Darterra
Saga
Book
III Wilderness of Mirrors
Act
I
Prologue
The escape from the Lasigna
Ranch had gone far smoother than any of them had any right to expect. Two
things had gone in their favor that had tipped the scales the right way. After
debriefing Lt. Davis, Rafe McNally had concluded that while there were a few good
officers in the ranks of the Cristo security forces. With no real threat other
that dealing with outlaws since Kala’s people remained on the edge of the
established territories and had been successfully evasive to the Cristo forces.
The majority of the officer corps were untested and lacking the experience needed
to deal with what they now faced with McNally and his group. He had suspected
that most of the field commanders were simply serving their time in command
position so that they could earn a promotion to an assignment taking them one
step closer to the power they craved and wanted.
So, when something out of
the ordinary happened like the alien ship crash and missing patrol. Those
seeing the ripe opportunity for a way to be seen and noticed had flocked to the
crash site and fought for who was in command and how things would be done.
McNally’s gamble had paid
off so that they had more than enough time to pack everything that they needed
into wagons or on pack horses. One wagon had been made to look like a slave
wagon. Lt Davis, Kala, and all the females, free or slave walk to the wagon
barefoot some wearing ankle chains to step up to the wagon as if they were
prisoners and slaves. A plank was used for them to exit the wagon and load the
wagon with heavy stones. Davis and Piper were assigned to drive that wagon when
the rest of the party pulled away from the burning ranch house and barns. Davis
and his remaining men were not pleased that the bodies of their comrades had
not been buried properly but left laying where they had fallen on the courtyard
of the ranch or in the burning building striped of all weapons so to appear as
if they had died defending the ranch from bandits or some other force.
When the buildings had
been set ablaze the wagons pulled out. Shortly after, the false slave wagon
with Davis riding escort and Piper driving the team veered away from the others
on a different trail. Once sufficient distance had been traveled, Piper found
an area void of grass or vegetation, where she pulled the wagon into. Her and
Davis unhooked the team from the wagon. All the harness tack was loaded into
packs placed on one horse. While Piper who had been dressed as if she were a
free teamster, changed back into something more suitable for a slave girl. Davis
then locked her wrists in shackles and helped her mount the other horse
bareback. Taking the reins of Piper’s horse and the pack horse leading down
into a shallow creek to hide their tracks and back in the direction of the
other. Anyone seeing them would just see a man and his slave.
Once they linked up the
rest of the party. Piper had been freed of the shackles and allowed to dress in
her usual clothing. It had been decided that once they were well away from the
ranch on the road. Piper, Macon, and Marla would remain in slave collars and
attire. While Leta, Nina, and Naomi were have their collars removed and dress
as if they were free. They would also be armed. It was reasoned that if they
had too many free females in their party if scouted it might draw as much
suspicion as having too many slaves might draw interest.
Except during the cover
of night, Kala and Magdella would remain inside one of the wagons with the two
slaves Druilla, who had been temporarily been returned to being a slave till
they were closer to Kala’s people, and Ocala
as their appearance would definitely draw unwanted attention. The two slaves
might not at a distance, as their bodies were very human like. But their skin
colors would be noticed in the light of day for sure. Nina was to drive their
wagon while Macon was the slave with her.
The plan had gone well Kyle
Davis and his three surviving troopers had integrated themselves into the group
fairly well for the most part. There was still some tension between them and Kala
and former Cristo soldiers but nothing that couldn’t be handled. One of the
trooper, name Brannon, was not very happy to learn that all the slaves were
unavailable to him. Had he not made an issue of it, Rafe had briefly considered
making Naomi and Marla available to Davis and his men. Leta was Rafe’s personal
slave that was only for him, Though he did trade her to Blackburn for Piper
once in a while for the night. Tyrell said it needed so that they didn’t forget
that they were slaves.
Several days travel away
from the burned out ranch, with no signs of pursuit still. Kala and her party
said their farewells. Kala and Magdella lead the way back to Kala’s home with
Macon leading a coffle of slaves on a common neck rope with Nina in the first
position. She had made the choice to go with them as a slave and now that was
all she was.
