Private Tales A Guardian Slave

[Aka the Slave]

'Another day' The large Komodi thought to himself as he lifted himself from his bunk bed, the barracks were a lot more comfortable than what he had been used to in Cerak At'Thul and the regiment was not quite as grueling but it still consisted of the same thing, wake up in the morning and train, break for breakfast and then train again until noon came and you were paired up with a partner to spar, depending on your ability you were paired with someone better or worse to spread combat knowledge as best as possible.

He grunted and picked his teeth with one of his claws before dressing himself in his armor, it felt comfortable like a second skin. Aka often found himself feeling naked without armor on, after all he had been used to its presence, for the longest time he lived in it, only taking it off to clean himself and the armor.

Today however was different, after the morning training he was brought to breakfast and when he was about to leave to the courtyard for the second bout of training he found himself stopped by one of the palace guards.

"Aka?" The man asked him, a human that was quite a bit smaller than himself but he didn't give him a second glance, he stood out even for a Komodi after all.

"Yes, Sir." He said, Aka's speech was deep and difficult, he never learned how to speak properly and with his forked tongue and lack of education it made it sound like he had a lisp.

"You're to report to the palace." The guard said as he motioned to Aka to follow, he gave no resistance to the order, that was life for a slave which he still was, by definition. He followed the guard to the Palace, the large structure looked impressive for someone that spent his life in a dark and foreboding place like Cerak At'Thul.

"You're being reassigned." The guard added as they arrived but gave no indication as he handed responsibility for Aka over to one of the palace guards. Aka only gave a nod, he had long ago learned not to speak unless he was asked to.

"Follow me." The palace guard added before leading him in. He followed the guard inside until they reached a rather large door, he looked around in slight amazement as he traveled through the courtyard and halls. He had never really seen anything like it, he almost felt like he had been transported to a different world.

"Wait here until you are called." The Palace guard said before knocking on the heavy doors and entering, leaving Aka to his own devices, he stood silently to the side, looking around to admire his surroundings.

 

[Fieravene]

Typically the Master of War's office was down in the barracks, but as of the last several years it had been here in the Palace given the nature of he who filled the role. Prince Devyn of House Mortaine sat at the lavish oak desk pouring over numbers when the Palace Guard announced the arrival of the brute. It was a welcome distraction from scrolls upon scrolls of losses.

Not in the art of battle or war - ney, they were at peace. But in the art of influence. Since the affirmation of an alliance with Harth the neighboring cities seemed far less prudent on payments of taxes and the relaying of information. This peace would see them all become fat and content - not him. He would burn their allies to the ground before he would see himself waste away in the dandying lulls of serenity.

"Send him in."

The door to the chamber opened once more and Aka was gestured inside.

Prince Devyn looked up from his work and slowly stood from his chair. A tall and imposing man on his own, he was quite easily dwarfed by this behemoth. His raised brows said as much, "My God you're even more beastly in person aren't you. No wonder you were so expensive."

"His records in the gladiatorial rings are impressive," the Prince's Captain, a man with whom Aka would be familiar now given his new life at the Barracks, leaned to unroll a scroll for the Prince to review.

"Undefeated ..." there was a glint to the Prince's gaze as he looked back to the brute, as if someone had promised him a mountain of gold and presented, instead, an anthill. Greed, hunger, spite, rage, it all boiled behind the look he gave Aka, "what do you think of peace, Brute?"

 

[Aka the Slave]

He entered as commanded, his hands held behind his back in a respectful pose. He was a giant to be sure both among humans and his own kin, rippling muscles covered by thick scales. He bowed as Devyn acknowledged him, there was little else to it, he listened carefully to what the prince said, this was his Master, the one who had bought him. He had seen him only from a distance before but his previous owner was very adamant to be respectful and serve him well, all the while seemingly with gold on his mind.

What did he think of peace, it was a little more complicated a question than he was usually posed, but like his mind, his answer would be simple.

“I don't know peace” He had never known, he was useless in peace, he was a fighter. “I don't want peace.” As if somehow it was offered to him. Admittedly Aka was not stupid per say, but he had never been asked to think deeply on things or even take anything in to further consideration, he did as he was told.

He gave a quick glance around, he didn’t look directly at Devyn himself, always to his chest or lower, a sign of respect that had been beaten in to the brute from an early age, which had now simply become a habit when in the presence of his betters.

“I am useless in peace.” He added, as if it was somehow prudent to add, he could think of nothing else to say. Then again the giant had not been asked anything else and he only spoke as commanded. The only peace

 

[Fieravene]

"Not useless," the Prince growled in response, "my dagger was made to slit the throats of my enemies but it will skin and quarter an elk in times of peace. You are here to be useful, Brute, or you would still be in chains in Cerak At'Thul."

The doors opened again at Aka's back, permitting a servant who stepped forward to bow deeply at the waist, "Your Grace. The Lady Emmeril."

