We reach the city and recognize it to be the same one I entered to retrieve the scroll from. People are dancing in the streets and there is an aroma of freshly made food all around, a festivity of sorts.

For the most part, I'm ignored, but occasionally a child will pull my cloak or another slave will look at me with sad eyes as their masters stand around to buy things from the many stalls and shops. A look that I have not been given in years...years. It's been two years since I came to this world.

I shake my head and gather my thoughts. Don't be distracted by what you feel, focus. Most of the guards are drinking ale, while beggars hide inside alleys. We pass near what looks like a burned temple, with the guards I saw in the inner territories of the humans. Standing tall and still, creating an invisible barrier around them that none dare step into.

We head deeper inside the city until we reach a large building surrounded by whores, most of which erase their fake smiles at the sight of Morgana. We step inside.

Many odors invade my nostrils, I may have the appearance of a human but my senses are still sharp as ever. Moaning, ecstasy, a pleasure house with a lot of business. The whores dance around and caress their soon-to-be customers where they stand; Women grind against their bulging pants, and men suck and jerk as well.

But everyone steps away as Morgana drags me deeper into the brothel, we go upstairs and soon the sound of sex dies out, replaced by the muffled sound of the festivities outside. Soon I notice the women chatting in the corridors are dressed more appropriately, and there is noise coming from the closed doors, yet they are not of pleasure, but weeping men and women, or laughing. I smell blood.

"Morgana!" A voice speaks up and I turn around, I recognize this voice "Did you buy a slave? Scarlet will not let you keep him!"

The woman approaches and kneels in front of me, I feel the need to hide but fight against it. She is wearing a light blue gown with a dark blue cloak on her shoulders, and a hood on her head even if we are indoors, what is she hiding?

"Oh, but Lory you misinterpret what is happening, he is a customer," Morgana says as she steps closer to her "He is the son of a wealthy merchant that likes to be handled like a slave" She giggles.

"We told you to stop grabbing customers, you aren't supposed to do that" Lory reprimands in her ear, but I hear her clearly without all the noise. "And if you mean to feed..."

"Loretta, you shock me" Morgana puts on the obviously fake display of shock and hurt "I would never lay a finger on an innocent man"

"Morgana, I'm serious" Her tone is sterner and Morgana's smile falters and she returns the expression with mild annoyance.

"You can't take a joke, can you? The Mistress asked me to bring this man in, happy? Speaking of which, is she around? Or below with her favorite girl?" Her words earned me a suspicious look from Loretta, something I'm not supposed to listen I assume, she can't mean below with the rest of the whores.

"She is, and you know after what she's been through that An- That she is resting"

"Ah, perfect. I will await her by the door then. Cornus, do let her know I'm here...and what a shame, I wanted to share some words with your friend"

The conversation is over so she turns around and walks away, pulling from my chain as Loretta and I look at each other for a brief moment, I remember where I listened to her voice, she was the one who wanted to feed me thinking I was a beggar kid.

We reach the end of the hallway, where a tall and heavily decorated wooden door greets us. It has many carvings in a language I do not recognize. Several minutes in silence pass as Morgana jawns and almost seems to fall asleep on the spot, I notice now the heavy bags under her now brown eyes, surely used similar magic to the one she used on me.

Is this change permanent? Would I want that?

"Come in" A voice speaks up from within the room snapping Morgana awake.

She quickly rubs her eyes and takes a deep breath, putting on a neutral expression as she turns around to face the door, glancing at me and uttering a single word with greater weight than anything she had ordered before.

"Behave"

The door opens and the strong smell of lavender forces me back in time, to Ismeina, but only for a moment. The room is large and tall, with many bookshelves and covered windows, the lit fireplace near a large seat is warm and welcoming. But I can't say the same for the woman standing next to the window.

Her body was taller than any human, wearing a decorated and elegant orange dress with yellow, it was a sudden contrast with the dark and gloomy tones of the room, I notice the walls are a wine red, and this woman with long black hair and black eyes must be Scarlett.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Fogosh, I'm surprised you aren't begging for your life right now. It would be wise, or have you forgotten me?" Scarlett's words send a chill down my spine and her eyes somehow cut right through me, making me feel completely at her mercy...I don't like this "Oh, I see you have also grown a spine, maybe I should remind you why you must fear me"

"Forgive me, Mistress" Morgana speaks up, it is a soft tone. She kneels, looking down "The goblin you speak with is not Fogosh" Scarlett raises her eyebrow with curiosity in response "This is Rokan and I brought him here because like Fogosh, he is smart, and I can vouch for his talent in combat"

"Is that true?" Scarlett now turns to face me, her fragile frame betraying the way every instinct within me screams to run away "Show me, then"

With a snap of her finger, the blue flames swallow me whole once again, this time without pain it feels as if a thick layer of wet mud was cleaned from my flesh, and once the fire disappears, I'm a goblin once more...I can't believe how comforting that is. The cloak has been burned away so I stand naked in front of the witch, who widens her eyes, suddenly looking at Morgana.

