#9: Forced Labor
Castle of Chasin
Terrace
Servants prepared the breakfast for Zefania. They were all tensed since the ladybird was also standing beside the lady. "She will not hurt you", Zefania assured noticing the stiff aura around them. The female servants nodded their heads. "Does it have a name?", Mance sat down with his niece. They haven't got the time to talk to each other due to the arrangements Lester had been doing with the different villagers. Mance had the most interaction with Zefania since Varick usually visits the lady in his house during his short expeditions.
"Sorry for your loss, my dear. There's no sufficient word to extend my comfort", Mance apologetically opened. "Kalani, that is her name", Zefania answered the previous question. "Of course. Such a beautiful name that you have given", his uncle looked at the ladybird. "Thank you for protecting my niece all the way through", Mance bowed his head. "Kalani, that's the name I give to you", Zefania reached out her hand to the winged creature. "Ka..la..ni?", she tried to verbalize. Zefania was pleased to hear her voice.
Training Ground
Dillon trains the boys from the village with dummy swords. "Learn how to grip on your swords. It's not even a real one. It'll be thrice heavier", Dillon lectured while walking around. He saw a young girl peeking from the fence. He allowed the boys to take a break. He tied his long hair with a ribbon he received from Zefania on his 16th birthday.
"Young girl, what brought you here? You are not allowed to go beyond that gate", Dillon approached her. The small one stepped back and was about to cry. "There you go, you're making another child cry", they heard Reinys voice. Dillon suddenly got irritated once again. He stepped back and let Reinys handle the questioning. The girl trembled in fear. "Village... House... Burn", the girl stuttered. Reinys turned and saw Dillon already riding his horse. "Let the brothers know about this", Dillon commanded one of the soldiers. "On me", Dillon commanded his troupe.
Village
Dillon looked around and saw the village burned into ashes. "Look for any survivor", he commanded. He spotted a hurried tomb created with black feathers scattered around it. "They're not yet done messing up with us", Dillon clenched his fist. "You came here first. What have you found?", Oliver climbed down his horse with a worried face. Dillon passed one feather that he picked from the ground.
"I'd be riding towards the dock. Who knows if they are still hiding in the shadows", Dillon was about to leave when Oliver grabbed his shoulder. "It's too dangerous to go alone. Let me do it with my troupe. Go back and secure the brothers", Oliver commanded.
Eire
Nilfeim Clan Village
Audric's eyes widened as he saw the huge circle-shaped rocks. They were escorted by the Clan leader himself which gave the impression to other people that they must be important. "Give your regards to His Grace!", Magnus shouted and it echoed throughout the village. It wasn't a small village since there are hundreds of families residing in it and thousands of soldiers. They all bent their knees to Declan. He was about to step back but Noldorin pushed his back."There's no going back, Your Grace", Noldorin gave a reassuring smile.
They were led to the central stone house where the village elders hold their discussions. It was huge and sturdy."We are honored to have you under our roof, Your Grace", they all welcomed.
Declan looked around and felt shadows of doubt all around the room. He sighed and stood up. "I came here to ask for your men. There is no guarantee that they will come back alive. In every battle, we suffer great loss which I have seen with my very own eyes", Declan started with a dark theme for his speech. Audric stared at Noldorin hoping he could save the giant.
"But this is not a request nor a command from a King. This is a decision you have to make for your Kingdom", Declan sat down. "Your Aunt already lost her mind and made allies with the new King of Eragon. Thus, foreigners are taking lordship all over the land", Magnus informed. "Sooner or later, clans will be hunted down and replaced as well", Noldorin took the initiative to stand.
Noldorin's Room
Some female servants entered to prepare the bath and also to serve food. They were of regular heights comparing it to the males of the Eire. "You may leave, I can have my bath on my own", Noldorin permitted the ladies to leave. "My lord, Our Master forbid us to leave your side", one of the youngest servants knelt down. "Then, you can stay. The others may go. Tell your master that I said so", Noldorin instructed the rest.
He took off his clothes and dipped inside the wooden tub. The young lady with a smaller frame than the other giants poured fragrant oil into the warm water. "You are not from here. I apologize if it offended you", Noldorin said right away. He wanted to get as much information as well. "We are servants brought from the Land of Desolation. Since the King has no use for females like us in the mines, they sold us for better use", she informed. Noldorin felt sorry for her. "Do you have a name?", Noldorin asked while she scrubs his back. "Alyss", she answered. "Tell me, Alyss, from the land that you came from. What have you seen?", Noldorin asked.
