Jalia on the Road (Jalia - World of Jalon) (6 page)

Jalia stayed with the stall for the first few hours and teased much better prices out of customers than Daniel could ever have done.

Daniel watched in admiration as she accumulated as much money selling half his ironmongery, as he would have made selling the lot.

However, Jalia soon became bored by the lack of a challenge. Men were the same everywhere and if she got enough blood flowing to their lower regions the blood to their brains reduced and she could get them to pay foolish prices.

She was eager to have some fun and excitement in this exotic city. She wanted the feeling in the pit of her stomach when she betting large sums of money on an uncertain outcome, or pitting her brains against men who saw her as an easy mark.

Jalia made her excuses, telling Daniel she was going to leave. She gave Daniel the money she had made from her sales and left him to sell the few items that remained.

Daniel wiped the sweat from his forehead, drank from his water-bottle and called out his goods to the crowded market. When he turned his head to say something to Jalia, he found she was already gone.

Down a narrow alley, cooler than most because of the drying washing above her head, Jalia found what she was looking for. There is a sound that gold makes when it hits the surface of a table and it was that distinctive noise that caught her attention.

A coffee shop, not advertising itself at all, lay buried between two clothing shops halfway down the alley. Its single impressively solid wooden door was shut and bolted.

Jalia pounded on the door with clenched fist. A small eye-slit opened and a heavily accented female voice told her to go away using colorful language. She banged on the door again and this time held a handful of gold coins in front of the slit when it opened. The sound of iron bolts being drawn was the response and a few moments later the door was held open for her.

The thick acrid smoke of hookah pipes hung so heavy in the air that Jalia felt she might have to cut it to make her way through the room. There was no natural light, only smoky oil lamps provided illumination. An ugly woman in dancing attire pointed her towards where the game was. Jalia looked at the woman’s jowls and considered that in some cases a woman wearing a veil was not a bad thing.

The table with the game had four men sat around it with a spare stool available for a fifth player. Jalia studied the men closely before she made any attempt to join them. Three of the men had the look of wealthy merchants. They wore practical clothing that spoke of late nights and hard work. One of their number was a huge man. Another had a large hooked nose like a bird, while the third was bald. The fourth man stood out as he was much younger and wore the most impractical finery. Most of the money on the table sat in front of him and he was clearly pleased with his luck.

The game did not look right to Jalia professional eye. She could spot a card sharp a mile away. They had a look in their eyes that spoke of cold calculation mixed with a hint of menace. She often saw that look in her own eyes when she looked in a mirror. This young man looked like a rich fool, someone she would consider a mark ready to be fleeced of his unearned wealth. If the man’s appearance was an act then she admitted to herself that he was practiced at playing the part.

She coughed discreetly and the men looked up at her.

“Is this a game a traveler might join?” she asked, trying not to sound as eager as she felt. The merchants gave her unfriendly looks and one finally chose to speak on behalf of them all.

“Go away. This is not a children’s game, nor do women make good players.” Jalia got the feeling he was trying to warn her off more than he was slighting her playing skills or insulting her sex.

She opened a small purse. This was where she kept a small quantity of the bounty she took from Brun Trep. The rest of her considerable fortune was safely concealed in the special belt hidden beneath her vest. That belt was cunningly sewn so that coins did not bang against each other as she moved and no lumps showed. She poured a dozen gold coins out of her purse and into her hand. It was as much money as was on the table.

The young man spoke, “Please sit. I could do with your money as well as that of these hopeless players. My father provides me with such a small allowance that if it wasn’t for my gambling skills, I swear I would starve.”

If the other players minded being disparaged they showed no signs of it. They shuffled a little closer to each other to give Jalia room to sit.

The man with the hooked nose introduced the players to her.

“This is Prince Sador,” he said indicating the young man. “I am Hasnan, my bald friend is Rajin and the one built like a bull is Bednar.”

“I am Jalia al’Dare, latterly of Bagdor.”

“Let us play,” Sador snapped. “I have money to win.”

Jalia played cautiously for a few hands, sizing up the other players. It quickly became clear there were two games being played at the table. There was the obvious one in which Prince Sador won the majority of the money and then there was another game in which the merchants exchanged money between each other, so Sador cleaned no one of them out of their money

As far as Jalia was concerned this was the perfect time to take Prince Sador’s money while ensuring she did not rile or insult the others.

The next few hours were hot for Jalia in more ways than one. She slowly accumulated Sador’s money while leaving the other men’s money largely untouched.

If one of the merchants attempted to lose money to Sador, she would win it and then give it back to the merchant once Sador had folded on a hand. Sador’s pile of money dwindled like water in a pond with a significant leak.

As his money dwindled so did his good humor. He shouted for coffee and sweet meats and once was sufficiently enraged to stick his dagger into his cards.

As a new pack was procured he cursed his change of luck and never once suspected that an expert was outplaying him. The other men were wiser in such matters and gave Jalia angry glances as the game progressed.

When Prince Sador left the table to relieve himself they turned on Jalia as soon as he was safely out of earshot.

“He is the Caliph’s eldest and most favored son. His father has given word that men of Enbar Entar must lose to him. You risk your life and ours by your actions. Let him win back what he has lost and we will pay you later for your time and trouble.”

