Anula attempted to settle in, but the bunks were made of old straw and wood planks. Although she was separated from the mass of people she traveled with, their screams and cries could still be heard through the thin walls. Pure bloods stood guard, their weapons un drawn with bored expressions painted on their faces. As she looked around to the gloom faces, she noticed everyone looked similar to herself. Each were tall, with strong builds. She noted only a few whose faces looked vaguely familiar, but could not place them. If any recognized her, they didn’t acknowledge it.

The large room was empty except for the straw bunks and the slaves upon them. The skylight let the last of the sun in and then went dark. She laid down on her back and stared up at the black ceiling, noticing small crystals which slowly began to emit a light blue, almost white light. They were not bright, but they lit up the shadows, leaving none to hide anything. She stared at one, but it didn’t hurt her eyes to look at, it was like looking at the moon on a dark night. Bright enough to reveal a field but dull enough to stare at all night if she wished. Her curiosity was broken by a crash and a scream from the other room, then the sounds of a whip cracking. A man screamed out again and the cracking of a whip continued. The guards looked over to the wall for a brief moment then back to the room. Only three pure bloods guarded the twenty-six… no twenty-seven counting herself. They were all strong and able bodies, but their faces all showed defeat. She thought about taking on one of the pure bloods. She fared well when the city was attacked, she could un arm the one, his sword, rather dagger in his hand was easily unsheathed. Perhaps if she went in, the rest would join her.

Yeah, then what? Lead a grand rebellion of twenty-six to victory in an overwhelming large city that I have no idea how to leave?

She laid there and the pure blood she was looking at was watching her as her eyes went from his dagger to his other weapons. He didn’t move, but his eyes pleaded her to do it and give him a break from his boredom. He gave a slight grin, moved his hand away from his dagger, inviting her to the task and looked in the other direction. Anula let out a breath and tossed away her thoughts of escape for the moment. If she could survive, perhaps she could find a way to escape this hell she has been placed in. Another scream sounded and she closed her eyes. At least she wasn’t in the other room. If this was hell, what would the other side of the wall be considered?

~

Anula succumbed to exhaustion at some point in the night and woke to the first rays of sun hitting her eyes from the skylights above her. She bathed in the sun, its warmth on her face wrapping her in a blanket. She sat up and her mind raced to remind her of the pain on her wrists and the blisters that formed on her feet. Her vision went from golden sunlight to a dusky room, filling with the sun’s rays. The crystals she noticed in the night no longer gave out light, and were hidden in the shadows from the sun. She looked over to the people she was grouped with and most were still asleep. Only a few awoke to the sun in their eyes like her.

Shortly after she shook off her grogginess, the door opened and a pure blood stepped in with what looked like a small goat’s horn. Putting it to his lips he blew and a high-pitched sound assaulted her ears. The people still sleeping jumped out of their bunk and turned to the long, drawn-out noise. When it ended, she could hear the same noise, but duller through the wall behind her.

“Up and out!” The pure blood yelled, his right hand holding a wooden club pointing to the door he came through.

They formed a line and walked out the door in silence and entered a large open area that was filled with new and old slaves. Half breeds whipped and prodded slaves into large groups spaced out so they could walk between the lines. The pure blood leading them stopped and held up a hand, halting her small group. She watched as hundreds poured out of the large buildings, their clothes ripped and bruises covering their body, cringing as they walked as if every slight movement caused them pain. A man walked with a limp and held his other arm. The scene repeated itself in various ways as Anula watched the large groups form.

A Pure blood with brightly colored clothes appeared flanked by two guards.

“Do as we say and your life will be, oh how should I put it… less harsh.” The slaver licked a multi ringed fingertip and placed in the air.

“Ah yes, good winds today, good winds indeed. Lets see… hmm…” He looked over the people and his eyes settled on Anula and her group. “Yes, those, let’s take a look.” His bright purple and blue tunic shimmered in the sunlight as he walked toward Anula. But the guard leading her group stepped forward and halted him with his hand.

“Lord Resa, my apologies, but these belong to the crown.”

“Hmm.. the crown you say?” He was smaller than the guard but he stepped to the side, eyeing up the strong humans.

“I say, they are quite exceptional. Good winds are flowing off the mountains today, yes, they are.” His finger tapped his hairy chin and then raised his index finger in the air, wiggling it quickly from left to right. “Ahh, but the crown does like my coin, does it not? Hmmm… let me see that one, the brute with the thick black hair and dull face. He looks very promising.”

“They belong to the crown.”

“Ahh, of course… But still one must question… what if, oh I don’t know, he attempted escape?” Coins jingled from a coin purse that a ringed hand padded at his belt.

“Let say, he... hmm… attacked you. Yes! He attacked you in the night! The fool grabbed for your dagger in the…”

“He belongs to the king, as do they all Lord Resa.”

“Your certainly not one with an imagination, that’s obvious.” He looked to the other strong bodies and opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off.”

“None will be given to you; these were hand selected.” The large guard folded his thick arms and narrowed his eyes.

