Capítulo 2: Auction

Kaleb sat bound and silent in the cart, his arms twisted and aching ,his mind torn by helplessnes. The cart was cramped, its corners pressed by trembling women and sobbing children, their faces pale and bruised, and streaked with blood and dirt.

His gaze caught the hollow eyes of women some looked to be in their late teens and others to perhaps their mid-thirties, their expressions heavy with a despair that seemed to drain their very air of life.

Outside, the sounds of metal striking metal and screams of the people, if they could even be called that, had faded, replaced by an unsettling quiet. He heard the sound of horses neigh and the cart lurched forward, its uneven wheels rattling against the rough road. The creaks and groans blending into the rhythmic clatter of horses' hooves on packed earth.

The interior of the cart was suffocatingly dark, swallowing any sense of time. The only momentary reprieve would come when one of the masked figures patrolling the caravan passed by, their torches briefly illuminating the wooden bars of the cart.

After what felt like hours, one of the masked assailants approached the rear of the cart. And as they came closer, their features remained obscured, hidden beneath the mask. Holding the torch higher to cast its light inside, they stopped at the open ended but barred rear of the cart.

It was then he noticed it.

The light shone on the women and children around him were not human. And perched above their heads were what seemed to be animal-like ears that twitched faintly with every sound, the quiet sobs, the creak of the cart. Tails swayed or lay limp behind them, each movement subtle but unmistakably real.

As they went on, each mile stretched the ordeal further, the cart's relentless pace driving them closer to an unknown fate. Since that moment Kaleb had been trying hard to keep himself sane.

This couldn't possibly be real, right?

One of the masked assailants would periodically bang on the wooden bottom of the cart, his patience wearing ever thinner with each passing moment. The constant wails of the children and whispered prayers of the women emanating from the cart grated on his nerves, a maddening sound that refused to be ignored.

He walked along side the cart, muttering curses under his breath and trying to block out the incessant noise. Yet the more he tried, the louder it seemed to grow, each sob clawing at his frayed composure.

His hands clenched into fists, and his jaw tightened with irritation.

After many long hours of enduring the relentless noise, his temper snapped.

"That's it!" he muttered under his breath.

"I can't take it anymore..."

Without a word he marched toward the carts rear, his heavy boots crunching against the gravel. His comrades turned their heads briefly but said nothing, their silence granting tacit approval, or perhaps just a simple indifference.

The man jumped into the moving cart with a torch in hand, the sudden burst of light from his torch illuminating the huddled forms inside. The crying and prayers stopped abruptly, its occupants shrinking back in terror as his shadow loomed over them.

His hand shot out, grabbing the nearest girl by the arm with a brutal grip. She gasped in shock and fear and flailed helplessly, begging the man for mercy.

"Please! Have mercy!"

Her pleas fell on deaf ears as he pulled out a dagger from his belt and pressed it against her throat, her eyes widened at the sight of the cold blade. The fear in her expression was visceral and her body shook as she tried to push against him, but she was too weak In a swift, brutal motion, he slashed his knife across her throat. Blood sprayed out in an arch and splattered onto the floor of the cart as the girl's body crumbled into lifeless heap.

The brutality of the moment hung heavy in the air, and Kaleb felt as if he had been marked by it, unable to look away from the girl's lifeless form.

In the span of a few hours Kaleb witnessed two brutal murders. Something not may would have claimed in his world, but sadly this was not his world.

But before he left, the man turned to leave, but before he did he glanced over his shoulder and spoke. His voice laced with cold menace.

"If any of you beasts make another sound, I promise you will join her!"

The night passed in agonizing silence and the girl's body lay lifeless in a pool of her blood. A constant reminder of their helplessness.

The following morning, the sun had barely peeked over the horizon when the sound of a boat's oars cut through the water and broke the silence.

The men outside began to stir, shortly after he and the others were ushered out of the cart and to the riverbank, leaving the lifeless corpse of the girl behind.

