The soot filled sky of Ironhaven cast the early morning sun in a dim rusty color as it filtered in through the windows of the inn room. The upper floor of the Emberdrift Hearth creaked faintly as the collective group stirred to wakefulness. Though the beds were bug free and clean along with the rooms being private, there was still an unshakeable unease that clung to the city itself mirroring the haze of the sky.

  Xavier shifted to sit on the edge of his bed, his head shifting from side to side as he rolled his shoulders. He swore he could feel a pulse to the city, a tension living in the walls. It felt as though Ironhaven was alive, alive and watching his every action. Rising to his feet he slung the twin scabbards across his shoulders and shifted to adjust the weight of Vaeltheris and his Emberstone short sword to the most comfortable position.

  Lianna, had already been the first to rise, she was near the window staring out into the waking city. She watched the alley below with narrowed eyes, her collar was hidden beneath the travel shawl they had picked up the previous day on the way back to the inn. Despite the stillness in her wary form there was no hiding the strain of her posture, her unease on clear display for any who knew the Iskari ranger.

  Sihri sat quietly in the corner where she had made her bed. Though she had been with the group for over a day now she had not said much of anything since they had purchased her at the auction. Despite her silence, her eyes were sharp, studying and collecting everything, calculations were reflected behind her orbs as she watched. Xavier caught her gaze briefly and he nodded to her. A slight nod acknowledging her and one meant to offer a sentiment of ‘you are still safe with us.’ She didn’t return the nod, but at the same time she did not avoid nor turn away from his gaze.

  Ella also rose from where she had slept, Valkra curled up in her cot as if seeking reassurance from the tension of the city. With a brief smile to Xavier, she departed the room and went downstairs to collect breakfast for everyone before returning to the room. The platter she carried emitted a stomach rumbling scent of sausages, eggs and spiced fried potatoes. Setting it on the table the group quickly surrounded it and served themselves hearty portions to start the day.

  Partway through their meal a knock came on the door. The innkeeper stood in the hallway to relay a message that had just been brought to each inn by a city courier. A routine inspection was underway, and any unregistered slaves would need to be brought to the Registrar’s Hall for identification and verification. Sihri was exempt as she had been bought in the city and her registration would be handled by the market. Ella and Lianna on the other hand, were ‘foreign’ and needed to be registered with the Kingdom. The deadline for registration to comply with the inspection was today, any unregistered slaves were subject to confiscation.

  Lianna growled slightly after the door closed. “They are tightening the leash.” Her eyes were hard and icy mirroring the tone in her voice.

  “Then we go register,” Xavier replied. “It’s the only way we can ensure both you and Ella remain out of their hands and safe with me. It’s the only way our cover remains intact for now.”

  Ensuring they had all their documentation, forged for Xavier, Ella and Lianna along with the real ones for Sihri, the group gathered and departed the inn. Xavier paused long enough to load Frostclaw and Valkra into a caged wagon they had procured the day before after several long hard looks from guard patrols.

  The Registrar’s Hall turned out to be only a handful of streets away from where they were staying. The walk was short but that didn’t alleviate the heavy mood that surrounded the party as they made their way there. Sihri walked behind Xavier, as was proper she kept her head lowered but her long ears twitched showing how alert she was. Behind her Lianna remained quiet. Her jaw was clenched to remain silent and her hands balled into fists digging the tips of her claws into her palms. Ella remained near Lianna’s side offering unspoken support to the stressed Iskari woman with her presence. The two women walked in sync though it was not clear if that was a conscious choice or happenstance.

  Leaving the cart bound to a post outside the small group made their way into the hall. The inside of the Registrar’s Hall was a monument to bureaucracy masking the cruelty it was an edifice of. Its marble floors were stained with years of grime, gilded columns rose to support the ceiling and were draped with lines of chains. Numerous slaves had a hand or foot clasped in metal manacles attached to those chains. At the far end stood a long counter, behind which stood numerous scribes all wearing robes of office embellished with iron chain stitching. It was clear what their purpose was, and all were indifferent to the suffering their station supported.

  As Xavier and his group approached the counter one of the scribes beckoned them forward. “Slaves for verification approach the counter.”

  Ella, Lianna and Sihri all stepped out from behind Xaiver and moved towards the counter. The scribe walked through a small gate and approached the pair beginning the inspection. The scribe took the papers for all three slaves, handing Sihri’s back seeing the city marks on them. Each of their collars were examined, at a gesture from the scribe a collared mage chanted softly, and his hands wove in an intricate pattern. The runes on each of the women’s collars flared softly before fading back to their previous state.

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  The flare of magic caused Lianna to flinch as memories flooded her. Xavier watched her closely, forcing himself to remain as impassive as possible and hiding the concern in his eyes.

  After a few moments the scribe grunted moved to the counter and placed a stamp on the remaining papers before handing them back to Xavier. “The papers are passably in order.” He waved them away and his voice rose “Next.”

