The Godspeaker Trilogy by Karen Miller Read Free Book Online Page B

said Abajai, as Yagji put the wooden box back into its pannier on the pack camel. “It has been a good Trading.”
    The godspeaker nodded. “Travel well, Trader Abajai. I will not ask where next you buy and sell, for this I know is Traders’ business not fit for a village-bound man to know, even if he is the godspeaker.”
    Abajai’s small smile grew wider. “Well do you know the ways of Trading, Toolu godspeaker.”
    “But be wary as you travel through Et-Jokriel,” said the godspeaker, frowning. “The times are grown uneasy. Green fields turn brown and where water flowed freely, in places now it trickles. Where there was water now is dirt. The sky is blue, crops wither in the sun. Jokriel warlord dreams of grain within his empty barns. He sends his warriors over the borders to raid and fight his brother warlords. He is not the only warlord so afflicted. Hammers ring on anvils, Abajai. Bloodshed rides the wind.”
    Abajai bowed. “We will be wary. The god see you, Toolu godspeaker. The god see you in its eye.”
    They left the village, then, with the handful of new slaves chained to the tail of the snake and poked into walking by Obid’s sharp spear. Once Todorok was behind them, Yagji turned to Abajai in fright.
    “You heard him, Aba! Bloodshed rides the wind! How bad have things become since we began our caravan?”
    “The god knows,” said Abajai. “Hold your tongue, Yagji. We will talk of this beneath the stars, when only you and I are listening.”
    “Abajai—’ said Hekat, wanting to know, but he pressed his hand on her shoulder, then dropped a loop of leather over her head. Dangling from it was a beautiful amulet, a carved snake’s eye in deepest blue.
    She snatched it up. “ Abajai !”
    “You must wear this always,” Abajai told her. “While you wear it the god will see you in its eye.”
    Never in her life had she possessed her own amulet. “Yes, Abajai,” she whispered, and pressed the snake-eye against her lips.
    “Such extravagance!” Yagji scolded. “And after we were paid too little for the pish, and charged too much for Todorok’s slaves! With all your spare coin it would he better had you paid the godspeaker to give it a slave-braid, not—”
    “No,” said Abajai. “The god does not desire that.”
    Yagji made a gobbling sound. “And does the god desire us reduced to seven bronze coins and a single camel? Aieee, you try me, Aba, you try me sorely! I will bargain next time, you are growing soft in your old age . . .”
    Buzz, buzz, buzz. Yagji had more words than the sky had stars, and none of them as pretty. Hekat didn’t listen. Abajai had paid coin to give her an amulet, to keep her in the god’s eye. She was precious. He cared for her. She cared for him, too. A new feeling, strange, unfurling shyly like a seed in dry dirt. He was the only breathing thing she had ever cared for. She was his, for ever and ever.
    No matter what that Yagji said.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T hat night, after dinner, Hekat curled up by the camp fire and listened, eyes closed, as Abajai and Yagji talked Trader business in soft urgent voices.
    “It is unwise not to heed a godspeaker’s warning,” said Abajai. “From newsun we will travel straight through Et-Jokriel to Thakligar in Et-Mamiklia, and from there over the border into Et-Nogolor. Nogolor warlord’s treaties with Et-Raklion will keep us safe. Until then we are prey for raiding warbands.”
    “That is true,” Yagji sighed. “But surely we can do a little Trading along the way, Aba? Remember we were blessed by Nagarak himself. The god sees us in its eye.”
    Abajai hissed air between his teeth. “Being blessed does not make us untouchable. Demons can take us, and so can fighting warlords with no love for Et-Raklion.”
    Demons . Hekat clutched her snake-eye amulet. The village godspeaker shouted loud against demons. Demons sickened goats. They spoiled the snake-dance so the young men died fangstruck. They dried up the well-water, or made it