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The mercenaries taking the first shift of outrider duty prodded their crodlu into a fast trot and moved out to take their posts on the flanks, while the forward scouts rushed to the head of the main caravan. Sorak noted that all the mercenaries in service to the House of Jhamri wore red turbans, except Kieran, perhaps because he had not yet officially assumed his duties.
The caravan captain raised his baton once more. “Car-rak-vannnn…” he called out loudly in a sing-song voice, “…ho-ohhhhh!” He circled the baton over his head and wheeled his kank as the point riders urged their mounts forward and the caravan moved out.
They started down the trail, leaving the campsite and South Ledopolus behind, and gradually picked up speed. The caravan captain, mounted on a crodlu, rode out along the flanks, keeping an eye on things and making sure the formation did not string out. Ryana looked behind her to see how far the caravan was stretching out and spotted Cricket some distance back, sitting astride one of the passenger kanks, behind the elf they had seen in the Desert Damsel.
Ryana glanced over at Kieran. Riding at the very front, behind the two point riders, they had no cargo kanks between them, so they could converse easily. “I see your dancer friend made good her threat to leave.”
“Yes, surprisingly,” said Kieran.
“Why surprisingly?” Ryana asked.
“I did not really expect to see her,” Kieran said. “Despite whatever resolutions these girls may make, they rarely leave such places as the Desert Damsel. And Cricket was the star attraction, after all.”
Ryana frowned. “But if the conditions were unpleasant…”
“The money usually is not,” Kieran replied. “A dancer in a busy pleasure house may easily make in one night what it would take me a month t
o earn. They become seduced by the money. They may tell themselves they will only do it until they can get out of debt or put enough aside to move on to a better life, but it rarely happens.”
“Why?” Ryana asked.
“Because they don’t save their money,” Kieran said. “They spend it on expensive jewels and costumes, trying to outdo one another in competing for the attention of the customers, or else they start treating themselves to luxuries they could not afford before, better housing, better clothing, more expensive meals, some drugs to induce short-lived euphoria… They tell themselves they deserve it, because they work hard and besides, they’re making plenty of money. Before they know it, they’re spending everything they make and become caught up in the life. And it is not much of a life.”
“It does not seem so difficult,” said Sorak.
“No, the job itself is not so difficult,” Kieran agreed, “but the longer they remain, the more it wears them down. They come to think less and less of men, because they always see them at their worst, and because they expect men to behave badly, they often wind up with men who take advantage of them… or else give up on men entirely and seek the company of women. One day, they wake up and find that drugs have ruined their health and their appearance, or else they have simply gotten older and no longer appeal to the customers as much as the younger, prettier ones… and there are always younger, prettier ones.
“They start doing things they would not have done before,” Kieran continued, “and as time goes on, they do them for less money. What little self-esteem they may have left soon dissipates and, unless they’re fortunate enough to find some man to take them, before long they are no longer attractive enough to keep their jobs and often wind up on the streets. It happens all the time. The young ones see it happen to the older girls, but don’t learn. Who knows, Cricket may be different, but chances are she will only go back to the same thing after we arrive in Altaruk.”
“You don’t seem to have a very high opinion of her,” said Ryana. “And yet, you went home with her last night.”
“I escorted her home,” said Kieran. “And I have no particular opinion of Cricket, one way or the other. I acknowledge that she is young and beautiful and a skilled dancer. Otherwise, I know nothing of her. She claimed to be a virgin, which seems unlikely, but I did not dispute the issue. Neither did I press it. I walked her home, then said good night and took my leave. So you may spare me your disapproving looks. I have done nothing to deserve them.”
“I stand corrected,” said Ryana. “It is just that men often lack respect for women, yet that does not prevent them from enjoying their favors.”
“Just as women often lack respect for men, yet still eagerly accept the contents of their purses,” Kieran replied. “Cricket may indeed be what she claims, and she may have chosen her occupation out of sheer necessity, but mark my words, she will yet cause trouble on this journey.”
“What makes you say that?” Ryana asked.
“Experience, my lady. There isn’t a roustabout or mercenary on this caravan who hasn’t seen her dance. Now she travels with them, with no bouncers to look out for her, and that limp-wristed elven bard she rides with will not be much protection.”
“Is it not part of your duties to keep order among your men?” Ryana said.
“Officially, I have not yet assumed my duties,” Kieran replied with a shrug. “And keeping order on this journey is the caravan captain’s job, not mine. But if it were up to me, I would have left her behind.”
“Would you have left me behind, as well?” Ryana asked.
“No, my lady. An attractive, unescorted woman on a caravan is always trouble,” Kieran said. “You have an escort, and a highly capable one, at that. Aside from which, you are a priestess, commanding respect, and the fighting prowess of villichi are well known. A woman like Cricket, on the other hand, commands little respect, if any, and is unable to protect herself. And her chosen escort is scarcely better than nothing. So… there will be trouble. Now, if you will excuse me, I think I will ride down the line and observe the captain’s disposition of his guard.”
He wheeled his crodlu and urged it to a fast trot, leaving the formation.
“What an infuriating man!” Ryana said.
“I thought you said he was handsome and dashing,” Sorak replied, with a hint of amusement in his voice.
“He is all that,” Ryana conceded grudgingly, “but he is also very irritating.”
“He merely speaks his mind,” said Sorak. “And I cannot say I disagree with anything he said.”
