Teri McLaren
main purpose in modern times was to prepare the way for the true king of Sumifa. The old king was afraid because of their words. They would draw great crowds to their camps, then talk to them about the old days, when the Neffians-can you imagine?-the slaves were in power. They would talk about how there would be one of them who would come back, from some faraway place, who bore some kind of special mark, and he would free them and restore the country to prosperity. Of course, it would get really awful right before he came: the djinn would be most active, there would be famine, and so forth.
"Well, there were always enough hungry people in the Barca, and enough slaves, to make serious trouble for the Fascini. Enough of them believed what the juma were saying: that it was time for the change to manifest and the new king was on his way. So, in a fit of fury, the old king sent his raiders and henchmen and the mercenaries Riolla provided and wiped out the juma, thinking that all the rumors and rumblings would stop," she explained.
Cheyne laughed. "Did they stop?"
"Well, no. The seeds of revolt were already well planted. But without the juma, there was no one to organize the coup. Perhaps you noticed the strain between the Fascini and the Barcans." She laughed, then abruptly changed the subject. "But you were talking about the lost caravan…"
"Well, I don't remember very much. In fact, I remember nothing before the attack," Cheyne said miserably.
"Should you remember?"
"Yes, I should. If only I could." He walked in silence for several steps, then continued. "Everyone but me did die, and the ores supposedly took the bodies. Javin found me hiding and took me back with him. That's my first memory of the whole ordeal. When the Fascini finally came after their goods, they didn't even find bones. Speaking of which-look up."
He pulled gently on her cloak. The ores had halted