“But if I may ask… why is this cause for… well…” Nua paused and looked around the court of the Prince. “Forgive my bluntness but, the lack of lustre, I realize that it is diplomatically problematic to lose a high value tribute, but isn’t this mournful air a bit much? Are they threatening to invade?” Nua asked and began mentally evaluating what the intelligence agents of the Sorcerer King had gathered about the Triumvirate in the years since the trial of the Dark Savior. ‘This city is dead if that happens. They have some beings on par with maid demons like Lady Solution. Few, but a city like Pas’en hasn’t a prayer.’ She reached that conclusion almost instantly, only for the Prince to deny the suspicion.
“No, not invade. But the insult of the loss… they have demanded Sobella as his replacement. Either she goes, or they will launch a punitive expedition.” Prince Rasgen replied.
“Or?” Nua asked, her golden eyes aglow and mind racing, her stare bored into the Prince and then into the eyes of Sobella when he was silent as if she hadn’t spoken.
“Five hundred lives. Free citizens, meaning we would have to go to war, and… while I am not despised, this city would not fight for me even if we ‘hadn’t’ already waged war on Komestra.” Sobella’s red eyes closed as her head tilted to the side to lean against Prince Rasgen’s shoulder. “Even if they would… I can’t ask that.”
“I see.” Nua replied, and bowed deeply at the waist and spoke from the heart. “Lady Sobella, many years ago in the west, I knew a woman of noble heritage, wealth, grace, and poise. She was also cruel, vindictive, evil, and brutal to even the smallest of those who supported her. To give yourself up like this? I’m deeply moved by the dignity of your noble spirit.”
Sobella let out a throaty laugh. “I’m no noble, Captain Aiwenor. Just a slave that was set free by the man who loved me. I was born to have a bad end, the stars have always willed that for me, I’m lucky to have had this time in the sun before the bloody rain. But I thank you, deeply, for your praise. I hope you’ll join me for my farewell feast, before I become one.””
Nua snapped up straight. “You were a slave?” Nua asked with surprise etched on her parted lips and widened eyes.
“Yes, I was. Not often that a slave truly falls in love with the one who holds their chains, even less often do we find our liberty through love. But such has been my story.” Sobella gave a winsome smile to Nua before turning her head to meet the Prince’s eyes. “I like to think others will find hope in it, when my tale is told, and remember that even a slave can have courage, and go free, and that it doesn’t have to go as it always has. I suppose that’s a better end than most ever get.”
Rasgen’s hand stroked her cheek, his tears welled up again, but held there, they didn’t fall.
Sado watched all of this with detached interest from where he knelt. ‘So the one who destroyed my city, is himself destroyed. You’d think I’d be happier about that. But it’s hard to be happy about much in times like these.’ He thought grimly, and stayed silent.
“I take it they won’t just accept Prince Sado back…” Nua rubbed her temple and there were many shaking heads.
Nua swore under her breath. “I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry.”
“Any suggestions?” The Prince asked with desperation and turned his attention back to the foreign Captain.
“If the Dark Savior were here, her advice would be something along the lines of ‘Push the sharp things into all their bodies until they stop moving.’ If she were in a good mood at the time.” Nua scratched her head, and Sobella raised a dark eyebrow.
“What would she say if she were ‘not’ in a good mood?” Sobella inquired after hearing the ‘humor’ of the foreign war leader.
Nua answered with a straight, deadpan face in a calm monotone, “She would scream ‘Kill them all’ and turn an army into berserkers, and then kill until everybody was dead or she’d run out of blood to keep her body moving. She has a bit of a temper.”
“Decisive.” Rasgen said, “But she’s not here, so… suggestions from what we have?”
Nua looked blankly at the pair of them and gave them a slow, sad shake of her head. Her hands held out in front of her and spread them out. “I’m sorry. I’m no legendary hero to instantly formulate a plan. You haven’t the power to invade and destroy them. I see no way out. If I think of something… I will bring it to you. But I won’t promise what I can’t deliver.”
Sobella sighed deeply, “I thank you for your honesty. False hope is worse than none. I have some time left before I have to go, and I want to savor it, not spend it in futile plans that can come to nothing, and not waste it in sadness over what cannot change.”
