“Bobabano,” A slinky red skinned orc knelt by her nephew, “This is Isaan. He is here to visit with me. Can you say hello?”
The woman smiled and the carved details of her ivory tusks peeked from behind her lips. The young boy nodded and waved politely to the blue elf. The redheaded girl standing beside him stared at the stone floor of their villa. Bo pointed to the girl and looked at his aunt with his question plainly in his face.
“This is his thrall,” Yteva pointed to a redheaded human standing beside him.
“Girl,” Isaan hissed and pushed her forward, “Make yourself useful. I have business to conduct.”
“Yes, Master,” She bowed before she raised her head to meet the boy’s gaze.
“Is she allowed to play?” He asked.
“She is here to train with your father’s men,” His slender hands pushed large round glasses up his nose, “Perhaps once your father dismisses her, I will allow it.”
“Aw,” The boy frowned, “I’m bored, though!”
“Gremel doesn’t start training for another hour,” Yteva shrugged, “Let her play.”
“Really?” Isaan glowered at the woman, “You are telling me what to do with my thrall?”
She threw her head back in laughter before rubbing her shaved head, “You are here to see me, Isaan. Why not let her have a treat?”
“Do not let him interfere with your training,” He narrowed his eyes, “You better thank him for convincing his aunt to allow this.”
Mira bowed to the young orc and spoke in an odd accent, “Thank you, Master Bobabano. Thank you, Mistress Yteva.”
“You can call me Bo!” He grinned, “Come on, let’s go play pirates!”
As he ran off, she looked once to her master for an approving nod. Then, she chased after the boy. They ran to a playground built in the middle of an impressive garden for Agrowl. Fruit trees, an abundance of flowers, and fountains littered the garden. Bo climbed up a metal playset with swings and ladders and a small ship built to rock back and forth when ran upon.
“What is your name?” Bo tilted his head to look at her.
“I do not know if I am allowed to tell anyone, Master Bo,” She flatly stated.
“I’ll call you Girl, then!” He grabbed onto the ropes leading to the ship, “Have you never played pirates before?”
“I have not been allowed to play.”
“Well, we climb on the ship. Then, we swing around, play with swords, and pretend to capture other ships!” He grinned, “It’s about pretending to be pirates. You’ve seen pirates, haven’t you?”
She looked up at the playset with disinterest, “Yes.”
“Good. Let’s play then!” Bo climbed of the rope ladder and onto the deck of the small ship, “Ahoy!”
He pointed a mounted spyglass into the yard. He moved it around in search of something as Mira swiftly climbed onto the deck behind him. Her head tilted unnaturally as she studied him to learn to play.
“First mate, Girl!” He turned and handed her a wooden sword from a fancily decorated chest on the deck, “Are you prepared for battle?”
Mira looked over the toy sword and swung it twice in a practice motion, “This is not optimal for killing enemies. Do you need me to get real swords?”
“No, Mama doesn’t like when I hurt the thralls,” Bo frowned, “How old are you?”
“I do not know,” She titled her head in thought for a moment, “I remember ten winters. How old are you?”
“I’m going to be thirteen next spring!” He grinned, “Then my dad will let me go sailing on a real ship.”
She stared blankly back at him until he peered back into his spyglass, “What are you looking for?”
“Treasure!” Bo pointed down the garden, “Look, there’s some!”
He felt the wind rush by him as Mira leapt from the railing in the sprinted in the direction of his finger. He placed his eye back on the glass to see her strike down a maid and gather the bundle of fancy fabrics. Bo had never seen someone his own age move so fast. As the maid begged for the girl to stop, the wooden sword connected with the servant’s shin. A scream of pain echoed through the garden as she sprinted back with Bo’s treasure.
“What next, Master Bo?” She placed the fabric in the chest next to his spyglass.
“Release the sails! We have to flee before they catch us!” He called and pointed to the mast of the small ship.
“I will eliminate any threat that comes towards us.”
“No, Girl,” He shook his head, “We’re playing. You just have to let the sails down so we can pretend to sail away.”
She looked up at the mast before grabbing onto the rope and climbing towards the sails. Mira slammed the wooden edge of the toy sword repeatedly against the ropes until it snapped, and the crimson red fabric flowed freely. A mermaid with flames in her hands decorated the silky sails of the small ship. Bo ran to the helm and furiously turned the wheel as he pretended to sail away. Mira stood behind him and awaited her next orders.
“Bobabano Cauldronbone!” A woman yelled from below them, “Did you break her leg?”
Mira jumped from above and landed in front of him with the toy sword outstretched, “Is this the threat you spoke of?”
“Mama!” He leaned over the rails, “I didn’t do it. Girl did!”
The mossy green orc placed her fists on her hips and looked upwards, “Who is she?”
