Titans Assemble

Chapter 10

DISCLAIMER I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT OC'S

The cart was stopped in the middle of a mob. Vanalisa helped Raven stand as the cage was opened, and the women were dragged out by the guards one at a time. Collars with glowing blue jewels were strapped to their necks. A burly guard climbed up into the cage and seized a crying girl by her hair, and yanked her up to her feet. Raven gritted her teeth in anger as the girl was mercilessly dragged from the cart by her hair.

"You next!" one of the guards yelled at her, without waiting for her to move, the same guard climbed inside, and smacked Vanalisa aside and seized Raven by her arm and tossed her out to the other waiting guards. When the collar was strapped on, Raven felt her powers vanish completely.

"Move!" Raven was shoved hard by a guard and forced to walk behind a line of girls that were led to a makeshift stage where a fat man in a brown tunic stood.

"This first one is a runaway slave from Hillcrest," he shouted as a blonde girl was march up before the ground. "Bidding starts at 25 coins."

"30!"

"35!"

"40!"

Raven scowled as the price for the girl eventually rose to 75 and the girl was led away in chains. Eventually, only she and Vanalisa were left.

"These one is special, a witch from the west lands," the man said, as he grabbed the front of Raven's leotard and ripped it down the middle. A strong pair of hands grabbed her wrists to keep her from covering up as the fat slaver grabbed one of her breasts in his hand and squeezed it tightly. "Nice and firm this one, bidding starts at 200 coins."

Swallowing down the bile in her throat Raven fought back tears as the bidding climbed to 600 coins.

"Any other bids for this beauty?" he asked.

"1000 coins for the both of them," Raven turned her head to see Gaston standing at the front of the crowd.

"My lord, are you sure?" he asked, flabbergasted that a knight would bid for whores.

"These two are witches, and I shall see punishment severe and righteous come down on them," he said. "Unless thou wishes to deny mine claim?"

"Of course not my lord!" the slaver replied, as he hastily shackled Raven and Vanalisa's hands, and handed the chains to Gaston. The knight started walking, and jerked the chains to make the girl follow him. Climbing up on his horse, Gaston nodded to the guards.

"Strip them both," he said, almost immediately, the girls were completely nude, and the mob began to whistle and jeer. "Come, we've a long journey to Gamlin. Pray to thou heathen gods that thou feet do not tire."

The march was tiring, the sun beating down on their backs was burning. A jerk of the chain almost made Raven fall to the ground, but; she thankfully regained her balance. Along the road they passed other girls, some crying, some praying, others dead, they were all the same, all of them were crucified.

"Look long and hard at the fate that awaits thou once we reach Gamlin and you heathen whores are brought before the king," Gaston said, glancing over his shoulder. "Do not fear, you will have ample time to spend under the whip and upon the rack before you ascend the cross."

"I don't think I will make it to Gamlin," Vanalisa said, Raven could see the girl was at the end of her rope by now, the trek had been going on for several hours already, Raven herself was starting to feel the effects of dehydration as well. "It would be better to meet death here then to feed buzzards."

"Don't say that," Raven said. "I'll find a way to free us."

"What wouldst thou do?" Gaston asked. "Summon demons? Strike me dead? Thou can do naught as long as the collar binds thee."

In the distance Raven could make out shapes fast approaching, soon she saw several riders on horseback approaching fast. They stopped just short of the 3.

"Where are you going knight?" the leader asked, as he looked towards the two girls. "Girls in tow as well?"

"I ride for Gamlin to see witches put upon the cross," Gaston replied. "I ask of thee, can thou spare water? I fear the sun will do harm if left unabated."

With a wave, the leader sent a boy forward bearing a canteen. Gaston took a long drink before pouring some over his head. Handing it back, the boy made his way towards Raven, and the canteen was within reach, before Gaston wheeled his horse around and knocked the canteen to the ground.

"Do not treat these heathens as equal boy!" he said, before smacking Raven hard across her face, knocking her to the ground. "If thou wishes to quench thirst then stoop to knee and lap it from the ground like the mongrel bitches that thou are."

Against her better instincts, Raven dragged her tongue along the ground, picking up dirt and rocks, and almost choking on the dust in the weak attempt to get even a single drop of water. All the while the men were laughing their heads off.

END CHAPTER 10