen so large a room. Fully forty paces by forty must it have been, its floor so smooth and bright as to seem all of a single piece taken from the skies. Blue silk hung upon its walls in careless folds, more silk than would be needed to clothe every warrior of every clan of the Midanna. Many males stood about in this room, though the greater number of them wore naught of leather and metal. These males looked upon us as we passed, with nearly as many expressions as there were males, and well. I knew we made a fine sight—unkempt, filthy of skin as well as of clan colors, unsteady from such long confinement, marked here and there by the unseen animals of the depths. A fine sight indeed were we Hosta of the Midanna. However we walked with heads high, knowing we were warriors.

At the far wall of this very large room stood a high platform, so high that a hand of broad steps were needed to reach its top. Perched atop this platform was a seat not unlike that of the Keeper, Rilas, save that it had no gandod to move it about. Toward this platform we were drawn, toward the male who sat upon the Keeper’s seat, a male of gigantic proportions, yet not in height. Pale was his hair, and light were his eyes, but his skin fell in folds about him, much like those of his covering which reached to his toes. He wore bright stones upon his fingers and about his neck, and a slavewoman knelt beside his seat, holding a large square of wood from which he chose portions of meat and ripe fruits. Another slavewoman, to his other side, held a square of wood containing a tall pot, from which, presumably, he drank. The juices of his feeding dripped down the sides of his mouth, yet his covering was unstained, as a blue cloth lay upon his chest to catch the drippings. Before this gross creature, then, were we brought, save that we were not to mount the steps. We stood in a line before him, Fayan and Comir to my right, Larid and Binat to my left, the males who had brought us to either side of the line, and one behind. He upon the seat continued to feed, and looked not once upon us.

More than a quarter of a hin passed so, and then did the gross male cease his feeding. His hands took the cloth from upon his chest, wiped themselves and his mouth, then threw the cloth toward the slavewoman who held the food. His light, narrow eyes came to us, and immediately were we seized by the males who had led us there, and forced to our knees by the chain and collars about our throats.

“They do not bow their heads,” said the male upon the platform, in a voice much deeper than one would expect. “Though they kneel to the High Seat, they do not bow their heads. Are these they who would take from the High Seat his rightful proportion?”

“Indeed, Blessed One,” came a voice from the left, and Pileth stood there, two steps above the level upon which we knelt. Tall and straight did he stand upon the step, his head held high, his gaze for none save him who sat upon the seat. “They are also those who took the lives of three of your Guardsmen,” said Pileth. “I respectfully suggest that they be executed at once.”

“Executed?” said he upon the seat, his brows raised high. Then did he laugh and shake his head. “No, no, good Captain, they are not to be executed. The jewels that they carried have been confiscated, and the jewels that they are shall not be cast aside. They shall be sold in the public market, at a price to match that which should have been given the High Seat as his proper due. They reek of the dungeons, yet their beauty may easily be seen. The High Seat shall have their price to add to his coffers.”

“Blessed One, hear me,” said Pileth, his voice even, though seeming a bit strained. His left hand gripped the hilt of his sword, as though drawing strength from it. “Blessed One, these females are savages, unfit to be slaves in your glorious city! They slew your Guardsmen with swords, showing how great a danger they may be! I think only of the safety of the High Seat when I beg that their lives be ended!”

“How foolish of you, Captain,” laughed he upon the seat, gesturing with one ringed hand. “Savages or no, they are only female, and the High Seat fears no female.” His eyes filled with laughter, and he inspected my warriors and myself, and then pointed toward me. “You, girl,” he said. “I shall ask you. Has the High Seat aught to fear from a slave such as you?”

“No male need fear a slave,” said I, in a voice which cracked from long disuse. “Yet Jalav is no slave, and never shall she be. Sleep light, foolish male, for the dagger of Jalav comes swiftly.”

A great noise arose from the males about the room, and Pileth seemed pleased by my response. The eyes of him upon the platform, however, were not as pleased as those of Pileth, and all amusement seemed to have vanished from them.

“A savage indeed,” said he. “I had thought to take her to serve the needs of the High Seat, yet shall she now be sent with the others. Remove them to the public pens for display and twenty lashes for her who knows not how to address the High Seat.”

We were pulled roughly again to our feet, and quickly removed from the room of him who sat upon the platform. Knots of males stood about and murmured, and perturbation had entered the eyes of many who looked upon us. Pileth, though, had gazed upon me sadly, and then had looked away. Again did we move from way to way, a veritable city within a dwelling, and they who led us continued to say not a word. I had looked upon my warriors as we stood before him of the platform, and each, though weary, had returned my gaze as of old. As quickly as the metal should be removed from us, that quickly would we be free.

