Ryou was rehearsed in the plan as well as could be done. Dicho was going to Alles Klar, formerly the kingdom of Rohan. Escaping from there, the four had the chance of finding horses and getting to the outlands, where by law no creature was enslaved. Alles Klar had many freed slaves because of its proximity to the outlands.

He was told that the other two driving the wagons were young dwarves, Weavil Underwood and Rex Raptor, and they were easily fooled. Yugi had taken materials from his master, butter knives, rusted nails, and unused yarn, for them to fashion a way out of the chains.

Tea demonstrated one night, as they were stopped, that her chains came off. "The knives and nails had broken through the lock yours will be harder because he uses mithril when he has elves."

"He…he's had others?" Ryou asked, shocked.

"Yes, many. But when you are taken out for inspection, the chains come off and the collar is simpler to break," Tea explained. She pointed to Joey having his inspection.

Dicho watched as Rex charged at the human but was foiled and landed on his behind in disgrace. Joey's wild look was back. Ryou had been told he was not completely human; he had some skin crawler in his blood. That was why he was so strong and resembled a dog at times. Weavil was next. His behind landed and a thunderous crash and thwak! on the table near the fire.

"What will he inspect me for?" Ryou asked.

Tea bit her bottom lip and shut her eyes. "Your purity."

Ryou trembled again.

"Do not be worried. He's a monster, but he won't do anything to harm you. He'll ask you to undress and have you spread your legs…and check."

"Check for what? By Elbereth, woman chec—"

Tea slapped him when Joey let out a battle cry as instructed. "Quiet." She breathed and rubbed her arm to work how to tell the elf. She leaned in, Ryou following her. "He will check to see if you have been taken before. In any form."

"Oh," was all Ryou managed. "Well, I haven't, in any form."

"That's…good." Tea raised her brow. "I do not need to know."

"That's why I was sold."

"What?" Tea asked.

"Nothing," Ryou muttered.

He looked away and saw that Yugi had been standing there. "How long have you been here, precious one?" Ryou asked. He learned Yugi was quiet and could go unnoticed if he so chose. That was why he was able to get things. Joey had said Yugi even had daggers hidden somewhere.

"The inspection won't be bad," he said. "Master Dicho will only look. He won't touch you unless he finds signs of impurity."

Ryou was quiet. His body trembled again with fury. He did not understand how it changed rapidly from fear to anger, however it was done. He had not seen Yugi's face. Tea and Joey admitted they never saw the young one's face once. Suddenly, a frustrated battle cry came from Weavil. Joey with swift movement stopped him dead on. The dwarf was on the ground.

"Enough," Dicho said. "Good show, Mutt. Keep it up and I might get you in a mandingo fight. Wouldn't that be something to watch, Lovely?"

Another thing Ryou hated about his "master" was he never addressed Yugi by his name.

"Yes, Dicho," Yugi said.

"Come help these fools up,"Dicho said, walking away from the two dwarves groaning on the ground. Joey cleaned himself with a bucket of slightly dirty water as Yugi struggled lifting the dwarves.

"What was that for?!" Rex screamed at Joey.

"Doan what masta says," he replied, putting on his shirt.

"You nearly killed us, you worthless Mutt."

Joey growled. Yugi whimpered and tried to keep Weavil, who had to have a stitch sewn from joining in the fight.

"You're lucky we can't just kill you," Rex continued. "My ax could do way more damage than my hands, and then Weavil's harpoon has more power than those giant paws of yours, Mutt."

Joey growled again. "Betta stop callin' me Mutt ya midget."

It went silent for a moment. One thing that all folk know is never ever ever call a dwarf a midget.

"I'll kill you!" Rex went at Joey who easily brought him down. What was unexpected was Weavil punching Yugi in the gut and picking up his harpoon. He ran straight to Joey.

Tea screamed for her friend's life. No one noticed the other figure running. Tea had shown him, although the lock looked secure, it actually had been broken for days, held in place by yarn of the same color

Ryou tackled Weavil to the ground and took the harpoon from him. He stood up and placed the weapon at the dwarf's throat.

"Don't you move, scum," said Ryou. Joey placed Rex in a headlock. Yugi groaned to get up. He was pushed to the ground.

"I see my slaves are having fun," said Dicho, coldly.

Yugi started to shake. Ryou was freed of the harpoon by Rex who helped Weavil up. Joey stood stock still waiting for the punishment.

Dicho stared at his property. They were all frightened, including his new one, who his Lovely had taken a liking to. If they were so scared he reasoned punishment would not be right. For now. The incident was minor and the dwarves were real idiots believing to take on his champion. Dicho looked down at his treasure on the ground.

If not a whole beating for them, I could have my Lovely find me more jewels. Dicho nodded. He bent down to help his treasure up, until a thud resounded. A glistening knife, one he had forgotten lay at his treasure's large feet. "What is that?" Dicho asked.

The properties were motionless. Dicho had a crazed look in his eye. He grabbed his treasure hard and took him to his tent.

