Exiled Read online

  “Oh well, yes, that’s true,” Lady Pope’nose conceded with poor grace. She brightened. “But you could just give him the rod.” She licked her thin lips. “We have a private area for such punishments if you’re a little shy about punishing in public.”

  This time Lissa had to work even harder to keep her face blank. “I would but I’m just famished right now and I’m sure you and Lady Sha’rak are too. I wouldn’t want to keep anyone from dinner just to punish a slave.”

  Lady Pope’nose sighed. “Very well, you can borrow my Jakely for the banquet. I’ve been trying to train him for dinner service anyway.”

  “Thank you—you’re much too kind.” Lissa smiled sweetly and then turned back to Saber. “Get back to the coach,” she said sharply, snapping her fingers as though he was a pet who had been bad. “And no dinner for you tonight—think about that and try to be more careful where you step next time.”

  “Yes, Mistress.” He bowed submissively and kissed her foot in what Lissa hoped was a suitably humble way. Humble enough, anyway, to appease the other two ladies. Lady Pope’nose and Lady Sha’rak both always seemed to be overeager to punish their slaves, or see someone else’s slaves punished.

  “Rise,” she told Saber after she thought he had lingered long enough. “And go.”

  “Yes, Mistress.” He rose and disappeared silently into the gloom of the hallway from which they had come.

  “Well.” Lissa turned back to the other two ladies with a bright smile. “I’m so sorry about all that unpleasantness. Lady Pope’nose—what amazing thing have you planned for dinner, if you don’t mind me asking? Lady Sha’rak here has told me what a gourmet you are.”

  * * * * *

  Saber walked quietly along the hallway, eyes scanning from side to side as he searched for the library. He hoped that was the place Lady Pope’nose was keeping her collection—it would make the most sense. Unless she kept it locked away in a vault somewhere with a three foot thick metal door. In which case, they were well and truly out of luck.

  But if that’s the case, if she’s got it locked up somewhere, we’ll just have to find another way, Saber thought grimly. One way or another, we’re not leaving without that scroll.

  It took a long while to explore the maze-like dwelling and he was beginning to get worried when, down a smaller marble hallway that branched away from the first, he found what he was looking for. A vast door with an ornate golden latch and a scrolling golden plaque that read Library in discreet lower case script was suddenly before him.

  Saber was sure that the door would be locked or at the very least there would be a slave posted to guard the collection inside. But to his surprise, the latch opened easily and when he slipped inside the room, it was completely empty. Empty of people, that was—it was filled to overflowing with the triangular books and data disks the Yonnites used.

  And standing in the middle of the room, displayed in a clear case, were a number of ancient looking documents. Saber approached cautiously, looking around to see if there were any listening or recording devices. He saw nothing obvious but he was still careful to make no sound as he walked.

  On top of the case was a silver and crystal stand—something one would use to display only the finest and rarest of acquisitions. And on the stand was something that looked familiar.

  Saber’s eyes widened when he saw the blue laminated scroll that exactly matched the one they’d been using the night before for sensi-play. That’s it! I know it is!

  He strode forward and reached out a hand for it…but then drew back. I don’t like this—it’s too easy. The door unlocked, the library full of precious documents unguarded. And the exact document we want laid out on a silver and crystal tray. What the hell is going on here?

  “Go on, take it. It won’t bite.”

  The voice from behind him startled Saber so much he jumped. Turning he saw Llewelyn leaning against the doorframe of the massive door, grinning at him sardonically.

  “What are you doing here?” Saber demanded.

  “I could ask the same thing. Or rather, my lady could. But I think we both already know that, don’t we?” Llewelyn nodded his bald head at the missing scroll. “Go on, take it. That’s why you came here, isn’t it?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just looking for the bathroom.” Saber drew back his hand and started to move away from the case.

  “I don’t think so.” Llewelyn raised his hand and pointed a blaster at Saber’s face. “Take it now—go on, pick up the scroll.”

  “What?” Saber frowned at him. “Why are you so eager for me to pick it up?”

  “Because.” The other slave gave him a nasty grin. “You have to be caught in the act.” He gestured with the blaster. “Go on now, pick it up. If you don’t I’ll blow a hole in your worthless hide. Who will protect your sweet little mistress then?”

  * * * * *

  “So Lady Hake’bean is expected to make a complete recovery but I can’t help thinking she’ll never be quite the same.” Lady Sha’rak shook her head sadly and allowed the slave, which Lady Pope’nose had loaned her, to feed her another morsel of food. She had sent Llewelyn away on some kind of errand.

  “But how is that possible? Her arm…” Lissa swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. “It was ripped completely off and…and mangled.”

  “Oh, they can clone those parts.” Lady Pope’nose waved airily. “Although getting an exact match can be somewhat problematic. It’s lucky you and your body-slave were quick thinking enough to stop the brute before his rampage spread any further.”

  Lady Sha’rak shivered. “Such a dreadful business! I knew that animal was dangerous.”

  Lissa couldn’t be silent. “He was dangerous because Lady Hake’bean made him dangerous,” she said in a low voice.

  “I beg your pardon?” Lady Pope’nose gave her an incredulous look. “What exactly are you implying, my dear Lady R’awr?”

  “I’m just saying that she shouldn’t have done…that to him, especially not in front of everyone.” Lissa lifted her chin. “It enraged him, which put everyone in the room in danger.”

  “Oh I see what’s going on here.” Lady Pope’nose raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re one of those people who doesn’t believe in giving her slave the rod, aren’t you? That’s why you refused my offer of a private punishment area when your slave misbehaved.”

  Lissa felt sick. Lady Pope’nose had already tortured two of her slaves since dinner had begun—activating their pain collars for no other reason than she didn’t like the looks on their faces. It turned Lissa’s stomach so that she could barely choke down the morsels of food her own dinner-slave, Jakely, was offering.

  “I would never treat Saber that way,” she said, unable to hold her true feelings in anymore. “Never!”

  Lady Sha’rak sighed. “I can’t say that I’m surprised—you’re awfully soft on your body-slave. But I am disappointed.”

  “What—disappointed that I refuse to hurt the man I…I mean, disappointed that I refuse to hurt my slave?” Lissa demanded. She knew she ought to hold her tongue—there was no point in antagonizing their hostess. But she also knew that as soon as Saber found the lost scroll, they were going to leave and never return to this horrible world where slavery and rape and cruelty were the norm and she couldn’t help wanting to have a final say.

  “It’s wrong,” she continued, looking Lady Pope’nose in her pale, beady eyes. “Wrong to treat another being that way.”

  Lady Pope’nose raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow and looked down her long, boney nose. “So now I’m some sort of monster because I know how to punish my slaves correctly? Manda,” she said, turning to Lady Sha’rak. “What kind of person is this that you’ve brought to my house? Some kind of…of…abolitionist?”

  “Certainly not!” Lady Sha’rak sputtered. “She’s just…Lissa is just overly fond of her slave. In fact, I think she’s in love with him—it’s clouded her judgment considerably.”

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