The women beside me could only hold my attention for a brief moment. I'd noted that, despite looking in better condition than the other captives, they still looked just as worn out emotionally. And out of the three of them, only one had presence enough to pay me any mind, but my attention was needed elsewhere.

I hauled myself to the bars that prevented me from leaving and peered through them. I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Orin just as he was loaded into the other cart.

I sighed under my breath. Being separated was going to make an escape that much more challenging.

"On your feet, you sorry sacks," the leader said with a raised voice, after which the rest of his gang went about readying the rest of the captives for a journey ahead.

At the moment, I could only be thankful that Orin wasn't in the unfortunate position of walking behind the group, dragged along by the horses. That small victory would have to suffice for now.

I searched desperately around my new cage, searching for a way out.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." One of the women spoke while her head remained resting on the bars.

I turned to face her but didn't say anything in response.

"You're thinking of escaping, aren't you?" she asked. "You should give that up."

"I don't belong here," I told her, and she laughed as though she had been expecting me to say as much.

"None of us belong here, girl."

Slavery had always been a part of our society, but as I understood it, it was for those that were sold into it, those that borrowed what they could not pay, or those that received the verdict as punishment for a crime. I was none of those.

"No, you don't understand," I tried to explain, "They set upon us just this morning. We're not slaves."

"And you don't understand. You are what this lot says you are."

"No," I shook my head, "I need--" I started but turned my focus to the world outside when the cart began rolling. "My friend, he's hurt. Where are they taking us?"

"Where else? To sell."

Her words stopped me in my tracks. For the first time since being put in this cart, I sat down with the realization of our situation.

When the woman saw the grave look on my face, she continued, "But you know, we're the lucky ones, you and I. Birds in a cage. People like to look at pretty birds in cages. And they like to touch them."

She gave me a look that asked me if I understood what she was saying. I hated the fact that I did. My expression made it clear to her that I did.

"Do you have a name?"

"R-Rowen," I stuttered.

"I am Thalia," she replied while eyeing me closely, "and how old are you?"

I examined the woman that was waiting patiently for an answer. She had the most beautiful olive skin and a head of black curls. Despite all of her features being shrouded by dirt, I could tell she was beautiful.

"17," I answered. It had crossed my mind that I probably shouldn't have been so free with information, but as I saw it, we were in the same boat.

"Young," she muttered quietly to herself.

My gaze shifted once again through the bars to the cart that followed close behind ours. I didn't know what I would do if it suddenly veered off in a different direction.

"Is that your darling back there?" I heard her ask me. "I know that look."

I just shook my head.

"You want my advice?" she asked, after which I turned again to face her, "Worry about yourself. Where you're going, it's better if you don't have another man on your mind."

"It's not--" I paused. "What is going to happen to him?"

"Who knows?"

=^..^=

We rode through the countryside and passed many sights that I might have been enraptured by had I been witnessing them with Orin by my side.

We passed many more people who only averted their gazes away from us. I was quickly learning the true nature of our society. There were only slaves and those who were thankful that they weren't.

I'd never given it much thought, but now in this position, I wondered why no one saw anything wrong with this.

Much later in the day, the caravan rode to a halt, and a pitiful meal of stale bread and grain was passed through the bars. It was around this time that the two other, almost sickly women awoke and became aware of my presence.

They eyed me carefully before digging into the bread like they hadn't eaten in days. After a few bites and as they neared satisfaction, they turned to Thalia and gestured in my direction.

"That's Rowen," Thalia announced. "She joined us this morning. Aren't you going to eat?" She asked me.

I took one look at the moldy bread and shook my head. It would have been more of a surprise if I'd had an appetite following the events of the day. And apart from that, it felt as though eating this meal would mean accepting my fate, and I couldn't do that.

"Give it here then," Thalia said to me.

No matter how I looked at the situation, I couldn't see a way past the score of armed men. Out of the two of us, I wasn't the one that was good with adversity. That was Orin.

I wondered how he was doing now in the cart that followed ours. I moved closer to the bars to get a better look, but all I found was the leader of the slavers approaching our cart.

I backed away from the bars as he approached, admittedly afraid of what he might do. He took one glance at the other women eating and then at me. I was caught off guard when he unveiled a slice of salted meat and held it through the bars for me.