“Ooohhh fine, if you must be that way. One day I do so hope you come to your senses. I would be filling your pockets with so much coin you would need your own slaves to carry them. But no, you leave me with these.” He waved his hand vaguely in the direction of the hundreds of slaves behind him.

“No? Still nothing?” He lowered his arm and sighed. “As you will.” Resa shook his head and walked away. The large pure blood kept his arms crossed defiantly and watched as they began assessing the weaker slaves.

“You know sir, we wouldn’t say anything if you did. You would earn a fair amount of coin for the useful ones.” His eyes only glanced over to the guard who spoke.

“Only a few coins to keep your mouths shut as well. No, I will not dishonor my clan. A slave for a few coins is not worth being caught and stealing from the Aesturion. Resa is low born, his money means nothing when you consider his clan.” His eyes snapped back to the slaver pushing slaves out of the line which were taken away. They watched as half breeds, on Resa’s orders separated the stronger of the slaves from the rest. When Resa was satisfied he went back to the weaker group and began again. He stopped in front of a battered woman, her left eye was swollen shut and her shirt just covered her. She held her wrist which looked broken and kept her one eye on the ground.

“You look to be quite useless to me, hm… let’s see.” Resa looked over the woman and touched her wrist. With a yelp of pain followed by tears he stepped back.

“Yes… so, I thought. Hm… What to do. What to do.” He tapped his chin then shrugged looking over to the half breed captain. “Because you have damaged my property without my consent, once again, you have bought yourself a new slave. Expect everyone I find like this to come out of your wages halvras.” Resa waved her away and a half breed grabbed her harshly and dragged her from the line of slaves.

“My lord! You can’t, she is just a…”

“I can’t? You say, I can’t?” Resa spit at the captain’s foot.

“You have been warned not once, not twice, but many times for your actions. I grow tired of your excuses, and your defiling of property. If you want one, buy one. Once you hand me the coin, I don’t care what you do… break every bone… defile as you please. I care not. But to do so without coins in my hand first…”

“She attacked us, tried to...”

“Tried to what? Hmmm? That little thing threatening you? Ahhh now that’s a good Lie! Is it not? No muscle on her thin bones and small, even by human standards. But I see, the best lie is the one none would believe. Yes of course, you must be telling me the truth! She is an assassin! That one is much sweeter to the ears is it not? She purposely enslaved herself and attracted your wrath so she could get close and use your own dagger to slice your throat! Who sent her? Now I just have to know! Please… do go on.” Resa motioned to the halvras captain and smiled his hand moving in a circular motion.

“Oh, please, I do so want to hear how she almost succeeded. Who was she sent by?” The captain lowered his eyes to avoid the slavers intense gaze.

“Nothing? After all that? You beat MY property and have nothing useful for me? As I thought. You are more worthless than the humans you whip. You have cost me too much coin and I grow tired of your existence.” Resa spit again and looked like he had a foul taste in his mouth. Then he stood up straight and smiled, he licked his finger and put it in the air again.

“Ahh... yes… so the winds have changed. Hmm... what to do, what to do.” He drew out the last words thoughtfully as his finger stayed in the air.

“Ahh, yes, that’s it. Your accounts now are forfeit and belong to me, your slaves… Well, the ones you have left alive that is will be sent to the mines.”

“Lord, you can’t!”

“I can’t? Hm... odd, I can’t? What an odd phrase coming from a halvras. But that’s just the thing. I can. And I most certainly will. You are nothing but a slave yourself. I own you and everything that you think to be yours. How sweet it is to see those who think they are better than they are fall into the pit of realization. You are nothing but a halvras and of a clan you can’t even claim to know. You are nothing, and you never have been anything.” Resa let the words cut the captain deep. He watched the range of emotions swirl in the captain. With gritted teeth and clenched knuckles, he reached for the pommel of his sword.

“You can’t do this.” He growled out, losing his grip on his fury. His hand touched the hilt and Resa met the captain’s eyes and smiled deviously as the sword slid free.

“I see you have guts if nothing else. Hang him.” Resa turned around without a care and left his exposed back to the captain, the sword’s point ready to taste blood. Resa took a step away and the captain lunged, but the sword never came close. Two pure bloods disarmed him and brought him to his knees.

“Ahh I almost forgot, my mistake.” Resa turned around and looked at the captain whose knees sank into the mud.

“Remove his horns first, I know a certain… Hm… what’s he called…? Bounty hunter? Yes... Hm maybe. It doesn’t really matter does it? The important part is he pays quite well for the horns… I just won’t tell him it’s from a useless halvras. It will be our little secret.” He waved his hand to dismiss him and the pure bloods dragged him away to a the side where another came by with a saw.

The captain tried shaking off his captors, but their iron grip made sure his arms never moved as he thrashed. The pure blood with the saw grabbed a horn and began at the base.

