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Post by Tismri on Sept 13, 2008 19:09:18 GMT -5
A beautiful, raven-haired slave stood before her master as he told the musicians at hand what tune to play. Adira Tyree smiled as she racognized the tune. It was one of her favorites to dance to. As the musicians began to play the tune, she moved about the room in a familiar pattern, hoping it would please her master.
Barobus was watching the woman intensely, trying to forget the troubles he had been having recently. They had to do with money. He didn't want to, but he probably had to sell a few slaves soon. But he would never sell Adira. He was her prize, with a bonus of having unceasing loyalty to him. He would never have to fear this slave trying to slip away.
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Post by Trinn on Sept 13, 2008 21:37:20 GMT -5
A silent shadow passed over the dark city, gliding stealthily. Below the dark shape swung a large square. The large square was a large baskett, a carriage, that could carry six people at once. Six escaped slaves.
Looking over Gladia's large purple shoulder, Gianna gazed at the distant city. Her target within the confines of homes was a noble held in high esteem. And all nobles held in high esteem possessed slaves. She new from experience. Her goal was to slip into the estate at the edge of the city, knock out anyone she had too, and free the slaves who were willing to go. Gladia, are you ready? The dark purple dragon craned back her neck to stare at Gianna.
Of course. This is, after all, what we have been training for for five months. Gianna nodded, recalling the time they had spent in Surda. Never actually showing themselves to any of the citizens, rider and dragon had trained arduously for five months, creating tacitcal ways they could free slaves, ways they could slip into Urubaen... Do not think of him now, my rider. It will distract you. Bitingi her lip, Gianna nodded.
During the five months, Gladia had grown exponentially. She was now more than half the size of a ship, and as such, was stronger. The light, but sturdy, wodden cage she held in her talons swung only a little with her flight. The cage was Gladia's and Gianna's own invention. Allright. Let's go over the details once more. You land in the countryside. I sneak into the estate, work my magic on any nusances, and get to the slaves. Once I have them, I take them back to you. They file into the crate, and we take them to Surda. Gladia tossed her head eagerly, a thick trail of smoke trailing from her nostrils.
Aye. And if anyone pursues us, I will give them a taste of my fire. Gianna smiled. Only a few months ago, the dragon had begun to blow fire.
Good.
***
A few short minutes later, Gladia was crouched in a glade, the oddly large baskett resting beside her. Gianna straightened her clothing, which was slightly disordered after the long flight. On her back was sheathed a long dagger, of which Gianna had grown profficient with. She only used it if absolutely neccessary. "Allright, Gladia. I'll be back shortly." You had better be. Smiling, Gianna turned and started through the trees.
The house of the noble, Barobus, was as exquisite as any other. Made up of two stories, the large house would seem inpenatrable at first glance. However, Gianna new better. Crouching behind a bush, she watched the patroll of guards. Only two walked back and forth before the main entrance to the estate. Narrowing her eyes, she thought, Slytha, directing the magic to the two guards. Simultaneously, both men slumped to the ground, fast asleep. Acting quickly, Gianna rushed past them and to a side window leading into the building. Finding it locked, she muttered another word in the ancient language. With a soft click, the window unlocked. Sliding it open, Gianna slipped inside.
To all the guards she met on through the house, Gianna disposed of them the same way she had to the ones outside. As she moved through the large house, she came across the slaves who inhabitated it. All of them had been afraid at first, terrified, really. But after explaining who she was, her plan, they eagerly agreed to go with her. Coming to one final room, Gianna stopped by the closed door and listened intently. Music came through the wood muted. She wouldn't be able to sneak in unnoticed. I'll have to go in with a bang. Taking a deep, focusing breath, Gianna trained her magic upon the door, then shouted, "Jierda!" The door exploded into a thousand tiny splinters and dust. Now able to see into the room, she quickly assessed the situation. A questionably dressed woman stood before a pompous man, while to the side were a group of musicians. Or slaves. Taking only a moment to think, Gianna quickly raised her hand and pointed at the prim man, who was obviously Barobus. Again, she released her magic and prayed that it hit him quickly. Some slaves thought it odd that she never killed their former mastes, but Gianna disliked any sort of violence, even to the onces who caused it. No, she preferred to do things quietly, simply. Placing a magical sleep upon them was the easiest way to acomplish her goals.