"Go on then," he said when I didn't immediately take it from him.

I frowned and turned away, managing to hold on to my pride a little bit longer. He chuckled, then tossed it at Thalia, who caught it happily. He tapped the bars contentedly before walking away whistling happily to himself.

"You'll regret that," Thalia told me.

It wasn't long until she was proved right. The hunger grew as the day progressed, and with it, my resolve to find a way to escape.

"Hello? Somebody?" I called out with my hand waving through the bars. Soon after, one of the slavers made his way over to me, walking alongside the cart as it rode along.

"What is it?"

"I need to relieve myself," I told him.

"Not until we make camp," he replied while already turning away.

"Wait!" I called out again, "I can't hold it."

"Well then," he turned to face me again, appearing slightly annoyed, "go ahead."

I fell back defeated. It wasn't until it was dark and the carts stopped for the last time that day that I was allowed to find a corner to piss. And even then, not without a watchful eye.

I'd had to crouch while turned away to keep my secret hidden. No sooner had I concluded than the guard approached, grabbed my arm, and pulled me back into the cart.

I couldn't see a way out with the way they kept us locked away all the time. As much as I hated it, it was a fact that I would not be able to create my own opportunity.

"Why doesn't anyone try to escape?" I asked Thalia when I was sure he was far enough away to not overhear.

"Because of what happens when you're caught," she answered.

What followed was my first night as a slave, one where I was so terribly famished and only sleep would offer solace.

At midday the following day, when the bread was offered, I ate it. So much for my pride.

=^..^=

It took several days for us to reach the next town, where we were inspected by potential buyers in back alleys.

"How much for this one?" An older man dressed in silk approached the cart. He wasn't alone. Other patrons were inspecting the lot of us. Some were in search of strong men for work; others were here for a very different purpose.

He'd inspected me intensely through the bars before reaching through and basically prying my lips apart to get a good look at my teeth. I suffered through it all obediently, knowing it would serve no one for me to be watched closer than I already was.

The leader of the slavers arrived with that ever-present smile. "I must apologize; that one is not for sale." He spoke as though he was a man of dignified origin and not the common lowlife that he was. "Have any of the others caught your eye?"

To my surprise, the other women seemed to be trying to appear more attractive. I came to the conclusion rather quickly that they probably sought better treatment at the buyer's hands than they would receive at the hands of the slavers.

I understood that, I really did, but how could they have no problems being bought and owned by someone?

The man's eyes seemed to linger on Thalia, who smiled at him in response.

The man audibly cleared his throat, then turned to the slaver. "I suppose I could make do with that one there for a favorable price."

"Oh, I'm sure we could work something out." The slaver beamed, "This way, let's talk business."

As they turned to leave, I reached out and grabbed the slaver's arm. "Please, sir, what of my friend?"

"Know your place," he spoke sharply in a hushed tone before pulling away.

The two men stepped away and out of sight, presumably to talk business. I had no choice but to sit back after having accomplished nothing.

"Keep that up and you'll get yourself killed," Thalia said to me.

I folded my arms and retreated into myself. If I listened hard enough, I could hear the bustle of the small town in the background. The taverns, the streets, the homes—they were so full of life.

A town such as this one, Orin and I would probably have passed through on our journey to the city. I imagined us in one of those taverns, asking for a spare room to spend the night before seeking directions the following day. Why did things have to turn out like this?

"Fool girl." One of the other women jeered.

Thalia let out a frustrated sigh. "Listen, I like you. You remind me of myself when I was your age. You need to come to terms with what you are if you're going to survive," she explained. "Find a man that won't put any bruises on you and make him happy. Maybe he'll make you happy as well. Forget about that boy or whatever life you had before this."

I couldn't do that. No matter what, I couldn't do that.

"Oh well," she resigned when she spotted the stubborn expression on my face, "I will soon be away from this cage. I hope you will remember what I said."

=^..^=

Thalia left us the next morning just before the caravan set off.

"Remember what I said," she'd told me one last time as she was led out of the cage by her new owner, hands still bound.

I wondered how much he had paid for her. How much would he have paid for me? I glanced around at the others. How much were we all worth?

The cage became my home for the next three weeks, repeating the same routine of eating once daily and sleeping for most of it.

