closed for BlueCollarGirl
I removed my sunglasses; compared to the brilliant midmorning sun outside, the auction space seemed shadowy. A slight haze of a dreamweed smoke -- a mild narcotic popular among the Hatari -- tinged the room. A few hundred occupied the theater, a quiet murmur of conversations filling the air as they awaited the first auction. Nearly all were onlookers just curious about the spectacle. A kesh auction hadn't occurredfornearlythreeyears.
Likethe prevalence of indoor smoking, Hatar in many ways hearkened back to a much older time. The country's hot, arid climate had insulated it from casual visitors over the centuries, so the locals had remained steadfast in their adherence to old customs and ideals. The Hatari still practiced traditions that other modern societies had abandoned centuries ago.
Thekesh auction was easily the most obvious example. Literally translated, it meant "obedience", but in function it was as close to slavery as one could find in present day. At least, in the minds of Westerners always eager to find fault in cultures not their own.
We Hatari knew otherwise. Actual slavery of the weakest in the society had ended centuries ago, but the kesh was something else entirely. In ancient times, it had been reserved for the nobility. Executing royalty tended to create blood feuds and conflict. But taking a powerful lord and reducing him to a servant in a rival's home for several years was sufficient humiliation to punish without need of bloodshed. Today wealth rather than armies determined one's power, but the principle remained unchanged. Thus, the practice had endured.
I only had to look at the first kesh to confirm this truth. A Hatari man in his late 50s, he stared silently at the floor while tears coursed from his eyes. The shame he felt was quite real.
Despitehis age, bidding climbed swiftly. The Hatari elite took a perverse delight in seeing one of their own brought low.Theauctionshappened so rarely inthesemoderntimes--perhaps only oncea year at most and some years had none at all -- that a kesh of any age or condition was highly prized. There was no greater status symbol amongst the wealthy than owning a kesh -- particularly if it happened to be a former business or political rival. Judging by the size of the bids, this Hatari had made several enemies in his prior life. He sold for a tidy sum.
But it was the second kesh that had drawn such an unusually large crowd. A kesh auction was already an uncommon event, but the auction of a foreign kesh hadn't occurred in decades. And a foreign female kesh? Perhaps a first.
I watched as the auctioneer brought her out onto the stage. Like the man before her, she was clad in a simple white tunic belted at the waist. Plain leather sandals adorned her feet. An outfit as old as this building.
The only other "decoration" were the small lengths of chain that encircled her at ankles, wrist, and neck. In ancient times, these would have been heavy iron bands. In modern times, it was a much lighter metal alloy formed into delicate links; properly polished, they looked like silver bracelets. But however lightweight and shiny they were, they marked her as kesh as surely as if they had been chains of iron.
The rumors of her appearance had underrated her appearance. Stepping into the bright beam of sunlight at the front of the stage, her hair gleamed like the morning sunrise. Amongst the dark-haired, dark-skinned, dark-eyed Hatari, her fair locks, milk-white skin, and emerald gaze made her quite exotic. Long legs suggested a height well above average for a local female; enough to rival many shorter Hatari men as well. Full curves strained the tunic slightly -- also well beyond the average Hatari woman -- but her waist seemed impossibly slender in between. She was truly a vision, however simple her clothes.
Bidding climbed rapidly. The overly ambitious mid-level merchants dropped out quickly as the price rose. Within minutes, only a handful of the wealthy remained. I waited till there were two. My rivals turned to me, eyes flashing with anger at my late intrusion. I smirked and upped the bid again. My money was not as old as theirs, but I had far more of it. After a few last bids attempts, they yielded.
Afterwards, I arranged for the transfer of the modest fortune I'd expended for her. The auctioneer's eyes got glassy as he counted the number of zeroes. "Lord Idris, we will clean and dress the kesh, then deliver it to your estate this afternoon," he promised.
"Blindfold her as well," I instructed. He nodded obediently.
I smiled as a I re-entered the harsh midday sun. Oh, the plans I had for this one.