The tent was large and had a lavish bed with pillows and silk sheets. That's where he threw his treasure. Outside he heard the Mutt's protest, but those idiot dwarves had gotten their weapons and stood guard.

"Now, Lovely, let me take a look at what else you've stolen."

Dicho ripped Yugi's clothes off, roughly yanking the hood. It revealed a baby face of a boy with large amethyst eyes. His hair had grown and he kept in small pig tails the red and black swirling with each other, while his bangs stayed the same. Yugi shook, as Dicho ripped through his layers. Once down to his undergarments, the man had discovered the knives and rope he had saved, also some medicine he knew they would need. Dicho's eyes became angered with every rip.

"Funny, my Lovely, how our best thought plans crumble from simple mistakes. Trying to take away more of my property like last time. You know that Bakura fellow was worth his price. Are you trying to save your friends again?" Dicho sneered. "You'll never escape me, and I'm not letting you take more slaves away." Dicho grabbed Yugi's last remnant of clothing and removed almost lovingly. "Now spread them."

Ryou started to cry. His elf ears and eyes were a curse sometimes as they were a blessing. The whimpers of pain and faint thrusting sounds were killing him. The three of them were in the cage, heavily chained, Joey muzzled because he tried to bite Rex's finger. The whimpers after a while turned into shouts. Then screams. Tea cried along with Ryou and Joey shook against his chains.

"Wow, you hear that?" whispered Weavil.

"Shut up," Rex demanded.

"I don't like this, Rex. We're not the most noble dwarves, but by Mahal, we aren't killers and rapists. Rex, if we stay here we might be next." Weavil was referring to the previous dwarves who "disappeared."

"Not killers, what were you planning with that harpoon?"

Rex spoke a little louder as the screams intensified. He had to admit, the man sickened, and the sweet slave he had did not deserve this life.

"Just a bit of scaring that beast," Weavil replied, trying to lighten the mood. The screams had died. "I thought he would choke you for attacking him like that."

"No, he's a beast, but he isn't a killer."

They were quiet again. The reticent forest had fallen to the only noise being made. Deep sorrow filled sobs.

A week had passed and Yugi was held in the wagon and tent, resting. Dicho had changed the course slightly, taking the longer road to the borders of Alles Klar. Ryou and the others were eating and watching the days go by. Joey was in sorts all the time; fidgety, reacting at the slightest sound. He missed his friend.

Ryou and Tea were composed, but they too had fear of the sudden change in course.

One day, Dicho had them stop. Ryou looked out from his cage, blanket wrapped tightly around him. They had taken a mountain road at some point and Ryou started to recognize it as the Blue Sun Pass, in the Sunny Mountains of former Moria. The name itself was a misnomer, a ray of neither sunshine nor star light showed through the clouds and dense fog during the spring. Ryou also remembered a rumor of a dragon.

No, that's wrong, he thought. Our dragons are extinct. They were killed by the Dragons of the Eastern Man…oh no!

"We need to get off this path," Ryou yelled, hoping for it to reach the monster Dicho.

"Why's that, Elfling?" asked Rex, huffing.

"A dragon lives nearby. One of the East. The Treasure of Moria was rediscovered by brownies and remade to its former glory until new dragons came, more terrifying than ours. They can't be killed by a black arrow!" Ryou emphasized.

Rex and Weavil were concerned. A dragon impervious to a black arrow! The very thought sent chills down their spines. Then an eerie cackle sent a bigger chill through their blood.

Dicho smiled menacing as he saw the horror written on his property's faces.

"Exactly, young Princeling. You see, I don't just make my fortune by selling the perfect slaves, I also deal with theft. I had quite a band of thieving slaves, my Lovely included, but that's where I went wrong." He turned to face all his property. "You see, my treasure decided to get greedy. So, three years ago, he freed all my former slaves. They ran, including my best one. He looked similar to you, Princeling," Dicho pointed to Ryou, who trembled in fury. "But not quite as tempting," he licked his lips. Ryou felt violated. "My Lovely set them free, but I, the greatest master, did not reprimand him. You see, he offered me…a gift I could not refuse. One I've been enjoying these past years. However, if he plans on being greedy with my property, then I must be compensated for."

At this Dicho whistled. From his wagon, Yugi came out, shakily at first but had his footing in place. He had on trousers and a simple cotton shirt. That was the first time they saw his face. It was evident he had been crying and his baby face gave it all away. Dicho summoned Yugi to the front wagon.

"Here I make a proposition. This key was taken from an elf lord some years ago and ended in my possession, it opens the passage to the former Moria mind here," he pointed to the side. Ryou gasped, he felt so stupid not to recognize the passage. "My Lovely is to enter this way and find me the prize gem of the brownies, the Matrix Opal Skull, by the third night fall, when we are in the borders. Hear that, five days, no more. If you succeed, I will let you all go. But, fail and I will kill the Mutt and girl. The elf is too valuable."

Yugi nodded and shook hands, despite the protests from his friends. He would have to wait till they left to start. Dicho called the wagons to go, Yugi on the mountain road with no provisions or horse.

His friends screamed his name the whole time.