Vai watched his new mistress from behind as they journeyed through the wilds. He had never seen landscape like Valhym's, the mountains like giants always blocking the sky, the tall trees, and rocky earth very different from the lush green tropics of his homeland. Not that he'd seen much of it, his days mostly restricted in the palace slave chambers.

Although the landscape was harsh and the chill never seemed to leave his bones, Vai enjoyed being out. Lyra had told him he would die in the wilds on his own and he didn't think she realized how right she was. Vai had never been outside a city, save the terrible ship ride to Valhym and the rare occasions the empress had taken him on one of her journeys.

It was exciting.

Lyra took a quick veer to the right and Via stumbled on a rock, following. She glanced back at him and he instinctively lowered his eyes. She was also interesting, this new mistress. Since his...dismissal from the palace, he had gone through eight owners.

First had been the palace slave trader, who had eagerly bought Vai when the empress had thrown him out. He had only kept him for a few short days before selling him to a wealthy trader. Vai had served the trader as he journeyed from island to island, confined to the ship quarters. The situation was unpleasant and Vai's experience with pleasuring men was limited and the trader grew tired of him, swapping him for a slave from another slave trader.

This time he was given to the new slave trader's wife, to keep her happy in his absence. She was an older, bitter woman, who took great pleasure from beating him. When her husband found out, he had yelled at her for abusing good wares and had taken him away to sell.

He was sold to an older man who gave him to his widowed sister. She kept him for a month before their fortunes failed and they had to sell him and many of their other possessions.

A brothel bought him, but he was retrieved by guards when the note of payment was found to have been forged. Vai had been grateful, the brothel had been grueling work and he knew most public zhurl didn't last long.

Finally he was sold to a young noblewoman. He had been with her for three months, finally convinced his life had settled when she grew sick and died. That was the worst thing for a zhurl. The sickness could be easily blamed on him and he would lose his zhurl status and be a common labor slave. The deceased lady's family feared they wouldn't be able to sell him as a zhurl until an eager slaver from Valhym offered a quick deal. The family took it, grateful they got even half of what they had paid for him.

After the horrible journey across the sea, he had been sold to Hilda Greenhelm. The new country was confusing but the manner and position of Hilda was familiar and he had just accepted his new home when Lyra had stolen him.

Now he knew nothing. She was nothing like the nobles or merchants he had served before. She did not have the bearing of an aristocrat but wasn't as crude as the slave trader or the sailors and dock workers. Her comfort with the pace and rate of her traveling made him worried she would quickly grow bored of him, but her satisfaction each night slowly assured him she wanted him.

It was obvious she had never had a zhurl before, and although she had burned his papers, she had made it clear she intended to keep him. Vai felt a great sense of relief from her strong statement of ownership. All he wanted was for his days of being traded and bartered to be over. He had been born and raised a slave, and now, so far from his homeland, being at the side of Lyra seemed the best possible outcome—despite her flaws.

She had a quick temper, but Vai was used to that. His ability to handle hot tempers and move past displeasure had kept him among the empress’s favorites.

However, if angered to the extreme, the empress would have her servants tortured and executed. If Vai angered Lyra, it appeared she would see to his death personally. He had already seen her kill, had ample opportunity to admire her muscular and well trained body, and her equipment made him wonder if she was some sort of assassin by trade.

Obviously, she had an interesting past. One strange thing he had noticed was that she seemed upset by the bear tattoo on her arm. She didn't like when he gave it attention and didn't like when he looked at it. It was a strange reaction that Vai quickly picked up on and avoided inciting, but also couldn't help be curious about.

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Vai tripped again, a branch cracking up and hitting his shin painfully. Lyra shot him an annoyed glance. "Forgive my clumsiness," he apologized with a bow.

She rolled her eyes and moved forward. As she turned away, Vai let himself shiver. Lyra had the cloak and his sleeveless vest did little to stave off the chill air. His body was used to the warm island tropics and he had a hard time believing the sun in Valhym was the same that warmed the sands of Jula.

Suddenly Lyra stopped. She cocked her head and then whirled to the right just a voice rang out, "Ah, the Tigress returns home."

A man was casually sitting on a narrow ledge on one of the large grey rocks that jutted from the earth. The man was handsome, with a well kept short beard and wind tossed brown hair. His grin was wolfish and his grey eyes were fixed on Lyra. His clothes, grey as well, blended easily with the stone behind him.

"Fenrin," Lyra acknowledged the man with a nod and at her stiffness, Vai grew wary.

Grin widening, Fenrin jumped off the ledge landing lightly on the ground. He glanced quickly at Vai, his eyes curious and mischievous.

"That's an interesting man you've got on your tail, dear sister."

Sister. Vai suddenly saw the resemblance. The strong noses and sharp chins were identical. Their eyes, as well, though different colors, were the same shape. A little more comfortable with the situation, Vai bowed deeply as Fenrin approached him.

"I am Vai, slave to mistress Lyra."

Vai began to straighten, but he caught a glance of shock on Fenrin's face and quickly looked back down. Fenrin laughed. "Really? How'd you get an islander as a slave?"

"I stole him if you must know."

Another laugh. "Stealing a slave. Is that the same as kidnapping? Or is this a new hobby?"

Vai heard Fenrin approach and circle him. "Well, he's certainly one to look at. But don't you think we have enough servants at home? Or did you just think our staff needed a splash of color?"

"He's not part of our staff. He's my personal slave."

"Oh? You don't mean?" Fenrin's grabbed Vai's hair and pulled his head back, Vai's face remained neutral as he met his eyes. "You stole someone's sex toy?"

Fenrin's hand shot back and Vai blinked as a dagger flew through the space the arm had just been, inches from his face.

"Don't touch my stuff." Lyra's voice was low and dangerous.

Vai straightened his back and glanced at his mistress. She had a dagger in each hand and was stalking towards her brother. Fenrin was still smiling, but it was frozen and he slowly drew the longsword at his side. As they moved, a branch caught the edge of Lyra's dress and she cursed, ripping it away. Without warning, the tension diffused and Fenrin pointed his sword at the rip.

"What on earth are you wearing?"

Lyra sheathed her daggers. "Ugh, Hilda Greenhelm's dress. I didn't have time to stop at a tailor before I left Taka."

"Ooh a fancy slave and an aristocrat's dress. Are you sure you want to be seen with the likes of our little town?" He sheathed his sword.

"I never want to be seen with the likes of you, Fenrin."

Fenrin clutched his shirt dramatically. "You wound me, sister. But I'm sure you'll prefer my company when I tell you that Bryn is not home."

Lyra looked relieved. "Good, I was hoping to miss him. Is Mother there?"

"No, she went with him this time."

Lyra nodded and began walking again. With a last glance at Vai, Fenrin walked beside her. "So how was the guild visit?" he asked.

"As expected. They haven't changed at all, if anything they've gotten more uptight."

"And the Jarl?"

Jarl. It was a word Vai had heard in Taka. He didn't quite understand its meaning, but it seemed to be a title.

"Word is she's failing fast. Her son leans towards neutrality and is set to inherit, but his sister is a war monger and people are betting on her taking him out of the picture."

"That's bad news. If we go to war, people will start asking questions and poking the bear."

"I know, but it's also good for business."

Vai was now completely lost. He focused on keeping up with the pair, who seemed to move through the rough terrain like it was paved road. What he did catch was that they were going someplace that wasn't a campsite. Lyra apparently had a home after all.