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Welcome, reader.
This lengthy story is a part of the series that starts with 'Book One, The Defeat of Voldemort.' These stories are fanfiction, and owe their existence to J. K. Rowling.
By this time in the series, Harry Potter is very old. He is also uniquely powerful, and he is unique in that he does not appear to be ageing at anything like a normal rate. He still appears young. He is known as Henry Bellamy, later John Bellamy.
But this is Valencio's Story rather than Bellamy's. Valencio is a character in Book Ten and in Book eXtra, and this book overlaps them both. Bellamy only appears in Valencio's Story, Part One, as an occasional mention of a 'Great Wizard.' In Part Two, however, he plays a vitally important role.
Valencio's Story is rated for mature readers. It is about abuse of ordinary people by wizards, especially including sexual abuse and slavery. There is heartbreak, despair and attempted suicide. There is also courage, friendship, and eventual rescue and recovery.
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For future reference, I have included lists of characters, explanations of terms used and a list of notable spells right here at the beginning.
Terms used:
Anirage: Wizardkind.
Ani & Ania: wizards & witches.
Medjkind or Medj: Humans without magic. The Khatabis refer to them as dirt-people.
Cam-Medj: A child born to wizards but without magic.
Dassier, Dachier, Dassio, names for Minister of Magic.The British Ministry of Magic is known as the DMT.
Auror: This term was coined by J. K. Rowling. An auror is like a policeman and soldier combined.
AOCWN: Association of Civilised Wizarding Nations. The headquarters is in Denmark.
AAAN: Association of Arabic nations.
Deruchnia: the Aniragi word for Dementor.
NP: This is the currency of the UK at the time of the story. (New Pounds)
'App Box:' transports small groups of people by apparation.
Pendreiya: a binding hypnotic order, reinforced by magic
The Pluravista - Graduation/Debut ceremony The Pluravista - Graduation/Debut ceremony
Ref injection: an annual injection, routine for sexually active medj, that protects against STDs.
List of Characters:
Carol Kennedy: leader in Enclosure 2
Helene: leader in Enclosure 1
Hilde: former leader in Enclosure 1
Clarence : Middle-aged. The only other male in the enclosures aside from Valencio. Clarence marries Bernice.
Emma: timid. She was just six when taken for Enclosure 1.
Gloria: was very popular when in Enclosure 1, but found Enclosure 2 difficult. Close friend of Maliwan.
Tasha: Played a role in helping Valencio survive Enclosure 1, and later marries him.
Brigitta, Inge and Evita: These girls were taken for the young Tashfin Khatabi. Brigitta became the favourite of Abensur, Evita was a favourite of Ruichi for a time.
Adelbert:
Adolfina:
Amber:
Amreeta: Malay
Angini: she and Veronica start a hairdresser, first for men, then for men and women.
Astra:
Belinda: very fair, vague. She plays the piano.
Bernice: timid, religious. Marries Clarence, and the pair take over the catering at Loch Lomand.
Bridget: Vivid red hair. After freedom, she chooses to work in a high-class Paris brothel
Catherina, Monik, Mareeta: middle-aged
Deirdre:
Didi and Mildred: After freedom, they start a bookshop
Eva and Lucy: These women were first in New York, then Japan, and only after that, Morocco.
Farfalla: Greek.
Georgia:
Ingrid:
Kaede: the oldest of the slaves, over 60 when Bellamy freed them. Polynesian. She acted as teacher for the children.
Kaliska:
Kwai-Jeeha: over 60 when Bellamy freed them.
Maharni: Becomes a dress designer.
Maliwan: Thai. Maliwan is a particular friend of Gloria's. Starts a frock shop in Bogridge in partnership with Sheila.
Margaret: former gymnast. Margaret is a particular friend of Valencio's
Mariabella: favourite of Hicham. Later, at Loch Lomand, in charge of house-keeping.
Marietta:
Mary and Connie: Older slaves. Irish, taken young, now middle-aged.
Nikola: After freedom, chooses to work in a high-class Paris brothel.
Rosnita:
Sheila: Starts a frock shop in Bogridge in partnership with Maliwan.
Sheri:
Shirley: Shirley was a particular friend of Valencio's, especially when in Enclosure 1.
Tatiana:
Thierry: timid after an encounter with a particularly sadistic wizard.
Tiffany: The first to leave Loch Lomand. She marries Can McGonnigal.
Treen:
Veronica: she and Angina start a hairdresser, first for men, then for men and women.
From Enclosure 3:
Jimmy Rawlings: who was subject to repeated Confusion spells. He was the only one from Enclosure 3 who wound up in Loch Lomand
Khatabis:
Khatabi-Vrie are the Elders.
Grandmother Riza: the matriarch.
Yiko: second after Riza, and her son. After Bellamy imposed a Pendreiya, he was harmless, and unable to leave Japan.
Zhor and Najia Khatabi: Both left the family while still young, but returned to take over.
Adil: Khatabi Elder. One of those dispersed by Bellamy, 'the Great Wizard.'
Ahjmed: powerful fighter, the worst in terms of cruelty. One of those dispersed by Bellamy.