At last we came upon a room which was nearly of a size with that which held the platform, yet this room held enclosures of metal, chains upon walls, contrivances of metal and wood, and a large number of males and females. Many of the males and females were within the enclosures, the females with only a metal collar about their throats, the males heavily chained. Those who walked about the room were largely male, yet certain uncollared slavewomen were to be seen as well, speaking to the males, or hurrying about various tasks. At the entrance to this odd room we were halted, and waited till approached by a male and a female, each seemingly pleased to note our arrival. Tall and broad was the male, his hair touched with gray as was that of Maranu, and the female stood but a finger less than the height of Fayan, her hair a deep, rich black like mine. Her eyes, of a sharp and piercing blue, examined each of us with care, then looked to the males who had led us there.

“They are to be sold at forty silver pieces each,” said he who held the chain, and then he gave the chain to the room’s male. “They are to be secured as though they were men, and she of the black hair is to receive twenty lashes.”

The female’s brows rose at that, and again she inspected me. “So many!” she said in surprise. “For what reason is she to be lashed?”

“She knows not how to address the High Seat,” responded the male. “Have a care with them, Karil, for they be savage and as yet unbroken. Also, they are to be exhibited.”

“I see,” said the female quietly. “The High Seat is displeased to a great extent. At the fast price of forty silver pieces each, it shall be long that they are exhibited. Inform the High Seat that all shall be seen to.”

The male nodded, then he and the two others returned as we had come. The female then gestured toward a far corner of the room which contained only circles and chains upon the wall.

“Secure them there, Bariose,” she directed the male who now held the chain. “Rinse the dungeon stink from them, then we shall see to other matters.”

“An excellent thought, Karil,” said he called Bariose, regarding my warriors and myself with distaste. “They shall be displayed as they are, of course, yet none shall miss that distinctive aroma.”

“I certainly shall not,” she called Karil agreed, her hands clasped before her. “Nor am I used to such. It is normally your male slaves who arrive so, not my females. We shall have to work together upon this.”

“I foresee little difficulty,” said Bariose, examining us yet again. “I shall see to their confinement and punishment, you to their positioning and presentation. A simple matter.”

The female turned from Bariose, and stepped to me to stare with troubled eyes. “Must it truly be twenty?” she asked, speaking to the male though her gaze was for me. “She is little more than a girl, Bariose, and never have I seen a girl punished so!”

“The High Seat is to be obeyed,” the male answered. “It may not be a stroke less than twenty, yet shall I have a care that she is not permanently marked. I would not make her sale more difficult.”

“You are a good man, Bariose.” The female smiled, turning from me. “Together, we shall find her a master as kind as you. I shall have a cage prepared for them.”

The female moved away toward the metal enclosures, and the male pulled us toward the corner of the large room. Many eyes were upon us, most especially those of the males who were chained within the enclosures. Their need was strong upon them, yet were they unable to see to it, chained and pent as they were, and that was truly a waste. Many of them would have been acceptable in the home tents of the Hosta.

In the corner the male attached the chain to a circle upon the wall. He then walked to where Binat stood, drawing her closer to the wall, so that he might take a chain already set upon the wall and secure it to a small circle on the collar about her throat. Binat glanced toward me as she was taken and I shook my head very slightly. It was not the proper time to show what might befall a male who touched a Midanna warrior unbidden.

My warriors and I stood facing toward the wall, held in place by the chain to which our collars clung, our wrists still firmly closed behind us. I knew not whether the time was of light or of darkness, for there were no windows. I knew not where we were, I knew not of the presence nor lack of light; I knew only that we would again be free, or dead in the attempt.

A short while we stood in inspection of the wall, then there were steps behind us. A moment later, large wooden pots of water were emptied upon us, cold water which first shocked the body, then caused it to waken and tingle. I shook the water from my eyes, feeling nearly as refreshed as though I had stepped beneath a falls, and my warriors sighed in contentment at the touch of Midas-blessed wetness upon their bodies. Three times further were we treated so, but the last time was unwelcome. The water had been fouled with that which gave it a scent not unlike her of the orange and pink tent, and my warriors and I did not care for it. Angrily we stood, with hair and clan coverings dripping to the floor, much outraged that such a thing would be done to us. The Hosta, too, have at times taken prisoners, yet never have the Hosta subjected even blood enemies to such.

For perhaps two hind we were left to stand as we were, then we heard the approach of footsteps. The female known as Karil briefly touched the clan coverings and hair of each of us, then came her voice from behind.

