Proofreader: Kagenesti

Chapter 32 - The last stretch

Riin's POV

Edge of the Stoney Forest - Time, Early summer.

Sixth day of travel.

An hour before the sun rose, I with Lark and Ellette in throw, went to revive the snares and any wildlife they might have in them and to get the two of them with me to the lake, they were in a big need of a bath. With a note on their need on a bath, we left. They both quietly started to cry and if you ask me why, I have no idea. If I had to make a guess I would say that they were crying from a form of happiness as neither of them did anything to indicate that they would dislike a bath. So we grabbed some towels and made our way to the lake. As we walked Ellette kept herself a half step behind Lark as we walked and Lark kept herself two steps behind me to my left whenever the small trail we walked along allowed her, we soon arrived at the lake.

“Take your time and wash yourself, I will go check on the snares that I put up in the meantime.”

“Yes, master.”

Hmm, she must be more at ease today or she might just be too tired to think about who she is talking to, but it's still good to hear her voice with the shuttering, so who cares for the reason. Giving a quick look over to Ellette and making eye contact with her.

“Your answer?”

Her eyes grew big for a short moment, before she seemed to remember what I told her the evening before.

The evening before

Letting my finger out of her mouth, I dried off the drool on them and look at the frightened child in front of me. I let out a heavy sigh, this was going to to create some problems in the long run, so we needed some ground rules for communicating with each other. But before all that unneeded some more information on this child before me, as I had no intention of adding trouble to my plate.

“I will ask you a few questions, nod if yes and shake your head if no. Do you understand?”

A few moments passed before a slow nodding of her head came. Good, let's begin with some very straight ones.

“Your name is Ellette?”

A nod.

“Your eight years old?”

A slight pause, then a nod. Going good so far, let's take some of the more hard ones now.

“Did you come from the mainland?”

A nod.

“Did you get sold by your parents?”

Teary eyes and a quick nod… So, basically the same situation as with Lark, is it the norm to sell your fucking kid for coin or what?

“Did the bandits do that to you?”

I make a small hand gesture at her face and arm, tears form quickly in the corner of her eyes, before she slowly nod her head.

“What it the bandits captain?”

A nod, the tears are now running slowly down her cheeks. I didn't know an eye with the ‘eye’ could still shed tears, guess it comes down to if the tear canals were damaged or not.

“Do you want to know how he died?”

Her head snaps to me, her eye staring straight at me without blinking, a few quick nods.

“He died begging for his life.”

A few seconds pass before a light shows in her eye, and a bright smile forms, grinning from ear to ear, happiness and joy shining out of her.

“I will do my best to ask you in ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question from now on, to make it so you can answer me, understand?”

A nod.

“Good.”

Present

With her being unable to speak in the common sense of the word I had asked her to nod or shake her head as an acceptable form of answering, as so she was at of this moment was nodding her head as fast as her body would allow her too, quiet a funny looking sight really.

“Good.”

Not much was said as we walked back to the camp, Lark was tasked with reheating some breakfast for us and Ellette… Well, I had her help Lark as I cleaned the deer, gaining some experience in [Tanner] as I worked. The tents were taken down and packed on the horses, the loot was likewise packed up and soon we were ready to leave the camp behind, much to Lark and Ellettes liking. But before we moved out, I make it clear to them that I do not have to time to chase after them should they decide to run, and if they decided to try and run away, anything they had experienced so far would feel like a blissful dream. Having made my point we set out for the last two days of travel, - yes, two days, me in my happiness of getting a home cooked meal from mother forgot that even as we reach The Flood, we still have to travel a day down river.

With Lark and Ellette sharing a horse I have the other nine extra ones tried up in a long line getting pulled along as we move along. The trip is peaceful and as the sun starts to set we reach The Floods western shore, we are now on the last stretch home. We make camp, well I say camp but it is really more of a campfire with a bunch of horses tied to a few drift logs and tree bedrolls on the ground. The dinner comes in form of freshly grilled deer rib on open flame with spices on them and some potatoes baked on a more or less flat stone, a fucking feast fit for a king if you ask me, I have completely outdone myself this time.

After dinner Ellette was sent to bed, as she was half asleep during the dinner itself, that finally gave me some alone time to ask Lark more about slaves and the rules they have to abide by.

“I have a few questions that I would like you to answer for me.”

Lark looks up from her fourth plate of tonight's dinner, quickly chewing the current mouthful before answering me.

“Of course, master.”

“So slaves are legal to trade and own, yes?”

“Yes, master.”

“Both Ellette and you were sold as children, correct?”

She freezes up a few seconds before answering me.

“Yes, master.”

“Is it normal for families to sell their children as slaves?”

