CaseyJewels

“Siv, come.” The Captain’s command was all that needed for the slave to follow her master, leaving behind the uncertain murmurings of the ship’s crew and a tentative but silent Connor. Her steps felt hollow and the world around her swayed in opposition to the ocean’s waves, but still she moved forward, even as she bunched her sweaty palms into her simple dark dress. Connor had been punished and would be punished further. Now, it was her turn. After all, she had been the one kidnapped. No, not kidnapped. The metal collar around her neck felt heavier than usual. Stolen. She had been the one stolen. Then they were before the captain’s cabin, and there was no more time to try and calm herself—if that was what she had been doing before. Luther strode inside and she stumbled after, her usual grace gone. Luther turned back, his eyes cold, and she flinched as he reached past her, but he only closed the door. Then he turned away from her and walked forward a few steps. Siv simply stood

The piercing but soft notes of a flute drifted through the air as Safara sketched from memory, trying to capture the likeness of one of her comrades. The setting sun cast an orange glow over the large meadow, and long shadows stretched from the rows of plain white tents on the far side—her new home, until basic training was over. Her body ached from the day’s drills, and it was nice to sit in near stillness, a charcoal stick in hand. Then the flute notes came to an abrupt halt, to instead be replaced by loud laughter. “Give it back.” The voice was quieter, timid almost, and it took Safara only a moment to realize it was Lucia—another recruit, who stood out only because of she was a quarter faun. More laughter, from a duo she had already grown weary of, though they had yet to target her. One was Tobias, who had arrived only a few days before her. He thought he was all that just because he was the son of a duke. Not to say he didn’t have some of the necessary skills to become a soldier