Three days later Zultar stood at the auction. It was amazing how much things had changed during that time. He had his family and a rather massive purse of gold. However most amazing of all, an awaken mana pool. Now with his color changing artifact he could pass for a mage anywhere. Although Azura told him his pool was too small to do anything, she hinted at some deeper power. All he had to do was stay and join them. And help if he could. He was tempted, but his family came first. He would complete his deal with the kin then go check on them. Perhaps when Zultar had them safe he could accept Azura’s offer. Despite his turn in fortune he felt sick. Kin were lined up on stage like cattle, most of them wearing very little. The women usually nothing at all.

The first kin was pushed on stage. She was extremely pretty tiger-kin with white fur and red stripes. Her eyes were bright yellow with slit pupils which were down cast. He could hardly blame her. She was nude after all. Her fur hid much, as it did with any full kin, but not enough as the bids went higher and higher for the exotic beauty. Zultar grimaced. He wanted to bid on her to save her from whatever fate may lie in store for her. It was useless however. If it wasn’t her, it would be another. He saved his money to help the most kin as possible.

“One hundred and twenty-five gold!” Came a loud pronouncement. Zultar turned to see a rather striking elf with long blonde hair, pale skin, and the long pointy ears of her kind. There was nothing obviously wrong with her. Yet Zultar couldn’t help but shudder. Something about the woman’s expression triggered a primal response in him. This was a predator.

“One hundred and twenty-five gold to Ulvandia!” The auctioneer said. “Any other offers?” The auctioneer looked around then. “Sold!”

Zultar hoped the elf wasn’t as depraved as he feared as he put a bid on a family of six.

Trenton watched Ulvandia buy yet another slave for her play time. He had no interest in her depravities. No interest in anything recently. He was a failure. He was the first one to encounter the Azure Magebane. His failure to report her existence in time had cost the elves much. After he used the teleport spell he had promptly collapsed from both the blood loss and mana depletion. He didn’t wake till two days later. Luckily he’d set his teleport spell location to the elven camp otherwise he would have bleed to death before anyone found him.

He’d awoke to find his hand missing and his once lavender hair bleached white from extreme mana loss. That humiliation was bad enough yet it was compounded when he discovered the fate of Sylvar. The elf and his team were a legend among elves. Trenton had studied close combat magic so he could be like Sylvar. He’d hope to join his elite squad one day. Now… that kin had destroyed his dreams. His hand was gone and so was his purpose. Perhaps if he went home he could try to get the attention of a healing master to regenerate his hand. The trouble with that would be the cost and the time. Such individuals that could regrow lost limbs were in high demand. He wasn’t that important. Now he was the least of Ulvandia guards. He sighed as the bitch bought an attractive girl wolf-kin who couldn’t have been more than 13 years old. He winced at the torment the girl would go through at the hands of Ulvandia.

Poor wretch, he thought as the girl lined up with the other soon to be victims.

Azura looked at the kin as they tramped out of the city with three large wagons full of goods. She was far enough way that she wouldn’t be identified with her brown cloak. She had grumbled about only getting a hundred kin but the others had made their points. Without a way to house and feed everyone meant more hardship and possible deaths. They had to build up first. She understood it, but hated it at the same time. The mana forest was dangerous. Just last night a massive snake nearly killed one of her new cultivators. The smaller group was admittedly easier to protect. Azura sighed. Time. They needed time.

At least the others could cultivate while she kept an eye on Zultar. One of the points he made when they gave him this task was that the large number of slaves and goods made him a prime target. This was even truer as he couldn’t have any mage guards to escort him. So it was up to Azura to keep an eye on him. Of course the others had wanted to come but she overruled them. They had their own jobs which were just as important. They were busy building their new home. She could handle this.

She shadowed the caravan till they left the city far enough behind. Then she circled back up front waiting for them on the road. Zultar hesitated briefly before she gave a friendly wave. Keeping the cloak tightly around her, she waited as Zultar dismounted and approached.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Zultar whispered.

“Did you see anyone following?” Azura asked. She hadn't but maybe he had noticed something she'd missed.

“No but there were many who were rather interested in my stock.”

“Great,” Azura said rolling her eyes. “I’ll watch from the top of the middle wagon. Don’t mention my name to anyone.”

“Why not? You’re a hero to them.”

“I rather keep my existence a surprise in case we’re followed. If they see me they might find out what’s happening.”

“I suppose,” Zultar agreed.

“How long do you think it will take to reach the rendezvous?” Azura asked.

“Tomorrow afternoon,” Zultar said. “The river is out of the way.”

