Read Online The Patrician by Joan Kayse - Free Book Online Page B

with lash marks, ferried amphorae and bundles of wheat off the vessels to the landing. Dully, he watched them struggle up a steep, winding path to a trio of stone block warehouses and in moments start the journey back down for more cargo.
    How many times had he supervised the handling of goods by his own slaves, never giving a thought that they were anything more than another of his properties? But his slaves were well treated. Fed and clothed. Able to earn coin towards their freedom. Now he was the commodity.
    Jared’s leash was jerked hard, pulling him away from the rail. A sharp jab from an elbow propelled him down the ramp onto the dock. The muscles in his legs quivered from the shock of standing on solid ground. Pride fueled his determination not to collapse into a heap, anger had him struggling against his captors. Jared bit down on the gag when the sharp sting of a whip slashed across his legs. Emperor’s harsh laugh added to Jared’s rage but when he motioned them forward, he could do nothing save follow at the end of his tether.
    It was not far from the harbor to the center of the town. A group of street urchins ran along beside the group, shouting taunts and throwing whatever handy missiles they could find. A large, rotten turnip grazed Jared’s cheek. His muffled growl and piercing glare sent the pack scrambling.
    The Emperor laughed and jerked on the strap, leading Jared like an animal through the foul muck of a drainage ditch while he strolled clean and dry along a raised walkway. Jared kept his eyes on the ground, concentrating on every step. It kept him from slipping and being choked by the halter, and relegated to the edges of his mind the gnawing realization that gaining his freedom might not be such an easy task.
    And without his freedom, he would never get his revenge against the barbarian witch.
    At the sixth street on the left, Jared’s captors veered off the main thoroughfare and headed down a series of alleyways. The scent of roasting meat permeated the air. Squawking fowl blended with the calls of merchants enticing buyers to their wares. The thin, shrill sound of a reed scratched against his ears along with a discordant clang of a cymbal. They were close to a marketplace. Jared slipped in the muck. But they made a sharp turn down another alley. It ended at a ramshackle compound of wooden stalls and pens, filled with miserable looking people.
    Greetings, Kest!” The Emperor sang out the salutation to a tall, lank man dressed in a bright blue robe.
    The man raised his head and peered down his hawkish nose at them. “What do you want, you thief?” The derision in Kest’s voice did nothing to dampen the Emperor’s perpetual cheerfulness.
    Emperor handed the end of Jared’s leash to one of the other men and raised his arms expansively. “Is that any way to greet a long lost brother?”
    Kest folded his arms across his chest. “Yes, if that brother is a thief .” He stalked up to the Emperor and poked a bony finger in his chest. “Those boys you sold me last time were useless. Every one of them died from the castration and the Senator from Rome who bought them was none too pleased.”
    The Emperor shrugged his shoulder. “What do you expect? They were barbarians.”
    Kest snorted, waved his hand in dismissal. “Go back to your pirating and leave me in peace.” He accepted another scroll from an assistant and began to walk away.
    “As you will. I’m sure your friend Farid will be eager to see my wares.”
    Kest stopped and turned around, avarice clearly warring with principle behind his bloodshot eyes. He tossed the scroll to the boy and walked leisurely toward them, where he punched Emperor on the arm, raking Jared with a practiced eye. Jared shifted, clenching his bound hands into fists. How many times had he seen that same shrewd light in the eyes of his suppliers?
    “Dear brother, you know my competitor is a liar and a cheat. What do you have?”
    “See for yourself,” Emperor