Under the cloak of night, when vigilance slackens and the possibility of unseen movement arises, the enslaved gather to forge their plan. Within Kane's cell, they convene - Emmet and Emilia - bearing tidings of progress.
Back aches in pain from lashes received but it only fuels him, keeping his mind to purpose.
Emmet and Emilia hold some pity in their eye for him but he ignores it, placing a stale face upon their presence, "So, Emmet. What news?" Kane asks, ignoring the sneering pain on his back, "I've managed to convince the wine merchant to harbour us but not cheaply, he demands three gold coins, one for each" Emmet says.
"He may yet possess the means to get us out provide sanctuary until the veil of night descends", he asserts.
"Once darkness shrouds the land, we can go north towards river's embrace. However, we will need a vessel, a ship or ash the very least, a boat. And from then on Volantis presents itself as the closest haven", Emmet says.
"But?" "Accomplishing this will be a hard feat with just the three of us and no outside help".
Emilia rubs chin as idea rubs mind, "What about Lord Dorian?", she muses, "He seems quite persistent on having us. I am sure he will help if we sought his aid" Emilia says, "That's a good idea but if I recall, he is more interested in buying us" Kane says.
"Acquisition not benevolence" Emmet mentions.
"Precisely," Emilia counters, "I suspect he will want to help us in order to have us to himself" she says.
"The rich really have strange habits. I can use my connections to send word to Dorian but there is no guarantee of his discretion." Emmet says while stroking his hair.
"He won't. The man is more interested in having us to quell his curiosity. He will undoubtedly provide outside support for us, perhaps he may even provide passage out of Pyrrhus if he sees opportunity to hold us".
"This Lord Dorian. Just really have the hots for you guys" the part-elf says with a wry smile.
"Every weekend the guards make a change in their roasters. Just before dawn," Kane explains, "There is a five minutes window, when the new guards take station. That is when we escape" Kane says.
Eye brows raised at him, "What?", he asks, "Nothing, I'm just surprised you've observed these details" "I have been watching" Kane replies, a hint of a challenge in his tone.
"Now what we need is a distraction. Something to turn minds away while we make our escape and a day" "Send word to Dorian first, we shall reconvey on the matter".
ELSEWHERE
Hovering over the lands the sky shine brightly, lights beyond what the moon provides illuminate the country as a crescent moon, a spectral echo of the true moon, hangs suspended in the heavens.
Magic energies fill the atmosphere and those who wield powers of magic feel the imminent fate that will follow with the appearance of Mani hanging over their skies.
The sorcerers at Rolandia, the continent of Ignis, all watch from their lairs and towers as this beautiful source of magic shines brightly. Dead leaves wake up at its light's touch, water flow with serene purity, it speaks life into all things.
The game of the gods slowly unfold behind the eyes of the mortals. They do not see what is in store for them. The dread that sleeps in the south may rise. Volcano may once again wake with beating heart, a sign that Mani's presence affects the mortal plains. Now chased from Eden, she is exposed.
Surely this will attract a fate unknown.
PYRRHUS
Kane blinks against the harsh glare of the lights, his vision slowly adjusting. As illumination recedes, the crescent moon, a silver sickle in the darkening sky, graces him with its ethereal glow.
"Mani", he breathes, a whisper escaping his lips as recognition dawns. A range, inexplicable sensation washes over him, a current of unknown energy surging through his veins.
He suddenly finds himself floating in the air, raised into the skies under Mani's gaze.
He looks down to see a kingdom unknown to him. Suddenly he appears in his cell, it is empty and the halls of Grimstone are silent. No guards, no Sith and no slaves. Just he and the lone stone walls of his cell.
His gaze falls upon the map Emilia bestowed upon him. It defies gravity, ascending and unfurls before him, a tapestry of destinations spread wide. "Is this a trance? A figment of my imagination or a dream?", he asks himself.
An odd shape on the map begins to glow, Kane, with caution, approaches the floating map. What glows is a continent on the map, "Ignis" it says. "Rolandia" a whisper in the wind.
"Kane!", a thunderous voice pulls him from slumber as day's light sneak into his cell.
A guard stands before him, issuing a curt command, "Rise, Lord Barabas summons you" he declares, gesturing into the depths of the hall.
"Come with me" the guard orders and Kane obeys, the lingering ache from the night's torment a constant, unwelcome companion.
They reach Barabas' chambers where the guard ushers him in. Kane enters with the feel of a familiar aura going down his throat.
The room where he commits actions to his master's delight.
Kane's eyes fall on Emilia who stands before Barabas as he sits on his aged crimson couch.
Arms raised on couch's shoulders, bandage on his forehead as it bled a night before. His gaze heavy like a mountain, he glares at Kane.
He gestures for Kane to join her, "Since I bought you, all I have done is given the both of you the best. But it seems my efforts at giving you a comfortable life is not enough" Barabas says.
"I train you, I feed you, I give you ale and women and yet you give me trouble. I must be too lenient, that's it right?" he says, his voice taking a thunderous tone.