She sits there for a while, doing a ‘hmmm’ sound.

“I would say that it is the not norm, but it is definitely not something that is frown upon for the poor class to sell their children into slavery. The money that is normally gain from selling a single child can feed a family of four for around a year if they spend the coin wisely.”

It's funny how she speaks without stuttering when explaining something, yet when she is required to answer directly she clams up and starts to become scared and nervous, resulting in her shuttering. Well, that explains why both Lark and Ellette was sold young, now for the next few and more important questions.

“Both of you was sold by your parents, and that it is legal for parents to sell their own children. How does the kingdom deal with slave not sold from childhood?”

“E-Erm, do you mean criminals, master?”

Hmm, I guess I didn't form the question well enough.

“Well criminals too, but I'm more thinking about if someone is kidnapped and sold, is that possible or is it considered a crime?”

“M-May I answer the part about the kidnapping first, master?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“As far as I know, the land of House Glorvlest is the only noble house to openly trade in kidnapped people, but I have heard rumors that House Bellfort is also trading in ‘lost people’. The kingdom as a whole does not see kidnapping and selling people as a good thing but if the victims is of a poor family nothing is really done to stop the people who sell them off as slaves.”

“Hmm, so if you have power it does not matter if you kidnap a whole village as long as you can pay of the right people to get away with it…”

Ah, didn't mean to say that out loud. She is looking down at her feet, her voice holds a sadness to it.

“Yes, master is correct.”

A few minutes pass before we speak again.

“What about the criminals then?”

“Anyone caught doing a crime will be punished, if the crime is committed two times the person will be branded as a slave.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

So you get one chance and that's it.

“Any crime that will lead to dead penalty instead of slavery?”

“Killing law abiding citizen, I-I'm so s-sorry, master. The laws differ between the Noble Houses lands, so I'm unsure just what other kinds of crime will grant the death penalty, f-forgive me.”

Hmm, so each noble house acts as a state or small region within the kingdom itself.

“It's fine, so killing a citizen is banned in all the Houses?”

She breaths out, relieved that I'm not mad, it seems.

“Yes, master, that is the law of the king.”

Hmm.

“How about if one is attacked and kill a person, is that self-defense or a crime?”

“If one can prove that the other part attacked first it is not a crime to defend oneself from harm.”

Well that's good to know.

Now, I just need some all-around questions answered and I should not have any extra trouble dealing with slaves and the rules surrounding them.

“Okay enough about that. Answer me this, you say that a poor family can sell a child and live for about a year of the money they get, right?”

“Yes, that is correct master.”

“How much are we talking about here? How much was you sold for and how old were you?”

She sits for a while, quietly just staring at her feet, I will give her a few more minutes before starting to get pissed off at her. After all, recalling getting sold off by your family for a fucking boat must not be that fun.

“I-I was ten, w-when they s-sold me.”

A few tears run down her cheeks, I wait for her to continue.

“A-As far as I k-know, they got f-fifteen g-gold for m-me.”

Fifteen… Fifteen gold… Wait a fucking minute.

“Fifteen gold, are you sure that was all they got?”

She looks at me with big eyes.

“I-I'm sorry master, I-I don't understand…”

“You said, the ones who brought you paid Fifteen gold coin for you, correct?”

“Y-Yes, master.”

“Are you telling me that a horse is more worth than a slave?”

She looks at me for a moment before she slowly starts to nod her head.

“Y-Yes, master.”

… Are they shitting me? So it goes like this so far. Slave, poor people, house, job, horse… that seems fucking wrong!?

“But you said that the owner of the slave don't pay for having them, other than food and shelter, right?”

“Yes, master.”

“Then the price is just plain out broken…”

“I-I don't u-unders-”

“My horse costs at least seventy gold according to the trader that I talked with, but a child slave costs only fifteen gold? I don't get it…”

She is looking at me like she has no idea why I'm making such a big deal out of the price between a slave and a horse, that the look she is giving me right about now.

“E-Erm…”

I look at her, but she remains quiet.

“Do enlighten me.”

“E-Erm, s-slaves are d-disposable, m-master.”

… Are she telling me as soon as that mark is put on them, they are no longer seen as ‘humans’, let's clarify that.

“Tell me, what would happen to a married man, who slept with a slave and it was found out?”

“N-Nothing, master.”

“Is it not infidelity?”

She is slowly shaking her head.

“No, master.”

“What if the slave got with child?”

“I-I don't know, master.”

“Explain.”

“M-Most female slaves are given a drug that prevents them from becoming pregnant.”

I see…

“So married men are fully allowed to sleep with a slave and is that seen as normal?”

“I don't know of anyone who see it as wrong, master.”

