Rivals and friends alike had learned that a once untried young girl had matured into a gifted player of the deadly game. Her invariable goal was the survival and strengthening of House Acoma. Lujan understood that everything his mistress undertook was to further her position in the Game of the Council, the political striving that was the heart of Tsurani politics.

Until then she would not appreciate hearing objections she had already dismissed in her own mind. As he watched for any sign of trouble, he reasoned that when Mara busied herself in her newest plan she would forget Jican’s dissension. ‘Lujan, attend me, and have the others wait here.’ Her acerbity caused Lujan to forgo the banter that, on occasion, strained the limits of acceptable protocol besides, his first task was to protect her – and the slave markets were far too public for his liking – so his attention turned quickly from wit to security. The debate had ended only when she ordered him to silence. Jican, the estate hadonra, had spent most of the morning vigorously objecting to her plan to purchase what he insisted would be worthless slaves. The colour in her cheeks was high Lujan could not tell if she was flushed from the heat or still angered from the argument prior to leaving her estate. Soldiers in green enamelled armour came to a halt, and the sweating bearers set the litter down.Īn officer in a Strike Leader’s plumed helm gave his hand to Mara and she emerged from her litter. The Ruling Lady of the Acoma motioned for her escort to stop. If the stench troubled her, she showed no sign. Sheltered behind the curtains of her brightly lacquered litter, Lady Mara wafted air across her face with a scented fan. Despite the wayward currents, the air was hot and thick, reeking of confined and unwashed humanity mingled with the smell of river sewage and rotting garbage from the dump behind the market. Dust swirled in little eddies, settling grit over the palisade that surrounded the slave market.

Raymond e feist servant of the empire