“Alright,” Azura said as she headed back toward the wagons. Kin gave her cautious looks as she approached. They were downtrodden. Their lives had just been upended and they had no clue what their future held. Zultar and his family were told specifically not to say anything to them till they reached their destination. Fatania had insisted that they kept everything secret as long as possible.

With a leap Azura landed atop the middle wagon. She sat down, her cloak covering every part of her. Without explaining anything to the kin Zultar led them onward as Azura kept watch.

The cart hit another large bump and Gwen held back a gasp of pain as her tender back hit the side of the cart. Pain. Gwen understood this concept far more than ever, although she was only sixteen. She understood that and so much more now. Gwen was a half badger-kin with snow white hair topped with rounded black ears like a bears. Her tail was small curling upwards with deep black fur like that on her legs and paws. Her human skin was lightly tan with spotted freckles. On her cheeks the freckles seemed to gather making them seem red. Unlike most half kin Gwen had actually claws on her fingers and black fur up to her elbows. It was a point of pride for her that she was less human than other half kin. Her kin nature also more prevalent from her lean but powerfully built like the rest of her family. She had extra muscles no human had just like her mother. She was a full badger-kin with black fur on most of her body with the exception of her head where it was a bright white. They’d been sold as a pair for a paltry sum. badger-kin were notoriously hard to control, this was doubly true for honey badger-kin. That didn’t stop the mages from taking her. Gwen ground her teeth as the unwanted memory intruded.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

NO! I DON’T WANT TO REMEMBER! NOT AGAIN!! Gwen thought furiously biting her lip. A thin trail of blood leaked to her chin where it pooled. Her traitorous mind refused her plea. It showed her everything. Again and again it showed her the events as the bead of blood grew ever larger. The bead dangled dangerously as each bump of the cart threaten to free it. Again the memory assaulted her. The mages… how they broke into her home, laughing. How they pointed at her grabbing their crotches. How she had fought them until the paralyze spell hit her. Her clothes being torn the way. The way loomed over her, their clothes discard…

NO!!!! STOP IT!!!!

Her mind had no mercy, as it showed it again and again. Each time she was forced to relive the scene was a small cut to her soul. Eventually her mind moved on. This was only a small relief. She was forced to remember afterwards how they had slapped her frozen body as the last mage pulled his robes back on. For a fleeting moment she remembered when the spell was released. The moment she lunged nearly tearing one of their eyes out before the pain spell hit her. They thought to break her. They were wrong. Over and over PAIN was casted for long agonizing minutes. Once free she would lunge again only to return to an agonizing oblivion. Eventually her body had turned traitor, just as her mind was now. It had shutdown refusing her demands to get back up and tear at the men! They eventually dragged her out front of her home nude where they made a further example of her as kin watched helplessly.

The burns... against her will Gwen reached around touching her back. The fresh scars there still painful. They had burned her with cruel instruments usually used on stubborn animals. A brand. They had branded her over and over while they lecture the kin on the punishments for bad animals. They only stopped when she had passed out.

Her mind fortunately finally had mercy on her letting the horrible nights events go… for now. Gwen had no doubt they would return in her dreams. Or when the filthy mage that had bought her eventually decided to try to take her again. Animals… they call kin animals, but no animal could be crueler than man. She rather be an animal then a fucking elf or human. For the hundredth time she looked toward where the mage named Zultar sat. If she was quick she could do it. She could plunge her clawed fingers into his eyes. Once the gooey sphere burst he would be in too much pain to cast. She could kill him before he could do anything. She had been determine to try or die doing so when the stranger had appeared.

Gwen had good instincts. Not good enough to avoid her fate, but still pretty good. Something told her that whomever the figure was they were dangerous. She would have to bide her time.

The shadows grew long and the air became chill as night approached. The mage Zultar had finally pulled the carts over for the night. Gwen was worried the fucking mage might march them all night. The kin were ordered to being setting up camp when the bandits appeared.

Outlaws weren’t exactly common in Deepmere, but nor were they unheard of. Mages down on their luck would often rob kin or other mages if they weren’t too powerful. With kin status now little better than property there was more incentive than ever. It was also the chance that Gwen had been waiting for. If she was quick she might be able to kill the mage that held her slave rune. As long as he lived they wouldn’t be free. If she was lucky the bandits would do it for her. There were six of them after all. All the men were disheveled and reeking of alcohol. When their eyes fell on her Gwen knew she what they would do. It became apparent as they looked her up and down. She would rather die than suffer THAT fate again.

“Well I thought old Stan was pulling my left nut but I owe him an ale,” The apparent leader said to his men who laughed.