Devyn frowned in distaste and looked up as the diminutive form of his wife stepped through the doors. In the presence of Aka she was quite petite and garnered no attention in comparison. Quiet as she was, her face gave away the shock of the Komodi's size and appearance. She stepped forward, putting a fair bit of distance between herself and the beast before addressing her husband, "You called for me?"

"Yes, dear wife, I called for you. Where is Sir Malfor?"
"He is just outside."
"Send him in," he gestured to the servant who bowed again and stepped back out.

The confusion for this meeting settled on Emmeril's face as she stood there, waiting in a bated silence. It was an odd location, to be certain - he never called for her while he worked. As a matter of fact, he hardly called for her at all. "May I ask as to the purpose of this meeting, dear husband? I am certain you are very busy-"

"We will wait for Sir Malfor," Devyn interrupted.

Wait they did in a strangely awkward silence. Emmeril used that time to give the beastly man standing nearby another look. He wasn't any easier on the eyes the second time around. She frowned, finding a mounting discomfort in the entire situation, and silently began to spin the rings on her fingers as she returned her gaze to the floor. Aka wasn't the only subservient in the present of Prince Devyn.

"My Prince," Sir Malfor arrived, armor clanking as he moved to stand beside his charge and bow, "how can I be of service?"
"The King wishes to send an envoy to Elbion to broker a new trade agreement with the Merchant Council. I have elected to fulfill this request."
"Very good, your Grace," Sir Malfor nodded.
"The Lady Emmeril will accompany me for the journey," Devyn continued.
Malfor perked, enthused to have a new mission on his plate, "I shall see all preparations for the Lady's safe travel-"
"You will not be joining us, Sir Malfor."
"...your Grace?" Malfor frowned, sharing a glance with the Lady in a moment of confusion, "Shall I ride ahead to ensure safe passage?"
"The road to Elbion is a long journey and the good Captain has reminded me of your recent nameday. You are getting quite old, Sir Malfor-"
"I am fit as a horse and ready to serve, Your Grace. Put me where you need me."
"Indeed," Devyn looked positively bored, "the barracks is where I need you, to train the new recruits. Your age had given you invaluable experience that must be passed on to the new men in my guard, would you not agree?"
"Why...I...well yes, Your Grace, of course. I am honored to train the men who would protect our Prince and Crown on the battlefield...but who will protect your wife and our fair lady?"
"The Lady Emmeril's new guard is right here, ready to serve, aren't you Brute?"

All the color immediately drained from the face of his wife.

 

[Aka the Slave]

For such a small man, Aka felt that Devyn commanded a lot of respect, he had the aura of a man that had seen plenty of battle and cruelty, only recognized because Aka himself had been through such things. Aka himself however did not command respect in the same way, he was intimidating but he was subservient, and he knew of no other way than to serve, if you gave a beast like Aka freedom, he wouldn’t know what to do with it.

He turned his head to look at Emmeril as she entered, she was small even by human standard, at least compared to most human women he had known, those of her stature would not have been in the mines but as servants elsewhere. He could see the expression on her face, it was one he had seen more often since coming to Balta, with the limited amount of freedom he had been given.

The silence was odd at best, but he kept his head low as they waited for this ‘Sir Malfor’, giving a look towards Devyn and Emmeril, the latter’s expression had only seemed to grown more at unease, the event made him give a low grunt under his breath.

Finally the man arrived and Aka simply observed the exchange, until the point reached him, he was to be a guard.. He had never guarded a person in his life, he never had to and for a moment the Beast of a Komodi looked confused, but he swiftly adjusted and bowed towards Devyn. “Your will, my hands, Master.” He said, a saying that had been beaten in to him as a slave, it was to show deference to your betters.

He had questions to ask, but he wasn’t sure whether he should, he turned to Lady Emmeril, giving her a bow as well. “I will guard you Lady.” He said, his intonation was odd at best, perhaps displaying his confusion just a little.

“Master, what will my duties be?” He said, almost uncertain, he was not used to having to ask questions, but he wasn’t sure what all his duties would entail, though quietly he made some rudimentary deductions himself.

“No harm will come to her Master.” He said, looking back to Devyn, he was strong willed and certain in this statement at least, after all, guarding someone just meant not letting anyone harm her right? So he would just kill whoever wanted to harm her. Or so his thoughts went, the nuances of this would soon become evident that having to gauge friend from foe would be something he was woefully unprepared for.

He awaited an answer, still giving a look towards Emmeril so this was Devyn's wife, he knew little of love and relations but even from his perspective the sensation between the two of them seemed cold and distant at best, perhaps this was how the upper echelons of this world conducted their relations, most of it went over Aka's head regardless, he just knew something was off.

 

[Fieravene]

"What?" Emmeril's jaw went slack and eyes wide. The Prince may as well have struck the woman for as shocked an appalled as she appeared. The Lady shrank away from the beastly man as he made his vows, gaze averting to the other beastly man in her presence; her husband.

