( 1710 BC ; Babylon)
Carey sat next to his boulder , huddled in rags , trying to warm his body but it was futile . The cold night seeped into his bones and made him wish for death . Usually a fire would be light in the garden to keep him warm at night but for the past three days , there had been none .
This was his punishment , Tyris had said , he would spend six nights with no fire and if he died then he'd be fed to jackals . Carey had meekly accepted his fate , knowing an argument would only have led to worse things . Tyris had been merciful enough to give him torn animal skin to keep warm , and even though it wasn't enough to keep the cold out , he knew he'd live for the next six nights .
A night owl flew over and made a call to its mate , Carey turned his head and looked at it . It sat on the south wall , it's wings closed in to it's body , a glint in its eyes from the moon that made its grey and brown feathers seem artistic .
The owl flew up and Carey turned back to the garden below him . Just a few more hours until sun rise , he told himself , he could last until then . This is how he had managed the last two days , by counting the moments until the sun rose to warm his frozen body . It kept him convicted but he still needed focus and for that he sang to himself ;
* On the mountain cliffs , a owl calls a lover .
To come , to come , to come over .
Near and near , is the one you seek .
Closer and closer , comes the one so meek .
Let your love hold your hand , and take you away to a far away land .
Call me my lover and take my heart , in the air we'll be and never part .
For in my heart your love will stay , and will never fly away . *
" Your voice is beautiful . "
Carey recoiled when a voice spoke up next to him . He moved back until his back touched a boulder and his shackled leg would go no further . Someone had snuck into the garden , he realised as he looked at the shadowy figure infront of him .
" You seem afraid of me , yet was it not the other night I saw your gratitude for telling that fool Tyris off . " The person , it was a man , said as they stepped into the moonlight .
" It is you . " Carey said in surprise and the man infront of him smirked .
He was wearing a dark black garment that had a blue sash around his waste . His feet were in flat sandals and he wore a band around his head of what looked like wood . His skin was a unique brown and his eyes shined with a light of their own . It was the man from the party .
" No gratitude ? " The man asked with a frown and Carey instantly bowed his head .
" Thank you for your assistance , lord . " Carey said properly , " This servant is grateful ."
" Servant , huh ! " The man scoffed as walked towards Carey , who kept his head bowed .
" I was merely jesting . You can raise your head , young one . " The man said and he lifted Carey's head by tipping his chin up , " Ah , yes. Those beautiful eyes , like anoyx . "
" Lord , what do want from me ? Has master Tyris invited you ? " Carey asked ignoring the tingle from the touch of the man's fingers on his chin . Just as it got more thrilling the man let go off his chin , and when he saw the look of disappointment in Carey's face , he smiled.
" No , he did not invite me . I am here by my own wish . " The man said , " Do you have a problem with this ? "
Carey bowed his head but still spoke up ," If you are here without permission , then as a servant of this house i must alert my master of this . "
" Why do you call yourself a servant when you are clearly not one ? " The man said as if Carey had not just spoken .
" I am a servant . I work for master Tyris for home and food . " Carey said and the man grimaced in a way that made Carey avert his eyes .
" An uneducated one , are you not . " The said and he reached up and grabbed Carey's shackles , " Servants are not caged , I am sure you have noticed that . "
" It is only until master Tyris believes I am trust worthy . " Carey explained as he touched the chain gently , " He will release me when I have earned his trust . Then I can wander the garden freely . "
" Do you believe this ? " The man asked him .
" Yes ... I do . " Carey said softly and the man reached up and touched his cheeks .
" If you did , you would not be in tears . " He said gently and Carey's face blushed in shame . He had not known he was crying and he knew master Tyris hated it when he did . What about this man ! Would he hate it aswell ?
" I am sorry for crying before you , my lord . " Carey said bowing his head but the man grabbed his cheeks and made him look at his face .
" Never apologize for feeling something . Whether it be anger , fear or sadness . Never apologize for it . " The man said and he held Carey's face until the boy said yes .
" What is that ? " The man asked pointing at the bowel next to Carey's boulder .
" It is my food . I have not finished it yet . " Carey said and the man let go of his face . He turned around and went to inspect the bowel , whilst his back was turned Carey touched his cheeks and felt a warm thrill go through him .
" This ! This is what you call food ?! " The man shouted in outrage and Carey tensed expecting someone to hear him . But no guard came out and his master's voice did ring out through the air .
" Is this what you are forced to eat ? This is good for horses and pigs . " The man said holding the bowel and tossing it's contents onto the ground .