“I appreciate your understanding, Lady Sobella. I…” Nua’s eyes became hard as ice, “Nobody deserves to die like that. Nobody.” A groan from the ground got her attention, and Nua raised her foot and stomped on Cerebrate’s chest once, making a sound ‘crack’ within his flesh. “Maybe this one. But nobody else who is alive today.” She amended her statement with some disgust on her face while Cerebrate’s remaining arm went to touch the place she’d struck.
A moment later, a courtier in fine bright green and red silk garments appeared, “The hounds are gathered, and the criers have been sent out throughout the city. Within the hour, My Prince, the city will be ready to hear that bastard scream!” The young man’s voice still had the faint crack of youth, and it killed Nua’s sense of bloodlust.
The Prince inclined his head appreciatively. “Good, Captain Aiwenor, will you be joining us? I’d say you’ve earned the right to watch him die. You can take his body back afterward and do with it what you want.” Though he spoke to Nua, his glare was centered on the remnant of a man that lay broken on the floor, breathing hard and shaking with fear.
Nua looked down at the pathetic wretch. ‘You were going to do who knows what, to me? You did terrible things to those poor little girls, to those villages, to countless people. I don’t pity you. I don’t. But…’ Her eyes went to the youth who delivered the news, he was breathing hard as if he’d run to bring word. ‘Perhaps he had.’ She thought, and her eyes went around the silent court, similar blood hungry eyes were turned on the smuggler.
Nua answered in a low, somewhat weary voice, her words decisive and sincere, but with a weariness to them she hadn’t expected herself. “No, thank you Sire, but I hope you’ll forgive my declining. I’ve heard enough screams for a hundred lifetimes, after awhile, they all sound the same, besides, I have tasks that I have to carry out. Things that must be done ‘after’ action has been taken. The burden of command, if anyone here knows what that means, you and the Prince of Chains, are those who do.”
“Yes… I do.” Sado and Rasgen said in unison, and their eyes darted to one another from across the divide of status brought about by the success of the latter and the failure of the former. A bitter laugh briefly left Sado’s lips before he fell silent.
“Only one thing remains… the disposition of the recovered.” Nua said softly, “I recovered two slave girls that Bracer had been abusing, they have no family and no evident surviving owners. I will be frank, Prince Rasgen…” Nua folded her hands tightly behind her back and took a stiff military posture and a deep breath.
“I have seen much of slavery in my life, I have seen cruelty, I have been responsible for much of it. It is my job, and as you can see…” She put her boot on Bracer’s throat and began to press down, and spoke over his gurgling, “I’m good at it.” She looked down and calmly watched as his face contorted and changed color as he was deprived of breath. She removed her boot when he stopped moving and put her foot back on the floor, then returned her eyes to the Prince. “He’s not dead, he’ll revive soon.” She said matter-of-factly.
“Insofar as the little slaves he was abusing, they’ll fetch nothing on the block, Bracer did not apply cruelty for the purpose of discipline, he did it for pleasure. They will be wasted as a sale of found property. Therefore if you have no objection, I will keep them.” Nua finished, and waited as the Prince and Sobella traded a thoughtful look.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Yes, but…” Sobella looked down at the unconscious figure on the floor, “What did he do?”
“When he went by the name ‘Cerebrate’ I heard that he liked raping children. It is safe to say he did the same here, they were likely just his latest victims, who knows where he got them? They’ve barely said a word to anyone except for one of my female slaves.” Nua kept her voice calm, but she could see the tension in Sobella’s hands on the throne beside her Prince.
“And what will ‘you’ do with them.” Sobella asked in a deceptively benign tone.
Nua kept her words calm and pragmatic, ignoring the implied question of her intentions. “My house will need servants, I will let them grow up there. At least then they will be together, and I know at least that ‘I’ will not do what this one does.” She nudged the boot of her tow against the head of the slowly breathing smuggler. ‘Poor things… I wonder who sold them, what a horrible end… but even if I can’t just… well I’ll make sure they’re safe. That I can do.’ She kept her eyes calm as she rushed the frantic thought through her head and moved on.
“The next matter…” She hovered her hand above the head of Prince Sado. “I understand he is useless as a tribute now.” Nua removed her hand and drew her knife. She stepped behind him, grabbed his hair and yanked his head back, baring his throat.
The tip of her blade was at his throat.
‘Oh by the stars… was she lying? Is she going to kill me?! I didn’t ever think it could end like this…?!’ Sado’s eyes flew wide while he stared up at the ceiling. His hands darted up, then froze when he felt the tip press a little closer.