He looked supremely pleased to bear witness to the trauma this was clearly causing her and to that she willfully shook her head, "You can't ... Sir Malfor is tested and proven in his duties. You do him a disservice by-"

"By giving him a promotion? No, I think I do him quite the honor," the Prince poured himself a glass of wine, smug expression broadening as he watched her over the rim, "he's spent the last three years escorting you from Court to Court. How long has it been since you've swung a sword proper, Sir Malfor?"

"I attend to my training and sparring as regularly as time permits, My Prince," Malfor was uncomfortable but he was hiding this much better than the Lady.

"He protected me from thieves and brigands at Port Town not a moon ago!"
"Children and drunken sailors do not a worthy adversary make. There aren't children and drunken sailors on the road to Elbion, dear wife, there are beasts and orc hordes and warbands. Are you prepared to fight off an orc horde should the worse come to pass, Sir Malfor?"
"As I stand here, My Prince, my sword is yours to command, be it training your men or protecting the Lady from beasts and orc hordes and warbands. Though, if it pleases Your Grace, my wife should like to see me home much more alive..."
"And your wife deserves that peace of mind," the Prince's gaze locked on his wife at this, "Brute, you want to know your duties? Kneel before my wife, take her hand, look into her eyes, and repeat these vows I speak. Go on now, don't be shy."

Emmeril turned a look of pure terror upon the Komodi and for all her wits she could not understand why he spooked her so. Komodi were common within Harth, as traders and merchants, servants, and artisans. They entertained, they guarded, they bought and sold wares. As varied as their race was in appearance, she'd never seen one quite as monstrous as he. The thought of him in her life in the same capacity as Malfor made her drumming heart wilt.

"Your hand, dear wife," the Prince intoned, "he must have it to give the vows properly."

Jaw quivering, moisture glazing her eyes, Emmeril reluctantly held a trembling hand out to him.

"On this day I pledge my watch of you, Lady Emmeril, begin. I will shield your back near and far, to every corner of the world. I will keep your counsel and know your troubles, and give my life for yours if need be. Of this I do swear my solemn vow."

 

[Aka the Slave]

Aka didn’t flinch at the back and forth, she may have been unwilling but he cared only for what his Master desired of him, he took a look at Sir Malfor and sized him up. He certainly was a warrior but in Aka’s mind the strength disparity, age and willingness to risk life and limb seemed far different from the warriors he regularly faced.

His eyes turned back to Devyn as he spoke and his ears perked up as he was addressed. Brute, slave, mongrel, beast, and many other such names had become naught but the norm for him. He gave a solid nod to Devyn as he kneeled before her, even kneeled down he still stood as tall as her, his bestial appearance and brutish nature no doubt gave her pause when standing so close.

He waited for her to offer her hand and when she finally did, trembling as it did he took it in his hands. His hands felt rough, like coarse sandpaper and his digits thick enough to engulf her palm with ease.

He was asked to give a vow, there was but a single time in his life he had given a vow, and that was to his long-passed friend, it actually gave the giant pause though it hardly showed on his exterior. With a deep inhale his deep voice grated from his throat, repeating the words.


“On this day, I pledge watch of you, Lady Emmeril, begin… I’ll shield yer back near an’ far, to every corner of the worl’.” His forked tongue and lack of education showed in this moment, he truly was a slave by heart and mind. “I will keep your counsel an’ know your trouble, and give my life for yers, I do swear it so.” The words changed about a bit as he made his vow, if only because it made it easier for him to utter.

He had made a vow, he was uncertain now, because the last vow he made was what had him end up in the fighting pits in the first place, a lost memory of a time he had almost forgotten flashed through him, back when he had attacked a master..

For a moment his expression softened, his hands no doubt felt to Emmeril as the jaws of a lion, praying they would not snap shut. Though behind that thick brow and that bestial expression was a man, a warrior and a slave.

“Your will, my hands.” He added to Emmeril. “Master.” As he called her, it seemed fitting, that’s what he interpreted from the vow, that she was to be his master from here on out.

 

[Fieravene]

She barely breathed as he spoke his vow, visibly faltering under the sound of broken tongue and crumbling grammar. Komodi were not know for being especially intelligent and their speech was often a complex amalgamation of hisses, snarls, growls, words, and more. Hearing his beastly voice made her shudder, feeling his course digits against her hand hardly allowed her to notice that he was being quite gentle.

That last word, however, made her stomach churn painfully.

Master.

Slave.

This was so profoundly wrong on so many levels it only made to underline the cruel nature of her husband.

"Where is this propriety I always hear about of the Harthan people? Will you not return these sacred vows, M'Lady?" Devyn eyed her accusingly.

Covering a sob with a deep breath, Emmeril silently closed her eyes and called upon what frayed fortitude she had left, "And I vow that you shall always have a place at my hearth and a meal at my table, near and far, to every corner of the world. I pledge to ask no service of you that would bring you dishonor. Of this I do swear my solemn vow. Arise."

By the time she opened her eyes she could see nothing but the sanguine sneer on her husband's face. Procuring her hand from the Komodi's grasp, Emmeril gulped down another breath before speaking again, "Is that all?"

