Page 19 of The Omega Slave

Tsaria managed to walk unaided through the long corridors to follow Tam and was surprised when he stopped at a door, as he’d been expecting him to carry on outside the palace gates. “Here?” he rasped as Tam opened the door to see a comfortable sitting area just before a small body hit him so hard, if it hadn’t been for Tam he’d have gone down.

“Jael,” Tam admonished, but his words were drowned out as Jael blurted out that he’d been fed and made to have yet another bath and he had his own bed and had he seen the emir and how long were they going to stay and would he get sent back? Tam thanked the maid for watching Jael and she left.

Tsaria hugged the boy tighter, ignoring the sharp jab of his bruises. Tam chuckled softly. “Let him sit, Jael. You’re gonna smother him.”

Tsaria sat but overwhelmed as he was, it was clear that Jael’s anxiety was on a much higher level. Not that he blamed him. He’d been thrown in jail, watched unspeakable things happen to his mother, and had suffered way more than any child evershould. Tsaria might have been in the same position once, but he was an adult now.

Tsaria opened his arms, and without hesitation, Jael simply climbed on his lap. “He was really worried when you weren’t here when he woke,” Tam confided. “I was coming to find out how you were so he might sleep better.”

Jael looked up at Tsaria. “But I’m staying with you now,” Jael said, half as a question, and Tsaria could feel him trembling.

“Yes,” Tsaria said. “I am assured we would be allowed to remain here, but I need to find a job and we need somewhere to live.”

Tam opened his mouth, but Jael didn’t give him a chance. “I can work. Ma didn’t like it, but Nana Bex said I had to work to get to share Ma’s mattress.”

Tam pressed his lips together, clearly recognizing the name. “Nana Bex?” Tsaria asked, glancing at them both. “Who’s that?”

“She wasn’t my real nan,” Jael explained. “That’s what we all had to call her.” Tsaria glanced at Tam, but he just shook his head slightly. Sonot now, then, while Jael could hear.

“How old are you?” Tsaria asked. “Did your ma ever have anyone else to help look after you?”

“I haven’t got a da,” Jael said matter-of-factly. “Nana said I was a mistake, and that I should be lucky Ma could work or I’d be in the sewers with the rest of the rats.” He wrinkled his nose, which could either be at the thought of the sewers or from trying to remember. “I think I’m seven summers.”

“Sewers?”Tsaria couldn’t help asking, even though he knew what they were, but an actual working system was only for the palace and other houses of the rich.

“The city has old underground passages, many used for dumping waste,” Tam said quietly. “There are some employed to clear them out, but many are lived in, often by gangs of children.”

Tsaria’s mouth fell open, and for the first time he realized how much of a bubble he’d lived in behind the walls of the pleasure house, and his arms tightened around Jael involuntarily. Jael yawned and Tsaria guessed between his too-skinny body and the shock he had been through that he was exhausted still.

Tam must have noticed because as well as getting Tsaria some wine and some food, he brought a soft blanket so Tsaria could tuck Jael in. It didn’t take long before he was curled up asleep and Tsaria laid him down on the daybed he was sitting on.

Tam got his own drink and sat opposite him, nodding to Jael. “He hasn’t spoken once about his ma, and I think he’s a little older than seven but it’s hard to tell.” Tsaria was at a loss and sipped his wine then coughed because it was much stronger than he was used to.

He put the goblet down. “You seemed like you knew this Nana Bex.”

“She’s one of the main suppliers and runs one of the biggest sewer gangs that I know of,” Tam explained.

“Suppliers?” Tsaria’s stomach sank.

“Mainly children to different whorehouses or special clients, and those with particular tastes. She’s clever. She doesn’t like orphans, prefers the ones that have ties she can exploit. Jael’s ma went out whoring to put a roof over her kid’s head. Jael would eventually have done the same.‘Go with this man or I’ll throw your ma out.’It’s emotional blackmail. She starts small. Jael was being taught to lift, I imagine.”

“Purses?” But he knew. He took another sip.

“So, it’s been quite a few days, huh?” Tam said.

A smile curved Tsaria’s lips. Maybe it was shock. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe… “Do you know his highness?”

“Which one?” Tam smirked then laughed. “I sometimes work for Draul, sometimes Attiker, who is the best thing to ever happen to Cadmeera. Raz is excellent as kings go, but Attikerknows the people because he came from them. He’d been arrested when Raz met him, but they’re bonded mates, and they’re doing good things. Attiker has a soldier called Ash that oversees people like me. The ones who can get in and out of places like your palace dungeon. There’s a few of us, all with different talents.”

Tsaria remembered the mouse. “His highness sent you to find me?” He had foolishly hoped Kamir might have.

“Actually, it was her highness, Princess Veda.”

Tsaria gaped for a second time.

“But I don’t think you mean that highness, do you?” Tam prodded knowingly.

“Would Attiker have stood by while children lived in sewers?” Even he heard the resentment in his voice.

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