Bouncy red curls came over the side and peered coldly at the woman below. The orc blinked in surprise and pointed to her.
“Get down here this instant!”
“My master has commanded me to –”
“I am the queen of this country and above your master in my palace! You will get down here this instant!” The woman stomped her foot, “Or I will have you punished.”
Mira leapt from the deck and landed in front of the woman. She slapped the girl’s face and pointed to the ground. Mira knelt and lowered her head.
“How dare you steal my fabrics! Maral is in the midst of making me a dress for this evening!” The queen growled, “Bring them back immediately! Your master is going to pay for the healers on her leg.”
“My apologies,” She bowed deeply, “I misunderstood my assignment.”
“Mama!” Bo grabbed the rope and reeled down, “We were just playing. Can’t you have someone else work on the dress? I’m sure you’ll be pretty no matter what.”
The woman cupped her son’s face and kissed the top of his head, “Silly Bo. Of course, another woman will. But, we cannot let the thralls harm each other or we could end up losing one. What happened if she killed Maral while you played?”
“Sorry,” He lowered his head in shame, “Is Papa almost back yet?”
“Your father is still in a meeting with his generals,” She rolled her eyes, “And your aunt is off somewhere with that elf. Get your cousin to play and let the thrall do what they do best.”
“She’s too young to play pirates,” He crossed his arms in protest, “All she wants to do is play dolls.”
“That is your punishment, then,” The queen let go of his face then turned to Mira, “As for you –”
“I will accept any punishment you deem necessary.”
“Good. My primary will administer forty lashes,” She eyed the girl, “And, I want your hair cut.”
Mira touched her auburn curls, “How short?”
“To the scalp.”
She pulled a knife from under her tunic and gripped her hair. As she scrapped the blade along her scalp without protest. The empty look of her amber eyes bore into Bobabano’s soul. He felt a chill run down his spine as she finished shearing her hair. As Mira handed the hair to Queen Quillia, Bobabano saw the black enthrallment brand on the back of her neck. The wreath of dark, wriggling lines made him wince.
“I will wait here for the rest of my punishment,” Mira stowed the knife back under her tunic.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“Good. Your master will hear about this,” She snatched up the curls and tucked them into a pouch at her side.
Bo looked to the thrall with sadness. Her beautiful, bouncy hair made her pretty. He wasn’t surprised that his mother wanted the red locks. After all, they were worth a fortune in Agrowl. She had purchased many pounds of hair for her wigs before. He thought that Yteva may have been discussing purchasing the girl’s hair when they went off to play.
“Bobabano, go find your father and bring him here. I need to find the healer and get back to my fitting,” She tussled the black spiky hair on his head, “I will see you at dinner.”
As his mother walked away, Mira looked at the ground.
“You didn’t even argue,” He shook his head, “Most argue and plead for something nicer. She’s usually nicer if you act sorry.”
“My master does not allow me to argue,” She scratched at her freshly sheered scalp as the nicks bled, “Whatever punishment he gives me from this will be worse. If I accept her punishment… he may be kinder in the end.”
“I’m sorry I got you in trouble,” He wrapped his arms around her in a hug, “But I did say we were playing. Why did you hurt Maral?”
Mira flinched as he hugged her and stared to the ground in silence. He didn’t understand how a thrall could mistake playing for hurting another thrall. Bo thought the girl must not be very smart.
Bo ran along the garden walls until he came upon his dad’s office. He heard shouting from the other side of the closed door. He pressed his ear against the crack in the door to try and make sense of any noise.
“Are you absolutely positive?”
“My thralls have been watching them, Gremel. She says he’s here to sell morningfire birds, but I doubt it. They are scheming something,” Another voice whispered, “That, or Yteva has taken a second.”
“Elves disgust her,” Another man snorted.
“We must protect Quillia at all costs,” His father said, “We can take shifts through the night at her quarters. That should eliminate any chance that –”
The door creaked open to the meeting. Bo’s eyes grew wider as he found out he had been caught.
A burly orc stood there with a playful grin, “Bobabano, should you be sneaking around like that?”
The boy’s face reddened from embarrassment, “I’m looking for Papa.”
“What is it, son?” A larger man stood up from the table, “Are you alright?”
“Mama wants you to punish a thrall for hurting Maral,” He stepped awkwardly between his feet, “Sorry for listening in.”
“You’re trying to be a big man, I know,” The orc chuckled and walked to his son, “We’re just talking about your mother.”
Bobabano’s golden-yellow father knelt to him and tussled his hair. The man gripped him in a tight hug before patting the boy’s back and letting him go.
“Where is the thrall?”
“It’s mister Isaan’s thrall – Girl,” He pointed, “We were playing pirates when she broke Maral’s leg.”
