Chapter Three
It was night again when the humans finally tore back into the room, grabbing Aloriel, in the guise of me, and then myself as they rapidly restrained us in metal handcuffs and hefted us over their brawny shoulders. Aloriel looked at me, and though the glances were broken by the jerky human motion, her message was understood. She was scared, and now doubted if we’d ever be able to get away. I smiled at her – because inside, I felt her fear. However, a princess is trained never to show it.
The covered cart we were thrown into was hushed, but I realized that there were more Fae in here than just Aloriel and I. Noticing the wide eyes in Aloriel’s direction, I muttered a few words and undid our disguises. There was a quick utterance, and my eyes adjusted to the dim to see many more creatures than simple Fae in the confines. “Magic?” A small female dwarf asked, looking between Aloriel and I. I nodded, and it’s then that another creature pointed out the tattoo. “Nobility,” the small male Fae sounded disgruntled. “What are you doing here?” He asked, and I sighed. “Same as anyone else – kidnaped,” my voice was worn, and more than a little angry at the commentary. My fellows in captivity obviously would have some bones to pick, but I wasn’t going to take it. It wasn’t my fault the current ruler of the kingdom was selfish; I didn’t make my brother that way. “You and your kin are the reason this has happened to all of us,” a young looking pixie spoke from where she was caged in the back of the cart. “Your king no longer cares about the safety of his people!” The dwarf roared in agreement, and Aloriel cowered. I sat there in silence.
“I can’t make things any better, and if you think I haven’t tried you’re wrong,” my voice was firm, but calm as I addressed them at last. What remained of the irritated chatter from the remaining creatures ceased immediately and I quickly began looking around the cart, and used a little of my magic to speak to them in their minds. “I will get us out of here, trust me.” All heads snapped towards me, and Aloriel smiled weakly, even as the faces morphed into those of disbelief as they each decided whether or not, perhaps, to believe me. Returning my attention to my own business, I took a piece of loose wood that stuck out from the cart and quickly hid it behind the hair of my ears. It would be easier to use my magic if I didn’t spend it all on undoing my handcuffs when we finally got out.
As it finally grew quieter in the confines of the cart, I listened intently to the sounds of human voices and grunts as the cart rattled over roads and the heavy breathing of laboring humans and animals gently came in short periods of time as even the humans, too, had nothing to say. There were people walking, and from what I could guess, oxen pulling the cart. “Where do you think they’re taking us?” Aloriel asked. “I think it’s the exotic market in the old abandoned area of the Kingdom,” my voice was low. “The ruins?” The pixie asked, and the male fae looked at the faces around him. “I would think so as well. That’s the closest to where we were being kept.”
Closing my eyes, I let my body relax and draw in energy. Still aware of my surroundings I listened more, and remained relaxed as the cart shook to a halt, and a chorus of more human grunts, and shudders from my fellow Folk, drifted to my ears. “Let’s get them into the cages,” a low, doubtless filthy, human spoke from just outside the door. There was a grunt of consent before the door to the cart was opened, and grubby faces appeared, and arms started hauling us out. I came first, and was tossed into the arms of another man before being thrown unceremoniously into a wooden cage. Though the wood was thick, it spoke poorly of these humans’ intellects, and greatly of our chances of escape. As the others were thrown in with me, I took the sliver of wood and began to unlock my cuffs. There were other cages, filled with normal animals, but no others like the angry sentient creatures beside me. The lock clicked quietly in my hands as I finally broke through. Around us, humans gathered, looking at us with eyes of preditors, eager for slaves, and or food. Why we ever were considered food, I didn’t know – but these humans, deep down, frightened me. I wasn’t going to be one of their slaves, and as long as I could help it, neither were any of the Folk with me. Looking over my shoulder I realized that the others had sat in a circle, backs inward, and that they had realized what I had done. Taking the sliver, I began unlocking the remainders, carefully and silently, noting the poor pixie in her cage off in the corner. I would break her out of it once there was a sufficient distraction – and then I would get us all out of here.
At last, the cuffs were all undone, but I motioned for the others to stay where they were. Here in the woods, I already had enough energy to use magic at greater will. Yet, I could already tell that the auctions had started. I had a limited amount of time before they would come to claim us within the cage. I looked around once more, and then told the others the plan.
“When I leap for the pixie’s cage, start doing what you can to scare the humans. I’ll free her, and then you all will need to come back for me. I’ll take us away from here – where we’ll be safe,” my mind rushed to them, and then there was a bunch of nods. When I went, they did as instructed. The pixie cowered in her cage when I landed, wings out, and began tearing at the metal wire bars. I succeeded, but my fingers were bloodied as I pried the door open, and then allowed her to shoot out, and into the fray. When I yelled out something in my own tongue, they then returned, and in a flash, we were back to back again.
The pixie landed on my shoulder, and I took Aloriel’s hand in mine, and then the other male Fae’s. So, when everyone’s hands were held tightly in one another’s, and their pulsating energy surged into me, I closed my eyes, felt the royal marking’s burn, and whispered:
“Home.”