"My wife is displeased by my efforts to ensure the greatest care and safety of her life," the Prince added bitterly as he set down his glass of wine, "to think of the money that was spent to make it so!"

Emmeril flinched and looked away, "Forgive me husband, my grief for the loss of Sir Malfor's care has overcome me. It feels as if I have lost a close friend."

"I am not paying for friendship," Devyn scoffed, "the hearts of Harthan women are so fragile they could shatter by a curved glance. We're done here, you may go. Sir Malfor show the Brute to his new chambers and see he is outfitted with new armor by the Smiths and everything else he will need before our departure."

"Yes, Your Grace."

The Lady was gone from the chamber before anything else could be said. Malfor turned to the Brute and looked up, "Right then, come with me."

 

[Aka the Slave]

He tried to be gentle and kind to her, this was his new master and it felt different somehow, she did not give off the same aura as his other masters, even as Devyn, she seemed far gentler a creature. He looked at her as she returned his vow, and for a moment a half smile tugged at his lips, it seemed a little odd, perhaps even fantastical for something like this to happen.

A slave that vowed to a master, that was commonplace really, but not expected since they were slaves. But a master giving a vow in return, for hearth and meal, no dishonor. All these words baffled him more than anything, and it was that reason that slight expression changed upon the beast of a man.

He offered obviously no resistance as she retracted her hands, his gaze moving over to Devyn as he spoke, that man truly embodied most of his Masters, commanding and fearsome. He wasn’t sure what he meant by the hearts of Harthan women, most of that analogy went straight over his head, but he understood the idea of losing a close friend, in a way.

He found himself even more uplifted at the promise of new armor, armor custom made for him no less if Devyn’s words were to be believed, he rose from his kneeled position as Emmeril left the room. He gave her one more glance, his Master.

He gave a nod as Malfor told him to follow, his new quarters were exceptionally luxurious by his standards. “This is where you will be staying while in Balta.” He said, the man didn’t seem disturbed by Aka’s size and simply followed the orders given by Prince Devyn.

“You should have everything you need here, make yourself at home, someone will come over to take your measurements so the Smiths can start making armor worthy of your position." He didn’t give any indication one way or another as to his thoughts pertaining a slave following in his position, one could only guess as he left Aka to his own devices.

Aka was more amazed, looking around, uncertain at first as he sat himself down in the corner of the room, away from furniture and bed. He was told it was his to use but, in his mind, and experience he knew better, if he broke anything and with his size it was not that difficult, he would no doubt be punished. So, the giant sat there waiting, the measurements were taken and he was once again left alone until he finally fell to slumber in the corner of that room, next to the chamber pot.

 

[Fieravene]

Six days later...

The Barracks was not a place the Lady Emmeril frequented. She was not a woman of aggression, nor a fan of weapons or the sound of blade against plate. Even less so was she a fan of blood - the very sight of it often brought her ill. So it was with some curiosity that the Lady stood upon the upper level banister overlooking the courtyard below where the soldiers in training went through their daily routine.

Within the armory the Brute was given his new armor and ordered to dress for sparring practice. Malfor's Pages and Squire tended to the Komodi, helping him place layer by layer the heavy metal that would be his second skin.

"Hurry now, the Prince is on his way. He'll want to see you in action. Want to know you're ready to protect the Princess on the road."

"My wife does not deign to walk by my side through the city," The Prince stepped out onto the banister beside her, voice level and drawing like a blade from its sheath, "are you ashamed to be seen with me?"

She swallowed, keeping her eyes towards the courtyard where young soldiers practiced their archery on targets across the way, "You were at a meeting with the King," a delicate reply, "I did not wish to disturb such important matters."

"The King," Devyn gave a sniff, his expression souring, "bid me look for potions and Mages in the Collge of Elbion that might magic us a son. Three years and still no heir..."

Emmeril pulled a struggling breath through her nose, eyes straining against the fear welling up in her chest.

"He thinks your miscarriages are a plight that must be blessed and lifted from you. Better a plight than poison and purpose I say. Ladies have been hung for less than such offenses. Their necks break easily and the show is short, but the men linger to catch a glimpse of bare ankles dangling from their skirts. Perhaps we'll start burning them at the stake instead."

"Your Grace," Malfor arrived through the Courtyard, leading the Komodo, and stopped to bow, "My Lady, I present to you The Red Brute."

The Prince's brow lofted as he took in the crimson-painted armor on the giant beast-man, a pleased smirk forming on his face, "Ghastly creature. Our enemies would piss themselves in fright at your beastly face - but we haven't got any enemies now, do we? So who might we frighten, hm? What do you say wife? Shall we call your handmaidens and test my theory? Look at your monstrous new Royal Guard and tell me they would weep to look upon him."

A deeply disturbed frown folded her lips, green eyes incapable of looking the Brute in the face, "They would weep for days, as you say husband."

The Prince stepped forward and placed his hands on the railing, looking down upon the Brute with mirth in his gaze, "What do you think of your armor Brute? Are you eager to test it?"

