Kwin Read online

  Chapter 4

  Shona woke to the sound of crying. She ached all over and had a horrible taste in her mouth. She had no idea what gas had been used to knock her out, but it had left her with a throbbing headache.

  Looking around her, she found she was in a pen, the men and women around her corralled in like cattle. All were naked. She looked down at her unclothed body and shivered, though not from cold. It was a warm day, the cool breeze counteracting the hot sun which was shining down on her. If she didn’t find some shade soon, her light skin would start to burn.

  She recognised a lot of the people trapped with her. Most were servants from her father’s estate, while a few she vaguely remembered seeing guarding the king and his family. She quickly scanned the faces of everyone there, even the children. No-one of royal blood was present.

  The pen was surrounded by armed guards, all with the blue hue to their skin which marked them as Wayverns.

  One of the prisoners, noticing that she had regained consciousness, walked over to a trough in the corner, picked up one of the metal cups beside it and filled it with water.

  “It’s cool and clean,” he said as he handed it over. “How are you feeling my Lady?”

  “I’ve been better Jacob.” He was her father’s valet and she had known him all her life. She took a sip of the water. It did nothing to take the taste out of her mouth or relieve her headache, but it did soothe her dry throat. “Do you know how long ago it was we were all kidnapped?”

  “Based on how hungry we all are, we are estimating about two days, though we have no way of knowing for certain.”

  Shona nodded her head. Her stomach was growling at her, wanting to be fed, but it was her bladder that was of more concern to her. It needed emptying, and soon.

  She drained the cup then handed it back to Jacob. “Thank you.” She glanced at the guards, none of whom were looking into the pen. “I presume we are not being given access to a bathroom.”

  Jacob gave her a sympathetic smile. “No my Lady. We have been provided with buckets, nothing more.” He indicated with his arm a number of buckets in the far corner. Everyone was keeping as far away from them as possible.

  Shona had never been naked in front of anyone before, other than her maid, and she was feeling exposed and vulnerable. Now it looked like she was going to have to pee in public, straddled over a bucket. She should have felt humiliated, but she didn’t. Everyone was in the same situation so why should she feel ashamed? She could have demanded that everyone turn their back, to give her the illusion of privacy, but she wouldn’t do that. Given the situation they all found themselves in, she wasn’t entitled to any special treatment.

  Reluctantly, she stood and walked up to the buckets. Once her needs had been taken care of, she made her way over to her maid, who was quietly weeping. Gizzel had only been her maid for a few years and, while good at her job, she had always been timid. The poor girl must have been terrified.

  Shona placed an arm around her, giving her what comfort she could. “Do not despair,” she whispered to her. “The king will not abandon us. A rescue party is probably already on their way.” She didn’t believe a word she was saying, but she managed to sound as though she did. “The man I was due to marry has the reputation of being the greatest commander in the country and runs the best company of soldiers. He will free us all, just wait and see.”

  Shona continued to speak to the girl, reassuring her that help was on the way and there was no need to despair. Others were listening in. The looks on their faces showed they didn’t believe her, but they understood what she was trying to do so didn’t contradict her.

  Only once Gizzel had stopped crying did Shona stand up and move away. She walked over to the nearest guard and called out to him.

  “Hey,” she shouted. “I demand to speak to whoever is in charge.” The man didn’t respond. He didn’t even turn around to look at her. “Hey. I’m talking to you.”

  “You’re wasting your breath,” a voice said to her right. “The guards don’t understand our language.”

  She turned her head to look at the man who had spoken. Dressed in a loose shirt and tight fitting trousers, he looked out of place beside the slave pen. He was clean shaven with his dark hair oiled back away from his face. He was obviously no prisoner, yet he was not from Wayvern. His skin colour revealed he was from her own country.

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “Who I am is irrelevant. What I am is more important. I am a translator. I am here to assist you through the processing procedure.”

  “You’re from Tippet. Why are you helping the enemy?”

  “I was captured a number of years ago. I used to be a teacher. Once my captors found out I could speak their language, I was given the choice between working as a translator or being sold into slavery. It wasn’t a hard decision to make.”

  “So you’re a free man?” Shona couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “So why don’t you return home?”

  “This is my home now. I am well paid. The work is easy, though sometimes unpleasant, and I have a wife. I married a local girl. We can never have children, but I have been promised a sex slave if ever I decide I want to procreate.”

  Shona shivered. She didn’t like this man. No true Tippetian would not return, given the chance, and definitely would not help the enemy. As far as she was concerned, this man was a traitor.

  The man continued talking. “I heard you referred to as my Lady. I don’t think we have ever had a noble here before. It will increase your value. Looking like you do and with a body like that, you are going to go for a record price.”

  Shona could feel him looking her up and down. She was slim and kept herself fit. She spent a lot of time on her horse, which had strengthened her thighs. Her chest wasn’t as big as she wished it to be, but right then she thought that was probably a good thing.

  “I demand to speak to the man in charge.” She was used to giving orders, and being obeyed, but the man just laughed at her.