  It was not long before the group was back in the inn to plan their next moves. Though they were past the registration it had left a mark. Lianna stood out on the balcony her tail lashing back and forth viciously as she stared out over the city. Xavier approached her quietly until he stood beside her, his hand resting on the railing as well.

  “Are you alright?” He asked her gently.

  She didn’t turn to look at him and remained quiet for several long moments. “They looked at us like we were not people. We were only property to them.”

  “You know that is not true however,” Xaiver replied. “It’s only a disguise.”

  “Yes, I know,” her voice cracked as she spoke. “But it does not change how I feel wearing this again, and…. and going through that all over again.”

  Sihri spoke for the first time since questioning their motives as she rose from her spot near the hearth. “You walked beside him on the way back. That means something and you know it do you not.”

  That caused surprise in Lianna, and she turned to study the Leporini.

  Sihri rose to her feet, her posture was still guarded but when she spoke her voice was clear. “They did not break you. I saw that today.”

  Silence hung heavy between the two women, the kind of silence that lingered between individuals who were learning they were, in fact, not alone in their situation.

  Ella stepped out onto the balcony as well, moving beside Xavier, her hand brushed against his and instinctively he laced his fingers through hers.

  Today, in the second-floor room of the Emberdrift Hearth, not only was there wariness but the beginning of something new. Bonds were being forged in silence, defiance and the shared promise of something better in and beyond the Wildlands.

  Xavier and the two Animari slaves remained in the room for most of the day. Animari, though common slaves, still drew scrutiny and that was something they wanted to minimize. Ella, however, frequently departed and roamed the city under the guise of running errands for her master. She was searching for signs and marks that Lianna described to her as indications of the resistance or sympathizers. The going was slow, but she was able to find a couple potential leads that she brought back to the inn room and put her head together with Lianna to discuss, plans were made, and the next day would bring even more work.

  During one of Ella’s excursions, while Lianna was in the room with Frostclaw ensuring her companion was comfortable Xavier joined Sihri on the balcony. Standing there in the hot, polluted air the pain of her situation had caught up with her again. She stood away from the railing and beside the building, bracing one hand on the stone wall, her eyes closed but one ear twitched as she heard Xavier approach.

  “I’m fine,” she muttered before Xavier could speak.

  “I didn’t say anything,” he replied.

  “You were about to.” She retorted.

  He said nothing, and she pushed off the wall, walking to the balcony. Lingering for a moment she glanced back at Xavier. “You didn’t have to take me with you for the registration today.”

  “I did,” he said and shrugged slightly. “Because they needed to see you were real. That you mattered. They won’t forget that.”

  Sihri didn’t reply. Though she actually relaxed, if slightly, as he stepped beside her instead of tensing expecting the worst from him.

  Later that evening, with the city cloaked in the dull glow of lamplight and distant forges burning into the night, the three women found themselves drawn to the narrow balcony outside their shared room at the Emberdrift Hearth.

  Lianna leaned against the railing, her eyes on the haze-shrouded skyline. The metal collar at her throat felt heavier than usual, despite its lack of restrictions. Below, Ironhaven’s streets pulsed with its own cruel purpose. Buyers, sellers, guards, and shackled souls all flowing through the veins of the city like blood forced through an old and festering wound.

  Ella soon joined her, silent at first, then letting her shoulder brush lightly against Lianna’s. “You carried yourself well today,” she said. Her voice was soft and gentle. “Even when they tried to strip you of it.”

  Lianna let loose a very feline chuff, but it wasn’t quite a laugh. “They didn’t need to try. The world is already doing a fine job of that.” She paused, eyes narrowing. “I hate pretending. I hate wearing this collar again, I hate this whole situation.”

  “I know,” Ella said. “But survival sometimes means wearing a mask until you can tear it off on your own terms.”

  Lianna glanced sideways. “You wear it too well.”

  Ella’s smile was speculative. “Only because I used to be something else. It is because of that the collar does not affect me the way it does you and Sihri.”

  A quiet shuffle sounded behind them and Sihri stepped out onto the balcony, her arms crossed tightly, ears pinned back. “It is always like this is it not?” she asked, not looking at either of them. “The silence. The waiting. Knowing they see you as nothing but property to be used?”

  Lianna turned, eyes softening. “Yes, and at the same time no. The silence, yes. But the waiting? That ends when you decide it should.”

  Sihri’s gaze lifted to meet hers. “How long did it take you?”

  Lianna looked back out over the city. “Still deciding.”

  Ella chuckled softly. “Aren’t we all.”

  The three stood in shared quiet for a time. No words needed. The collar didn’t vanish. The memories didn’t fade. But in that moment, they were no longer alone with them. Finally, Sihri broke the silence again, her voice small but certain. “He could have left me on that stage, sold to someone else.”

  Lianna nodded. “He did not though”

  Ella added, “And we will not, for better or worse you are with us now.”

  Sihri’s ears twitched, and for the first time, a hint of something brighter crossed her face. It was not a smile, but maybe it would be the start of one.

  Behind them, Xavier remained seated in the room, his eyes were closed as he remained silently listening. He had a feeling that something far more important than strategy was being forged just beyond that door.