Brahim: Khatabi Elder, powerful fighter. One of those dispersed by Bellamy.
Faheem: Valencio's first 'owner.' One of those dispersed by Bellamy.
Hicham: Khatabi Elder. Bellamy imposed a Pendreiya, making him harmless. He was unable to leave Morocco.
Narzu-Han: a Khatabi Elder. Formerly Valencio's owner. He was one of those dispersed by Bellamy, but managed to overcome the Pendreiya (to a degree) and became Narzu-Han Khattak, who took power in Turkey.
Haru: teacher
Bouchra: Bouchra was crippled by a spell, and was effectively a prisoner for most of her life.
Tashfin: powerful, cruel. He was killed when he was just fourteen. He was the sire of Hasina's baby, (a young woman kidnapped for the purpose.)
Hamza and Tahar: The brothers were taken away before the Sorting, returned, but left again when Zhor and Najia took over.
Khatabi-Richi, the servant class.
Abensur: Enclosure overseer
Abimael: Quite old and with only one leg. (former Fighter) He is a gardener.
Amani: quite old
Botan: Fighter, scarred on his face from an attack by Valencio. One of the most cruel of the Khatabi-Richi
Fahada: Normally works in Japan. He is very big. He badly hurt Valencio once.
Fudo: In charge of the Fighting forces
Kamchatsu: second in charge to Abensur.
Kofi-Zee: enclosure guard, later, gardener.
Pervez: Was 'spotter' for Enclosure 1, and was instrumental in capturing nearly all of the younger slaves including Valencio.
Rafu: Fighter and guard.
Ryuichi: manager.
Thuli: Fighter and guard.
Zeeko, Chippo and Shar-kutsu: maintenance workers
Zola: healer
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Bellamy's family: Bellamy is the wizard who started out as Rowling's Harry Potter. He is now very old, and is unique in that he does not appear to age.
Pat Howard: his wife. Pat is medj. She dies quite early in this story
Susan: oldest daughter of Bellamy and Pat. When grown, she marries Marcus Pickering, a neighbour. They have a son called Charlie
Lesley: When grown, she has a large bookshop and marries Dallas Weasley
Mary: When grown, she marries Bill Davenport, a Healer.
His dogs: Trey and Shaz
His horse: Madigan
Workers at Loch Lomand
Michael & Dot Bruce: managing Loch Lomand. They have a small son called Robin.
Therese and Katrina Abercrombie: red-headed twins, middle-aged. Helpers at Loch Lomand
Svetlana: (medj)
Other employees of Bellamy
Kitty & Sidney Bourne, Luke, Ross & Ryan Bourne.
Archie & Ursula Barnes, Peter & Gabriel Barnes, and Oliver Barnes
Victor Armitage: in charge of the horses. Heavily built, with a full beard, Cam-medj.
Melanie Hargreaves: Victor's assistant. She works at Loch Lomand for a time.
Employees of Bellamy
Archie & Ursula Barnes:
Peter & Gabriel Barnes:
Oliver Barnes marries Vivienne Howard,
Chris Barnes, the son of Oliver & Vivienne.
Kitty & Sidney Bourne: Sidney is Manager, Kitty in charge of house-keeping.
Luke, Ross & Ryan Bourne.
Other characters mentioned:
Pierre Tranter: Dachier of Britain
Bryce McKenzie: Ministry Healer
Dieter: Chief Auror, and auror in charge of Bellamy's spell-breaking team
Jeremy: Often acted as bodyguard for Bellamy. Tall, lean, walks like a panther. Gloria was interested in him.
Joyce: Ministry Healer
Paul Pickering: a neighbour of Bellamy's. Paul handles Bellamy's 'Line of Sheba' stud, and has his own stud of Andalusians. Marcus is his son, Helena his medj wife. Marcus later marries Susan Bellamy.
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Spells
Spells are loosely divided into categories, though all of them are spells. Curses are unpleasant spells, sometimes crippling or fatal, Vidi-Curses the minor curses, usually painless, but making the recipient appear foolish. Crio Magic refers to a certain type of spell that is put on something to have a desired effect, usually indefinite in duration. An example is that the fences of the Khatabi enclosures cause pain to any medj who has any sustained contact with them.
The Cha Keeyo Curse: Causes total and irreversable loss of mind. Difficult to perform.
Cloaking Spell: Common, easily performed. It has the effect that a person or thing is not likely to be noticed unless attention is specifically drawn to it. Its effectiveness varies with the power of the wizard. Sometimes called 'Don't Notice Me' spell.
The Compulsion Spell: A victim feels calmly contented, does not feel pain, and does whatever he is commanded by the one who has control. Instructions do not need to be verbal - the magic enables non-verbal instructions to be received, and acted upon. In civilised countries, it is illegal in all circumstances. Difficult to perform.
The Confusion Spell: Causes the subject to be confused for at least a half hour after the spell, and renders memory of the preceding half hour very vague. Far easier to perform than Memory Modification, but unreliable.
The Crocodile Spell: Causes skin all over the body to turn thick and crocodile-like.