The other 2 women remained indifferent to me. It turned out they didn't hold the same fondness for me that Thalia had. The only time we came into contact was on colder nights when we would huddle together for warmth.

Despite their best efforts, they weren't sold in either town the caravan had passed through since Thalia departed.

Another girl joined us just when we were nearing the city, sold off by her parents no less. She looked to be around my age, perhaps a bit older. Not that I could confirm, on account of the girl not saying a word.

Orin. I hadn't gotten so much as a glimpse of him in weeks. I had no way of knowing if he was even still in the cart that followed ours. I had always tried to get a look whenever I was allowed to exit the cage to relieve myself, but it was always too dark.

The first bit of excitement in weeks came when the city came into view. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. It had stone ramparts that climbed so high it looked like they were touching the sky.

There were towers at equal intervals along the walls, walls that stretched so far it almost felt like an impossibly large cage.

The roads widened as we approached, filled with people. Many walked, others were on horseback, and a few of them sat comfortably in impressive carriages. And then there were people like me.

We were inspected by the guards at the gate, the same people I'd once thought might save me if they knew what had happened to me. The same ones Orin had spoken about joining their ranks.

I wanted to scream that these slavers had taken me hostage, and I wanted to beg them to save Orin and me, but as I stared into those disinterested, almost disgusted eyes, I knew there was no salvation here.

I wasn't sure, but it looked to me like the slaver leader who had stepped out to deal with one of the guards and might have pressed gold coins in his hand. When he turned to me following his concluded business, it looked like he was gloating, knowing I was powerless.

As we passed through the gates, I said quietly to myself, "We've arrived, Orin. Just not how we planned."

=^..^=

We drew some attention as we rode through town, but for the most part, there was little reaction beyond mild curiosity.

I stared at their faces even as most pretended not to see me. I wondered about what my own reaction would have been if this unfortunate thing had not happened. Would I have turned away as well?

The caravan quickly veered off the main roads into back alleys where you'd expect to find the more morally questionable.

We rode along without stopping until we arrived at our destination.

From the street, it looked nothing like a prison. Lanterns glowed at each window, spilling soft golden light onto its walls, bathing the entire structure in an almost ethereal light. This golden light paired with the crimson-painted shutters seemed to invite you within its walls. Silk banners draped along the roof tiles blew softly in the evening breeze.

Music leaked from within along with loud laughter. It was as though the building itself exhaled pleasure.

A loud whistle rang through the air just before the slaver leader made his appearance in front of our cart. He positively beamed from ear to ear as he undid the lock on the cage door.

"Line up!" he ordered.

With my hands bound, I stepped carefully through the door to account for my reduced maneuverability.

One after another we took position in front of the cage that had become too familiar. Not until all four of us were lined up and facing the beautiful building did he walk up, pushing open the gate and stepping through.

I examined my surroundings. The area wasn't packed with people, but there were enough buildings separated by dim alleys that I could consider an escape. Even with the other slavers watching us closely and my hands bound, it was still the best chance I'd had since my capture.

Assuming I was quick enough, it wasn't inconceivable to sprint down one of these paths while I had the element of surprise.

I pushed the thought away from my mind when I heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the gate. It didn't matter anyway. I would never escape without Orin, who I hoped was still in the cart that had stopped some paces away from where I currently stood.

The slaver returned with a stunningly dressed woman, who was followed by another young woman and some guards.

The woman who looked to be in charge here was clothed in a beautiful velvet robe and adorned with jewels. Her hair was styled perfectly with not a strand out of place, and to me, it looked like she made no attempts to hide the hints of grey at the temples. I got the sense that she pursued respect instead of youth.

She held her head high with an air of superiority even as her eyes immediately went to work, scanning the four of us for any impurities.

"A good selection we have today," the slaver spoke from her side.

"Hmm," she mused. She walked forward, purposefully taking my arm and raising it slightly to inspect my fingernails. "Teeth," she said simply and waited expectantly.

I obeyed.

"Hmm, what is your name?"

"Rowen"

"Her voice is a little deep," she said to the slaver. "It's unpleasant."

"Lady Isolde, please, we both know many men find that sort of thing attractive," he replied nervously.

"Hmm," she mused once again before stepping away, after which she went through the motions with the next girl.

By the time she concluded, she gestured to me and spoke with an air of finality, "This one. I will need to thoroughly inspect her, as you know. Return tomorrow morning."

