Book extra

by Veronice

This is Book extra. It overlaps Book 9 and 10. It also overlaps the books of Valencio's story, now available with some re-writing, as original fiction. I was not intending to republish this book, but since every month, there are several readers of the first ten books, then maybe some will enjoy this as well.

11. Chapter 11

Notes: Khatabis: Suma, (leader) Haru, Bouchra, Hicham. Khatabi-Richi, servant class. Ryuichi, manager. Abensur, Enclosure overseer. The slaves: Carol & Helene, leaders, Brigitta, favourite of Abensur. The 'Petersons:' Akila, Tristan's mother, Tristan, Bahiti & Hasina, Children, Zahra, Najet, & Jiro, plus 2 babies.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter & his world belongs to J. K. Rowling. By the time of this story, Harry Potter is known as Bellamy.

Chapter 11:

Morocco:

Abensur was a happy man. Brigitta was fourteen, and he was sure she loved him. She was still a virgin, but nearly every evening, she snuggled up to him, naked, and sometimes even timidly touched him. She still wore the coloured wrist band that indicated that she was for his exclusive use, and no-one disputed with him. But he was saving it up, he wanted it to be special for both of them, the first time, and she still shrank away from him when he suggested it. He would wait until she was ready.

Ryuichi was the Khatabi manager, and one day spoke to Abensur. How long was it since the dirt-people in Enclosure 2 had been used? Two years? Was it worth keeping them any longer? How many were there, thirty or so?

Abensur said casually, that yes, there were thirty or so, and they'd be in use again shortly, as the healer wanted to train an assistant. And then he hurried to Zola, and suggested that she should have a couple of assistants, and that he had plenty of subjects for her to use for training.

Brigitta would be upset if Enclosure 2 were cleared. And she might stop loving him. He didn't want a slave who might be obedient, but who hated him.

Two days later, Carol's heart went into her mouth as she saw Abensur approach. There were no students. Were they to be killed? All sixty-one in Enclosure 2, maybe?

It was a relief when Abensur said there were two students for lessons in healing, and that there would be several weeks of straight work, and then probably one or two would be kept unconscious a while longer so that the students would know how to look after an unconscious person. "They won't be allowed to die, of course, though they might be thin afterwards. And none of you will be hurt, as when they break bones, for instance, they'll use a Twilight Spell, or a stunner so that you won't feel it. You'll just wake up, healed again, maybe a bit sore."

It didn't sound at all pleasant, but when Maliwan suggested that they might revolt, Carol said firmly that their lives hung by a thread, and they had to be as cooperative as they possibly could. "Even you, Bernice," she said sternly. Bernice always had to be paralysed before anything painful was done.

Jila was thrilled to be offered the chance to be trained in healing. Extra skills could be very valuable in these days of uncertainty, and she relished a challenge. There was little challenge in waving a wand and having floors and shelves dusted and clean. With the additional ones from Japan, there was overstaffing in several areas, and none of the more interesting specialties had been available.

Agneta was the other one who was to do the healing training. Agneta was a couple of years older than Jila, and had a stockier build than most Khatabis. She'd been working in administration, but confided that she wished she could have been a Fighter. Jila was astounded. Women weren't Fighters! But Agneta said that her sire was a German auror, whose two sisters were also aurors.

Jila asked, "Aurors?"

Agneta explained, "Fighters, but in Europe. Supposed to make wizards behave themselves."

Jila left the subject, and said, "I can't wait." Agneta agreed.

They started that afternoon, with a general discussion about the training, and Jila learned for the first time about the enclosures of dirt-people - prisoners kept by the Khatabis. Enclosure 1, girls used by the men for sex, and Enclosure 2, used as subjects to practise spells on.

Zola used a calm, matter-of-fact voice. It was the thing she'd found hardest to accept when she did her own training. She warned, "It can be hard. They might be dirt-people, but they feel pain, and naturally, don't like to be hurt. But they know to be obedient, and we'll hurt them as little as possible."

She didn't tell them that they would need Enclosure 3 for the more advanced training, and that that would hurt the inmates very much indeed. She'd save that until they were more accustomed to the idea of using medj prisoners.

Agneta said, "We need healers, of course. It's an immensely valuable specialty."