 

[Aka the Slave]

During the six days after his vow the large Komodi had been kept to daily training regiments. He found them to be significantly softer in substance than the ones he adhered to as a Slave, so he found himself staying longer than most of the others, he was to be a guard to the wife of a prince. It was hard to fathom for Aka what responsibilities truly laid out in front of him but he would meet it as he had always done, with a weapon and determination to win.

That day however he had been summoned to the barracks, he was to be outfitted with his new armor and give a demonstration for the Prince and his wife. He didn’t know what kind of demonstration it would be but if blood was called for, he would deliver. The mindset of a brute that was only taught how survive the bloodiest and even most unfair of contests, he had stood victor over all of them but it had not done any good for his mind, simplistic as it was.

"Hurry now, the Prince is on his way. He'll want to see you in action. Want to know you're ready to protect the Princess on the road." Those were the words spoken to him as he was fitted with the armor.

He wanted to ask questions but the inherent rules that were beaten in to him still stood. ‘Don’t speak unless requested.’ He looked at those helping him, a man named Melfor, his predecessor and what he would consider his aid. Aka knew nothing of knighthood and squires, so he could only assume with what little knowledge he had.

His armor fit perfectly, probably the most perfect fit he had ever had, most of his other armor was scraped together or reused and adjusted, scraping past his scales as he fought. This armor truly felt like a second skin.

He turned towards the Prince and Lady Emmeril as they arrived, giving a deep bow to both of them, he wasn’t sure what was appropriate so he just mimicked whatever he saw other people do. He could see the disdain on Lady Emmeril’s face, he wasn’t sure what to make of it but he was fairly certain she wasn’t happy with Aka being the replacement for Malfor, though who knows whether he would live long enough to enjoy the position.

‘Ghastly creature’ Words that were not unfamiliar to him, it did little to him and yet they always stood out, though he made sure to listen intently as not to miss any commands given.

The Prince finally requested words from the Slave and he was eager to give them, normally he had fought at least once, perhaps even twice during the last six days so he had seen rest only known to him when he was wounded. “I am Master, I will kill anyone you want me to.” After all, his fights had always been to the death, there was no mercy or hesitation in his voice as he spoke those words.

He moved his arms and shoulders in his new armor just to make sure he had proper freedom of movement, it would make everything a lot easier. He wanted to feel the weight of a blade in his hands again, because of his size and strength he was able to wield horse cleaver sized blades as a normal person would a great sword. Depending on his opponent this would be an overly brief event, especially if they trained as softly as they asked him to for the last six days.

 

[Fieravene]

"Enthusiastic..." Devyn smirked and waved a hand towards two guards standing at the western courtyard gate, "bring in the prisoners."

The guards disappeared through the gate, at once all activity within the courtyard halted. Malfor directed the soldiers in training to stand off to the side and the Pages to clear the yard. Emmeril looked on with wary curiosity. They had a prisoner? Perhaps one of the thieves from the Port Town? She dare not ask.

Moments later the sound of hooves against the cobble heralded the arrival of a prison wagon, its iron box containing large figured of greenish skin that she could not quite make out. As the wagon pony was lead round the court and brought before them, she recognized the figures inside as Orcs. A questioning glance went to her husband but the Prince did not look at her.

"Release them," he bade.

The soldiers unlocked the cage door and pulled it open, standing back as a large female orc stepped out, accompanied by two smaller orcs. Were those... children?

"The honorable King of Harth openly allows these heathens within his kingdom, freely, as citizens. But the honorable King of Harth has never had to defend his people from them. Centuries ago Balta was a holdfast for Harth that protected it from Orc hordes like the one these creatures came from. The soldiers of Balta have a long history of fighting orcs and we're very, very good at it."

The female orc, though large in comparison to most humans, was still dwarfed by the Brute's massive size. The children, if that's what they were, might've stood eye-to-eye with the Lady Emmeril. Difficult to say from where she stood, but she wagered by the lightness of their skin tone and the obvious lack of scars they were untested in their youth.

"You promised me," said the orcess, approaching from below, "you promised me we would not be harmed if I gave you the location of the Warlord."
"Indeed, I did make that promise. But I found no Warlord - only his younger brother - so I am to assume you lied to me. I cannot abide by liars where the safety of my beloved wife is concerned."
"He was there! I swear it!"
"I'm afraid it's too late."

"My love..." Emmeril tempered with a trembling jaw, "you cannot mean it. They are just children. Lock them away if you must -"

The Prince held up a hand to stop his wife's words, "You have committed and so you are judged. Brute, kill them."

 

[Aka the Slave]

“Prisoners.” The giant Komodi mumbled to himself as he gazed at the prison wagon that was brought in. Aka recognized what was in there, an Orc woman and two younglings, he didn’t seem surprised or even phased by this development, it told him all he needed to know well before Devyn would mention it.

