“Welcome, welcome my friend…s?” A raspy voice started enthusiastic, but quickly lost steam before ending outright confused.

  I looked to the source of the voice and found a throne. One with a middle aged man sitting in it.

  “Hey Jeremiah, why are there two people here? I recall explicitly telling you to bring me only one.”

  The young knight quickly stepped up to the throne, past me and my brother and took a knee.

  “I apologize, my lord.” He held his head down while speaking.

  “Okay, so you are aware that you messed up. Mind explaining to me why? It might save you a lot of pain if you got a good excuse.”

  The brown haired king spoke with a casual tone, like all of this wasn’t important to him, yet at the same time he wasn’t joking. It was so normal sounding, like an everyday conversation me and my brother would have, that the fact that he just threatened Jeremiah didn’t even sink in properly.

  “I am afraid I have nothing that would qualify as a ‘good excuse’, my lord. The only person fitting your description that was willing to come with us without making a big spectacle was this young man here. But as it turned out he was living alone with his younger sister and no matter what we said, she wouldn’t take no for an answer in not coming along. Forcing the issue likely would have caused a scene and telling the truth would have probably only made them less likely to comply - taking even more time, and force - which we deemed to be less ideal than simply taking her along. That is what happened, but it does not excuse my failure to execute your order as detailed.”

  The king clicked his tongue and shuffled in his chair, resting his head on his hand.

  “You know me too well. I can’t be mad at that answer. But mind you that if you lied or made up excuses you would not have walked out of this room a free man. You are dismissed.”

  “I would never lie to you my lord. Thank you for your magnanimity.” Jeremiah bowed one last time, before moving back to his spot next to the door.

  “I think I told you a million times I am not a fan of these overblown gestures.” He sighed. “Whatever, now my friends, I apologize for ignoring you after calling you here. My name is Venom. While it’s just a nickname born from my powers, I’d rather be called that than my birth name. And first, I must apologize to you. The reason you are here is not actually to report on your backwater village’s harvest and for deceiving you, if nothing else, I feel guilty. And I swear that from here on I will say nothing but the truth no matter what you shall ask me.” He lowered his head.

  My brother took a half step forward and went on one knee in a panicked motion. Then he gestured for me to do the same, so I followed.

  “Please, your majesty, you don’t need to apologize to us. My name is Caleb and this here is my little sister Mira. If I may ask, if we aren’t here to give report, then why were we called here?” My brother spoke without facing the king, looking down at the ground.

  “Before I answer that, I just told Jeremiah over there I don’t like these overblown gestures. Plus it makes what I am about to do much more awkward… Either way, you don’t need to worry about offending me, so stop kneeling and looking at the ground as if looking at me would blind you. Now for your question.” The king took a long breath, closing his bright green eyes in a contemplating pose.

  My brother awkwardly stood up while the king was thinking and I followed suit, taking a long glance at his scarred face, curious what he was thinking about. Then his eyes opened and his mouth began moving again.

  “There is really no easy way to say this, so I will just come out and say it. One of you will become a slave.”

  …

  …

  …

  My mind blanked out. I knew what a slave was, but somehow what he had just said didn’t make sense. One of us was to become a slave? Why? What did we do? Did he call us here just to turn us into slaves?

  “I - I am sorry, your majesty, but did you just say that one of us was going to become a slave?” My brother’s shaky voice rang out before I could fully comprehend what we were just told.

  “Ah, yeah that’s right.” He said matter of factly.

  “Uh uh wha- I mean why?” A voice next to me stammered, but I had a hard time focusing.

  “It’s nothing personal, I don’t know you guys yet, so It’s not like you did anything wrong. It’s just that I had a bet, gambling you see, and I gave that guy my word he’d get a “young attractive slave” if I lost. Not my brightest moments in retrospect, but I was incredibly sure I’d win that round and I was drunk. Eh that probably doesn’t make it any better for you, does it? But anyway it’s nothing personal.”

  It’s… nothing… personal? What did he mean? He was gonna make us slaves, take us away from home against our will and then explained that it’s “because he lost a bet” he himself made?

  “I’m sorry, your majesty, but I don’t understand why can’t you just annule the bet then? If you yourself aren’t alright with it?!” My brother’s voice rang out next to me louder than I had ever heard him, but I couldn’t get a word out, still stuck in my mind.

  “I’m sorry, but no. I refuse to break a word I have given.”

  Then why give that promise in the first place? I didn’t understand what this man was saying.

  As if to voice the thoughts that weren’t escaping from my own mouth, my brother who sounded all too distant, spoke, no, screamed: ”Then why make that bet in the first place!?”

