The wagon moved further to the City of Tarnova in Dracor, a neighbouring kingdom situated north of Ardel. The light chat between the men revealed that Anna was captured near the border of the two kingdoms on an abandoned route.
The men were a group of slave traders who frequented the hidden or deserted roads for their illegal operations. Ardel had banned slavery long ago, but its neighbour, Dracor, still permitted it.
Slave trading flourished rapidly in Dracor, and the City of Tarnova had the biggest slave market in the kingdom. They were not only vastly used as a labour force in plantations but also pr*stitution.
As such, young women were keener to be traded at a higher price for better profit.
The journey to the city took two weeks from the border of Ardel through the usual route in Dracor by wagon. To expedite and arrive before the mid-summer auction, the slave traders crossed the border of Cassian, a kingdom next to Dracor and Galicia.
Once they trespassed the kingdom's boundary, they proceeded for about sixty miles before reaching the other part of the border between Cassian and Dracor.
Anna, the precious merchandise for the slave traders, could only see the light of the day from the small barred window of the prison wagon. The abrasions and lacerations on her wrists stopped deteriorating as her hands were already freed from the handcuffs.
The slave traders took them off to reduce her injury as merchandise with fewer flaws would price higher in the market. However, it would take some time for her hands to heal, and they would eventually become scarred.
Days passed.
They had already crossed the Cassian border and were about to re-enter Dracor. In a day, they would be arriving at the City of Tarnova.
"Let's stop at a tavern this time. She also needs to wash up," Jake instructed.
Preparing for the auction, they wanted cleaner merchandise as it would provide a better prospect.
"Yeah… my back is killing me! God, I need some good beer. Can't wait to sleep on a nice bed tonight."
Among the men, Bill was the one who complained a lot throughout the journey.
"Hey…. Who's going to be on duty tonight?" asked Dean.
"Better Brian. Your brother has been slacking all the way," Jake replied, looking at Bill, who asked.
Then, he glared at Brian with a displeased look.
"Fine! Fine! I'll do it," the man answered lazily.
They finally arrived at a tavern in a remote village. The three men booked a room for themselves while Brian was left guarding the wagon.
Anna shrunk away when Brian peeked inside. He constantly gave her goosebumps among the men and made her relentless with his gaze.
"Hey, Brian. Bring that girl inside! Tell her to wash up," Dean exclaimed from the tavern's door.
Brian began to open the wagon's door, and Anna was seized out from the cold prison wagon and tied with a rope. Pulled roughly, her unsteady bare steps reached the bathroom inside the tavern.
"Come on, hurry up!" yelled Brian, forcing her to start bathing in his presence after opening the knot.
"Please… just let me wash up myself," Anna requested.
"Don't be silly, b*tch! Now, hurry up! If you don't, then I'll wash you up!" Brian glared at her with barring teeth and flaring nostrils.
"No, don't! I'll do it. Please! Just… don't look," Anna pleaded, hunching her shoulders away from the slave trader.
Brian grunted but still turned his back, crossing his arms over his chest. He would have immediately laid his hands on her if not for his brother's warning.
He had been eyeing this girl since their journey started. Although she was dirty and smelly, he noticed her captivating looks and fair complexion, which were the characteristics of women he favoured.
Anna scrubbed her body and rinsed hastily. She was nervous when her eyes caught Brian attempting to peep a few times during the bath.
After washing up, she quickly changed into clean clothes and barely managed to tidy up before Brian turned around. The man's eyes widened as he stared at the girl before him.
"I'm done," Anna said as she faced the slave trader.
She looked down as Brian was still staring intently at her without blinking. She could feel his hostile gaze wandering over her body, making her shudder nervously.
"You know… you do look pretty when you're all clean. You'll surely give us a fortune." Brian smiled disparagingly while brushing his lips with his finger.
Anna steadfastly held her tears from flowing. It would be pointless to cry again. The long, arduous journey and the lack of food and water had malnourished her significantly. Her frail body could not confront these men to fight for her freedom.
"Let's go! Move it!" Brian commanded.
Her hands were tied up again, and they returned to the wagon. Fortunately, the slave trader did not put her back into the cold prison wagon this time. Instead, she was led to the bonfire outside.
"Eat."
He tossed a piece of bread to her. Anna, who had a grumbling stomach, quickly picked it up and shoved it into her mouth, munching the bread ravenously.
It was stale and tasteless. Nevertheless, it was the only thing given to her throughout the journey.
Brian handed a container of water. Surprised by his sudden friendly behaviour, she hesitated. However, as the dry and hard bread clumped in her throat and nearly choked her, she took the given container quickly.
The water flowed down her throat and finished up. There was not much of it anyway. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, clearing the remnants after finishing her meal.
When she lifted her head, she noticed that Brian was still staring at her. It was the same strange stare as in the bathroom.
There was a stunned silence between them. His stares were irregular, and Anna felt repulsed by them. But her mouth was clamped shut, fearing the man.
"I can loosen the knot for a while if you want me to," Brian broke the silence.
His voice was a little softer than usual. Anna looked at him again.
"Really? Can you?" she asked.
"Sure. But don't do anything st*pid." His voice still sounded harsh somehow.
He took out a double-edged hunting knife and struck it on the ground as if he was warning her clearly. Brian began to approach and remove her hand from the rope.
Anna was freed from the knot around her wrist. For once, she felt a little freedom after being caught by the slave traders. She rubbed her wrists slowly, feeling relieved from the tightness.
Brian smirked at her.
"Tell me… Where are you from exactly?" he asked her.
"Ardel," Anna answered hesitantly.
"Which part of Ardel?"
"The City of Constance."
"And how did you become a prisoner?"
Silent.
"I saw your handcuffs before. That kind was usually used for prisoner-of-war," Brian continued.
Anna gulped her saliva. It was weird for him to ask her such questions as if he was interested in her. Wasn't he one of the slave traders who wanted to auction her?
Brian took a few more firewood at his side and tossed it into the bonfire. Consuming it, the flame rose even more, giving rushes of warmth to the surroundings.
Anna's face felt warm. Looking at the bonfire, she was lost in thoughts. Horrible memories rushed through her mind. She wished all this was just a long nightmare and that everything would return to usual when she woke up. However, it was a false hope.
Each passing day made her realise that it would never happen. There was no way she could return to her everyday life.
"You smell good now." Brian's voice felt near.
Anna turned to her right side, from where the voice came. To her surprise, the man was squatting beside her. She flinched and backed away, but suddenly, she felt dizzy and warm.
"You…"
Anna's hand reached her temple. The dizziness worsened, and the hot flashes ran all over her body.
Something was not right! The warmth she felt was not from the bonfire. That man must have given something to her, causing this.
"My brother said not to lay a hand on you. But how could I resist such a pretty girl? You will still be expensive even if already defiled!" Brian smirked as he began to grab her waist and grope her body.
"No! Stop it! Let me go! Let me… ummmm! Uhhhh!!" Her voice muffled as the large hand covered her mouth roughly.
"You st*pid b*tch! My brother will hear your scream! Sh*t! Why is the drug taking so long? F*ck it!" Brian cursed and dragged Anna away into the forest.
Brian, a womaniser, would never leave a chance to sleep with beautiful women. The pretty, clean girl he saw in the bathroom led him to his wildest imagination. He kept thinking about how Anna would look lying n*ked underneath him.
The thought gave Brian thrills and excitement. He intended to let her be outside the wagon so he could let out his lust on her freely under the moonlight. A little resistance from the girl would be much more fun and enjoyable.
Yes. Tonight, he would play with her body as much as he wanted.