Chapter 2

Searienne's face was dark with fury as she was dragged down a filthy, busy street. From the collar that she wore extended a short metallic leash that simply refused to break no matter how many times she strained against it. “Tsk, tsk,” Zatyl laughed raucously at her efforts and yanked back on the rope, causing her to gag and fall backwards.

Searienne glowered at him as she was forced to stand back up- it was, after all, stand or be dragged. Her face was hot with humiliation and perspiration. It had been nearly three days since their conversation on the rooftop, and nearly two days since she had been permitted to see her mother for what would probably be the last time.

It was after a few more minutes of struggling against Zatyl’s hold on her that she saw the raised platform in the middle of a large space that seemed to be the center if attention. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw that her people were chained to several large posts that extended their reaches into the sky. She saw that they stood straight and hopeless, collars gleaming solemnly in the sunlight. They were a disgraced people who had given themselves into the torment of the strangers that had abducted them.

The people that surrounded the podium were not all as filthy as the people as Fivald, some were well-dressed and appeared to be as distasteful towards the people as Searienne herself was. “Welcome!” A loud voice emitted from the platform, and what had been a loud roar in the crowd dimmed to utter silence, “Nearly three hundred years ago the interplanetary wars took place. There were many disgraceful battles, and many surprise attacks between neighboring planets.

Entire home worlds were destroyed due to the greed and jealousy of others. One such planet belonged to the Eservien people.”

A murmur of excitement raced through the crowd and Searienne felt a restlessness rising in putrid waves from them, “For three hundred years we have thought this people to be long extinct- their representatives had been slain when they had gone to the interplanetary peace conference and the people that had survived the annihilation died shortly after.

“A people long thought to have disappeared from our galaxy, has remade their appearance upon this very territory.” The man finished with a smirk, waving his hand in an arc behind him.

The murmur evolved into a roar of shock and disbelief, and the tall man on the podium simply raised his hand and beckoned one of his underlings to him, taking the leash of one of the imprisoned people and yanking on it, causing a woman to fall forward in a crumpled and weakened heap. Her hair was a deep lavender, dulled by the filth of the planet. It fell half-hazzardly into her gaunt and dirt-smudged face. Her crimson eyes nearly took over the full of her face as she looked out upon the crowd around the podium with disdain. Why doesn’t she fight? Searienne wondered, why doesn’t she fight for her freedom the way that I’ve been trying to?

Searienne's face paled suddenly as she recognized the ill treated woman, she dashed forward quite suddenly, “Mashel!” She screamed before Zatyl pulled her back, enveloping her in his overpowering arms, “let go!” She squirmed, her eyes resting only upon the figure of her mother, weakened and nearly naked in the scraps that they had given to her in place of her sacred robes. “How dare they treat her with such disrespect! She is a healer, the highest ranking in our village!” She snapped venomously, “release her you foul beasts!”

Her dark words, however, were not heard over the disbelieving din of the crowd that had risen several octaves since she had attempted to run to her mother’s side. Searienne was even forced to clamp her hands over her ears in an attempt to keep the sound out.

After several minutes of allowing the people to converse amongst themselves the man held up a hand for silence, and the sudden lack of noise was just as deafening.

“This woman is a member of the royal family itself,” Zatyl stiffened notably behind Searienne as the man spoke again, that was obviously something that he had not known.

The man then forced Annetlanine to her knees and thrust her head forward, pointing to a barely noticeable symbol of a silver and red color upon the artery that lined her throat, “You all know that this mark is impossible to duplicate, one would bleed to death before it could be completed with a needle. This is what made the royal family of Eservie so very fascinating- they were born with this mark. The bidding shall start at three million vaeras.” The man cleared his throat and indicated the woman at his side, “as a member of the royal family she's a rare creature indeed. Most monarchies disappeared long before we discovered Earth, the home planet of several of our own intergalactic board members.”

Nearly two hours later, the heated argument to determine Annetlanine's new master ended. She was sold for nearly six million vaeras to a visiting lord from a distant planet called Aishi.

The auction extended the length of several days before only Searienne was left. She sank to her knees where she had last been permitted to bid her mother farewell, eyes wide and stricken with horror. She was the only one whom would be cursed to stay on the ghastly planet that they had been brought to, and it was highly unlikely that she would ever see any of her friends or family again.

The shocking realization that the people that she had grown up with, that had taught her their way of life, were gone. She wouldn’t even be able to see her beloved Eichi ever again.

Zatyl had long since abandoned her in that spot, tying her rope through a loop that was attached to a long metal pole. Her eyes rose solemnly to the skies, catching sight of several of Fivald’s various moons. Eichi… She thought, to think that I will never see you again, that I will never see anybody I love again. It makes me want death more than anything. Tiredly her throat released a few guttural sounds that were the resonances of an old song that had been passed through her family line, though now it seemed more prophesy than song.

