Vunoshe has more power, that much is obvious, and no matter the captain’s stalking anger, he can barely raise his head enough to challenge the slavemasterre.
“You dare attack one of my men,” Lhanin snarls.Well, he has some balls in those trousers, then, despite this imbalance that he’s found himself on the wrong side of.
Vunoshe looks away.Casually, with cruelty embedded on purpose and with deft delivery of such lack of attention.It’s a master class in personal destruction, and it’s a thing of wonder to behold.
Captain Lhanin doesn’t know what to do with it.Or that he’s outclassed, utterly.But I know, I see it.And so do his sailors who watch.They might not be aware of what it is they’re observing, but the visceral connection is of a kind that hits the very heart of the human need to belong.And in that instant of utter disregard, Lhanin does not.
Might as well not even be standing there.
They’ve been fighting their little war of dominance for some time, I’m guessing, and I’ve just tipped the scales in the slavemasterre’s favor.
Vunoshe lets his victory linger like a stinging bite that will plague the captain long after today, before taking pity on the man.“You have another slave to sell now,” he says.“You should be grateful.”
This is about the sailor Vunoshe wounded and sent below, yes, but it’s also about the ship’s power dynamic, ultimately.I’d forgotten all about what happened, and I can’t afford to be so blasé about things.Yes, I’m fed and stronger and clean and safe—for now—but there is so much more I need to know.Ashamed that I’ve failed to follow protocols and training, I pay attention now.
With no swords and no warhorse to consider, I have only myself to worry about.But a good soldier gains intel where she can find it, and this moment is one that I will not squander.Not when I can learn such techniques from a master—masterre, I remind myself of the term—like Vunoshe.If only so I can find the means to turn it back on him when required.
I know when education might be useful.My mother taught me well.
Lhanin backs away, muttering, then spins and marches off, Vunoshe batting at an imaginary bug for a moment before his dark eyes meet mine.And he smiles, vicious, wicked, instantaneous.Before it’s gone as fast as it appeared.
He loves what he does.Well, one should, I suppose.
But now I’m afraid of him, too.
***
Chapter Six
Whatever the goal of the show Vunoshe put on with the captain, whether to finish the dominance process he’d already begun, to prove to me further than he is the master, or to convince the crew of the same, we carry on without anyone raising further issue, the ship flying over the river, past the banks lush with trees towering high over the water.I’ve never seen their like, thick trunks bare of branches until the peaks, flaring outward at the crowns in heavy green canopies that block out the sky.The air is thick with humidity, but I’m not overheated, the rush of the breeze of our passing refreshing, as are the delicious fruits pulled up from over the side, chilled in the depths of the river waters, and served to themasterrein slivers of orange and yellow and green.
I eat every sweet bite I’m given, taking the dripping flesh from Vunoshe’s fingertips as he feeds me like a pet, patting the top of my head and clapping his hands in delight when I lick my lips.I find myself marveling at him and the darkness he does nothing to hide, the sheer lack of care he gives to the opinions of others, the way he seems to revel in being the man he is, and no apologies for it.
He’s a monster and trades in flesh, but I learn a great deal from him in a very short time, and I’m not ashamed to admit I admire him, if only for his ability to be himself.The fact that he doesn’t ask my name—and I don’t offer it—only speaks further of his intent and true nature.I’m nothing to him but amusement for the time being and gold at the end of our path together, and everything he does proves it to me time and again.
At least he’s honest.
The sun is falling past the trees when we approach what looks like a village on our right, though any thought of escape is squashed as we pass it by at speed, several small fishing boats bobbing violently in our wake.And only briefly after, we’re joined by two other ships, as long and sleek as our own, with matching triangle sails, captain’s saluting one another from what I’ve been told is called a tiller at the rear of each vessel, a clever pole with a fin on it that steers the fast boats as they cut their vicious paths through the water.
“We’ll be at our first destination by morning,” Vunoshe tells me as he feeds me supper, more of the delicious spiced sauce and tender meat over rice he callskurrie.It’s red this time, and hotter than before, but I eat every bite I can manage, my mouth on fire, skin damp from sweating out the heat of it.“I don’t expect you to sell there, but we’ll keep an eye open for opportunities.”He strokes my hair, and now I’m chilled, despite the hot sauce, at his practicality.Grim, I eat until I’m almost sick, just for the nourishment, and I shiver on the pillow on the floor at his feet as he snores his blissful slumber through the night, clenching around my aching insides that only through sheer will absorbs all that I’ve devoured.
I will not waste a single mouthful.
Vunoshe is true to his word, the three boats slowing when we emerge on deck, the sails slowly lowered, and we’re coasting into dock with a level of expertise that makes me admire Captain Lhanin’s skills if not his black heart.I take note of the other captains, the other ships, but I stay with Vunoshe as he leads me down the gangplank toward the dock, strolling like a nobleman with his pet canine on her leash at his side.I’m still in the red dress, the delicate embroidery all around the hem gold and green and orange, clearly well-made and expensive, as much as his perfectly tailored attire, from his shimmering black trousers cut so tight they show every bit of him, the robe he wears billowing out behind him, the short belted tunic embroidered like mine.His glossy black hair is freshly combed away from his face, dark eyes taking in everything.
“You see them?”He snorts at the sight of the slaves being led, staggering and filthy, from one of the nearby ships, weighted down with chains, barely able to keep themselves upright.“Unfed, unwatered, a disgrace.”He tuts softly under his breath.“Captain Arshan didn’t listen to me, but he will next time.”Vunoshe turns and observes as our cargo is unloaded.I know some of the faces from the bowels of the ship where I spent time, too, but they do seem in better condition, clean, too, redressed in fresh sacks of rough cloth, their skin still damp.No doubt run through the bath the way I was, if not offered much after the fact.I spot the one-eyed sailor among them and stifle the hit of satisfaction.He brought his fate upon himself, and he means nothing to me now.I will not spare him another moment of focus.
“There, you see?”Vunoshe isn’t done with his observations, drawing my attention from the sobbing former sailor.He gestures at the waiting buyers, a line of men along the edge of the riverbank, who observe the slaves being led toward shore along the wooden dock.“They notice, and we’ll get a better price because of that attention to detail.”
I don’t share his enthusiasm, for obvious reasons, tension keeping me alert.He could sell me today, and if so, I’ll have lost my chance to sink this ship.Oh, and yes, I plan to do the same for the other two.I will spend the rest of my life hunting ones just like them.For now, though, I have to watch and wait and hope that I’m granted another day to rest and recover.
I’m not yet strong enough to bring about the fire and vengeance I have planned.
The last thing I expect is for Captain Lhanin to find his balls.He marches up to Vunoshe and rips my chain from the small man’s hands, his scowl tugging at the ring in his lower lip as he leans into the slave master and snarls in his face.
“We’re selling her,” he says.Jerks on my leash, not looking at me as he pulls me toward the shore.I glance at Vunoshe, who’s squinting at the captain like he wants to gut him, but makes no move to do so.
Fine then, I’m on my own after all.Strong enough or too weak to succee, this might be where the story ends.