“I did not know Enbar Entar breeds champion chickens as well as growing spices.” Jalia retorted. “That man needs to be taken down a peg or two and to find out being the Caliph’s son does not make him invincible at cards or anything else.”

The men might have argued more, but Prince Sador stomped back to the table to take his place. Jalia noticed telltale signs of white powder on his moustache. Apparently, Prince Sador also needed the stimulation of drugs to play cards.

Jalia felt the game was growing tedious and decided to bring an end to it. On the next hand, she bet a very large sum of money. Sador could barely match it with the money he had left and he hesitated.

“You can always tell the men from the boys when the stakes are at their highest,” Jalia remarked to no one in particular. “I have found that the size of a man’s manhood can be deduced simply from whether he is willing to cover a large bet.”

“I am willing to bet that no orifice of yours had not been penetrated, bitch,” Prince Sador said with a snarl. He pushed his money into the centre of the table. “Let us see whether your cards are as good as your insults.”

“No, I think I’ll raise the bid instead,” Jalia replied, pushing the remainder of her money into the center of the table. “I hope you can cover the bet or you will never see how good my cards are.”

Jalia thought Sador was going for his sword as he reached for his purse and she almost drew her own. However, his purse was empty and he glared at the other men. “Give me the money to cover her bet.”

Jalia plunged one of her daggers into the table with such speed and ferocity the men jumped back. “That is not how the game is played among men. Each man plays his own money or he does not play at all. Only children seek to borrow from others at the card table.”

Sador glowered, but he knew that what she said was true. He had broken one of the rules of etiquette. But he was also sure his cards would win this hand and he needed to win against this arrogant bitch.

Once he had taken her money, he planned to rape her and then give her to his father’s guards to whip to death. But he needed to defeat her first. His pride was on the line.

Sador looked at his hand in frustration and then inspiration struck. He wore a bright, heavy silver ring. He pulled it from his finger and placed it on the table. “That ring was made by the Magician Kings. It is a ring from the royal collection. My father would be furious if he knew I had brought it here, but it is worth more than everything on this table. Reveal your cards and prepare to lose.”

Jalia looked at her cards. She held the highest hand Fade allowed. She smiled sweetly at Sador.

“It is etiquette that as the caller of the hand, you must show your cards first.” Jalia put up a hand apparently to smooth her hair and in passing loosened the sword on her back and slipped the cord holding it in place.

The Prince put down his cards, four aces were revealed. Such a hand almost always won. He reached to take the money. Jalia’s dagger appeared in her hand and she plunged it into the table. Sador pulled his hand away to avoid being speared.

“My cards are better,” Jalia said and threw her cards face down in front of him. Everybody stood up and moved back as the tension grew.

“You cheated,” Sador shouted.

“Against such a poor player as you I would never need to.” Jalia pocketed his ring and indicated to Hasnan he should collect her winnings and put them in her purse. Sador shook with rage.

Sador had guards waiting for him in another coffee house down the alley, but they would take time to reach him if they heard him call. The girl in front of him moved so smoothly and confidently Sador didn’t know if he could beat her in a fair fight. He wasn’t sure whether to wait until he could get his men or attack her now. As Hasnan handed Jalia her purse, Sador made up his mind and pulled his sword from its scabbard.

It was the last thing he remembered for a long time as Jalia knocked him unconscious with the hilt of her dagger. She moved so fast the merchants didn’t even realize what was happening until it was over.

“I would have killed him for that, but that might have meant your deaths.” Jalia stood in a fighter crouch, ready to take them all on if that was what they chose.

“His father will kill us for not protecting him,” Rajin said, sweat forming on his head.

“Unless you were to wound us all,” Bednar suggested.

Jalia was astonished, “You want me to stab you? You might die from a chance infection.”

“Best you do it quick then, and be sure to bruise our faces,” Hasnan said as he moved to stand in front of her. “I would very much like to live to tell this tale to all those Sador has hurt.”

A few minutes later, Jalia opened the door to the alley and let herself out. It was going to take a lot of work to get the blood and bits of flesh off the hilt off her knife. As she approached the market, grown quiet as evening turned to night, she heard the sounds of guards starting to search for her.

Next morning, Daniel loaded his donkeys with the goods for Delbon he had purchased the previous night. The large sacks he used to hold the goods were heavy, but properly slung over his donkeys back they would not cause them any distress.

One sack, full of spices and grain seemed to be a little lumpier than he remembered when he packed it, but Daniel was anxious to get back on the road and couldn’t be bothered to unpack it and start again.

The Caliph’s guards were searching everyone leaving the city. Daniel heard bitter complaints from traders ahead as property was flung to the ground and sacks cut open. It looked as though the guards were looking for something in particular and were determined to find it.

When they opened the first of Daniel’s sacks, a fight broke out down the line and the guards ran to stop it. Daniel urged his donkeys into motion and managed to get clear of the city gates before the situation was brought under control.

He was not alone, as a flood of traders took advantage of the confusion to leave unchecked. Traders always have something to hide and take their chances when they find them.

Daniel planned to return to Delbon as quickly as possible. He had done so well with Jalia’s help that he had enough money to support his brother for another year and buy goods to trade in Delbon as well. He was pleased with his first attempt at trading alone. He had done much better than the last time he and Yousef visited Enbar Entar.