  But the king only shrugged his shoulders and said: ”I agree in hindsight. It was a mistake. I told you I would be fully honest, so that’s what this is. I made a mistake and now I need someone to cover my debt. Isn’t like I have an issue with you, you just got unlucky.”

  I was getting so angry at what I heard I wanted to scream at him, but at the same time I felt powerless and weak. My hands wouldn’t move and my voice caught in my throat. The conversation continued playing out, while I was stuck as an observer.

  “Then couldn’t it be someone else? There has got to be someone other than us who fits that description?”

  “I guess I could, but after already getting this far, going through the trouble of finding someone else seems like a waste of time and effort and would probably cause bigger problems for me down the line. So no, sorry. Was that all you wanted to know, you are free to ask more questions.” The king spoke out, almost like he was gracing us with his answers. As if he wasn’t the one that called us here under false pretense to begin with.

  Contrary to myself however, my brother calmed down again.

  “Then I have one last question, your majesty, if this really is so serious a matter you will not budge on even if it involves the safety of our very lives, then can I at least request that if I go with you peacefully and make no trouble, that you can see to it that my sister here gets back home safely and unhurt? If possible please instruct someone to explain to the village that something tragic happened to me, like a bandit attack or a sudden illness, and my last wish was that they take care of her?” He spoke.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  What? My brother said he would go with them? And leave me alone? I didn’t want that! Then I’ll be all alone. I would have rather gone into slavery with him than be left alone.

  “Huh. Not what I expected. I am afraid it is that important to me. Human lives aren’t worth much to me you see, not after the things I experienced, the life I lived… But I imagine you don’t care about my sob story, especially not in a situation like this. Hell, I wouldn’t care about myself either if I was you. But anyway, back to the point, I will not reconsider this, but I like you. Even though you are rightfully appalled at this, you are swallowing your emotions, sacrificing yourself readily if it means your sister’s security. Such a shame that you were the first person that ended up in front of me, there are others much more deserving.”

  What is he talking about? I don’t care in the slightest what you experienced, that doesn’t give you the right to do whatever you want to us! And if you like him then how about you leave us alone then?! How could he dare say it was “such a shame” if he was the one responsible in the first place?

  “So does that mean your majesty accepts my request?”

  “Yeah, I accept. You have my word that I will see to it that your sister is sent back home safely. You deserve that much. In the first place I was going to send you if I am being honest, as I don’t feel good sending a young girl to that guy’s place and you technically meet the requirements.” He shrugged again. “Is that all you wish to ask?”

  “Yes, I have no more questions or requests for your majesty.”

  They simply went on deciding what would happen with me without asking me. While I was unable to move, the world around me simply kept going, no one waited for me, no one cared about what I wanted. I was powerless.

  “Is that so? You don’t want to know where you’ll be sent? What kind of life you will live?” The king asked in a teasing voice.

  “No. As long as I know Mira is safe, that is all I wish to know.”

  “Admirable. Now then, it’s time to say your goodbyes, despite how it may seem, as king I have obligations to fulfill, so I don’t have all day.”

  Wait

  My brother turned to me and went on his knees to reach my eye level.

  “Mira, I am sorry that I have to leave you, but it’s better this way. I am sure one of our neighbours will take care of you as long as you behave.”

  NO, I DON’T WANT THAT!

  Still no word escaped my mouth, but warm tears rolled out of my eyes.

  “You will probably be going home with one of the knights, so please don’t make any problems for them. They are just doing what they are told.”

  Finally the reality that my brother was about to leave fully caught up to me and I jumped at him, holding him so tight that he couldn’t possibly leave.

  “NO! I DON’T WANT YOU TO LEAVE ME!” I half screamed - half cried.

  “I don’t want to leave either, Mira, but this is for the best. I am sure I won’t be gone forever. Just wait at home and be a good girl and one day we'll surely meet again.”

  “But I don’t want to be alone! I don’t want to wait for you! I want to go home together right now!” I held on tight.

  “I know. But we can’t. Now please be a good girl and follow along with whatever the king says, he promised he wouldn’t hurt you.”

  “NO! I don’t want to! Why should I go along with the guy who is taking you from me! I hate him, I wish he’d just die!” I didn’t stop crying, as if all the emotions I couldn’t release were coming out now.

  “Now, now.” He patted my head. “I know this isn’t fair. I know you hate the king. Trust me I don’t like this either, however there is nothing we can do, but go along with his wishes. That way all of this will end more amicably than if we make a scene.”

  I didn’t answer. Only continued crying into his shirt. My brother hugged me back, but then let go. He removed my hands from his back and stood up.

  “You have always been strong Mira, I felt like you were going to strangle me. I am sure with how strong you are you will do just fine, even without me.”

