The rattling and clanking of chains echoed through the crowded market as the dirt-caked slaves were escorted to the center of the street.
Each slave wore a wooden placard around his neck, naming and pricing him.
Ventus followed his father Ansem and his brother Roxas through the crowd, when Ansem approached the slave trader and his parade of slaves.
"Good morning to you, sir. May I interest you in one of my fine slaves?" He motioned behind him. The handler yanked the chain connecting them, and they lurched forward.
Ansem perused the collection, the slaves ranging from all sorts of people. Some were prisoners of war, stolen from their home; others were the children of slaves overworked to death; and still others were sold at birth for a meager profit.
Ventus's eyes curiously crossed over the slaves, until they fell upon one in particular.
He was probably a few years older than Ventus, maybe sixteen years of age (where Ventus was fourteen). His matted brown hair fell to his broad shoulders, and his dust-covered body was sinewy from years of toil. Ventus believed he must have been sold more than once if he had grown this muscular. His blue eyes were sad from years of being beaten, but they glimmered with a certain slyness Ventus knew all too well. Ventus's eyes shifted down to his placard: Terra, priced at 100 gold
solidi.
"Found one that's interested you?" Ansem asked Ventus.
"That one." Ventus pointed at Terra.
"That one? You must be joking." The slave trader replied. "He's been sold back to me far too many times. I've considered just keeping him to work for me since he just comes back."
"Let me inspect him." Ansem decided. The slave trader held out a hand as if to say, "Go ahead".
Ansem looked Terra up and down, squeezing his face in his hand and opening the young man's mouth.
Terra looked down at Ventus, meeting eyes with him. Ventus stood at Terra's chest, but when their gazes connected, Ventus felt as if he had shrunk.
"He has many whipping scars," Ansem noted. "What was the reason he was so problematic?"
"Kept trying to run away, but he always got caught and they whipped him." The trader replied. "If you can manage to keep him for a year, I'll give you half your solidi
back."
Of course this was a joke to the trader, but Ansem found it as a deal.
"I'll take him then. He seems to be in good order otherwise." Ansem fished out the 100 solidi right there, and the slave trader stood astonished.
"Just like that?" He asked.
"Why not?" Ansem replied. He handed the trader his money, and the trader unhooked Terra from the rest of the slaves.
"He's all yours." He said, handing the chain to Ansem.
"Can I hold him?" Ventus asked, as if asking to hold a small animal.
Ansem handed the chain to Ventus, and Terra tugged back on it. Ventus gripped the chain, but Terra yanked harder.
Surprised, Ventus let go, and the chain clattered to the ground.
Terra broke into a run, sprinting down the street slamming into everything in his way. He nearly made it to the gate, which was guarded by two imperial soldiers, when he tripped and fell into the dirt. With his hands still bound, he couldn't push himself to his feet. He glanced up at the soldiers, who approached him and grabbed his chain. These men were much stronger than small Ventus, and the spears they brandished would have pierced straight through Terra's innards should he attempt to escape.
One soldier returned him to Ansem, who kept a firm grip on Terra's chain this time.
As they strolled home, Ventus walked behind his father to watch the movements of their newly purchased slave.
Ventus stared down at his hands, the hands that had failed to keep the slave bound to him.
Perhaps, he thought, this is why he was not chosen to become the master of the house despite being the older twin.
When they reached their villa, Terra was immediately swept away to be washed and collared. Afterward, he was taken to the atrium of the house where he stood facing his new master.
"Hello, Terra." Ventus said, his voice quavering slightly.
Terra did not speak, and Ventus wondered if he even knew how.
"I shall be your new master," Ventus announced.
Again, Terra said nothing.
"Your first order will be to...um..." Ventus trailed off, wondering what he should have his slave do.
I must seem like a pathetic master, thought Ventus as he racked his brain for a task.
"To fetch me my midday meal. I shall have bread with cheese and fruit." He decided finally.
"Yes, master." Terra spoke, and Ventus was suddenly taken aback at the huskiness of his voice.
Terra left the atrium to find the kitchen, leaving Ventus alone there. Only the sound of rainwater trickling down from the roof and splashing into the pool below filled the room, but Ventus could only hear the heightened beating of his heart.
When Terra returned, Ventus took the platter of food and sat on the bench watching the rainwater fall. Terra loomed over him silently, like a watchful dog waiting for his next set of orders.
When Ventus's previous personal slave had died, Ventus had not let learned his brother would assume the title of household master when his father died. Of course, Ansem was still years away from death, but the gods were unpredictable, and could strike him down in any moment just as they had struck Ventus's slave.
Knowing this, Ventus pondered how he could assert his masculinity and worthiness to his father. After all, he was the older twin. Despite that, Ansem had chosen Roxas for his levelheaded and authoritative demeanor. Perhaps he was not levelheaded, but Ventus could gain the authoritative qualities his father so desired in his son.
Ventus looked up at Terra, who met eyes with him again. A grin stretched across Ventus's face. Yes, he could demonstrate his authoritative power with this new slave. He could be the key to holding this slave down, and earn his father his fifty
solidi.
Translations
- Cave canem - Beware of dog
- Solidi - Gold coins