She nodded. “Please go. Don’t make this harder than it is.”“Why? He told you we can’t be together?”“It’s more than that Sam,” Gillyn said using his short name.“What then?”“You don’t know me. You never will. You can never know who I really am.”“I don’t care! I love you Gillyn! That’s all that matters. If you think I can’t keep a secret, I can! Trust me.”“It’s not about trusting you Sam! I do! But we can’t be together. I am not Gillyn!”“Then who? I don’t care! Love doesn’t care!”“Please don’t do this,” Gilyn begged lowering her voice. “Please. I don’t want Arnson to see this. Us.Please just go.”“It’s him isn’t it? Did he threaten you?”Gillyn looked Samnom in the

The speaker of the court cried for silence but was ignored. Benedict eventually held up his hand for silence and slowly sanity returned to the hall.“So how do you find yourself back here?” Benedict asked.“I escaped your majesty. There was an enormous sandstorm that destroyed the camp in the desert and I escaped under cover of the storm. I nearly died in the mountains but I survived and made it back here.”“Where is Alexa now?”Peter shrugged. “I do not know your majesty. I have not seen her since she left me in the desert. I know not who the leader of the Black Cloaks is. She betrayed me for a boy in the desert whose name is Muhay. That is all I know. Whether he even survived the storm in the desert I cannot say. As far as Alexa’s whereabouts is concerned, I believe she may be in the city.”Peter finished speaking making it clear he had no more news to share. People gasped in surprise and spok

Malu rose and looked around identifying Breeger’s object of dissatisfaction. “As you wish master.” His face showed no emotion as he stood. He called out. “Whip! Now!”It was as if he commanded more respect than Breeger for the call went up amongst the servants until it reached the ears of a man responsible for the whip to be kept and maintained. He hurried forth from the villa shortly with the whip curled in his hand.He reached Malu and stood with his head bowed. Malu spoke with him quietly showing him who was to be whipped. The man nodded and crossed to the servant who was still kneeling on the path in the central square under the hot sun.“No-one move!” Breeger commanded. “You will all watch as a warning of what happens when you are disobedient.”The servants did not move or show emotion. They did as they were told.“Begin!” Breeger said to the man who carried the whip. He unfurle

Huthdel tried to run but was quickly brought down. “You will pay for this!” he screamed hysterically. “The order is blessed by the Gods. They support us. Look at the good we have done throughout the kingdom. The gods are turning their backs on you even as I speak.”Huthdel’s protests continued from beyond the entrance until they were no longer audible.Benedict stood and declared the day’s audience session closed. He left the hall and returned to his chambers where he poured himself a goblet of wine. He downed it quickly and poured himself another.A short while later Tordor arrived and was permitted to enter. Benedict offered him wine but he declined.“What have I done?” Benedict asked.“He had it coming. What else could you have done?”“We should never have come here. This whole venture was a mistake.”“You cannot see it as that Benedict.”&ld

Finally, in the last hour of the sun a buyer arrived. He studied Samnom and asked the price. When he was told the price he did not flinch. He took out a bag of coins and paid the agreed sum. Samnom was released to the man and led away on a rope as a donkey is led. Samnom was happy to finally have left Klaman behind and was curious to see what his new life would bring. He followed in silence until his new owner stopped at a small plot of land outside the city. “This is your home. What is your name?” “Samnom.” “I will call you Sam. I am Ubul.” Samnom nodded. Ubul seemed like a nice man. He spoke with a strange accent and was clearly not from Kyrshom. “I do not expect you to call me master except in the presence of others. I simply needed someone to work the land for me. I have other things to do but the land must produce to make money. I cannot do everything. You will sleep in my house and eat my food. I do not believe in wielding the whip but expect respect if I respect you.” “I