It was night again when the humans finally tore back into the room, grabbing Aloriel, in the guise of me, and then myself as they rapidly restrained us in metal handcuffs and hefted us over their brawny shoulders. Aloriel looked at me, and though the glances were broken by the jerky human motion, her message was understood. She was scared, and now doubted if we’d ever be able to get away. I smiled at her – because inside, I felt her fear. However, a princess is trained never to show it.
The covered cart we were thrown into was hushed, but I realized that there were more Fae in here than just Aloriel and I. Noticing the wide eyes in Aloriel’s direction, I muttered a few words and undid our disguises. There was a quick utterance, and my eyes adjusted to the dim to see many more creatures than simple Fae in the confines. “Magic?” A small female dwarf asked, looking between Aloriel and I. I nodded, and it’s then that another creature pointed out the tattoo. “Nobility,” the small male Fae sounded disgruntled. “What are you doing here?” He asked, and I sighed. “Same as anyone else – kidnaped,” my voice was worn, and more than a little angry at the commentary. My fellows in captivity obviously would have some bones to pick, but I wasn’t going to take it. It wasn’t my fault the current ruler of the kingdom was selfish; I didn’t make my brother that way. “You and your kin are the reason this has happened to all of us,” a young looking pixie spoke from where she was caged in the back of the cart. “Your king no longer cares about the safety of his people!” The dwarf roared in agreement, and Aloriel cowered. I sat there in silence.
“I can’t make things any better, and if you think I haven’t tried you’re wrong,” my voice was firm, but calm as I addressed them at last. What remained of the irritated chatter from the remaining creatures ceased immediately and I quickly began looking around the cart, and used a little of my magic to speak to them in their minds. “I will get us out of here, trust me.” All heads snapped towards me, and Aloriel smiled weakly, even as the faces morphed into those of disbelief as they each decided whether or not, perhaps, to believe me. Returning my attention to my own business, I took a piece of loose wood that stuck out from the cart and quickly hid it behind the hair of my ears. It would be easier to use my magic if I didn’t spend it all on undoing my handcuffs when we finally got out.
As it finally grew quieter in the confines of the cart, I listened intently to the sounds of human voices and grunts as the cart rattled over roads and the heavy breathing of laboring humans and animals gently came in short periods of time as even the humans, too, had nothing to say. There were people walking, and from what I could guess, oxen pulling the cart. “Where do you think they’re taking us?” Aloriel asked. “I think it’s the exotic market in the old abandoned area of the Kingdom,” my voice was low. “The ruins?” The pixie asked, and the male fae looked at the faces around him. “I would think so as well. That’s the closest to where we were being kept.”
Closing my eyes, I let my body relax and draw in energy. Still aware of my surroundings I listened more, and remained relaxed as the cart shook to a halt, and a chorus of more human grunts, and shudders from my fellow Folk, drifted to my ears. “Let’s get them into the cages,” a low, doubtless filthy, human spoke from just outside the door. There was a grunt of consent before the door to the cart was opened, and grubby faces appeared, and arms started hauling us out. I came first, and was tossed into the arms of another man before being thrown unceremoniously into a wooden cage. Though the wood was thick, it spoke poorly of these humans’ intellects, and greatly of our chances of escape. As the others were thrown in with me, I took the sliver of wood and began to unlock my cuffs. There were other cages, filled with normal animals, but no others like the angry sentient creatures beside me. The lock clicked quietly in my hands as I finally broke through. Around us, humans gathered, looking at us with eyes of preditors, eager for slaves, and or food. Why we ever were considered food, I didn’t know – but these humans, deep down, frightened me. I wasn’t going to be one of their slaves, and as long as I could help it, neither were any of the Folk with me. Looking over my shoulder I realized that the others had sat in a circle, backs inward, and that they had realized what I had done. Taking the sliver, I began unlocking the remainders, carefully and silently, noting the poor pixie in her cage off in the corner. I would break her out of it once there was a sufficient distraction – and then I would get us all out of here.
At last, the cuffs were all undone, but I motioned for the others to stay where they were. Here in the woods, I already had enough energy to use magic at greater will. Yet, I could already tell that the auctions had started. I had a limited amount of time before they would come to claim us within the cage. I looked around once more, and then told the others the plan.
“When I leap for the pixie’s cage, start doing what you can to scare the humans. I’ll free her, and then you all will need to come back for me. I’ll take us away from here – where we’ll be safe,” my mind rushed to them, and then there was a bunch of nods. When I went, they did as instructed. The pixie cowered in her cage when I landed, wings out, and began tearing at the metal wire bars. I succeeded, but my fingers were bloodied as I pried the door open, and then allowed her to shoot out, and into the fray. When I yelled out something in my own tongue, they then returned, and in a flash, we were back to back again.
The pixie landed on my shoulder, and I took Aloriel’s hand in mine, and then the other male Fae’s. So, when everyone’s hands were held tightly in one another’s, and their pulsating energy surged into me, I closed my eyes, felt the royal marking’s burn, and whispered:
“Home.”
