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Eydis, the largest and richest continent in the world, was also home to the poorest. Thousands of natives hid in the central woods that covered the vast mainland of hills and inhabitable mountains. Locals to the city of Trata whispered of war that plagued the inner cities as the indigenous fought to reclaim their land. However, the king of Eydis wasn’t lenient, and often pillaged the central forests and enslaved men that united in rebellion. He ordered to burn down their small villages, impregnate women, and kill any child they saw.
For Katja the stories of endless conflict were hard to believe. Beyond the tumbrels rolling into the markets every few weeks full with slaves, the rumors seemed impossible. She lived a privileged, but sheltered life, seeing no signs of poverty or strife. As the only daughter to a well-known wealthy tax collector, Sir Cade Fetter, she was in want of nothing. If anything, she lived in excess. So when her father mentioned he would purchase her a slave to display his great wealth, she thought nothing of owning a life.
On the day he was going to bid for a slave, her father was delighted to learn the king captured Huntsmen, the legendary fighters and only resistance to the king. For her father it was an added bonus to own a Huntsman, and not just a slave. He believed the Huntsman to be the perfect protector for Katja, and with pride, he lingered in the square for the trade to begin. Everyone gathered for the wealthy auction, and buyers sized up the few beefy men seized by the king’s warriors. The Huntsmen towered men in height, and the steel chains around their brawny bodies looked inadequate.
Katja looked over the men, scared of them, and increasingly more so knowing one would soon be in arms reach. The huge men had branded marks of a small horseshoe on their left shoulder blade as a sign of betrayal to the king, which displayed their status as low as cattle. The fact they could endure such pain frightened Katja, because any lesser man would have died with how deep their burns singed.
Their appearance surprised her. She thought barbarians would look wild like feral animals; not think for themselves like the cleverest of men, as they clearly did while scanning the crowd of onlookers. They gripped the bars staring into the faces of those around as if they quietly plotted with intelligence. She didn’t know why it surprised her to see them still and alert. They were all inland warriors, and had to be capable if they kept the king busy with constant warfare to regain their lands. They even wore uniforms of leather skin tunics, thick fur shoulder pads, and boots that were much like the winter wear sold in shops.
Even though the warriors were dangerous, wealthy men circled the tumbrels as they looked over the Huntsmen. Katja’s father did the same, and returned with a small, triumphant grin. “I will purchase the biggest man here, and he will be yours to do with as you please.”
“What do I want a slave for?” She didn’t like the idea of a large man around her all the time. She’d never spent any time with a member of the opposite sex beyond her father, and the idea made her uneasy.
“You need one. It’s status.”
“That is silly.” Status was everything to him, but Katja rolled her eyes at the matter.
“Don’t be difficult, Katja. I’m getting you a slave, and not just a slave but a Huntsman . People will see him with you everywhere you go and no one will question our status. A daughter of a wealthy tax collector with a Huntsman demands respect. You need to think of these things now that you’re of age.” Katja looked away in protest, but she knew enough that in public there was no reasoning with him.
She looked to the caged men, and scanned for the biggest in the group. They were all tall and burly, but there was a blond man that towered by a head over the rest. His body was extraordinary, and ripped with muscle. Years of fighting and training leaned him out, and
Eydis, the largest and richest continent in the world, was also home to the poorest. Thousands of natives hid in the central woods that covered the vast mainland of hills and inhabitable mountains. Locals to the city of Trata whispered of war that plagued the inner cities as the indigenous fought to reclaim their land. However, the king of Eydis wasn’t lenient, and often pillaged the central forests and enslaved men that united in rebellion. He ordered to burn down their small villages, impregnate women, and kill any child they saw.
For Katja the stories of endless conflict were hard to believe. Beyond the tumbrels rolling into the markets every few weeks full with slaves, the rumors seemed impossible. She lived a privileged, but sheltered life, seeing no signs of poverty or strife. As the only daughter to a well-known wealthy tax collector, Sir Cade Fetter, she was in want of nothing. If anything, she lived in excess. So when her father mentioned he would purchase her a slave to display his great wealth, she thought nothing of owning a life.
On the day he was going to bid for a slave, her father was delighted to learn the king captured Huntsmen, the legendary fighters and only resistance to the king. For her father it was an added bonus to own a Huntsman, and not just a slave. He believed the Huntsman to be the perfect protector for Katja, and with pride, he lingered in the square for the trade to begin. Everyone gathered for the wealthy auction, and buyers sized up the few beefy men seized by the king’s warriors. The Huntsmen towered men in height, and the steel chains around their brawny bodies looked inadequate.
Katja looked over the men, scared of them, and increasingly more so knowing one would soon be in arms reach. The huge men had branded marks of a small horseshoe on their left shoulder blade as a sign of betrayal to the king, which displayed their status as low as cattle. The fact they could endure such pain frightened Katja, because any lesser man would have died with how deep their burns singed.
Their appearance surprised her. She thought barbarians would look wild like feral animals; not think for themselves like the cleverest of men, as they clearly did while scanning the crowd of onlookers. They gripped the bars staring into the faces of those around as if they quietly plotted with intelligence. She didn’t know why it surprised her to see them still and alert. They were all inland warriors, and had to be capable if they kept the king busy with constant warfare to regain their lands. They even wore uniforms of leather skin tunics, thick fur shoulder pads, and boots that were much like the winter wear sold in shops.
Even though the warriors were dangerous, wealthy men circled the tumbrels as they looked over the Huntsmen. Katja’s father did the same, and returned with a small, triumphant grin. “I will purchase the biggest man here, and he will be yours to do with as you please.”
“What do I want a slave for?” She didn’t like the idea of a large man around her all the time. She’d never spent any time with a member of the opposite sex beyond her father, and the idea made her uneasy.
“You need one. It’s status.”
“That is silly.” Status was everything to him, but Katja rolled her eyes at the matter.
“Don’t be difficult, Katja. I’m getting you a slave, and not just a slave but a Huntsman . People will see him with you everywhere you go and no one will question our status. A daughter of a wealthy tax collector with a Huntsman demands respect. You need to think of these things now that you’re of age.” Katja looked away in protest, but she knew enough that in public there was no reasoning with him.
She looked to the caged men, and scanned for the biggest in the group. They were all tall and burly, but there was a blond man that towered by a head over the rest. His body was extraordinary, and ripped with muscle. Years of fighting and training leaned him out, and
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