“Hmm… I see.”

you have gained a basic understanding of slavery in the Kingdom of Asperd, skill gained [knowledge - Asperd Slavery]

Lark soon joins Ellette to get some much needed sleep, if the yawning is anything to go by, I on the other hand still have some things I need to figure out before we reach Flood Village. Since my little talk with Lark, I have been thinking about the worth of a slave compared to that of a horse. I now see that a horse in this kind of life is more worth than a slave, my idea behind this is that even if you buy a slave for say, ten gold, the human body only hold on so long for hard labor which I assume that the slave will have to do each day, combine that with example rape and daily beatings, a person can only live so long with no modern care. A healthy horse on the other hand would only need a nights rest before it is ready to ride again, a thirty year old horse is still a good horse for a normal day's workload. So with that little problem out of my brain, I'm free to think about my plans for when I get home.

I will have to make a deal with Baul, even if I dislike that old man, he is the only one who seems to be running a trading caravan from one end of the island to the other. I want to leave two horses for mother and father, so that gives me eight to sell, if I go by his price I should get a minimum of sixty gold per horse, giving me a minimum outcome of four hundred and eighty gold. If I can sell the weapons to the village guards I might earn some coin there as well… Yeah, let's leave it at that for now.

Seventh day of travel.

Lark's POV

I'm awoken by a hand on my shoulder, shaking me while my name is being whispered. The sun has just showed itself, even the birds are not yet fully awake yet. It has been years since I have had a good night's sleep and years since I was not awoken by either kicks or being dragged around by my hair. This ‘new’ way of getting awoken, it makes me uneasy in a way, no one is normally nice to slaves, ever. I open my eyes to see my new master give a nod to me and move over to Ellette, shaking her awake as well, while slowly and in a calm voice calling her name.

Soon we are around the campfire, eating some leftovers from last nights meal. While my new master is only a child, I fear him more than any of my other masters. One, who can make a bunch of thieving murderous criminals cry and beg like children is no one innocent, that much I know. I too has felt his power and seen his magic, in the dark he moves as if there is no darkness at all, he is less human than those bandits where.

Yet, there seem to be a kind side to him as well, the way he understood Ellette’s fears, the gentle way he wakes us up on. He prepare all the meals himself, even if I think that just because he doesn't trust us yet. He gave us cloth to wear and a horse to ride, yes I'm sure the child has a gentle side to him. Like I'm absolutely sure that if we try to run and he catch us in the act, we will suffer like nothing before.

The horses are packed and soon we are on our way down south, along the large river which is more like part of the ocean itself. The only sound heard are that of the horses hooves, the river and masters humming are all that echoes as we go along the riverbed.

We ride along the riverbed for a few hours before master starts to talk, his voice that of a child yet his words carry more weight than the greatest of kings, his word is law and to survive we will obey.

“We will reach the village by sunset, be sure not to mention anything about how the bandits died, if you wish to live that it.”

He does not look back at us as we ride, yet Ellette still nod her head with eagerness and I still answer.

“Understood, master.”

“Oh, and not a word about my magic either, understood?”

“Yes, master.”

Ellette looks up at me, she seems unsure if master have ‘heard’ her answer as well.

“Master, Ellette to understand the order.”

My voice is much weaker than when I answered him before, I don't know if he will be angry with me for speaking up. Ellette too looks uneasily at master, waiting for anything to come flying our way. Yet all that come from him is a short answer.

“Good.”

Soon after he is humming softly again.

Hours pass and the only stop we get is when master has to pee, as he gets back on his black horse again he once more speak to us.

“Oh, I don't know if my family likes slaves so keep your mouths shut and speak only if spoken too, do not look at them and no not speak to them, understood?”

This time he half turns around as he speaks and await our reply.

Ellette nods her head violently, yet looks uneasy about the whole meeting of new people.

“Yes, master. I understand.”

There are two kinds of people in this world, people who treats us like something lower than pigs and people like master who at least use our names, yet when he is not opposed to violence, that we already know. Any other kind of people are liars, no one treats other people well if they don't have anything to gain, that is the first lesson you learn when you become a slave.

I'm taken out of my thoughts by the sound of master calm voice.

“There it is, Flood Village.”

A mid sized village surrounded by wooden walls comes into view as we pass the top of the small hill. The short time I have to prepare myself seems to all but disappear, as the gate opens for us and all too soon closes behind us.

We come to a halt, outside a house, that seems to also hold a workshop as well. As soon as we come stop, the front door swings and a middle age women comes storming out, tears run down her cheeks but she is smiling so happily as she run towards the horses.

“Oh, my sweet child! Your home!”