His thoughts wouldn't linger on her though as they turned quickly to the future. What could be in store for me he wondered.

They were herded into the boat, their movements sluggish and numb. After being loaded onto the small vessel, their bodies weary from the emotional and physical toll of the journey, the boat set out

For three long days, the boat drifted across the water, the women barely able to speak, reduced to mere shadows of themselves.

The only things they were given as food were dirty sea water, salty and briny, and the scraps left behind by their captors and little else. It was enough to keep them alive, but just barely. Their bodies grew weak, and their minds dull from the relentless dehydration and hunger.

Kaleb's stomach churned with hunger, but there was little he could do. The few scraps they received were hardly enough to sustain him, let alone the others.

The boat glides silently across the water, before finally reaching its destination. The creaking of wood and the rush of seawater are the only sounds as the crew begins to disembark.

Kaleb and the people of the village were barely able to keep their heads up, after days of deprivation. Hunger and thirst gnawed at them, and their limbs were stiff from the cramped confinement. They were pulled roughly from the boat, their movements sluggish, as their captors made no effort to be gentle with them. As if all they were doing was moving their property.

Large crates awaited them, their wooden sides scraped and worn. One by one, they were shoved in. Kaleb found himself wedged in next to two others, their bodies pressed uncomfortably together.

The space inside was so tight he could barely breathe, the only sound his and the other two's ragged breaths.

Every so often, the crate jolted, the motion throwing them all to one side, before settling again. They were being moved, but to where? They couldn't tell.

The muffled voices of the men drifted through the thin slats of the crate, but their words were mostly unintelligible.

The muffled voices soon became loud jeers.

"Where is this?"

Finally, after what feels like a lifetime, the crates are opened, and they are pulled out of the crates onto a stage. It's light blinding them after the darkness of confinement.

A man in formal clothing and wearing a mask stood at the stage center. He raises his hand, and the sound of the jeers are hushed.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen,"

The man stepped forward with his arms spread wide.

"Next up, we have prepared a special event for today's finale."

He announced with a grin.

"First up are these two right here. Two young and very beautiful female beastmen of the wolfman tribe, one of the strongest of their kind"

They are moved off to the side.

"Next is this young man right here, a foreigner from an unknown land and quite a handsome one at that"

"And finally, don't let her beautiful appearance fool you, she's a feisty one and the secret child of a nobleman!"

Whispers began to spread like wildfire amongst the audience.

"Just look at them, they are gorgeous"

One man murmured, his eyes wide with greed.

"And the man as well"

Another added.

"He'll fetch a high price on his own, but together..."

The auctioneer waited, allowing the crowd's excitement to build before raising his hand.

"We start the bidding at one hundred gold ber"

Immediately hands shot into the air, as the bidding began.

"One hundred and fifty!"

"One hundred and ninety!"

"Two hundred and twenty-five!"

His grin grew wider and wider as the buds climbed even higher.

Kaleb and the girls stood silently, unable to do anything as their fates were to be decided by the price placed on them.

The bidding grew more intense, as the air was filled with thick anticipation and greed.

"Five hundred gold pieces!"

Shouted a voice from one of the VIP balcony seats hung above the audience. A hush fell over the crowd as the gravity of the bid sank in.

The auctioneer's eyes sparkled with delight.

"Five hundred gold ber's! Going once… going twice…"

He paused for dramatic effect, scanning the room for any last-minute bids.

"Sold, for five hundred gold pieces!"

He slammed his foot down, sealing their fate.

A murmur spread through the crowd, some nodding in approval, while others whisper about the high price and who it might have been.

As Kaleb and the girls were led away, all eyes followed them, a mixture of envy, desire, and for a rare few, pity. They are put into a carriage and taken to the man's estate. Upon arrival, they are taken to a parlor filled with men in armor and several maids and thrown to the ground still in chains.

The girl claiming to be a nobleman's daughter screams in anger.