The Felohu Curse: A victim can stand for a short time, and take a few steps. More movement is prevented by rapidly escalating pain.
Filuah Kay Spell: Makes a person very feeble, unable to fight or struggle.
The Hinda-Dreay Spell: A simple spell that vanishes all body hair from everywhere except head, armpits and pubic area. Variations completely denude, or leave just head hair, or head hair and facial hair.
Meedeferi Magic: Provides an image of the last hour of a person's life. Requires great skill.
The Nala Spell: Vanishes a woman's uterus.
The Nroko Uviki: Renders a man sterile, although capable of normal sexual function. It is irreversable.
The Spell of Pain: A curse that causes excruciating pain. In civilised countries, it is illegal in all circumstances. Difficult to perform.
Paralysis Spell: Can be total paralysis, semi-paralysis, three-quarter paralysis, or Prindi Paralysis, which leaves the head and neck free.
The Semnor Curse: Inflicts a skin condition - itchy red skin, punctuated with warts, boils, pimples and abscesses. Easy to inflict, but often difficult to undo.
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The Khatabi-Richi stripe system
yellow 'flash' worn on the right shoulder: denotes Khatabi-Richi.
broad green stripe worn on the right shoulder: fully qualified Fighter. Only men became Fighters.
A narrow red stripe worn on the left shoulder - Healer.
brown stripe on the left shoulder: qualified in maintenance
Blue stripe, left shoulder: pilot
white stripe, left shoulder: housekeeping
A narrow black stripe next to a stripe indicates competence in the specialty
A broad diagonal dark and light green stripes alternating: head of a section.
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x Valencio's Story x
Chapter 1:
The boredom was the worst, as Valencio complained to Shirley. She looked at him teasingly, "You should be glad to be bored. Anything else than a boring life here, is usually unpleasant."
Valencio shrugged, and remarked, "I've become an expert on car engines, except that I haven't seen one in so many years, never will again, and the books are probably out of date anyway."
"I've read every book in the library, time and time again." She glanced at Valencio's right wrist cuff, and suggested, "You could probably ask Narzu-Han for more books, maybe tennis racquets, and then we'd get Abimael to make us a court either side of the low fence."
Valencio shook his head positively, "Both Yiko and Narzu-Han have forgotten me, and I like it best that way."
Abensur was Enclosure Overseer, since Nusa'pei's sudden death, and made his monthly report personally to Narzu-Han that day. "He's twenty-four now, and fit and well."
"Is he happy?"
Abensur concealed a sigh. What a question! "He's cheerful with the women, ignores the guards, the same as always."
Narzu-Han smiled, and asked, "Not too insolent?"
"He has been with Zhang occasionally, but more by a look than anything else, though it's enough to have Zhang seething. But Zhang's going to take over the job of overseeing the new enclosure in New York, so he won't see him again very likely." It was a new home the Khatabis had set up, twelve new women and girls stocking their Enclosure. No Enclosure 2 in New York, and no intention of making one.
Abensur asked, "Are you planning on joining the others in New York?"
Narzu-Han answered indifferently, "Not at this stage."
"I'm leaving Kamchatsu in charge for a few weeks, while I set it up. He's a competent Fighter, but has asked to be a permanent enclosure guard. Fudo has agreed."
"He knows to take care of my boy?"
Abensur smiled to himself. "He knows."
The women of Enclosure 1 were soon counting the days until Abensur arrived back. Abensur, at least, didn't treat them as his own private harem. As was normal with all other clients, he made an appointment in advance, and it was noted on their lists, usually by lunchtime. Kamchatsu, on the other hand, strolled around the enclosure at any time of the day, waiting to be tempted. Then a beckoning finger, and a visit to one of the working bedrooms.
At least he was quick, but he was resented. The women knew they were regarded as dirt-people, but this sort of casual use seemed so contemptuous of them as people. Abensur took more care to treat them with some dignity.
The work of those in Enclosure 2 was standard. There was an afternoon class of eight Khatabi-Richi, ranging in age from thirteen to sixteen. The Khatabi-Richi were the servant class, and were always educated separately from Khatabi, from the time of Sorting, though as far as the medj could see, there was no difference in the lessons. They had other lessons, of course, that didn't require human subjects, and they assumed there were differences there.
There was also a morning class of three Khatabi boys of thirteen and fourteen, Salo, who looked pure Arabic, Laki, a big boy for his age, and Museveni, who looked at Valencio with the eyes of Narzu-Han. Salo had mastered the Spell of Pain without trouble, Museveni not long after, but Laki was having trouble, and to everyone's relief, Haru had left it for the time being.
The lessons had been easy for them the past week, as Haru was having the boys working at making spells without the use of a wand. So far, there had not been the slightest success. The medj were convinced it was Laki that Haru was really concentrating on, and some information came in from Helene that his sire was supposed to have that ability, though demonstrated only once, when berserk with anger. He was an American wizard, and Shar-kutsu had mentioned to Amber that he'd been used as a sire four times, because the great wizard from England could work magic without a wand, and Riza wanted the ability for her Family, as well. The American would never know he had four children being raised as Khatabi.
