A Subtle Purview (Alikan)

[Kaladis Anar]

A Subtle Purview

11th of Ashan
Outside Nashaki’s Southgate.
Morning, Clear Skies, Mild to Cold Weather
The Scrolls of Anar Verse One, What is Ours, #15 Obtaining Options

I

t was a busy day at the south gate, with more people than usual coming and going. Ashan had brought limited trade back to the city in places, after the immortals had lifted the night of Cylus, a caravan or two had arrived, hoping to make it away again before hostilities and the war came back to their doorstep. The large archways were well guarded with hostilities looming again, and Kaladis was stopped before he was allowed to leave, something he’d become accustomed to.

After running some ore to the forge, on his way back to Solace Inn located just outside the city, Kaladis couldn’t help but find himself caught up in the crowd, not a place he preferred to be, crowds were dangerous as they brought unexpected and uncalculated risks to any setting. Beasts and men moved about, laden with fabrics and crafts coming in and out of the city, water was one of the biggest exports of course, and so several had precious containers of it.

Taking the route most devoid of pedestrians, walking alone, he was wearing his newly forged chainmail, not the best quality but his skill was improving, a steel sword on one hip, an iron sword on the other, one knife front, and one knife back, desert weather clothes and boots on as usual. Ralari usually remarked he looked like he was ready for a war, and Kaladis had realised in his time here, for Nashaki that wasn't a bad comment.

What he came upon was an unusual sight outside Solace inn, a slave market, cages, chains and irons with about two dozen slaves up for sale, sold by different competing slavers. He’d almost carried on walking, until he recognized a familiar face by now, Alaya, carrying more knives than an immortal of steel, and dressed in black as always. The small crowd she was a part of were bidding on the slaves, the Maker’s were here also, with one of their number visibly armored in bronze, though it were likely more were about.

And there off to the side was his friend Ralari, glass of cheap wine in hand as always, there was no time of day too early for Ralari to be drinking a glass of cactus flower wine. He didn’t drink much, just seemed to draw out the taste forever. “Lively,” Ralari remarked with a smile, “too lively.” Kaladis said with a focused stare on the cages, adjusting his chainmail. “I see opportunity!” Ralari answered, holding his wine glass up, Kaladis rubbed his temples, what did he have planned this time.

In the background one of the slaves was performing a delicate song, another lifting a large rock above his head, whiles others stood by chained and malnourished, it was a mix depending on the slave and slaver in question.

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[Alikan]

He'd been perfectly content with his life beforehand,he had been a slave, of course he had, yet he hadn't had a bad quality of life and at times had enjoyed it. His life had certainly gone downhill since they had sold him to these slavers though, he'd been stuck with them for a while now, and he was pretty sure conditions would worsen if he was with them for much longer.

His previous master had been harsh and punishment was given often, Alikan had scars to prove that, yet he wasn't kept in chains and wasn't malnourished, and it had been quite easy for him to sneak out. His content life and few possessions had been snatched away at his masters death though

The sixteen arc old glared at his hands which were currently absentmindedly playing with the chains that kept him secured. It wasn't as if he'd run away, he knew there was no point to trying it. They'd just grab him and punish him, or kill him. Perhaps death would be a better fate than being a slave, but he was quite attached to life, so he decided not to try running away.

He turned to look around, a lot of the slaves were mixed-bloods so at least he could feel superior to them even when in chains. Their existence was pointless, as there was no reason to have a child of two different races. They deserved to be slaves much more than any other race could. That was something his master had been very sure of, so Alikan had a higher status than those when he was there.

As he sat, it was noticeable that he sat up straighter than the majority of the slaves, as he had been taught to by his master, and he gave the impression of someone of a good upbringing with how he acted and spoke, despite not having one.


His blue eyes scanned the area, seeing the crowds of people, naturally they all flocked to the stronger slaves or the ones who were performing in some way. He himself could fight and dance a little, yet he had been used to cook mainly. His fingers moved to trace the scars on his hands absentmindedly, and he sat up with a bored glance over to a slave who was singing.

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[Kaladis Anar]

S

lavers, Kaladis had mixed thoughts about them, an accepted part of many cities it was not an unheard of sight to see some sort of open market like this. Slave labor built some of the greatest projects that the city undertook, but the Eidisi found such blatant flaunting of the practice distasteful, it would be far more respectful to the smooth running of the city to hold gatherings like this indoors. It seemed beneath Kaladis to be here, yet here he was, until he took his rightful birthplace back in the upper echelon’s of society, symbolically this counterbalance put his smith’s hammer in one hand, shield of nobility in the other.

