It had been a dark and stormy week, raining all week the children in
the village were happy to be out playing and running and jumping and
tossing a ball back and forth for enjoyment. The Village was owned by
a wicked King who wanted more and more taxes, taxes the people just couldn't afford to keep up. They were all good people, the Baker in the village, to the Butcher, to the clergy man in the church.

A big strong man came walking down the road he looked angry and when all the children saw him they ran away, some were bold enough to tease this man. This man you see had been hurt badly by the village people, when he was away at work, his home caught on fire and not a one of them did anything to try and save his wife or daughter. So in his
eyes, these people could all go to hell. The truth was the village had tried to save them the only way they knew how, which was to draw water from the lake forum up a line and pour out the water onto the flames, still that did not save his wife or daughter and he grew a mean heart. Even towards his late brother's wife Karen and their little girl.

Steven unlocked his door to his home and then walked in shut it, and locked the village's sounds out of his mind, he went to his bed fell onto it and cried his eyes out. Everyday this man came home to an empty home, this man came home to no wife and no child, only a short few years ago did he have a happy family and life style.

In the distance about 100 soldiers were riding towards the village, for you see they had not paid their taxes one too many times, and now the King was going to teach the Village a lesson. The captain of the mission stopped short when he recognized his own village "before you kill any woman or child they must be brought before me. The men are to
go up for auction if they look healthy enough, if they don't send them to the slaughter house, but do not under any circumstance's touch that house. He pointed to the house he grew up in, not realizing it held Karen or her daughter. "I will deal with those people on my own. Torch the village, and slay the ones that fight back." The soldiers
nodded and got ready, they understood their command and would follow it out, strike anyone who fought back, but not the woman or children, they belong to their Captain.

in the distance of the small village was a big hill, you could just barely hear the goings on in the small village, a man sat propped up using the tree for support he was reading and this was his property. He heard the screams of people crying for help, but he couldn't help them, and risk his own life, he saw his kings soldiers and sighed. Another village whipped out because of taxes. he thought to himself. This might be a good time to make his way to the City and
purchase that female slave he had been wanting, that he could help the village survive if he chose a female, he had enough room for four slaves.

Dendra ran as fast as she could.

The screams and wails of the other villagers had woken her and she knew that siege had been laid upon them. She dressed as quickly as she could, darting out into the chaos. She'd made it to the edge of the forest when she looked back.

Big mistake.

She ran right into the thick plated chest of one of soldiers. The burly man proceeded to grab her by the hair and yank her back in the direction of the village.

"Thought you would try and get away, eh?" he sneered, looking down his nose at her. She defiantly spat at feet, and in response he only yanked her hair harder. "Wench!" He growled, pushing her forward violently.

By the time they'd reached the other women and children, tears were running down her face from the pain in her head. She was violently thrust amongst the others and she scrambled to her feet, not wanting to show her defeat. She looked the soldier who had hassled her straight in the eyes. She could see all of the feeling wiped out of them. Looking away, she started at the rest in her group. They were all defeated souls, very little of them looking as if they could just die where they stood. It angered her to know that her village was so defeated.

The captain looked at the solider and shook his head "I said the women and children were not to be harmed." The captain of the soldiers had on his customary battle field yet he was not fighting, he recognized Dendra from having schooled with her in the past years, he doubt she would remember him, none of the children played with him much. He looked at her "She looks healthy enough, put her in with that group." He looked over in the group, there were young mother's and children together. "Separate the mothers from their children, boys in with the men who will be auctioned off, and then the girls with the older women." The captain turned to see his own home in flames then he saw a big burly feirce man coming after him, of course Steven was trying to go after the man who had Dendra, at least give her a chance to save her own life, but he was quickly defeated and was about to be slain when the captain placed his sword to stop the guard from killing him "He will make a good body guard for the King's children. Put him in that wagoned cage the middle one." In deed there were three wagoned cages, one was marked slave market where most were going to go, and one was listed as Castle, where they would be serving the King. Another wagon was not listed or given any title, and you sure did not want to end up in that one. "Put her in the middle one." The Captain said referring to Dendra 'she'll go to the important people's list." The Captain grinned mischievously at this.

"What about that house?" asked one guard pointing up to George's house which was up the hill and a good far distance from the Village. The captain looked up at that house and shook his head no.

