The King's Slave

Chapter One

    I sit on the cold cobblestone floor, shifting uncomfortably every few minutes. "Oi! Will ya quit that moving! I'm trying na sleep!" yelled Ruess.

  "Sorry," I mumble. Ruess is the only one in this hell hole of a slave camp that's kept me sane. He's also the only one that's been in Princess Dynasty's court and then sentenced to be a slave that's with me. I've gotta say if I didn't know him before, I would sure as hell of known him now. Ruess sits up and looks at me. His figure is kind of muscular, due to him being in charge of the Princess' security. Not only that but he was in part of the politics that ran through the table in the court. I was only twelve when Princess Dynasty chose to make herself a court. She invited me, since we were friends, to the court. She and I were the youngest there. She didn't care, since we both learned quickly in politics class. the adults that were in there were surprised and praised our intelligence. And here I am, a friend dead, possibly more, and a slave.

  Ruess had the wrinkles of a forty-year-old man. He was forty-eight, yet looked only forty. His sharp green eyes always looked around in every corner and crevice like an eagle. That was until we were ordered here. His tan skin got a whole lot whiter since we got here. "Child, you need to sleep, we're being brought to St. Angels tomorrow to be auctioned," he said. St. Angels was the Capital city of the Kingdom, Urian. I sigh.

  "I can't I'm too worried," I say to the old man. His eyes soften.

  "So am I, Lian. I'm worried about who will buy you. I'm worried if the buyer will take the two of us. I'm worried that I won't see you ever again," Ruess says. He never cared about himself, typical him. Ever since the court was made and Ruess joined, he's always treated me like the father I never had. I loved him like he was one too.

  "You old fart, haven't you ever once tried to think about yourself? I mean, I'm worried about myself, but I worry for you too. I mean, I wonder if your buyer is gonna hit you, abuse you, or even kill you. Haven't you once thought about that?" I ask him. He nods.

  "Yes, but I don't think of myself in that situation. I only think of you. I worry who is gonna buy you and treat you. But we will see tomorrow. Now go to sleep," Ruess says. I sigh as he lays back down and is instantly asleep. I lay down on the cobblestone and close my eyes. In a few minutes or so, I fall asleep.

The next day...

I wake up to a guard kicking me. I sit up and he orders me to stand up and put my arms out. I do as I'm told. He clamps on shackles that connect to the now awake, Ruess. He orders us to put our hoods up. We put them on without a moment of hesitation. The sacks that we use for clothes always came with hoods, in case they wanted to hide our identity for the auctions. The guards lead us to a carriage and we make our way to St. Angels.

Later on that day....

  The guards kick us out of the carriage along with a few others and take us to Market Square. I shiver from the north wind. It's always cold here. It's been a while since I've been here. Urian has always been the north kingdom. So with being within the north, came the cold and a lot of wind. My feet were starting to get frostbite. I look around to see a man stand on a stage announcing that the slaves or us, are here. People of all ages and colors gather around the stage as a bunch of slaves are put on the stage and then auctioned off. It was my group's turn. The guards move us to the stage and order us to not move. The auctioneer starts from the right and makes his way to the left with each slave being sold. He finally comes to the guy before me, Ruess. At least I would get to see who buys him first.

  A few rounds of people shouting money until finally the highest buyer is announced. It was Lord Graynn. I sigh. Lord Graynn is known to be a slave freer, at least on his lands. He always payed the slaves for their work, so they weren't slaves. I've heard that he comes every year to buy a new employee. Ruess is taken to Lord Graynn and another guard comes to me. He unbinds my shackles from the others and takes me to the front of the stage. He then takes my hood off, but keeps a grip on my arm. "And here we are! The winter flower! Look at her shinning white hair! It reminds me of a snow lilly!" The man then lifts up my bangs to show my eyes. "Oh! Look at those sapphire blue eyes!" I pull my head away from his hand so my bangs fall back onto my eyes. Someone brings the paper to the announcer. He takes a look at it and his face is filled with shock.