"There were..", Alyss covered her mouth. She was surprised that she was willing to say something to a complete stranger. "It's okay. You don't have to be afraid. My name is Noldorin, I came from the lands of Riverdell. This way, we won't be strangers now", Noldorin turned to her and smiled. The 14-year-old young lady got mesmerized by his gentleness. She grew up thinking that all men have brute strength and tendencies to hurt women. "In that land, men mines for a special kind of iron. I heard that these iron are used to create weapons that are continuously forged by dragon breath. The price of these weapons is extremely high", Alyss said in a soft voice just in case someone is outside.
"Dragon breath? Dragons are far long dead", Noldorin had a short laugh. "My lord, there are also young girls like me in that Land. Some of us, fortunately, land in villages like this to be used as servants but some end up in brothels." Is there any way that the new King will go to the extent to save them?", Alyss's eyes turned teary remembering her younger sister left in the land. Noldorin slouched on the tub and looked at the rock ceiling. Now that Declan's power grew, he might actually be hard up in leaving his responsibilities. Noldorin closed his eyes. He felt that the lady's heart sank when she let out a deep breath. "What I know is that he will be needing weapons to take back what was his", Noldorin's words lighten up the young lady's heart. "Uhm. I heard this from the older ladies in the Land of Desolation. We are a branch family from Eragon that was forced out of our houses to work in the mines owned by the former Lord Aystar and Lady Aya. When the last Eragon died, no one can protest that decision", Alyss added.
Land of Desolation
Shkretim
"Move, you imbeciles!", Chazar, the Warden of the desolate land passed by the mines watching a variety of men holding a pickaxe. He had some female servant holding onto his wolf skin cape. "You, get me some water in the well to wash my hands", he ordered one of the young men.
The young men went to the well to fetch water. He drew the small barrel and saw his reflection. There is a dark circle around his light brown eyes. His hair also grew long until his shoulder. He's been wondering if he had lived his life this way. "Lawliet, the Warden will be angered if you are slow", Gelo, one of the miners warned him. Lawliet carried the barrel of water and went back to where the Warden is.
He gave it to Chazar who was busy flirting with the female servants. Lawliet entered the scene and made all the female servants their attention to him. He doesn't have the body of a knight but he has so much aura oozing from him. The ladies winked at him. He ignored them and bowed his head. "Come here", Chazar noticed the ladies. He was with a good build but a scary face. His eyes were almost shooting outside and his lips are thick. He threw the barrel of water on Lawliet. The poor guy felt the cold creep into his skin. The winter had reached their place as well. Gelo saw it and removed his coat. He wrapped it around Lawliet and pulled him away. "Forgive him, my lord", Gelo bowed very low.
Gelo's hut
It was just covered with a joint pile of wood and thick leaves. He started a fire and looked for what Lawliet can wear. "Remove your clothes", he instructed. He saw a huge scar on his stomach when Lawliet removed his shirt. It was deep enough for him to feel the hatred accompanying the scar.
After having himself warmed up, Gelo stood up. "I'll go and work for your load. Stay here and don't show yourself to the Warden", Gelo dropped a piece of bread on his lap. Gelo left.
Lawliet walked around the hut and saw nothing but clothes and weapons. He saw that Gelo's food stock is already gone. Since he went into the place, he only stayed in an abandoned hut with nothing but blankets. He saw a knife and hid it under his coat.
Lawliet woke up to the sound of people shouting. He went out and saw the group crowd circling around the guillotine platform. He peeked and saw Gelo tied up on the cold steel. Chazar holds the rope. He whipped Gelo until some of his flesh are torn. Lawliet gritted his teeth and charged into the platform. Chazar tried to whip him again but Lawliet caught the rope barehanded. His palm bled but his eyes were glaring at the man. The soldiers positioned themselves. "Two wolves trying to save the pack", Chazar laughed. He grabbed the rope back. Lawliet used the knife he got from Gelo's house to release him from the ropes. "Who are you to release him?", Chazar played with his tone.
"Then, who are you to punish him?", Lawliet felt extreme hatred towards the warden. He looked around and saw old men being forced to work like an ox. The young boys are also exposed to the heavy duties of miners. "You will bleed to the bone", Lawliet seems to curse. It angered Chazar and ordered the soldiers to catch him and let him kneel in front of him. Chazar grabbed Gelo to kneel in front of Lawliet as well. "I am in power. If you ask", Chazar tilted his head and slit Gelo's neck in front of Lawliet. His light brown eyes widened and suddenly turned lifeless. He was reminded that this world is such a cruel place to stay. "Power doesn't belong to you because you are seated on that rotten throne of yours", Lawleit commented.