Brian Pratt - Fires of prophesy

When they finally reach the fence surrounding the slave pens, the guard posted at the entrance holds up his hand and says something. Roland makes a reply as he slips him a couple copper pieces. The guard takes the coins and then nods as he waves them on through.

“What did you tell him?” Jiron asks once they’re past the guard.

“I simply told him that we wished to view the slaves before the next auction,” he explains. “It’s really quite common for a prospective buyer to do that. Usually you give some coins to the guard for the privilege”

“You seem to know a lot about slave market customs,” Jiron accuses.

“I took a trip down here a while back with an associate who was interested in purchasing some laborers,” he replies.

Once through the gates, they find themselves in a large courtyard with two large platforms on either side that most likely would be used during auctions. Off to one side, James notices several posts sticking up from the ground stained a dark red, it looks like its blood. One appears to have been recently used. Whipping posts, he assumes, shuddering.

Another slaver greets them as they walk across the courtyard and he exchanges words with Roland. Turning to the others, Roland says, “I told him we wish to see the girls. That we are from a northern brothel and wish to purchase some at the next auction.”

“When will that be?” Jiron asks.

Roland asks the man and then says, “Tomorrow.”

Jiron nods his head in understanding, “Thanks.”

The slaver leads them to a set of pens holding females and they walk slowly through them as if they were actually who they claimed to be. As Jiron searches the pens for his sister, James looks closely at the faces of those in the pens. The hopelessness, the fear and the degradation he sees there is almost more than he can bear. He feels a strong desire to let the magic destroy this entire complex and free everyone here.

Jiron looks anxiously at all the girls within the pens and then turns to Roland and James, shaking his head. Roland turns to the slaver and exchanges a few words before saying, “There is another pen which is full of recent arrivals. He says that you would not be interested in them as they haven’t yet learned their place and would be difficult at best to handle.”

Excited, Jiron says, “That’s where she would most likely be.”

Roland turns to the man and explains that they wish to see those girls as well, that many of their customers like to ‘break them in’.

The slaver nods in understanding and then leads them out of this holding area to another. The noise level in this one is much greater than the last as the majority of the girls are either crying or talking amongst themselves. When they enter, all the girls turn their attention on them and it suddenly gets very quiet.

James can tell the difference between these girls and the previous ones. Some of these still have a defiant look about them that the previous ones had lacked. Some even look with content upon them as they pass by, others are fearful and sobbing.

Suddenly, he hears a barely audible gasp escaping Jiron. Glancing at him, he sees him nod his head, indicating that he’s found her. “Roland, that’s her,” he says quietly, indicating a young woman with long auburn hair.

“You sure?” Roland asks as he locates the girl he’s talking about.

Jiron just stares at him like he’s stupid or something.

“Okay, okay,” he replies. Then he turns to the slaver and points her out saying they want a better look at her.

The slaver motions for two guards to come over and they enter the pen. When the girls realize they’re going to enter their pen, many squeal and they all press as far away from the door as possible.

When Tersa realizes that they’re coming for her, she tries to escape to the back of the pen but the guards grab her. Scared and terrified, she tries to get free of them but to no avail, they drag her out of the pen and bring her to stand before them. The slaver asks Roland if this is the one they’re interested in. With a nod from Jiron, Roland says that she is.

As Roland makes as if he’s inspecting her, Jiron stares intently into her eyes. Suddenly, her breath catches as she realizes just who is standing there.

He barely shakes his head, telling her to say nothing and then gives her a wink.

With a barely perceptible nod, she tells him that she understands.

Jiron indicates to Roland that he’s ready to go and Roland tells the slaver that they’ve seen enough. Once Tersa is put back in the pen, Roland asks if this batch will be auctioned at tomorrow’s auction.

Shaking his head, the slaver says that these won’t be ready for auction for at least a week.

When Roland relays that to the others, Jiron exclaims, “A week! We can’t wait a week.”

James digs out a gold piece and offers it to the slaver as he tells Roland, “Ask him if there is any way he can expedite it for us.”

When Roland asks the slaver, the slaver takes the coin and nods. He tells Roland that the earliest is in two days and when Roland starts to protest, he says no matter how much they gave him, there is no way it can be done any quicker.

“He says two days and that is the best he can do,” Roland explains to them.

Jiron looks back to his sister and says, “Two days then.”

The slaver then leads them back out to the courtyard as Tersa is returned to the pen. Jiron glances back to her just before they leave and sees her there, staring at him, her hands gripping the bars. Jiron hates leaving his sister in there but doesn’t have any choice.

“Can we see the young men now?” James asks, intent upon finding Miko.

Roland asks the slaver who nods and then alters his course as he takes them over to the other side of the courtyard. He leads them through a door and down a hallway which runs between several pens of young men and boys.

Two slaves are busy scrubbing blood stains off the floor and James asks, “What happened here?”

Roland asks the slaver and then translates the reply, “He says last night several of the new arrivals had tried to escape and two of them were killed.”

James and Jiron glance at each other, suddenly worried about his friend. Hoping to find him still within one of the pens, he walks down the hallway. His nervousness rises when he fails see him within any of the pens. Chills run though him as he fears the worst.

While waiting on James, Jiron looks at the faces of the men and boys in the pens. His eyes widen in surprise when he recognizes a couple of the fighters from the fight clubs that he had fought with and against. One, a slim individual who is exceptionally deadly with sword and shield is leaning against the bars near the hallway. He walks down the hallway slowly toward him, acting as if he’s inspecting them. Roland and the slaver remain back near the door.

When he comes close to the one by the bars, he whispers so only he may hear, “Don’t move, say nothing.”

The young man’s eyes flick to who’s speaking to him and widen when they recognize Jiron. He starts to say something when Jiron barely shakes his head and whispers, “Quiet, man.” Sudden understanding comes over him and he settles down.

“How many are here?” Jiron asks in a voice barely audible.

“Five left that I know of,” he replies softly. “There were more but a bunch made a break for it last night and two died, the others got their backs flayed off them this morning as an example to the rest of us.” Then in an urgent whisper, he says, “Jiron, get us out of here!”

“I’ll see what I can do,” he says. “But don’t tell anyone and I mean anyone that I am here, understand?”

With a slight nod, the young man agrees. Jiron turns and walks back toward where the others are and has Roland ask when these are scheduled to be auctioned off.