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Post by Tismri on Sept 13, 2008 21:44:58 GMT -5
Adira was startled by the door suddenly breaking open. The musicians stopped their playing as a red-haired woman entered the room. She cried out as her master slumped forward, somehow knocked out, though there was no one who hit him.
"Master!" she cried, rushing to his side. He was out cold. Adira turned to face the woman who had entered the room.
"What did you do?" she asked, horrified at what had happened.
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Post by Trinn on Sept 13, 2008 22:10:18 GMT -5
The scantilly dressed woman rushed over to her "master", and Gianna was truly surprised by the affection she displayed towards him. Shaking her head in amazement, she began to explain the situation. "I have come to free you. Slaves you will no longer be. Instead, you will be the ones making the decisions in your life. Come with me. I will take you to Surda, the only free land in Alagaesia." She swept her green eyes across the musicians, then let them rest upon the woman beside Barobus. "He is not dead, meerly asleep. We must move quickly. He will awake in a couple hours. We need to be long gone by then." Gianna glanced over her shoulder towards the destroyed door, making sure no one was coming. Her mind as well as her other senses informed her that, so far, she was undetected. She returned her gaze to the people present. If they all agreed to go with her, some would have to ride double back with her upon Gladia.
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Post by Tismri on Sept 13, 2008 22:20:43 GMT -5
Adira stared at the woman who claimed that she had come to free them. She had never considered being "free" before. She had been a slave most of her life, though she vaguely remembered a time when she had been living with her family, the noble house of Tyree. She couldn't remember what happened to her family, just that she was sold as a slave after that.
"But...but I can leave! My master needs me. I don't know what he would think if I just left." Confused feelings started to arise in her. Slavery was the only life she had known. What would she do if she suddenly became free? No...the only thing she could do was stay there with her master.
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Post by Trinn on Sept 14, 2008 11:47:01 GMT -5
Frowning, Gianna looked at the sleeping Barobus. How could this woman defend him? Was he actually a good master? No, he wasn't. The other slaves within the house had left eagerly. So why was this one resisting? Maybe her will was already gone. "He will be fine without you. I will not force anyone to leave, but you need to understand. That man doesn't think of you as a human being. He thinks of you as a possession, which could be discarded at any moment. Sure, maybe for now he likes you. But when you grow older, you will lose your value." Gianna regretted saying the words. They sounded cruel, heartless. But they were the truth. She looked at the musicians. "Well, who will come with me?"
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Post by Tismri on Sept 14, 2008 11:57:07 GMT -5
Adira looked at the woman, confused. How could she know what it was like to be a slave? There could be nothing she could do if she left.
"If he thinks of me as a possession, wouldn't taking us away be considered stealing?"
One of the other slaves stood closer to their rescuer. He told her quietly, "Adira's been a slave most of her life. She is also the master's favorite. She is undyingly loyal to him, though I do not understand why, other than she has never considered otherwise. She has a sad story...She really does deserve a better life than this."
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Post by Trinn on Sept 14, 2008 19:51:52 GMT -5
Tilting her head closer to the soft speaking man, Gianna listened intently to his words. They explained a lot. "Thank you," she told him just as softly, returning her gaze to Adira. "Adira, as a human being, you are never a possession. Did Barbous create you? Did he shape you with his own hands?" She shook her head firmly. "No, he did not. As a human being, as living, breathing flesh, you have the right to freedom." Gianna's eyes softened, trying to get the woman to understand. "Let me ask you a question. Why are you loyal to Barbous?" Crossing her arms, Gianna waited for a reply. A good reply.
