Khari'na Made (Muse Book 1)

by Jean Winter

  Sursha's quick glance at his two friends said much. “Sir, we are just simple wanderers, looking for seasonal work.”

  Kade grinned at the rehearsed story. “I did no' inquire o' your intentions here. I asked you to tell me about yourself.” His chair creaked as he reclined against the back, casually crossing a leg. “Tell me about your family.”

  Sursha studied him, trying to figure out his angle, while the other two continued to eat, though very slowly. Listening. Finally Sursha said, “Both my parents are passed away, but I have three sisters and three brothers—well, two. One died … several weeks ago.”

  That clinched it. Blast! Kade wanted to hit something, and he struggled to maintain a calm demeanor. “I am sorry to hear that. My condolences for your loss.” Then he smoothly moved on to the other two with similar questions.

  Neither Peerz nor Lowet appeared to have any family connection with Lyra or her husband, but still, after only a few minutes' conversation, Kade understood exactly who these men were and why they were here. He didn't yet comprehend the measure of their determination to find her, but one of them being her brother-in-law, well, that was a dangerous factor, indeed.

  Kade pretended to take a closer look at Thyks' report. “So, as you just mentioned,” he turned back to Sursha, “you are merely passing through with your two friends here.” Exactly what was written in the report.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “But seasonal work?” Kade tried to sound genuinely confused. “The only seasonal jobs I am aware o' this time o' year are those relating to farming or fishing. Exactly what were you hoping to find in the middle o' the largest city on the continent at the Coliseum after a khari'na auction?”

  Sursha's calm was commendable. “We are simply in between jobs, sir, and wanted to see the great city for ourselves.”

  “But particularly the women,” Kade clarified. At Sursha's confusion, he added, “I understand you were quite intent on watching all the women as they exited. That was what cast suspicion upon you in the first place. Did you see anything you liked?”

  “Uh, no, not particularly.”

  “Come now,” Kade cajoled. “Three able men, long way from home and family … it must get lonely at times.”

  Rankled at the suggestion, Sursha told him, “Sir, I, personally, have no interest in those kinds of women. We just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, under the scrutiny of a nervous khar guard who clearly mistook a few simple glances for something else.”

  Now Kade chuckled. “I happen to know that khar guard, Mr. Woodrose. And he is most certainly not the type to jump to conclusions without probable cause. I think you are here looking for someone.”

  The prisoners' appetites magically vanished.

  With Nessip in the room, Kade figured if he could get them to admit this fact, and if he could somehow convince them to give up their search, he might be able to get these men out of here alive. Sursha locked eyes with Kade and a silent debate spawned, each of them sizing the other up.

  But then the younger man just shook his head. “No, sir. Just passing through.”

  “Gentlemen, I want to help you,” Kade said. “I would like to see you three walk out o' this building free men. I would like to see you be able to return to your wives, families, your homes. But I need you to give me something I can take to my superiors. We know you were hanging around the Coliseum for a reason. I am fairly certain it had to do with the caravan. The problem is, there are people here who fear you may be spies from Tangun, and if you canno' make them believe otherwise, you will be stuck here under your current conditions for a long, long time.”

  They held his gaze with remarkably blank faces, probably afraid he was still trying to manipulate them into revealing their faith. Come on. Stop being so stubborn. They wouldn't have to go there if they would just follow his lead. Maybe he could throw them one more bone.

  “You would no' be the first men to have followed a girlfriend or sister to the auction. I know it can be hard to see her choose a different life, especially knowing you will likely never see her again. Our government looks sympathetically on the family and friends o' those a khar leaves behind and does no' usually punish for sentimentality. You just need to promise to go home immediately and trust in the system that she will be okay.”

  It was a simple, acceptable scenario that would help them go free. Kade waited for them to bite, looking at each one in turn, imploring them on a telepathic level to take his offer. These Believer men could not appreciate how generous he was being!