Another hour of repeated attempts and total failure. Haru frowned, and looked at the medj subjects, who waited patiently. Valencio, Clarence, and four women. He glanced at the guards, Botan, doing a six week stint of duty as an enclosure guard, though it was the first time that Valencio had seen him since he'd hit him that time, and Kofi-Zee, who was beginning to look old.
Haru made up his mind, and on his orders, two extra guards came in, rostered ones, Hwang and Ariz. Valencio gave them a bare glance, and looked away, apparently indifferent. What did Haru have in mind that extra guards were needed?
Haru was using Japanese, though it was normally Arabic for the lessons. Valencio listened, concentrating hard, as he always did whenever Japanese was spoken. He'd learn the language properly, very quickly, if he had much opportunity. He was picking up quite a bit of what they said even now. He wasn't surprised when Laki handed Haru his wand, and Haru switched to Arabic, and told Clarence he was to try and attack Laki. Clarence queried the order. Haru changed to English, and repeated the instructions, slowly and clearly.
With obvious reluctance, Clarence took a couple of steps towards Laki, and swung at him with a fist, that never looked as if it would come within feet of the boy. Laki stared hard at him, concentrating, even made a gesture.
Clarence stepped back, looking questioningly at Haru, who ordered, "Again, and this time as if you meant it!"
Clarence tried again, but was even more unconvincing.
Haru said, "Valencio, attack Laki."
Valencio looked down his nose, and said, "What if he ends up dead?"
"There will be four wands on you. He won't end up dead. Attack Laki."
Valencio frowned at the boy, who looked thoroughly daunted, then took three swift strides forward, and swung at him, not quite grazing his cheek, as the boy ducked away.
Haru laughed, and said tauntingly, "A feeble effort. But what do you expect from a dirt-person, trained only for sex?"
Valencio looked away, waiting, not reacting to the jibe.
Haru said to Botan, "You've had him, haven't you Botan? What did you think of him? Personally, I thought it quite boring!"
Valencio was seething, but kept his face expressionless. All the boys were watching him curiously.
Salo said, "I thought he was just Narzu-Han's."
"Oh, no," Haru said. "He was in general use a long time - everyone in the Compound had him."
Kofi-Zee looked uneasily at Valencio.
Valencio said smoothly, "Are you sure it's only Laki you want me to attack?" He glanced at Botan, "When I knocked out Botan, he got whipped. Does Laki want to be whipped?"
Botan snarled, "No-one cares about you any more, dirt-boy. No-one will get whipped!"
Valencio looked down his nose at Botan, and asked softly, "Do the boys know how you were scarred?"
Didi intervened sharply, using German, telling Valencio to behave.
Valencio took his eyes off Botan, and looked indifferently into the distance, as if he was not quite there.
The boys stared at him. Haru gave more instructions, in Japanese. Laki said uncertainly, "Haru says they all had you. He says you learned to like it."
Valencio was silent.
Salo watched him, smiling slightly, and said, "I'd have you if I were allowed. Maybe one day. After all, I'm Khatabi!"
Valencio sneered, "By the time someone like you has sufficient power to claim whom you want, I'll be an old, old man. I really doubt you'll ever have me!"
Didi again, snapping his name. Valencio was going to get himself in trouble. She wished Carol or Hilde were here. Or Tasha. They could keep him calm. She'd never seen him baited like this. Haru had always taken care to treat him the same as the others.
Haru ordered, "Guards, take the women away and silence No. 15."
Kofi-Zee said, "Ariz?"
Ariz nodded, and the women were ordered out, Ariz escorting them. Valencio looked after them, and then back at the boys.
Laki shuddered, and Kofi-Zee said, "Valencio, try and hold your temper."
Haru snapped at him, "Don't interfere."
He turned his attention back to Clarence, and told him to attack Salo, then Museveni. Clarence each time, cut short his attack. Valencio explained, in German. "They're supposed to paralyse us, but not using a wand."
Museveni looked at him with even more curiosity. The dirt-people were not supposed to know Japanese. Valencio had himself under control again, and when ordered, he threw a punch at Salo, missing by an inch, and then Museveni, who didn't even bother ducking. He knew he wasn't trying.
Haru knew too. He snapped more orders. Hwang and Ariz grabbed Valencio by the arms, and held him in front of Laki, who glanced at Haru, and bravely said, "You were more popular than any other in Enclosure 1, he says. He says probably Hwang had you, probably Ariz, probably Kofi-Zee, and definitely Botan."
Botan stood back, sneering. He was very much enjoying this lesson. The guards could feel Valencio's tension. He was going to explode any minute. Did Haru realise how dangerous he could be?
Laki said, "You have to attack me, seriously attack me, and that's the order!"
Valencio abruptly twisted free of Ariz and Hwang, but stepped back, breathing fast, fists raised.
Haru snapped an order, and Laki approached. Valencio was feeling cornered. He suddenly lashed out at Hwang, who swore, and pulled away from the stinging blow.
Laki asked with an attempted sneer, "Did Hwang have you? Did it feel good?"