"As long as he doesn't interfere with today we are to leave his home and house alone."

No one really knew George, he kept to himself mostly, and visited the village only when he needed food and when he wanted to watch the children play. He took a great interest in the children, but always looked saddened when the children had to go for the day.

Dendra reached a hand out to Steven when she saw that he was coming to her aid, yet drew back when she saw him knocked to the ground. She could only watch, helpless as he was loaded into a caged wagon. She knew he was a kind man, though he came off as headstrong and mean; to see him go.

"Put her in the middle one," she heard the Capitan say. She whipped her head in his direction, glaring as she was grabbed and made to walk into the direction of the aforementioned wagon. She wished to slap the man right across the face, as it would serve him right for being so cruel, yet, she cold not help but think that he was only following orders.

As she was shoved violently into the wagon, she scoffed at the soldier who put her there, only receiving a vile smirk in return. She turned to find Steven sitting in there, his face slightly marred by the beating he had received not moments earlier.

"Are you alright?" she asked, moving closer to inspect the wounds. She was known for her caring manner, and if she didn't try to help him, she felt as if his wounds were for nothing.

"Bloody female." snapped the Captain, to him females were useless pawns in his hands. He would use them all if he been given the opportunity, but his job called for honesty and his king got to choose first, then whomever else his King wanted to have first pick.


"I'm fine Dendra, ten years ago I would have been able to out run that moron." Steven said now looking at Dendra he sighed softly and looked away, "Were the only two in here." Steven commented on the fact that they had been the only two in that wagon was quite obvious. "I used to work for Lord Lamer and his family, used to watch over his child, until today." Steven sighed softly and shook his head. "As such is life." He took a handkcerchife and gently began to whip the blood away from his face, he would not ever cry. "Your on your own from now on though, whatever happens, I can't prevent it. You must survive Dendra, if only to piss off the Captain, you must survive." Steven sounded as if he was giving up on his own. "I am old more than likely will be sent to deaths door in the King's eyes." Steven shook his head softly and looked her in the eyes. "Were you there that night they died?" asked Steven now.

Out side there was more shouting and crying and struggling. But inside with Steven the outside world was not there. Steven looked into Dendra's eyes. "How did the fire start?" asked Steven, he had seen Dendra there that night. He sighed, why would Dendra tell him anything it was only his wife's death he was asking about. They said the fire was an accident, but Steven wasn't sure if that had been a lie to cover up someone else's mistake.

A soldier looked up and glared at her, how the heck did that child get up at the top of the roof... he glared up at her and looked around, how would he be able to get her down. The solider thought about this and then saw some rope and he took the long rope lying on the ground near the childs house and lassoed her feet, he pulled her down hard and caught her so she would not fall. this solider was not so rough as the others he did grabbed her before she had a chance to run from him. "Come on kid, I'm taking you down..." He took the child down and dragged her over to his captain, with the book she had been reading.

"A literate villager how cute." The captain said and glared. "Put her in the middle wagon, say good-bye to your mother child, you'll never see her again." hissed the Captain.

Tears came to Lesley's eyes, blinding her a moment in her sprint towards the forest... Only a moment; her feet tripped over then selfs, sending Lesley falling into the ground. Luckly, her hands shot out infront of her before she face-planted into the ground. She heard the snap before she felt it. Pain shot up her arm from her right wrist; she must have hit it too hard on the ground, causing the bone to break under the forced height.
A cry of pain escaped her lips, mixing in with the other defaning screams that filled the village. Lesley rolled onto her back, tears streaming down her face as she craddled her burning wrist into her chest, trying to lie as still as she could alow herself to be in a weak attempt to still hide from the soldiers...
"A literate villager how cute."
She glared at the Captain who spoke about her. She struggled agaisnt the restraining arms as she was thrown into the middle wagon...

Dendra could see all of the years of work and despair weighing down on Steven. When she asked her about his wife and child, she knew she had t tel him the truth; it was only the right thing to do.

"No one really knows how it got started. I had been walking by when I someone sneak off into the woods. The next thing I knew, your house was on fire. We tried, Steven, we truly tried. The water just wasn't enough." She hung her head sadly. She had been fairly close with his wife and daughter, often coming over when the little girl wanted to play or learn how to become better at healing. She missed them both terribly, as they were more of a family to her than her own.