Zola gave her a warm smile, and said, "Nothing gives me such satisfaction. The training is challenging, but it's so worthwhile."

Zola wore a red stripe on her left shoulder, a black stripe of competence next to it, and a stripe of diagonal dark and light green, which showed she was head of her section. Not that there were any other healers, but the post of Healer carried prestige.

Jila thought of causing pain to innocent women, but her eyes lingered on the red stripe of Zola.

Zola said, "Of course, when we do anything painful, whenever possible, the subjects are either stunned or under a Twilight Spell. They are hurt as little as possible."

Jila gave a sigh of relief. They wouldn't be badly hurt, it was necessary, and one day, she too could wear the prestigious red stripe next to the boring white stripe that denoted competence in housekeeping.

Jila had never seen any of the dirt-people from the enclosures, and was very curious. They started practical training the next day, when Zola took them to a classroom in an area they'd never been before. "Crio-magic," she explained. "You were probably not even curious what was here, never wondered why you never felt any urge to explore this area."

Jila and Agneta nodded. It was a men's area. Agneta said, "I did know of Enclosure 1. I saw a young woman one day, being escorted to the men's quarters, and a friend told me."

Jila said, "I've never seen one."

Zola explained, "They try and keep it discreet. There are back routes from the enclosures to the men's quarters, and mostly, they use what they call the working bedrooms, just across the corridor from the actual enclosure."

Jila looked expectantly towards the door as a guard entered, followed by ten slaves, filing obediently into the classroom. She looked at one, No. 43, in her fifties, she estimated. Grey strands through her blonde hair.

Mary did not meet her gaze, just standing, accepting. She'd been a slave for over forty years, and knew her place. She had no say in her fate, and fully expected one day to simply be killed, as she'd seen other superfluous slaves killed. Probably not painfully though. They hardly ever badly hurt an obedient dirt-woman.

The slaves were barefoot, and each wore a brief pair of shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. The colour was drab, dull brown, and there were numbers prominent, front and back. On each woman's right upper arm, facing the front, were the same digits, imprinted on the skin. The badges of slavery. Only dirt-people, of course, and they'd not be much hurt. Jila put away any thought of pity. She was learning to be a healer for Anirage, and some small sacrifices were needed in order to gain the skills required.

The first day was not difficult for the subjects. There were the basic spells the healers had to learn - Paralysis, Semi-Paralysis, Three-quarters Paralysis, Stunning, Twilight Spell, an Enfeeblement Spell, Calming Spells, Instant Calm, Deep Calm, and so on.

Jila and Agneta had long ago learned them in theory, and found them quite easy to put into practice. They were 'Control' Spells, most of them, but also could be needed when healing. A badly injured person did not always stay calmly still to be healed.

Jila was ecstatic with herself. Just one day, and they'd learned so much! It certainly helped when spells were put into practice.

They wouldn't be using the slaves the second day. They were to learn sterilisation, a routine duty of a Khatabi Healer. As the prisoners were already sterilised, they were no use to them for this. Instead, the healer and her trainees went to the nearby city, and waited in hired rooms, while Botan and two assistants brought people in for them. They'd be sterilised, their memories changed, and released.

Six women first, secured to conjured floor to ceiling poles, the same as those they used for the doomed inmates of Enclosure 3. The lesson proceeded smoothly, the subjects silenced for convenience. Struggles were not important.

The Nala Spell which vanished the womb, was one of those spells that was visible in the air, like the red streak of light that was the Stun Spell, or the green streak that was the Death Curse. The Nala Spell was seen as a sparkling, almost transparent whiteness. The subjects felt the effect as an unpleasant tingle, almost a shrinking inside them.

Zola had requested a pregnant woman, as well, and now explained that the Nala Spell should never be used on a pregnant woman.

"Agneta, use the spell on her, and see what happens."

Instead of a frightened silent whimper, and sometimes a hand that tried to go to the lower abdomen, this time the subject had her mouth wide in a silent scream, and collapsed, writhing in agony.

"So when you need to sterilise someone," Zola said, quite unmoved, "Check for pregnancy, just in case, as different spells are needed to first vanish the foetus, and then remove the womb."

Jila sternly reminded herself that if she wanted to be a healer, she could not afford inappropriate sentimentality.