Concentrated focus on the cages continued, Kaladis had blocked out Ralari’s continued machinations, asking for a slave for his own personal protection, as if Kaladis couldn’t provide that for him. The cutting truth of it was, they had more enemies here than friends still, and reluctantly some method of tipping those scales would actually be welcome. Spotting someone that might be of interest in chains, the pair began their walk over.

While Ralari thought of a large warrior at his back, Kaladis thought of the subtle poison in the food, the arrow through the heart, or the throat cut; the two Edisi often quarrelled about their differing natures regarding their own protection.

“430 gold nel! Sold!” The singer had departed to her new Master, the large man lifting the rock came up next for auction. Such obvious slaves wouldn’t make for what he wanted, he needed the unassuming, someone who could pass unnoticed or at least unremembered. There was no way Kaladis Anar had 400 gold nel spare to his name, thankfully he’d heard less being required, two hundred was the least. He didn't have two hundred gold nel either, but when had that stopped him before?

Arriving beside Alikan, Kaladis began talking quietly to a man at his right, there was a brief few words exchanged. Alikan might hear Kaladis speak of willingness to work with subtlety, the man responded with “yes, free me and I will kill many for you!” This blatantly obvious and inappropriate response seemed to displease Kaladis, who said nothing. Ralari sipped his cactus wine thoughtfully, stepping to his left in front of Alikan, and Kaladis soon followed him.

Neutral looking, young, unassuming, there was potential here. The Edisi’s sharp eyesight spotted a few of the markings and scars the boy carried, silently appraising him to see if he was able to stand or if his ill treatment had permanently marred him. It was this type of treatment that gave the whole slave trade a black mark, desert savages. It was something Kaladis could use to gain trust though, interesting.

“What is your name?” the words were spoken quietly to Alikan, expecting the same in return. After he’d answered, the simple interrogation continued, “what is your training?” This was an appraisal of his qualities, Kaladis had already decided he was of interest, whether he would keep or lose it was now to be seen. “Are you able to work with subtlety?” When the three base questions had been asked, the two Eidisi could be seen conferring.

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[Alikan]

The boy watched as the slave who had been singing was sold. 430 nel. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen, or would see, that amount of money. He knew that most of the people here would have a lot more than that to their name, as those who brought slaves usually were those with money.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by an outburst beside him as a man claimed if he was freed he would kill many. The people who he had been answering was apparently unsatisfied with that. The Eidisi had said something about subtlety before, so he was unsurprised that the reaction was that.

The Eidisi were normal enough, though one of them had a drink in his hand despite the fact that it was morning still. To Alikan that was a mark of clear stupidity, why would you cloud your judgement and go to buy a slave? He gave them a disinterested gaze as they came over to him. The eyes were the only thing he truly disliked about the he had met some before but he still found them an eery sight.

One of them stepped over to him and asked his name quietly, when Alikan spoke his words were clear and proper, without the dialect that some of the slaves had. It was another sign of the household he had served before.

" Alikan." He spoke quietly as his questioner had, as he saw no reason to make noise like the other slave had done previous to him. Anyway, he didn't want to draw attention to himself from the slaver either, as when he realised that someone was showing interest he'd come to have Alikan do something to show that he was worth buying.

The questioning continued onto what he had been trained in, that was easy enough to answer. "Fighting and cooking, I don't know how to use any weapon but I can fight unarmed." He decided to leave out the fact that he had been trained in dancing, he was terrible at it.

The last question the man gave him was less usual than the others, Subtlety. He pondered the word for a moment before giving his answer with a nod. " I can do that." He wondered what context he meant it in though, was it killing as the previous slave had assumed? That wouldn't be a problem for himself, the boy didn't have any qualms about killing.

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[Kaladis Anar]

K

aladis wasn’t so pedestrian to have any single use in mind for Alikan, subtlety best summed it up. He was also focused on practical implication, he had heard of the slavery laws, the rights of caste, but never studied them in depth. “Alikan. What might stop you leaving when you are out of this cage?” The Eidisi focused on Alikan, in what was perhaps the most unnerving look his white upon white eyes would give him. What guarantee did he have Alikan wouldn’t try to run? He wondered if men existed who tracked down slaves, probably, but did the authorities do it for free, that seemed likely given the booming business going on here.