Valencio appeared to finally lose control, and went for him, hands around his throat, and taking him to the ground, but suddenly falling limp, paralysed. Haru said delightedly, "Well done, Laki!" He turned to the guards. "Any of you do anything?"
Laki stood up, massaging his throat, and looking bewildered. "You did it, Laki! You did the paralysis spell, and you didn't use a wand!"
Botan had his wand raised, and said to Haru, "Five minutes? Standard for attacking a wizard?"
Haru said quickly, "No punishment," and he said again, "Well done, Laki."
Valencio lay on the floor, only able to see what was directly in front of him. It was a full paralysis, and no-one seemed to be thinking of taking it off. They were probably wise. He was feeling very much like killing someone.
Kofi-Zee asked Haru, "Have you finished with the prisoners now?"
Haru said casually, "I've finished with Valencio, but I still want the other."
"Then I might just restrain Valencio a little while, until he recovers his temper."
Valencio was moved to where he could be restrained, by a strap clipped to the wrist cuff. Only then did Kofi-Zee step back out of range, and lift the paralysis spell.
Valencio pulled himself to a sitting position, and leaned back against the wall, shooting a ferocious glance at Haru, and then shutting his eyes, a heavy frown still on his face. Museveni still watched him curiously, until Valencio felt it and opened his eyes, glaring back at him. Museveni took his eyes off him.
For the rest of the lesson, it was only Clarence trying to provoke Laki into repeating the feat, but without success. Haru was unworried, glancing at the clock finally, and saying, "We'll finish now. Laki, you have done very, very well. Grandmother Riza will be extremely pleased with you."
Laki said uncertainly, "I only did it once…"
"Doing it once means you can do it again in the right circumstances. It is an ability very, very rare, and of enormous potential value."
Grandmother Riza was extremely pleased with Laki, and extremely pleased with Haru. There was applause for Laki everywhere he went, and he felt wonderful.
Salo was resentful, Museveni a little detached. They'd be going on to Advanced Combat and Control in a couple of years, using men taken for use in Enclosure 3. Museveni had decided to leave the Khatabi Family before that happened. He did not enjoy hurting people, and did not approve of the way the medj prisoner had been manipulated. He'd sensed a great anger within that one, and thought they were a little lucky that no-one had been hurt. There had been four guards all covering him with their wands, of course.
Narzu-Han heard soon enough that Laki had shown that extremely rare ability, but it was not until mid-afternoon that he heard the details. The six afternoon subjects could tell Valencio that he'd come in to the classroom looking very grim, and snapped that the lesson was finished, as he had something to say to Haru. "Haru looked green," Gloria said gleefully. "The students hurried out even before us, and we didn't hear anything else, but Haru looked green!"
More gossip came from the ones in Enclosure 1. "There was a duel, and Haru is currently crippled."
"Zola couldn't fix him, and, of course, Narzu-Han wouldn't."
Carol commented to Valencio, "It appears Narzu-Han's still protecting you, after all."
Valencio remarked, "I've spoilt my clean record. I totally lost control."
"By all accounts, Haru wanted you to lose your temper."
Valencio opened his fingers, showing a glinting piece of glass, and said, "Maybe I didn't totally lose control!"
Kamchatsu had a visit from Narzu-Han as well, with the result that Botan was transferred away from enclosure duties, though he would not be working again, or doing much else, until he found someone able to undo Narzu-Han's spell.
Kamchatsu looked at Valencio with a great deal of curiosity. Even after all these years. Was he that special? Luckily for him, Narzu-Han accepted that he'd had no prior knowledge of Haru's scheme. The other guards who'd been present were reminded that Valencio was never to be harassed in any way, and three Khatabi students each received a fierce warning as well.
Narzu-Han seemed to have all the details, and looked at Salo grimly, until Salo said humbly, "Please have me whipped if you choose. I am guilty of teasing your Valencio."
Narzu-Han said grimly, "If you ever do it again, I will not have you whipped, I will kill you." But then he turned and strode away, to the boys' profound relief.
The Compound emptied further, as two Khatabi mothers prudently decided to take their boys with them to New York - to improve their English. Museveni's mother was dead, but he also left for New York. Narzu-Han was rarely seen angry, and it would be best if the youngsters were well out of his sight. In any case, Haru was unable to teach, no longer with a mouth suitable for human language.
Riza, when contacted, said that she'd be returning to Morocco in a week or so, and he could wait until then, and so could Botan. The class of Khatabi-Richi left for Japan, to join the Intermediate class there.
Several boxes of new books arrived for the enclosures, and were dived on. Few books about cars for a change, but books about aeroplanes and spaceships. Adventure books, books about animals, books about mountain climbing. A few books about romance, but like previous romance books, they were virtually ignored. Romance didn't exist for slaves.
Brahim was killed in a duel with a Mellouk, and his current Favourite, Amber, was upset. Brahim had always been good to her, and now she'd have to submit to anyone who asked. She'd been the spoilt darling of rich parents, once.