‘There will be blood today.’ He thought to himself as he sized them up, the young ones weren’t warriors yet and even if the woman was, she was not going to pose him any threat as long as he didn’t hold back. That was something he had learned the hard way, pity and mercy had no room in the life of a slave.

Whether his heart was truly made of stone as he made it seem, he had hardened it to the point where he could simply find solace in the fact that it was a command he followed and had no choice to enact upon.

Before Devyn even gave the command, he was presented with a blade, one that was similar to the one he had used in the past, a thick two handed blade that stood tall and would be unwieldy in the hands of smaller men. He gripped his hands around the handle, the leather of his gloves cracking slightly as he tightened his digits. It had a good weight, good balance and it was sharper than the blades he had used in the past.

He gazed up at the exchange between Devyn and the Orcs, it wasn’t the first time he had been told to kill prisoners, it was a fun spectacle for the crowd. He rested the blade on his shoulder as he waited, combined with the armor, his steeled expression and now the large blade he looked even more fearsome, but in his actions or lack thereof it showed that in his heart he was still a slave.

‘Brute, Kill them.’ Those were the only words he needed to hear, he took a step forward, his blade at the ready as he sized up his opponents.

The female orc moved herself in front of the younger ones, to protect them no doubt but without a weapon to fight back she would be at a major disadvantage to say the least. “Don’t move and I’ll make it quick.” Though he knew better, as he stepped forward, he was about forty feet away taking a slow walk before he quickly switched to a stride. Aka would not give her an opportunity to react.

He stepped in with his left leg, grounding it before swinging his blade straight towards her torso, no need to aim for her head as a single swing to her torso would kill her. She tried to move but it would leave the younger orcs exposed so in the split second her decision sealed her fate. With a single strike his blade cut in to her ribcage, a single spray of blood misting through the air.

That smell of blood, it was familiar to Aka and it almost felt like home. The blade was stuck but only for a moment. He pushed his foot on the body and ripped the blade from her before taking the hilt of the blade and knocking one of the young orcs on the head. His body crumpled to the floor like a rag doll.

Aka grinned, he was enjoying this, it was his territory and even though he never felt as an evil person he could not deny that he reveled in his task. He had learned to love it and it gave him satisfaction. He at least lived up to his word and had made it quick. The last orc was stunned and tried backing away but before he was given a chance the blade came from above, momentarily seeming to block the light as it tore through his skull.

The brute stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath before mercilessly moving over to the crumpled body of the other young orc and finishing him off with a heel to his skull, a sickening crack proving the end of life.

He then turned to Devyn and bowed as was customary in the arena, waiting for his acknowledgement. "Your will, my hands Master."

 

[Fieravene]

"Please don't, they're just children and she is unarmed! What does this prove, my love?"

The Prince grit his teeth through a sneer as he watched the Brute advance on the family below, steely brown eyes never once faltering from the display. His wife, however, could not bare to watch.

"It proves he will follow orders without question. One day on the road you may be grateful for his ruthless nature. Watch now."

"I will not."

The collision of the Prince's hand to the side of her face fully knocked her off her feet and back into the wall. She barely caught the taste of blood in her mouth and the sting of pain in her cheek before his gauntlet gripped her by the arm and heaved her back into a stand, "You will watch your Guard perform his duty."

A sob escaped her, tears welling in her eyes as she flinched within her husband's grasp. She watched for as long as she could, grateful only that her tears obscured her view, but the red was impossible to miss and the cries of the dying children she knew would haunt her nights for many a moon to come. When it was all over the Prince released her so that he could clap.

Once. Twice, A third time. It was a halfhearted applaud that those present in the courtyard mimicked until he stopped.

"Child's play," Prince Devyn chuckled at his own play on words, "the Smith has fashioned quite an outfit for you Brute. I'm told he's one of the best..." the man's gaze looked upon him curiously, "I hear a Komodo's scales are like armor of their own. Show me how sharp your new sword is. Cut your arm with it ... just enough to draw blood. I don't want you lame for the road."

 

[Aka the Slave]

The first thing he saw when he had turned to Prince Devyn and Lady Emmeril was the fact that she was crying. The actions performed today caused her great pain, and that did not escape Aka’s consideration. The slave however was simply the tool for the act, in his mind his responsibility was equal to the responsibility of the blade used, that of a tool to be guided by their user.

“As you wish Master.” He said, moving his gaze towards Lady Emmeril, it was obvious she was subservient to him, but at the same time she was the Master above Devyn since he made a vow, if she had commanded it of him.

He wanted him to draw blood, he moved the bracer slightly as to expose some of his scales. Aka cradled the blade and held it aloft on his right forearm before running his arm past it. It was sensitive to say the least and had he not been used to pain he would have flinched at that moment. He moved it along the blade until one of his scales was cut by the sharp edge, drawing a trickle of blood. The brute grit his teeth inside his mouth, but made sure not to show any such reflection upon his facial features.

“Is there anything else you require of me, Masters?” He asked after the deed was done, the question was posed to the both of them, he had not one owner, but two as it stood.