“In the west, it’s common to dispose of former rulers. I assume it is the same here?” Nua asked and looked at the two on the throne.
“Wait!” Prince Rasgen said urgently and raised his hand from where he sat as if to catch the handle of the knife himself despite the distance.
“My Prince?” Nua replied and cocked her head at Rasgen before drawing the blade slightly away. Down below her, she felt his breath on her arm, it was coming slower as he calmed himself. ‘Brave at least, barely any fear.’ She thought respectfully. ‘I guess I’ll have to make this up to him.’
Prince Rasgen shook his head. “That isn’t our way here. It isn’t unheard of for a Prince to die in battle. Nor is it unheard of for a Prince to end up as a tribute to the Tlalmok. But it is taboo for us to simply execute one another. Royal blood, defeated and captured, is not less royal. That’s why he got a golden collar. By star given law, this is his fate, as you found him, just as with those girls, he belongs to you unless you choose to sell him.”
“Found property, yes… as you say then, Prince Rasgen.” Nua sheathed her knife abruptly and bowed deeply. “Is there anything special I should do with him, any laws or customs? I am still new here, and wouldn’t wish to offend through my ignorance.” She held the bow as she asked the question, and for several moments there was no answer forthcoming.
“No. Nothing special beyond not killing them, but… I would take this as a personal favor.” Rasgen said as he looked at the fallen Prince of Chains.
“My Prince?” Nua asked, and relaxed her grip on Sado’s hair, allowing him to lower his eyes again to look ahead.
Rasgen didn’t look at Nua as he spoke, instead he looked at the heavily breathing Prince Sado, who touched his neck and looked down at the hand that had a drop of blood on it where the knife had threatened to end him. “Before he forced our nations to wage war on him, he and I… we were friends. Do what you need to as his mistress but… I would take it as a personal favor if you didn’t behave cruelly towards him beyond what is required of you.”
“Thank you, Prince Rasgen.” Prince Sado bowed his head. “If only you’d fought with me instead of against me…”
Rasgen shook his head, “I’m sorry, I know, but you’d have brought another uprising down on us sooner or later. I warned you, I tried to warn you, we all tried to warn you that your actions were reckless.”
“I know, I know. Lady Kaiji tried to warn me as well. But…” Sado snorted, “I was never good at listening to others council, I was convinced I was right, even if I was though… it looks like it wasn’t enough, now I and my people…” He lowered his eyes sorrowfully.
“Yes, I know.” Prince Rasgen answered, and turned his attention to Nua, waiting for her answer in silence.
Nua answered in a crisp, military tone, her jaw snapping shut whenever she finished a word like she was biting them off of a whole. “As you say. I will treat him fairly, no brand or whip or punishment unearned.” Nua said and rendered a sharp salute with her fist over her heart. “I swear it in the name of my God and his given deliverer, the Dark Savior.”
“Then let that be enough.” Prince Rasgen said and slowly stood from his throne and held his hand out to Sobella. He looked to a pair of guards, “Grab the garbage and drag it to the execution site. I want to hear his screams, and I want to hear them soon..”
“As you say, Prince Rasgen.” Nua replied and rendered a sharp salute again. “May his death bring you the same comfort that watching my enemies die, brought to me.”
She laid her hand on Prince Sado. “Come, slave. We’re going to my room, you’ll get us ready to move into our new home.” The force of her hand was like a vice on his shoulder.
‘She has more power than she is using… yet the way her fingers tremble… this is interesting.’ Sado pondered, and bowed his head. “As you wish, Mistress.” He said and stood up.
“Solution, Freyjin, we’re going.” Nua said crisply, spun on her heel and walked out of the hall while behind her the former hero who had come to, began to struggle hopelessly as he was wrangled like a wounded pig under the watchful eye of a vengeful Prince.
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...Earlier…
Priceless watched as Kaiji walked away from her. The demon-elf seemed so utterly fearless. ‘She’s like a prince, or a noble at least… ok she was one, but still.’ Her hands clasped together in front of her and she lowered her eyes to the grass. The sound of cavalry training and the pounding hooves of great war horses, striking and tearing up the ground were so numerous that the ground trembled even where she stood. The shouts of men and the smell of horse dung was thick even from a distance. A stone’s toss behind her was the road, a busy place already… she could hear behind her how people were yelling at one another as they haggled over goods. The rolling of carts, the trudging feet and clip clop noises of horses trotting over stone.