His eyes showcase a gleam of ruby-red, hands clenched tightly he points it forward and the two slaves find an invincible force crushing their body.
An electrifying force lashes onto their body, frying them in intoxicating pain. They scream, eyes rolling to the back of their heads and foaming filling their mouth.
"You are not people, you are tools. You do not have the right or permission to be a nuisance to me" he screams.
He ceases his spell and they fall flat on their bellies.
Their body jerk as the aftershock still sways currents through their body.
Barabas rubs his chin violently, growling like a beast, "You have been nothing but pain and you refuse to die. Tell me, what are you Kane? Because the more I look at you, the less human you seem" Barabas, now standing off the chair, paces with hands behind his back.
"I am human my lord" Kane responds, "Oh please", Barabas chuckles, "You seem to have prior training before we met, not much but enough. You were unaffected by the blood of demons and that shit hurts everybody.
It is what makes them dangerous but it meant nothing to you. Your wounds from weeks ago, when the volcans attacked practically healed less than a week.
I don't know what you take me for but you aren't human. I can even sense magic in your veins", Barabas says and lets pain fill Kane's body as he activates his spell upon him.
Kane roars, his body turning a pale pinkish, feeling the burning sting of Barabas' magic. He lifts Kane off the floor, levitating him in the air while waves of torturous energies courses through his body.
"You mongrel, insolent fool".
Barabas releases him and lets him fall onto the unforgiving floor.
"Stop mocking me and speak or the dark elf gets it" he threatens.
Kane coughs but manages to let his voice out, "Please lord, I beg you. I woke up with amnesia by the sea. I do not know what I am, I know nothing that can help you", he says with a gleam of weakness in his eyes.
"Dark elf, what is he? And where did you two come from?", he commands words from her mouth with heavy gaze. "We are from Eden. I am from the tribe of the Whispering Pines and he is Kane, the one that will stand above all evil, including you" Emilia says with a glint of ferocity in her speech.
Barabas suddenly burst into laughter, hugging his belly tightly at her words, "You are both mad" he says, "But I'd be foolish to not consider it".
A slave arrives and bows head in his presence, "My Lord, Lord Dorian seeks your audience" "Fuck him" "He is already in the mansion lord.", the slave says and he gestures for her departure.
Kane and Emilia share a glance, "The bastard appears again. Fuck that guy" Barabas cusses.
Barabas grunts, savouring the fiery embrace of the wine as he drains his cup. He takes a hard sip, wiping his mouth with a careless sweep of his hand, "Both of you, stay" he commands before stalking from his chambers.
Barabas incline his head towards Raven, who maintains vigil at the chamber entrance. She follows, leaving a fellow Sith to reinforce the guard while she escorts Lord Barabas.
They arrive at the opulent meeting chambers, where Lord Dorian, a connoisseur of fine architecture, is currently captivated by the intricacies of Grimstone's masonry - or he pretends to be.
"The work here is sturdy, quite impressive for Pyrrhus", Dorian says with a smile, "What do you want Dorian? Don't presume that I have forgotten how our last meeting ended" Barabas says, unamused by the company.
"What happened to you?", Dorian takes notice of the bandage across his head, "I slipped", Barabas takes a sit on one of the comfy chairs.
He gestures to a slave to pour him wine while his eyes sway to Dorian's servant, clad in black hooded cloak. "I was at the colosseum for the games. You and I both saw the boy survive the onslaught. Come on, sell him to me. You do not know what you have in your grasp, you cannot handle it", Dorian says.
Barabas suddenly, waves his hand upwards and a gust of wind lifts the hood off Dorian's servant.
Her reptilian skin, shimmering under the midday sun, and her unnervingly bright, stale-like eyes, elicits a start of astonishment from Barabas, his expression twisting his shock.
"You truly have an eye for the exotic. A reptilian. She is no native to Pyrrhus" "How dare you?" Dorian raises voice, "Now you know what it feels like pompous prick" Barabas says with little care in his voice.
"You want the boy? Bring a hundred gold coins and a slave of great quality, then I will consider it. Until then, get the fuck out of my house" Barabas says sternly, gaze stiff at Dorian who grits his own teeth.
MEANWHILE AT SLAVE HARBOUR
Anarchy reaches Pyrrhus on a ship. He carries slaves of different kind but he stays close to the five dark elves, a rare stock in the trade.
His ship docks at the harbour. Disgorging a cargo of misery for the scrutiny of onlookers, slaves.
A cacophony erupts as the voices of the enslaved mingle with the jeers of the crowd, a chaotic scene unfolding amidst the depravity of the slave market.
A rough crowd approaches the stock, slipping through with suspicious intent but a blast of blue flame has a man burn, his scream, a warning to the dubious and the crooks of the harbour.
Anarchy does not play.
His ruby eyes gleam with predatory hunger, his hands clasped behind his back as he surveys the procession of enslaved beings paraded for sale.
He doesn't speak but all watch him, questions fly in whispers at the richness of his stock. "You want them?", he says, voice thunderous like a lion's roar, "Show me how deep your pockets go".