Page 11 of The Omega Slave

And just as what seemed like two shadows in the corner of the room sprang to life, Tsaria twisted out of Simms’s clutches and lunged for the boy. He didn’t have to hear the gurgling sound of a throat being slit to know what was going on, and he held Jael tightly to him as he was hustled out of another door.

He heard Jael whimper slightly, but he didn’t have any words of reassurance to offer before they were suddenly out a door and Tsaria inhaled fresh air for the first time in what seemed forever. Then he was simply lifted and thrust on a horse, still clutching the child. He had a moment to register that he’d never sat on a horse in his life when slim arms surrounded him, grabbing the reins, and then they were off.

It was barely dawn but instead of fearing the horse couldn’t see either, he simply closed his own eyes and held onto Jael. They seemed to gallop forever. Jael fell asleep, but at last they reached cobbled roads and Tsaria tried to widen his gritty eyes. They must be on the outskirts of Rajpur. Somewhere large enough the road was paved, but far enough away he didn’t recognize his surroundings. Not that he’d ever spent much time away from his home, even before he’d been sold to Ishmael. The carriages that had been sent for him were always covered so the neighbors couldn’t see the upstanding mayor or priest calling for a pleasure slave.

The horse slowed and a man in a cloak suddenly appeared at his side and reached for Jael. Tsaria automatically cringed back, forgetting he was on a horse and nearly falling off the other side. Only the slim arms that were stronger than they seemed stopped him. “It’s me, Tam,” the man on the ground hissed and tried for Jael again.

Tsaria blinked in shock, although, why he was surprised at Tam appearing, he didn’t know. He let the child go, then looked down at the ground. It seemed an awfully long way down, and he wasn’t sure what to do. Then a large man appeared and reached up, lifting Tsaria as if he were the child, not Jael. It was a good thing the man held onto him though, because Tsaria’s legs didn’t seem to want to hold him up, and before he knew it they were bundled inside what seemed to be a small cottage. Before he could ask what in seven hells was going on, the large man glanced at Tam. “Help them both bathe and get food. Be ready when we get back.”

A chuckle which seemed more as if it came from a female than a man sounded. “We’ll be back as soon as we secure Kamir.” Then, with a swish of a cloak, she was gone.

Tam grinned. “The bath’s ready. Think you can both fit?” He was still holding Jael, who was beginning to stir. “Think he’ll be happier with you.”

Tsaria nodded fervently. He didn’t know what the hell had just happened, but the words bath and food mentioned in the same sentence were the stuff dreams were made of. He looked over to where the tin bath sat in the middle of the room with sheets draped to lend comfort, and he could smell the fragrant water. He didn’t need to be told twice, and as Tsaria had long since given up any shame associated with being naked, he simply let the rags that barely covered his bottom-half fall and eagerly climbed in, holding his arms out for a still sleepy Jael. Tam made short work of Jael’s rags.

Jael’s eyes barely opened as he touched the water and Tsaria quickly washed him, glad the boy’s hair was shorn like a slave, so he didn’t have to wash it or inspect it for anything nesting in there. Tam lifted him from Tsaria’s arms and wrapped him in a rough but clean cloth. Jael never stirred. “He needs food. I’m going to wake him, then hopefully he will sleep on the journey.”

Tsaria looked over at Tam. “What journey? And why are you here?” No, Tsaria thought.Why am I here?

Tam chuckled. “Get clean and dry while I get some food for you both. Then I will tell you what I can.”

What I can?Not the same as telling him all he knew. But Tsaria didn’t press Tam for more, just got himself dried and accepted the plain but clean clothes Tam brought in for him.

“I don’t have anything small enough for the kid, but we can rip up some cloth and a shirt and make do.” Then Tam came back with two huge bowls of meat broth and some plain bread just as Tsaria was finishing dressing Jael. The smell roused Jael enough to dive on the food as if he was starving, but for the second time Tsaria called himself a fool, because the little boy was more bones than meat. He shook his head when Tam looked like hewas going to offer more. “Not if we’re travelling. I doubt if he’s eaten like that in a long time. And sure enough, Jael was back asleep pretty much instantly.

“What can you tell me?” Tsaria asked, making no attempt to hide that he knew Tam was keeping things from him, but no matter. Who was he to insist on another’s secrets?

Tam smiled ruefully, clearly catching the carefully worded question. “Some I either don’t know or aren’t my secrets to share.”

Tsaria accepted the explanation, then tried a question. “The person on the horse with me. Was that a female?”

Tam’s eyes danced with humor. “Yes, but I cannot name her.” Tsaria sighed and waved a hand, silently wishing Tam would just give him something.

“And the man?”

“Not a fan of bullies. What I can tell you is I was deliberately arrested last night to give you the warning message.” He glanced at Jael, who was curled up next to Tsaria, his small hand on Tsaria’s leg as if Jael wasn’t letting him go. “Who’s the boy?”

“He was in the cell next to me, along with his mother. I think they’d been in there a long time. The guards raped her yesterday, and she was gone this morning.” Tsaria knew from the anger in Tam’s eyes that he didn’t need any more explanation. “Jael was about to be beaten himself this morning because he was crying for her, so I told the guard to put him in with me.” Tsaria sighed. “It was foolish. I put a target on him. They were going to use him to get me to answer their questions.”

“Maybe not so foolish,” Tam said. “He’s here now.”

“And where is here?”

“We’re in the trade district.”

Which made sense. The trade district was made up of businesses that accepted deliveries of large stocks of things like grain, which was then sold to the shops that bakers kept. Thetax collectors worked from here, and other businesses importing things like fish. Rajpur didn’t have its own coastline, so fish was a delicacy for the rich. Not that he was about to complain about what he’d just eaten, which reminded him. “I don’t know what was in that awful stuff you gave me last night, but not only did I sleep, I was able to stand when I woke.” He tried to sound thankful.

“My mam used to keep her own garden,” Tam said by way of an explanation, which Tsaria understood. Some people had a talent for growing certain herbs that they would sell to apothecaries and such. It was a tricky business. Many plants simply didn’t flourish and keeping them from being stolen was a constant challenge.

“I am grateful,” Tsaria said in case that wasn’t plain.

But before Tam got a chance to answer, Tsaria heard a noise outside and the same large man from before stepped into the cottage. He glanced around and nodded at Tam as if he was pleased, then looked at Tsaria. “We need to go.”

“Go where?” He was getting a little sick of not knowing what was going on, even if they had rescued him from hell.

“Cadmeera for now,” the man said softly, and Tsaria gasped in shock, a million questions crowding his mind.

“But—”

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