Charlotte was sleeping next to Ruth when she woke to a noise next to her. Before she could see what made that noise she felt a sharp pain at the back of her head and it all went black.
She then opened her eyes groggily to find her hands and feet bound. She squirmed around trying to free her hands.
"It's no use. They used a knot that tightens the more you pull on it. Struggling will only make things worse."
Charlotte looked behind her to find Ruth in the same predicament as her.
" Calm down. I'll find us a way out of here. Malcolm and the others would surely be looking for us."
Just then Malcolm entered the tent where they were bound.
"Malcolm! Hurry and release us before whoever tied us up comes back." Ruth urged.
Hearing these words Malcolm let out a chuckle that made them realize that the perpetrator was standing in front of them.
" Malcolm. Why???" Ruth's voice broke.
" Originally we were just going to escort you to the border but we realized that selling the kid would net us a lot more money than the measly scraps we get from being mercinaries."
"Don't do this Malcolm. Don't give in to the dark side. The dark side is" Ruth's words were cut short by Malcolm's slap.
"What would a pompass rich little b***h like you know about this. The effort we have to put in to get even a fraction of what you were born into. What would you know." screamed Malcom.
"Malcom I know that you think..." Ruth spoke but was permanently scilenced by Malcom.
Charlotte's eyes widened as she witnessed bloodshed for the second time that month. The scene before her engraving itself into the young girl's mind.
"Now you be a good girl and obey. Otherwise you'll be reunited with the discount dryad. You here me." Malcom half ordered half grumbled.
Charlotte could only nod her head as a reply. No more words were spoken after that.
They began moving again at first light. Charlotte's hands and feet were bound as she hung helplessly from one shoulder of an orc.
Just as they were about to reach the point were they had agreed to sell Charlotte to some slavers they were stopped by a man clad in armour. Charlotte had been hidden under the orc's shirt.
"Hello. Might I enquire what fine ladies and gentlemen such as yourself are doing at this location." enquired the guard.
"We were on our way to the border but got turned around somewhere along the way." replied Malcom.
"I see. Allow me to guide you to Damerel. You can gain authorization to cross there if you don't already have it." the guard spoke.
"Alright then lead the way." said Malcom.
The guard began to walk in the direction of the town as the group followed.
"Hey boss. What do we do about the kid now." whispered the orc.
"We wait until nightfall and sneak out to deliver the goods." Malcom whispered back.
As they were nearing the town the guard suddenly stopped and the group found themselves surrounded.
"Slavery is illegal and punishable by death. You have committed a heinous act for which you must pay." the guard bellowed as he pulled out his weapon.
It only took the guards a few moments to take out the mercenaries leaving Charlotte to be taken in by the town