Zola glanced at her, and said, "Each of our subjects will find either money or food in their bags. They will remember finding it."

Jila was relieved. The poverty-stricken citizens of Baradan needed money, and the suffering was comparatively minor.

The trainees went on to male sterilisation. "The Nroko Uviki Spell is quite simple, totally without sensation to the subject, and does not affect sexual function." The trainees learned quickly, and only six men were sterilised.

They went on to another spell, which rendered a man impotent as well as sterile, and they also learned the Castration Spell, which was also simple and painless. It could be seen that something had been done to the five subjects for that, and Jila looked at Zola, apprehensively.

Zola said to Botan, "In the other room, please." Jila decided not to ask what was to happen to them.

Agneta asked, "When would we need that?"

"Hardly ever. I've never had to do it myself, but sometimes when they get a boy for the enclosures, it's preferred that they become eunuchs. More docile, it's thought. But mostly, in that case, the enclosure overseer would perform the spell. Kosin always did it himself, I've heard."

Both young women were shocked, and Agneta said, "I didn't even know they sometimes have boys."

"Sometimes. There's one I've seen a few times. He's been very troublesome, but he was treated with utter barbarity, and I never really blamed him." She smiled, "Little devil! Just a kid still, in a great deal of pain, could easily have died or been permanently damaged from something that was done to him, and he still somehow managed to steal a pair of scissors from my bag, and attack Adil with them a few weeks later. Ruined his eye."

She glanced around nervously, but there were no witnesses. Hesitantly, she asked, "Please don't tell anyone. I don't want to be whipped at my age."

Jila and Agneta both quickly said they would not tell anyone, and both would make sure and keep potential weapons away from any prisoner they might have to treat.

Jila asked, "Are the healers called very often for the prisoners?"

"Not very often. Only when one is particularly valued."

"Are they often hurt then?"

Zola said, hesitantly, "I don't think so. Khatabi-Richi are not allowed to damage or seriously hurt a slave, except in the case of an authorised punishment."

Agneta asked, "The one you spoke of. Is he a eunuch?"

"His name's Valencio, and he wasn't when I saw him last. He was in his late teens then, and very much upset his owner by slicing through his own carotid artery. Barely survived. He's in Enclosure 2, so you'll be seeing him in the next few weeks, no doubt."

Another, far more tricky, lesson. The men and boys used were not supposed to show any external difference afterwards. It took a few tries, and one was so badly deformed that he would have to be put down as well. But finally, five men and seven boys were castrated, but showing no difference in appearance. They were released.

Zola smiled with satisfaction, and admitted that it was the first time she'd done that, just that Nusa'pei had asked about it once.

"For Valencio?"

"Presumably. Maybe didn't want him going on a murder spree, or trying to kill himself again. He was very much valued."

Jila couldn't help herself, and asked, "Who, of our men, want boys, instead of girls?"

Zola didn't answer. It wasn't something the women were supposed to talk about.

Jila was beginning to be pleased with herself. It was fascinating, and both she and Agneta were learning quickly. Zola commended them on their quick progress, and asked Botan to bring them several pregnant women.

"This is something we'd need seldom, but should know. How to vanish a foetus without hurting the mother. Then, if we need to, we can use the Nala Spell to sterilise her."

She smiled with satisfaction when the six women now showed flat tummies. "Well done," she said. "As you can see, it was quite painless."

Botan spoke to her, and she nodded. It was only prudent. One could be saved, left in a toilet with blood around her, and remembering that the tiny foetus had been flushed down the toilet. But Botan thought it too much trouble, and the six women were all killed. They were only dirt-people, and there were millions of dirt-people.

Back to the normal work with subjects from the enclosure the following day. Valencio appeared among the file of prisoners the next morning, and Jila looked at him with interest. He ignored her look. He was tall, blindingly good-looking, and wore permanent wrist and ankle cuffs, the right hand wrist cuff marked with colours. Zola had mentioned that a 'Favourite' of a Khatabi had a coloured wrist band, but that was only in Enclosure 1.

But Valencio was no longer used for sex, and his wrist cuff was coloured. She didn't understand why, though she understood the purpose of the three silver rings on each cuff. That was so that he could quickly and conveniently be restrained whenever needed. She said nothing.

