"Please, sir," Naba heard the plea for water and smiled as he continued to lead the girl through the market streets but said nothing to acknowledge her request. In just a few minutes they approached the city gates. Naba entered the livery and tied the girl's rope to the rear of his cart, hooked up his onager and paid the bill.

Tapping the onager lightly on her haunches, the cart lurched forward and they left the city. The pace was modest and Naba allowed the cart to pass him knowing Rika wouldn’t stop until he requested her to do so. Following the cart and walking next to the girl he reached into the rear of the cart and pulled out a piece of cotton broadcloth. He draped it over the girl’s russet hair and with a flick of the wrist covered her head and face from the sun. Another quest into the cart produced a water bladder. He slowly drank about half of it. He wiped a few drops that had dribbled down his chin back to his lips and sucked in the extra moisture. He tossed the bladder to the girl. As she grabbed for it, her cloak briefly flashed open, reminding him of the great prize he had won at the auction. Naba smiled again at his good fortune at finding such a prize in the shoddy little city.

“Don’t waste any.” As Naba returned to the front of the cart he could hear the girl as she swallowed the first gulp of water. They trekked on for the rest of the afternoon until Naba turned Rika off the trail and up a small gully. He stopped at a place he had used as a camp before, near a small stream. The girl was clearly weary as she slightly swayed on her feet. He pointed to the stream.

“Wash. You smell like a pig.” Naba untied the girl’s hands and pulled his long-knife and put the tip under her chin.

“If you run I’ll have to beat you. So don’t run away. Understand?” He pulled the cloak off her shoulders and pushed her towards the stream. Though he turned his back as he began setting up camp, he actually kept close tabs on his property.

Besides, she was very pretty to look at.