I couldn't tell what was going on, my sister was gone, and everything was so dark. I missed our home. The vast forests of Telnav were a distant memory; having just reached adulthood and only being a half-elf, I knew that I would stay like this for a few centuries before I died— so what did that mean…for the life of a slave?

I pressed my head against the bars of my cage; if I could just locate my sister and then leave this place…no…we had tried that before. It had backfired, and we had been punished horrifically. My sister now suffering from stuttering after such long-term abuse. Preferring not to speak at all. How I missed her voice and laughter.

Where is our mother? Was she a slave also? I chewed my fingernails in a fit of nervousness. She wouldn't survive this place; she didn't have the healing properties that even half-elves did to pull the Power from the ground to assist with wounds.

Sometimes we allowed the slave drivers to think we were more human than elf. I had seen what happened to full-blooded elf girls…the ones who healed quickly with no scars. The blank and empty gazes told me more than I could bear.

We were the captives. The Winded. The Bound. In the elven kingdom, many words describe the young elven ladies who strayed too far from villages and were snatched away.

We weren't even in an elven village— our own townsfolk…how could they?

I swallowed down tears, determined not to cry in this place.

We were woken up by a spray of ice water each morning, scrubbed roughly by women who hated their job and made to be clothed for the market. Each day more and more slaves were bought— but my sister and I remained.

I did not know whether this was a blessing or a curse.

Sitting up as I chewed the slop within the bowl set in front of me, I pondered where my sister might be. We had our names beaten out of us…we were young when taken after Papa vanished…died…which was it? I shook my head from the memory of a broad back and long silver hair tied in braids.

I was startled by a staff slam on the ground and quickly gulped down my meal and stale tepid water. We were walking out to the courtyard, and within moments I felt my twin.

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Sister! I turned my head to see her blankly staring ahead, but she knew I was there. Her eyes flickered to my face before facing forward again— they knew, they knew not to keep us together.

Because together, there was nothing we wouldn't do for freedom.

I noted two wealthy-looking individuals, staring at the slaves, the shorter one was female, but something was off about her— I could have sworn I saw the outline of ears and a swishing tail.

I must have been going mad. Sighing, I looked at the ground, that is…till my sister was grabbed.

"A halfer." Was the grunt. "Elf and from that Orient." i hated that slur. The woman seemed to as well, her lip curled in distaste. Was she from Tatsu? How did she arrive on the Mainland?

No, no, please don't…please don't take her…

"What is your name?" The woman asked. My sister blinked at her, an emotionless reaction.

The slaver responded. "She doesn't have one, she's been here for a long time, but before that, she was a household slave."

More like a scapegoat. I chomped down on my lip, drawing a bead of blood to stop my anger.

"I'll take her—"

Everything stilled, "NO! Please!" I was moving, despite my sister's shaking head, she was frightened, and she clutched her hands to her chest in desperation as tears welled in her eyes.

"Bring her to me." The woman commanded.

Roughly I was dragged. "Do not damage her." The woman snarled. I felt a snap of Power radiate through her gaze and froze as I was pulled along.

The woman looking at me tilted her head as if asking a question, so I spoke. "Please don't take my sister!"

A tapered nail gently placed under my chin to turn my head this way and that, "fine then. You as well." She said softly.

I blanched and glanced at my sibling, who clutched my hand tight as we were purchased.

The woman did not stop there— she even bought a Cursed One. He was a mountain of intimidation, but our new Master did not seem perplexed.

Her companion was eyeing us, tutting around us like a mother hen with chicks, and gave a sniff at us and frowned. He, too, held something off about him, though I could not place my finger on it either.

Within moments though, we were brought to a new room once our new Master handled everything that she had required. We were branded and collared. I could feel as well as hear the heavy snap of mithril locks.

Sighing, I turned and sat back down with my sister, but soon we were off, and at the edge of the village came the real surprise.

She was a fox!

She held her hand out to us, the sunlight beaming off her mahogany hair like a halo from the heavens. Facets of multicolor breaking off the tears that were obviously for her new charges.

My heart ached at such a beautiful sight.

If I took that hand…

What would be the price of Freedom?

As I later lay in my bed, warm food, clothing, clean and content, I blinked away the hot tears that flowed down my face.

My name is Freya.

And I shall reside by my Master till the end of my days.