During the next couple of days, the 'work' for the inmates began to be harder for them. Even when kept under Twilight spells or similar, when injured and healed, they would feel the after-effects of discomfort and weakness. There was a minor change. In place of some of the older women, Abensur started including Valencio in every session, at his own request, he said to Zola when she queried. The slave never showed aggression, usually just staring into the distance, as if indifferent.

Twelve subjects needed for helping the trainees learn to heal broken bones. Abensur provided two large jugs of potion for the subjects that day, as he said that, although healed, they might be sore for a few days.

"These ones won't be used again until next week," he told Carol, and ordered that the spa baths be heated ready for use.

Carol thought that it could be worse. They were kept under the Twilight Spell all day, and didn't feel it much when their bones were broken with a tap of a wand, and a muttered incantation.

The following day, another twelve subjects. This time, the breaking of bones was to be done with physical trauma, as Zola said it was more of a challenge that way. Jila saw Valencio restrained for the first time, clipped to a conjured pole by one of the silver rings on his right hand wrist cuff, apparently to his resentment, as the guard said soothingly, "Just that you may react out of instinct when confused. You don't want to find yourself in trouble, do you?"

It seemed that he didn't want to be in trouble, as he looked away again, assuming his mask of indifference. By the time the subjects for the day returned, some walked with pain, but there was not even a bruise to show how they'd been mistreated.

Jila was too much involved in learning to worry any more about how the medj slaves might be feeling about it. After the practical training was finished, there would be theory, especially potions. About eight months, Zola estimated, when she asked, and then they would be awarded the narrow red stripe that denoted healer.

Jila enjoyed the lessons, read books about healing every night, and bored her husband by talking interminably about her new interest.

"We did spell-breaking today," she told him. "Zola said that all the powerful Khatabis were taught that, because sometimes, it's only someone with extra power who can break the spells. Like Ahjmed. Only Grandmother Riza could break his spells."

Patek said, "A few Khatabi-Richi are like that as well. Yoweri, for instance."

Jila grinned. "He's terribly popular. I hear he's tried out all the single women, plus a few married ones. So good-looking. And apparently a better lover than one would expect."

"Please don't be tempted. I don't want to duel with that one!"

Jila giggled, and promised not to be tempted.

Various types of cutting trauma, and the lessons with these went on for over a week. There was a lot to learn.

Brigitta mentioned to Abensur that so many in Enclosure 2 were looking ill, and Abensur replied that they had to be seen to be working, as the manager complained about the money it cost to keep so many medj. Brigitta pretended not to take in the implications, but reported to Helene as soon as she was returned to the enclosure.

Helene talked to her group about how they might get to Ryuichi. They didn't know him, and those in Enclosure 2 were looking dazed and unhappy, and she didn't like to ask if any of them had ever been with the man. Mariabella finally found out from Hicham. Ryuichi and a female servant were close, and that's why he didn't come to the Enclosure.

Helene consulted with Carol, but Carol said that everything ached, including her head, but that as soon as she could think again, she'd try.

Once the trainees started on pain relief, the subjects were not as obedient. To observe the effects of pain-relieving spells, pain had first to be caused. After the first day of this, Clarence tried to run, breaking away from the line, followed by Bernice. It did them no good.

Carol reminded them sternly that they couldn't afford to give trouble. Their lives hung by a thread. Bernice had tears in her eyes, but said she'd try not to run next time. Clarence merely nodded. They'd try not to run, but the pair of them couldn't seem to help themselves. They'd suffered too much pain in their time as prisoners, and were damaged.

It was a hard week for Jila and Agneta as well. To cause pain to unwilling subjects, some of whom were put under a semi-paralysis in order to keep them under control... But pain relief was a major part of a healer's art. It was necessary, and sacrifices had to be made.

Valenciohad a break for those few days. Zola explained to her students. "He's not suitable for this purpose because his reactions to pain are not normal. We'd have to use a pain monitor, which would be a nuisance."

Jila asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"I think a result of exposure to too much pain when he was in Enclosure 1. No need to go into it, just that for this purpose, he's not suitable."

No need to go into it, Zola said. It must have been a Khatabi then. Ahjmed, maybe? Ahjmed had a reputation, but he was not the only one.

Another couple of weeks, internal injuries, then two more wearing days of review when the trainees ran through everything they'd been taught, and those in Enclosure 2 gave a sigh of relief.

