It took a moment for Seth's name to penetrate Jahi's mind, but when it did the slave found himself swimming in confusion. Seth Thutmose...the prince? But why was he here, what use could he possibly have for Jahi? Surely the slavers would tell him how useless and unskilled Jahi was...? After all, he had been a mere street rat most of his life until the slavers took him...

"You have a lot of, say, nerve for a slave."

Jahi raised his eyes to glare at the prince, fighting back the sudden heat and pressure of tears burning behind his eyes. He was so furious he could almost feel himself shaking.

I am not a slave, he wanted to shout back, but he was afraid his voice would break. This...this wasn't what he was...this place and these chains...and since he couldn't bring the words to his tongue, he kept his mouth clamped tightly shut and continued to glower silently.

"You have many bruises, have you been a bad boy?" The prince's tone made Jahi's face flush angrily. He wanted to ignore the needling remark, but knowing that the boy before him was the prince, he was afraid of what they would do if he didn't reply.

"I haven't done anything wrong," he replied finally, speaking through clenched teeth. His heart was fluttering in his chest as he glanced at the slaver's and Seth's men, finishing their deal. He still couldn't believe it was happening, that a member of the royal family was here, buying him.