Anula brought the hammer down hard on the red metal, the rhythmic ring of sound filling the room. She continued her work on the sword while Urik watched her like a hawk, yelling strings of curses at her every chance he had when the metal cooled faster than she could hammer.

“I let you on your own at last and this is how you repay me?” He examined her sloppy work with a critical eye.

“Lass, the sword needs to be straight.” His strong arms easily hoisted the thick metal and he pointed it out in front him tilting it from left to right. “The tip is leaning to the left. It’s not supposed to look like your crooked coc…” Urik stopped himself short and cleared his throat. “It’s not supposed to be leaning, keep her straight and true. He shoved the tip into the furnace and stormed off, yelling a stream of curses at another who dropped his metal as it was removed from the furnace. After letting the metal heat up, she removed it and went back to work. The metal was stubborn and no matter how much she hit it and eyed it up, it refused to stay straight. It was her first minotaur broadsword and the challenge of it kept her focus.

An hour passed and at last she had the blade under her control. Urik grunted behind her as she twisted the blade.

“Give it here.” He said not trusting her eye. “Hmm…” He made more grunts and then allowed a small frown.

“It’ll be usable, some low born bull will have his hands on it.” Anula suppressed her smile. It was the closest to a complement Urik would ever give her. “The weight is off, needs work to make it worth using, but a blade none the less. I’ll take it from here before you ruin it further.” Anula backed away and watched Urik continue to eye the blade criticizing its every flaw.

“Anula, with us.” A deep voice said from behind her. She turned to see the pure blood that always kept an eye on her at a distance.

“You can’t be taking her; this lass belongs to the forge.” Urik said after placing the blade back in the forge. “It’s still daylight, I need the hands to complete the order of blades.”

“With us, now.” He said looking at the blacksmith impatiently. Anula looked to Urik who gave her an uncertain look. She padded her side where the hammer set on her leather apron. Urik caught the miss pat and she removed her apron giving it to Urik.

Anula followed the pure blood from the forge. They passed a few half breed guards who bore hatred into her as she passed. One still had a bruise along the jaw and a wrap around his arm from where Anula had thrusted a nail while protecting herself. His eyes met hers then lowered; his pride still bruised. The pure blood noticed the movement and eyed Anula with a side glance but said nothing. The city was bustling with pure blood merchants and slaves, both human and half breed. The city folk cleared a path as the large pure bull walked, his armor and horns with plated tips demanded authority. Fellow pure blood guards nodded slightly when they passed, stealing only a small glance at Anula only moving their eyes. Anula followed close to the pure blood; his steps larger than hers. The city was a maze and busy. At last she realized their direction after turning on the wide road. The fortress loomed in the distance, great stone structures flowing from the mountain wall as if carved from it. The first time she saw it was a night of exhaustion and confusion.

How could such creatures of chaos, murder and cruelty create such beauty and elegance? How could the creatures who killed so many and enslaved even more, be capable of doing any of this? Anula thought admiring the fortress. The structures became more elegant and pure bloods dressed in richer colors and jewelry sitting at tables drinking and laughing. Most didn’t even glance her way. Others glanced over her as if she wasn’t even there. She noticed a human woman wearing nothing but thin red silks wrapped around her body leaving little to the imagination. She danced, her hips gyrating, her stomach flexing while her hands danced like serpents. The purebloods sitting near the woman laughed and their eyes glanced back and forth between the human and their guest. Anula began noticing more humans but richly dressed instead of wearing the dirty and worn pieces of cloth that could hardly be considered clothing that she wore. Some wore thick metal rings around their necks. Not the iron she was use to seeing in the slave quarters, but nicer rings of silver and gold and other precious metals. Some held out trays of food and drink, others were running from house to house holding items. Some stood in the nude, only their metal ring around their neck, an ornate chain linked to it which was attached to a pillar. Pure bloods treated humans as pets and objects to show off to their neighbor. The sight sickened Anula even more when she watched two men with only a simple silk loin cloth fighting, swords sending sparks as they collided. Pure bloods clapped, another shouting obscenity at the now wounded human. Swords collided again and after a missed block, the wounded man received another cut, but across his abdomen. Anula passed the courtyard too quickly to see the outcome, but she felt like she knew only one would come out alive. She gritted her teeth and continued on only to see a pure blood female smack the small human woman hard sending her to the ground.

“If you don’t learn how to make a proper cup of tea, you will be sold to the breeders. I will not tolerate another foul cup!” The pure blood female slapped the woman again hard and she fell to the ground, tears flowing.

