Jaw, the chief of the warlike nomadic Jovian tribe, which traveled Karagot and the surrounding kingdoms, entered his tent. He smiled at the sight of Janessa, fully nude, nursing his son Tooth. Jaw walked over to Janessa and stroked her face gently.
"You are like an angel, Janessa," he said in broken Karagotine. "You came to us when we needed you most." Janessa smiled weakly. Jaw's wife, Hip, died giving birth to Tooth shortly before Janessa's arrival. When she arrived as Jaw's slave, the tribe's witch doctor immediately gave her a potion that made her lactate, allowing her to breastfeed Tooth. Jaw watched silently as Janessa finished nursing, burped Tooth, and then put the babe in the crib.
"I am going to fetch water for dinner," Janessa said to Jaw. "Is that all right, Master?"
"Yes. And fetch Shoulder and Collar on your way back," Jaw said, referring to the twin daughters his wife had given birth to six years ago. The girls were playing with their cousins, too bored to stay with their newborn brother. Janessa bowed her head.
"Yes, Master," she said. She grabbed a clay pot to transport the water in and left the tent. As she made her way to the river, she thought on what had led her to this life. She intended at first to use the amulet to transform Jaw and escape, but when she discovered how horrible travel was as a lone person, she decided to wait and see. It turned out the Jovians treated their slaves very well; raping and beating were strictly forbidden. The rule against slave mistreatment was heavily enforced. Janessa witnessed a man get whipped and banished for beating his slave on her very second day with the tribe. She decided then to wait. The tribe often traveled to the Eastern Hills, where Anya was from. She should be able to escape then.
As time went on, Janessa also became attached to Jaw's three children, whom she tended to as part of her responsibilities. There was a fourth person she had become attached to, and when she reached the river, she saw him.
"Barr!" Janessa cried out happily. Barr, a slave originally from one of the small islands off the coast of Karagot, looked up. He beamed at Janessa.
"My beauty," he gushed. Janessa sat down the clay pot and rushed over to him, throwing herself into his arms. They kissed deeply. Janessa felt Barr's manhood stir below her; all slaves were fully nude, except for in winter, so that the brand with their owner's symbol, which was on the small of the back, could be seen.
"I have missed you while you were away," Janessa purred, stroking Barr's face. He had been taken on a week long hunting trip. Barr smiled at her.
"But now I am back." He placed his hand on Janessa's swelling stomach. "How is my child?"
"It may not be yours," Janessa reminded him. Though the two had sex often, there was always the chance one of the rebels that raped her was the father. Something she had told Barr when she discovered she was pregnant.
"Whether I sired it or not, it shall be mine," Barr said firmly. Janessa sighed, lost in his eyes and warmth. Jaw was attractive, but Barr was easily the most handsome man around. Jaw had long, brown hair and pale skin, while Barr was bald and had skin so dark it was almost black. Should she have to choose between the two (as Jaw had been showing a growing interest in marrying her), she would choose Barr every time.
"I do not have time for more," Janessa apologized. "I must fetch water and the Master's daughters."
"Tomorrow?" Barr asked. Janessa kissed him on the cheek.
"Of course." Barr set her down. She filled the clay pot with water and went to fetch the girls, her mind lost in the delight of seeing Barr again.