Larger than any tree Anula has seen in the old forests stood walls of white that connected with the mountains. On either side of the gate stood a carved humanoid wearing a horned helmet with a long, ornate beard that flowed down to its belt. Each bearded guardian held a war hammer that stood from their feet to their neck. Their lifeless eyes watched the river of caravans and traders flowing in and out of the gates. Horns blew and guards began clearing the gate to allow passage for the procession. White marble buildings appeared to grow from the ground in various sizes leading up to the gates.

Half breeds and humans alike stopped their trading and bickering at the sight of Rurak and his honor guard atop the machikero. All went to their knees as they passed, keeping their heads bowed until all the pure bloods passed. Anula noticed their stares flow from the pure bloods to her and the captured humans, their eyes sparkling with greed and amusement. Merchants in fine cloths and colored sashes began pointing at the slaves and writing notes while pure blood females with jeweled horns regarded the humans with disgust, covering their noses with brightly colored silks.

Are we nothing more than cattle? Anula thought scrutinizing the merchants as they grew excited over seeing the slaves.

Does our life mean nothing now? Are we just property to be bought and sold to the highest bidder?

Anula shook her head trying to remove the thoughts, deciding to avoid the stares.

As they approached the marble gates, the first of the pure blood soldiers entered the shadow of the massive white stone gate. Looking like ants compared to the pillars on either side, their horns only reached the toes of the giant stone guardians. Anula closed in on the gates and the progression slowed, pure bloods spreading out and filling the length of the gate and lining up shoulder to shoulder.

Goren and Draxz sat atop their machikero in the last line of pure bloods. Goren rode to Anula’s left and Draxz to her right. Multiple horns blew in a musical fashion and the marching began again in a slow steady pace that even the weakest of slaves could endure after the fast pace of the previous days.

Kreet’s gate cut through the mountain; its ceiling lit with faint blue lights. Looking up, Anula could not recognize the source, the ceiling too high to examine. Hooves on stone laced with rattling of chains echoed off the walls while they walked, the gate seeming more of a tunnel as she continued forward in the blue light.

When she was free of the gate tunnel, she noticed enormous metal doors that would close off any escape when shut. They were ornate and held images of two more long bearded humans with horned helmets with a sword too great to hold.

It would be impenetrable she thought to herself looking to the doors on either side of her. out to the tall, thick buildings on either side of the road she marched along. More musical horns sounded and cheers went up in the distance. Small minotaur children ran around laughing chasing each other. Anula felt her anger rising.

They are celebrating the defeat and death of my friends and family. They are cheering for the success of the king’s triumph! Anula looked to the crowd of minotaur who were throwing flower petals onto the pure blood soldiers as they passed. She saw the soldiers trying to keep their composure as female minotaur called out to them with flirtatious remarks. She saw one grinning fiercely as one young bull female blew him a kiss from the crowd.

“Eyes forward soldier, your time for celebration with that young bull will come in time.” Goren snapped with a gentle voice holding a grin of his own.

“Yes, my lord.” The soldier said holding in a smile as the female bull giggled from the crowd.

Anula stared at them with nothing but hate in her heart.

They laugh and joke while we walk behind them in chains.

She held on to that anger, knowing it would be the only thing to keep her moving forward.

The slow march continued and Anula was amazed at the large, beautiful structures that lined the stone road. Smaller streets crisscrossed the main road in sections of twenty-five buildings, and disappeared in a sea of buildings.

As they continued, she could see a fortress grow in size. It was built from the mountain wall with a great waterfall flowing from either side. It was magnificent from this distance and Anula wondered at its size. She could see another white wall which seemed to rival the outer wall she had already passed through.

Anula began noticing sections off the main road with minotaur wearing more exotic and colorful clothing with ornate horns. The cheering continued and shouts of joy and “Hail King Rurak” echoed throughout the city as they passed. After a few more city blocks they marched through the inner wall gate, pure bloods standing atop the gate with spears watching over the crowd. When Anula passed through the gates there was an obvious difference in her surroundings. The buildings appeared more luxurious surrounded by metal gates, protecting flower gardens and fountains. Minotaur stood in celebration, their cloths rich and their horns elegant with humans kneeling by their sides, head down, like a dog ready for a command. Anula looked at the humans who kneeled willing them to raise their eyes, but none did as they passed.

Anula caught a glimpse of a dark cloaked being flowing through the crowd unnoticed and ignored. It hobbled along sluggishly, holding what looked like tiny crippled arms wrapped in cloth. Draxz caught her staring, and followed her gaze. He grumbled in disgust when his eye locked on the cloaked figure.

“Apex…” he growled in disgust, his voice cutting through the jeers, catching its attention.

The figure stopped cold; its ugly features peering from the open hood. Eyes flashed from within the dark cowl back at Draxz and settled on Anula for a heartbeat, before lowering his eyes to the ground. Apex stood with a hunch, slowly descending to one knee which looked awkward and painful.