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Post by Tismri on Sept 14, 2008 19:56:10 GMT -5
Adira's dark eyebrows joined together as she tried to understand the woman's question.
"What do you mean? Why shouldn't I be loyal? I'd probably be dead by now if it weren't for my master and the others before him. They took care of me." She tried to think all this through, but this woman was confusing her more than anyone else ever had before.
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Post by Trinn on Sept 14, 2008 20:33:57 GMT -5
Gianna shrugged. "Sure, he and the masters before him allowed you to have what you needed to in order to survive. Shelter, food. But did you really enjoy it? Do you really enjoy bending to the whim of every word they speak? Wouldn't you rather make your own choices. Decide for yourself which food to eat, where to sleep? Children have more freedom than you.[/i] Gianna gave Adira a sympathetic look. "I know these things because I have personally experience them. I was once the prisoner to a cruel master as well. But I escaped, and I now see how important free will is." She looked to the musician beside her. "You understand what I'm saying?"
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Post by Tismri on Sept 14, 2008 20:47:07 GMT -5
The slave beside Gianna nodded.
"Yes, I understand. Barobus isn't the best of men and," he lowered his voice so only she could hear, "he doesn't even treat Adira as well as she deserves either. She is a forced mistress to him, though she has never expressed any resistance to his treatment.
Adira was born to a noble family, and no doubt even had slaves of her own at one time. But something happened to them, though she cannot remember what. Then somehow, she ended up becoming a slave."
He turned to Adira. "Adira, won't you please come with us? We won't let anything happen to you."
"Why?" Adira asked, confusion showing plainly on her face. Suddenly, the thought of being free to make decisions of her own started sounding kind of nice, but she couldn't leave her master. She looked from Gianna to Barobus and back again, unable to decide what to do.
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Post by Trinn on Sept 14, 2008 21:21:20 GMT -5
Gianna raised an eyebrow at the other mans words, seeing Adira in a new light. Perhaps she was used to the idea of slaves, having been around them even when she was little. Maybe as a child she had been taught that slaves weren't bad. But now that she is one, shouldn't she know better? Sighing, Gianna walked over to the woman and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Ok, Adira. Do you love this man? Does it make you happy when he forces himself on you? Do you like it when other people ignore you because you are a slave? When they seem to see right through you, just an animal in the way? If you come with me, you won't be overlooked anymore. You will be respected, loved, important." Gianna resisted the urge to shake the woman. "Do you see what I'm sayin!?"
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Post by Tismri on Sept 14, 2008 21:36:46 GMT -5
A tear fell down Adira's face as she looked between Gianna and Barobus. She felt as if she was trapped, wanting freedom, but also wanting to serve, as she had ever since she was young. She looked at Gianna.
"For over twenty years have I served in one house or another. Never once did I question or object. I never saw any reason to. I accepted my fate. I was not to be of noble family, though I was born to one. I was meant to be a slave. It was a fact and I accepted it.
"Now all that's been turned upside down. How am I supposed to know what's right or wrong anymore?" The slave covered her face with her hands, tears of confusion falling down her face.
"And even if I did wish to be freed, would the master not have to free me himself? If I ever step foot in the Empire again after I leave, I would be immediately sent back."
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Post by Trinn on Sept 14, 2008 21:49:52 GMT -5
Gianna's heart went out to Adira. "I understand your confusion. But I am taking you to Surda, a free country. Barobus doesn't have to free you. I'm already doing that." She paused a moment, letting her words sink in. "As for right or wrong... if you come with me, you will have all the time neccessary to think about what is what. You will have time, and no one will bother you."
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Post by Tismri on Sept 14, 2008 21:55:02 GMT -5
Adira looked back up at Gianna, still working out whether or not she should go. All her instincts said no, said she should stay there with her master. But she had such a burning desire to be free now, she couldn't overcome it.
"I must choose from the only life I know and a desire to be free. How can I be expected to make a decision like that in a moment?"
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