" No ! "
Carey immediately shot up and ran towards the fallen food . He looked at it with bitter tears , his fear consuming him . Tyris was only feeding him once a day and only at evening. Now that his food was on the ground he would have to starve until tomorrow .
" What are you doing ? " The man asked him as Carey picked up the top part of the food . It was a yellow sludge like substance with bits of grass inside it . The smell was foul but Carey had gotten used to smell and even the taste .
" Please lord , hand me the bowel . I will place this inside it . " Carey said holding the food he had picked from the ground . A piece of grass and rock was on it now but the boy didn't seem to care .
" Why would I do that ? " The man said and he smashed the bowel on the boulder behind him . Carey shut his eyes at the sight but he did not yell or shout .
He moved back to the boulder where he had been sleeping and took one rag of animal skin . He placed the food ontop if it and gave a sigh , this would have to do until tomorrow .
" Will you honestly eat that ? " The man asked him and Carey nodded his head .
" Yes , it is the food I am given . " Carey said , " Now , please lord , leave before I am forced to call the house and have you thrown out . "
" Was that a threat to me ? " The man said going down and looking into Carey's eyes .
" Yes , it was . I am sorry lord . " Carey said bowing his head , he expected a sharp blow to the head but instead he felt a hand on his shoulder .
" You are so simple it amuses me . I know you will not call anyone , you have had ample time to do it but still have not . " The man said and he smiled , " I believe you like my company . "
" I will call the house lord , it is my duty as a serv- "
" Please do not lie to yourself , it makes you seem foolish , which you are . " The man said getting this feet , " Only a fool would agree to serve Tyris . Why did you ? "
" He ... chose me to be his singer . I had no one to help me when I came to the city but he did . He gave me a place to call home again , he gave me a life and he gave me a reason to live on . "
For a moment the man said nothing ,instead he looked up at the sky and Carey could not help but look at his face. With his handsome face and black brown hair , he looked unreal like the deities of the worshippers in the temples .
" I want to take you away from here . " The man said snapping Carey out of his thoughts .
" What ? " Carey asked him , had he heard correctly ?
" I want to take you away from here and set you free . Pretending you are a servant whilst living the life of a slave , Tyris aims to break you . Do you want him to damage you more than he already has ? " The man asked him , he moved forward and touched Carey's shackled wrist , a moment later , the shackles fell off .
" Now you can wander the garden , " the man said and Carey looked at him in wonder . No one had ever shown him any kindness since he came to work for Tyris , neither the servants nor the master's parents . He had always been treated cruelly and told himself it was because he was not trusted . But this strange man had freed him without even asking him for anything .
" Why ? Why me ? " The boy asked as tears flowed down his cheeks and the man reached up and wiped them off but more just took their place .
" I heard the sorrow in your songs , in every single melody . " The man said as he looked at Carey with a sad smile , " Never had I heard anything so beautiful and sad . It broke my heart to listen to your song . How Tyris could make anyone feel such pain ... I was filled with disgust when I saw the shackles on your legs and knew what was happening . He should have known better than to take a slave when the king had forbidden it . "
" So , you are freeing me because of the king's orders ? " Carey asked him but the man shook his head .
" I have told the king what has happened and he says he will kill Tyris and his family . Usually that means even all the servants and as for the slave ... he will be traded to one of his officials and become a servant . "
" I am going to be sold ? Tyris is going to die ? What about ... My garden ? " Carey asked him and the man sighed .
" Tyris will die , your garden will be taken as the king's property and as for you ... Someone has already bought you . " The man said and Carey shuddered in fear .
Would it be another cruel sadistic master ? He'd seen some important men come to the house and Tyris would ask Carey to sing a song or two . The men had been cruel and wicked looking and the thought of being owned by one of them sent Carey's heart racing .
" Do not be so afraid , you're master is a good man . " The man said , " He is wealthy and kind , has many servants , has a lovely house and a beautiful garden aswell . "
" Who is this man ? Was he at the party ? " Carey asked him and the man smiled before pulling Carey to his feet .
" Yes , he was at the party. The man is here in front of your eyes. " The man said and Carey stepped away from the man in shock .
The man had bought him ? Is that why he was there , to collect his property before Tyris was killed ? The idea made Carey feel a bitter taste in his mouth .
" So , you have bought me and are here to collect your property ? " Carey asked and the man frowned at him .
" You will not be my slave but my servant . I urge you not to resist this , it is far better than what you have here . " The man said and Carey nodded his head and turned around .
Slowly , he walked around the garden , touching the flowers and dipping his hands into the vases with water . He smiled as the grime and dirt fell off his arms. Slowly his heart began to calm and it was then that the man spoke up .
