Indebted

2

Esti had sobbed hard and endlessly. Until the truck came to an abrupt stop. The change in inertia causing her head to bounce off the metal wall of the trailer behind her. Her crying fit ending with a literal bang- to her head. 

Scrubbing her dirty hand over her face to blot the tears from her skin. To hide her weakness. Seeing the wet streaks through the dirt on her hand only filled her with a fresh wave of shame on top of the despair filling her heart. Even without a mirror she knew she looked a mess right now. Esti rose to her feet, looking through the narrow window slit once again. Seeing another farm house that looked so similar to the one left behind.

Esti's breath hitched in her throat. Briefly hope bloomed in her heart. Maybe this had all been a mistake or exceptionally vivid dream. The brief flash of hope died as she heard both truck doors open just after the engine was cut. Saw the man with the hat head around one side of the home, the man who had locked the slave band around her throat moving on silent feet to the opposite side. As rehearsed as any choreography she had ever seen.

Minutes that seemed to drag slowly passed. Until there was a single cry of anguish from the far side of the house where Esti could not see. There was a brief commotion before both men returned back to the truck, a girl who looked even younger than Esti between them. Her overalls were clean, her hair was braided into two neat tails down her back. Silent tears streaming down her face. In the window of the house behind her, at least seven small faces were looking out at their departing sister with sadness. Before getting into the truck, the new girl turned, forced a smile on her face and waved to her family. Willingly walking to join Esti the trailer.

The entire day was spent driving from one rural farm to another. Picking up new slaves to be brought back to the castle. Some came willingly, some did not. All ended up wearing bands matching Esti's. Willing or not, either way it did not matter. Once the truck arrived, it left with a fuller trailer than when it had parked. As the sun set there were more than a dozen sweaty people inside the trailer. A young man with strong broad shoulders willingly walked into the trailer, lips raised in a sneer as he looked at the companions he would share the space with. The trailer door slammed shut as the man with the hat proclaimed that was the last one today.

The drive back to the castle was long, the night fully dark with only the stars lighting the night sky. Some of the younger newly made slaves cried quietly. The first girl who had joined Esti had several cuddled near her. An effort to try and comfort them. She seemed like too good a person for what was coming next. Almost everyone was cleaner than Esti was, none wanted to get too close to her. Which was fine. The shock of Mama's betrayal had long since passed. Esti's heart had grown numb and cold as the slave agents gathered more and more human livestock throughout the day. She couldn't feel anything else.

Esti didn't have any more energy for feelings. Instead she tried to think of what tasks and jobs slaves had been given in the castle. Trying to parse out the truth from the gossip in her memories. Papa had been a Lower lord, Mama was a Mid-level lady. Servants had kept their Family quarters clean, Mama had several personal salves to tend to her needs. Papa had one titled a valet to assist him. Papa had been much kinder to his valet than Mama was to her attendants. 

There were slaves who worked in the kitchens, and castle gardens. There were slaves who worked all day cleaning clothes and linens in enormous copper tubs in the yard. Some who cleaned the castle, ran messages through the halls, delivered packages. The castle was enormous and it did take an army of slaves to keep it functioning.

There were of course other jobs that had little to do with keeping the castle running day to day. Magnus kept a harem for his own enjoyment and pleasure, as well as sanctioning a brothel for the lords and ladies of the castle to enjoy. Papa had tried to keep the details of such places from Esti's knowledge. But that had been fruitless, everyone knew that the brothel needed a near constant stream of fresh slaves. Dragons did not have a great reputation for keeping their playthings in good condition in this castle. The wolves and other shifters of the castle not much better.