"Very well," the slaver agreed just as Lady Isolde was already turning away. "May I interest you in someone else? A boy? Very handsome. If your fine establishment has need of that."

She only waved him off.

"He's strong," the slaver continued, "and good with a sword too. It took the lot of us to take him down."

"That's enough, Garrick," she responded impatiently. "I have no need of such things."

"The girl feels strongly about him," the slaver pressed. "They were together, you see. I just thought you might find some value there."

Lady Isolde turned to look at me one last time, and without my willing it to, my face pleaded with her.

"I will be willing to offer a good price to my best customer," Garrick added when he noticed her relent.

"I suppose the warehouse could do with another hand," she said just loud enough to be heard. I watched her turn to the young woman she was with. "Take the girl inside. Get her prepared and ready for me."

Garrick took this as his cue to step up and undo the bind that held my wrists together. I rubbed my freed wrists and let relief wash over me. My plight was far from over, but I was thankful for the improvement.

The other woman bowed before ordering me to follow. I obeyed like I'd been doing, following every instruction for the last few weeks. Even if I still refused to accept the fact that I was now a slave, it was clear that I was acting a lot like one.

I passed through those gates without so much as a glimpse of my friend. I hoped desperately that I hadn't seen him for the last time.

=^..^=

Only when we were on the other side of the fence did I realize that this was the back of the building.

As we made our way through the side door, the first thing that hit me was the smell. The smell of perfume struggling to hide the smell of sweat, soap, and kitchen smoke.

Stepping through, I was immediately met by a large man that towered over me. I knew as soon as he stepped forward that he could break me if he ever wished to or was ordered to. He only stepped aside when he noticed the woman I was with.

I was led through an opening that fed into a dimly lit hallway. Girls in loose robes slipped past in all directions. In their expressions when they saw me, I could identify intrigue, pity, and, on some occasions, indifference.

Down another path, I perceived the smell of food and drink, but the woman led me elsewhere. I was led past another corridor with racks of costumes and rooms filled with half-naked women being helped into elaborate gowns.

It was at that point I began to wonder what would happen when the truth of my situation came to light. I wondered whether I should have taken Thalia's advice this whole time and should have been worried about myself instead of Orin.

Wherever he was headed, he would surely fit in among the men in the same situation as he. Why was I here in this place?

It didn't take long for everything to come to a head as I was led into a small room at the end of the corridor and told to remove the rags.

I sighed deeply and prayed that they would at least recognize that this was no fault of mine. I hadn't sought out to deceive anyone. I certainly hadn't sought out to be taken as a slave.

Slowly I removed my garments, starting from my upper body. I watched her eyes widen when what she expected to be bound breasts turned out to be the flat chest of a man.

I turned my attention to my dirty breeches, worn out over weeks, letting them fall to the floor.

I had hoped this would be the end of it, but the woman seemed intent on seeing with her own eyes, so I obeyed. I removed the loincloth as well, and with it, my last shred of dignity. My petite, unimpressive figure was in full view.

The woman seemed shaken as she stepped away. "Stay here," she muttered before closing the door behind her.

I wondered about my fate. It was anyone's guess at this point. Most likely, I thought they were going to return me to Garrick and his slave band.

What did I want? I had no idea. I just knew I would have been happy to be taken wherever Orin was.

I took the time left until I would learn my fate to examine the room. It wasn't particularly large, but everything in it seemed deliberate. A tall, polished metal mirror I hadn't noticed before stood in the corner. We hadn't had any of those at the orphanage, so that alone was a marvel.

There were no windows, but oil lamps provided sufficient lighting, so it wasn't hard to maneuver. A straight-backed chair, a writing table, and measuring instruments. All items present seemed purposefully placed for an inspection.

I thought to sit but quickly ruled it a bad idea, and so I stood. I stood until Lady Isolde made her appearance and looked upon my naked form.

Perhaps any other reaction would have been less of a surprise than the one she employed.

I admit I was confused by her expression. Was it amusement? Calculation?

Lady Isolde eyed me closely before chuckling to herself. "Teach him what he needs to know," she said finally to the woman beside her.

=^..^=
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OK so pretty long setup but we can finally get into the story. I hope you're enjoying it. Let me know what you think :)