 

[Fieravene]

"Congratulate the Brute on a job well done," Devyn was looking at his wife now, all remnant of smile and mirth gone from his face.

Lips pressed together, forming a thin line to hold back her sobs, Emmeril took a slow deep breath and collected herself. Green eyes glossed by tears looked down at the Komodi but seemed to look through him rather than at him, "Well done, I am confident in my assured safety on our future travels in your presence."

"For the road to Elbion is long and full of perils," the Prince proclaimed, voice strong, "my wife will see that your wound is cared for Brute. Rest well tonight, we leave at dawn. You are dismissed."

The Prince turned to his wife, her chin in his hand as he inspected the growing welt on her face, "After you finish tending to the Brute, have your handmaidens clean you up. I expect you for dinner and at my bed tonight. Magic or no, I will have a son from you yet." The man leaned in and kissed her on the lips, "Let us put this day behind us, hm?"

"Of course, my love."

With that he released her, turned on his heel and marched off down the stairs. Emmeril released a sudden sob behind a shaking hand after he disappeared from view. Body weak from terror, she slowly crumpled against the railing. Her handmaidens stepped out from the balcony doorway, crooning and fussing to wipe her face and help her back to her feet. After several minutes, they appeared on the ground floor in the north gateway, the Lady draped by a white and gold cloak, hood pulled to conceal the bruise on her cheek and the blood on her lip.

She waited for the Brute to follow before leading him back to the Palace, her handmaidens following like dutiful ducklings.

 

[Aka the Slave]

In a way it felt like his Mistress was as much a slave as he was, he wanted to console her for some reason but it wouldn’t be proper. A beast like him has no place consoling his betters, you don’t get consolation from a tool.

“Thank you Master, you are too kind.” He said to Devyn, finding it somewhat curious that his Mistress would be the one tending to his wounds, it seemed far beneath her to take care of a slave. Ever since he came here it had been a myriad of new experiences and slowly but surely he found himself trying to become more flexible.

“Mistress?” He had changed his wording from Master to Mistress so it would be easier for her to differentiate when she was with Prince Devyn, he figured it might make things easier for her at least. He called out to her because she slowly crumpled against the railing, perhaps there was a light hint of concern in his voice after Devyn had left, this was the first time he had been left in her care.

Aka’s masters had always been hard and cruel by nature so he found himself somewhat confused and taken aback being in the presence of a Mistress that showed weakness so freely, perhaps it was her privilege to be able to do so. Any weakness that Aka showed would have gotten him punished or killed.

He wasn’t sure for a moment but as he was told she would take care of his wound he followed her with as soft a step as he could muster, which was still heavy as a drum especially with all the scraping of his metal armor.

He followed her silently, the wound on his arm letting a slow drip of blood in his wake, he wasn’t bothered by the wound itself. The blood slipped from his wound on to his bracer and from there it dripped to the floor, so the brute hadn’t even noticed the mess he made while following her.

It was a strange thing to see however, such a stark difference to Cerak At’Thul, where everything seemed to have a layer of grime and blood caked on it, and those that were clean enough were never close enough to truly witness. But here was Lady Emmeril, surrounded by handmaidens, all of them delicate looking things and followed by a beast, he held himself from laughing at the thought, for the first time in his life he wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring.

 

[Fieravene]

"Go ahead and call the Healers," Emmeril said to her handmaidens as they neared the Palace. The walk was not exceptionally far and the journey there was often clear. Fear of Devyn's offense kept most people well away from his wife, even the wives of his elder brothers made little effort to connect. Emmeril couldn't say she blamed them - the Mortaine men were rife with contempt, King included. It was some small relief that the King's daily activities rarely crossed with her own, he was nothing like the King of Harth.

"My Lady," one of the Handmaidens lingered, gold of hair with braids that gleamed in the setting sun. She had cast several glances back to the Brute, eyeing the blood dripping from the tree-trunk of an arm, leaving a trail the whole way from the barracks, this much was said to Emmeril over a whisper.

"I'll take him to the sand garden, have the Healers meet us there."

"Yes, My Lady."

To the Sand Gardens at the west end of the Palace they went. Emmeril took a seat on a stone bench and said nothing to her Guard while she waited. The Healers arrived and, very warily, cleaned and dressed the cut on his arm at the behest of the Lady who refused their treatment to her face. When they were finished she dismissed them and stole herself for a moment while she gathered the courage to face the Komodo.

"I deeply regret your involvement in my affairs," she said gently, keeping her distance from the beast, "but there is nothing to be done for it. The choice belongs to neither of us."

Emmeril took a steadying breath before standing from her bench and turning to face him, the paleness of her face contrasting the angry bruising on her cheekbone and the red of a split lip, "I would have your name. Will you speak it to me?"

 

[Aka the Slave]

He did not respond to the whispers, simply gazing upon the ones in front of him and from time to time around him, as if reality of this new world had yet to dawn on him. Aka had never left Cerak At’Thul in all his life, so this land of sand and sun was very different, not to mention the heat was something to adjust to.