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It was very quiet in Morocco, most of the male Khatabis in New York, even Yiko, and almost all the women and children. Ahjmed, Adil and Hicham were enjoying making themselves feared, a couple of the younger ones, enthusiastic fighters as well. Gossip came back to the prisoners, who shared it about. There was little else to talk about, after all. There had been a lot of duelling, both between the Khatabis, and against American wizard law-keepers, who tried to protect their community from being inflicted with unpleasant spells. They were called aurors. At least the Khatabi wizards mostly left Medj alone. Ahjmed killed Usman in a duel, and Iyad killed both Tsotuno, who was only seventeen, and Ichiri.
Narzu-Han left Morocco, and they heard he'd led a rescue. Faheem and Iyad had been arrested by the American aurors, but were free again. There were whispers of a terrible revenge taken against American wizardry. The medj prisoners tended to assume that any wizard was better dead, and were unconcerned when they heard of yet another Khatabi death - Seiji.
There were only seven adult Khatabi men left now. Plus Haru, of course, and there was also supposed to be another, but very old, in Japan - a teacher.
Hicham returned to Morocco. There was a new generation in Enclosure 1, Marietta, Bridget, Angini, others, Helene still leader. Emma was still there, still only nineteen, still not popular. Two new ones arrived. Ingrid was small and blonde, just fourteen, and wore a white wristband. Treen was fifteen.
As was usual with new ones, Valencio was roped in by Kaede to start teaching them Arabic, an hour each morning, more if they wanted. Treen was sullen and resentful, hating the wizards, hating the world. Ingrid was very frightened, but by the end of the week, the scabs of scratch marks over the numbers on their arms were starting to heal.
Valencio left it to Helene to press on them the importance of absolute obedience to the wizards, and tried to cheer them up by mocking the 'bloody wizards' as he started getting them familiar with the new language they should know.
After a week, Ingrid said to him, slowly, "I have to go to Hicham tonight."
Valencio glanced uneasily at Kaede, who sat close. He didn't know what to say, and Hicham could be so rough.
Kaede said calmly, "Just try and do as he says. He may very likely claim you as Favourite, which is to your advantage."
Valencio said, "He's pretty dumb. It shouldn't be too hard to please him." And he went into an act, opening eyes wide, glistening with unshed tears, sighing piteously, saying, "Oh, Hicham. I was so frightened, but you make me feel so safe. Please, will you be my Favourite?"
Ingrid giggled, though with a suggestion of impending tears, and Kaede suggested, "Ask Mariabella. She was his Favourite before he went to New York."
Valencio added, "Astra before that, and Margaret was his for years. They all thought he was alright, as far as I know."
Ingrid said, "Helene told me he's got bad breath, and I should try hard not to make a face."
Valencio remembered Hicham's passionate kisses - he'd hated that, but at least he hadn't had bad breath then.
Treen said, "I wish I was a Favourite. Easier to have just one than a different one every night, and maybe more from tomorrow, Abensur said."
Kaede took over, and Valencio sat back, absent-mindedly removing a blade from a seam. Just innocent girls! The bastard wizards had no right!
Kaede glanced at his expressionless face, and then to his hands, as a blade passed from one to the other, and said calmly, "Thank you, Valencio. We might forget about Arabic for today. Same time tomorrow, if you will."
Valencio gathered himself, smiled at the pair, wished them luck, and walked away, his stride getting faster until he was running as hard as he could, but not in sight of the girls. Even now, it made him so terribly, terribly angry.
Enclosure 2 had some astonishing news at breakfast. Little Ingrid had resisted, but instead of forcing her, maybe punishing her, Hicham had let her out of his room, and she'd run back to the enclosure all by herself. Not only that, but she'd actually taken up a shoe, and beaten him with it!
Valencio was flabbergasted. Hicham! He remembered that first time with him, being yanked roughly to his feet because he didn't answer to 'No. 143.' That Hicham could have tolerated disobedience! There was a lot of speculation. It wasn't only Valencio who found it hard to believe.
Ingrid was at the morning lesson as usual, but quiet and very apprehensive, forcibly reminding Valencio of how he'd felt the day after he'd killed Charandev. She no longer wore her white wristband, but it had not been replaced by yellow for Hicham. Could it be that the girl had lied? That she'd simply been rejected? But Hicham wasn't hard to arouse, and Ingrid was a beautiful young girl.
Kaede merely went on with the lesson as if nothing had happened, and Valencio took his cue from her. What if he'd had that opportunity? No extra guards outside the door, and she'd been outside the enclosure area, in Hicham's own room. He could have rendered him unconscious, stolen a robe, put on a casual air of assurance and power, and strolled out the gates. He grinned ruefully to himself. Nearly all the guards did their stint in the enclosure, and there would be few who didn't know him by sight. He would have made the attempt, of course. He would have been leaving Tasha and Emma and all the others. But maybe he could have brought help... Kaede said sharply, "Valencio, stop dreaming, and start teaching."
There was no word of punishment for Ingrid, not that day, and not the next. Valencio didn't hear the details, but Helene told him that Haru had chosen Ingrid from a line-up, and, naturally, had punished when she was not immediately obedient.
