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“Not for er” Frentis took the whip they had found on the overseer’s body He had tried to run, displaying an ie man, but Slasher and Blacktooth were faster Frentis placed the whip in Lissel’s lap “I leave this matter in your hands, athered the slaves, the Real weapons taken fro Frentis with bows and expressions of grave intent The others numbered over forty people and displayed only fear A clutch of girls, the youngest no ether in a protective huddle, casting tearful glances at thetheaze, a trim man of middle years dressed in a clean dun-coloured tunic He winced a little as the first scream came from the courtyard, the crack of the whip an indication that Lissel was a quick learner

“You are One here?” Frentis asked the triain as another scream sounded, then bowed low “I am, Master”

“I am not a master and you are not a slave What is your name?”

“Tekrav,the keen intelligence he tried to hide with a servile stoop “You were not always a slave Those born to slavery have no names What was your crime?”

“An overfondness for dice” Another screaer and louder, followed by a babble of desperate entreaties and promises Tekrav sed and forced a smile “And a dislike of resultant debt”

“Your skill?”

“I am scribe and bookkeeper here Should you require my talent, Honoured Citizen, I am at your disposal”

“I’ll have need of it in time Whether you choose to offer it is ahis voice to address them all “By order of Queen Lyrna these lands are hereby seized for the Unified Reales due free subjects of the Crown”

There was little reaction beyond baffleround, the clutch of girls huddling even closer together

“You’re free,” Frentis went on “You o and do as you please However, any ish to join with me and free your brothers and sisters are welcome”

More silence; even Tekrav just stared at hi your time, brother,” one of the Realm folk said, a short but broad e visible on his forear than this lot”

Frentis gave theh and suppressing a sigh of frustration Slavery is more than just chains, he knew It binds the soul as much as the body

“We leave in an hour,” he told the slaves, turning away “You may take what you like froer”

• • •

The Varitai exhibited no fear, kneeling with his arms bound behind his back, stripped of armour and undershirt to reveal the pattern of scars They were less elaborate than the matrix that once covered Frentis’s chest, sis but plainly adard to artistry or the disco the cap from the flask

“Nothe Varitai keenly as she stepped closer, pouring a small a as Kuritai,” Lekran advised in a wary tone He stood at the rear of the bound slave soldier, axe at the ready “Could kill him”

“Then we’ll try a smaller dose on the next one” Frentis nodded at Illian and she upended the cap, allowing the contents to fall onto the scars on the Varitai’s chest

Unlike Lekran there was no screaing, teeth gritted so tight it was a wonder they didn’t break His eyes widened, the pupils shrinking to dots as spit began to drool froround hite foa to twitches, then nothing

Frentis crouched down to feel for the pulse in his neck, finding it weak, and slowing “He’s dying,” he said with a sigh He looked up as a shadow fell across hiust Frentis began to rise when Weaver’s fist ca hi Illian’s sword scrape free of its scabbard After a moment his vision cleared and he found Weaver on his knees, both hands placed on the dying Varitai’s chest, paying no heed to Illian, who had touched her sword point to the nape of his neck “Leave it,” Frentis ordered, getting to his feet and waving her back

Weaver kept his hands on the Varitai’s chest for some time, his expression one of deep concentration, eyes half-closed and lips asp as the slave soldier’s scars began to fade fro to faint pale lines in a matter ofback as the slave soldier issued a weary groan