Abensur told them that the trainees would be doing some theory, and that there would be another couple of days of review in four weeks, and probably another a couple of weeks after that. He thought they should be grateful. They might be hurt slightly, now and then, but his idea of the healing training had kept them alive a while longer. Ryuichi had suggested that if the closing of Enclosure 2 might upset the ones in Enclosure 1, then maybe both Enclosures should be closed down, and they could have all new girls in Enclosure 1.

Brigitta was carefully tutored. Luckily she was a clever girl. Innocently, she asked, as Abensur caressed her breasts, what other men liked. Did all of them like young girls, or did some like really big breasts, and she gave her rehearsed giggle, though the blush was real. Did some of them even like boys? And then she started giving names of those they knew. What did Yasuo like? Haruko? Ryuichi? Botan?

Abensur answered, not thinking of it, but feeling more and more stimulated as she questioned. When he moved over her, parting her legs, she stifled her reluctance, and made her breath shorter, pretending to want it too. He must not be alienated.

Abensur could have them all killed if he wanted, they were sure of it. Brigitta tried to pull away when she felt the pain of him in her, as every virgin girl did, but afterwards, she sniffled a little in his arms, and only said she loved him and wanted to please him. He cuddled her very close, and replied that he loved her, too.

Helene was waiting for her when he returned her to the Enclosure, watching as she gave him a loving kiss. But once he was out of sight, Brigitta turned to her and sobbed in her arms. Helene held her tight until her sobs died down.

Brigitta said in a low voice, "I was silly. I knew he'd do it one day, and I still hoped that one day my dad would come for me and take me home."

Helene had tears in her eyes. "We all wish that, my dear," and she rocked the child in her arms. "We all wish that."

Brigitta passed on the information gleaned. Ryuichi was over fifty, and so was his woman friend, but years ago, he'd been besotted with Valencio, and as he was the Favourite of Narzu-Han at the time, had pestered for another boy to be taken, Italian too, with black hair. He was only Khatabi-Richi, even if Manager, so his requests had been ignored.

Evita and Inge, the two girls brought in for Tashfin, had rarely had an evening off since his death. They were fourteen, both rather thin. Evita, Helene thought, looked like a boy, even a bit like Valencio. It was a lot to ask, but there were a lot of lives at risk. Evita looked at the floor, and nodded. The following day, Angini cropped her black hair short, almost like a boy.

Mariabella, with Hicham, was in a good position, as he spoke to the manager quite frequently. A casual comment, "I'm surprised he didn't pursue his interest in boys. Young Evita looks just like a boy. Like a beautiful Italian boy. You should tell him. Might make him better-tempered..."

Hicham hugged her, and said, "You've made me a lot happier."

There was a bit of hilarity in both Enclosures that night. Quite a few of them had lost their virginity to Hicham. Poor Hicham! He was certainly a changed man!

Helene, in spite of her experience, blushed as she suggested to Evita that she help her get used to penetration, as if she was a boy.

Evita said, in a hard voice, "I've had it like that, quite often. Botan. He likes to hurt, and it hurts more like that. Except that when I bled once, he was very worried. Maybe he thought he'd be in trouble."

"Did you tell anyone?"

"I was too ashamed."

Helene wondered if it had to hurt. She remembered Valencio when he'd been Narzu-Han's, and she didn't think he was being physically hurt, but there was another time when he'd been roughly pushed back into the enclosure, naked, and with blood all down his thighs. No-one ever spoke to him about any of that, but this was survival.

She asked Carol to get Clarence and Valencio for her to talk to. Clarence answered her question, "I was always hurt, sometimes very much, sometimes a bit less, but it always hurt."

Valencio was acutely uncomfortable, but this was about survival. He said, not looking at her, "If a man goes slowly and carefully, and if he uses small dildos, or maybe a finger for a while first, and also lubricating lotion, it need not hurt."

Helene was blushing more red than Valencio. "Is it worthwhile then, trying to get a body used to it?"

"You want him to want her, and think she wants him. It will be easier for her to pretend if it doesn't hurt too much. Certainly, it's worthwhile."

Clarence gave Valencio a very curious look as they left, but didn't ask any questions. If Valencio felt anything like as shamed as himself when he thought of it, he would not appreciate any discussion.