"Out" She commands, and I see Morgana was surprised, but after the initial shock bows and quickly leaves the room "I can't believe this...ha ha ha! Oh, Fogosh"

"I'm not-"

"I know, I know...you see, my eyes are more than that of a witch, I'm more part devil than human by now so...I can see a lot of things normal beings can't, a lot of, let's say leftovers in you" She smiles from ear to ear, I swallow hard "Well, at least that explains why you are smart"

Scarlett walks up to me, and I step back without noticing...standing in front of this woman is like trying to face a wolf while starving and both hands tied behind your back.

"There is a lot I want to talk about, and known Morgana she already asked the boring questions...so let me make this more interesting" She snaps her fingers and suddenly a ring of blue fire appears around my neck "Who is your mother?"

"I don't know" What? The words came out without me even thinking about it.

"Good, we are going to keep it like that" She takes a step closer. What does she mean? Does she know? "Who is your father?"

"I don't know"

"How intriguing" She places a finger on her temple, leaning closer "Who are you?"

"I...don't know" No, I know who I am. Why?-

"Well, that's about it for those simple questions. What do you want?" She leans back.

"A kingdom" I can't stop it! The words pour out of my mouth.

"Why am I not surprised? I would say it only makes sense, only that in your particular case reaching that end goal will prove extremely difficult, alone that is...are you alone in this pursuit?"

"I have a war band" I want to force my way out of this spell, I'm done being a servant! I try to move but my whole body doesn't respond, instead sending incredible pain that makes me scream in agony.

"Oh no, do remain still. If you try too hard you may die" Scarlett walks slowly to the fireplace "What are you willing to do for your ambition?"

"EVERYTHING!" I scream out as slowly my body begins to react, I can feel an incredible pressure threatening to smash my head and heart but if that's the case so be it! I won't be looked down upon by anyone!

"If I tell you I can help you, but in turn, you must become my slave, would you agree?"

"NEVER!" The pain is too much! But I can move my body now, I grab the ring of fire as it burns my hands.

The witch snaps her fingers, and the circle disappears. I drop to my knees as I desperately breathe in. The pain slowly goes away, a pressure being released with each passing second. I look up at Scarlett and see her calmly sitting on her ornate chair. Grinning.

"I like you" She snaps her fingers again and a stool manifests next to her "Come, sit. Let's do this again in a more...friendly manner" This bitch...I swallow hard and walk up to her, standing straight and not looking away from her even if every muscle of my body begs me to "Have it your way. Hungry?" A tiny bell suddenly appears in her hand, ringing it once "Allow me to introduce myself properly-"

"Your dinner, my dear" An old man says as he steps inside the room, a butler? That was fast. He carries a silver trail with what looks like seafood on it...the smell is so intoxicating that I hear my stomach grumble loudly "Oh, is that-"

"Do leave this nourishment for our guest here. Let the cooks know to prepare more for me, we don't want to be rude. Thank you, Hulian"

"Of course" Hulian bows and walks up to me, throwing me...what looks like a sincere smile? That can't be. He hands me the plate "Shore crab with Rotulka fins and Willeyok eggs. Do enjoy" He leans back "Shall I bring refreshments as well?"

"Oh, your diligence is always so captivating. Please, do my dear"

I can't control myself as these two speak to each other. I gorge myself on the sizable meal, at least for someone my size, and god...this is the most delicious meal I have ever eaten in my life, after months of simply cooked meat, bread, or dry meat...I can feel myself tearing up. The door closes bringing me back to reality as I look around and notice the butler has left.

"Listen, Rokan. I happen to be in need of a safe place where to put some important eyes of mine, away from Luath. A situation has occurred and after an idiot servant of mine trusted the wrong person, I fear my business in this city is in jeopardy" She opens her palm and a scroll levitates from the shelves to in front of us, spreading wide and showing it to be a much more detailed map of the Luath kingdom "You say you have a war band, that means you have a spot where you keep them, am I right?"

"Why should I tell you? What do you want?"

"The same we all want, Freedom " She gives me an enigmatic smile "You happen to be someone I can make great use of, especially now that war is forcing armies to the border zone and choking my poor servants with their watchful eyes...I need a place where I can keep sensitive information, and talented individuals can use it to hide if needed. I believe you can help me with that"

"And what would I get in return?"

"You really are not afraid for your life, are you?"

"You just told me you needed me, you won't kill me" She giggles.

"Good, stay sharp. Rokan if you aid me, and prove to be a valuable ally, I will provide you with some support for your cause, so long as we set some rules, and as a show of good faith..." She moves her other hand and from her desk, a drawer is opened, a small vial of purple, shifting liquid levitates close to my face "Let me gift you this...pure Starblood"