“Isn’t that the girl we’re supposed to allow to train with us after the meeting?” His mother’s third lover spoke, “The girl broke a grown woman’s leg?”
“Did you steal those swords again, Bo?” His father raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
“Aunt Yteva said I could have them.”
“Well, if she said so then I think it’s alright,” Gremel sighed and scratched his head, “Men, I think it’s time we end our meeting. We can determine shifts after dinner. Bo, take me to the girl.”
Bobabano led his father into the garden where Mira stood attentively. The orc eyed her in confusion. He patted her back.
“You are a little thing. How could you break someone’s bones?” He chuckled, “Maral is getting older. She must have stepped funny.”
She stared up at him blankly with her haunting amber eyes. Gremel uncomfortably shifted and looked to Bo. Neither of the orcs knew how to allow the girl to escape the harsher punishment.
“What did your mother say was the punishment?” He looked at Bobabano, “Only ten lashes?”
“Forty lashes,” The girl replied in his stead.
“You must have heard wrong, girl,” Gremel shook his head with a chuckle, “That seems excessive if it was an accident.”
“No. Queen Quillia demanded I scalp my hair and receive forty lashes,” Her hollow eyes watched the man, “I will take more if that is not an adequate amount for my punishment.”
Gremel motioned for the children to follow him. They walked through the beautiful courtyard until they turned down a narrow hallway. Bobabano knew this is where the dungeon was. Any thrall that disobeyed was taken to the dungeon for punishment. Queen Quillia did not want her courtyards covered in blood, after all.
A single lantern on the wall cut through the darkness. Mira stepped inside and looked at the pillory in the middle of the room. The metal stand was covered in dried blood and vomit from its victims. She moved a nearby stool so she could reach the holes cut for the head and hands in the stocks.
“Remove your shirt so I can get to your back,” His father nervously cleared his throat, “I do not want the fabric getting caught in your wounds.”
She nodded once and did as she was told. She unwrapped the cloth that bound her small breasts to her chest. A stone necklace dangled on the other side. She placed her hands in the half circles of the lower half of the pillory and looked back to Gremel.
“Head as well.”
She placed her throat against the stained metal. He looked at Bo and pulled a whip from the wall. He placed it in his son’s hands and walked to the girl. He closed the top half of the device and locked it close.
“You commanded her,” He pointed at Bo, “You punish her.”
“But Mama –”
He slammed his hand down on top of her captive device to silence him, “Your mother is not here. Bobabano, you must learn what happens when you command our thralls to do something wrong.”
“Papa, I –” He looked at the whip, “I don’t want –”
Gremel snatched the weapon and cracked it across her back. She flinched as the first line started to bleed. A second crack of the whip caused another line, but she didn’t move. Each snap caused leather to bite into her back and split the skin apart. After forty lashes, Gremel rolled the whip up and hung it back on the wall. Her back bled freely and dripped onto the floor beneath her.
“Bo, they are not like us. They are weak. They are stupid. That’s why they are thralls,” Gremel knelt to his son, “You have to teach them what is acceptable. If they do not learn, they are punished. If she hurts another, she will know not to break any bones. We can’t let them hurt each other to get out of work.”
The young boy looked over at the bleeding girl as she stared at her own feet. The hollow look in her eye scared him more than his father’s words did. Her gaze flickered over to him for a moment before he looked away.
“Her master said she –”
“I know, son. We are waiting for her to scab over.”
“Master would recommend burning the wound. It is more painful that way,” She whispered, “And reduces the chance of infection.”
“Would he, now?” Gremel raised an eyebrow, “How exactly does he do that?”
“Master—” She hesitated as if she wouldn’t be able to speak, “Master is a world renown flame elementalist.”
“Then he can do it.”
“Master has ordered me to—”
“Silence,” Gremel sighed.
“Can we unlock her?” Bobabano looked at his father.
With a nod, he walked over and unlatched the trap. He lifted the top half and Mira shyly pulled her wrists and head away. She slowly rewrapped herself and pulled her tunic over her torso.
“Now we will start training,” The older orc opened the door and the children followed.
Bobabano’s eyes watered, “I’m so sorry.”
Mira did not look at him as she followed his father. Bo left them shortly after and ran to his mother for comfort. He played with his younger cousin and thought of the look on the girl’s face as his father punished her. At dinner time, he sat at his mother’s left side as the thralls brought out food. Yteva and Isaan joined the dinner table together. Mira stood behind them with a burn across her throat and cuts along her arms. The back of her tunic was stained brown from the dried blood.
Gremel sat next to his queen and kissed her hand softly, “I heard about your favorite thrall.”
