A Change of Scenery (Midnight)

[Wicked Basket]

He was in for it this time, and he knew it. Alsake had lost. What made it particularly bad, however, was that he lost on purpose. His undefeated streak was over, but voluntarily so. Of course, Alsake's master was fuming all the way back to his holding cell. As soon as they arrived Alsake was forced to his knees by a pair of guards while his master grabbed a crude wooden club that he seemed to have been saving for a moment like this. Without saying a word, his master swung the club into the side of his head, the two guards holding him up so that the blow wouldn't knock him down.

"Refusing to kill is one thing," his master said. "But purposely losing? That's something else."

His master then started beating him with the club until the only thing holding him up were the guards.

"I've gotten my mileage out of you anyway. You've already made me one of the richest men in Essyrn even with the losses I just suffered by your defeat. You won't be cheap of course, but no one in their right man would pay such an amount for a slave in your condition."

Alsake was then clubbed a few more times for good measure. His stomach, chest, and even the side of his face were covered in nasty bruises. Just the fact that Alsake was still conscious was a miracle, but he was used to physical abuse.

"If no one buys you, I'll have no choice but to put you down."

His master grinned evilly, making obvious that this was clearly his intention.

"Let him go," his master said and kicked Alsake to the ground.



The next day in the middle town, Alsake was included among countless other slaves being sold. The crowd whispered and mumbled amongst themselves and several pointed in Alsake's direction. Many were interested in the birdman. However, when he was next to be sold and they heard how much his master wanted for him the crowd fell silent. Champion gladiator or not, no one would pay that much for a slave in such poor condition that could barely stand on his own. His master grinned.

"Looks like nobody wants you. There's a surprise."

He put a hand on Alsake's shoulder and began leading him away.

[Nightmare]

Lady Cynthia Arun was on her way back from one of her business deals when she noticed the large crowd of people gathering in the road. As she got closer, she could tell it was a slave auction. Of course the crowd just had to gather directly in Cynthia's way, to the point where she would have to force her way through the crowd in order to get where she was trying to go. Irritated, she began to push past people, taking a look over at the slaves being sold while she walked in case any would catch her interest.

As far as she could tell, however, it was just a lousy bunch of humans. They were pretty much worthless to her, the whole lot of them. She had enough ordinary human slaves as it was.

As she walked on, she watched the slaves get sold one after another, passed on from one filthy human to the next. She always did find it amusing how even humans thought themselves to be fit for servitude. It was even more amusing when humans thought themselves superior to another race, though rather annoying as well.

Cynthia glanced back over at the slaves being sold. The current one was a large man, visibly beaten and injured. The look on his face spoke to how broken he was, both inside and out. Not to mention the asking price was absurd for a slave in his condition. She was about to turn away when the man who appeared to be the slave's owner turned him around. It wasn't until then that she could see his wings. Ah, now there's a refreshing change.

Cynthia pushed her way to the front of the crowd, raising a hand and calling out to the man. "Wait. Bring him back over."

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake's master immediately spun Alsake around at Cynthia's request causing Alsake to wince slightly from the pain caused by such sudden movement on his battered body.

"You looking to buy," Alsake's master asked.

[Nightmare]

"Perhaps." Cynthia said with a grin. "Let him unfold his wings."

She wanted to see exactly what she was dealing with. She knew she was likely overpaying anyway, but something interested her about this man.

[Wicked Basket]

The slave owner raised an eyebrow. That had never been requested before. Then again, he had never tried to sell Alsake before.

"Um..Yes," he said. "Of course."

The man then began the lengthy process of removing the brace that held Alsake's wings. Once it was finally off the man took a step back.

"Alright," he said to Alsake. "Let's see 'em."

Alsake tried, but his wings had remained immobile for so long that the joints were locked up.

"Can't," Alsake said.

"Yes you can. Now do it."

"They stuck."

His master sighed irritably. If Alsake didn't want to do it himself, then he would do it. His master grabbed ahold of one of Alsake's wings and pulled it open. The wing cracked and popped as the joints which had remained immobile for so long were suddenly forced to move. The process was extremely painful for Alsake, but he knew better than to make a sound.

The wing itself was a shadow of its former glory. The feathers were frayed and tattered and it was covered in dust and even cobwebs.

"I'm sure he'll look just fine if you clean him up a bit," Alsake's master insisted.

[Nightmare]

Cynthia waited with feigned patience as the man took the brace off. As the man pulled the slave's wing open, she frowned at the condition it was in. However, it was only to be expected. It was nothing she couldn't fix. "Oh, I can assure you, someone else will be doing the cleaning for me."

She made eye contact with the slave owner then and smiled. "Your price is ridiculous, but luckily money is just an object to me. I'll take him."

[Wicked Basket]

If the slave owner was surprised, he did a fairly good job of hiding it.

"Good," he said. "He's yours."

As soon as the money was in his hand he shoved Alsake toward her, Alsake barely managing to stay on his feet.

