"Wake up, K!"

A solid kick hit Caydrick hard in the stomach and he winced.

"Get your filthy limbs out of the hay! You got work to do!" His owner barked while Caydrick climbed to his feet. "Get that fireplace going!"

"Yes, Master." Caydrick bowed to his owner and hurried over to clean the fireplace. He was careful not to spill any ashes. He knew he would get beat up if he stained the floor.

Caydrick was a slave for an average family who bought him in the slave-market when he was 10 years old. Five years had passed, and they had never spoken his name. It was either "slave" or "K". He was bone skinny, slim build, and not very tall for his age. His hair was long, down to his shoulders, and used to be blond. That was until he got sold and was allowed to only take a shower once every month(though in this house, a month apperently lasted three). His clothes were worn out, too small, and dirtier than himself. Furthermore, there was a foul smell of sweat around him from all the hard labour and lack of hygiene. The only thing about him that was not ruined by his miserable life was his eyes. They remained pure emerald green.

Caydrick was forced to work for this family who was absolutely useless at everything they did. His master was a fat, lazy alcoholic who sat in a chair all day and ordered him around. His wife was a prude and did not care about anything but gold. Together they had two sons, age 16 and 18. The sons were hoping to join the Royal Army by training in their backyard, but unfortunately, as the family couldn't afford any training equipments, Caydrick had to stand in as the punching doll. Caydrick had never been equipped with any remarkable skills. The only thing he had was his head. Beneath his filthy hair was a smart brain. It had quick reflexes and a fast thinking mind.

"Quit fiddling around! Make us some breakfast!" His master yelled at him and smacked him over the head with his book.

Caydrick got to his feet again and started his new order; Breakfast. His entire day would be just as yesterday; Cook breakfast, set the table, scrub the floors, wash the dishes, fluff the pillows, make the beds, clean the sitting room, collect the eggs, milk the goat, cook the lunch, get beaten by the sons, lug the garden, clean the urinals, wash their robes, sew their broken fabric, collect water from the well, start the fire, cook dinner, polish the windows, wash the dishes, blow out all the candles, kill the fire, and then finally go to bed at 11pm and then literally wait for the morning kick.

- Well, that was what he thought, anyway.

It was just after dinnertime. The family was sitting around the fireplace while Caydrick was cleaning up the dining table. He went into the kitchen, just as three loud knocks came from the front door.

"Slave! Open the door!" His master bellowed.

Caydrick ran to the door and quickly opened it - and then went completely pale.

He stepped back and took a deep bow when a member of the Royal Army stepped inside, wearing full armor, a spear in one hand and a scroll in the other.

"Hear Ye, hear Ye!" The guard announced. "The Queen searches the Kingdom, for She is in need of slaves. Any man, woman or child, who wishes to sell their slave to the Royal Palace, will receive 4 goldpieces for thine household. All subjects shall report at the Palace within the next three days." And with those words he stepped out, continuing to the next building.

Caydrick was frozen for a few more moments before he slowly starting moving and closed the door. The household seemed to be speechless as well. Finally his Master broke the silence.

"Hrm.." He began with a thoughtfull expression. "That was some news. I wonder why her Highness would seek through the kingdom? Why not the slave market? And why send her guards door to door? Why not sound the message in the town square?"

"I know, I know!" Shouted the youngest son, excited to share his knowledge. "I heard in town that she had all her slaves executed, because one slave betrayed her! She was furious, it was said!"

"She has probably already bought every slave from the slave market by now." The oldest son commented, sounding bored with the situation. "And shouting she is in need of slaves from every rooftop might be seen as weak. It is probably to keep it under her skirts."

"Oh, I am not surprised! Served them right indeed!" His father shouted, slamming his fist into the table. "Those filthy creatures should keep their mouth shut! She is a splendid monarch - for a woman that is - and they betray her like this? Execution should not do it, they should be burned alive!"

"But honey, if we sold our slave to her Majesty, we would get 4 goldcoins!" His wife cut in. The pure mention of gold made her eyes sparkle.

Caydrick felt uncomfortable just standing there, listening in on their conversation and decided to slowly move into the kitchen.

"Hold it there, K!" his Master shouted, and pointed a fat finger at him. "What do you say, my boys? Should we sell the slave?" He consulted his sons.

"No, father!"