Master gets all but ripped from his horse, into a hug that seems to hurt a bit judging from his facial expression. Yet, to my amazement he remains in the woman's hug, giving her soft pats on the small of her back.

“I'm back, mother.”

A roar is heard and both the horses and us jump a bit as a big muscled man with a full beard comes from around the corner. Ellette is shaking so much that I have to hold a tight grip around her as I'm unsure if she is about to pass out from fear.

“Son!”

Master turn around as much as he is allowed in the iron grip of his mother, only to be embraced into a give more painful looking hug from the big man.

“Father, I can't breathe.”

Master voice is clear, even as he is slowly running out of air, I'm impressed that he has not raised his voice at all.

The woman looks up from master to us, I hurry and low down not meeting her eyes.

“Sweetie, who are these two, if I might ask?”

The big man releases master from his hold and too looks towards us. Master raise a brow at his mother, but says nothing for a while.

“Mother, this is two people that I rescued on my way here.”

Master opens his mouth and is about to speak again when his mother interrupt him.

“Children come down from there, you must have had a long journey, come, come.”

She weave us down, yet we don't dare move, for we have not been allowed to interact with anyone but master himself. Master sighs before speaking to us.

“It's fine get down.”

As Ellette is slowly moving so she can get down in a jump the big man moves in and grab her around her waist lifting her down with ease. Oh, no! No one would ever help a slave willingly, the man has not yet realised that we are slaves! The moment Ellette feet hit the down she drops to her knees, even from the horse I can see her shaking.

“What's wrong little one?”

The man's voice is deep like a rumble. Master slowly walks over towards the whole deal, will he punish her!? His hand reaches out toward Ellette, ruffling her hair, huh? I… I don't understand.

“It's okay Ellette, he is not going to hurt you, come get up.”

A new roar is released from the man, Ellettes shaking just gets worse.

“Hurt the child!? I would never!”

Master sighs again, before grabbing Ellette shoulder and pulling her up on her feet. The woman now lets out a small scream or in the same volume as a scream.

“Oh dear child! What in the world has happened to you!?”

She runs toward us and all but rip Ellette out of master grip, the small cape falls off her shoulders, revealing the slave brand and her injures, the man's deep rumble of a voice is then heard.

“By all the gods, what has been done to you, little one!?”

Master is pressing two finger into the bridge of his nose, by the looks of it, it seems that he is having a headache.

“Mother, Father, will you for the love of all you hold dear calm down, you are killing my poor head.”

Both the woman and the man turn to look at him, the woman then looks at Ellette again.

“Mother. she is mute, ask her in yes or no questions if you really wish to speak with her that much.”

Both the woman and the man looks at master, before the man slaps the back of master head.

“Boy, that is no way to speak about another person when they are right in front of you.”

Master sighs again, before turning around enough to reach Ellette and point at the slave brand.

“See that.”

This time to women is the one to answer.

“Don't you hit my sweet child you big baffoun!”

And in a much calmer voice is answers master.

“Yes, sweetie I can see it, but I do not see your point.”

A moment of silence pass without anyone saying anything, then master speaks up again in a very ‘to the point’ voice.

“They are slaves.”

“I can see that, sweetie.”

Master looks over towards his father, waiting for an answer.

“I'm not blind, boy”

Master seems a bit confused and to be far so am I.

“They are slaves…”

Both the man and the woman nod their heads, agreeing with him. A few minutes pass before master speaks up again.

“I don't understand…”

Neither do we master, neither do we…

“Treat others as you want to be treated, you know this child.”

The women has placed a hand on masters head, slowly petting him.

“Are you like against slavery?”

The woman once more answers masters question.

“I do not believe in treating other people bad, slave or not, will lead to a bright future.”

“Ah, I see.”

The man and woman hug master once more. It is master who speaks first after the family hug.

“Do we have a place to store these horses? I'm planning on selling them to old Baul, when he gets here.”

The bearded man smiles at master before answering.

I'm sure the inn can hold them for you until Baul gets here, but how did you come by so many fine horses… And do not tell me they are stolen, boy.”

“Huh, I would never do such a thing father. I got them of a bunch of dead drunk bandits.”

Master is smiling at this point, master is walking a fine line between the truth and pure lies.

“And the two young ladies?”

“Saved them of the bandits as well.”

The man smiles at this.

My hand gets gently touched and I look down to see the middle age woman smiling up at me.

“Come, let us get inside. I'm Elisa, it nice to meet you both.”

She has taken Ellettes hand in hers and seems to be waiting for me.

“F-Forgive me, my lady!”

“Oh dear child, there is no need for that, just call me, Elisa.”

As I get down of the horse she smiles once more before walking towards the door. I look at master, who manage to catch me staring at him, before he nods and waves me towards the house.