[quote=@persianversion] It seemed that to Najla ‘something’ meant taking advantage of an opportunity she’d rarely have again. She had not been within Coedwin’s walls before, though she knew that many of her family had placed spies within the walls. At least, they had tried to, for while a Sawarim was not a strange sight within the walls, getting their messages past the walls was a difficult task. Regardless of these difficulties, Najla was certain that her family had placed someone within these walls. A slave within the castle, perhaps, or maybe they had struck up a deal with a trader who frequented here. Had she known who had placed them or better yet, who they were, Najla would have been able to easily search the markets. Now, the yelling was only proving a distraction, for she was trying to think of the spymasters, rather than their spies. [i]Eshe contains her network to the south, I know that. Farrah perhaps, but no, she could never travel here to know their secrets-[/i] [i]“Girls, from Zanj to Lankara!”[/i] The slavers call broke her thoughts, and after a quick glance over his ‘cargo’ she simply strode past, trying to pick up her thoughts. She continued to move through the list of the spymasters she knew who might have extended their influence to Coedwin, eliminating or retaining them based on what she knew. It was not a perfect system, as she knew much changed for spymasters throughout the course of a year, or even within a few days, but scouring every slave and trader in here was no alternative. It took some time however, for her thoughts were frequently interrupted, by merchants’ calls, by her pauses to look over a group of slaves, by those who jolted her out of her thoughts as they shoved past, and her examination of every inch of the wall and entrances surrounding Coedwin, and the Servants who were stationed there. It was an overload of information quite unlike what she had seen for some time, but Najla was only eager to train her skills again, and digested the information as quickly as she could. They’d have a whole week in Coedwin, sure, but Najla doubted she’d ever see the inside of this castle again afterwards. As her eyes traced over another group of slaves, the slavedriver before them encouraging a few curious buyers, Najla’s stream of information halted entirely. She froze, briefly, before slipping out of the crowd and closer to the slavedriver’s wares so as not to get jostled by the crowd, but did not approach. Her eyes scanned a familiar face, desperately hoping it wasn’t true. The longer she looked, the more certain Najla was. The large eyes, black and gentle, the angular nose, all in all, the face of someone Najla had considered a friend. She had been a princess’s handmaiden, a daughter of a tribal leader with some influence who had spent most of her life at court following her cousin Lamya around, giggling about gowns and jewelry, with the promise that she may marry into the royal family someday. Now, she stood in a row of others, looking down upon the ground with a defeated expression. Lamya was a spoiled girl, yet she loved her handmaiden dearly, and would never have allowed her to be placed in danger. Curiosity and worry took over, and Najla approached the girl, keeping her voice so low the slaves beside her couldn’t hear. [i]“Inaya-“[/i] The moment the girl’s eyes snapped up to her, her face went white, her eyes wide, and she opened her mouth to speak her name, at which point Najla shushed her. [i]<“Saina. My name is Saina here.”>[/i] [i]<“You’re alive?”>[/i] The girl’s voice came through as a ragged whisper, and Najla nodded. [i]<“Jalil?”> <“No.”>[/i] She cut her off instantly, shaking her head. Inaya opened her mouth to say a quick prayer, but Najla cut her off again, glancing up at the distracted slavedriver before turning back to the girl. [i]<“No time. How did you get here?”>[/i] [i]<“Lamya sent me, I was to travel to the Al-Turahai clan and inquire after one of her contacts but along the way-“>[/i] Najla cut her off again. She was growing impatient with the girl’s explanation, and knowing that her cousin was alive, she didn’t care as to the rest. [i]Besides, if Lamya has a contact within the Al-Turahai, she could very well have a contact in Coedwin. They are within the same region, and equally dangerous.[/i] [i]<“Quick, my mother, my father, how are they?”>[/i] Inaya seemed surprised, but answered anyways. It seemed the shock of seeing Najla alive had made her more pliable than before, a lucky break for Najla, who knew the slavedriver would see her soon. [i]<“Your father is a strong man, but your mother...she awaits your return. She will be thrilled-“>[/i] [i]<“As will your family. Quick, who does Lamya have here? Give me a name.”> [/i] Inaya thought for a moment, an agonizing silence for Najla, who wanted nothing more than to sprint off before the slaver saw her. He was distracted with other customers, and a slave girl inspecting another would be nothing to look at twice, unless she was to linger. Najla had already extended past lingering, and the wait was unbearable. [i]<“Suhayb.”