"We need it to train!" They both shouted in protest.

"Oh, but boys, with the 4 goldcoins we could save up for a new slave!" The wife cut in again. "Someone who is a better challenge than that one." She shot a quick glare in Caydrick direction, but without actually looking at him.

His Master nodded his head. "That was some idea. We do need a new slave..." He thought out loud. "I might do that. If we sell this one, we could buy a new and better one. And, once they figure out what a complete useless clot this one is, they will probably send him right back and then we will have two slaves!" He exclaimed.

"Yes!" the wife said and folded her fingers, perhaps already feeling the gold within her grasp.

"It is settled then!" Said his Master. "K, fetch me parchment and ink!" He shouted at him.

Caydrick quickly obeyed and brought his Master a quill, ink and some parchment.

His Master scrambled a few words down on the paper and then folded it up. "Here, take this paper and bring it to the Palace. Make sure a guard gets it and that the money is delivered!"

"N-now?" Caydrick studdered as he took the paper. Was he leaving right now?

"Yes, right now, get a move on it!" His Master barked and threw a book at him in rage. "Incompetent fool!"

Caydrick quickly ducked and ran out the door.

Oh God. Was he to work at the palace now?

He was so confused. Everything was happening so fast.

He ran and ran, as fast as his legs would carry him. Unfortunately that was not far. He had not eaten the small loaf of bread he usually got for dinner yet, and was running low on energy. It was already dark and the hot air did not make it easier. He ran a bit further but had to stop. His legs would not continue. He was dehydrated and with no substance in his system, his body was failing.

Maybe if I am lucky I will die, Caydrick thought; Free from slavery.

He suddenly felt the ground on his knees, which was funny because he did not remember bowing. It only took another second before he realized he had collapsed on the ground and was hyperventilating. His lips were dry and his body was running cold. His body was going into a stop.

Yes... this must be what if feels like to die. I am dying, Caydrick thought as his body sagged to the ground and his eyes started to blur.

But suddenly a brutal pair of hands pulled him up from the ground.

"Look at what we got here!" A boyish voice howled.

"Well-well!" Someone else said.

Oh no, Caydrick thought. The thugs had found him.

"A lost slave, it looks like." Someone laughed.

"Stand up, slave!"

Even though Caydrick was tired, he let his thin legs hold his weight.

"He is so tiny! Like a littl' girl!" The guy infront of him mocked, and they all laughed, their voices soaring through the empty street.

"You think there's anythin' in there?" One of them said.

Everything looked odd to Caydrick. He was seeing double, but was still able to see an older boy, bigger than him, standing in front of him. And a couple of more behind him...

"Say, are ya' dead or alive, eh', slave?" The leader asked and gave him a push.

Caydrick wobbled on his legs.

"I asked you something, slave!" He shouted and pushed him again, this time harder.

Caydrick's mouth dried up as he tried to get something out.

"I cannot hear you!"

He got a kick across his leg, which was all it took for him to fall to the ground.

"He is done. Wanna' make it easier on him, lads?" A cheer ran through the group.

Like a stone, he then felt a shoe hit him in his stomach, making Caydrick scream from the pain. A fist to the head soon followed, along with a painful kick in the back. The three boys kept beating and kicking Caydrick while he kept screaming for them to stop and have mercy. Finally, when he had no more voice or pleads left, they stopped.

"Is he dead?" One of them asked.

"Yeah, he is gone. Let us go, I do not wanna' be here when he starts rotting."

Caydrick heard the sound of them running from the scene, but it all seemed so far away. He was left there cold, bleeding, broken and close to death.

He felt the darkness surround him; His life was now ending without him figuring out why he got it in the first place.

But never mind that now, Caydrick thought. Where he was going now needed no explanations.

He felt the angels close their arms around him and carry him off to a better place. He felt himself land on a soft cloud. An angel grazed his hair and murmered something to another angel.

That is odd. Angels do not murmur, Caydrick thought. They speak clearly and shine bright.

But he felt no bright lights behind his closed lids and his pain was still throbbing everywhere in his body. He felt someone grab his right arm which he now felt was pushed out of place.

Someone counted to three.

Caydrick cried out when he felt his arm being pushed into place, but then it was over. It was wrapped up and carefully placed on top of his belly. But darkness now surrounded him and called him to unconsciousness.