The carriage in which Linea and Brice moved through the city looked unreasonably wealthy. It had golden ornaments in form of flowers all over it. In Linea’s eyes it symbolized the human greed, which she didn’t understand. The route through the market district led them through another district with a tightly packed stone houses. The buildings were larger than Linea was used to from her home, but the buildings looked rather dull as she was used to the glowing Moon Stone.

Brice was silent the whole ride, but Linea saw his gazes he threw at her from time to time.

“You’re young,” he said at one point, but Linea didn’t understand what he tried to tell her with this statement. She didn’t react to his observation, and Brice didn’t follow it up with another word.

A few minutes later they based a bridge over another river and entered a district with walled mansions. Somehow, it didn’t surprise Linea that Brice lived in the wealthier areas of the city. They stopped in front of one of the biggest buildings in the district. It wasn’t as big as a palace, but she had seen baronesses in her country who lived with less pomp.

The gate opened as they closed in on the mansion and the carriage stopped in front of the main entrance. A stunning looking woman and two guards stood at the door and seemed to await them. Brice gave Linea a nod telling her to exit the carriage.

As Linea left the vehicle, the woman came over and examined her thoroughly.

“Brice, how much money did she cost?” she asked and looked at Brice with crossed arms.

“Not enough for you to question me, wife,” he said and without even spending a short view on her. “Make sure she is clothed appropriately. Also, give her a room in the west wing. I don’t want her living with the other slaves. When she’s cleaned and clothed bring her to me.”

And with that he entered the mansion while his wife sighed and gave Linea another look.

“I apologize for him,” she said to Linea. “My name is Levi Si Trenia, and I’m the Lady of the house.”

Linea didn’t answer her as she saw no benefit in doing so. It was only a small act of defiance, but it helped.

“I understand your dislike towards me, but you’ll see in time I can be a better friend than enemy for you,” she explained and motioned Linea to go inside. “Let’s get you settled in.”

The clothing that Levi had chosen for her was surprisingly sophisticated. It felt like silk even though Linea didn’t recognize the fabric. The cut was simple as it was only a single piece of cloth with two openings for the arms. At first it looked rather unfavorable for Linea’s figure, but the ensemble was completed by a golden cord which was wrapped around her to tighten the dress like clothing around her body. Linea didn’t like her situation one bit, but she had to admit that Levi knew her fashion.

Levi led Linea through the corridors of the mansion to a room which seemed to be an office. Shelves with scrolls and books adorned the walls and near the window Brice sat behind his desk going over something.

Levi pointed at a chair in front of the desk, and Linea sat down. Brice took his time to read whatever he was holding before he looked up.

“I’ll make this quick,” he said and looked her in the eyes. “You’re my property now and as a merchant I expect my property to be worth its money. As I was forced to buy you, I’ll need you to work for me. As a princess I don’t expect you to be capable of anything noteworthy, but I was told you have some battle experience.”

He took another scroll from his desk and skimmed over it.

“Before we go over your working arrangements, I must make some things clear. These are some orders for you,” he explained, and Linea understood that he made it clear for the collar to work. “First, you’re not allowed to leave this compound unless you’re accompanied by at least one guard. Wherever I’ll let you work, someone will bring you there and back afterwards. Understood?”

The collar tried to force this order on her, but Sarah’s block worked perfectly. She nodded to signal she had understood the order.

“Answer with ‘Yes, Master’,” he said.

Linea was tempted to disobey, but Sarah pressed her to put up with it.

“Yes… Master,” Linea drawled.

Brice sighed and continued.

“Second, if my research is correct, you normally sleep at day. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Master,” Linea replied. “Like all Moon Elves I’m nocturnal.”

Brice nodded as if he was proud that he knew beforehand.

“In that case, I think your work should be at night. I have options for that. I’ll accommodate you in that regard, so you may sleep at day.”

Linea didn’t show him any appreciation for his ‘grace’.

“Third, when you’re here, you’ll follow all orders my wife gives you. I don’t have the time to oversee my slaves. At work, someone will give you orders. That will depend on where I shall put you. Understood?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Also, you’re not allowed to use magic in any shape or form unless I or one of your supervisors gives you permission.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Good,” he said. “And last but not least, I want you to bring me breakfast in the morning.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Perfect,” Brice said and clapped his hands together. “You can sleep for now. You’ll start working tomorrow evening. By then I should have worked out a working place for you.”

Linea’s sleep was restless, and she had a rather disturbing dream. She didn’t remember its content after waking up, but she the nightmare’s terror still lingered in her mind.

It was Levi who had made the effort to wake her up.

“Get up and dress yourself, I want to show you around our home before I go to sleep in case you need something,” she explained.

Linea still shaken from her nightmare got up and followed the order. At least the collar noted it as an order because it gave her an impulse.