Evita agreed, and every morning after that, Helene joined her in the shower, and gently penetrated with a pencil, or a finger, until Evita agreed that she was getting better at relaxing muscles, and didn't mind it so much.

Hicham had to be prompted again, and then Ryuichi didn't do anything about it straight away. Evita was well prepared by the time she saw his name on her list for the evening. When he said what he wanted, she was able to tell him that she loved it like that, if only he'd go slowly, and use the lubricating lotion that was always available in the working bedrooms.

There had been a time when Ryuichi relished talking to those who'd used Valencio when he'd been just a boy who wanted to kill. He knew the care that Nusa'pei had insisted on and had already provided himself with three dildos, the first quite narrow. And as he gently prepared the girl for penetration, he pretended to himself that he was finally having the boy who'd been once so coveted.

He found the experience exciting and satisfying, and after the third time, Evita wore a pink wrist band, denoting that she was for the exclusive use of Ryuichi. Ryuichi stopped suggesting that the Enclosures were a waste of money.

**x**

London:

Bellamy's beloved wife, Pat, was dead, and Akila 'Peterson' worried that Bellamy might forget them in his grief. But he reappeared in early July, when school holidays began, and in her relief, she gave him a hug. He was a little surprised, and Akila was suddenly bashful, "Sorry. Just pleased that you're all right."

But Bellamy assured her he was fine, and admired the babies. He talked with Jiro a long time, listening as Jiro spoke excitedly about finally going to school.

Akila looked on with approval. Jiro was a worry to her, and Bellamy's influence could only be good. He said that if Akila gave permission, maybe Jiro could come with him sometimes, when he went out. Jiro beamed, and Akila gave her permission.

"Take me out, too?" asked Najet, but Bellamy said definitely, "Only medj places. You must not be found by those who want to take you away." The children had not been lied to, and the girls knew their danger. Najet nodded obediently, and said that she'd like that.

As promised, he took Jiro about a little, also Najet and Zahra, just one at a time, firstly as it was too dangerous to apparate with more than one at a time, and secondly because they would be more likely to be spotted if they went out in a group.

Jiro looked up to him. Bellamy was the most powerful wizard in the world. He must be able to do anything. Surely he must be able to fight anybody, and win. He could tell anybody just what to do. But Bellamy was nice to people, from Mr. Smith in the Joke Shop, to young mothers who wanted to show them his babies.

"But why?" asked Jiro.

Bellamy answered, "I'm very old, and they're my descendants. It's a bit of a tradition in the family to show me new babies." And he ruffled the boy's hair. "Besides, I like babies!"

Bahiti and Tristan married, a quiet medj ceremony. In a medj area, it was not too dangerous for them all to attend, even Zoe and Najia. There had been a lot of discussion about whether they could risk a honeymoon, maybe in a medj area. But Akila said it was too dangerous. The Khatabis were presumably still looking for them, and would very much want the baby girls. The Petersons lived a very limited life, and didn't know when that would change. They were still fully supported by Bellamy, and didn't know when that might change, either. Maybe never.

Bellamy regarded the refugees from the Khatabi family as his responsibility. 'Akila and crew,' as they were referred to, felt a comfort in his continuing interest.

Zoe and Najia were also refugees, and far more exposed. They, too, drew comfort from his interest, though independent Zoe refused to acknowledge it. They thought themselves good fighters now, probably as quick as any of the Khatabi Fighters, and definitely as powerful. They practised every day, and Zoe was always alert. Her telepathy was a vital part of their defence.

She sat up one evening, smiling, and said, "Najia, Bellamy's coming. I can feel it."

When the doorbell rang, Najia was already there, seeing him too thin, but smiling at her as if he'd never been away. Like Akila, she hugged him. He hugged her back, and looked for Zoe, shaking her hand. Zoe was not a person who liked to touch.

Zoe made a stiff, rehearsed speech of sympathy, but he brushed it aside, saying that things just have to be accepted. People lived and people died, and that's how it was. But Zoe looked at him, and knew his desperate loneliness.

**x**

Jiro started school finally at the beginning of September, and raced ahead in learning. Akila wondered if she'd made a mistake keeping him home. Maybe she should have sent him the previous year. He was a highly intelligent child.