  Peerz seemed leader of the three. If he could get Peerz to promise to give up the search, Lowet would willingly follow. Sursha, unfortunately, would be the toughest nut to crack. He was family.

  In a last show of goodwill, Kade turned to the only liability in the room. “Nessip, I had to get up very early this morning to be here and could use a strong drink. Please, hop on over to The Ugly Mug and bring me back a pint o' D'elv's special Tingler.

  “The Ugly Mug, sir? Is that no' at the far end o' Erbin Way?”

  “Aye, it is, soldier, and if you hurry, you can be back within, oh, I would say twenty minutes.”

  “… Aye, sir.” Upon taking this job this morning, Neesip had not foreseen that it would be nothing but “errand boy” for Officer J'Kor. His disgruntled expression was mostly hid as he left.

  A quick look up and down the hall revealed no one else in sight. Good. Kade spun back on the prisoners. “Look, the woman for which you are searching is beyond your reach. Those implants are tamper proof and permanent, and no' only are you endangering your lives by seeking her out, you are endangering hers. The government does no' tolerate troublesome khars and a khar exposed as a Believer is facing double jeopardy, to say the least. The best way you can help her is to leave her to her new life and go back to your own.”

  Peerz passed through his shock and recovery phases quite fast. Sursha and Lowet were not so disciplined.

  “You think us Believers?” Peerz's show of innocent puzzlement was good, but the constricted throat, a dead giveaway. “Our manner of speech is common enough among folk of the Forkors, if that is where you are basing your conclusion.”

  Kade's roll of his eyes was rather unprofessional, but he was not feeling his usual collected self today. “Please drop the facade and do no' make me waste precious time arguing over what I know is absolute fact.”

  Sursha still hadn't quite collected his jaw up from the floor. “But, sir, if you know—”

  “Call me a recent sympathizer.”

  A sudden calm came over Peerz and the way he looked at him, caused Kade to feel rather … exposed. He hoped he hadn't sounded too impassioned.

  “Sir,” Peerz said, “the woman we are—” At Lowet's sudden hiss to silence him, Peerz gave his companion a quick glare who went quiet and sullen—more sullen. If that were possible. Peerz started again. “Sir, the woman we are looking for should not have been auctioned. She was abducted and implanted absolutely against her will. Now, the last I knew, becoming khari'na was still supposed to be voluntary. You seem to be a decent, fair man. Can you not find it in your heart to please help us locate her and correct this mistake?”

  Peerz had managed to say all this without openly admitting his faith. Unnecessary, but smart.

  Scratching at his scalp, Kade returned to his seat. “Unfortunately, the powers that be are no' concerned with the details o' how she may have come to be implanted. The fact o' the matter is, she is now property o' the nation. You have to let this go.”

  “Sir, she is my sister,” Sursha suddenly implored. “She is a gentle and honorable woman. It makes me sick to even imagine how violated she must be feeling, being some rich sleazebag's toy, in fear of her life. Who knows what she is being made to do! I cannot abandon her.”

  It took everything Kade had to maintain perspective regarding Sursha's fears and accusations.

  “Mr. Woodrose, contrary to some horror stories you may have heard, I assure you they are a rarity. The
great majority o' khar owners take good care o' their women.”

  Sursha's answer was soft enough, though a fire smoldered in his eyes. “I fear, Officer J'Kor, sir, that you and I have different ideas about what it means to 'care' for a woman.”

  Kade had to bite his tongue. “Nevertheless, the situation remains the same.”

  “Can we not just talk to her once, sir?” Kade was surprised at Lowet joining the frank conversation. “That is all we really need. Right?” Lowet looked to his cell mates to back him up. “We can be assured that she is healthy and decently treated, then we will happily go back home. No harm done.”

  Sursha's face darkened in distaste. Peerz looked a little more open to the suggestion.

  “Honestly,” Peerz said softly, “we aren't even completely positive that she was sold. All we know is that someone saw a woman of her description being carried to the caravan. We were just trying to catch up to it.”