She heard an officer ahead of her shouting orders to a unit of cavalry, and shut her eyes as tightly as she could, then covered her ears. ‘Kaiji… Kaiji hurry back… please hurry back…! I don’t want to be here! I want to go… I want to go!’ She screamed inside her head and peeked ahead to see Kaiji walk calmly to a door, speak, and then enter.
Even though there was no way she could hear it, Priceless still ‘felt’ like she could hear it close like thunder. Her breathing became labored as Kaiji left her completely alone, and desperate for reassurance, she reached down and touched the bronze collar around her throat.
Her breathing slowed a little. ‘Right… I’m one of the bronze now… maybe I’ll even have a purple tag soon… Not a one of them would dare touch a bronze. Still… how can Kaiji be so brave…?’ Priceless sniffled in spite of herself and as some of the cavalry officers exited a nearby building, they drew closer to her than any of the others, she began to walk backwards, stepping away. ‘Don’t be stupid, they don’t see you, they don’t care about you, you’re fine! For once in your worthless life quit shaking like a leaf and just stand still.’
Priceless scolded her pointless fear, and if the soldiers saw her at all, let alone her trembling eyes that desperately tried to look anywhere else, they didn’t show it. It was because of that focus on backing away, that she didn’t notice the person behind her whom she’d backed into.
She did notice when she felt the impact of a larger body against herself. “Oh! I’m s-sorry!” Priceless stammered and whirled around. She came face to face, to her relief, with a bronze collar, and craned her head up to see the slender dark elf who wore it. He had a charming face and brown eyes.
“It’s alright, I had my back to you.” He said, and looked down at her. Priceless felt his eyes move over her, “Are you alright?” He asked tentatively.
Priceless tried to nod, but did it very poorly.
“Oh… the soldiers, are they making you nervous?” He asked her with a gentle, soft tenor.
‘His eyes… they’re so kind.’ Priceless thought, and gave in to the question. “I… I was once owned by a cavalry officer, the captain of a unit. It was a… difficult life. Just being close… I still don’t like horses. Being here…” She shook her head. “Forgive me, I’m saying too much, you don’t care about my problems, I shouldn’t bother you with them, I’m just nervous.”
He smiled gently and stepped away, setting her further at ease. “It’s alright, that’s why I’m heading over here.” He said, and pointed to a bench near the street. “My master has business to do here, I guided him to this place and now… I wait. That place is close enough to see my owner emerge but not so close I have to be around the dicks with legs.”
He snorted, then bit his lip, “Please don’t tell anyone what I just said… If my master finds out I insulted free people… just…” He shuddered and his eyes darted around frantically.
Priceless bowed her head, “Your secret is safe, maybe I can wait with you, my mistress isn’t here now, she’s out of the city. I’m only waiting on another slave, so I can at least sit for awhile if you’re still uncomfortable.”
“Thank you.” He said sincerely, and they walked the stone’s toss over to the road and a little to the left where a bench of simple wood and iron sat unused.
The grass gave easily under her feet, and moving away from the training grounds, even if only by a little, was a relief, not just because it put distance between her and the soldiers, but also between her and the stench. Closer to the road and the shops, the smell of rich baked goods and other business was far more tolerable.
She sat on the bench and chatted idly, watching the bright colored traffic of horses, people, carts and carriages, as if the city itself were vibrant and alive. With her back to the training grounds, she began to relax. Finally a large carriage pulled up, and the elf with whom she’d been talking stood up.
She stood with him. “It was nice talking to you.” He said kindly, and just as Priceless was answering, a loud, chaotic shouting began from down the street.
“Fire! There’s a fire!” Priceless turned to watch smoke billowing into the sky and a flaming barrel roll down the slope of the busy street. People dove out of the way desperately to avoid it as it thundered and bounced over the uneven cobblestone street. Some were less than lucky, and cried out as they were burned and the barrel knocked them down and kept going.
Priceless was just bringing her hands up to cover her mouth in shock, when she felt the blow to the back of her head.
She felt her body falling limp, hands catch her, and herself being forcefully thrown into the open door of the carriage. She heard the sound of a loudly shutting door as the one who caught her followed her in… but she was completely unconscious before she felt the carriage start to move.