Levi and Linea walked through the mansion and Levi explained with patience everything Linea needed to know. At first Linea kept silent, but Levi had a captivating nature and she was kind to Linea.

When they arrived at the garden, Linea decided to question her about it.

“Why are you trying to be nice to me?”

Levi stopped in her tracks and gave Linea a pitiful look.

“I can imagine that this situation is bad for you and I don’t expect you to have any sympathy for us humans… but I personally don’t endorse slavery at all.” she explained and pointed at the slave collar. “And this thing is an abomination.”

Linea didn’t answer as she tried to think about what Levi had said.

“I’ll try the best I can to make your life as pleasant as I can in the light of your situation,” Levi promised. “And I can tell you that the worst you can expect from my husband is humiliation. He won’t rape you or anything.”

It was one of the most pressing concerns for Linea because she didn’t think she could keep up with the charade of obeying every order if he would try to violate her. And apparently Levi had guessed that.

“How can you be so sure?” Linea asked trying to suppress her fear.

“First, I need to order you to keep what I’m about to tell you for yourself,” she said. “If it came out, I would get in trouble.”

Linea again noticed the pull of the collar, but she knew it didn’t bound her. A little victory for her again.

“Brice is… not capable of sex anymore,” Levi whispered and blushed.

“What do you mean?” Linea asked confused. She found it difficult to imagine why Brice wouldn’t be able to do it.

“There was an accident a few years back,” Levi explained. “The healer he called wasn’t able to heal him properly and shortly after this… his thing fell off.”

A small chuckle escaped Linea’s lips, which resulted in a dark gaze from Levi.

“Cautious,” she said. “He is still my husband.”

“I’m sorry, but I have no compassion for him.”

“Well, I can’t blame you,” she said with a sigh. “He became… different afterwards. It’s not like I ever loved him, but we got along well. We even have a daughter together. I’ll introduce you to Tiva later. She is at the palace to visit her uncle.”

“The palace?” Linea asked.

“Yes, the palace,” Levi replied. “Tiberius is my brother.”

“Tiberius? As in the emperor, Tiberius Seranus?” Linea asked confused.

“Correct,” Levi said with a crooked smile. “I guess we’re both princesses.”

Linea was conflicted about this woman. On one hand she appeared to be nice, but on the other hand she was the sister of two men who she despised with all her heart.

But before the two could discuss this further, Brice walked into the garden. He joined them but didn’t give Linea any attention.

“Prepare yourself for a military parade tomorrow,” he said to his wife. “Tiva will stay at the palace tonight and she will join us at the parade. Also, prepare our new slave for it. Your brother wants to present the two princesses as a trophy to the populace.”

“As you wish,” Levi replied.

Linea observed the two more closely, and she realized that their interactions were rather chilly.

“Also, I talked with Maria, and she will work at her place starting the day after tomorrow,” he explained. “Make her look nice and enticing, so that Maria doesn’t nag about it.”

Levi furrowed her brows.

“I hope you don’t have her working as one of Maria’s girls,” she said. “I don’t mess with your decisions normally, but she is way too young for that.”

“This is none of your business,” he said and planted himself in front of her. They had a silent argument with each other before he relented. “As it happens, she is only expected to work as a waitress. Having someone like her working there will draw in more costumers. She doesn’t have to work on the clients.”

“Good,” Levi said and gave Linea a smile.

Linea still had her suspicions about the woman’s intentions, but right in this moment she was thankful. This was the first time she gave the human princess a smile. Perhaps it wouldn’t be the last.

The parade took place on the Palace Square, a rather large and open space right in front of the palace. Linea assumed by the brick-built stand at the palace side of the square that military parades occurred on a regular basis. She followed Brice and Levi to the stand where the guards made way for them. She squinted her eyes as she tried to avoid the bright sun light.

They reached the podium on which the imperial family was seated, and Linea saw her sister standing beside Tanus who smirked at her as she entered behind Levi.

Linea ignored him as she examined Senia who stared blankly at the floor in front of her feet. Just as she tried to address Senia, Tanus spoke to her.

“Don’t bother,” he said. “She has the order to stand there and remain silent. She couldn’t answer even if she wanted to. Isn’t that right darling?”

He slapped Senia’s butt and roared in amusement. Linea clenched her fists and had to use all her mental strength not to lash out on impulse. Something that was exceedingly difficult for her.

“Nothing to say, princess?” he said and tried to slap her butt as well, but Linea took a quick step back.

“I don’t talk to apes,” she said and locked eyes with him.

“Don’t make a scene,” Brice whispered to her. “Stay quiet unless someone asks you something. Understood?”

“Yes, Master,” Linea pressed through her lips, which caused Tanus to chuckle.

“I apologize for her behavior,” he said to Tanus. “I had no chance to educate her properly yet.”