“Clean up this mess you made, then to the stable, you will sleep in the pig shit.” Her eyes narrowed at the fallen woman.

“Geral!” The pure blood waited for her shout to be heard. A human man came running in and stopped, looking to the fallen woman. “Teach this pathetic creature what the breeders will be like.” His eyes darted from his pure blood master to the sobbing woman.

“Now! Or I’ll have your sack removed and fed to you for dinner.” The human man began to unbuckle his pants as the pure blood seethed with joy at what she was about to force the man to do.

Anula looked away, hearing the crying woman and the faint sounds of grunting followed by laughter as she walked on. Anula swallowed hard trying to close her hearing off to the surrounding buildings.

They treat us like their playthings to do with as they please. Anula’s thoughts continued to swirl with the negativity that surrounded her. The beauty of the surrounding area suddenly looked less enchanting as she passed them. When they reached the gate, she kept her eyes down, not wanting to see any more of the minotaur superiority over the humans. When they reached the large doors of the fortress they stopped, two pure blood guards stood still as statues, their armor shining and their weapons sharp. Their eyes were forward and they didn’t acknowledge their approach. Standing at the door stood another impressive looking pureblood, and he greeted them with a well-versed tongue that spoke so fluidly she thought he had a voice of a human. There was no gravel in his voice like every other minotaur voice she had heard besides Goren and Rurak.

“Well, well, I do believe that matches the description of the woman I’m suppose to deliver to the king.” The guard paused and held his hand out to the fine clothed minotaur. The smooth voiced bull laughed.

“Off with you foul beast, your work here is done. The king already fills your pocket to keep these peons in order, and you take advantage of them every chance you get. Be gone with you.” The smooth voice back waved the air in front of the guard to usher him away but he didn’t move.

“Do not make me ask politely again, because I will not.” The smooth talker said with venom on his tongue.

Two loud knocks filled the air, the guard growled with anger and turned around knowing the sound of the royal guard’s smashing the end of their spears on the ground as the final warning.

“Now, since that brute has gone, shall we continue?” He paused waiting for an answer.

“Speak woman, I will not cut your tongue out. Well, unless I was ordered to of course.” He laughed waving his hands in an unconcerned manner.

“Such a sour mood woman… What is your name? Assuming you have one.”

“Anula.” She said after a pause.

“Anula, what a name! I do believe you are the first Anula I have had the pleasure of knowing.” Anula didn’t respond, their footsteps the only sound as they walked.

“Hm… you really need to loosen up. Pure bloods, especially of noble birth are not the same as those thugs that you have been dealing with. All they care about is war and sex and… well I would say food and drink, but I think they could live without these as long they could continue to spill blood and take their women.” Anula lowered her gaze and kept silent.

“I’m Kimi, if you were curious, which you clearly are not. I’m the royal steward, here to be your guide and host. It is an honor to meet with the king you know. Even I who never leave these grounds don’t see him that often.”

“Do you ever stop talking?” Anula asked under her breath. Kimi stopped and laughed.

“Now that is what I’m talking about. And no, usually not.” They walked to a door and Kimi opened it revealing human women working and preparing the room.

“This will be where you will reside, at least for today. Wash and put on new clothes that are provided, the slaves will help if you require any. I will collect you in a few hours.” Kimi tipped his head on a slight bow and walked away, the guard by the door ushered her in and shut the door behind her.

~

Apex sat at a table smoking a pipe with a long stem. A cloud of smoke danced along the ceiling above him as he listened to his guild leaders discuss the leads they have been receiving. Knowledge was power and Apex had it all. From what the king does on the regular basis to the human kings. The table was surrounded by pure bloods, but all runts, cast aside to be murdered as newborns. Some appeared to be more human, their bull features underdeveloped. The tallest runt of the guild stood just under six foot, his noble father holding the knife ready to kill the shame that was placed on his family. Apex had arrived as the father glared down at the helpless babe, naked and cold, unworthy of being cleaned or covered with blankets. Its screams dared the knife to come down to silence them. Unknown to the noble and the millions of other pure bloods thriving in the city, their shameful runts were not taken to be killed by Apex as was believed. Apex’s memories of the runts mirrored each other. All were destined to die, their families willing to fulfill the deed themselves if Apex was not placed in the dishonorable position.

Apex enjoyed a long pull on his pipe listening to his network of spies go over the latest dealings of the world.

“The rise of goblin kin is pushing deeper into our territories, disrupting trade routes.”

