CHAPTER 5- FOUND BY THE SLAVERS

The market was bustling with all kinds of life. From pigeon sellers, to weavers of fabric, to fish mongers. We came across a kiosk where a woman was selling sweets. As we passed by it, Gaius walked up to Adriana's side, and asked if she would like to buy some sweets. "Hmm, I think so. Here! Get some for us all" she said handing him a small bag of money. Gaius took the money and sped off like a stallion. "Let's go." he'll catch up. Adriana said taking hold of my hand.

We had just started towards a small gathering when a girl with shimmering blonde hair and silvery blue eyes grabbed my hand from hers. Adriana was so startled by the sudden movement that she staggered backwards a bit before regaining her composure.

I was shocked. "What are you..?!" I began, then without warning, she pushed my neck forward gently and kissed me. Adriana stared wide-eyed at us. The kiss was quite a long one, and when she gave us both time to breathe, I recognized her. It was the woman from the brothel. "Hey, it's you..." I began "Silvia." she interuppted. "What?". "My name is Silvia." she said with a chuckle.

All the while, Adriana was glaring at us both. I thought I saw her eyes glimmering, and then she turned and spun on her heel. "Adriana, wait!" I said as I made to go after her but Silvia drew me back. "Meet me at the temple of the goddess Hathor tommorow please." She covered her face with her veil, and said. "I'll be waiting." Before I could say anything more, she'd disappeared among the crowd.

I sighed. How on earth was I supposed to explain what had just happened. I quickly ran after Adriana. "Adriana, wait!" I said. "It's not what you think!" I finally caught up with her and grabbed her by the wrist. She wrenched it away in anger. "... just let me explain. I...". "It's none of my concern." she interuppted. "I for one, fully understand that it's your personal life, and I have no right to interfere, but you must keep your personal issues strictly personal Bren. I won't be so lenient next time." she said turning her back to me. Damn! She was cold! Adriana started walking around, and when I made to follow her, she turned back and glared at me.

"Gaius is taking a little longer than expected. Go check on him." "But who will look after you." I protested. "I am very capable of taking care of myself!" she answered with much heat.

"But..."

Now, she raised her voice and a few heads turned in our direction. "I am your master and you will do as I say! Go!"Adriana turned back and spun on her heel without as much as a second glance at me.

****

Two men whose faces looked as menacing as serpents came into a small, open space restaurant probably to eat some food and quench their thirst. Immediately they stepped in, there was a hush. Men held on to their pockets. Women held on to their purses and clutched their children close.

One of them even had a prominent scar on the edge of his right cheek. A pungent smell of alamanda mary gold oozed from them, and their dressing resembled that of rovers. THEY WERE SLAVERS! "Waiter! Waiter!" yelled the red head with a scar. Few minutes later,a short, rotund man hurriedly ran out of a door in the compound. On seeing them, he became perplexed and jittery. "I'm sorry, I was...I was..." Now the other man who'd been quiet all along grabbed him by the collar. "You were what?!'' He pushed him a few metres back, waiting for a reply and then yelled flustering all the people there. "Has the cat got your tongue or what?!''

The man stood motionless, fiddling subconsciously with his apron. Enraged, the red head moved a few meters towards him, and hit him so hard that he went sprawling on the floor. There was a resounding yelp from the people. Some had even began to leave. He dragged the helpless man to his feet. Blood had already started oozing out of his lip.

Shoving him back towards the door he came from, he grunted. "Get us some wine you fool!'' The man scurried away. "And don't forget some chicken too!" the other man shouted with a chuckle. In a matter of minutes, they were seated at an empty table, enjoying themselves immensely.

The man with dark hair spoke first. "So Jim, when do you think we're gonna get hold of that vile Valerian bastard that murdered Tom." The red head drained his glass and said. "We're on his tail brother. From the last tracks I saw, he's definitely here." Now the red head chuckled. "I can't wait to lay my hands on him!I swear on my brother's departed soul that I will tear him apart!"

Suddenly, the red head's eyes grew wide with recognition as he looked in a particular direction, and an evil smirk plastered on his lips. "Speak of the devil." He muttered. "Why, it's our dear Bren." said the blackhead.

A little distance away was Bren talking with an exceptionally beautiful girl dressed in shimmering pink silk. "There seems to be tension among them lovey doveys." said the red head watching intently at the duo like a tiger about to pounce on its prey. "What's up with the new shiny outfit?" said the black head. They were about moving towards them, when the girl yelled 'I am your master and you will obey me!" They parted ways after that.

"Bren that rebellious son of a gun! He's found himself a job already...!" the black head exclaimed in wonder. "... come on Jim, let's go get him!"' he said producing an evil looking pistol from his coat. "I've been saving this beauty, just for him!" he said chuckling, brandishing the pistol and standing up slowly.

"No!" said the redhead. "What do you mean no? Bren's getting away!'' The blackhead argued. "Look, wherever he's going is obviously crowded. We can't do this out in the open!" "So then what do we do?" asked the black head impatiently. ''Jim!" he yelled. "Okay! The woman is going out of the market, and it seemed she has a special connection with our lovely Bren..." Now they both chuckled. " ... So we get the girl, and our darling Bren will come looking for us!"

"Jim you clever bastard!" said the black head patting his back. "Let's go!" They said standing up in unison. They'd barely reached the entrance of the restaurant when the owner ran out.

"Please. You haven't paid for your meal yet!" he said almost in tears. The both of them looked at themselves, and then back at the man. The red head chuckled. "Of course." he said bending over to pick up something. He grabbed the man's palm and pushed two rough stones into it. "Keep the change." he said patting his cheek. They both then dissolved into impish laughter, leaving the poor shop owner standing there.

"They ate so much food. They drank so much expensive wine." the man lamented, tears trickling down his chin. "Who's going to save my restaurant from collapse now?" He said sobbing.