"I will persevere, If not for myself than for you," she told him, placing a kind hand on his shoulder. Suddenly the door to the wagon opened and a child was pushed in, falling on top of her. Startled, she did the first thing that came to mind, she held the child close to her, comforting its crying form.

"Shus, child, You are safe for now," she said, not wanting to allude the child into thinking that all would be okay. "What is your name?"

Lesley flinched slightly as the stranger held her closer, but made no sign of planning of moving away from her. Tears still streamed down her face from terror and fear, but she spoke quietly. Her voice was soft, though it broke in th middle of saying her name, quivering slightly as her voice came through shaking lips, "Lesley."
Lesley curled up beside the stranger, her arms aroudn her legs as she sobbed quietly...

"Les-ley," was the reply Dendra received. She rubbed the girls back, hopping that it would be a small comfort in the midst of all of this chaos and destruction.

"I'm Dendra, Lesley," she said to the girl, trying to get a better look at her face. It was dark and the most she could make out was a slightly dirtied face, probably from being handled by the soldiers, and blond hair pulled away from her face. The girl was young, probably only 14 or 15. Dendra sighed, for she knew the possible fate of this girl and it was not desirable, not even of the worst people.

"Calm your tears," she said, knowing that they wouldn't help. "They can but make you more fearful of what is to come." She continued to comfort the girl, stroking her hair as a mother would do, and rubbing her back.

Lesley nodded, her hands rubbing her blue-grey eyes as she tried to make the tears stop. Lesley spoke again, her voice quiet in the dark wagon, but more stable then before.
"There going to kill us..."
She did not speak the words as an accusation, but more as a stated fact. Lesley layed her head down on Dendra's thigh, the word's the Captain spoke echoing in her mind as silent tears came down her cheeks, "...Say goodbye to your mother child, you'll ever see her again." Lesley shuddered slightly, thinking about her young sister, Lily, and her mother being dragged from their home...
Lesley stayed quiet for a while after that, looking around the wagon as she turned her head, her blue-grey eyes looking up at the man in there with them...

Dendra looked to Steven as well. She could not tell the girl that they weren't going to die; it would be a lie and there was no way for her to know otherwise.

"Yes, we may die," She said finally after a long pause, still stroking the girl's hair. "But until the moment that death is taking us away with him, we must persevere. There is nothing more that we can do than that." She shook her head sadly, straining to keep the anger and the fear out of her voice.


All of her life, Dendra had been hoping to see something better than her King's wicked vile ways, and now in her 21st year of life, she was faced with death, her family long gone, and with no one else to call upon as a such. The girl who's head was in her lap had it far worse than she; Lesley had been torn from her family, never to see them again, and an even more dismal prospect ahead.

If it was the last thing she did, she would protect the girl. It was the least she could do.

Steven looked at the girl and then Dendra "They'll probably do very bad things to you," he said looking at the little girl "and to Dendra, then they'll beat me to near death until they think they have me under control." said Steven he was very blunt and to the point there was no since in lying to this child, not now. "Then when the soldiers are done with you and Dendra they will sell you, probably to masters who will do more bad things to you, maybe to nice masters, one can only think and allow their imagination to go wild with what they might do." Steven looked at Dendra and sighed softly "I don't mean to be blunt but that's how I am." Steven said softly.

The wagon began to move. and they went for a whole day before it stopped, and all the prisoners from the village that had survived the raid were sent into one cabin for all women of all ages. When Steven's wagon was opened he looked up at the sun light. "Get out of you cage slaves." The solider grabbed Dendra, and shoved her down to the ground while another grabbed Steven and shoved him down, and began to take a whip to Steven. The third solider came up to the child and grabbed her he tossed her very hard to the ground, the solider grabbed her little hand and turned it to the back, not enough to cause any damage but enough to cause pain.

The captain came in and glared at the three soldiers "That is enough!" hissed the captain. "Take them all to the royal slave market." The three soldiers blinked and stared at their captain. "Do what I say NOW!!!!!!!!!!!" the soldiers jumped and did what they were told to do.

Steven stared when he was shoved into a separate room for the men, he looked over towards the young girl and the child he sighed that would be the last time he saw them, he was sure of it.

"Take you clothes off and put those dress on." the soldiers hissed at the two girls "You have three minutes." the two girls were tossed the oldest Dendra was thrown to the ground first and then Lesley was shoved down landing right on top of the Dendra. the soldiers only laughed.