Ralari seemed displeased with Kaladis’s choice, he wanted a slave that could defend him, or rather be the target while he slipped out the back door. Kaladis already had that angle covered with what he was working on in his golem preparations, they didn’t need a slave as a meat shield. So while Kaladis remained, his friend wandered off to look at other possibilities

They came to the second test, the Eidisi tried to detect Alikan’s motivations as best he was able, getting away from whoever was beating him seemed a sensible motivation for the boy. “If you serve me, you will never lack for water,” Ralari being a defiance mage, with a kin element of water from the icy wastes of Viden, saw to that, “but your life will be hard. Serve me well and you will not be ill-treated, serve me loyally and you will earn status as I do.” You might think it common knowledge that all slaves wanted status, recognition, equality of a sorts, but life in Viden had taught him this was not so, some preferred nameless slavery as it was all they had known, finding safety in anonymity. Kaladis was picturing a very different equilibrium the more they talked, an equilibrium skewed in his favour of course, his mind never stopped its calculating.

How did Alikan respond, eagerly, grudgingly, suspiciously, Kaladis was trying to read him, and what he wasn’t saying in his expression, remaining a moment longer to try and detect his body language, was it healthy, receptive, defensive, angry, rebellious, did he see anything in the posture?

“How much?” Kaladis asked the owner by the cage, or the attendant whoever it may be.
The man looked them over, the pair were not overflowing with wealth, but they had armor and weapons, so he priced accordingly. “250 nel for that one,” the seller stated.

Kaladis turned to the boy, and then to the man, playing on what he saw in the negotiation. “He is young, inexperienced and mistreated, 150 nel.” The slaver shook his head, a scar down his own weather beaten face visible as he talked, “even an elderly slave fetches more than that, 220 or no deal.” Trying to roll over Kaladis by how he glared at him, but Kaladis wasn’t phased, he’d dealt with a few killers in this city before, and one unnerving look wasn’t enough to break his negotiating position.

“There is no guarantee he won’t run at the first chance. 170 nel” The Eidisi remained still, fixed and strong in his negotiations, having learned by now it often helped with a certain type of overbearing seller.

“Slave hunters will bring what’s left of him in, part of the tower of fleshes’s mandate, once a slave in Nashaki, always a slave in Nashaki.” Slavery was common here, accepted, and regulated. Something Kaladis had heard about but never had so clearly stated. “200 nel, not a gold nel less.” Kaladis nodded, now to the tricky nature of how to give him 200 gold he didn't have?

A cage door was unlocked, and Alikan would be assisted out by one of the slavers here, still chained of course.

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[Alikan]

Edit: I posted twice by accident so ignore the fact that there are two.

The question was one that most slaves would lie in a heartbeat,just so they could be released and run away. There was no point to it though, the boy knew that the majority of slaves would be found and returned, or worse. Though it was a quick way to find a worse life than they already had.

"I won't run because I value my life over freedom. I'd rather be alive as a slave than dead." He spoke in a very matter of fact way as it was the truth. He would rather be a slave than dead, even though he knew others who would rather have death than be stuck in their situation. Yet, Alikan didn't think that this one would mistreat him too much.

The buyer continued to talk to Alikan, saying that he won't lack water and that he won't be ill-treated if he serves him well. He didn't believe that he could gain status though, he was pretty sure that was a lie to gain trust. He decided not to answer to any of that, since there weren't any questions.

He turned to the slaver after saying that to Alikan, arguing with the slaver over the price. A part of him wondered if he actually had the money, since he was negotiating the price down so low. He had to have the money didn't he?

Well at least if he didn't it would be an amusing day at least. Though he had to have at least 200 nel, buying a slave when he didn't even have that much was just plain unintelligent and generally a bad idea. No one bartered that much if they had money though.

Alikan shook those thoughts away, while it was an amusing idea there was no chance that would happen.

They appeared to be done and in agreement on a price, so Alikan was pulled out of the cage by a slaver, who he didn't want to be touched by at all.Brutes. He thought to himself with an unfazed look on his face.

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[Alikan]

The question was one that most slaves would lie in a heartbeat,just so they could be released and run away. There was no point to it though, the boy knew that the majority of slaves would be found and returned, or worse. Though it was a quick way to find a worse life than they already had.

"I won't run because I value my life over freedom. I'd rather be alive as a slave than dead." He spoke in a very matter of fact way as it was the truth. He would rather be a slave than dead, even though he knew others who would rather have death than be stuck in their situation. Yet, Alikan didn't think that this one would mistreat him too much.

