Jalia and the Slavers (Jalia - World of Jalon) by John Booth Read Free Book Online Page B

She steeled herself to do whatever was necessary to survive.
    “Not so tough now little girl, are we?” Burn said as the orchestra started to play and he reached to put his arm around her waist. No one else was dancing and everybody had moved out to the edge of the dance floor. At least ten of Marcus’s men stood with their crossbows primed at the edge of the floor, watching every move Jalia made.
    Kale stood a few feet away waiting for his turn to dance. At last the music stopped and Burn stood away from Jalia and spoke loudly so the whole room could here, “For a girl with no tits you dance quite well. I’ll find out how well you scream with your legs apart later.”
    “Once a rapist, always a rapist.” Jalia said and spat at his feet.
    The room became deathly silent. Burn reached for his sword but looked to Marcus before drawing it. Marcus moved to stand alongside Daniel.
    “That’s a very serious accusation against one of my best men. Can you prove it?”
    “I’ll prove it by combat,” Jalia spat, “And take on his little accomplice as well.”
    “Trial by combat,” Marcus mused, “I think that’s a fair resolution and will provide us all with a little amusement as midnight approaches. Of course, my dear, you will fight as you are. My men against you, and they are armed and you sadly are not. But I promise you this, should you win, you will leave here untouched. Could I say anything fairer than that?”
    There were murmurings of disgust from the locals and Karn reached for his sword. The guards who had been pointing their crossbows at Jalia turned and faced the crowd, making it clear than any man who drew a sword would be dead.
    “Well then, let the entertainment begin,” Marcus smiled at Jalia coldly, “Are you ready to fight, my dear?”
    Jalia ripped the dress from her body, revealing her normal clothes. She kicked off the high healed dancing shoes and stood in her bare feet.
    “I am now,” she said grimly.
    Daniel knew Jalia was in serious trouble. These men might be scum, but he could see from the way they moved and took up position at ten and two o’clock in front of her that they knew how to fight as a team. She might be able to use the magic ring, but any sign of cheating would get her a dozen crossbow bolts in the back.
    However, Marcus would probably allow her a knife to fight if somebody in the hall was to throw her one. He had displayed an arrogant confidence in the fighting skills of his men.
    Daniel whispered commands to his dagger and it rose from its sheath at his belt and drifted slowly to the back of the hall. It spun into the air as if it had been thrown, rising over the heads of the audience before clattering to the floor at Jalia’s feet.
    The men with crossbows swung them towards Jalia and looked at Marcus. Jalia made no move to pick up the dagger, waiting to see what Marcus   would say.
    “A knife will make the entertainment last a little longer,” Marcus said as Burn and Kale indicated with nods that they weren’t bothered by the development. “The rules still apply.” He turned to where the knife appeared to have been thrown from, “But any more help from the audience and I’m afraid the helper will soon join our little girl here in the companionship of death.”
    Jalia picked up the knife and grinned. She knew how incredibly sharp it was. Those virtues were almost as powerful as magic to someone with Jalia’s skills. As far as she was concerned the fight had become even.
    The men were far too experienced to rush at her. They made a couple of feints and watched as Jalia spun aside. She was so fast that Burn and Kale knew they had a fight on their hands.
    “I understand that when you raped Patrus’s daughter, she wasn’t sure you’d actually done it because it was so small she didn’t feel a thing,” Jalia said, smiling sweetly at Burn.
    “I don’t get angry and I don’t make mistakes, little girl.”
    “But you’re going to die right here and very soon