(2 years ago- Month of Shadows, Year of The Crane)
*SLAP*
"I won't be askin' again boy.."
The slaver glared down at me hatefully. I think he's going to hit me again, even if I answer.
I'm right.
*THUD*
Crashing back against the wooden hull of the boat, stars go in and out of my vision.
The cruel man grabs my hair in his gnarled fist and lifts me up to speak. Spit flies over me in his wrath.
"Are ye gods damned deaf boy!? I'm gonna give ye a proper thrashing now."
His other hand rears back and forms into a fist. I know this blow will shatter some teeth.
It doesn't.
I'm dropped to the ground as another man strikes the one holding me.
His body was sent flying and he lay still in a heap, completely unconscious.
I hear a gruff voice with a nasty accent of the Kabalar Empire.
"I told ye not to touch em'. This is fresh merchandise ye fool!"
Turning to look at my savior and captor, I see a hard man. His beard is clean and clothes are neat, unlike the other slavers who slaughtered my town.
"Watchu lookin' at little welp. Ya need to get used to not lookin' yer betters in the eye. Yer nothing but a piece of scum on the bottom of me boot now."
I cast my gaze down, unable to put up even a slight resistance.
Although he just saved me from a harsh beating, I had been a captive for three weeks now and I know of his cruelty.
I've witnessed him personally execute the people I grew up with for defying him. Thirty members of my village had been spared from immediate death when the slavers raided us.
Twenty six remained.
There were twenty seven an hour or so ago, but Harold Cartwright couldn't take it anymore.
He had lunged at this slaver for molesting his wife. His arms were cut off and legs bound as he was forced to watch.
Shivering at the memory of his screams as he slowly bled to death, I respond.
"S-sorry sir. It won't happen again."
A boot came down hard on my knee and I gasp in pain.
"Ye idiot boy, I'm yer master now!"
Struggling through the pain I speak through gritted teeth.
"S-s-sorry master.. p-please forgive me."
The slaver retracts his boot, seemingly satisfied.
"We arrive at the port soon.. get ready boy.. the arena hasn't had fresh meat in awhile."
He turns and leaves while I stare at the ground, completely numb.
'How did this happen.. I just want to go back to how things were before.'
My tears are hot and salty as I cry. I'm not embarrassed by them anymore, I've seen the other villagers breakdown. Even William Kith, that blundering bully cries at night.
Making my way over to the others, I sit and hold my legs. Time passes slowly as I drift off into restless sleep.
It feels like no time at all has passed when I feel something shaking me. At first I thought it was the boat hitting rough waters until hot breath tickled my ear.
"Heeeey, wake uuuup.. I saved some extra food from earlier. Wanna share?"
My eyes snap open and are greeted with the sight of my best friend.
'He's such an idiot.. he needs that food just as much as me.'
I tell him as much as I try to shove the hard biscuits back towards him.
"Don't be like that, if anyone has a chance at making a break for it, it's you."
My frustration rises and my tone feels a little too mean when I hiss back at him.
"Piss off Harry, we're not gettin outta this. Keep saying stuff like that and we'll be killed for disobedience."
He looks a little sad and I immediately feel awful, my thoughts a mess.
'Gods.. he's just trying to help.'
"Sorry.. you didn't deserve that. I'm not in my right mind."
Harry looks somewhat placated by my apology.
"If you're really sorry Kel.. then share this with me."
His face is now playful as he brandishes the biscuits.
I could never stop Harry from getting his way, he always managed to rope me into whatever he wanted.
We eat in silence as my mouth goes dry and I struggle to swallow. The biscuits are dense and my saliva isn't enough to make it go down easy.
Harry pats my back as I try not to spit it out.
When we finish our pitiful meal, sleep claims us both as we rock with the movement of the waves.
My dream is harsh and it's the same one as all the others I've had since being captured.
Coming back out of the woods after seeing smoke, I watch as my friends and family are struck down from riders on horseback.
Timmy Bennet, a brave boy of eleven years old, has his head removed from his shoulders as he stands in front of his little sister.
Four slavers take the girl into a house and screams echo from inside over the roar of fire and clashing steel.
Running to the house, I stop when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
A slaver with a big toothy grin looks down at me as a heavy gauntleted fist crashes into the side of my head.
The blow rocks me as I fall to the ground, my dexterous fingers finding his waist knife.
I catch myself with a step forward and plunge the blade into the man's throat.
I strike quickly three times and blood splashes onto me as it squirts out his neck.
His hands try to stop the flow, but it's too late as he collapses backwards. His eyes bulge in disbelief as he dies.
His blood is hot but cools rapidly as I spit on the ground, red had entered my mouth.
I stare at my hand holding the knife in shock before turning around, just in time to catch a boot in the stomach.
The last thing I see is a knee smashing towards my head.