Darterra
Saga
Book
III Wilderness of Mirrors
Act
I
Betrayal
Leta
would have let out yelp when the switch bit her on her bare ass cheek causing
her jerk. She looked over her shoulder defiantly at the one who had used the
switch. Her displeasure would have earned her another bite or more for her
insolence had her mouth not been filled with cloth packing which was bound in
place by a leather muzzle tightly wrapped about her lower face keeping her
silent. Marla was a pace behind her shaking her head not to do anything. Like
Lita, she was naked, wearing a slave collar, wrists secured behind her,
muzzled, and on a common neck rope.
The
rope was held by former Cristo Trooper called Brannon. The three of them had
been left in camp while the others scouted the surrounding area looking for
supplies and possible allies. Leta was posing as Brannon’s woman with the
wagons while Marla was their slave. That neither female was available to him
had made Brannon bitter. He had been given the choice to join the Cristo
security force or face 15 years of hard labor in the mines. Always one to look
lout for himself, Brannon had enlisted begrudgingly. When this new situation
had presented itself the wise thing seemed to do was play along for a time till
he saw how it played out.
Four
nights ago, Leta had woke to find Brannon’s knife at her throat. She was told
not to say a word or resist. Her eyes immediately looked to the side were Marla
had been chained by the ankle for the night for appearances sake. There had
never been a thought that she might run away in the night, but she was chained
just the same in case they were being watched. Marla was no longer chained by
the ankle to the wheel of the wagon. She now lay on her stomach hogtied and
muzzled to keep her silent. He ripped open her shirt and the rag he now held
was thrust into her mouth to gag her as well.
“Don’t
even try or think of spiting that out, slut.” She was instructed. Removing a
pair of wrists cuffs from his belt, he dropped them on her belly. “Lock one on
one wrists then roll onto your belly like a good girl.”
Leta
quickly reasoned that since it had been only the three of them in camp at the
moment. Marla had been neutralized and no help. Resisting while flat on her
back with a razor sharp knife blade hovering at her throat was not the thing to
do. Hate in her eyes as she picked up the cuff, locking one on her left wrist.
Growling into the gag as she slowly rolled to her stomach moving her wrists to
the small of her back where her other wrist was locked into the open cuff
securing her as well. The knife was removed and a broad leather strap was
pulled tight over her mouth, holding the clothing packing in her mouth in place
when it was secured.
Brannon
then used the knife to cut Leta’s clothes away from her stripping her as naked
as Marla. It was no surprise when he produced a slave collar which was locked
on her neck so that she looked identical to Marla except she was not hogtied. Leta
had never stopped being a slave legally. Her master Rafe had not freed her but
removed the collar and allowed her clothing and weapons as he saw her as more
value to their cause as a fighter than a servant. That had not sit well with
Brannon.
Now
she was on her knees before him as a naked collared slave and her Master was
not due back from his patrol for another day at least. The chain that had
secured Marla to the wagon soon was locked on her ankle now. Brannon was taking
no chances. Not that he needed to chain her right now. Leta had already
weighted the options and given she was naked, locked in a slave collar, and her
wrists were locked behind her back. Attempting to escape would not work in her
favor. Anyone she found would not help her but add her to their slaves. But
what was Brannon’s plan? Soon as Rafe or Tyrell returned with their patrol,
they would learn what he had done and it would not end well for him. Leta
didn’t have anymore time to think or consider any of that. Brannon was pushing
her to her back in the dirt and forcing her thighs apart to make her serve him
as he had wanted since seeing her.
Then
switch brought her back to the present once more. She had no clue where Brannon
was taking the two of them. What was clear that they were slaves and only
slaves to him. The muzzles were only removed to give them water when needed an
food in the morning and night. At night, whichever one he picked had to endure the
humiliation of pleasuring his lust.
A
day’s march Behind Brannon
“What
do you think?” asked Kyle Davis.