Hasina was nineteen, and was technically finished school, but the group was safer if they stayed together, and she helped with the younger children, and continued to take lessons in Defence with Bahiti and Tristan, in their final year.

Their teacher was Michael Bruce, who'd taken the place of one of the original security guards. He was highly competent, and had been an auror until he found himself sitting on the floor, staring at the stumps of his legs. Both feet severed and vanished. They knew the story - that he'd called for help in his mind, and Bellamy had appeared almost at his side, and given the needed help. And then the great wizard had done the impossible - he'd made new feet grow. It was impossible to restore lost body parts, but the loss was only minutes old, and Bellamy did it anyway.

"Couldn't walk for days," Michael always said. "They were soft and pink, adult size, but brand new like a baby. But I was hobbling within weeks, and only limping after three months."

And then he'd always say with a vast satisfaction, looking at his feet, and waggling them up and down, "Good as new now, but it took almost a year."

**x**

Morocco:

With both Evita and Brigitta marked as exclusive property, the other young girl, Inge, was being overworked, and getting more and more thin. Helene finally went to Abensur and requested that she have a few weeks holiday.

Abensur had Zola look at the girl, and Zola nodded. She should have a few weeks off. Jila and Agneta were both present. Occasional attendance like this was a part of the duties of a Healer. Afterwards, Zola discussed the injuries that could be caused to both boys and girls by rough treatment, and how to treat such injuries. "Not that I've seen many," she added. "Only Valencio, really. I was told it happens now and then, but that the permanent enclosure guards have training in such matters."

Jila said, condemning, "They have training in how to treat the victims of violent rape." Zola only nodded.

Jila didn't speak about it with her husband. Surely Patek would never do anything like that. But she declined when he suggested sex. Somehow, she didn't like men very much that day, even her own husband.

As well as studying, Agneta and Jila were doing a lot of the routine work that Zola usually did. Preparing and issuing potions for the aching bones of the old ones, though standard potions came already prepared from the potion-makers in Khartoum. Spell-breaking, when the men duelled, mostly only things like donkey ears and pig snouts, though once they had to go to Haru when none of them could undo the Semnor Curse, inflicted on Rafik.

Haru managed it, and Zola explained that it wasn't only the power of the wizard who'd inflicted the spell that could make it difficult to undo. The type of spell was also important, and the Semnor curse often caused difficulties.

An ancient wizard died peacefully in the night. Jila and Agneta prepared the body for burial under the watchful eye of Zola. They also learned the spells that would preserve the body, unchanged for months if required. There was a lot to learn.

**x**

Mariabella reported to Carol and Helene. "He agreed, and even asked the servant to bring two breakfasts from now on."

Carol congratulated her. Having the privilege of sharing a meal with her 'owner' was the beginning of a different relationship. Mariabella already wore a full skirt, brightly coloured, instead of the brief shorts normally issued to slaves, and Hicham had needed to make a request to the laundry for that.

Carol cautioned, "Go slowly, carefully, but take extra privileges, bit by bit. Then one day, if you're clever enough, you'll be able to tell him what to do."

Mariabella said doubtfully, "He's still a wizard, and I'm just a dirt-girl in his eyes."

"He's a wizard who cannot stand up for himself. He's lost his arrogance, and he needs you. Do it by inches, but try."

Mariabella nodded, "I'll try, of course. After all, the worst he'll do to me if he thinks me too insolent, is not have me as Favourite any more."

Carol said, "He's not very bright. We know that."

Mariabella nodded, and said, "I want to ask him to see the Healer - have his bad breath fixed."

Carol looked doubtful, and Mariabella sighed, "If only he didn't want to kiss."

"Can you stand it for a few weeks more?"

Mariabella agreed that she could stand it for a few weeks more.

Helene said, "If you have to act quicker then expected, you could remind him of Margaret. Margaret was his Favourite for years. Also Valencio. Valencio was never his favourite, but Narzu-Han liked to share."

Carol said, "Don't tell anyone else, of course. He never talks about any of that himself, never has. Just that we're talking about survival." She glanced at Helene, "I never knew that Hicham liked Valencio."

"All of the Khatabis did. And I'm pretty sure that Narzu-Han allowed nearly all of them, now and then."

Mariabella admitted, "It makes me feel sick, to think of Hicham using him that way."

