Because Ive been breaking my back over these baskets for weeks, Manvah said. Because its late and the lanes gone quiet. And because weve got a full stock out with no one to guard it but a horny drunk!
Kasaad barked a laugh. Guard it from who?
Who, indeed? a voice asked, and all turned to see Krisha stepping around the counter and into the kiosk.
Krisha was a big woman. Not fat few in the Desert Spear enjoyed that luxury but a warriors daughter, thickly set with a heavy stride and callused hands. Like all dalting, she wore the same head-to-toe black cloth as Manvah. She was a weaver as well, one of Manvahs principal rivals in the Kaji tribe less skilled, but more ambitious.
She was followed into the tent by four other women in dalting black. Two were her sister-wives, their faces covered in black. The others were her daughters, unmarried, their faces bare. From the looks of them, this drove away more potential husbands than it invited. None of the women was small, and they spread like jackals stalking a hare.
Youre working late, Krisha noted. Most of the pavilions have tied their flaps.
Manvah shrugged, not taking her eyes off her weaving. The call to curfew isnt for the better of an hour.
Cashiv always comes at the end of the day before Dama Badens Waxing Party, does he not? Krisha said.
Manvah did not look up. My clients do not concern you, Krisha.
They do when you use your pushting son to steal them from me, Krisha said, her voice low and dangerous. Her daughters moved to Inevera, separating her from her mother. Her sister-wives moved deeper into the kiosk towards Kasaad.
Manvah looked up at this. I stole nothing. Cashiv came to me, saying your baskets fell apart when filled. Blame your weavers and not me for the loss of business.
Krisha nodded, picking up the basket Inevera had just added to the pile. You and your daughter do fine work, she noted, tracing a finger along the weave. Then she threw the basket to the ground, stomping down hard on it with her sandalled foot.
Woman, you dare?! Kasaad shouted in shocked disbelief. He leapt to his feet, or tried to, wobbling unsteadily. He glanced for his spear and shield, but they were back in the tent.
While he was finding his wits, Krishas sister-wives moved in unison. Short rattan staves wrapped in black cloth fell into their hands from out of voluminous sleeves. One of the women grabbed Kasaad by the shoulders, turning him into the others thrust to his stomach, holding him to make sure he took the full brunt. Kasaad grunted in pain, the wind knocked from him, and the woman followed up the blow with a full swing to the groin. Kasaads grunt became a shriek.
Inevera gave a cry and leapt to her feet, but Krishas daughters grabbed her roughly. Manvah moved to rise as well, but Krishas heavy kick to the face knocked her back to the ground. She gave a great wail, but it was late and there was no answering cry.
Krisha looked down at the basket on the floor. It had resisted her stomp, returning to its original shape. Inevera smiled until the woman leapt on top of it, jumping three times until the basket collapsed.
Across the kiosk, Krishas sister-wives continued to beat Kasaad. He shrieks like a woman, one laughed, again striking him between the legs.
And he fights even worse! the other cried. They let go of his shoulders, and Kasaad collapsed to the floor, gasping, his face a mix of pain and humiliation. The women left him and went to work kicking over the stacks and smashing baskets with their rattan staves.
Inevera tried to pull free, but the young women only tightened their grips. Be still, or we will break your fingers so you can weave no more! Inevera stopped struggling, but her eyes narrowed and she shifted slightly, readying herself to stomp hard on the instep of the one closest to her. She glanced at Manvah, but her mother shook her head.
Inevera tried to pull free, but the young women only tightened their grips. Be still, or we will break your fingers so you can weave no more! Inevera stopped struggling, but her eyes narrowed and she shifted slightly, readying herself to stomp hard on the instep of the one closest to her. She glanced at Manvah, but her mother shook her head.
Kasaad coughed blood, pushing himself up onto his elbows. Harlots! When the dama hear of this !
Krisha cut him off with a cackling laugh. The dama? Will you go to them, Kasaad son of Kasaad, and tell them you were drunk on couzi and beaten by women? You wont even tell your ajinpal as he buggers you tonight!
Kasaad struggled to rise, but one of the women gave him a quick kick to the stomach, and he was knocked onto his back. He did not stir.
Pfagh! the woman cried. Hes pissed himself like an infant! They all laughed.
That gives me an idea! Krisha cried, going over to a scattered pile of baskets and hiking up her robes. Why get ourselves in a sweat breaking these abysmal baskets when we can just soil them instead? She squatted and let her water flow, swinging her hips from side to side so the stream hit as many baskets as possible. The other women laughed, hiking their robes to do likewise.