"You might want this too," the man said nudging the brace over to her with his foot. "He was flying around when he was nabbed. You probably don't want him flying off on you."

With that, Alsake's former master walked away satisfied. He wouldn't have to deal with Alsake ever again and he could live in luxury for the rest of his life.

Alsake stood next to his new master staring at the ground. He didn't know what to do, so he simply didn't move. He would wait until he was told to do something. It was a great relief to finally have that brace off, but it didn't really matter. His wings were too stiff for him to move, let alone fly. Hopefully his new master would be nicer than the last.

[Nightmare]

She left the brace where it was. It was quite clear his wings would be useless for a while. Besides, should he ever attempt to fly away, she would simply bring him down with her lightning magic. "Well then, let's be on our way."

She turned and began walking the way she had originally being going, expecting the slave to follow her and turning her head to make sure he would do so.

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake followed behind obediently. People looked in awe as Alsake trailed behind her without heavily armed guards escorting him as his old master usually had. In all honestly, Alsake probably could have ran away. However, he had grown so accustomed to life as a slave that the thought did not occur to him. He just did as he was told. He no longer knew anything else.

[Nightmare]

"We have a little bit of a walk ahead of us." Cynthia said, analyzing her new purchase. She eyed him over, noting his injuries as well as the nicer qualities, like his muscles. "So, how much common can you speak?"

[Wicked Basket]

"A little," Alsake told her.

Alsake took the time to examine his new master. The first major difference was the fact that his new master was  woman. She was a very attractive woman too, but Alsake didn't dwell on that fact. She was his master after all. The second difference was that she had not restrained his wings. His old master had forced him to wear it nonstop, but his new master had left it behind. Perhaps she would be nicer than his old master? He doubted that it was very likely, but he could always hope.

[Nightmare]

"Well, that's plenty, so long as you can understand it at least decently." Cynthia said, turning back now to look at the road in front of her. She had slowed down for a moment so that she was now walking next to the man. When he was close enough, she reached out and gently touched one of his wings. "Such a shame that your previous master let these go to waste."

[Wicked Basket]

It had probably been the first time in ages that he had been touched by someone that wasn't aiming to cause him harm. Maybe his new master was kinder.

"Master no want me flying away," Alsake told her.

[Nightmare]

"Maybe once you would have." Cynthia said with a wicked grin. "It's quite clear you no longer can, at least for the time being."

She sighed and shook her head. "If I'm going to purchase something with wings, it's because I intend for them to use their wings. Otherwise I'm paying for something that's worthless."

They reached the edge of the city where Cynthia had horse-drawn cart waiting with one of her guards. The cart itself was rather extravagant, with enough room to comfortably sit around ten people. It was completely enclosed and painted white with golden designs on it. A slave opened the cart for them to enter. Cynthia motioned for Alsake to enter first, following him and being followed by the other slave. The guard then took his place in charge of the horses and they were on their way.

[Wicked Basket]

Well, it wouldn't be the first time someone called Alsake worthless. His old master had done it all the time. Still, using his wings? Did she intend for him to fly? He didn't even know if he'd be able to. His wings had been bound for so long, and they're in terrible condition.

When the cart arrived Alsake looked at it with wonder. He had never seen such a thing before. When Cynthia motioned him to get inside he did his best to squeeze through the door and find a seat. Sitting down wasn't exactly easy either as his wings made it extremely difficult. Though this was his first time ever riding in a carriage, he already didn't like it. He looked over at his new master.

"You mean, I fly again?"

[Nightmare]

"Perhaps." Cynthia mused. "Should you even be capable of it. I'm sure I can find a use for your wings."

She leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs to get comfortable. "Now that we can talk without all those other dreadful people around, I want to make one thing clear. If you don't disappoint me, your life will be simple. However, I have a rather short temper. Consider this your warning not to test it."

She then grinned again, staring at the man, her eyes scanning every inch of his body. "What did your previous master use you for?"

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake wasn't sure what use there would be for his wings besides flying, but he feared that it might be something sinister. The warning she issued to him afterwards only reinforced that thought. Maybe she wasn't so nice. She then wanted to know what his old master had used him for.

"He make me fight," he told her. "And kill."

Though it would be quite clear by the look on his face that he did not enjoy either of those activities.

[Nightmare]

"I see." Cynthia said, noting his expression. "Well, I doubt you'll be doing much of that for me. Though that does bring me to the question of what I am going to use you for. I haven't quite decided yet."

She looked out the window and noticed her estate start to come into view in the distance. "We're nearly there."

[Wicked Basket]

Alsake perked up. No more fighting?  No more killing? Whatever else she had in mind, surely it wouldn't be as bad as being forced to kill. And the possibility of him flying again? It was almost too good to be true.

[Nightmare]

The carriage arrived at the gate to the estate and came to a stop as the guard at the gate opened it so they could pass. A few minutes later they had arrived at the manor itself and the carriage stopped again. This time another slave opened the door for them to exit. Cynthia went first, waiting for Alsake at the doors to her home.