“We push back.”

“Agreed, retaliate.”

“Fill the tunnels with their blood.”

“We dig in, hold the ground.”

“Aye, no need to waste new horn lives pushing the filth back.”

“We shouldn’t be running those routes anyway.”

“Apex?” All eyes turned his way, the remaining leaders going silent.

“Take a large group of new horns who are ready to be battle tested. The strong survive, the weak will be left behind. We only survive if we are better than those we go against. The lesson will be remembered.” The leaders nodded, even if conservative leaders understood the way of the hornless and could not argue with the lesson.

“Have the new horns followed by tested fighters, if the goblin kin outnumber them, the losses will be less.” The leaders rambled over the details of the excursion when the ancient wooden door creaked open, the sound forcing Apex’s ear to twitch. Frolum stepped forward, his breath rapid.

“Master Apex. Wolves are in the tunnels.” Apex stood up, his hands palm down on the table.

“Where?”

“Hok-or’n.” Apex looked over to his leaders who were already pulling out the maps of the mountain. Apex and Frolum walked over to a new map and after studying it, he placed his finger on the settlement.

“One of the newer ones, the goblin-kin are quick to settle and multiply.” One of the leaders said stoking his beard.

“Has been causing us some troubles with their raids on the trade routes.”

“That’s how we found them. We followed tracks from a caravan left in pieces.” Frolum said looking away from the map.

“We killed the goblins responsible outside of their gates. The wolves attacked, too many to count in the dark, perhaps fifty? I alone live to bring the news.” Sounds of disgust hissed from the leaders.

“Dishonorable runt.” One spit before Apex raised his hand, silencing the room. Frolum ignored the retorts and kept his eyes on Apex, his hands on the grips of his daggers. Apex sized up Frolum.

“No blood stains your cloak. You dishonor the guild, letting your brothers die for your life.” Apex said his eyes flicking to Frolum’s hands. More disgruntled noises from the leaders flowed. “Your orders were to bring news of the wolves to me, which you did.” Apex paused and looked over at the leaders who showed open hatred.

“Although dishonorable, your orders were fulfilled. To redeem your honor, you will lead the horns to eliminate the wolves in our mountain.” Apex motioned to the maps. “This will wait, our new plans concern the wolves. What is their destination?” Frolum hid his anger and ran his finger along the tunnels leading from Hok-or’n.

“The labyrinth of tunnels here should confuse them long enough for us to catch them. Tunnels that lead to open air are mainly closed. Only these five remain open and are active mines.” Frolum traced tunnels showing the leaders the path through the maze. He traced the last tunnel which was the hardest. He paused at a junction; his memory of the area not as good as he thought. His eyes flicked along the map trying to find the way out of the maze.

“That’s it. This will be the way he will go. It’s not about the quickest route, but the hardest to be followed. In the darkness these tunnels will lose most.” Frolum looked up at an elder leader. “Do you know the way through it Eefe?” The leader squinted his eyes at the map where Frolum’s finger paused. After a minute of silence Eefe moved his finger about the map confidently then stopped at a dead end.

“Hmm… Last time I was down that end, I was a new horn.” Eefe said removing his finger from the map. Apex watched with frustration and then showed the group the way through the complex tunnel system.

“All of you will be scouting the labyrinth starting immediately. Your lack of memory will not be tolerated.” Apex said shoving the map towards Eefe who just lowered his head.

“A map maker that does not know his own maps is pathetic.” The room kept quiet, the words cutting their pride.

“What are you all still standing here for?” The room emptied and Apex walked back over to the map.

“Why there? Why the farthest point from civilization?” He ruffled through older maps left behind by the dwarves. The maps were brittle and Apex handled them delicately as he unrolled them. It didn’t make sense, the direct route through the mountain would be the obvious choice. The last map sat rolled, it was before the dwarves must have learned of paper. He unrolled the odd leather-like map. The ink was nearly faded. The tunnels were more natural and nothing like the labyrinth it is now. The entrance to the mountain was the same and there were markings he couldn’t make out south west of the entrance. He looked over at the still open brittle map, the markings were not there. Apex moved to the wall where newer maps of the human kingdom were hung. Nothing but labor settlements and thick forest.

“Sosa!” An assassin slipped though the opened door.

“Master Apex?”

“Bring Vertex.” Sosa nodded and vanished through the doorway; his movements quieter than breath.