Davis
was standing behind the figure of Rafe McNally who was squatted down studying
the game trail they were following. They had been following this trail for a
day and a half. They had returned from patrol to find an empty camp. At first it
was suspected that the camp had been raided by Cristo Troopers or bandits. But
either of them would have taken everything and the wagons with most of the
supplied were still as they had been left. Only thing missing was the two
girls, the man left to watch over them, a little gold, and some supplies.
The
remnants of a woman’s clothing had been found in the fire’s coals. It might
have just been fragments but they matched what Leta had been wearing. The footprints
leading away from the camp were those of two bare foot females and one booted
male. McNally was not sure he should have been disappointed in Davis for not
being surprised that the man Brannon had deserted and stolen two slaves or not.
He had started liking the kid who was young and still a little green. But as
Tyrell had said he was a good kid and was trying to learn as much as he could.
It was one reason Rafe had taken Davis with him. Davis knew the territory and
he could teach the kid a couple things along the way.
“It’s
them alright no doubt. I would say that we have gained some time on them and
they are no more than a day ahead of us.” Standing and looking down the game
trail in the direction they were going. “What is in this direction?”
“Not
much really. A few ranches and farms. There is a small town called Chidorm. The
only thing that keeps the place going is a slaver called Haven brings his
traveling caravan to there to conduct sales to rotate their stock yards.” The
words had barely left Davis’s mouth when he knew why Brannon was taking the
girls there. He had not taken too much of their gold because it would be heavy
to carry, even if he had the slaves carrying the loads. The horses had all been
used for hunting and patrols. So, he had no choice but to walk and limit his
weight load. When he got to Chidorm he would sell the girls, buy what he needed
and be gone.
“Slaves
like Leta and Marla would bring a decent price I am guessing because they would
be fresh stock. How far do you think they are away from this town?”
“He
likely thinks he has a bigger lead on us than he does. So, he could make it
before the sun sits tonight. But he will want the girls to rest tonight so they
will look fresher and not tried and worn out. There is a slim change that we
might catch him making the sale if we are lucky.”
“I
say we try and pick up the pace. I am not concerned about catching him as much
as I am at the girls are sold by the slaver before we get there. He’s a dead
man. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
“I
think your right.” Davis nodding, “And I want Brannon too.” Without another
word the two men turn and set off down the game trail towards the town of
Chidorm.
Chidorm
Slave Market
“What
do you mean they are only worth 15 schillings silver for the two of them!”
Demanded Brannon. He and the two slaves were standing in the town slave market
as he showed the girls off to a black slaver called Haven. “The red haired
slave is worth three times that alone!”
Despite
all that had happened to her up to this point, Leta had never experienced or
felt anything like this. Both her and Marla were standing naked and bound in
the middle of the outside slave pens area in the hot sun. Brannon still held
their leash while a well dressed bald black slaver dressed in a silky yellow
shirt and black trousers looking them over and appraised their worth to him.
She had never felt so much like a piece of meat or livestock in her life. What
made it worse was nobody seemed to notice or pay attention to what was
happening to them. All around them were stock pens and cages holding naked male
and female slaves like them.
“That
very well may be, perhaps in the markets of New London or Liverpool. But this
is a remote and poor market. Most of my customers are poor farmers looking for
field slaves or for fresh slaves for the brothels. I have to think about my
overhead. I might be lucky to get that much for one of them let alone two.”
Haven pleaded his case. He was lying of course. He get double of what he was
offering for the pair for one of them. These two were prime slave stock. He
would make a good deal of silver or perhaps gold off them. Yes, he thought,
sell them as a set and he would make a killing.
“I
want 25 silver schillings each. I will not take anything less.” Brannon
growled. “I will take them somewhere else if I need to.” He threatened.
“Then
do so,” Laughed the slaver, “I control all the slave sales for this area. Take
them somewhere else, but it is many kilometers to the next market. I will give
you 20 for the pair and that is my final offer.”
“Done,”
Brannon growled knowing that he had just been cheated. Haven had nodded as one
of his people relieved the former Trooper of the leash for the two slaves.
