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At the end of the hallway is another closed door, they continue on down toward it. Jiron still pauses at the other doors they pass and listens to see if anyone is there. When they finally reach the end door, he reaches for the handle when it suddenly opens up.

Three slavers stand there in shocked surprise at seeing them there. “What are you doing in here?” one asks.

Jiron is about to pull one of his knives when Reilin places a restraining hand upon his. Moving forward, Reilin asks, “Isn’t this the way to view the slaves?”

Shaking his head, the slaver replies, “No.”

“We’re sorry,” Reilin says, “we must have gotten turned around. Could you direct us to where we can?”

The slaver looks at him quizzically, and seems to be contemplating whether or not to believe him. Then he makes up his mind and nods, “This way.” Indicating for them to follow, the slaver turns around and begins walking down the hallway.

“Come on,” Reilin says and motions for James and Jiron to follow. He can see the questions in their minds but are unable to ask. “It’s okay,” he says to put their minds at ease.

Trusting in him, they nod and the three of them follow the slaver. He leads them along the corridor and then pauses at a door on his right. Opening it up, they find that they are being led outside the building and into the courtyard. He indicates a doorway over on the far side and says, “Go through there and you can view the slaves waiting for auction.”

“Thank you,” Reilin says and then walks briskly away from the three slavers.

“What was that about?” asks James when they are again among the crowd.

“I told him that we wished to view the slaves and had gotten turned around,” he explains. Glancing back, he finds the door that they just passed through closed and the three slavers gone.

Not to be deterred, Jiron looks around and sees two slavers talking to each other as they stand against one of the walls near the platform. From their age and dress, he figures them to be more than the run of the mill slaver. Deciding on a more direct approach, he grabs Reilin’s arm and points to the two slavers. “Go ask them,” he says. “See if they can help us.”

“Alright,” he says. Crossing over toward them, he gets to within fifteen feet when the two men notice his approach. They stop their conversation and turn to meet him. “Excuse me,” Reilin says as he comes to a stop a couple feet away.

“Yes?” one of the men asks.

“My friends and I are looking for a slaver by the name of Buka,” he explains. “Would either of you know where we might be able to find him?”

When he says the name ‘Buka’, both men’s expressions turn dark. “Buka doesn’t see anyone,” the older of the two men tells him. “Let alone you people from the north.”

“But this is of some importance,” Reilin insists.

The younger of the two visibly frowns. “What?” he asks.

“That would be better left unsaid until we could speak with Buka,” Reilin replies.

Snorting, the older man looks with derision at him. “If you wish to buy a slave, then buy a slave or go away,” he says. “But Buka doesn’t talk to anyone.”

“We would be willing to compensate you for your help,” offers Reilin.

“There’s no amount you could give me that would make me help you,” the older slaver states. “Your kind is only suited for the block. Only the propriety of the auction has made me endure your presence even this long. Go away before my patience wears any thinner.”

Reilin looks from the older to the younger and sees the veiled threat should he persist. Without a word, he turns around and walks back to Jiron and James. “They’re not going to help us,” he tells them. Then he summarizes the gist of the conversation.

“Sounds like a couple of bigots to me,” James says. “And you’re right, men like that are unlikely to prove helpful.

“I’m not going to give up,” insists Jiron.

“No one is saying that we are,” James assures him.

From the platform where the women were being auctioned, the auctioneer begins speaking loudly. They turn to look and see that