Page 7 of Given to the Fae
I discount choosing her for that reason alone. It means she scraps with the others and will assuredly be a problem. I’ve learned never to turn my back on any of them, but especially not the ones who like to fight. They’re the most deceptive and wiliest in my experience.
I keep my eye on her as I begin inspecting the females on my side of the line. I see that Bere has pulled three of them out already as potentials, and, not looking at them except to ascertain that they aren’t diseased, I pull a couple of them out as well.
I meet Bere in the middle and he looks over the ones I’ve chosen. He points at the last one in the line, the one with the bandage, and gives me a questioning look.
‘Brawler,’ I mutter.
His eyes narrow. ‘I promised a hearty one to the pit fighters. Check her over.Thoroughly. If they take her, they might want to breed her.’
With a sigh, I go back to the beginning of the line. She seems surprised when she notices me in front of her.
‘Open your mouth,’ I sneer.
Her eyes flick quickly to the short, black demon with the green scales and twisted horns that are on the small side. I noticed him walking up earlier. This must be the commander Sio mentioned. I watch him with interest as his lips thin and Sio is suddenly at my side.
‘This one is ill.’
I hear boots thudding in the mud and turn to see Bere stomping my way. I will my eyes not to roll. Why is he so interested in this one?
‘What’s the problem?’
‘They say she’s ill,’ I mutter.
‘She doesn’t look ill. Come forward, female.’ Bere eyes me. ‘Check her.’
I know that tone. The leader of our little band can be quite paranoid. He’s always inventing little tests for us to show our loyalty to him, making sure we’ll do as he says without question. Even I, his second in command, am not exempt from his games, so I don’t hesitate in dragging her forward by her dirty hair, but I don’t look at her as I do. Instead, I watch Sio and his commander. Sure enough, a look I don’t understand passes between them while Bere is staring at her with a gleam in his eye. They’re both oddly tense.
‘You don’t want this one,’ Ogdan begins, but Bere just laughs.
‘I thought this was a trading outpost.’
‘It is,’ Sio says, ‘but this one is...’
‘Ill. Yes, I heard.’ Bere raises his brows, and I look down at the human in front of me.
Her eyes are lowered.
‘You’ve been told twice,’ I spit for thecrowd. ‘Do I need to say it again, human?’
Her mouth drops open, and I check her teeth. Finding no decay that would cause me to suspect illness, I move my attention to her skin.
‘She’s dirty, but there are no rashes that I can see,’ I state.
Bere says nothing, and that in itself is telling. He wants more.
‘Take off your clothes.’
She shrugs out of the ragged dress she’s wearing, and it falls to the ground. I barely look at her except to ensure there are no skin lesions or spots to be concerned about, though I find many scars that I try to ignore.
I see Bere’s ice blue eyes flash violet as they travel from her face down to her toes and back up again. He takes in the evidence of the harsh life this one in particular has lead as a slave and he likes what he sees. Clearly whatever deal he’s made with the pit fighters is not the only reason he wants this one, and I decide to ensure I have a reason to be away from our camp thisevening, so that I don’t have to listen to what will likely be a night she won’t forget for the worst reasons.
He licks his lips, and I force my eyes to her face, pretending I’m still examining her, though it’s clear she’s not suffering from some malady as they insist. I wonder why these skin merchants don’t want to part with this one.
If the scars are anything to go by, she’s very badly behaved. They should be happy to get rid of her.
But no one mentions this fact, not even Bere.
‘Has she been bred?’ Bere asks.
