Shadow Gate by Kate Elliott

Author:Kate Elliott [Elliott, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Epic
ISBN: 9780765349316
Amazon: 0765349310
Goodreads: 1902381
Publisher: Tor
Published: 2008-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

An argument erupted in the main room. The warmth was beginning to wear off as the smoke lost its hold. Ramda never gave her more than one for herself, and every time the ache of its leaving prodded her like a fresh wound. She fumbled with the ties of her long jacket, closing it over her naked body. Shoved from the other side, the screen clattered down on top of her.

She fell off the couch, found herself sitting on the loose trousers slaves wore, her thighs sticky.

‘Come! Come!’ Girish shouted at her as he wiped blood from his hands with a cloth. She struggled clumsily to get the trousers on, unable to remember having taken them off.

Ramda shuffled in behind him. ‘Get out!’ His hair was mussed as if he had combed it with his hands. ‘That’s the second one this month you damaged. I don’t want you to come back.’

‘You cheating dog! You said it was a new one, but I saw the same one last week over at Nonku’s chop. I wanted a fresh one. One that will really be scared.’ He grabbed her by the braids and tugged her. She tripped over the trousers, which she hadn’t gotten up over her knees. The long jacket bunched and tangled around her hips. He slapped her once, twice, a third time. ‘I hate you! I hate you!’ He spat at her. ‘You’re the cause of all my trouble, demon!’

‘Here, now,’ said Ramda, hands trembling as he picked up the screen and set it aright. ‘No need to hit it. It’s just a slave.’

‘It’s a demon. I wanted a wife, and they gave me a demon because they are pigs and scorpions, my own relatives! They’re just jealous because Mother loves me best.’

‘You’re drunk, Girish. Would you get out?’

‘If you don’t let me come back, you’ll not get to poke her again, eh? And what of the other men? I know you sell her stinking flower while I’m inside, heh, heh.’ He rubbed his fingers together as if he was feeling the texture of a coin. ‘Don’t think I don’t know that you’re padding your sleeve with a little coin on the side, selling the demon while I’m busy elsewhere, eh? Heh.’

She wrestled her trousers up and tied them, then tugged down the long jacket.

Ramda stared mournfully at her, remembered himself, and looked away. ‘If you damage my goods, you can’t come back, Girish. I can’t keep replacing the things you break.’

Girish handed him coin. ‘You can replace it. Here. Get some new ones this time.’

Ramda sighed, taking the coin. ‘You’re rich, suddenly. Did Father Mei increase your allowance?’

‘My brother?’ Girish dropped the bloodied cloth to the ground, spat on it. ‘He begrudges every copper.’

He hooked the leash to the slave bracelet she wore on her right wrist and yanked her after him, out the door and into the alley. The sun’s light staggered her; its heat was a blow. When she stumbled, he whipped her with the end of the leash.

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