" It is a sight to see when you smile . " The man said and Carey nodded his head .
" Thank you , master ... , " Carey frowned when he realised he did not know the man's name .
He turned to him with his hand holding a red flower , " Does my new master have a name I can use to address him ? "
" I am Trega son of Ubida . " He said and he took the flower from Carey's hand and looked at his face , " Does my servant have a name I can use to call on him ? "
" Your servant is Careius but is known as Carey . " Carey said meekly and the man placed a hand on his cheek making Carey feel all weak in his legs .
" Come Carey . The sun will rise soon and when it does , the king's guards will come and kill all who are in this house . " Trega said and Carey nodded his head and looked at his garden one last time . Out of all the cruelty he had experienced at the hands of Tyris , the one thing he could never hate him for , was placing him in the garden .
" May I take you away from here now ? " Trega asked and Carey looked at him in confusion .
" You are asking me ? " He couldn't believe his ears , " If I am now your servant , then you may take me as you please , master Trega ."
" I told you , this master is a good man and has many good qualities . " Trega said with a smirk , " Now , if you are saying you think I want you to come , you are correct . But I want to hear you say you want to come with me . "
" Does it matter ? I am yours , take me . " Carey said with a frown but Trega shook his head .
" Carey I am not making you a slave . You must speak your feelings aswell as you sing them . Now , tell me , do want to come with me ? Can I take you away from here ? " He said and Carey was caught in the look in his black brown eyes .
This was a choice he was being offered , something Tyris never gave him . Was this how serving Trega would be ? Him wanting to hear Carey's thoughts and feelings before he made him do something ? That was beyond belief for Carey and it took a moment for him to think about it .
He looked at Trega and the man let him analyse him freely and merely held the flower he had taken . Carey sighed when he could think of no reason not to go but his own desire to leave . There had to be a better reason than that for him to go .
" You can become my lover if it will make you want me more ." Trega said making Carey's eyes go wide , " I meant if it will make you feel better . "
" How would that make me feel any better ? " Carey said breathlessly , the idea that Trega had put in his head was spinning around now . Servant and master , man and man , flesh upon flesh .
" I thought you felt an attraction to me but it is alright . I do not force myself on anyone , as I'm sure you can guess . Now , what is your answer ? " Trega said holding out the flower to Carey .
" I ... want to go . " Carey said taking the flower and Trega smiled at him .
" A good choice , because if you hadn't , then you would be dead . " He said and Carey's jaw dropped .
" What ? " He asked .
" The king does not sell the slaves but he executes them . So no one in the house may survive . " Trega said and he placed a hand on each of Carey's shoulders as the boy trembled . " I had to pay heavily to let him let you live . And now I'm in his debt but I believe you are worth it . "
" Why ? Why kill those who were taken against their will ? " Carey asked him and Trega pulled him close for a passionate embrace .
" The slaves are not always loyal to new masters and the king hates rebellion more than slavery . " Trega said and pulled back to look into Carey's eyes , " But you , I don't believe you'll be a problem for anyone . "
" Then why not let me live ? " Carey asked ,
" He does not take risks on this , especially with the fight amongst the rich officials and ministers . He would not want a slave revolt on his hands along with everything else . " Trega explained and Carey frowned .
" Why are you telling me this ? " He asked him .
" I am only explaining that you're life is in danger if you stay here . So , shall we go little sprite ? " Trega asked and pulled Carey's head onto his chest , " Close your eyes . "
Carey hesitated a moment before he finally closed his eyes . When Trega saw this , the smile on his face dropped and he looked at the wall where an owl sat looking at them . He slowly nodded his head and the owl gave a cry before flying away .
" This may make you slightly Ill but just keep your eyes closed and you'll be alright. " Trega said and Carey nodded his head with his eyes still closed .Trega lifted one hand and made strange signs with it before speaking an incantation .
" Through the shadows , past the meadows ,
Move us from here , and take us there . " He said and a moment later the two of them vanished in shadows .
Two minutes after they left , a figure moved through the garden , wearing an orange and brown robe . It was Tyris and the state he was in was far from that of a master .
His hair was disheveled and his eyes looked bloodshot and bulging . He wore no shoes but stumbled forward on bare feet , his hands groped at a large cut on his lower abdomen where blood was seeping out .
When he reached the garden and saw that no one was there his eyes grew red with anger . Then as he heard a sound he turned around to see a man dressed in metal armour , holding a spear . The man charged towards Tyris , who glared at him just as the spear entered his body and killed him instantly .