I removed my sunglasses; compared to the brilliant midmorning sun outside, the auction space seemed shadowy. A slight haze of a dreamweed smoke -- a mild narcotic popular among the Hatari -- tinged the room. A few hundred occupied the theater, a quiet murmur of conversations filling the air as they awaited the first auction. Nearly all were onlookers just curious about the spectacle. A kesh auction hadn't occurredfornearlythreeyears.
Likethe prevalence of indoor smoking, Hatar in many ways hearkened back to a much older time. The country's hot, arid climate had insulated it from casual visitors over the centuries, so the locals had remained steadfast in their adherence to old customs and ideals. The Hatari still practiced traditions that other modern societies had abandoned centuries ago.
Thekesh auction was easily the most obvious example. Literally translated, it meant "obedience", but in function it was as close to slavery as one could find in present day. At least, in the minds of Westerners always eager to find fault in cultures not their own.
We Hatari knew otherwise. Actual slavery of the weakest in the society had ended centuries ago, but the kesh was something else entirely. In ancient times, it had been reserved for the nobility. Executing royalty tended to create blood feuds and conflict. But taking a powerful lord and reducing him to a servant in a rival's home for several years was sufficient humiliation to punish without need of bloodshed. Today wealth rather than armies determined one's power, but the principle remained unchanged. Thus, the practice had endured.
I only had to look at the first kesh to confirm this truth. A Hatari man in his late 50s, he stared silently at the floor while tears coursed from his eyes. The shame he felt was quite real.
Despitehis age, bidding climbed swiftly. The Hatari elite took a perverse delight in seeing one of their own brought low.Theauctionshappened so rarely inthesemoderntimes--perhaps only oncea year at most and some years had none at all -- that a kesh of any age or condition was highly prized. There was no greater status symbol amongst the wealthy than owning a kesh -- particularly if it happened to be a former business or political rival. Judging by the size of the bids, this Hatari had made several enemies in his prior life. He sold for a tidy sum.
But it was the second kesh that had drawn such an unusually large crowd. A kesh auction was already an uncommon event, but the auction of a foreign kesh hadn't occurred in decades. And a foreign female kesh? Perhaps a first.
I watched as the auctioneer brought her out onto the stage. Like the man before her, she was clad in a simple white tunic belted at the waist. Plain leather sandals adorned her feet. An outfit as old as this building.
The only other "decoration" were the small lengths of chain that encircled her at ankles, wrist, and neck. In ancient times, these would have been heavy iron bands. In modern times, it was a much lighter metal alloy formed into delicate links; properly polished, they looked like silver bracelets. But however lightweight and shiny they were, they marked her as kesh as surely as if they had been chains of iron.
The rumors of her appearance had underrated her appearance. Stepping into the bright beam of sunlight at the front of the stage, her hair gleamed like the morning sunrise. Amongst the dark-haired, dark-skinned, dark-eyed Hatari, her fair locks, milk-white skin, and emerald gaze made her quite exotic. Long legs suggested a height well above average for a local female; enough to rival many shorter Hatari men as well. Full curves strained the tunic slightly -- also well beyond the average Hatari woman -- but her waist seemed impossibly slender in between. She was truly a vision, however simple her clothes.
Bidding climbed rapidly. The overly ambitious mid-level merchants dropped out quickly as the price rose. Within minutes, only a handful of the wealthy remained. I waited till there were two. My rivals turned to me, eyes flashing with anger at my late intrusion. I smirked and upped the bid again. My money was not as old as theirs, but I had far more of it. After a few last bids attempts, they yielded.
Afterwards, I arranged for the transfer of the modest fortune I'd expended for her. The auctioneer's eyes got glassy as he counted the number of zeroes. "Lord Idris, we will clean and dress the kesh, then deliver it to your estate this afternoon," he promised.
"Blindfold her as well," I instructed. He nodded obediently.
I smiled as a I re-entered the harsh midday sun. Oh, the plans I had for this one.