“Vaeras life,

And quarry sway,

Thy true love’s touch,

Hath stol’n way,

Thy freedoms robbed,

By strangers hand,

Thy peace be brok’n,

Evermore,

Torn and thrown,

Through worlds spread far,

Villen’s touch,

And Zatyl’s taunts,

Bondage links,

Near breaking point,

Ever lost,

Thy freedoms touch,

Stol’n way,

By stranger’s hand.”

Her song ended on a sorrowful note and she could feel the tears finally beginning to flow. There was a small sound nearby and she looked up at a sniffling ball of green fur, “That made my heart want to explode.” The ball of fluff said, crimson eyes blinking tears.

“W-what?” Searienne asked in shock.

The creature sniffed again, “it was so full of sorrow that it made my heart want to explode!” It dove into her lap, and instinctively Searienne wrapped her arms about it comfortingly.

“I am sorry,” She whispered, “I did not meant to make you cry.”

“You have such a beautiful voice,” tears leaked out of crimson eyes as the small creature looked up at her, “my name is Fuyerre. I am of the Eki existence, the prince of the northern realm of my home planet.”

“Where is your home planet?” Searienne asked in a choked whisper, “why are you here?”

“These pirating villains,” Fuyerre spat, “invaded the northern territory and destroyed our kingdom, imprisoning my people.”

“We are of the same heart then.” She said sadly, “They have invaded my home as well and taken my people captive.”

“Same heart,” Fuyerre chirped into her robes, “same heart.”

“I do not believe that I have told you my name yet,” after receiving a brief shake of the head, she continued, “My name is Searienne of the Eservie existence.”

“I thought that your planet was destroyed well over three hundred years ago?” Fuyerre cocked his small head to the side, revealing a small, rounded ear that had been lost in his fur.

“It was, or so the old legends go. My people have lived for a long time in peace in our home above this very planet.”

“Oh my,” Fuyerre murmured in surprise, “you lived so near to this filthy planet?”

“Aye, my nose still wrinkles with the stench of this place.” Searienne said in disgust.

“Did you know the people who were auctioned today?” Fuyerre asked cautiously.

“The first was my mashel.” She said with a sigh, “and the others were members of my village- all of them loyal to our people. I will never see them again it seems.”

“Don’t fret about it.” Fuyerre said confidently, “You will see them again, I promise.”

“They have been spread so far, how will I ever see them again?” Searienne asked in a despair filled voice.

“You will see,” Fuyerre’s tear brightened eyes gleamed with faith, “very soon Zhasuna will make his appearance. He will help you, he is a kind man.”

Searienne’s shoulders sagged slightly, and her fingers moved thoughtlessly through Fuyerre’s fur, “your words allow my dwindling hope to burn brightly again. I thank you Prince of the Eki. For now you should flee from my presence.”

“If I leave you, you will be alone.” Fuyerre said softly.

“If you stay Zatyl will harm you.” Searienne replied, “I will be fine, hide yourself and be safe until next we meet.” She smiled wanly.

“That monster?” Fuyerre’s eyes widened and he released a squeak of disdain.

“He was the one that invaded my home.” Searienne said coldly, her violet eyes flashing.

“Oh, he is coming!” Fuyerre dove from her lap and raced down the street and into a dark alley.

Until next time. Searienne thought wryly as she was yanked unceremoniously to her feet. “Do not drag your feet.” Zatyl said coldly as she made to slow his progress.

Searienne glowered as the collar took affect and her feet moved of their own accord. Her fingers snaked to her throat and she tugged viciously, knowing that it wouldn’t come off but wanting to try all the same. “Where are we going now?” She asked, her eyes narrowed.

“Why, we are going to pay my master a visit.” Zatyl said with a sneer, “but not before you bathe.” His nose wrinkled in disgust.

“I would not be in such need of bathing had you not been dragging me through the streets like an animal." Her voice was void of emotion and her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

“But then what fun would that be?” He didn't let her continue as he dragged her through a particularly thick group of people, and into what had appeared to be an abandoned building.

Inside things were surprisingly clean, and the smell that carried everywhere else seemed to dissipate once they entered those run down doors. Searienne caught herself before she released a sigh of relief.

“Zatyl!” There came a squeal of delight from a thin, busty woman, “What brings you here?” She batted her eyelashes at the brooding man who simply threw Searienne's leash at her.

“She needs to be made presentable for my master.” He said coldly, “I will return within a few hours.”

“Oh?” Bright red fingernails closed around the thin strip of leathery metal that bound Searienne to her spot, “Certainly, she will be made quite presentable.”

There was a wicked tone to that voice that Searienne did not like- she knew that she was going to be made as miserable as possible by this woman. Before she could contemplate on the matter longer the leash was given a hard yank, and she was led down a long corridor.

“This way,” The busty woman purred, “I want to please Zatyl very much, do not make this a difficult matter.”

Searienne's shoulders sagged, she hoped that she would only have to deal with these people for a short time. She hoped that Fuyerre was not lying to her out of cruelty. She prayed that there really was a Zhasuna who was coming to help. Most importantly- she hoped that Eichi was alright and would be there when she returned home.

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