The buyer continued to talk to Alikan, saying that he won't lack water and that he won't be ill-treated if he serves him well. He didn't believe that he could gain status though, he was pretty sure that was a lie to gain trust. He decided not to answer to any of that, since there weren't any questions.

He turned to the slaver after saying that to Alikan, arguing with the slaver over the price. A part of him wondered if he actually had the money, since he was negotiating the price down so low. He had to have the money didn't he?

Well at least if he didn't it would be an amusing day at least. Though he had to have at least 200 nel, buying a slave when he didn't even have that much was just plain unintelligent and generally a bad idea. No one bartered that much if they had money though.

Alikan shook those thoughts away, while it was an amusing idea there was no chance that would happen.

They appeared to be done and in agreement on a price, so Alikan was pulled out of the cage by a slaver, who he didn't want to be touched by at all.Brutes. He thought to himself with an unfazed look on his face.

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[Kaladis Anar]

I won’t run because I value my life over my freedom. I’d rather be alive as a slave than dead. Alikan had said.

“Almost everyone you see is a slave for someone Alikan, be sure of that,” Kaladis genuinely felt that way, walking over, and demanding a key from a nearby slaver. The slaver turned to the man in charge who nodded and passed it over, with Kaladis then unclipping Alikan’s restraints. “These won’t be needed again. As you will not run. Do you swear it on your life to Vhalar?” He gave a look to Alikan to see if he understood, this new Master wouldn’t rule over him with iron, or whip, but he would be true to his word if he was betrayed, and true to Vhalar most of all, lord of oaths.

Assuming Alikan at least didn’t refuse outright they continued. “Hand me the contract,” Kaladis said curtly, to show weakness in front of these people could be your undoing. Reviewing the slave contract so he had a better understanding of it, what exactly was involved and what the city expected, standard stuff but it was worth knowing the intricacies of Nashaki’s slavery laws.

Kaladis nodded to Ralari, their conversing earlier put into effect.

“Oh Alaya...” Ralari smiled to the certain leather clad female they’d noticed on their arrival, she’d bought more than her share of slaves so far for her employers. You couldn’t say they were friends with her, but they had both begun to develop a grudging ‘we’ll kill you one day’ mutual respect for each other. The assassin, come thief, with all her knives and steel surprises waltzed over, “yes?” She said casually, adjusting one of the many such steels across her body, possibly so it didn’t pierce her as she exhaled Kaladis mused. “A word,” Ralari said.

Whatever deal Ralari and Alaya were making, you can be sure it wasn’t favourable for anyone. Kaladis realised his mistake at letting Ralari handle it only too late, as was becoming something of a running theme in his life at present. As long as he stuck to what they’d agreed, all would be well. Alaya needed them and they needed her, essentially they were leveraging that.

O

rdinarily involving yourself with the Aurora was more than risky, but that had been decided for Kaladis his first day arriving here, he was in too deep for two hundred nel to make much difference now. Alaya laughed, and Ralari drunk a hasty gulp of his cactus wine. “Your funeral,” she shrugged and dropped a hefty coin pouch in Ralari’s hand. Done for the day, Alaya waved them goodbye with a smirk on her face and left.

“Two favors,” Ralari told Kaladis as he returned. “We only needed one favour,” Kaladis told Ralari. Kaladis's plan was to agree to work for the Aurora again, learn more of their hierarchy and sell any useful information to their contact at the Makers. It was a simple plan, but he was confident would be worth it, not for the coin, for buying favour with the Makers. Kaladis had begun to realise that to get ahead, being a Maker here was very favourable for any craftsman, and this could be his way in.

Dropping the coins in the slaver's hand, “it’s all there.” If there was one thing the Aurora did right it was coin, their only redeeming quality he’d seen in them so far. The slaver insisted on counting it anyway, which tested Kaladis’s pride and patience. “Alikan,” his restraints fully undone, Kaladis began to walk regardless.

“Wait…” A slaver turned back to them. Flipping a coin back to Kaladis from his thumb. “201.” Alaya’s attempt at a Joke no doubt, or a clever ruse to leave them one nel in debt when they paid off 200, amusing. Kaladis looked at Alikan, his scars, his bruises and ill treatment. The Eidisi nodded, offering a fleeting moment of kindness, and passing him one gold nel. “I think you’ve earned that.”

With that Kaladis led the way toward the not so cozy accommodation of Solace Inn…

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