‘A sand garden?’ He thought to himself, it was strange but all he could imagine was flowers made of sand, which seemed unlikely to him but then again he had seen quite a few unlikely things since his arrival here.

After they arrived he took a look around, though his eye stayed mostly on Emmeril as she moved to seat herself, they stood there in silence until the healers arrived. Aka presented his arm to them, he hardly glanced at them, let alone show any aggression. The fact was that a beast like him didn’t need to show aggression for others to feel it, fear is a powerful thing after all.

“Ain’t no regret, I’m yours Mistress, as I vowed.” He showed no remorse or even resistance in this statement, whether he was happy to serve or unhappy it was hard to tell. He seemed comfortable in his role, no doubt the life he had led thus far had left him little options.

“I’m Aka.” A simple name, but it was at least Komodian by nature, showing he had gotten it from parents at one point, even if he had not been raised by them.

As the healers finished tending to his wound, he finally gave a glance towards them, flexing his hand to see if any blood seeped through the bandages. It certainly was different as they normally would have used a hot poker to close this kind of wound, this felt far more luxurious.

 

[Fieravene]

There came a visible flinch at his response not due to the deep and guttural tone of his voice ... but his terrible butchery of the common language. Seemed he was just as able at slaying proper grammar as he was unarmed innocents. In every other instance of existence there was an Emmeril that corrected him promptly, but in this realm she settled for a discontent sigh.

Today was not that day.

"Aka," she said, testing the name. Certainly it was simple enough to remember. The Lady nodded, brow knitted over eyes red from the days tribulations, and looked up at him, "you will not respond to the name Brute anymore. Nor any other misnomer such as Beast, Creature, Monster, or the like. Do you understand?"

 

[Aka the Slave]

He gave a slight frown as he saw her visibly flinch, wondering what he had done to make it so. Perhaps it was simply her timid nature that easily flinched at the sound of his voice, he didn’t know nor care to theorize.

“Yes Mistress?” He answered, a curious lift of his brow as she spoke, it was a strange thing to hear this, was it concern or did she simply feel those phrases too brutish to be used within her delicate company.

“What would I call to then?” He thought to himself for a moment and corrected himself. “I mean, answer to.” Language certainly wasn’t his forte, but no one had ever taught him such, no books, nor stories, all he had learned was from his long dead friend who was far more intelligent than him.

 

[Fieravene]

There came an unwitting flutter of her eyes. Disbelief arrived and departed as quickly and lightly as a bird on a branch across her face.

"Why, your name of course," suddenly it was much easier to look upon him, make eye contact even. The fear of the Komodo had somehow become vastly reduced in the realization of his ... stunted intelligence. Or, at least, that was what it seemed. Perhaps his grasp of the common tongue was not so well?

"You will answer to Aka or your proper title of Redguard, as that is what you are."

 

[Aka the Slave]

“My name?” He said, almost in disbelief, he was never actually called by his name by any of his owners before, there was always one name or another. At the best of times he was called slave or fighter and at the worst of times he was called names that he would prefer not to hear again.

“Okay…” He paused for a moment. “I’ve never had a Mistress or Master call me Aka before.” He said, he was rather brutally honest, though one would perhaps doubt the fact that there were a lot of people who were interested in conversation with the giant Komodi, even among other slaves he was never befriended. Aka was considered dangerous after all.

“Redguard… Redguard…” He uttered the words to himself a few times and then nodded. “You will Mistress.” He didn’t quite understand why she wanted it this way, but if that’s what she wanted. “I’ll only follow Aka or Redguard.” He obviously meant to say that he would answer to these names, he wasn’t stupid, just uneducated and taught never to argue or question. To a lady like Emmeril that may have seemed like one and the same however, unless she could read minds.

 

[Fieravene]

Emmeril sighed deeply, feeling something not quite like relief. Release? She wasn't sure. A release of a certain fraction of fear, mayhaps. It was good to let even a small amount of it go considering how much of it often plagued her days and even her nights.

"My husband, the Prince, may condone of slavery in this Kingdom but where I come from they do not. I will not have it in my midst. You will call me Your Grace or My Lady. You will refer to the Prince as Your Grace or My Prince. Do you understand?"

 

[Aka the Slave]

He listened to her intently as she spoke, he wasn’t sure what she meant, she didn’t condone slavery but that was what he was, wasn’t he? It was probably best not to think about it and simply follow her commands as best he could.

Aka nodded along as she spoke. “Yes Mis-…” He stopped himself from continuing. “My lady.” His tone voiced reverence and a deep respect, or perhaps just submissiveness. It wasn’t a matter of physical power but Aka knew what happened to slaves that were a threat to their masters, they’d be killed in some of the worst ways possible.

Something inside Aka however said that she’d not kill a fly if she could help it.

“Your will My Lady.” He gave her a deep bow. “I..” He almost asked something, but he held himself back again, he wanted to know what his duties would be, what was expected of him apart from guarding her. The giant of a Komodi had not been given a lot of information apart from; ‘guard her’.