Helene said to him, "I've got my fingers crossed he didn't notice she was virgin. He never takes any notice of those he uses, so maybe he didn't."
But still, the wizards didn't seem to know what had happened when she'd gone to Hicham.
Daily lessons for the girls continued. Neither of them spoke to Valencio about 'work' any more, but after a while, they started to look less unhappy. They were getting accustomed to the life. It was still a mystery how a slight girl, scarcely more than a child, had managed to beat up a powerful Khatabi wizard. At last, a whisper went around, that there may have been something happen to the powerful Khatabis, maybe all the powerful Khatabis. Something to do with the English wizard, Henry Bellamy. But the information was vague, and all that was known for sure was that a lot of them were travelling, none but Hicham had returned, and that there was no talk of the children returning.
Then there was something else happen that was wildly unusual. Treen gave Valencio the news, whistling at him as he ran the perimeter track. "A girl Khatabi. Smaller than Ingrid. Not at all pretty, with a nose that looks too big for her face. She appeared outside the enclosure, and asked us what we were doing here, so we told her."
"What did she say?"
"She told Abensur to show her the classrooms."
There were more details by breakfast the following morning. That her name was Zhor, that she was thirteen, and had demanded lessons. It was confirmed soon enough, when Clarence, Didi and Sheri were advised that they were needed for work, and straightaway, though there was usually notice.
They were back before lunch, and reported that Zhor was the only student, and Haru had started by just testing her on the incantations for many of the Vidi-Curses, before having her practise, first, tying up, and then stunning. Clarence moaned that he had so many bruises, but Clarence always complained, and there was anti-bruising lotion, and even a hot spa in their large enclosure, though hardly ever used.
Valencio asked, "How did she go at stunning?"
"Did it first try. She did everything first try."
Different ones the following day, and it became a regular thing, every morning. Each time they were silenced, though they were only silenced normally if they made a nuisance of themselves. By the end of the week, they had some gossip from a different source. "She's Riza's pet, showing indications of enhanced power, and a strong telepathic talent."
There were ten used the day that Valencio was included, and it seemed that Zhor was to learn to inflict some of the minor curses. Donkey ears, which seemed a standard and simple one, commonly used. Valencio loathed looking a fool, but followed his normal practice, and just looked away and tried to be patient. If he ever actually looked at a student, the guards always jumped to attention, even now.
It was Shirley's turn, the successful donkey ears making the Khatabi girl smile in pleasure. Valencio glanced at his friend, and looked away, pained. Suddenly he jumped, and stared at the arrogant Khatabi girl, who flinched and stepped back, holding her head.
Rafu and Hwang promptly raised their wands, threatening. Valencio took his eyes off the girl, and looked away as if indifferently, shutting himself off from her mind's exploration, as he'd done with Yiko and Narzu-Han.
Haru looked at him suspiciously, before starting questioning Zhor, but in Japanese. Valencio heard his name a few times, but could not understand what they were saying. Haru made up his mind, and said, "Valencio, you are not wanted any more. You are to be returned to the enclosure."
Two additional guards made their appearance. Expressionless, Valencio allowed himself to be escorted back to the enclosure.
He tried to explain to Carol - "She was looking into my mind, and I felt it, and did something to stop her, I think. Because then she was holding her head, and glaring at me."
Carol looked at him thoughtfully, and said, "Maybe it's time you thought carefully whether you might have some telepathy, and try and develop it."
Valencio replied doubtfully, "I thought only wizards could have that."
Helene told him the following day that according to Shar-kutsu, only wizards could have telepathy, and when it was detected within the Khatabis, there would be special teaching.
Valencio asked, "Nikola?"
Helene smiled, "She has him talking freely these days, and says he never seems to notice when he's being pumped for information, except that he looks at her hopefully afterwards, for his reward."
"So how are they taught?"
"He didn't seem to know, though he told her about the test they did before Sorting, trying to ensure none with the talent were made Khatabi-Richi. It starts to become stronger around mid-teens, he said, but there are always indications earlier."
Valencio said, "Well, I'll try, of course. But I've never yet known what a guard was thinking."
"Narzu-Han?"
"Occasionally, but he was different. Because he had it himself. He could talk to me without words, sometimes."
The prisoners were still unsure if anything had happened to the men, only knowing that it was very quiet, and the Khatabi-Richi were worried and unhappy. The Khatabis, both men and women, seemed to be scattered, although Yiko was back in Japan, they heard. Narzu-Han was supposed to be in Turkey, Nikola discovered from Shar-kutsu, who'd heard from Abensur.
The lessons for Zhor went on for nearly two months, but then they were abruptly cut short mid-week, when Riza returned to Morocco. Valencio had not been used again. Zhor was now proficient in all the standard control spells aside from the Pain Curse, and was skilled in numerous Vidi-Curses. She had not been taught anything painful, though the medj knew from experience that other students would have been working on the Spell of Pain at her level of competence.
Gloria was steaming one day. "Bloody witch. Elephant skin, and Haru couldn't undo it. He tried again and again, and then he tried to get her to undo it herself, and she couldn't. I thought I'd be like that forever!"