Dendra caught Lesley as well as she could, hastily standing the girl up. "Quick," she told her, handing her one of the ragged dresses. "Put it on, child, or the punishment will be far worse." She herself undressed, hastily throwing on the given clothing, and scoffing at the men who watched her and Lesley.

"Come, now, stand," she told the girl. They would have to cooperate well if they wanted to stay together, much less live. She looked in the direction that they had taken Steven, silently thinking to herself of the vow she had made to him. She would fight, and she would live.

One of the men standing in the corner glared at Dendra "What are you looking at?" he hised and took his whip and was about to lash her with it when he felt the whip being tugged out of his hands. The captain once again was standing there.

"No harm will come to these women, they are for the royal crown, and gifts for persons who have earned the crown's trust." The Captain looked Dendra over, he really wanted this one, he had been working for the crown since he was seventeen, now in his thirties, he had never been given a reward for any job, well not ones that mattered to him anyway.

Dendra backed away and closed her eyes as she saw the whip being pulled out. She braced herself for the impact, but when none came, she hesitantly opened her eyes.

"No harm will come to these women, they are for the royal crown, and gifts for persons who have earned the crown's trust." It was the Capitan speaking. She eyed him warily before turning her head away from him. She could not meet his gaze, for she saw how he eyed her hungrily and she did not want him to see her fear. She pulled her arms around herself,as if it would serve as some sort of shield against him.

"hum..." The Captain smiled wickedly as he walked up to her and traced her face, he loved women, they just never loved him back. His look into her eyes were icy cold, he walked out of the room, and two more men came in "These two women are up for auction tomorrow. Take them to their sleeping quarters."

"With pleasure Captain." one solider said. The solider gently took the woman to their resting place. "Not much here." The solider said, "food will be around in a few minutes, and tea." said the solider, "Normally you wouldn't be getting this treatment, but your going to be served royalty, you have a higher slandered than the regular slaves."

George meanwhile had wondered into his brother's castle, and was shown his former royal suite, he sighed from boardum. He didn't want to be King, and neither did his brother. No one knew about the second brother and no one needed to know. George looked around again and sighed. He finally nodded and sat in his old chair he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Dendra shivered under the Captains touch. It disgusted her to even think of the things that were running through his mind at that very moment.

As she was taken to the room along with Lesley and told what would happen. She sighed internally, they would not die. At least not now. She walked over to the small window on the far side of the room. This was good, she would have time to think about what to do next. If she and Lesley were to be separated, then that would not be good. She knew the girl was too young to be on her own in a situation like this.

Sighing, she sat on one of the poorly clothed beds. If she was going to survive than she needed a plan.

George's eyes were opened up when he felt his brother standing before him, George's eyes lit up like a child when Christmas came. "Brother!" George addressed the King as such, which was his right. George held his brother in his arms, feeling the coldness he felt from his brother he backed off.

"Why are you here?" The King asked now sitting down in the chair George had been sitting in, a fire was glowing by now in the fire place for George, a maid had come and set it up very quietly when George was sleeping.

"I want a slave, from the village that was raided today, a female preferably." George stated his only intention of coming to the castle, The King thought about it and then nodded. George smiled softly, he knew his brother would see reason.

"How are things as a farmer?" ask the King as he stood up and began to walk to the door he turned to his brother and smiled "Follow me, I'll take you to where she is and you can judge for yourself if you want her or not. Only problem there seems to be a child that has attached herself to the woman, and you know my view on children. Worthless as can be."

"Worthless as can be." George said right along with the King he had not come to make arguments with his brother. George stopped when the King did and smiled up at his brother. The King opened up the door to where Dendra and Lesley were and walked in with his brother. "Fine I like the farmers life much better than the royalty life." They both laughed at this.

"Here they are, well there are only two from the village, hand picked by the captain as worthy enough to serve royalty, anyone who fought was automatically killed." George looked at Dendra and noticed her scrapes and the fact that she was bleeding.

"Sire, you should have that one checked by a medic." George whispered "it would be the right thing to do." George looked at both the young woman and the young girl he walked over to the child and softly touched her cheek. "This one is young, a child you say sire? How old are you child?" asked George looking into Lesley's eyes, he would not hurt her, he just wanted to know how old she was old enough to earn her keep?" he wondered.