Anzil (Gladiators of Krix #2) - Miranda Martin Page 0,35

frowns then shakes his head.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Kiara,” she says. “And I need to find my girl.”

“Girl, huh?”

“Yes,” she says, and describes her.

“You were in the market earlier today.”

“I was looking for her there.”

The guard nods slowly then puts his sword away.

“I have heard a story,” he says. “A strange female, dark skinned, curly hair, who did something unusual. You hear of such a story?”

“If you mean did I threaten a merchant with bodily harm if he didn’t help a woman, then yeah, I heard that story.”

“So it was you.”

Kiara nods, and the men blocking our way put their weapons away and step aside.

“Thank you,” their leader says.

“What in the name of the Seven Widows is this?” Jyark asks.

“She helped out a friend of mine,” he says. “I owe her. She can pass. You can keep your arrogant ass out here.”

“That’s not happening. She’s property of House Batius,” Jyark says.

A blind man couldn’t miss the way Kiara bristles, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Not here,” the Guard Leader says. “Here she is free to come and trade.”

“I’ll go to protect House Batius,” I say.

The Guard Leader looks over at me, frowns, then shrugs and nods. I look at Jyark, waiting for his agreement.

“Fine,” he says. “Make it quick. I don’t want to wait here.”

Kiara and I walk past the guards and down the tunnel.

“Your brashness is going to get us both killed sooner or later,” I say.

“You like it,” she grins.

“I do,” I answer.

She stops and looks at me with shock written across her face. My heart thumps harshly. I didn’t mean to say that; it came without thought. An expression of truth, no matter how unwelcome it might be. She inhales sharply then resumes walking.

“Yeah,” she says.

We turn another corner and enter an open area. It’s similar to the marketplace above ground, where different merchants and their tables line the square area while more fill the middle. Here though, it’s a single large room and the noise is much less. Across the room from us on a raised dais is an ornate throne-like chair.

Resting on the chair is a gangly creature whose long limbs rest akimbo across the throne. He has pale skin and long, pointy ears not unlike the woman that Kiara helped in the market. Two large guards stand to either side of him wearing black armor, which includes helmets which blocks their faces. He watches over the market while idly cleaning his nails with a dagger.

A slave merchant is off to the left, which is where Kiara heads, striding with great intent. I follow behind her. Never, in all my life, have I followed a woman, yet with her it is natural. Strange how it goes against everything I’ve ever known yet it feels right.

Behind the slave merchant a dozen pitiful creatures huddle, chains around their necks and feet. They’re in a state of malnutrition, barely alive creatures that have obviously been abused. These are the dregs of the slaves, the ones that couldn’t find a home above ground.

“Ah, you need a servant? Something for pleasure? Something to watch die?” the merchant asks, seeing our approach.

“I’m looking for a female,” Kiara says and describes the one she seeks.

“Oh, yes, yes,” he says, hissing and spitting with excitement. “This one I know. Yes. Had her I did. A good price for that one. Exotic, like you. I could get you good placement. Better than you have. Oh yes.”

“You had her?” Kiara asks, her voice dangerously low.

“Yes, sold already, unfortunately,” he says, shaking his head.

“To who? Where is she?”

“No, no,” he says, waggling a finger. “No talk after the sale. All sales confidential.”

Kiara grabs his shirt and jerks him over the table. Her face is in his, and I move to cover her back. The guards next to the one on the throne step ahead, and the creature on the throne sits up, paying attention now.

“Tell me,” Kiara demands.

“No, can’t, no,” the merchant says, but his voice quavers. He waves his hands in the air. “Help!”

The guards move off the dais, but the creature on the throne barks something sharp and they stop. He continues watching with interest.

“You will tell me, or I’ll beat it out of you,” Kiara says.

“No,” the merchant says, then he’s jabbering.

The place has gone deathly quiet. Everyone is looking between us and the throne. The creature there stands up and walks towards us, the two guards in black flanking him. I put myself between him and Kiara.

“What is this?” he asks, stopping in front