One pair of eyes was not shining with excitement, however. Moonlight was standing to one side, her expression aloof. Emerahl sensed mild envy from the woman. Rozea’s voice became businesslike again.

“Those of you who wish to go, come to the front of the room. Those who want to stay behind, move to the back. Go on now. There is no shame in either. I need people to come and people to stay.”

Brand strode forward confidently. After a moment’s hesitation, Tide followed. Emerahl stayed where she was, near the back. As the room began to settle, Rozea scanned the faces of those closest to her. She frowned, then looked up at the back of the room. Seeing Emerahl, her lips thinned in disappointment. Emerahl felt her stomach knot. She tried to think of a reason Rozea might want her to come on this trip, but she could find none.

The woman’s attention returned to the small crowd before her.

“Thank you. Stay here and Leaf will write down your names. You may all have a day free to visit family before you go, if you wish to. Once again, thank you.”

She stepped down from the raised floor and strode toward a pair of doors. As she reached them, she paused and looked at Emerahl.

“Jade. Come with me. I want to speak to you.”

Emerahl smothered a sigh and followed Rozea into a large room furnished with an enormous bed fit for a king. In fact, she thought, it probably is for the king. The woman closed the doors quietly, then turned to face her.

“Why don’t you want to come with us, Emerahl?”

Emerahl sighed and looked away. “I only just got here. I feel comfortable and safe for the first time in…well, a long while.”

Rozea smiled. “I see. What if I told you I have plans for you? What if I said that by the time you returned to Porin you would be the richest, most sought-after lady of pleasure in all of Toren?”

“What do you mean?”

Rozea’s smile widened. She took Emerahl’s arm and gently drew her to the bed. They sat down. “Moonlight is pregnant. I can’t take her with me, and I’ll need a new favorite soon anyway. The comments customers have made about you have proved me right. You’re good at your work. You have a quality about you that intrigues men. I want you to be the new favorite. Since you must be seen to earn the position, you will leave with the girls and take on your new role when we—”

“I don’t want to be the new favorite,” Emerahl interrupted.

Rozea’s eyebrows rose. “Why not? You will have fewer customers, and then only the best of them. You will earn ten times as much as you do now.”

“But Panilo—”