A terrible wind wrapped and bit at the carefully treading Sarmatians as they were forced to move behind the Roman slave traders. Within the small group of Sarmatians there were two small children, the youngest only being six summers and the older being thirteen summers. They dragged their feet slowly, and when they got too far behind, the slow moving but careful Roman would lash at their feet with a tattered rawhide whip. Their ankles were rubbed raw and the bottoms of their bare feet bled slowly.
"Sister, it's cold." The younger whimpered, wrapping her thin cloak tighter around her small body. The older smiled sadly and dropped back to keep pace with the girl.
"I know Bega. I know." The older girl whispered, picking her sister up and tucking her own cloak over Bega's face. The blue eyed girl looked up at the night sky and whimpered softly. The night reminded her of the darkness that swallowed up her family.
"Sister, do you ever thing we'll ever see Lancelot again?" Bega asked, tears filling her eyes. Lancelot was their older brother and he had been taken away from them the same year Bega had been born. Their mother had just enough strength that day to see her son off. He never got the chance to meet Bega before he was taken to be incorporated into the Roman military. And one day he would return to find his baby sister gone and his mother no longer alive. Before the elder sister could answer she was interrupted.
"Ailith, hurry along. Try to get to the front." One of the older women beside the older girl said, squeezing her shoulder. "You know that they feed the ones up front first." Ailith looked up at the woman with tired eyes. "Go on now." She nudged the girl along, watching her weave between the other Sarmatians, none of them stopping the two girls, some even greeting them and nudging them along.
Up at the front of the group Ailith set Bega down and continued walking, holding the younger girls hand. It was easier not to fall behind when at the front. The older men and women nudged them along; waiting patiently for the Roman's to stop.
"I wonder where we're going." One of the teenage girls wondered aloud. One of the men, Dax, Ailith remembered, spat at the ground and continued his long glare at the Roman's backs.
"We'll be sold off. Maybe together, maybe not. We'll probably be separated within different noble houses, or sold to some military scum." He growled before shifting the bag on his back. That was the most they were able to bring if they had the time to pack. Ailith and Bega hadn't been so lucky, so they were forced to rely on the kindness of their countrymen. After a while the Romans stopped the group and set up camp. Two of the five men, not including the one watching the Sarmatians, came around the group with a large bowl of bread and cheese, handing out one of each to each person. When one reached the two girls he grinned wolfishly and picked up Ailith.
"This brat will get a fine price once she's old enough." His partner laughed and watched as the other carefully examined the girl. She hung there, limp and her face cold. "What pretty eyes." The Roman murmured, staring into Ailith's grey orbs. After a long stare down between the Sarmatian child and the Roman, the later finally shuttered at the absolutely hollow look in her eyes and set the girl down on her feet.
"Won't get much if she's like that though." The other Roman frowned before moving down. His partner stared once more down at the girl before shaking his head and following the other Roman.
"Better watch yourself now Ailith. He'll have his eye on you." Ailith's hollow eyes filled with fear at Dax's words. But his warm hand on her head relieved her of her worries. None of the others would let anything happen to her or her sister.
All Characters and plot goes to the makers of the movie King Arthur. It was an amazing movie :)
