Pratik sat up a bit straighter, cringing as the collar rested against the patch of skin it had already rubbed raw. But he craned his neck, hoping to get a glimpse of the young hot head.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Bring them into the stables and let's have a look," Tarr called as the cage doors were unlocked and guards began to pull slaves out. One captive, a wiry man with wild eyes and greasy hair who had been moaning quietly for most of the trip, leaped out immediately and bolted for the gates, which were already closed. Rickard closed his eyes, and in a second there was the twang of a bowstring. The wiry man yelped once, short and fearful, then fell to the ground with an arrow through his throat. "Anyone else?" Gol Nasa growled, glaring around at the shivering slaves.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik’s eyes flicked from the slave bleeding out on the ground, to the slaver, then down to his own hands. He wanted no part of trying to outrun an arrow. He tensed and waited for his turn to be let out.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
The slaves were all led to the stables and lined up in front of a set of stalls. Nasa and several of his guards stood by with their swords drawn as Lord Tarr walked up and down the line, studying each one in turn. "They're scrawny," he said critically. "The journey was a difficult one, my lord," Nasa responded, glancing nervously at the slaves. "They'll be right as rain once they're in their quarters with some slop to eat, I assure you." "I'll be the judge of that." Tarr came to a stop in front of Janek and grabbed his jaw, turning his head this way and that. "This one's got the start of a rash," he said in disgust.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik took a deep breath, bracing himself for whatever disrespect Tarr might show him when he got that far down the line. It wouldn’t do to glare at Tarr. Not so much as a sharp look. He needed to be the perfect little obedient slave. And that was going to be difficult. It HAD been difficult. And he could already tell Tarr was going to make it that much harder to manage it without lashing out.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Temporary, sir. Only temporary." Nasa watched anxiously as Tarr came to a stop in front of the little girl, who was shivering so badly she was having trouble standing. "What could this one do?" Tarr asked. "She'd be a fine scullery maid, my Lord," Nasa said quickly. "And she comes cheap because she's so young." "Mm." Tarr moved on. He prodded and examined a few more of the slaves, lingering on Pratik a bit longer, then came to the end of the line. "Right. Strip them all down and we'll have another go. I want to be sure you're not deceiving me, Nasa." Nasa nodded and gestured for his guards to obey.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
The scant clothing they had was already not enough. And now the bastard wanted them naked out in this cold. Couldn’t even be bothered to bring them inside the keep before humiliating them.
A guard stepped forward and ripped Pratik’s coat off so hard it made him stumble. He resentfully pulled away from the guard and pulled his own shirt off — but that wasn’t enough for the disrespect. The guard came towards him with a savage blow to the face. Ordinarily it wouldn’t have phased him. But he was so weak from the journey it sent him sprawling to the ground.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Don't damage the merchandise!" Nasa snapped at the guard. "Fool." Tarr made his round again, making more careful observations this time. He spent a little too long on some of the women, groping them cruelly before moving on to the next victim. Any slave he approved of was yanked forward by their collar, and any he didn't care for was shoved backward to pick up their clothes. Tarr did this routine several times, narrowing it down with every circuit he made until there were only five standing out. One was Rickard, standing quietly with his gaze straight ahead and his shoulders sloping down. Beside him was Janek--despite his rash, Tarr had deemed him good for outdoor work. A little down the line was an emaciated woman from the East, painfully beautiful and still as stone. Then there was a Southern girl of about seventeen with her hair shaved down, and finally Pratik. "Can they all speak Upper Tongue?" Tarr asked Nasa. "All but the younger one," Nasa replied, pointing the girl out. "Good."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik stood shivering, making a mental note to kill Tarr once he was done with this job. No bastard that treated slaves like this — or assaulted women like that — deserved to keep his head on his neck.
He swallowed hard, hoping the hell would end soon.
(Apparently all my characters want to kill Tarr 😂)
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"How much for these five?" he asked finally, making one final circuit to gaze intently into the eyes of each captive. "That would be about 800 clappers for the girls, 200 for these two--" --here he pointed at Janek and Rickard-- "--and 600 for this one." The last he pointed to was Pratik. "Why so expensive for that one?" Tarr asked. "Well, he's fresh. Hasn't been tested yet but he's the most obedient I've had. Must know what's good for him." Nasa came to stand beside Pratik. "You've picked a quiet lot, sir, but this one's the crown jewel." Tarr scowled, seeming to think it over.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik forced himself to look at the ground, face burning with embarrassment and the cold, acutely aware that he was standing naked between men haggling over him like a prize goat. He forced himself to stare blankly at Tarr’s feet instead of scowling like he wanted to.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Hmm. Make it 500 and you've got a deal." "Done." Nasa clapped his hands. "Pleasure doing business with you as always, my Lord." The guards moved to take the others back to the cages, and the little girl cast a quick glance at Pratik over her shoulder before facing front again. Tarr turned away from his chosen slaves, taking out a large pouch of gold. "Take them to the slave quarters to be scrubbed, clothed, and fitted for collars," he said to the guards, then strode away to pay Nasa.
(Oh, also, Ash mentioned he had a guy planted at Tarr's already, and he goes by Roland, if you remember. When Pratik sees him, the code is "It's warmer under the mountains.")
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
(Thank you for the reminder! I definitely didn’t remember that lol)
Pratik felt the little hope he had dwindle at the mention of a new collar. And his heart broke a little more as he watched the little girl get shoved back towards the cage. He wanted to help her. To get her away from the slavers. And from Tarr. But there was nothing he could do at that moment. Nothing at all.
“Oi! Get moving!” A guard gave Pratik a shove, making him stumble to the side. He scowled but was careful to keep it on the ground rather than the guard. It was going to be a long assignment. A long, long assignment.
(Heads up, I’m going to bed soon. I might have another reply or two but I also might pass out lol)
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
The others moved with him quietly around to the back of the Keep, where there was a cluster of stone longhouses. A stern-looking man with a cat o' nine tails hanging from his belt greeted them there and directed the guards wordlessly to one of the smaller longhouses.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik trudged along, a shiver running down his spine as he considered what that whip would do to his flesh if he got a flogging. He just wanted to get dressed again. And a good meal. And to get out of the collar, though that was seeming increasingly less likely.
He kept his head down and mouth shut, hoping stay out of trouble.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
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