  “That’s not going to happen. Soon the doctor will come and examine you all to make sure you are well enough to be sold. If you’re not, you won’t like the alternative. Then you will be shackled. You have all already been tested for magical ability so only the standard ones are needed.” He heard a noise and looked over to where it came from. “It looks like the doctor has arrived.”

  Shona watched as the man walked over to greet a shorter man dressed all in black. He didn’t look much like a doctor to her. He didn’t even have a medical bag. The way the guards all seemed to be avoiding looking at him suggested he was someone much more important. If it wasn’t for the trace of blue in his skin, she could easily have believed he was a member of the Tippetian nobility.

  The man she had been speaking to talked with the so-called doctor for a few moments, then gave orders to some of the guards. A number of them entered the pen, roughly grabbed the nearest person and dragged her out. She didn’t offer up any resistance. The look on her face told Shona she was too terrified to do anything to try to save herself.

  While two guards held her upright, the doctor examined her, his hands almost touching her, but not quite. He appeared to be just looking at her, judging from her outward appearance whether she was healthy or not.

  When he did eventually lay his hands on her, Shona cried out in protest. She ran to the edge of the pen, shouting to try to get someone’s attention while the doctor groped the woman in front of him, his hands exploring her chest then working their way down her abdomen. The woman cringed away from his touch, struggling against her captors, but they held her tight.

  The doctor slipped his hand between her legs and she screamed. Then she was turned around so he could touch her from behind. All the while, Shona was shouting, screaming out for him to stop, but everyone outside the pen ignored her.

  When the doctor had finished abusing his victim, he nodded to a nearby guard, who proceeded to put what appeared t
o be bracelets and a collar on the woman, who was now shaking uncontrollably. There was no chain between them, so Shona couldn’t see the point. Once the pieces of metal were securely in place, the woman was literally thrown into another pen, where she collapsed onto the ground and curled up into the foetal position.

  Then the translator looked over to Shona and smiled. He said something to another guard, who nodded his head.

  When the guards entered the pen once more, instead of choosing the nearest person, they headed straight over to Shona and grabbed her by the arms, their grip so tight they were causing bruises.

  She did nothing to stop them leading her from the pen; there would have been no point. They were much stronger than she was and she would not humiliate herself by forcing them to drag her out.

  She was placed in front of the doctor, who looked her over critically. The translator said something to the guards who were holding her and they immediately released her.

  “I said you will not cause any trouble,” he said to her. “Please don’t prove me wrong.”

  Shona glared at him. Then she turned her attention to the doctor. He had a short, neatly trimmed beard and piercing brown eyes that made her feel like he was seeing deep down into her soul. She had to suppress a shiver. Then she felt a strange sensation inside her, wherever this man’s hands went, despite the fact that he wasn’t touching her. This was no ordinary man; he was a magic user.

  All too soon the external examination was over and the doctor grabbed hold of one of her breasts. She reacted without thinking, slapping him hard round the face. The translator laughed. The guards took hold of her once more but the doctor waved them away. He said something to the other man, then smiled at her.

  “He said he likes your spirit,” the man translated for her.

  “Tell him if he touches me again he will feel more than my spirit.”

  The smile did not leave his face, but his tone became stern. “It’s all part of the examination. He wouldn’t be touching you like this if it wasn’t necessary. Buyers need to know that the merchandise is of sound health. He’s not getting any pleasure out of touching you like this. He will do the same to the men.”

  “Oh that makes it alright then,” Shona said sarcastically.

  The doctor moved his hand toward her chest once again and she slapped it away. He rolled his eyes at her, as though he was dealing with a petulant child, and placed his hand on her forehead instead. Warmth spread through her and she found herself unable to move. Whatever spell he had put on her, he had done it without saying a word.

  No longer able to defend herself, she had to endure his hands being on her and his fingers inside her. She wanted to be sick, but was unable to even retch.

  When her ordeal was finally over, a guard placed bracelets and a collar on her, as he had done to the other woman. Shona looked at the bracelets closely. They appeared to be nothing more than decorated metal of some sort, copper judging by the colour.

  As soon as they were on her, the warmth that had been invading her body disappeared and she was able to move once more. “These seem a bit pointless,” she said to the translator. “What are they supposed to do?”

  “You’ll see,” he said and winked at her.

  She was pushed into the other pen and immediately went over to the woman, who was still crying. She offered her what comfort she could.

  Time dragged on as one by one, all of the prisoners were examined. Only one was segregated, the doctor obviously deciding that the young man’s persistent cough meant he wasn’t healthy enough to be penned up with the rest.

  Once the doctor had departed, his job complete, the translator climbed up onto a raised platform. From this position, everyone in the pen could easily see him. He called out to get their attention, then began to speak.

  “I’m sure that many of you are wondering why you have been shackled without any chains. While they appear ineffective, I can assure you that the bracelets and collars you are now all wearing will keep you all under control.”

