After a year of selling herself to lonely merchants in the streets of Crilard, Vin'na Tamurien was used to walking around hearing cat-calls and vulgar requests.
"How much did you make today?" Vin'na's best friend, Mindra asked, her arm snaking around Vin'na's bony shoulders.
"Sixty Munn.." Vin'na allowed the words to slip tiredly from her chapped lips.
"Nice!" Mindra exclaimed, "You'll be able to buy your freedom in no time! Someday soon!"
"Yeah," Vin'na looked to the ground and followed her feet as they moved with her eyes as they walked back to the brothel, where they worked nights', "Soon.."
3 Years Later
"Wake up!" A hand gripped Vin'na's arm, jarring her awake. She shot up like a lightning bolt,
"Wha?"
Vin'na's green eyes bore into Mindra's wide, crystal blue.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Vin'na whispered, accustomed to having to be quiet late at night.
"We have to run!"
Confusion hit Vin'na like a left hook to the face.
"What? What do you mean?" She was sitting now.
"The cartel is a bust, the King's men are shutting it down now!" Mindra tugged at Vin'na's arm and tore her from the bed. Once they made it to the doorway, Mindra's words finally hit home.
A smile tugged at Vin'na's face, a rare sight in itself. She broke free of Mindra's grasp and tried to make sense of it all.
"Why do we have to run?" Vin'na laughed, "We're free!"
"No." Mindra dead-panned. Vin'na looked Mindra straight in the face, and Mindra's hollow expression tore Vin'na's smile from her.
"W-what do you mean? You're confusing me here-"
"We're not free." Mindra interrupted, grabbing Vin'na's hand tightly and urged her to keep moving.
"We're the King's prisoners now."