  “Sir, please,” Sursha plead. “Even just five minutes. … She has children. We didn't even know if she was alive before we got that lead on her.” He went to staring morosely at the remains of his first good meal in weeks. “We still don't. Not really.”

  Kade had to sift through his emotional and moral turmoil quickly. Three more lives had just been added to his burden. As he had said, he could probably get them out of here with the following-a-former-lover-or-something routine and, hopefully, no one would question why they so stubbornly refused to say so in the first place. He could conveniently leave out his findings of their faith and maybe … maybe letting them see her once would be a good thing—under his supervision, of course. If they told her that her children were all just fine it could go a long way to help Lyra be content. But could he trust these men to actually leave after that and never bother her—them—again? The meeting place would have to be a neutral location …

  Are you sure this is what you want to do? a new voice said. Become a traitor to your country twice over? She betrayed you.

  No, that was not the right word for her actions.

  “If she was with the caravan,” Kade told them, “she was most certainly sold. But I might be able to arrange a quick meeting. However, I would need your solemn guarantee before your God,” he paused to let this sink in, “that you will leave as proposed and never try to contact her again.”

  Lowet looked willing. Peerz less so. Sursha …

  Kade could tell how difficult this was for him, and in a surprising show of loyalty, the other two waited for the brother-in-law to speak first. “Sir, honestly, I don't know that I can promise that. It would depend on what kind of conditions … what type of man. … It would be her call.”

  “Sursha,” Peerz said gently, “think of T'aire. Think of the baby coming.”

  But Sursha shook his head. “T'aire would never forgive me if I left Lyra to a living hell of daily obscenities under the thumb of some violent, vulgar scum.”

  Kade's temperature rose. “I doubt that fear will be realized.”

  “Can you do it, sir?” Peerz asked. “Can you help us find out who bought her and where she was taken? Her name is Lyra Woodrose. Age thirty-six. She's on the small side—”

  Kade couldn't stop himself.

  “—but athletic? Expressive, light brown eyes? Long, dark, wavy hair?” His smile was humorless. “Recent widow o' Jon Woodrose. Beautiful voice. No' fond o' slimy things. Aye, I believe I know the woman you are looking for.”

  Peerz gasped. “How—?”

  “I am the 'vulgar scum' that bought her.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Stunned silence.

  Then a low whistle blew from Lowet.

  Sursha jolted to his feet, growling, “You bought my sister?”

  Kade rose also, making more space between him and the weak, albeit adrenaline-filled man. “Well, technically she is only your in-law.”

  “Great Creator of Heaven and Geniven!” Peerz whispered, a hand going to Sursha's shoulder to keep him at bay. “Our miracle. The Lord has heard our prayers.”

  WHAT?

  “Wish He would've heard them a little faster,” Lowet muttered.

  “No,” Sursha argued, his eyes burning a hole through Kade's face. “This man is not the answer to our prayers. He is an immoral heathen.”

  “I actually agree with Sursha,” Kade said. He didn't like the way Peerz was looking at him. “There is no such thing as miracles. This is only a coincidence.”

  “Funny thing, sir,” Peerz said, a twinkle developing in his eyes, “I believe the exact opposite.”

  Why did Kade suddenly wish for Nessip's speedy return?

  No. It was okay. He was still in charge. Besides, this really wasn't that big a coincidence. These were just the type of atypical prisoners for which he had always been called in the past.

  “What have you done with Lyra?” Sursha demanded.

  “She is safe. I promise.”

  Sursha's eyes narrowed. “Define 'safe.'”

  Straightening to his full height (a good several inches taller than the thicker man before him), Kade said, “I would advise you to remember your place, Prisoner Woodrose,” and gestured for them all to sit again.

  Sursha very reluctantly obeyed.

  “Sooo you have had her for the last couple of weeks then?” Lowet said with a cock of his chin.

  Kade was unsure if a double meaning was meant for the word “had.”

  “She has been living in my home, aye.”

