The Kadin - Bertrice Small [58]
“Hold, David. What is wrong with the man? It appears he would suit my purpose quite well.”
“No, Highness. Arslan is flawed in the mind. He has almost killed two masters. I am selling him to the quarries.”
“Step forward,” Selim commanded. The giant stood before him. “Is this true?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Selim noted the intelligent light in the man’s eyes. “Why?”
“Because, my lord, they were cruel masters. I have been a slave since I was five, and I have known nothing but unkindness; but before that I knew tenderness and compassion. I cannot bear to see innocent young girls mistreated because of their fear, or good wives beaten because they are no longer beautiful. If this is a flaw, then I am flawed.”
Selim replied, “I do not mistreat my women, and I do have need of a strong, loyal man to guard with his very life the most precious of jewels—my wife. She is with child.”
“If you will have me, I will watch over her, but if you are cruel, lord, I cannot be responsible for my actions.”
Selim looked to Hadji Bey.
“Trust your instincts, my son.”
The prince nodded, and turned to David ben Kira. “I will take this one. Do not look so fearful, my friend. I need a eunuch such as this. His loyalty will be only to my Cyra, and no one will ever be able to bribe him”
“Very well, my lord. It will be as you say.” He motioned Arslan to the side of the room and waved the other slaves out “Now, my prince. Hadji Bey and I have already chosen a food taster. He is an Egyptian with an incredible ability to ferret out poisons, even those that have no taste. He also has the ability to make you immune to any poison. He is expensive but well worth it”
“Then our business is concluded, David.”
“Ah, but you must not leave without refreshments, my lord. I have a slave girl who makes a sherbet fit for the Prophet himself.” He clapped his hands, and two servant girls entered, one bearing a tray.
The female with the tray, a small, plain creature, stumbled against a low table and cried out, “Lord Lamerey! Tables where footstools should be.”
“Master,” whispered Firousi, “I can think of no better gift for my lady than a female slave who speaks her tongue. It would please her greatly.”
“You are right, lad. David, what price on that girl?”
“That one? Five dinars, my lord, but she is useless. I have been trying to train her as a waitress, but she is as stubborn as a mule, and twice as troublesome.”
“When a woman is troublesome, there is usually a man involved,” remarked Hadji Bey.
“True,” said David, “and in this case it is the girl’s husband. A remarkable young man. He is a scholar, and not only does he speak, read, and write several European tongues, but Turkish and Persian as well. He would be an excellent secretary.”
“How much for the four of them?”
“All four, my lord?”
“I have said it!”
“Let me see now. Fifty dinars for Arslan, my lord. One hundred for the Egyptian. A very special price to you, and I am losing money. One hundred for the secretary, and five for his useless wife. Two hundred and fifty-five gold dinars in all, my lord.”
“One hundred for the Egyptian, David. Twenty-five for Arslan, fifty for the man and his wife. One hundred seventy-five dinars, and I am being generous.”
“My lord! You will drive me into poverty! Two hundred thirty is the lowest I can go.”
“Two hundred is all I will give you.”
“Done!” replied David ben Kira. “I will include a cart and driver to transport them to your palace. Do you want them today, my lord?”
“Yes, but no cart, David. Lend me four horses. One of my slaves will return them to you the next time I come to the city. A cart will slow me down. As it is, I will not get back to my home until late tomorrow.”
David ben Kira arose. “I shall arrange it at once. You will be ready to leave within the half hour.” He motioned to the waiting slaves to follow him and left the room.
“Here, lad,” Selim called to Firousi. “Tell the girl her husband goes, too.”
Firousi walked over to the girl, whose name was Marian, and put a hand on her arm, “Don’t be frightened,