Haven then counted out the 20 coins with a wide smile on his face. Leta’s heart
sank even though she knew they were to be sold. Marla was still looked on in
shock and disbelief in what was happening to her.
“Take
them to the holding pens, I want them washed and fed immediately. Then prepare
them for tomorrow’s sale. I have some buyers to notify of this addition to the sale
bill.” Haven was much pleased with himself as the two slaves were led away and
the man who he had just cheated stomped off. This had been a profitable day and
tomorrow would be even better.
Chidorm
Slave Auction House
Leta
and Marla stood in their cage in the holding area of the auction house. Both
were still naked except for the new collars that each wore proclaiming them the
property of Lord Haven’s slave House. On the left breast of each in red
lipstick was the number 26 which was the lot number in the upcoming slave. A
set of ankle shackles secured them together by one ankle each.
Much
as Leta wanted to comfort and reassure Marle that their true Master would come
and save them from this sale. She had little faith in that at the moment. There
was no doubt that Masters Rafe, Tyrell, or even Davis would be looking for them.
But that one of them would arrive and find them in these slave pens before they
were sold to the highest bidder was a million to one shot at best.
She
had not asked or begged that her Master free her once things were sorted out at
the ranch. Leta had not minded that her name had been changed without her
consent from Terra to Leta. She had enjoyed being chained to his bed at night
and serving his pleasure. It had almost seemed a game at times. Only it was no
longer fun nor was it a game any longer. In a couple hours she would be sold to
a new owner and would be nothing to them but a slave to preform whatever labors
they wished or to pleasure them in whatever way they wished. The one bright
thing in all this was from all she could tell Marla and her were to be sold as
a set. So, she would at least be there to help Marla as much as she could. But
who would help her?
The
sound of a crowd filtered back to the pens. People must be arriving and getting
ready for the sale. In the past as a potential buyer, she had attended auctions
while undercover or just to watch. It was not her up there having bids called
out for. Sometimes these sales went out of order of the lot numbers, sometimes
they did. Sometimes they went quickly with the buyers not bidding much so the
sales were quick.
The
sound of a large key in the lock of the cage brought both of them out of their
trance. A gruff looking handler stood there with the door now open and snapped
a finger for them to move to him it was getting close to their turn.
“Do
I need to take the whip to you girl?” he barked with Marla didn’t move.
“No,
Master!” they both said as they moved to the door for him.
“Go
to the next handler.” He instructed them as he pointed to the man at the end of
the hallway. The hallway was narrow and other that into other slave cages there
was no place for them to run even if they could. So, the obediently proceeded
to the handler at the end of the hall. Once they reached the man, their hands
were locked in wrists cuffs behind their back, and a leash was snapped on
Leta’s collar. The two were then escorted down through a maze of corridors
lined with cages and preparation rooms till they could see the auction block through
a portal. The passage leading to the portal was lined with slaves like them
chained to the wall awaiting their turn.
Leta
and Marla exchanged worried looks between them. Legally, they had both been
slaves and sold back on Romata III. That new status and condition had been
flirted with but never really enforced upon Leta in absolute terms. She has
been called slave, she had obeyed and served as a slave but with the exceptions
of Tyrell, Davis, and his men. Leta never really felt like she was seen as just
a slave girl. Marla on the other hand had been kept on a much shorter leash
though she had the hope that her life of servitude would be short lived and she
was only a slave for the sake of appearances for others to conceal her.
Only
the glimmers of hope of going back to the lives they once had grew dimmer and
dimmer the closer to the auction block their position on the waiting wall changed.
Finally, they were next and a handler led them out of the portal and up the
steps to the raised wooden platform that was the auction block. The slaver
Haven who had bought them from Brannon was standing to the side reading a sale
bill to the crowd as they were placed in the center of the block and told not
to move unless told to. With the lights of the auction house pointed and
focused on them, neither of them could see more than shapes of people in the
crowd about them. Marla softly whimpered as the fear was starting to overtake
her. Leta softly whispered under her breath so as not to be heard or noticed
words of encouragement and support.