“Destroying another runt I see… Go back to your shadows, filth. It’s a day of celebration, not a day to see your crippled stain on Clan Aesturion.” Draxz spit.

“Yes, my lord.” Apex replied in a strained voice, not raising his head.

Apex rose to his feet, the cloth falling free revealing a small snout. He backed away, his eyes studying Anula for a moment before he flowed into the crowd, vanishing into the shadows.

The sun began its descent, but the fortress was still in the distance, but its beauty was clearer. Anula could see another stone wall separating the city from the fortress. The crowds were thinner here and the parade became more relaxed. It had been a full day’s march from the main gate through the city, and still the fortress looked to be at least a mile away.

A horn blew and the march stopped.

Rurak and his honor guard stirred their machikero into a gallop towards the fortress. Draxz eyed Anula one last time kicking his heel into his mount and took off following the king.

“Do as your told, and you will live. Ignore this and your life is forfeit.” Goren said in a low voice, then he rode off in pursuit of his brothers.

Anula watched them disappear into the gate and half breeds began corralling the slaves into a large building.

“Move!” The half breed shouted, slamming the butt of his spear into the ribs of a man who was standing admiring the fortress in the distance. The machikero trainer came over to her and unlocked her chains from the half bulls and motioned for her to join the slaves then headed off to the stables.

“MOVE!” Anula heard the words and then immediately felt the burn on her back, followed by the sound of a whip cracking. She lurched forward and into a man who stumbled, tripping a woman. Another crack of a whip and the woman who fell to the ground cried out in pain. She crawled to her feet and scowled at the man who didn’t look her way.

They entered the building and half breeds lined the entrance with spears, ready to attack at any moment. When Anula reached the front of the line, a pure blood looked at her and down at her chest, unchained her wrists and looked over to a pure blood sitting and taking notes.

“King’s property, workforce.” He said and nodded her to move past him. She started forward and a half breed shoved her roughly into another line away from the main collection of slaves. Anula was pushed off balance and she fell into the back of a woman. They collapsed to the ground and quickly they rose to their feet, fearing a sting of a whip. Anula looked at the woman whose shirt was ripped open revealing her cleavage. Like Anula a bloody rune was carved on her chest. The woman without saying anything stood back in line and faced the back of a man.

Her line began moving again and she heard screaming behind her. Anula looked back to a woman running away after she was freed. They let her run, and paid her no attention. Realizing there was nowhere to run, she fell to her knees and began to cry.

“Move!” a voice sounded as three half breeds moved toward her. She stayed curled on the ground sobbing. One of the half breeds cracked the metal pole of his spear against her ribs and she was thrown a foot to the side with a crack. The woman clutched herself and breathed in obvious pain.

“Now look what you did. You won’t be able to do much of anything, till that rib mends.” The half breed stooped down his spear poking gently at the woman’s tender side. “Not very pretty, but it’s been a few nights for me. I think I just found a job for you while your rib mends.” The half breed looked over to the one in charge.

“Captain, her rib is shattered. Permission to release her for the night.” The captain looked from her to the guard. His spear butt jostled the woman’s side and she screamed out in pain. He looked at the guard and the two besides him.

“Granted. Kill her and it’s your head, make sure she is back by morning count.” The captain walked away and the three guards smiled devilishly. Anula watched in horror as the guard who broke the woman’s rub reach down and grabbed her hair roughly, and began to drag her. She kicked and screamed, clawing his hands. Her nails bit into the thick hide of his hand and he released the woman’s hair.

“Now, now. We need to teach you a few lessons.” His fist came down hard on the woman’s head and she fell to the ground in a moan. Anula watched, her fist tightening, her knuckles growing white. A hand touched her shoulder lightly and she glanced over to see a man shaking his head.

“Don’t, they will do the same to you.” He whispered so only she could hear. She glanced away from the man and she realized all eyes in open building were on the three guards and the defenseless woman.

No one moved to stopped the beating. He held her up against a wall and she screamed, kicking and scratching furiously. They lowered her to the ground and the two half breeds held her still as the third laid atop her.

Anula looked away, not wanting to watch.

I’ll kill them

She looked to the guard nearest to her laughing, distracted by the scene.

I’ll take his sword, its point straight to his heart then...

“Keep calm.” The whisper broke her thoughts, and she forced herself to move. She walked past the guard with his sword laying on the table next to him in easy reach. It called out to her to take it. But she lowered her head and kept walking as the screams continued till she left the building and entered another area filled with strong men and woman with bloody runes on their chests.

“Sleep. Tomorrow, you work.” A pure blood shouted and then shut the door with a sound of metal bolting it shut. Anula looked around the room and everyone looked exhausted physically and mentally. Anula walked in silent fury to an unclaimed straw cot and laid down, forcing her eyes to close and ignore the horrors of the day she had witnessed.