Darterra Saga Book III Wilderness of Mirrors Act I

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.