>[/i] Najla frowned at that, but had no time to question it. Suhayb was not a name, but in their tongue only meant ‘of copper’. Perhaps it was a trader’s name, or an identifier, but Najla knew she could find him from it. [i]<“He keeps you here at night, right?”>[/i] Inaya wanted to answer, but a nod was all she could offer before an order came. Not for her, but for Najla. [i]<“Girl, step away from the wares.”>[/i] Najla turned to look up at the slavedriver. An older man, with a thick mustache and an unpleasant frown, he walked towards her angrily, but Najla only bowed her head towards him. [i]<“Apologies, my lord, I am not shopping for myself but for my master.”>[/i] She could tell the slavedriver was suspicious, but before he could ask, she continued speaking. [i]<“Is she a virgin?”>[/i] Inaya’s eyes widened, but the slavedriver answered, the frown still on his face. [i]<“Yes, she is.”>[/i] Najla stifled a laugh at that, then stepped back, inspecting Inaya’s body with her eyes. Her suspicion of his claim was written all over her face and her body language. Though she would not dare to speak it, Najla knew he was getting defensive now, less worried that she was lying and more worried that he would lose a sell. Merchants were the easiest to fool, she had found, even the promise of coin was often enough. [i]<“How much, my lord?”>[/i] [i]<“300 silvers.”>[/i] He replied, and Najla frowned at the price. Cheaper than she’d expect for a pleasure slave, but the price was irrelevant regardless. [i]<“You will not go lower?”>[/i] [i]<“No, she is a virgin, that is cheap for her.”>[/i] Najla nodded at this, the disbelief still clear in her face, but she replied gently anyways. [i]<“Thank you my lord, I will let my master know.”>[/i] The slaver turned in a huff, eager to fool another customer, and Najla glanced up at Inaya, offering her a smile and a wink before she turned to go. She was not worried about the slaver, he would not remember this conversation unless he wanted to lower the price for her another day. She worried about Suhayb now, and moved through the markets with a new purpose. ------ Lamya was a spoiled girl, who used her money to extend influence more than cleverness. This wasn’t to say Najla didn’t like her, the women of the Sultan’s court had little room to judge their family for being spoiled. This simply meant Najla’s job was made easier. Lamya had little imagination, and so the name Suhayb was made clear upon a simple walk through the market. He was a Broacien caravanmaster with copper hair, only a couple slaves beside him, helping to arrange and sell his wares. Najla only watched from afar for a moment, waiting until no one lingered before his stand before approaching the trader directly and bowing her head. [i]“My lord, a moment?”[/i] It was a bolder statement than he likely would have expected, and the frown on his face stated as much. Before he could dispute and another customer could approach him, she spoke again, her voice low. [i]“Lamya sent me.”[/i] It took nothing more than that. He gave control of the stand to his slaves, taking a few steps to the side, which Najla followed quickly. [i]“Why send you and not herself?”[/i] [i]“This is a task, not a query, Suhayb.”[/i] Her tone grew more commanding instantly, and perhaps that was all the proof the merchant needed. Perhaps he had been spying for her cousin long enough to know that the Sultan’s court often traveled in such disguises. Perhaps it had been the name, which she knew now must have been given by Lamya. No Broacien would take such a name. Whether she had proved her point or the fear of offending had been the cause, Najla was allowed to speak. [i]“She has a task for you. You are to leave, within the next two days. You will empty two crates in your caravan, leave or sell the goods here. You will be reimbursed for those goods hundredfold if you do.”[/i] His confusion was apparent, but Najla leaned in closer, continuing to explain. [i]“You are not her only contact here and there are whispers that those that remain are in danger. You are the only one who can be allowed to leave freely. Do you understand? You are to escort her contacts out, and in return, you will be paid.”[/i] [i]“How much?”[/i] [i]“Name your price.”[/i] Suhayb raised his brows, but Najla continued. [i]“Two empty crates. That’s all you have to do. Empty two crates, I will fill them for you, and upon arrival you will be awarded a fortune.” [/i] [i]“And what if I get caught smuggling slaves out in boxes?”[/i] [i]“What if the whispers catch up to you?”[/i] She replied, her warning clear within her voice. [i]“You think you will trade, or even survive long once a captured spy rats you out for helping Sawarim? This is to help you just as well as the others.”