~

Anula finished washing up and put on the clothes laid out on the bed. The other women were finishing up when they looked over at Anula. They were well dressed and lacked bruises or effects of abuse. It was clear these women did not suffer the same fate as the others who lived in the slave quarters. All the women possessed flawless beauty. Their looks were intimidating, their eyes lined with dark ink, bringing focus to their bright colored eyes. Anula approached one of the red heads. Her bright green eyes flashed up at Anula, her red hair dancing past her eyes.

“Is it nice here?” Anula asked the red head while she folded up sheets.

“Nice? A slave to beasts? Dressed up like little dolls and paraded around serving meals to eyes hungry for things not on their plates?” She stopped folding and narrowed her eyes, meeting Anula’s.

“We are slaves, my sister lives her life as a releaser, assuming she still breathes. I saw her once, a broken thing, who didn’t even recognize me. We are play things to them, nothing more. Don’t you forget that.” The fierce woman spit on the ground and walked away. Unsure of what to say Anula watched the woman storm off.

“We are caged birds who will never know freedom of which we once knew. Life is better, but still, we are slaves.” An older woman said behind Anula. The woman’s hair was black with random silver hairs mixed in. Her skin was pale, her eyes brown, but still bright in color.

“Lyngren is young and her anger is deep.” She said still looking at the angered woman. “Speaking of the past does no one any good. The ones who remember life before this have nothing but pain. Others were born and raised in the city and know only the abuse and submission.” Her eyes brushed over a few who were speaking quietly amongst themselves. Anula’s sharp ears heard every word of the meaningless gossip, but pushed it away.

“And you?” Anula said turning to the older beauty.

“A little of both. Been here so long my memory has faded.” Her eyes met the floor. “Funny thing time is. I can no longer hear my mother’s voice or paint a clear image of my father in my mind. I think about them and they are difficult to recall. My younger years here were difficult, but I have children of my own. Some I’m lucky enough to still see. Others…” She broke off and cleared her throat.

“Right, enough about me.” She straightened herself and looked up to meet Anula’s amber eyes. “You are a tall one. I’ll have to get some custom clothes for you. Call me Mother if you wish, the rest do.” She walked around Anula and began sizing her up with her eyes. “Uh huh… Arms larger than the men around here and legs as thick as the minotaur. Not sure how we will fit that muscle into a dress, but we will find a way I’m sure.”

“A dress?”

“You are to meet the king; I doubt he will expect anything less. These clothes they laid out are half-blood sized and hardly fit.” After a few more circles Mother whistled and three women rushed over.

“Let’s get her measured up so she can have proper attire.” Anula spent the rest of the day uncomfortably as the women sized her and placed various fabrics on her. They tugged at her hair viciously with a bone comb until it laid long and knot free. She noticed a mirror in the corner and approached it cautiously. The last time she viewed a mirror was when she was a child when a traveling merchant passed through the city. Her father offered the man a free drink in exchange for letting her play with the handheld mirror. It was the first and last time she was able to see herself as the world had. She worked up her courage and stepped in front of the tall mirror. The woman that looked back caught her off guard. Her amber eyes were bright, her olive skin made them even brighter. Her straight brown hair reached just below her shoulders. Her shoulders and arms were an eye sore. Her smile faded as she judged her own body harshly. She pried her eyes from the mirror and looked down at her large hands calloused from the smith’s work. Her arms thick with a bulging forearm and bicep. It’s like she saw them for the first time. She stole a glance at one of the women passing.

I’m a Half-Breed monstrosity. How I must stand out among fellow humans. No wonder they always reject me, keeping me at arm’s length.

Anula caught a tear and closed her eyes tight cutting off the flow.

What did father see in me? How? Were his words only lies?

“First time looking in a mirror?” Anula opened her eyes and saw Lyngren in the mirror at her side. Lyngren flicked a comb through her hair and then adjusted her breasts so they revealed the perfect amount of skin.

“A simple dress can draw eyes to exactly where you want them to.” Lyngren looked up to meet Anula’s eyes in the mirror. “In your case…” Her eyes scowled and judged her body. “A dress is only the beginning.” Lyngren squared herself and drank in her own image before walking away. Anula watched her walk away in the mirror and looked back at the image, its saddened face looking back at her.

When she at last pried her eyes from the mirror the door opened, revealing Kimi.

“Anula, it is time.” Kimi said picking her out easily amongst the women.

“My lord, she is not properly dressed.” Mother said with her head bowed. Kimi looked over at the woman and dismissed her with a flick of a hand. Mother backed away, keeping her mouth shut. Anula walked towards Kimi and paused. He breathed in deeply and his pupils dilated for a moment.

