Chapter 14

Secrets

A trip to the Castle had gone relatively uneventful in spite of Vegeta's vain attempts of escape. Days would pass before the next piece of the story would come to pass.

A cold gust of wind chilled him to the bone as he stood there quietly, harnessed up to a cart, his hands bound to the cart shafts. The Prince of Saiyans looked at the building off to the right. Karr had entered it and left him behind to be ready for the next errand. He despised it grudgingly standing there while he enjoyed the warmth of a shelter and a hot meal.

Four guards held him steady, all warmly dressed and they kept a wary eye upon the one they held. Deep inside they knew as well, knew that the one they were holding captive was one that was also holding something else far deeper inside. Other castle slaves eyed him as they passed the windows unseen by the guards and their Master. On occasion, they would stop and stare at the harnessed Saiyan outside in the deadly grips of winter. They began to whisper amongst themselves of how he had defied Tojar's breaking.

As he turned his head to look back at them, Vegeta was struck harshly with the gauntleted wrist of another person. He growled, his eyes wincing from the sting of the blow. The cold had only made the strike feel like it burned into his flesh. And for one week he stood out there, unused, uncalled, and finally put up for sale once more.

Vegeta eyed the next buyer with ruthlessly cold eyes. This new man grinned and looked at him, then started feeling his numbed body. The cart had long since frozen to the ground, fastening it in a thick pack of ice. This other man looked down upon him and his own eyes narrowed. Jerone looked up. "How much for the beast and cart?"

The guard answered dutifully. "800 gold pieces sir for the slave, an additional 500 for the cart, making it 1,300 gold together."

Jerone gripped Vegeta's jaw tightly. "800, this creature isn't worth that much is it?"

Kofor nodded. "Yes sir, he is a one of a kind. A Prince from a nearly extinct race."

Jerone looked at the slave before him and looked over the now tattered cloth that covered him, the many lashes that had found his back, some very deep, others just welts. He slowly looked him over again. "How is the strength?"

Kofor shrugged. "He's been able to pull every load he's had so far."

Jerone again nodded at this. "For that amount of money, he'll work off that debt for me. Why is he muzzled?"

Kofor rested upon the cart shaft making the already weary Saiyan Prince nearly collapse. He had not slept in nearly two weeks and his world was becoming blurred. It was testing his endurance, his lack of patience. Feeling the added weight upon him, made him nearly stagger, instead shifing weight to compensate. Kofor continued. "He still has a problem with temper, something perhaps best settled with a distemper shot as well. A vet could give one to him with the monthly power shot as well. That way he doesn't become too big of a burden upon you."

Jerone nodded holding Vegeta's head up in his hand, locking eyes with Vegeta for the first time. The two stared at each other one with the dark brown eyes, cold and ruthless, the other were still proud, and burned with a silent rage only the Saiyan Prince could know. It was almost hypnotical between them, again the sounds drowning out from around them. Vegeta's coal black eyes spoke of many things, many secrets yet to be revealed and some of that still burned deeper in the gaze than any could ever touch.

The new Owner frowned on this as he let go of Vegeta's jaw. "He is not yet fully broken. How long has he been here? Who was his initial trainer?"

Kofor shrugged quietly looking to the Saiyan before him. "Nearly a year sir. His initial trainer was Tojar. Frankly, I don't know why he hasn't broken yet, but his determination is still very raw and he has a fire in his spirit that seems untouchable by any means of a beating."

Jerone looked back to Vegeta, again locking eyes with the Saiyan Prince. "We'll see how work in the mines will do. He'll either break, or die. Its that simple."

The guard nodded slightly, but his expression was not impressed. He had known how hard the mining slaves were worked, and he looked back to the Dark Prince. Something though said that it would take more than the coal mines to break this slave, and Kofor rested a hand on his shoulder lightly. "He's one of a kind, that's for sure."

Both locked eyes quietly, but Vegeta's own were intense, mysterious, like they held countless and ageless secrets. His own gaze fell, and he knew then that yes, this slave would indeed be different. No words were needed to see the silent flame flicker brightly, untouched, and demanding of respect. That was what Kofor gave as he gave a light pat upon the Saiyan's shoulder, a respect for this as yet unyielding spirit.

Jerone handed him a pouch and the guard counted it quietly then nodded as he placed them back inside the leather bag and cinched it closed and tied it around his belt. Jerone then grinned and got up top the cart and then took up the whip, laying it down harshly upon his back. Vegeta threw his weight into his harness, the ice underfoot began to crack and buckle, however the cart remained trapped in the ice.

The new owner continued to lash the whip down harshly and finally Vegeta threw his weight to the right, then to the left a few times. A loud crunching pop could be heard as the wheels broke free of the ice bindings that held them firm to the ground. Then finally he leaned forward and the cart began to move. Taking it at a careful jog, he quietly pulled all the while Jerone leaned back and watched ahead. When they hit the center of town, Jerone ordered a faster pace and against the sure steady pace, Vegeta hit a light run.