[Whiteriver Medical, evening of the day he arrived]

His mistress, the warrior girl Trinahli, had left along with her slaves 
Thorin and Bril and the yellow haired woman.  Qedhar was still amazed that 
she could keep so many slaves at her age.  She must be a powerful warrior.

The wood slab covering the entrance to the strange, square cave he and Omana 
were in opened quietly and a tall woman entered.  Another of his masters 
coming to look him over.  Perhaps it had not been decided yet who owned him. 
 He was amazed at the silence of her tread, but did not turn around to look 
at her, though his shoulders tightened a bit at her approach.

She came around to stand at the other side of Omana.  Qedhar raised his eyes 
to her.  She stood perhaps three inches taller than him.  He had never seen 
a woman that tall.  But with all the other strangeness of this place, it 
didn't surprise him.  Her eyes were a strange green colour.  Her skin was 
still too pale, but not uncomfortably so, as Trinahli and her slaves had 
been.  Her hair was a pleasantly normal black.  Qedhar took in her form, her 
obviously strong build and the unconcealed weapons on her body.

Another warrior woman, he thought.  This tribe must encourage its girls to 
become warrior women.  Perhaps many of the men had died off...  That 
certainly explained the number of male slaves they appeared to keep, and 
their interest in him.  Yes, that must be it-- most of the men had died and 
the women had had to take up the slack, collecting interesting male slaves 
to maintain the tribe.  He almost felt sorry for them, till he thought of 
his own tribe.

The woman gestured toward the stool behind her, asking permission to sit.  
He looked at her in surprise.  Why did she need his permission?  He nodded 
his permission anyway and she sat on the stool, her back not touching the 
backrest.

Her eyes dropped to Omana and she slowly reached out to brush back a lock of 
hair.  She sighed, her eyes showing deep compassion.  Oh, he liked this 
one-- she would obviously keep Omana and him together.

"Qedhar," he said quietly, nervously.

His voice caught her attention, and she looked up at him.  He repeated his 
name and she nodded, solemnly.  "Anya."

Saying her name, he nodded as she had done.  Then, she pointed to the girl.

"Omana," he provided.  

Anya again gestured, after repeating the name, this time, pointing to 
Qedhar, then to Omana, then to Qedhar.  She made a rocking motion with her 
arms.  Ah, she understood.  He nodded.

"Yordotter."  Anya smiled, sadly.  She whispered something under her breath 
which sounded like a prayer.  "Qedhar," she said, reaching out and placing 
her fingertips lightly on his shoulder.

She said nothing more, but still, he nodded, feeling her compassion.  He 
hadn't expected that from a master to a slave, but appreciated it.  Perhaps 
she had had a similar experience.

She stood and spoke.  Qedhar had given up following anything long.  But it, 
too sounded like a prayer.  Then, she turned and left.

He spent the rest of the evening by his daughter's side.  They provided him 
with food, very bland.  Some time later, the slave Thorin came in and 
ordered him into the strange raised bed.  He could tell that was what the 
man wanted.  He sat on the bed and drank the potion Thorin gave him.  Thorin 
laid him back and his hands began exploring his body as before, and then 
stopped.  Qedhar sat up, but the man shook his head, forcing him back down.  
"Stehhear.  Sleap."

Qedhar acquiesced and soon drifted to sleep.

In the morning, he was shaken awake and given some more of the bland food.

He had just settled down next to the still form of his daughter when the 
slab was pushed open again and Bril and yet another male slave entered.

This one had short brown hair and deep blue eyes.  Was there no one here who 
was normal?  He had a strange style of beard and mustache.  He was probably 
ten years older than Qedhar at a guess.

The new man nodded to Qedhar.  "Helloesur. Aiyamsol," he said pointed to 
himself, "Sol."

"Sol?" asked Qedhar, then pointed at himself, "Qedhar."

"Aimgladtomeatyoo, Qedhar." Sol turned to Bril who was still standing behind 
him and began talking rapidly.

Perhaps this one was a slave to the warrior woman Anya and was representing 
her in dealing with Trinahli's slaves for Qedhar's custody.