Tanus waved it off as if he didn’t care.

“You really need to take me on one of your hunts one day!”, a high voice rang in Linea’s ear and she turned around to locate the source of the rather unpleasant noise.

A young girl, perhaps two years younger than Linea, entered the podium in company of a handsome looking man. Linea saw the resemblance between the man and Tanus, and cold fury gripped her whole body. This was the man responsible for everything. Emperor Tiberius Seranus.

‘Calm down!’ Sarah yelled at her, as Linea was tempted to throw a punch at the man.

Linea could barely contain herself, but after Sarah’s reminder she took a deep breath and looked away.

“Perhaps I will, when you’re a bit older,” Tiberius said with a small smile, but his gaze fell upon the already gathered people. “You’re either quite early, or little Tiva talked longer than I noted.”

Tanus laughed.

“Oh, brother,” he said. “You would listen to her for days, if you had the chance.”

“What did I miss?” Tiberius said after he winked at his brother.

“The younger slave princess called me an ape again, isn’t that funny?” Tanus said and smirked at Linea.

“Did she?” Tiberius asked and followed his gaze. “Still quite feisty, isn’t she?”

“Yes, but I…”, Brice started but his wife interrupted him.

“Can we cut this crap?” she asked. “We have more important matters to discuss.”

Tiberius gave her a look which Linea couldn’t decipher. It was like a mix of contempt and adoration.

“I decide when we switch topics,” he said and stared at his sister. “And right now, I’m amused by her temperament.”

He focused on Brice again.

“Tell me, would you mind volunteering your new slave for a few arena show matches?” he asked. “Nothing dangerous. Only a few Torra perhaps and one or two gladiator matches.”

“I don’t know,” Brice answered with a frown. “She wasn’t cheap, and I’d rather not risk her health.”

“I understand,” Tiberius said. “But I must insist. Your slave has done some remarkable things, and I’d love to see her in action. If anything happens to her, I shall compensate you.”

Brice seemed to struggle with the decision, but Linea understood the implications of that discussion. There was no option.

“Fine,” Brice finally said. “But if she dies, I get the full price of two thousand gold pieces.”

“That can be arranged,” Tiberius said.

Linea also noticed the young girl Tiva watching her intently even though Linea didn’t understand why. Perhaps she was curious about Moon Elves.

The parade started soon after the emperor had taken his place and all attention was focused on the square below. Only Linea didn’t have eyes for the soldiers marching and singing in front of them.

Senia looked bad. Her expression was hollow, and on closer look Linea saw bruises. She tried to gain Senia’s attention, but her sister didn’t move her head one bit.

‘Try this mind-speak thing you did with Nora,’ Sarah suggested.

‘Why?’ Linea asked. She had never talked to her sister in mind-speak before.

‘Well, if Tanus didn’t lie, he ordered her to stay silent,’ Sarah explained. ‘But mind-speak is silent.’

Linea smiled and invoked her magic. Her collar tried to suppress it, but Sarah’s block worked against it.

It didn’t take her long to establish the link.

‘Senia?’ she asked carefully.

At first her sister didn’t react, but Linea noticed Senia’s joy.

‘Li- Linea?’ she asked.

‘Yes,’ Linea replied. ‘How are you?’

Senia didn’t answer directly, but due to the link between them Linea noted her hesitation to talk about it.

‘Senia, we have little time,’ Linea pressed her. ‘If you want me to help you, tell me everything.’

Senia gave a mental sigh.

‘He is a monster,’ she simply said. ‘He taunts me every day about how he defeated us, how he owns me… and the things he does to me…’

Linea felt her sister’s despair, and she wished she could end the man right at this moment.

‘Did he… you know… this…’ Linea asked unsure how to ask this question.

‘I just want to die,’ Senia answered and Linea saw actual tears from Senia dripping onto the floor.

‘Don’t say that,’ Linea said. ‘Please. I will free you. Promised. I just need to know where you live.’

‘How?’ Senia asked. ‘How could you free me? You’re a slave like me…’

‘I can do it,’ Linea repeated. ‘Trust me and tell me where you live. Or even better show it to me. Imagine a picture of the place.’

Senia was still unconvinced but an image of a mansion just as pompous as Brice’s place popped up in Linea’s mind, nonetheless.

‘Do you think, we can find that?’ Linea asked Sarah.

‘I think so,’ Sarah replied. ‘I have an excellent memory. It might take a few hours, but we should be able to find it.’

‘Who is that?’ Senia asked with an alarmed voice and notable confusion.

Sarah and Linea stopped in their thoughts.

‘Shit,’ Sarah said.

‘I forgot that she can hear us…’ Linea added.

‘Who is that?’ Senia repeated even more pressing.

‘That’s Sarah,’ Linea simply said. ‘But I think we should talk about that after we have freed you.’