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(Page 2 of 6) Collar of Slaves: 1 Raiders by Shandria Katz
"Brice...we have survived them this long."
"They keep coming...they always find us..." Brice fidgeted his voice haunted. He fears paralleled with her own tormented visions.
"Pull yourself together man!" snapped the impatient one.
"If you saw them Justin, you would know," answered another quietly. "We have tried covering our tracks and doubling back on ourselves. We have used water paths. Nothing stops these hunters. They got Alyssa and Theran. Alyssa tried to warn us but we did not listen."
"But demons do not exist!" spoke the one cradling her.
"Never the less Merik, these things are not men," Brice stated the truth of his horror and his voice carried its weight.
"This does not settle our needs! Brice and Corvane ride like the wind along the trade roads, warn the king. Justin and I will assist Hector and the girl. Hector has claimed kingsman promise for the girl," the velvet voice spoke. "Bundle her up and take her Hector, before I change my mind."
"Thank you Siobhan," Hector's voice poured with gratitude.
"Do not thank me unless you plan to buy me drinks when we reach our nest."
"Done!" Hector agreed.
"How could you have told him?" Justin growled not believing the nonsense.
Siobhan sighed patiently. "Lord Jeremy of Falkirk, what is the law of the land about slaves? Shall I remind you? Any slave, abandoned or escapee, who is not claimed will be punished by the state and the kings' hand. You do know what that entails..." her voice began to drip venom. "See that collar of leather about her throat? She was sold to pay the debts of another. Until she works for her freedom, buys it off, or loses her life, she remains a slave. And a slave unclaimed dies by kings' hand. Now back to the start of this. This slave...the measly slave saved the life of a kingsman by giving up her own. Would you not say that repays a lifetime of debt? Or is Lord Jeremy so displeased that he demands the life of this slave? So displeased that he claims the Right of Destruction? Well Jeremy? What will it be?"
Arms held her tense like. "If you kill her, I'll have your head Justin!" Merik growled.
The tension vibrated around her and still she could not move. Her head felt heavy from the pain awakening in her body.
"But she belongs...." Justin began.
"Her MASTER lies dead half a mark away with his woman. Remember them? Gutted like fish over their precious belongings. And in these days, have you ever met an honest peasant? They would leap at the girl and cry out her betrayal. Caught slaves bring in a tidy sum of silver for their bounty. Now what will it be? Death or bounty, oh lord Falkirk!" velvet voice turned to iron.
"Uh..."
"Hector come along with the girl, Lord Jeremy here seems to be in agreement with us, are you not Jeremy! May the winds guide you home Corvane and the sun guard you Brice. We will trail you and led your demons away."
"I hope you know what you are asking for Siobhan."
"You forget Corvane, I am Umbrun born."
"Then may the grace of the heavens watch over you, fair maiden of the far isles.
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