Daughter of Wolves

Chapter 2

I recoiled. "What? Certainly not."

Behzad's smile widened. He leant forward. "Why not? Think about it, Lady Javaneh. A few throws of the dice, no more, and you might own two horses instead of one. And what a horse. I would not part with her to anybody but you."

He made it sound as if I were sure to win. But I wasn't stupid. "No, thank you," I answered. "I might just possibly be interested in buying her, but I will not gamble my liberty away."

Behzad took a sip of rice wine. "The mare is not for sale."

So that was how the wind blew. I hesitated, for I wanted another horse for speed. However, my need wasn't desperate enough to make me take that kind of chance. Shar and I would manage.

I was just about to refuse the bet, when I noticed something: my bag of coins and the knives hidden about Behzad were not the only metal I perceived near me. Could it be?

Everywhere about the caravanserai there were bits of metal, and so far I'd kept my mage senses furled up on themselves to avoid the confusion of too many impressions. But now I carefully extended a tendril of awareness. The familiar rich taste of my silver coins, bright and playful copper mixed amongst them, keen iron from the knives, calling out to shape it. And very faintly...the dull, heavy throb of lead.

Pretending that I was still considering Behzad's offer, I picked up the dice. And sure enough: inside them I felt small pips of metal.

They were loaded.

I opened my mouth to make an accusation, but realised to do so would be to give myself away. But suddenly another idea hit me. I looked up at Behzad who was watching me as a glutton might watch a tasty morsel. "You're willing to have your bet witnessed by the master of the caravanserai?"

He exhaled his breath softly. "Certainly, Lady Javaneh."

Playing for time, I weighed the dice in my hand, concentrating on locating the small pieces of lead. It was cleverly done, for every dice was loaded in favour of a different side. I considered my options. Having the master of the caravanserai witnessing the bet would assure that Behzad could not easily go back on the terms, at least not for tonight. And the next day I would be gone.

Sudden movement behind Behzad caught my attention. Kiarash stood in the door to the merchant's room and to my astonishment was shaking his head violently. Had he listened to our conversation and was trying to warn me? Noticing my distraction, Behzad started to turn round, but the slave had already ducked back into the room.

"Still, the stakes are hardly fair," I said impulsively. Perhaps there was a way I could help that poor wretch after all.

"What do you mean?" Behzad asked.

"If I win, I get a horse," I pointed out. "If you win, you get not only me, but also all my belongings, including my horse." Slaves owned no property. They were property.

Caught off guard, he hesitated. "My mare is not just any horse."

"As you said yourself: a beauty for a beauty," I answered. "But I have a proposition for you. I'm willing to wager my person and my belongings against the mare and that slave of yours."

"Kiarash? That useless-" He swallowed his surprise. "Well, I suppose it's only fair. He's very good with animals, a hard working lad, straight limbs, good teeth." He made the man sound like a horse!

Behzad did not seem to notice at all, instead he took a deep draught of his rice wine. "So, Lady Javaneh, shall we have a little game?"

For one last moment I hesitated, then I looked him straight in the eye. "Yes."