It wasn’t an entirely altruistic offer. With Vintor in the main room, he’d be able monitor the movements of the rogue band.
“Maybe I should’ve taken this room,” Vintor commented as he followed Cyprian into the bedroom.
“Did you find the Miran Sona ship?” Cyprian asked, once they were out of hearing range.
“No. There were too many vessels to scan them all. But it should be here, since Riley and Exo are going up for auction.”
“Keep looking,” Cyprian replied. “I don’t like that it’s not listed as one of the auction items.”
As long as the Jurou Biljana had the vessel, they posed a risk to the human colony. Even the human home-world was in danger. If the reptiles refueled the Miran Sona vessel, they’d be able to reach the vulnerable planet.
“Agreed. It’s not a good sign. I’ll keep on it. So, are you seriously going to bid on Riley?” Vintor asked.
“If something better doesn’t present itself. I think I brought enough palladium.”
“What about the others?”
“As much as I hate adding credits to the bastard’s coffers, we might have to find a way to purchase everyone. I wasn’t expecting an operation like this. Did you see the security?”
“I agree. There’s no way we can go up against all these guards. By the way, I was able to send coordinates to our back-up, before we landed. Ashtoret and his crew are in the quadrant over,” Vintor reported.
“Good.”
“If you two are settled in, let’s go see what this place has to offer.” Mave walked through the door uninvited.
Cyprian cocked his brow at the male, till Mave shrugged, turned, and left again. Cyprian hated having the smugglers so close. All it took was them overhearing the wrong thing, and their cover was blown.
“Let’s go,” Cyprian growled and followed Vintor out.
Cyprian observed everything with a keen eye, as they traversed the broad hall lined with merchants. He had a day before bidding on the exotic chattel began, then another few days before the Toufik were up for sale. That didn’t leave them a lot of time to formulate a better rescue plan, considering what they were up against. It barely left time to arrange for the Toufik’s purchase.
“This looks like the place.” Mave glanced from the map on his handheld to the gallery.
The viewing gallery looked more like a restaurant than an auction arena. It was the picture of excess, from the view of the stars overhead, to the ornately costumed servers, carrying platters of food and drink. There were numerous tables, and three stages dispersed through the large room. Cyprian had a feeling the fine decor was lost on the rough looking clientele.
Mave wound his way through the crowd, approaching a group of Jurou Biljana at one of the banquettes.
“Jyk?” Mave asked.
One of the reptiles nodded.
“I am Mave.”
“I assumed. How do you like Distraho?” the scaly bastard asked.
“Impressive.”
Cyprian and the others sat. He listened with one ear to Mave’s conversation, as he looked at the wretched creatures being displayed on the three stages. In one ring were a pair of cowering horned creatures with beige fur, and spotted backs. On a large holo-screen overhead, the details and images of the chattel were announced for the patrons. The other two rings featured groups of incredibly small blue people. The pathetic beings trembled in fear as they were herded off the platform and through a nearby door.
Cyprian was struck by a disturbing reminder. The Toufik always stood tall when they were auctioned off on Cadi. The proud hairy people were so desperate for a better life, that they bravely gave up their freedom. And Cadi, willingly took it. It was his people’s greatest shame.
Even a year later, Cyprian was shocked by what kind of warriors the hairy Toufik turned out to be. He hadn’t witnessed them fight before that final battle. Cadi foolishly believed they were as benign as the pathetic blue chattel on the stage. He would never understand why the Toufik aided the Vidya Cadi in that battle, winning the war. Kagan hadn’t promised them their freedom, though he gave it to them in the end. The lesson Cyprian learned that day about true spirit, made it impossible to take anyone for granted. Every creature held a wealth of potential, that shouldn’t be squandered or subverted.
This was why he was on this mission. It wasn’t just because he’d been given orders by his Daimio, or even to make reparations to the Toufik. This was the right thing to do. His only regret was that he couldn’t assist all the poor creatures being paraded on stage.
Cyprian shook off his thoughts, as yet another group of slaves were escorted out the door, at the rear of the gallery.