I'm woken up by one of the slavers.
"Get up ye little pissants! Today it's time to make us some coin."
Cheering came from slavers as they hollered all around and a bucket of seawater splashes onto me as I blink sleep out of my eyes.
I'm now blinking tears and coughing violently when it hits my face.
My throat is raw as I gag at the foul liquid that had gotten in mouth.
I see all the other villagers are soaked already and Finn Tanner's face is cut and bloody. He was clutching the wound in agony, saltwater burning harshly.
It looked like the bucket slipped and hit him in the head.
We are given a bigger meal today, the biggest we've had so far. Some of the villagers whose clothes that had been tattered were replaced by new ones.
The slavers seemed to be in a great mood as the ship docked, not once had they beaten or abused us today. Well, on purpose anyway.
A heavy chain was dragged into view, it had loops and cuffs splintering off every few feet.
The head slavers harsh voice rang out in a command.
"Whores on me left, slaves on me right."
When we didn't move quick enough, the slaver raged.
"Did I stutter.. no, no I didn't. MOVE IT GODS DAMN YOU, MOVE!"
I shuffle quickly into line with the other men. There are eight of us. My head glances towards the side where the eighteen women stood.
'Heh.. women. I grew up with half of those girls. Not even marrying age yet.. and poor Gina.. I haven't heard her speak once since her brother Timmy was killed.'
The chains are tight and uncomfortable as they latch around my wrists, holding my arms behind my back. It loops around my waist and connects me to whoever is behind.
Harry is in front of me and I can see him shaking a little.
After we've been linked to one another, we wait for them to finish on the women.
We're guided off the boat into a dingy port, eyes of strangers turn upwards at the sight of freshly caught slaves.
Someone stumbled behind me and falls, he pulls me down with him. The unexpected weight causes a chain reaction and soon mocking laughter echos around me.
I grit my teeth in anger and shame for being paraded around like livestock.
Our walk is long and brutal, strength leaves my body as the chain grows heavy. We're all a panting mess of sweaty bodies when we stop.
I look up to see a giant mass of stone. I've never been to a city before and this structure boggles my mind.
Tall and wide, it envelops my vision. Pale stone is layed neatly in blocks ontop of one another. I can see the edges tilt inwards as I realize it's shape is a circle.
A couple slavers leave us and head towards a massive entrance guarded by men in full plate armor.
The women were taken in an opposite direction and I had a feeling I'd never see them again.
Harry's whispered voice came from in front of me.
"Gods above.. it's true. They're gonna make us—"
A slaver had walked over and smacked Harry on the mouth. He grabbed his hair and pulled his head close.
"We didn't give ye no permission to speak. Shut it or yer gonna die before having a chance at glory."
Harry whimpered as he responded.
"Y-yes master.."
Ten men followed the slavers who exited the gargantuan building. They came close and inspected the slaves. Poking and prodding muscles, a man with a sheet of parchment takes notes.
We stood there for a long time while they looked us over. Eventually the man taking notes spoke. His voice was still harsh with the Empires accent but his speech was more refined.
"162 gold for the lot of them."
The head slaver was flabbergasted by this number apparently and accepted readily.
"O-one h-hundred and sixty two marks for the lot.. y-yes! I accept! They be all yer's as soon as we get the coin."
The man with the notes nodded to one of his men and he dashed back into the building.
I'm a little startled as I look at the note taking man, his eyes are glued to mine.
Remembering the slavers warning, I duck my head low and pray that I won't be made an example.
Nothing happened after a long pause and I look to see the man still staring at me. I avoid his gaze and see the one who dashed off returning with a heavy sack in his hand.
Passing it to the slaver, our purchase was completed.
The slavers were practically giggling as they left back the way they came, yelling about their plans to enjoy this night to the fullest.
I'm shuffled along once more with the group as we make our way inside.
Twisting corridors and stairs that kept leading downwards was all I could see.
Then moaning and pitiful cries entered my ears as we passed dirty cells, holding battered men.
One by one, we're unlocked from our chains and shoved into unoccupied cages.
When we are finally all locked behind bars, the man who had taken notes started speaking.
'I guess he's in charge around here?'
"Welcome to Kabarlar Empires number one acclaimed arena gentleman. Meals are twice a day and your draft is random. You may earn your freedom through winning, each match pays differently. Win five and you can start requesting other combatants with a higher pay out. There was something else..hmm..?"
The man paused for a moment, then he seemingly remembered the rest of his welcome speech.
"Oh yes, the buyout for each of you is different based on what I decided your worth to be earlier. You can start working towards your buyout after the first three matches. At the very least, a few of you will be introduced tomorrow. So rest well, you'll need it."
The man turns to me and smiles before leaving, actually smiles.
I'm concerned as to what has him so interested in me, but then I remember I'm already a dead man walking and forget about it.