Chapter Fourteen - "The Silent Kajira"

Eight long days on the road , sleeping in blankets, leaning against saddles, or sometimes in the back of wagons against bales of cloth. Choking dust, blazing heat, chilling nights...

The improved state of repair of the paving in the road gave the first sign of habitation, sloping gently downhill the screen of trees parting to reveal a natural bowl, a sort of circular valley, well-maintained roads and paths radiating outwards like the spokes of a wheel. At the cardinal points major roads intersect around a large courtyard with a high wooden palisade.. between the roads a series of paths leading to a series of low-roofed sheds, visible from this vantage point, but less so from the lower slopes and disappearing entirely from view in the base of the hills. Within the confines of the screening trees each path and road is bordered by tended shrubs and small trained hedges.

Sitting firmly astride the two greatest inland trade routes "The Silent Kajira" is less of a wayside Inn, more like a large staging station. Historians record that the site was originally solely occupied by an Inn, long since gone, and gradually a small village grew up around the centre. The Inn itself continues to provide for rest and refreshment as well as an opportunity to re-provision. A forge, with permanently stoked fires, never been known to cool since the day it was first fired up; a team of smiths operate day and night, in tandem with wheelwrights, harness-makers, farriers to keep the caravans on the road with minimum delay. A compact but well-stocked Armourer's shop guarantees to repair all nicked blades, slashed leather or cracked armour overnight, ready for the next morning's departure. Coupled with the reputation for efficiency is a name for pleasure and value. It is said by some, and believed by many that the average caravan travels at a speed increased by a pasang per Ahn during the two days before arrival and slows by the same amount in the two days following departure.

"The Silent Kajira", whilst as welcome as an Oasis in the desert, ir probably more famous for two features, one human, one not. Immediately outside the Inn hanging from two tall gaily painted poles is a large sign.... Against a painted backdrop faithfully representing the interior of the Main Hall of the Tavern, kneels a rendering of a kajira, clad in sheer silks of blazing crimson, shot with gold threads. In perfect nadu, the figure holds, in offering, a plain wooden bowl filled with paga. By her thighs rests a platter of sa-tarna bread, a round of golden butter, and a steaming bowl of stew. Working upwards her body is enough to make a celibate, even an Initiate to question his sanity... ample, firm breasts, nipples straining against the silks carry the observer's eye over clear skinned golden shoulders, a graceful arching neck, an engraved collar of fine steel and above it....nothing. The perfect slave, in many eyes, beautiful , desirable and totally incapable of speech. Those less polite have been known to refer to "The Silent Kajira" as "The Headless Whore" ... but then when where caravan guards and wagon drivers renowned for their wit and intelligence.

The other resident is known alternatively as "Ol' Meg" or simply "Tooth". Ol' Meg is as ancient as the hills, with cracked leathery skin which she insists on calling her "laughter lines" and red-blotched and swollen hands. Her most endearing feature is not her tongue which is fully capable of flaying the most grizzled veteran in any man's Army and probably can conjure more expletives, in more languages, than any one alive or dead. Named for the single, blackened tooth which clings precariously to her upper jaw. However, in keeping with the tradition of "the Silent Kajira". Ol' Meg will take the dirtiest rags of clothing and have them ready by dawn, cleaned and mended, fresh as they day they were bought.. almost. If not, a full refund of your tarsk bits.

Many have attempted to copy this formula, but for some reason it never seems to work quite the same way anywhere else on Gor.. this place is unique.

As Eder trails in behind the caravan, kajirus swarm all over the wagons, releasing and leading the draught animals to the paddocks, ignoring the vicious snaps of kailla being hauled, protesting to stables, dragging wagons to the fenced compounds and taking the more valuable cargoes to the secure storage sheds. Tokens exchanged between overseers and drivers are required for presentation to secure the release of the goods and their reloading.

Handing the reins of his beast to a waiting slave, Eder unstraps his saddlebags and, tossing them across his shoulder, makes his way to the Captain who leans against a log wall of the stockade, idly watching the unloading. The Captain throws a small pouch of coin to the Warrior who immediately shakes his head and offers it back.

"It is the standard pay for a guard... take it, it is yours and well earned. It will cover board and lodging for the night and perhaps a little entertainment, depending on your taste." Seeing the futility of further argument, Eder nods and enters the Inn, he takes a small room on one of the upper floors, with a view over the rear of the Hall, orders heated water and a tub, to the amusement of the other guards who are already quenching thirsts, and makes his way to the stairs.