Pain.
That was the first thing Njuwa felt when he regained consciousness. A deep, throbbing ache radiated from his ribs where he had been struck. His wrists were sore from the iron shackles, his throat dry as if he had swallowed dust. When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on the cold stone floor of a dimly lit chamber. The scent of sweat, damp earth, and unwashed bodies filled the air.
Groaning, he pushed himself up. Around him, other boys—some younger, some older—sat hunched against the walls. Their faces were hollow, their eyes filled with exhaustion and quiet suffering. All of them wore the same thing: tattered linen tunics that barely covered their thin bodies.
A heavy iron gate loomed at the far end of the chamber. Beyond it, Njuwa could hear distant voices and the occasional crack of a whip.
Where was Jua?
He scanned the room, but she was nowhere in sight. Panic surged through him. They had been separated at the gate. What if something had happened to her?
"She's in the noble's house," a voice muttered beside him.
Njuwa turned sharply. The speaker was a boy, perhaps twelve years old, with messy brown hair and a thin, wiry frame. His face was smudged with dirt, but his eyes were sharp and alert.
"Who are you?" Njuwa asked, his voice hoarse.
The boy smirked, though there was no joy in it. "Name's Toro. You're the new one, huh? You were making a fuss back at the gates."
Njuwa clenched his fists. "Where's my sister?"
Toro sighed. "Like I said, she's in the noble's house. Probably given to a lady as a servant or something." He studied Njuwa for a moment. "She's lucky."
"Lucky?" Njuwa's anger flared.
Toro gestured at the chamber around them. "Better than being here."
Before Njuwa could argue, the iron gate groaned open. A large, muscular man stepped inside, his bald head gleaming under the dim torchlight. He wore a leather vest, and a thick iron chain hung from his belt. His eyes, cold and unfeeling, swept over the room.
"On your feet, maggots!" he barked. "Time for your first lesson!"
The boys scrambled up, some faster than others. Njuwa hesitated for a moment, then followed suit.
The man's gaze landed on him. "You. The new one."
Njuwa met his stare without flinching.
A slow, cruel smile spread across the man's face. "You've got fire in you. Good. Let's see how long that lasts."
He turned and led them out.
The slaves were herded through a maze of stone corridors before stepping out into a large open courtyard. The ground was packed dirt, worn smooth by countless feet. To one side, wooden training dummies stood in neat rows. To the other, racks of wooden staffs, whips, and clubs.
A group of older boys—some nearly men—stood watching. Their expressions ranged from boredom to quiet amusement. These were the senior slaves, the ones who had already survived long enough to gain a place above the new recruits.
The bald man strode forward. "Listen well! My name is Overseer Goro, and I am your master now! You eat when I say, you sleep when I allow it, and you train until you can no longer stand! If you disobey—" He lifted the chain from his belt and cracked it against the ground. The sharp snap made several boys flinch.
"You'll learn pain."
He began pacing. "Some of you will become house servants. Others will work the fields, the mines, the forges. But the strongest…" He turned to the senior slaves. "They become guards."
Murmurs ran through the boys. Even Njuwa felt a flicker of hope. If he could become a guard, he might gain enough freedom to find Jua.
"But make no mistake," Goro continued. "Weaklings die. Those who refuse to obey—" He pointed toward a wooden platform at the far end of the courtyard. A metal cage hung from it, barely large enough for a person. Inside, a boy's motionless body dangled, his arms limp.
Njuwa's stomach clenched.
Toro whispered, "He must've tried to escape."
Goro's smirk widened. "I see you understand. Good." He pointed at a pile of wooden staffs. "First lesson! Pick a weapon and fight!"
The boys hesitated.
Goro's expression darkened. "MOVE!"
They scrambled to grab a staff. Njuwa's fingers curled around one, its rough wood biting into his skin.
"Pair up!" Goro barked. "Two by two! Beat your opponent down! The loser gets no food tonight!"
Njuwa barely had time to react before someone lunged at him. A taller boy with a shaved head swung his staff at Njuwa's ribs. He barely managed to block, the impact jolting through his arms.
The boy attacked again, this time aiming for Njuwa's legs. He jumped back, his bare feet kicking up dust.
"Stop dodging, runt!" the boy sneered.
Njuwa gritted his teeth. He had never fought with a weapon before, but he had seen the warriors in his village train. He adjusted his grip, lowering his stance.
The boy charged. This time, Njuwa didn't retreat. He stepped aside, swinging his staff low. It struck the boy's knee, sending him stumbling.
Goro laughed. "Not bad, new blood!"
The boy roared and came at Njuwa again. This time, he was reckless. Njuwa sidestepped and slammed his staff into the boy's ribs. He collapsed with a grunt, clutching his side.
Silence fell over the courtyard. Even the senior slaves seemed impressed.
Goro strode over, looking down at the fallen boy with disgust. "Pathetic." Then he turned to Njuwa.
"You fight well for a village brat." He grabbed Njuwa's wrist and lifted it. "Remember this, all of you! Strength is the only thing that matters!"
The other boys murmured. Some looked at Njuwa with envy, others with curiosity.
Goro leaned in, his breath hot against Njuwa's ear. "But don't get cocky. Strong slaves are valuable, but disobedient ones?" He glanced at the cage. "They get broken."
Njuwa met his gaze, his chest rising and falling with each breath. He didn't respond. He wouldn't give Goro the satisfaction of seeing fear.
The overseer chuckled. "Let's see how long you last, boy."
He turned to the others. "Training is over for today! Eat, rest—tomorrow, we start again!"
The boys dropped their staffs, some groaning from exhaustion. Njuwa's arms ached, but he barely noticed. His mind was racing.
Jua was somewhere in the fortress, alone and afraid. He had no allies, no power. But today, he had proven one thing—he wasn't weak.
And if strength was the only thing that mattered in this world…
Then he would become strong enough to break free.