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“They don’t want slaves flying off,” said the man. “Too much of an advantage over non-winged Masters.”
Like Oriel couldn't figure that out. He was pretty sure someone specific had already been picked by the King to buy him. They were probably cruel and would delight in torturing the "traitor’s son."
Who would buy Aspen? At most, Oriel could hope that someone kind would purchase him. Maybe they'd let him go free. Just because slavery was allowed didn’t mean that every citizen approved of it.
Or maybe someone cruel would buy Aspen, and he would suffer more. Oriel's throat tightened, and he turned his head away when the fairy next to him tried speaking.
It was hot even with the covering. The bird fairy gave them cups of water, and Oriel drank his. The coolness on his throat was a relief, but it didn’t last long, and the small cup hadn’t nearly been enough after so many days of heat and dehydration.
“A word of advice,” the fairy said before he walked away. “Your sort isn’t good at taking orders or being obedient, but you better remember that you’re not royalty anymore. That means you suck it up and do what you're told. Your life will probably be less painful that way.”
Others talked in low voices which seemed to be allowed. A snooty-looking man came to look at the selection with the bird fairy, and he paused in front of Oriel.
“How much is this one? He’d like the purple highlights.”
“He’s taken already.”
“Ah.”
The guy, who must have been shopping for someone else, finally picked a fairy and checked him all over like one would a horse. The customer must have been satisfied since he disappeared up front with the bird fairy. Finally, the selected slave was cuffed and led away. Oriel stared into space until he heard a new voice.
Something familiar about it made his blood run cold, and his eyes flicked over to his right.
The worst person to buy him stood there, and he knew this wasn’t Juniper City. This must have been in Calatan because how else would Lord Delwin get here so fast? Oriel had never been to Calatan either, but he knew it was a coastal city like Juniper. Both weren’t that far from each other by ship.
King Taven must have rushed a message out, and this bastard had hurried here.
“Ah, there he is.” Lord Delwin paused in front of Oriel and brushed back a piece of his rusty red hair that had come loose from its tie. “The traitor’s son. King Taven said he'd try to get you for me, and he did."
Oriel dug his fingers into the floor as he tried not to shake. Dear Elira, no. This couldn’t be happening. Lord Delwin must have told King Taven everything.
Lord Delwin walked away, probably to deal with the formalities of purchasing a slave inside. Oriel closed his eyes as he clenched his fists.
Five years ago, Lord Delwin’s distant cousin, Sam, had been arrested for the rape and murder of a woman near Lork. Sam had sworn it wasn’t him and used his last name, hoping to get out of it or be sent back to Meadow, but King Leneer had refused.
If someone committed such a foul crime in his Kingdom they’d be hanged in his Kingdom. Anyone would find that fair in most cases. While Sam was related to a lord, he wasn't particularly special in any other way, and blood relations didn’t give anyone the right to commit rape and murder.
Sam begged to be able to speak to Lord Delwin one last time to arrange certain affairs, and King Leneer had agreed to that request.
Lord Delwin had come and begged for his cousin’s life. Of course, King Leneer had said no. Lord Delwin said his cousin would never do such a thing, but the evidence was undeniable. The lord had spat bitter curses at King Leneer and was nearly hauled out by guards. Sam was hung three days later for rape and murder.
Oriel, not quite thirteen at the time, hadn’t thought too much about it beyond the basics. If someone committed a crime like that, they deserved death. He figured they’d never see Lord Delwin again, and he couldn’t do anything against King Leneer or his family. Of course, Oriel had always imagined himself as being completely safe at that age.
Apparently, Lord Delwin had quite a grudge.
Oriel tried to yank the chain from the railing. The slave next to him whispered to stop, and a few cast bored expressions at him. The rail was solid, and no one was going anywhere. Panic was making it hard to think, but someone hissed something, and Oriel dropped his hands just in time as the employee, Lord Delwin, and a guard came around the corner.
Thank Elira they hadn’t seen anything because trying to escape would definitely earn him punishment. He thought about trying to run once he was loose, but his hands were cuffed behind his back first. A new lead of shiny silver was attached, and only then was the chain connecting him to the rail taken off. Nobody was taking chances.
The guard took the lead since the lord didn’t seem to want to sully himself by leading his new slave out. Lord Delwin walked ahead toward his horseless carriage that had been left up front, and his rusty red tail kept swishing. Citizens walking or riding by in the street glanced at them with little interest, and Oriel wanted to beg someone for help.
No one would do anything, and he kept his mouth shut. The lord opened the door to the carriage himself and got in. Oriel hesitated, not wanting to enter a confined space with someone that hated him. The guard shoved him.
“Get in, stupid.”
It was hard to step up and keep his balance with his hands bound behind him, but he managed it. Out of habit, he went to sit on the opposite side and away from the lord, but the guard grabbed him by the upper arm and pushed him to the floor.
“Slaves don’t get to sit,” he snarled. “They get the floor. Don’t you dare think for a second that you’re equal in any way.”