  “I don’t want to do fine on my own. What’s the point of living if I’m all alone?”

  “Don’t say that. I am sure you will find new reasons to live, new friends, new family.” A single tear rolled down my brother’s face as he said that. He quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve and smiled again.

  “Remember to listen to your new family and watch your manners. When we meet again I don’t want to hear about how you misbehaved, alright? For now, goodbye Mira.” My brother turned around and walked up to the king.

  “I am ready now, your majesty. You might have to hold Mira so she doesn’t follow me, but please don’t hurt her.”

  I couldn’t stop crying and shouting. What I said was hardly even intelligible, but I kept shouting and crying for him to not leave and how much I hated the king.

  “I gave you my word that she wouldn’t be harmed. Jeremiah, you heard the man. I hope this goes without saying, but if you hurt her, it’s your head. Now as for you, Caleb, please go through this door here, a knight of mine will be telling you what you are to do. I hope you keep up your end of the deal, for your sake.” He pointed to a door behind his throne.

  “Understood.” Jeremiah spoke up from his spot next to the door we entered.

  “I will keep my word, your majesty.” My brother spoke resolutely facing the king, before slowly disappearing from sight.

  I tried to run after him, but then a hand from behind me came down on my shoulder and held me down.

  “Let me go! I want to follow my brother.” I trashed and shouted, trying to hit at the knight holding me, but he wouldn’t release me, wouldn’t let me follow my brother.

  “You are surprisingly strong, please stop thrashing around like that before you hurt yourself.” He simply spoke, no empathy in his voice.

  “Shut up! Let me go or I’ll kill you!” My brother was almost out of sight at this point, blocked by the throne and the king sitting in it. His face looking back at me where my brother should have been burned itself into my mind.

  Then the door closed after my brother and I could no longer see him. He was gone. I fell to the ground, all strength leaving me.

  “I hate you…” I whispered.

  “I am sure you do. You have good reason to.” The king simply answered as if none of this was any of his business.

  “I will never forgive you both.” I swore under my breath. I could never forgive them for taking my brother from me, let alone forget it.

  Jeremiah, from next to me, spoke up.

  “Your Majesty, are you sure it’s a good idea to just send her on her way like this? That it won’t come back to bite us?”

  “What are you worried about? We took someone from a backwater village precisely because this wouldn’t cause a big uproar, even if she tells people. And besides, as young as she is, the others would probably not even take her seriously if she presented such an outlandish story.”

  “That’s not my concern… “ Jeremiah spoke up cautiously.

  “Whatever, I gave Caleb my word. I will not entertain any ideas other than what I promised. See to it that she finds her way back to the village you got her from. And I hope it goes without saying, Jeremiah, that if I ever catch wind of the fact that you harmed even a single strain of her hair after I gave my assurance of her safety, it won’t just be your head. And for that matter it won’t be your head that goes flying either, as that’s far too painless. Are we clear?”

  “Understood, your majesty.” The knight saluted. While I was still stuck on the ground. I didn’t have the energy to complain anymore. I could barely follow their speech. I just wished this was all a dream. But unlike a dream, the memory of my brother's back, disappearing behind the king didn’t fade. I wasn’t waking up.

  Jeremiah pulled me up to my feet, regardless. I didn’t want to stand. I didn’t want him to touch me, I just wanted to wake up from this nightmare, but I had no strength left to complain.

  “Come on now. It’s time to go home.” He commanded. I couldn’t think anymore, but my legs moved. Nothing seemed real anymore, I was just staring ahead, thinking nothing, feeling nothing, but emptiness. My eyes were open but I didn’t notice when I was approaching a wall, I could still hear the knight tell me where to go, but I didn’t understand a single word. I just kept walking, being pulled along in the right direction by the knight, until we exited the castle.

  When we entered the streets of the capital once again, I snapped back into reality as if I was asleep until now. The knight, Jeremiah, was still pulling me along and I stopped dead in my tracks.

  “No, I don’t wanna leave, let me go, I'm going back to my brother!” I strained trying to pull my arm away from his grip, but to no avail. Neither could I move the man so instead I just hurt myself.

  “Listen, your brother is gone now. I know what he said, but I doubt you’ll ever see him again, if he even survives long enough to begin with. You should just assume that he’s as good as dead to you and move on with your life. I can’t finish my job if you fight me at every step of the way.”

  My brother was dead? No way. He said he would meet me again.

  I stopped struggling. What was the point? I didn’t want to go home, but there was nothing else I could do, nowhere else I could go. I hung my head as I walked, following along Jeremiah, who stopped at some shops to buy preserved food, without speaking again. Then just as we were about to leave the city someone approached us.

  “Good day sir knight, good day young lady. May I take a moment of your time?”

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