Sol grinned at Bril and turned to Qedhar.  Ah, the deal must have gone in 
his favour.  "Aidlaikyootoocumwithmee," he said, motioning toward the cave 
entrance.  "Thehrssumwunaidlaikyootoomeet."

Qedhar looked at Sol, confused and a little wary, then looked at Omana, 
wondering if Anya wanted her as well.  Please, let her want Omana.

"Brilwiltehkguhdkehruvhur.  Andaillbringyoobakazsoonazaican."

Qedhar had no idea what the man Sol was saying, but his tone was reassuring. 
 He caressed Omana's head, then nodded to Sol and stood to follow him, 
feeling how weak he still was from his injuries.

Sol took Qedhar's arm, helping him to stand, and led him outside.  Qedhar 
blinked in the sudden bright sunlight and then looked up to see a monster or 
a brilliant blue colour.  The creature observed them calmly and Sol 
continued to walk, unsurprised.  Dear Gamal, perhaps he had been wrong about 
their intent.  He faltered as the thoughts ran rampant through his mind.  
Perhaps they would feed him to this thing... and then Omana.  His knees went 
weak.

The monster reared its head and bellowed loudly.

It was all Qedhar could do to keep from wetting himself.  Where was he?  He 
could see other monsters of the same type, in other colours, resting and 
flying nearby.  Did this tribe keep these monsters?  Or were the monsters 
the lords here?

The monster suddenly stopped his bellowing and looked at Sol.  Sol pulled 
Qedhar toward the monster.  Qedhar swallowed.  He would die honorably if 
this is what Sol intended.  He followed compliantly, trying to hide his fear.

Then Sol did a remarkable thing.  He pulled Qedhar onto the monster.  Was 
this a saddle?  Sol then strapped Qedhar onto the saddle and took the seat 
behind him.

The monster's body bunched under them, then launched into the air, wings 
unfolding and catching the wind.  Qedhar bit his lip, trying to keep from 
crying out.

Then the world went suddenly black and Qedhar wondered if he had fainted.  
Only, if he had fainted, he wouldn't be wondering...  The light came again 
suddenly and Qedhar saw that they were somewhere else.

The monster landed and Sol slid off, indicating that Qedhar should as well.  
Qedhar did so, though he couldn't hide from the other man how badly he was 
shaking.  The man smiled and patted him on the back reassuringly.

They walked a short distance and entered a cave.  Sol stopped in front of 
one of the wooden slabs and rapped on it with his knuckles.

"Cummin," a female voice called.

Sol manipulated something on the slab, opening it, while still helping to 
hold up Qedhar.  They entered and Qedhar took in the form of the woman 
within, sitting behind a... table of sorts.  Much too massive to move.

Sol smiled warmly at the woman, his head dipping slightly.  "Mlehdee, 
aiamsoluvwhaitrivvur.  Trinahlihazsentmeetoospeaktooyoouboutanurjentmattur."

Suddenly, Qedhar understood.  This woman was another warrior woman and Sol 
was her slave.  He had obtained Qedhar for her.

And left Omana behind.

Qedhar pulled his arm from the other man's grasp, tears of anger and sadness 
springing to his eyes.  If he had been able, his might have hit the other 
man with the reassuring smile.

He dropped his head in dejection.  He had finally lost everything.  His head 
swam and his knees gave out.

"Qedhar!" Sol yelled, reaching out to catch him.

Then everything went black.

Respectfully submitted,
 Lynette R. F. Cowper
  Qedhar

NRPG: Saul's just such an evil man... ;>

Well, Susan, you now have a Horse Nomad passed out on your office floor.

 **********************************************************************
 * Lynette R. F. Cowper       *  Official INWO Rules NetRep & Goddess *
 * lcowper@io.com             *        Circle of Janus Secretary      *
 * lcowper@indy.net           *   VP of P.U.R.P.L.E. (People United   *
 * http://www.io.com/~lcowper/*   Respecting Purple Legal Equality)   *
 **********************************************************************
 *    I write of things which I have neither seen nor suffered nor    *
 *  learned from another, things which are not and never could have   *
 *  been, and therefore my readers should by no means believe them.   *
 *                                            --Lucian of Samosata    *
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