  “As your khar?” Peerz tried to sound polite.

  “As many things. She has been most useful cooking, cleaning, gardening, helping me with the livestock and my children. She is … a most remarkable woman, someone I have come to respect greatly, despite the strings with which she came attached.” Kade took a moment for a long breath. “And it is because o' her that I am willing to help you now.”

  “Did she have anything with her when you took her home?”

  Lowet's odd question earned him a lightning glare from his two companions.

  “She did have a few personal items she brought with her. Some things in an old leather pack.” Their faces struggled to remain blank and Kade catalogued this reaction in the back of his mind.

  “Will you let us see her, sir?” That was Sursha again.

  “Well, first, should we no' try to get you out o' here?”

  “Yes,” Peerz agreed, nodding. “Yes, sir. And thank you for everything you have already done for us. You are a godsend.”

  Kade did not like Peerz's adjective for him.

  For the next several minutes, they spoke quietly together. Kade told them he could make up a report, but he did not know how quickly it would be processed. He also warned that his recommendation might not even be followed. However, it was all he could do.

  When Nessip returned, Kade was ready for that drink. He gave instructions for the three men to be transferred to the common prisoner cells and be given full rations until Thyks made a final decision regarding their sentence. Kade really didn't have the authorization to make these changes without approval, but he spoke with enough authority that Nessip did not question the orders. Kade fervently hoped Thyks would not be upset when he found out.

  Upon leaving the compound, jacket and hat in hand, Kade paused at the street, unable to help but wonder if he had just made a huge mistake. If Lyra's friends were released and if they tried hard enough, they would be able to find him and his home.

  No. He had no choice. Once he knew who they were, the compelling urge to help them had been too strong. How could he leave innocent men in the hands of men such as Feesgud? Anyway, he figured they were smart enough to understand that nothing could really be done about freeing Lyra. Kade just hoped they wouldn't make too big a fuss over it. All that would do is bring further attention upon them all, and Kade couldn't afford one more bit of it.

  Thank the Mother for that cocktail!

  Its potency began to buzz through his veins as he strolled down the avenue and it helped lift his heavy conscience. Boy,
did he need the rest of the day to go better.

  Suddenly, Kade realized he had plenty of extra time. He'd finished the “interrogation” in record time and he was not in a hurry to go back and face Lyra. A walk through the streets of the capital for the remainder of the morning could be very nice.

  So he continued down the lane and even purchased some snowberry tarts—not as good as Reef's, but they filled in as an acceptable substitute. His leisurely stroll took him around a corner where a small, ragged boy suddenly crashed into him at full speed. Bouncing off Kade, the boy went sprawling onto the walkway, releasing an armful of large, fresh fruits into the air. They flew in every direction only to bounce, much like the boy off Kade, onto the dirty ground. The kid only looked to be about six or seven years old.

  “Whoa! Watch it there!” Kade said, bending to help the boy up.

  Terrified of the officer looming over him, however, he scrambled to get out of reach and bumped into a stout pair of legs blocking his way.

  “Steal from me, will you?” the voice above the legs growled. Portly arms took hold of the boy's threadbare jacket, hefting him up to confront red-faced jowls and a scruffy beard. “You are going to pay fer every single piece o' produce you just ruined. And if you canno', do you know what the penalty is fer stealin', you filthy little urchin?”

  Squealing in panic, the boy tried unsuccessfully to scratch his way out of the shopkeeper's firm grip. It was obvious the kid was starving and had not a cent to his name and Kade prepared to intervene, but a soft, feminine voice beat him to it.

  “Mr. Clearham, I will pay for the damages. Honestly, he is hardly more than a baby.”

  By the claw, Shasmae Pryn?

  The last time Kade had noticed the daughter of the eminent Lord Pryn was close to ten years ago when she was nothing more than a gangly teenager. Since then, he had only heard occasional references to Miss Shasmae and her very well-known family. Kade practically gawked at the grown woman before him