Helene said, "They became fond of him too. Not just that. So if you hear that Enclosure 2 is to be cleared, talk about Valencio, and say that Hicham must not allow him to be hurt, either by being killed, or by seeing the rest of us killed. And say that Margaret is his best friend."

"Is she?"

"One of them."

There were complaints. Too many of the inmates of Enclosure 1 were with the ones who called them favourites. Loud comments were made that really only Khatabi were allowed exclusive use, though the 'favourites' usually had one or two appointments before they joined their men for the night. Only Evita and Brigitta were treated as true 'Favourites,' for exclusive use, plus Mariabella, of course, but Hicham was Khatabi.

More women were needed to serve the men, but Suma refused permission to bring new ones in. It was unprecedented, but Abensur consulted with Carol, six extra bedrooms were built, and six women packed their things, and moved back to Enclosure 1. They were not old, ranging in age from twenty-six to thirty-five, but had thought their days of acting as sex slaves were over.

Valencio gave Tasha a squeeze, and said how glad he was that she wasn't chosen.

Tasha was enormously grateful that Valencio was not called back into service now that one of his powerful protectors was missing and the other dead.

But he'd been very special to Abensur, as well, and although he could have been used when rendered helpless with spells, he would have been finally destroyed, Abensur knew. Valencio had always been something special, and even as a full grown man, there would have been a lot of demand. Abensur didn't consider it, and when it was suggested, reminded the man that Narzu-Han was almost certainly still alive, and could return.

Ariz shrugged, "I'd have taken the risk!"

Zhang would have liked to, as well, but that was more that he wanted to punish the slave for all those times he was insolent, and the guard had not been allowed to teach him his place.

Tasha suggested to her Valencio, "Let's have something like a marriage ceremony."

Abensur was not helpful, reluctant to draw anyone's attention to the continuing existence of large numbers of useless mouths to feed. The inmates devised a ceremony anyway, a double ceremony, as Clarence and Bernice also thought it a good idea.

Georgia and Adelbert couldn't go, as they were held unconscious in a separate, small enclosure, while Agneta and Jila learned the spells to clean beds, keep comatose patients clean, and learn the tricky little spell that got a little pure water into them so they didn't die of dehydration. The patients were starving, as Aniragi healers had no way of feeding a deeply unconscious person.

It was a good learning exercise, and the trainees were checking the patients every day, watching the continuing decline in the LV measure, as well as other indications of health, and of approaching death. At last, Zola said it was enough, the spell was reversed, and the starvation thin women were returned to Enclosure 2 to be nursed back to health by their friends.

Jila and Agneta were deeply immersed in theory. Zola told them that the next time Enclosure 3 was used, she'd ask if they could do some further practical training.

Jila was puzzled, "Enclosure 3?"

Agneta said, "I thought we were finished with the practical work."

Zola said, "Enclosure 3 is further away, the ones in the other enclosures don't know about it, and hardly any Ania, either. The inmates of Enclosure 3 are used by the men to practise the serious curses. It's because they don't like seriously hurting the women who've been their bedmates."

Jila nodded. Of course. She'd known there had to be something like that. Just preferred not to think about it.

Agneta asked, "What happens to them afterwards?"

"There is no afterwards for them when Fighters are trained."

Zola paused, and added, "We never speak about it to the other women, and, of course, not children."

That night, Jila asked her husband, "Tell me about Enclosure 3?"

Patek frowned slightly. The women were mostly protected from knowledge of unpleasant things, but Jila wanted to be a healer, and he finally said, "It's a regrettable necessity. We have to know the serious curses, and what you're learning, too, is very valuable. Concentrate hard, learn as quickly as you can, and fewer prisoners will need to be sacrificed."

Jila said, "They're only dirt-people, of course..." She would like to have thought that dirt-people didn't feel pain like Anirage did, but she'd been studying pain relief, not very long before. The dirt-people felt pain.

Patek hugged her. "Sometimes it's needed. I'll be very proud to be married to a healer."

"Right at the beginning, Zola told us that it was not easy to train to be a healer."

"A Khatabi cannot afford to be too sentimental when there's a job to be done."

Jila wanted to be a healer. She could not allow inappropriate sentimentality to stand in her way.

***chapter end***