“Their skirting has dried, Bariose, yet their hair remains wet,” said she. “So long and heavy is it, it shall be wet some time yet. I do believe I shall have it combed now, then you may cage them.”

“As you wish, Karil,” said he called Bariose. “Their combing and skirting is beyond my province. Send your slave to me when the matter is done.”

The female agreed. A moment later came quick, light steps, and a female with a collar about her throat and a heavy wooden comb in her hand approached Binat, and removed the war leather from her hair. The comb was drawn through Binat’s hair, beginning low, the better to remove the snarls and tangles which had accumulated, then higher and higher till the slavewoman found it necessary to fetch a low, round platform upon which to stand, so that she might reach Binat more easily. When the combing was done, the war leather was replaced upon Binat’s hair, which caused me to smile. City folk are ignorant in all matters, for one does not aid one’s enemies in war preparation.

The hair of each of us was combed in a like manner, but the slavewoman had to fetch a piece of leather with which to tie Fayan’s hair. I then recalled that Fayan’s leather had been gone when we were taken by Pileth and his males, and I wondered what had happened to Fayan. She had not spoken of the matter, for there had scarcely been the opportunity, yet I believed that she chose not to speak of it, and I was disturbed by this.

When the slavewoman had retied Comir’s hair, she lifted the platform and carried it away. Shortly thereafter came heavier footsteps, and three males appeared beside us. Two of the males began to remove the chains that bound us to the wall, and the third reached to the chain which held my collar. At the male’s touch, the chain fell away, then he moved me to the right, the while my warriors were taken to the left. I did not care to be separated from them. However it was best that should one be taken, I be the one. My warriors had greater chance for escape if they remained together.

I was pulled perhaps five paces, to where he called Bariose and another male waited. Bariose held in his hand a coiled length of leather, covered most of its length, perhaps by cloth, perhaps silk. Bariose moved the coiled leather gently yet continuously against his leg as the second male came forward to grasp my arm. Between them I was taken to a wall, from which, high up and apart, projected two thin cuffs, flat to the wall, into which my wrists were locked. The cuffs forced me hard against the wall, and I was unable to stand flat upon my feet, needing, instead, to raise up upon my toes. I felt the chill of the pink smooth stone against me as the male to my left parted my hair as it lay in the leather, and pushed it forward across my shoulders so that he might knot it below my chin. With this done, the two males departed.

“You now receive your first punishment, slave,” came the voice of Bariose from where he stood. “Consider the cause of it as the lash reaches you, and perhaps it may not be necessary for the lash to reach you again. A slave must obey in all things, else is she punished.”

Then I was struck with such force that the blow drove me closer against the wall and farther up on my toes. My breath sucked in at the fire which flared across my back, a fire which stretched from shoulder to waist, My hands grasped uselessly at the wall, seeking to hold to it against the fire, but there was nothing to hold to nor grasp. Then came a second blow, sharp against the first, adding its fire to the flame which already consumed me, and a third, and a fourth. My body shook to the pain I felt, yet was I Jalav, war leader of the Hosta of the Midanna. Hard against the wall was my cheek, my fists clenched in the cuffs, my eyes closed tight, yet not a sound did I make to shame myself before Mida.

Barely did I know when the fire no longer reached me. Pain covered me as darkness covers the forest, and all had receded before it. I was aware of no part of me save my back and shoulders, aware only of the wall where I hung. It was a moment before I realized that the males were again beside me, releasing the wall cuffs, and I was not able to stand against such abrupt release. To my knees by the wall did I go, attempting to deny the pain, yet it would not be denied. It burned at me ceaselessly, turning me sick with its strength, helpless in its grip. My hands at my middle, my head low, I knelt by the wall, clinging to the light against darkness only by will, and my arms were, again forced behind me, and again held by unyielding metal. Hands upon my arms forced me to my feet, and I was taken, half dragged, half stumbling, from the wall and across the floor.

Slowly I was aware of the silence of the room; mistily did I see the eyes upon me. Those within the enclosures and without looked upon me in my pain, but without ridicule. I attempted to straighten myself and walk as a warrior should, but could not. Trembling like a kan beside a gando, I was taken by the males to an enclosure, within which stood my warriors. Their eyes were wild with fury, but they were still bound with metal, and enclosed behind the metal of city males. A door was opened in the enclosure by the male to my right, and easily were my warriors pushed aside so that I might be thrust within among them. I stumbled but a pace or two before I fell, landing hard upon the metal floor upon my side. My warriors came and crouched above me, anxiously asking after what pain I felt, and the demands of the flame could no longer be denied. The light drifted from me, as though loath to depart, yet depart it did before the soothing darkness.