Prologue 1


    “You''re not hearing me Nita.It’s about the degree of freedom.For example:anymerchantor lordis still beholden to pay‘his’lordor the king,a portion of hisyearlyearnings.This is a form of slavery.Ifyou take ittoitsbase principles, his or her superior is putting a value ontheir work and stealing it from them.”Cid said, as their horses plodded alongthe high road; kicking alazyplume of dustinto the air.The prairie,open to the horizon, was painted in orange, yellow,andbabyblue as the sunrose over their path.


    “Taxes pay for the army, and the kingdom’s infrastructure. Youare,not,going to convince metaxes are slavery.Besides,youcouldjustdo nothing andexempt yourself,” Nitasnorted androlled her eyes.


    “But they are!Why do you think the lords pay significantly less taxes than merchants? Many of them conduct the same kinds of business. Itgivesthe impression of more freedom at highersocialstrata.” Cid said, emphasizing his points with sharphandgestures.


    “So…your argument is: we are allslaves.Therefore,I should get my masters brand,asitcements me in a higher socialstratum? That’s some messed up shit. Besides most lords pay less because they collect the taxes.”Nita raised an eyebrow at Cid.


    “It’s only part of my argument. Therearealso thepracticalfacts. One:thatit is difficultto makea master into a slaveas there areonly a few specialized mind and ink magepartnerships in the kingdomcapable of it.Two: it reinforcesyour status. Three:It would give you an outlet to practice your magic.Four: there are a lot moreemployment opportunitiesif you have a few martial slaves: even if you stay in fathers employ.Five: Your dreams of independence require you to have your brand. Advancement in society is impractical without it.”He said,raising afinger with everynewpoint.


    “All of thatdoesn’t excuse the providence of some of these slaves.It’simmoral to enslavenewborns strictly because of their parentage.Criminals and the militaries’ take,I can get my head around,but being born a slave is repugnant.”Nita said indignantly.


    “It’softentheonly life they know. Most slaves are treated betterthan the serfs and freemen, there are more lawscoveringthem.I never said the system was perfect.”Cid said patiently.


    “You mean if they don’t misbehave,” Nita grumbled. It was an old argument between her andher adopted family. She didn’t really know why she still resisted, other than to hold onto the values of home.Maybe she just liked the verbal sparring.


    “As father would say: therealdistinction betweenthepoor,serfsand the working middle classcitizenis the ownership of slaves.You are not poor. You should at least have a body slave at the keep.” Cid saidreining in his horse,to lookather.


    “I’m—” Nitaturned to look at himbutwas interrupted by thecloven air sound of a heavy javelin passinginches from her face.


    “Shit!”She cursed,rolling off the back of her horse.Landing in a crouch with her back to thewell-trainedhorse her shield andshort sword in hand; shield forward, blade high.She had failed to do her job, caught in the argument, she silently berated herself.


    Cid had dismounted as well. His offhand filled with a runic dagger, a fire grenade in his main. The air was quickly heating around him, as he drew on his magic.


    “Orcs,” Nita spatout,astheir quarry rushed fromthetall grass alongside the road.Anotherjavelin was thrown at her withimpressive strength. She angled her shield slightlyand took a small ducking sidestepanddeflected the missile togroundather swordsideandaway from Cid.She quickly repositioned tocover Cid once more as 3 Orcsrushed them.


    The horses took that moment toclear out. Cidglancedbehind them and sawan orc approaching from behind. “One behind.” He said beforetossing his grenadebehindthethree-approachingorcs ducking behind Nita as it went off his back tohers.Two of theirattackers were blown from their feet and lit on fire.The third was in front of hercompanions whotook the brunt of the blast. Nita rushed the woman.Knocking the first thrust of the Orc’s spear asidewith her shield, Nita lunged forwardwith alightning-quickthrust of her bladeinto the woman’s stomach. The orc’s eyes widened inshocked disbelief as she fell to herknee’s hands going to her wound: the move completed in asmall fraction of a second.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    “Good,” Nita saidturning to find Cidleaningover the other Orc,his blade buried inits eye.