"Who do you think you are, commoner? When I get out of here I will make sure to have your head! I demand to see the lord of this estate! How dare you treat me like this! Where is he?"

Irritated, a man clad in silver armor approaches the girl.

"And who the hell are you?"

He raises his hand and gives her a slap across the face.

"Silence, you lowly slave!"

He commanded, his voice low and cold.

Her eyes blazed with fury as she raised her voice.

"You dare to call me a slave? I will make sure your head goes flying for that!"

He struck her again, this time with even more force, sending her sprawling to the ground. He reached out his hand, commanding a maid to bring him a whip, she hesitated, pitying the girl before reluctantly handing it over. Snatching the whip from her grasp, he unfurled it and prepared to strike, but just as he was about to bring it down, Kaleb's voice rang out, interrupting the tense moment.

"Does beating a defenseless girl excite you that much?"

The man paused, lowering his whip and turning toward Kaleb with genuine confusion. Kaleb repeated his words, defiance lacing his voice, and the man's expression shifted to one of irritation.

"It seems that you slaves don't understand the gravity of the words you speak. You, a lowly slave dare to talk back to me, a knight in the service of Count Rene, William Teller"

"I may not know much about them, but from what I've heard, a knight is a man of honor. And last I checked, harming someone who possesses no means to defend themselves, especially a woman isn't something a knight would do."

William charges forward, knocking Kaleb to the ground. Unleashing blow after blow on him, each one landing with a sickening thud. Kaleb could do nothing but lay there, trying to shield himself from the assault, as the entire room watched on.

William continued his assault, his face twisted in rage. He struck Kaleb again and again until a voice echoed through the room, firm and commanding.

"Enough!"

The maids and knights in the room all bowed their heads as the door to the parlor swung open.

"Welcome home my lord"

A tall, imposing man with an air of arrogance entered the room, his eyes locking onto the unfolding scene. His displeasure was evident as he approached William, who hurriedly got to his feet and bowed, still out of breath. The man, clearly annoyed, gave William a disapproving look.

"What in the world did you think you were just doing, William?"

His tone was sharp, making it clear he was not pleased with what he had just witnessed.

"If I asked you to, would you be able to purchase this slave?"

"No, my lord"

"So how dare you lay a hand on my property!"

"I apologize for my incompetence, my lord"

Turning his attention to Kaleb and the three girls, his gaze lingered with a sinister interest. His eyes filled with lust as he stared intently at one of the beastmen, a young woman with striking features.

He reached out towards her chest, his intentions clear. But before he could touch her, Kaleb, bloodied and battered, forced himself to speak.

"So you're the human trash that bought another human being," he said, his voice hoarse but unyielding.

The man paused in his tracks and turned toward Kaleb, a cruel grin spreading across his face. Calling over a guard, he ordered, "Beat him."

Without hesitation, the guard lunged at Kaleb, slamming him to the ground. This beating was far more savage than what William had given him only minutes ago, each punch landing with brutal force. Kaleb's body grew limp, as blood streamed from his face as the blows rained down relentlessly.

Only when kaleb was on the brink of death did count command him to stop. Approaching Kaleb's motionless body, eyes filled with disdain, he looked down, a sneer curling his lips. With palpable disgust, he spat on Kaleb before turning away.

"Take them to the shed behind the estate, that shall be their new home, and Laura, see to it that they are assigned roles by tomorrow"

"Yes my lord"

The servants hauled the injured Kaleb to his feet. The girls were gathered up as well, fear and uncertainty in their eyes. They were led out of the room and taken to a small, dark shed at the edge of the estate. The door was slammed shut behind them, leaving them in darkness.

Kaleb was left on the hard ground unconscious, his body aching from the beating he had endured. The girls gathered around him, their spirits low, the grim reality of their situation settling in.

The night grew colder, the only sounds were the distant howls of the wind and Kaleb's quiet, pained breathing.