“Good, you no longer reek of filth. Your clothes.” He fingered her tunic by her shoulder. “Could be better.” He scowled at Mother who kept her head bowed. “Better than the rags you had I suppose is something of an improvement. Enough delays, let us be off.” Kimi turned and Anula followed him into the hall.

They walked down the hall leisurely. Artwork and blue crystal lights hung from the wall. Her eyes took in each image, showing off creatures of like she had never seen. Some held blue crystals that reminded her of the ones on the walls. As they walked an image stopped her. One of the beings looked familiar, but she couldn’t place it. It was a lithe humanoid with black hair, sharp ears breaking the surface of its hair. With it, other similar looking beings but with an underlined blue tint held out the blue crystals to the black haired being. Blue tinted men behind them had blue armor and weapons that were see through. To the right of the black haired being stood shorter humans with long beards and thick armor.

“Our scholars believe this to be an image of how the crystals you see have come here.” He pointed to the lithe beings. “They say these are elves, or so the writings say.” He pointed to the small humans. “And these apparently Dwarves. But who can say? We have never seen either. Only the dwarves seem to have existed, their images are littered throughout the whole city and mountain. If you ask me.” He leaned down slightly and looked up and down the hallways. Then began in a hushed voice. “I think they were just gods’ humans worshiped. Why else would they create giant statues of little bearded men?” He straightened and began to walk away. Anula passed a crystal at eye level and paused. She lifted her hand and placed it on the crystal. The blue light swirled at the touch and felt an odd sensation prickle her hand that shot through her and tickled her mind as if she remembered something. She removed her hand from the crystal and the swirling light went back to its motionless state. The feeling she had disappeared as well. After blinking her eyes a few times, she moved away from the crystal and caught up to Kimi.

Beautifully carved statues lined the walls and paintings and carvings continued to hold her attention.

They entered a larger room and on its wall was a jeweled artwork displaying a mighty battle. She could only recognize the humans and minotaur. Other beings fought and bled, red gems flowing from their wounds with grotesque beauty. Her eyes took in the epic display of war and death. Such horror turned into a masterpiece of awe that she couldn’t take her eyes from.

A large, strong hand placed on her shoulder startled Anula and broke the enchantment. Anula turned, expecting Kimi, but instead a much larger, muscular minotaur was attached to the hand. She stepped back and saw Kimi between two heavily armored guards that stood taller than him. Kimi had his hands locked behind his lower back, his head a slight bow. The large minotaur held a chalice in his left hand. His expression was soft she thought, even if it still looked like a bull. He had a ring on his finger that he tapped twice on the chalice.

“Our ancestors stumbled upon this carving deep in the dwarven kingdom. It was either forgotten, or left on purpose to be found.” Rurak said in a smooth, but commanding voice. Anula studied him, he spoke perfectly and lulled her to comfort with a single sentence. Rurak dropped his gaze from the gemmed artwork to Anula.

“We have similar artifacts littered throughout this place; she we continue on?” Rurak shifted the chalice to his right hand and motioned with his left. Anula eyed him suspiciously and began to walk. But after two steps her calm was replaced with raising anger that was buried deep. Her hand went for her hidden dagger and she spun to face Rurak.

“I will not be your pet that you walk and show off. I would rather die!” Her words spilled out without thinking and her body moved without thought. Her blade, now visible aimed at Rurak, thrust for the kill.

The chalice dropped from Rurak’s right hand and he caught her wrist before the wine hit the ground. The armed guards and Kimi moved quickly, but halted when Rurak held up his left hand.

“Now, that was what I was waiting for.” Rurak grinned moving the blade away from his chest where the tip drew a small amount of blood, staining his white tunic. “You are a guest, not a pet. You are welcome to leave at once if you choose. Your blade smithing is becoming exceptional. Even Kimi has taken a liking to your work. The blade he holds now was made from your hands.” Kimi’s eyes darted nervously, unsure of what he was to do or say. Rurak released Anula’s hand which still held the dagger. He waved his left hand and everyone except Anula sheathed their naked blades. After a few nervous glances, searching for deception, she placed her blade back into hiding. Rurak grinned and turned to Kimi.

“My chalice slipped from my hand; I would like another glass if you’re not too busy.” Rurak said in a playful tune. Kimi slammed his fist against his chest and quickly disappeared down the hall.

“Now that we got that out of the way, shall we continue?” Anula eyed him suspiciously and then began walking, followed by Rurak and his two guards