“What do you want?” Zultar asked his voice trembling.

“What do you want?” The bandit leader mocked his voice high and girlish. “What do you think we want ya daft fool! Hand over your gold, goods and slaves. If you do we’ll let you live.”

“I rather doubt that,” the cloaked figure said her voice that of a young woman that was suddenly in front of them. Gwen blinked as did the mages. When did she get there?

“Oh and who are you little lady? Me and the boys were thinking of have some fun with the kin, but a proper human bed mate would be so much better.”

“I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you then,” the figure tossed her cloak aside. She wore a simply tunic and trousers. Nothing fancy, but well made. Her blue hair fluttered in the wind as did her tail. Her pale skin seemed to shine in the setting sun. A blue half-cat kin. It had to be her. The slayer of mages. The Azure Magebane.

The bandits appeared to agree as they shouted in alarm. They were quick to react as several spells were launched at the Magebane. The half cat-kin slapped the spells away. Then she was among the mage bandits. Her fist flew faster than Gwen could follow. In seconds it was over. The six lay broken, clearly dead. Their life-blood staining the ground. Then something truly odd happened. Okay. All this was odd, insane even, but this was even more so. A bloody mist rose from the bodies as their blood burned to ash. Gwen had no idea what she was seeing. It wasn’t tangible or had any smell. It was like the air was suddenly colored. As the ash scattered in the wind the crimson mist swirled briefly around the Azure Magebane before seeming to sink into her leaving no marking behind. The mages seemed shrunken like aged jerky the blood they spilled gone. She then turned toward them.

“Boring,” The Azure Magebane said dusting her hands off. “Perhaps I should had the others take this job. That was far too easy.”

None of the kin said anything. Gwen eyes nearly fell out of her skull. She had heard the tales and thought them myths. A kin who could kill mages? Wishful thinking. She… She made it look so easy.

“Hmm I guess you are all wondering why you’re here?” The Azure Magebane said. “My name is Azura and I’m here to help.” She walked to Zultar and slapped the man on the back. He just kept looking at the expired mages. It was like he believed they would hop up to attack once more.

“My friend Zultar was hired to buy you so we could free you. In the morning you’ll have a choice to make. We can break the slave contract and you can go your own way. We’ll even give you some coin and supplies to aid your journey. Or, you can stay with me. If you chose to stay with me, I can’t promise you’ll be safe. I will promise, to give you power. The power to fight back. The power to kill mages. The power to defend yourselves. The choice is yours. Either way you should rest. Tomorrow will be a long day.” She began poking the human.

“That goes for you too.”

“How did you do that? You just swatted them like bugs…” Zultar asked slowly.

“Stick with me and you’ll find out,” Azura said cheekily. “Now that the secret’s out go spend time with your family.” She gave him a small shove. Gwen watched all this as her mind raced. Power. Oh! If she could get power like that…. She marched up to this Azura.

“I don’t need until tomorrow!” Gwen declared as Azura turned toward her. “I’ll join you now Azure Magebane.”

Azura looked her over. “A half badger-kin?”

“Yes. My name is Gwen,” Gwen said not elaborating. She didn’t want to talk about her father. Gwen was sure as a half kin Azura would understand.

“That’s great,” Azura said. “It’s best if you get some rest. We won’t do anything tonight.”

Gwen nodded reluctantly and returned to her mother. Gwen thought she was too excited to sleep. That ended up being untrue. Her exhaustion and pain quickly took over and in less than twenty minutes later she was asleep, her dreams filled with dead mages.

Morning came and Azura repeated last night announcements. Not surprising all agreed to join her, except the beaver kin. They were going back with Zultar to get his family.

“You sure you’ll be okay?” Azura asked for a second time.

“We’ll be fine. We won’t have anything to take now,” Zultar said gesturing to the supplies on the ground. “Are you sure you don’t need me?”

“Nah the others will be here later today,” Azura said.

“Okay girl,” Zultar said giving her a hug. “Thank you for everything.”

“You too,” Azura said returning the embrace. “So we’ll see you when you get back?”

“Count on it,” Zultar said as the wagon pulled away, the horses relieved to have their heavy burden gone.

Azura watched them go then turned back to the kin. Time to get to work.

Azura had managed to awaken every kin’s pool before the others arrived. She smiled at their annoyed faces at their heavy load. The kin were hauling three massive boats that had been carved from a single tree from the mana forest. That was largely why she wanted this job. Carving and carrying those things didn’t look fun.

The next few hours were fairly boring. Mostly loading up supplies and talking with the new kin. Once they were ready they all jumped on the boat and set off for their new home.