    “Keep your guard!” Cid admonished scanning their surroundings. He took deep, calming breathes.


    “Do you hear that?” Nita askedas the pounding of her heartlessened.


    “Rider,” Cid answered, motioning her to the side. He had a new grenade in handand his other rune blade.


    The soundofrapidly approaching hoof beatsgrew louder.Then a horse crested the small gully they were ambushed in, and Cid sighed. The mount and rider were wrapped in the red and purple colors of theking.Not hesitating for a moment, the small man flew past them at agallop. The impressive beastvisiblyglistening with sweat despite the road dust.


    “Must be important,” Cid commented dryly. “Would have a least nodded otherwise.”


    “Sorry I should have checked the gully…Hic…Shit…Hic…Fuck.” Nita said then swore as she got the hiccups as she came down from the stress.


    “You really are a terrible guard.” Cid quirked an eyebrow.


    “What!? We won, didn’t we?” Nita shrugged.


    Cid just shook his head.


    …


    Kit whimpered as the lash bit into her back. Her shoulders cramping further with the blow as she tried to instinctively move away fromit. She was tied to a pin nailed high on a tree limb overhead; the tips of her toes barely touched the blood-soaked ground at her feet. She idly consideredthe factthat the blows made her stomach, shoulders and arms hurt more than the sting of the lash itself. She let out a harsh giggle at the thought but was brought up short as this hurt almost as much as the lash.Is that irony?She questioned herself and giggled-winced again.I think I am finally losing my mind.She thought after another blow. Her tail started to rise as the mirth assaulted her and she had to remind herself to keep her tail down. To keep it around her leg. The thing was near useless already, and the last thing she wanted was it to be removed by the masters. The thought made her snort, prompting another wave of agony too pass through her body. I’m officially better at torturing myself than this guy she lamented with an actual laugh and whimper.This too shall pass.The quote reminding her ofa better time.


    The greatest mockery was she was sure her tormenter was as bored of the situation as her. At least he doesn’t derive pleasure from it. She groaned to herself as another giggle forced its way out: bored. Serves them right buying a fighter and expecting a whore. Another giggle-groan escaped her as she thought of the reason forherlatest discipline. The Soldier complained! complained that she was to tight and he couldn’t get it in.Thanks April, crotchand thighstrengthening exercises are good for more than just pleasuring a man. Although she had to admit it took some real balls to bring that complaint to the higher ups.She thought with another laugh and groan; the lash all but forgotten now. As if to mock her she peed a little and laughed all the harder for it.


    “There is a reason prey-kin make better whores; this is exhausting. I swear she’s laughing, not crying sir.” Her tormenter grumbled to the elegantly dressed human beside him.Robert Fucks-His-Sons Peacockwas her master, by all accounts an excellent mercenary company commander, and a Dandy. She laughed-groaned again as she mentally butchered his name.


    “Well that’s certainly new. You don’t suppose she broken, do you? It does happen you know. Been a few years since the last one, and that wasn’t for something so mundane as the lash.” Robert Peabody yawned and scratched his eyebrow.


    Bored they are all bored! Kit thought desperately trying to suppress a belly laugh and failing. The agony made her vision narrow and she blacked out for a while. When she came to, there was another man with the two, mounted and dressed in royal colors. A messenger she slowly put together as the new man left and Robert opened the missive and read. It took a few moments to realize that the lash had stopped falling.They forgot!She giggled again with new agony.


    “New contract.” Robert said hitting the letter against his hand and smiling at her tormenter. “Have someone ditch her in Ashville and buy me something that can fight. We move in the morning.” He finished turning on his heel and setting off at a brisk pace.“There is something to be said about the beauty of apredator.” He muttered and shook his head as he went.


    She was pretty sure that might be irony.Idiot.She thought as she was taken down and unceremoniously tossed over the bear-kin’s shoulder. She giggled-winced again when she realized how comfortable and warm his shoulder was. She spent the remainder of the day and most of the evening vacillating between uncontrollable giggles and blank nothingness as she was; collared, her brand deactivated, tossed in a cage, and sold at auction.