“Yes. The girl has been properly dealt with now,” Isaan sneered, “Next time, I would appreciate you coming to me before chopping her hair off.”
“Well, perhaps you should keep a better eye on her so she doesn’t harm my thralls,” The queen smiled coldly, “And Agrowl will smile upon me with the red curls. They were quite beautiful. A shame it was attached to a thrall or I would have tried to set my son up with her.”
“Truly,” Isaan scoffed, “I grew her hair out as a gift for Yteva. It is a shame you took them before I could have gifted it.”
As the adults spoke at the dinner table, Bobabano watched Mira eye the food in front of her. Her ravenous gaze at the roasted meats and toasted vegetables nearly caused his own stomach to rumble. He decided he would steal her some food if she wasn’t allowed to eat because of him.
Once dinner finished, he snuck into the kitchen and asked the chefs for a plate with deserts for himself, and a serving for Mira. He ate the fluffy pastry quickly and walked down along the massive halls of the villa until he reached the garden. There, Mira stood and looked up at the playset. She turned when she sensed him walking up to her.
“Master Bo,” She bowed and looked back to the play ship.
“I’m sorry I got you in trouble,” He held the plate towards her, “Were you allowed to eat?”
“Master forbids me from eating until further notice,” She looked at the food with a painful glint to her eye, “It… smells delicious. Thank you, Master Bo.”
“It was,” He frowned, “Where are you sleeping?”
“I do not.”
“You don’t get to sleep either?”
She shook her head. After a long pause, she pointed to the ship, “Why pirates?”
“Papa was a sailor before he met Mama,” Bo smiled, “He says the greatest treasure he ever got was the love of the strongest woman he knew and a chest of gold off a pirate ship.”
When she didn’t respond, he continued.
“Papa also tells me that I should find the strongest woman and make her my queen,” He held the plate towards her, “Are you sure you can’t take one bite?”
She bit her lower lip before snatching a roll from the plate. As she lifted it to her lips, black veins swirled around her throat. She coughed and grasped at the mark on the back of her neck. The bread slipped between her fingers and hit the ground.
“What was that?” He looked at her alarmingly.
“My brand,” Her hoarse voice croaked out as she picked up the roll, “If I disobey my master, it hurts me. I could die.”
Mira stared at the plate and her stomach grumbly protested for it. She closed her eyes and grabbed the plate.
“Please, allow me to take the food away so you don’t get in trouble.”
“Oh, okay.” Bo let her grab the plate and walk away.
She paused once more and looked back at his ship, “I am sorry, Master Bo.”
Then, she left without another word. He wondered why she stared up at his pirate ship and so intently. Maybe he could convince his mom to let him bring some friends the next time they visited the summer villa so they could all play pirates. Bo walked down the corridor that led to his room, he heard the sound of collapsing stone. He ran towards it and saw a hole in the wall of his mother’s room. He heard shouting and ran to see what happened.
Black mist wafted from the other side of the broken wall. Flashes of fire and golden light sparked from the other side. Screams echoed into the night as guards rushed to the queen’s room. Gremel flew through the wall and landed on the ground. Blood sprayed from his lips as he struggled to get back on his feet. He launched a shard of ice back into the room.
“She’s attacking the queen!” He yelled.
“Mama!” Bo ran towards the fight.
“Bo, wait!” Gremel grimaced as he reached for the boy.
He fought his way through the guards to reach the door. As it swung open, he saw the girl standing over his mother. Quillia’s fists flamed as Mira held a dagger towards her.
“Bo?” His mother looked over to him.
Mira plunged the dagger into her chest and jumped backwards. The queen gripped it and looked to her son in surprise.
“Mama!” He yelled and ran towards her.
“Bo, get out! Run!” She hissed and pulled the dagger from her chest.
A ball of fire struck Mira and threw her into another wall. It collapsed behind her. The queen gripped her bleeding wound and cursed under her breath.
“The little thrall,” She chuckled airlessly, “Who would have thought?”
“Mama!” He cried.
“Find her, Son,” Quillia tussled the hair on his head, “Find her and –”
A final coughing caused the queen to seize. Bo shook her until someone grabbed and pulled him away. He looked to see his aunt looking at him.
“Not her too,” She sniffled, “First Gremel, now my own sister.”
“What do you mean?!” He panicked, “Where’s Papa?”
He ran from the room to see his father lying motionless on the ground. He screamed in rage and ran from the bloody scene. He made his way through the garden as guards chased after him. He found himself at the play ship once again and looked up to see the girl standing high on the mast of the ship.
“Why?” He cried, “Why did you do that?”
“Master ordered me to,” Her voice wavered, “I am sorry, Master Bo.”
“I will kill you!” He picked up a rock and threw it at her, “I will find you and kill you! I promise that!”