  He paused and surveyed his audience. “It seems many of you don’t believe me. I think a demonstration is in order.”

  He signalled to a guard, who forced the young man who had been separated onto the platform. The translator held up his own arm for everyone to see.

  “The objects you wear,” he said loudly, “all have a controlling device. The one you see on my arm is programmed for the shackles all of you are wearing. I will now demonstrate their purpose.”

  Without the translator appearing to do anything, the young man’s arms were suddenly drawn toward each other, the two bracelets ringing out as they came together.

  “All I have to do,” the translator continued, “is think the command and the metal will react. The two bracelets were drawn together, like powerful magnets. Nothing in this world can prevent them becoming one and they will stay together until I allow them to part. I have seen bones broken and shoulders dislocated by using these bracelets alone.” He held up his arm again. “With this one device, I can command the shackles on any one of you, or all of you at once, if I wish.”

  Silence filled the pen. The demonstration had been effective. Unfortunately it wasn’t over. “Some of you may be wondering what the collar does. Let me show you.”

  The young man suddenly fell to the ground, screaming in agony. He convulsed as all of his muscles spasmed. The translator theatrically covered his ears, then the screams ceased as the collar tightened and the victim struggled to breath.

  “Stop it,” Shona cried out.

  “Anything you wish, my Lady.” Shona didn’t like the way he was smiling at her.

  The collar tightened again, crushing the man’s throat. He gave one last gurgle then went silent.

  Shona glared at the translator, taking in every detail of him and storing it away in her memory. When she was rescued, which she kept telling herself she would be, she would not rest until she saw that man hanged for his crimes.

  Chapter 5

  Shona was woken by someone gently shaking her. After the young man with the cough had been murdered, the prisoners were left alone. With nothing else to do, she had tried to sleep and was surprised that she had managed it.

  “Something is happening, my Lady,” the young lady who had woken her said. Shona opened her eyes and discovered it was Gizzel, her maid, who was talking to her. She still looked terrified, but at least she had stopped crying.

  Judging by the position of the sun, Shona worked out that she had been asleep for a little over an hour. She looked over to where Gizzel was pointing and saw wagons approaching. Each had a cage on the back. ‘Transport’, Shona thought to herself and wasn’t the least surprised when the translator climbed up onto the platform once more to address everyone.

  “You are all to be transported to the slave market, where you will be sold,” he said loudly. There were gasps of dismay, though Shona had no idea why. What did these people think was going to happen to them? “I would not advise any resistance when the guards load you into the wagons. Unless you want another demonstration as to what the shackles you all wear can do.”

  “Dying is better than being sold,” Shona heard one man say. She looked over to him, but didn’t recognise him. The way he held himself suggested he was one of the king’s guards.

  As soon as the Wayvern guards entered the pen, the man rushed at them, tackling one to the ground. Before he could get up, he collapsed. His collar had been tightened so quickly it broke his neck.

  “The next person who resists,” the translator called out, “will suffer the same fate. As will the person standing next to them.”

  The wagons were loaded in silence. Shona could see nothing but defeat in her fellow captive’s eyes. While many were prepared to risk their lives to escape, they weren’t prepared to put others at risk.

  The sun was beginning to set by the time they reached their destination. They had stopped only once on the journey. The prisoners were allowed out of their cages to take care of their bat
hroom needs and were given food and water. They were being treated like cattle and Shona couldn’t help thinking that that was what they now were.

  Their destination was a large town. People glanced at them as the wagons drove through the streets, but quickly turned away, as though they had seen the sight many times before.

  The wagons continued on until they reached the outskirts of the town, where a large building stood beside a number of pens. The pens were already filled with people, their skin colour indicating that they were from Tippet. The men were dressed in loin cloths and the women in short dresses which were made of a light, almost see-through material. Everyone had sandals on their feet.

  The wagons were unloaded and their cargo herded into the building, where they then had to wait in line to be bathed and dressed.

  The people taking care of them were from Tippet, the shackles they were wearing announcing that they were slaves rather than willing workers. None of them would speak. The pleading look that Shona received from the woman who was washing her down made Shona stop her attempts to get her to communicate.

  As soon as she was pushed into one of the holding pens, Shona went up to one of the men who had been there when they arrived. Hopefully he would have some information. She introduced herself and had to stop the man from bowing as soon as she mentioned her title.

  Kail used to be a blacksmith, until his village was raided. He explained that one of the men taken at the same time was a visiting scholar who could understand the Wayvern language, so had been translating for them, until the guards realised what he was doing. He had been taken away. Nobody knew where and he hadn’t been seen since.

  “This is an auction site,” Kail said. “One night each week an auction is held. You’re lucky you arrived today.”

  “Lucky?” Shona said.

  “Yes. I arrived the day after an auction and believe me, this is not a nice place to stay. You have to sleep on whatever patch of ground is least uncomfortable. There is no shelter from the sun or the rain and the food leaves a lot to be desired.” He then looked her up and down. “You will definitely be sold tonight. No offence my Lady.”