The spectacle was time consuming and Resa continued his selections of the humans with the captain’s screams and sound of sawing filling the silence. Once the last horn fell to the mud Resa stopped and looked back over to the captain. He nodded and flicked his wrist in the general direction of a wooden structure. A pure blood threaded an iron ring on the top with a thick rope and lowered the noose to where they dragged the captain. The guard who sawed off his horns placed the noose around the captain’s neck and nodded to the pure blood who threaded the ring. He pulled the rope and the noose tighten, pulling him off the ground. The other pure bloods walked away from the captain who kicked and grabbed at the rope tight around his neck. He was pulled slowly up until his foot was far enough from the ground to keep him from touching.

Resa stopped his separation of slaves to look over at the captain who flopped like a fish, his nails tearing at the rope.

“Oh, I see. They used the thick rope.” He licked his finger and put in the air. “Interesting… No wind at all. Looks like his last bit of life will be…” Resa paused and then tilted his head considering. “Ahhh… bad wind indeed.” He looked back over to the struggling captain.

“The wind flows in the wrong direction captain, you should save your breath, you will be with us longer than expected.” Resa laughed and went back to his task.

Anula looked from the struggling captain back to the slaver and then to the pure bloods. They showed no emotion and didn’t even look at the captain as if they cared. The half breeds stole looks in the captain’s direction with devious, calculating eyes.

~

Trumpets blared and crowds cheered. The colosseum was packed full of pure bloods, nobles and low born alike. Sitting in the center, in a large booth Goren stood wearing his formal armor. It was polished and ornate, but still could deflect a blade or an arrow. Although he was here for fun, his duty as honor guard kept his eyes darting around the crowd for a threat. He made sure his entire cohort of honor guard were mingled in the crowd undercover as well as in full display of everyone. King Rurak and Queen Tiata walked arm and arm up the marble stairs with a host of guards, Kimi, close on their heels. Everyone stood tall as soon as they saw their king and waited till he sat before everyone followed his lead. Kimi, followed by the Vesson stood to the side of the honor guards.

“My king.” The Vesson said, his fist to his chest going to one knee. “For today’s entertainment I have acquired a vast collection of creatures for your entertainment in celebration to your heir.” Rurak nodded and the Vesson stood, clapping two times and the trumpets sounded.

Gates on either side opened and a halvras walked out of one with a dull, chipped sword and leather armor. The other gate revealed a large muscular creature with long fangs and sharp claws which dashed out of the other roaring with a high-pitched sound at the noise.

“Goren, where is our brother? I thought he would join us.”

“I believe he has left my king. Kimi, is that right?” Kimi stepped forward.

“You are right my lord, he… let’s see.” He fingered through a small book and then stopped. “Yes, here it is, I received word of him visiting the colosseum last night and after the… Is this right?” Kimi paused and looked from his notebook to the human slave. He shook his head vigorously in confirmation and looked away. “Hm, well it says here, after the death of one of the Vesson’s guards he ‘Spoke’ to a lycan and then left the area without another word. Then…” Kimi flipped a few more pages. “Ah… then I received word he gathered some last-minute things and headed to his legion’s barracks where he spent the night.” Kimi paged through his booklet again and then stopped to see the human handing him a note. “How long have you had that? Give it here. Utterly useless, why I keep you around I will never understand.” Kimi opened the note and read it. “It says here… that he…. Lord Draxz left with the remaining wolf legion this morning and headed to the northern gate. Lord Draxz will relay any information he finds on the… situation. Well, it doesn’t say that but.”

“Enough Kimi, we understand.” Goren shook his head. “Why do you put up with him.” He waved in Kimi’s direction.

“Me? Because I’m full of knowledge and without me you would be...”

“At peace and in silence.” Goren finished. Rurak and Tiata laughed and Kimi frowned.

“Mainly, because he is related to my beautiful wife.” Rurak smiled and kissed her hand.

“He certainly is charming.” She said smiling back.

“Thank you, my queen.” Kimi said with a smile.

“She wasn’t talking about you.” Goren said not looking Kimi’s way.

“But she just… oh…” Kimi looked away and watched the battle unfold.

“You simply need to just learn when to keep your mouth shut. I have no idea which family member you inherited that from. Well come to think of it. My brother does tend to ramble on with stories.” Tiata sipped from a glass and looked from Kimi to the battle to see the halvras’ sword miss its mark and receive a deep cut from the creature’s sharp claws.

Rurak laughed and looked to Goren.

“I still would have enjoyed having Draxz celebrate and enjoy today’s festivities.”

“His mission was urgent, as we discussed. Every minute he misses in the north could be a moment that gives us an answer.”

“Enough, I understand. For one day I wish to simply laugh and enjoy the day.”

“Of course, my king.” Goren looked back and the halvras was being mauled, his neck being torn out by the fanged beast. A roar from the crowd and applause halted the beast and it looked from left to right expecting another attacker. After it was content that none were around, it began to feast.

“Tell me, we are not going to watch that… that thing eat.” Kimi said looking away.

“Of course not.” The Vesson clapped again and trumpets sounded, the next entertainers entered the battle as the beast finished its meal and pounced away, blood still falling from its chin.