Chapter 1
The trader arrived today and even from the palace I can hear them calling out their goods. Today is the first time in many years the travelers have dared to cross the desert to the kingdom of Clow so the people are particularly excited. Father has even decided to allow me to go with him and see the many sights and trinkets the traders have to offer. The last time they had come was 7 years ago when I was 7 and I can still remember the spicy smells and exotic birds that had filled our streets. Although Sakura is the same age I was when I first attended the gathering she is still considered too young to leave the safety of the palace.
Father has requested that two guards be brought with us instead the usual single one that accompanies us. We are usually not so cautious, but with so many unfamiliar faces in Clow we can't be too careful. The wondrous sound of foreign music fills our streets along with cages of all shapes and sizes, containing creatures many of the children of Clow had only ever read about. It has been so long since their last visit and it seemed like all of our subjects are crowding the streets searching through the foreign goods.
To the young ones everything here is new and strange and the sights and smells were like magic. They laugh and dance to exotic tunes as carefree as all children are at that age. Deep down I wish to join them in their frolic and play, but I knew the moment I draw too near they will stop and bow to the ground or their parents will pull them away. Until Sakura is old enough to be able to keep up with me and join me on these kinds of trips I'm left mostly to myself. No child is to be near the prince, even in such a safe country as Clow. I'm not just waiting for Sakura to grow up though, it feels like I'm waiting for something. I can sense the change in the air. Something's coming. I feel it.
A crowd has gathered up ahead around a booth and I can hear the sounds of discontent arising among our people. Something is wrong. As we draw closer the sounds of agitation become screams of frenzy and I hope with all my heart it is only a show that upsets them so. The citizens of Clow are such peaceful people. Only something truly terrible could put them in such a rage.
Father's face is impassive as we draw closer, but I can see the faint hint of worry in his eyes. The people have formed a circle around the cart and it's impossible to see what it contains. Father's guards make a gap in the circle for us to enter and what we see would stun even the bravest of men in Clow.
Among the many sacks of spice and piles of foreign silks is a small boy, no older then myself. His frail body is barely clothed with thin rags and his deathly pale skin is coated in dark purple bruises. His hands are bound behind his back and tied to a post. But worst of all are his eyes. The pale ivory orbs are veiled by strands of equally white hair and I have never seen something look so lifeless……and broken. Yet even with all these things plagued upon him the boy is still breathtakingly beautiful.
Around his neck sits a sign that's words chill me to my core.
For sale to the highest bidder.
I look up at Father horrified. This time Father makes no attempts to hide his fury. His anger makes his face menacing and even I his son fear him. During my studies I have read of people being sold as slaves in far off kingdoms to royalty and wealthy nobles, but such things are unheard of in Clow. But the merchant who owns the cart seems oblivious to my father's rage and approaches us with an eager smile.
"Good day to you your Majesty. It seems you have taken a liking to the boy. A fine choice. He's orphan scum, broken and ready for a lifetime of service. I guarantee a good long life on this one. He's just right for any kind of service you wish him for."
His smile is almost dastardly in its lack of humanity.
"And I do mean anything my Lord." He recommended, with an utter lack of compassion.
Father looked like all that restrained him from killing the man was the fact that our people were around us. Had he been alone…….the fate of that man would have been something I would not wish on anyone.
All of our subjects stood around us, anxiously waiting to see how Father will react. Father brushes past the man like he isn't even there and steps towards the boy. He doesn't even bother to look up at Father and he seems oblivious to all the people around him.
Father kneels beside him and lifts his chin up slightly. His ivory orbs are completely unfocused and vacant.
Father reaches into his robes and pulls out a small dagger to cut the ropes binning the boy's hands to the poll. Then he gentle lifts the boy into his arms. His unfocused eyes stare at the sky above in a way that remind me of a life sized doll in their mistiness.
"You're safe little one. Rest now." Father instructed in a soft caring tone, closing the boy's eye like one would for the dead.
Then without another word Father moves back to where the guards and I stand, completely ignoring the trader's gleaming greedy eyes.
"So what's your offer?" He asks enthusiastically, the excitement rolling off him in waves.
My father turned to the man with an expression so devoid of emotion it was almost as frightening as the one filled with anger.
"I'm going to offer you a little advice. Pack up your cart, leave my kingdom, and never return."
The trader looked at Father with a look of total outrage.
"You……!"
Father lifts his hand to silence the man.
"OR you could stay and suffer the punishment of slave trading in Clow. Which in case you didn't know is beheading."
The man pales horribly and ran to start gathering his things. A small smile graces Father's face as he walks past me.
"Come along now Toya" He calls over his shoulder, in his soft and harmonious voice.
"Coming Father." I whisper, trailing after him and the guards.
We've only walked about 10 feet when the cheering starts.
I don't know if slave trading is against the laws of Clow or not, but of it isn't it will be after today.
I have the next chapter written and done. I just want at least five reviews to tell me what can be done to improve and what was liked. Please give your honest opinions and know that this isn't my best work. It's an old story I wrote ages ago that I just now bothered to type out.
Yours truly
Jessica499499