Poor Manvah! Krisha mocked. Two males in the family, and not a man among them. Your husband is worse than a khaffit, and your pushting son is too busy sucking cock to even be here.
Not quite. Inevera turned in time to see Solis thick hand close on the wrist of one of the young women holding her. The woman shrieked in pain as Soli yanked up with a cruel twist, then kicked out, sending her sister sprawling.
Shut it, he told the screaming woman, shoving her back. Touch my sister again and Ill sever your wrist instead of just twisting it.
We shall see, pushting, Krisha said. Her sister-wives had straightened their robes and were advancing on Soli, staves at the ready. Krisha flicked her wrist, and her own club fell into her hand.
Inevera gasped, but Soli, unarmed, approached them without fear. The first woman struck at him, but Soli was quicker, slipping to the side of the blow and catching the womans arm. There was a snap, and she fell screaming to the ground, her staff now in Solis hand. The other woman came at him, and he parried one blow from her staff before striking her hard across the face. His movements were smooth and practised, like a dance. Inevera had watched him practise sharusahk when he came home from Hannu Pash on Wanings. The woman hit the ground, and Inevera saw her lower her veil to cough out a great wad of blood.
Soli dropped his staff as Krisha came at him, simply catching her weapon in his bare hand and stopping it cold. He seized her by the collar with the other, turning her around and bending her over a pile of baskets. He slammed her head down for good measure and reached down for the hem of her robes, yanking them up to her waist.
Please, Krisha wailed. Do as you will to me, but spare my daughters their virginity!
Pfagh! Soli spat, his face a mask of disgust. I would as soon fuck a camel as you!
Oh, come, pushting, she sneered, wiggling her hips at him. Pretend Im a man and have my ass.
Soli took Krishas rattan staff and began whipping her with it. His voice was deep, and carried over the sound of the wood cracking loudly on her bare flesh and her howls of pain. A man need not be pushting to avoid sticking his cock in a dung-heap. And as for your daughters, I would do nothing that might delay them marrying some poor khaffit and finally putting veils on their ugly faces.
He took his hand off her neck, but continued whipping, guiding her and the other women out of their kiosk with sharp blows. Krishas daughters helped support her sister-wives as the five women stumbled off down the lane.
Manvah got to her feet and dusted herself off. She ignored Kasaad, going over to Inevera. Are you all right? Inevera nodded.
Check the stock, Manvah said. They didnt have much time. See if we can salvage
Too late, Soli said, pointing down the lane. Three Sharum approached, their black robes sleeveless, with breastplates of black steel hammered to enhance already perfectly muscled chests. Black silk bands were tied around their bulging biceps and they wore studded leather bracers at their wrists. Bright golden shields were strapped to their backs, and they carried their short spears casually, sauntering with the easy grace of stalking wolves.
Manvah grabbed a small pitcher of water and dumped it on Kasaad, who groaned and half rose to his feet.
Inside, quickly! Manvah snapped, kicking him hard to get him moving. Kasaad grunted, but he managed to crawl into the tent and out of sight.
How do I look? Soli brushed and tugged at his robes, opening the front further.
It was a ridiculous question. No man she had ever seen was half so beautiful as her brother. Fine, Inevera whispered back.
Soli, my sweet ajinpal! Cashiv called. He was twenty-five, a kaiSharum, and easily the handsomest of the three, his beard close-cropped with scented oil and his skin a perfect sun-brown. His breastplate was adorned with the sunburst of Dama Baden no doubt in real gold and the centre of his turban was adorned with a large turquoise. Id hoped to find you here when we came to pick up the nights He drew close enough to see the chaos in their kiosk, order. Oh, dear. Did a herd of camels pass through your tent? He sniffed. Pissing as they went? He took the white silk night veil resting loose around his neck and lifted it over his nose. His compatriots did likewise.
We had some trouble, Soli said. My fault, for stepping away for a few minutes.
That is a terrible shame. Cashiv went over to Soli, taking no note of Inevera whatsoever. He reached out a finger, running it over Solis muscled chest where a bit of blood had spattered. He rubbed the blood thoughtfully between his thumb and forefinger. It seems as though you returned in time to handle things, though.
That particular herd of camels is unlikely to come back, Soli agreed.
Their work is done, though, Cashiv said sadly. Well have to buy our baskets from Krisha again.
Please, Soli said, laying a hand on Cashivs arm, we need this order. Not all the stock was ruined. Might we sell you half, at least?
Cashiv looked down at the hand on his arm and smiled. He waved dismissively at the clutter of baskets. Pfagh! If ones been pissed on, they all have. I will not take such tainted goods to my master. Dump a bucket on them and sell them to khaffit.