[/i] They spoke, softly and quietly, and once the trader was nice and worried, Najla agreed upon their arrangements. She could spend no more time lingering here, she would return to his caravan tonight, to finish arranging the plans for the escape. He would sell the goods as quickly as he could, and he would clear the crates out by night. She could free Inaya with the help of one of his slaves, easily, but it would take time. They’d plan tonight, she would deliver the rest of his instructions regarding routes and resources there, giving her time to figure out just what those instructions were, and he’d have enough time to pray that his head remained attached before they could fill his crates the next night and send him off in the morning. ----- Perhaps it was a lucky break for Najla, that she had run into Inaya. Nowhere near as lucky for Inaya, certainly, but Najla could make it out of Coedwin now. Without the girl, she never would have known that Lamya had contacts within the Al-Turahai clan, many of whom traded exclusively on the Redsand. Much did change in a year, and Suhayb was a hard-won contact, someone who could have been useful to Lamya in the future. He likely wouldn’t be persuaded to return to Coedwin after Najla had instilled a fear for his life within him, but the information he brought in crates would be far more valuable. She spent the day in high spirits. Never did she make an attempt to seek Ketill for a task or command, and instead wandered about the market freely, her thoughts less worried and far more optimistic now. Najla remembered his command to fix his shirt, but brushed it off quickly, she’d have no need for such mindless chores anymore. Besides, she’d likely escape before she learned how to sew. She returned to the area the slaves had been given to sleep in, a drafty hall of the great castle that was stuffed to the brim with cots and mattresses. It would have been difficult to find a place to stay, and Najla might have had to sleep on the ground had it not been for Qamar, who generously offered to share her small cot. Najla liked the girl. She had grown to consider her as a friend, and knew that while it would be immensely difficult to bring her out with them, she wanted to come back for her. It would not be difficult to send someone to the slavedriver with a full purse and return Qamar to the safety of the Sultan’s court, where Najla would surely thank her for her kindnesses. Perhaps the thought that she could be leaving was allowing her to grow too optimistic, but as they spent the night speaking in hushed whispers and laughter they spoke in that night, Najla convinced herself of the success of this venture more and more. ----- The hall grew quiet as the night drew on, and Najla waited until she heard Qamar’s soft breathing before she drew herself up. Her feet padded across the floor softly, and she slipped out of the room without a word. The slaves were not questioned, it was simply assumed they were attending to orders they didn’t need to know of. For a Sawarim woman to move throughout the castle in the middle of the night, it would likely be assumed that she was either called to, or returning from, an order to ‘entertain’ her master. Slipping out of the castle was easy, and she moved quickly to where the trader’s caravan lay, knowing he was awaiting her. It took a simple, swift knock and the door to the small wooden structure, and she was swept in as the door opened. The trader sat with one of his slaves beside him, a girl a few years older than Najla, who could not look her in the eye. Najla looked around the caravan, then at two half-empty crates. [i]“Is that it?”[/i] Suhayb nodded [i]“Yes, we could not get rid of everything today. I will dump them when the time comes.”[/i] Najla meant to study the crates more carefully, but a sound from outside stopped her. It was just a shuffling movement, nothing more, and she assumed it was the traders other slave arranging something. [i]“Dump it all into one. You can empty that when the time comes, but you’ll need it empty in case you need to leave sooner than planned.”[/i] [i]“When is that, exactly?”[/i] [i]“I will take one of your slaves tomorrow night. The boy you had, is he trustworthy?”[/i] Suhayb nodded, and Najla continued. [i]“He must be ready and waiting at this time tomorrow.”[/i] [i]“Is that necessary?”[/i] Najla frowned. She was not used to having her orders questioned, but had to remind herself that this man had never learned her name, knew nothing beyond the threats she had told him, and had only seen her as a slave. She maintained her commanding tone, however. [i]“Yes, unless you’d like to join me. Arm him before we go. Nothing more than a dagger or knife.”[/i] She glanced at the entrance to the caravan again. [i]“I will return with the cargo and you must be prepared to leave the morning after that.”[/i] She spent little time there, only discussing a few potential routes and ordering him to stock up on water for the journey ahead. He wanted a more precise estimate of the price, and Najla allowed him to name it, at which she promised to double it. A lie, but Suhayb had likely seen the extent of Lamya’s pockets and believed she would be capable of it. She would be, certainly, but she wouldn’t ever give it to him. Once he had been sated with the price, Najla thanked him and left the caravan, closing the door behind her. She began to walk through the city, messing her hair up and pulling her dress a little off her shoulder, making it obvious to anyone who looked upon her what she had been ‘called on’ for. [/quote]