Valencio asked, "Did Hicham fix it then?"
"Haru finally managed it. I don't know why he didn't ask Hicham, but it wasn't even suggested."
Hicham's magic was failing, although word had not yet filtered through to the medj. As far as anyone knew, Zhor was the only Khatabi child left in Morocco, a few were in Japan, and the rest were presumably travelling with their mothers or teachers.
At last, there was some definite information. It came from Bridget and confirmed by Nikola, who were both experts at gathering information. That an English wizard had appeared at the gates, half hysterical, wanting to fight Riza because she'd done something dreadful to his friend, Henry Bellamy, whom they called the great wizard. It was his punishment for 'destroying' the family. That the Khatabis, men and women, were scattered around the world, some unable to be found. Nearly all the children were gone too, and that most of the Fighters were out trying to find them, only a minimum left to guard the Compound.
It was hard for them to believe. For the prisoners, the wizards were so powerful - it seemed, invincible. That Narzu-Han and Yiko could have been defeated! All the others, as well. Ahjmed, Adil, Hicham - feared all over Arabia. Defeated by just one man, Henry Bellamy, an English wizard. It was Henry Bellamy whom Brahim had gone to, to have a spell reversed. That had been years before. And now it sounded like he might have put a spell on Ahjmed, Yiko, Narzu-Han, Iyad, Hicham, Faheem and Adil.
Valencio thought of it in pleasure. He hoped Adil was suffering! But Narzu-Han? He was a bloody wizard, and he should be happy if he'd been defeated, but instead, it made him acutely uncomfortable. He laughed to himself, imagining the scenario of Narzu-Han being attacked while he was present. He'd have had to fight off the impulse to go to his defence. Maybe slaves did things like that, out of some sort of misplaced loyalty to their masters.
Speculation continued, though they took great care what they said to the wizards. The children were all gone. That was something possibly even more significant than the defeat of the men - if they really had been defeated. There were not many children anyway, as Riza had become very selective.
"There's Salo, Museveni and Laki," Shirley said. "They were Khatabi."
"There's more, too, but they're not here, not in Japan, and maybe they've gone, like several did some years ago."
"No wonder, I'd go if I were in a family like this."
"A wonder they don't clear out before the Sorting," said Valencio. "I certainly would have done."
"Leave everything you know at the age of eleven or twelve?"
"If necessary."
Kaede said, "Sterilising them at the age of thirteen. It's an atrocious breach of human rights."
"And then breeding the chosen ones like pedigree horses, or something..."
Carol said slowly, "If the children are gone, what's to become of us? They'll have no use for us."
Riza was still travelling a great deal, they heard. Yiko was in Japan, and was not travelling at all. They no longer saw Hicham, and Hicham had always used the enclosure girls, and nearly always had a Favourite. They were sure now. Something had happened, and something very significant. What was it to mean for them?
x Divider x
There was a Committee meeting, the leaders of Enclosures 1 and 2, Helene and Carol, and six other representatives, seen as responsible and mature. Valencio was not on the Committee, and had no aspirations to be on the Committee. He regarded the women as strong and sensible, himself as weak, apt to do stupid things.
Tiffany said, "Well, there's one child again, I had it from Abimael. Zhor had a baby boy, and dotes on him."
"It's been nine months, Hicham's frightened to leave his room, Yiko hasn't budged from Japan, and no-one's heard of Ahjmed or any of the others since."
"No women or children, either. This Bellamy has to have done something very effective."
"She destroyed his mind in revenge, and then had him dumped naked in a New York gutter - we've heard that from a few sources."
"Enclosure 2 has had no work since the two months with Zhor - that's a worry. What's going to happen to us?"
"They're ignoring us, it seems. We scarcely see Abensur any more."
Helene said, "We're not so much affected, though it's quiet. We never see Hicham, who nearly always used to have a Favourite."
"Is it true he's lost his magic?"
"Only a hint, and then Gehry looked worried, and said nothing else."
"Gehry?"
"Transferred from Japan, not long qualified as a Fighter, and terribly proud of his stripe."
"I hate to think how they get their advanced training."
Their talk was quiet, worried. They had no hope of release, whether or not the family was losing its power. There were so many now in Enclosure 2, fed, sheltered, clothed, and of no apparent use to anyone. Helene said, "You'll make sure that Valencio doesn't do anything stupid. It's best if we're very inconspicuous these days."
Carol nodded. "Hilde and I keep a close watch on him, but he keeps as far away from the wizards as possible, even the cleaner and gardener."
Valencio, that day, managed to get his hole a little deeper, hidden under a bush. There was an adjacent bush the other side of the intervening fence. He always had scratches again, but there was lotion kept in one of the bathrooms. He didn't want his scratches noticed, not even by the women, if possible. It still hurt to dig, very severely, but the concerns of the Committee were no secret, and the ability to pass items from one enclosure to another could be useful. Besides, he had nothing better to do with his time.
As Carol had suggested, he'd been trying to develop any slight telepathic talent he might have, but didn't think he had any. All the same, he was pretty sure there was no imminent threat to their lives. He thought he'd know.
x Chapter end x