“Next!”
Called the Slaver to the house, “I have lot 26 for your viewing and bidding
enjoyment. Lot 26 is a pair of female slaves. They were examined and found to
be in excellent health, they were also found to be easily aroused to the touch
of a Master and quick to become hot for use.” That caused both Leta and Marla
to blush a deep red. Not that anyone in this audience would know them, but it
made them look even more like female slave meat if that was possible. “I
recently purchased these slaves from someone traveling through our fair town. So,
whomever wins the bidding will have the pleasure of truly fresh slave flesh. I
will start the bidding at 2 Pounds Sterling. Do I hear two Pounds?”
Leta
glanced to Marla for an instant hearing the opening bid for them both. Their
Master Haven had clearly known what he was doing and had cheated Brannon. So, they
might being sold into a new slavery but there was some justice in this. The
bids were coming in fast, the last being for over 5 Pounds Sterling for the set.
That scared Leta as it meant that whoever won the bidding was going to want to get
their money’s worth out of them.
“I
will bid, 10 Pound Sterling for the pair,” a voice that Leta thought she knew
called out from the crowd.
A
hush fell over the crowd, that was the average value of a years crops on one of
the larger farms. From the block the slaves could not see who made the bid. But
those about the could not help but note that the younger of the two men wore
Cristo Security Officers trousers. None
said a word nor tried to place a higher bid. Crossing a agent of the Company could
be fatal
“10
Pounds 50 Schillings,” a voice called out just before Haven started to close
the bidding during the silence. The bid had came from Drisco Salvadar, who in
his own opinion was the richest and most powerful man in this territory.
“20
Pounds Sterling,” the voice called from the shadows with the Cristo Officer.
“Your
bluffing,” Salvadar challenged. “50 Pounds Sterling for the slaves.” Pleased with
himself.
“One
Golden Crown,” called the man in the shadows. “One Golden Crown for each of the
slaves.”
The
auction out was deadly silent.
“I
doubt the lying bastard has it.” Challenged Salvadar.
“Then
close the bidding and find out. If I don’t have it then the slaves go to the
next highest bid.” McNally said in a even tone loud enough to be heard as he
stepped from the shadows.
“I
have a bid of two Golden Crowns for the pair of slaves. Going once!” He waited,
only silence was heard. “Going twice!” He waited again, nothing. “Sold! For two
Gold Crowns!”
To
the shock and amazement of all, Rafe walked to the block and dropped two golden
Crowns onto the boards. He wanted the slaves back. And it was not his gold, it
used to be Van Horn’s, Rafe took it from his personal effects when the bodies
were stripped.
Two
Hours later at the edge of Chidorm
McNally
and Davis walked down the middle of the street with two leashed naked slaves in
tow. When it had came time to collect the two slaves, Salvadar was not willing
to let the matter go. It had taken several deep and threating comments and stare
from Rafe and Davis showing his old credentials to finally put the matter to
rest. The Slaver was more than happy to take the gold for the slaves as his profits
for the day set a new all time high. It took convincing the bloated businessman
that he was interfering with a Company sanctioned operations that if he didn’t
back off could bring him to ruin. McNally was not worried as he had dealt with
that type before and the tended to back down if they felt themselves threatened.
“Master?”
Leta had asked softly as she followed behind.
“Yes
slave girl?” Rafe grinned and winks at Kyle at driving home that the girl was a
slave.
“Master,
the scoundrel Brannon may still be in town. Should we not find him before leaving?”
“Rumor
has it that the bottle of local whiskey that was sent to his room compliments
of the house, Was tainted and poisonous, he was found dead in a bathtub by a
house slave while the sale was going on.” In fact Kyle had spotted the traitor
entering a hotel and told Rafe. A cheap bottle of whiskey poured into the empty
bottle of a better brand with a little extra in it had been left of the door of
Brannon’s room. Brannon never one to pass on free whiskey took the gift on his
room door without question.
Rafe
tugged on the leash again. It was still a couple days back to base camp and he
didn’t want to waste any time.
