Chương 152: Looking the Other Way

Ravetrisk was tied to a post. He was barely over ten years old, with a shaved head and a face covered in bruises. Whip marks covered the rest of his body. Around him stood slaves of every age, all wearing the hollow look of people who had lost everything. But Ravetrisk didn't have that look yet. He wanted to be free.

"Please…help me!" he begged, tears streaming down his face.

"Someone, please… free me!" The crowd walked past without stopping. Some glanced at him indifferently; others lowered their eyes and kept walking. Ravetrisk sobbed. He saw parents covering their children's eyes or ears. Their faces showed discomfort, as though they knew it was wrong. Yet no one intervened. No one. Then he saw a man approaching, dressed in luxurious clothes and adorned with expensive rings and bracelets. Ravetrisk's heart leapt. He smiled, fragile and desperate. Finally, someone had come.

The nobleman stopped in front of him, looked him up and down, and grinned.

"And this pretty little boy… how much does he cost?" Ravetrisk's smile vanished. Fear consumed his face once more. He jolted awake, gasping for breath. Sweat trickled down his forehead. He ran a hand through his hair and walked over to the mirror. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The man staring back at him had eyes filled with anger and hatred. There was nothing left of the boy he had once been.

In the seedier districts of Aqareth, Elion dragged Felicity along like a slave trader handling his merchandise, doing his best to play the part. The soldiers stationed there were only for show. They were corrupt and pretended not to see what was happening.

"According to the kingdom's laws, slavery is illegal…" Felicity murmured, watching several buyers examine slaves nearby.

"Yet it certainly doesn't look that way".

"The kingdom abandoned this city, just like who knows how many other forgotten places where slavery is the norm. Creating a law and enforcing it are two different things", Elion replied. A fat, nearly bald man approached them. He looked Felicity up and down with tiny, mole-like eyes, inspecting her like an object before smiling.

"Oh, what a little treasure we have here".

"Interested, sir?" Elion asked. The man stared into Felicity's eyes before brushing a finger across her lips.

"Open your mouth. Let me see your teeth". Felicity obeyed without batting an eye.

"A few cavities, two missing molars…but she seems to have a healthy mouth". His gaze then dropped to her chest, and he reached toward it. Felicity reacted instinctively and slammed her forehead into his face. A sharp crack rang out. His lip split, blood beginning to trickle down his chin.

"You fucking slut! I'll kill you!"

"My apologies, sir", Elion immediately intervened.

"She isn't very civilized…I found her on a battlefield". The man wiped the blood away with an expensive red handkerchief.

"Then I don't want her. I have no use for a savage in my villa". He stormed away. Elion approached Felicity.

"Are you all right? Do you want to take a break?"

"No break".

"We don't have to keep going if you don't feel up to it-""I said no break". Felicity gritted her teeth.

"I was the one who lost control. I should have suppressed my emotions. We continue with the plan". Elion sighed.

"Okay". Agnes sat inside her cell. Across from her, Firmin sat motionless, his gaze lost in the distance.

"The food here sucks, doesn't it?" Agnes said, trying to break the silence. Firmin looked at her and nodded.

"Anyway, don't be afraid. We'll get out of here. I know we will". Firmin lowered his gaze to her trembling hands. Agnes noticed and quickly hid them behind her back.

"Oh, don't mind that. It's not fear…it's the cold. This cell is really damp". Firmin tilted his head.

"All right…" Agnes admitted after a moment.

"Yes, I'm a little scared. That's normal. It would be strange if I weren't". She gave him a faint smile.

"But that doesn't change what I said. We'll get out of here. Trust me". Firmin nodded slowly. Though he was mute, his expressions said everything. Agnes looked down at her hands, still trembling.

"At least…that's what I hope", she whispered.