Chapter Nineteen: Ramel

Ramel, an old city that was once a small fishing village. That was thought to be established six hundred years ago. Unknown of who first founded it dragon or human Ramel eventually evolved into a large city that holds at least seventy thousand dragon lords and two hundred thousand slaves. Bustling full of shipyards and markets where people from all countries sail to trade. As Ramel is the only city in the Orange Empire to never have isolated themselves in history.

The sky is clear as the sun's rays feel as if the world will burn. The noises and shouts of slavers and trade dealers can be heard. The smells of waste, sweat, smoke, and spices sweep over the city. As Aaron sits on the edge of an old empty dock staring out to the horizon. Watersgate cannot be seen in the distance. But it felt as if he could touch it. Iolene would have left there by now, on her own mission. I hope she finds what she is looking for… As he thinks of her longingly.

He then turns to glimpse at the city behind him as he sat on the edge of a dock. Aaron remembers when he was eleven this was the first city he saw when he was sold. Walking off the ship in chains, the blazing sun touched his skin. He had never felt anything so hot and dry. Another slave an adult male refused to come off the ship and decided to drown instead. He took another innocent man and woman with him as they were chained together. Aaron was tempted to do the same… But didn't have the heart to follow. Instead, he followed his new dragon master to the market…

Aaron could never forget that Ramel's buildings are made from yellow, orange, red, and white bricks, as they are built to be shaped like small pyramids. An occurring theme in Orange, as they claim it as their own to never be built anywhere else. A fact he overheard from his first master. But even amongst the fear of the unknown Aaron as a boy did feel a small moment of wonder of this place. Pausing to look at the scary orange dragons with their visible brains. Sharp claws with two legs, his wonderment ends quickly as a dragon snaps to scare the boy as the dragon laughs at him. Aaron was guided through the city; it is beautiful in its own way. Aaron could see it… It's just sad to him that the beauty is shallow and nothing more.

Small and scrawny Aaron had no idea of where he was or what his future will be… He was joined by thirty men and women slaves of different ages. All chained together by the neck and hands. All cut on the arms as they needed blood for all the phylacteries. Little Aaron rubs his neck as if he can still feel the chain's presence. Heavy and janky the slaver had to tighten his up since his neck was so small and loose. No one spoke… It was quiet as a young Aaron shed silent tears. Following the orders of his new master he walked barefoot on the red dirt roads. For it is time to join the caravan. His feet burned and blistered as it was agonising, the sun burning the dirt under the dry heat. He dreamt of swimming in the ocean so the pain will go away…

"Aaron…" Mali says softly breaking Aaron's thoughts. "The next caravan will be leaving tomorrow night just after sunset. As expected, do you need anything?" Mali asks kindly. None of the usual sarcasm or his joking nature can be heard.

"I don't know…" Aaron replies unsure as he looks down at his feet dangling. The water moving underneath hitting the dock is almost hypnotic.

"They don't have cake." Mali jokes trying to break the boy's uncertainty. "Maybe some extra weapons? Desert robes?"

"I can use some desert robes… The last thing I want is to be only thin clothes that burn my skin." To his relief his tanned skin, and burns don't look bright red. But the heat is deadly to everyone. Aaron stands up and follows Mali. Meeting up with the rest of the group, Aaron happily greets the dragons Duryss, Beau, and Iymp. The gold dragon disguised as blue has perked up after his rough sea voyage.

Beau however still felt weary, sick, and tired. Beau had no idea of how harsh of heat this country is. On the ship ride, he was sick all the way through, much to his disappointment. Vomiting so much he thought he would never eat again. Aaron called it the "sea sickness" and Beau hated every moment, of being on board that ship. The rocking side to side and smells. All horrible. He couldn't keep any food down. Aaron trying his best to give Beau some sustenance. He will happily never sail again… This morning he managed to eat breakfast much to Mali's insistence. The dragons are going to need everything they can eat. For once in the desert sea, they will be living on strict rations.

The group traveled to the market square. One of the largest in the world as it is crowded and full of travellers and natives. Ramel is unique compared to other Orange cities, towns, and villages. Since the other people of the world visit them, they try to hide much of their barbaric practices from the outside. Aaron well knowing that the cruelty is still in operation. Having seen and lived it himself, they perform torture inside buildings they are walking past.

Fred struts away as he sees a young and pretty woman slave. She stands seductively next to a door that is obviously a brothel. Mali immediately cursed him. Fred grabs her chin to get a closer look at her face. Smooth freckled skin and long straight ginger hair. Her breasts are completely uncovered as Fred examines her. Only her bottom half is covered by a cloth. Fred checks her wrist and sees the slave tattoo. "How much?" He asks excitedly. The woman was about to answer when Mali knocks the back of Fred's knee. The massive man grumbles and then stumbles to the ground. Mali berates the prince as if he is a child. Fred stumbles back to the group as orange dragons laugh.

Aaron gives a slight nod to the young slave woman as she nods in reply. A way to apologise to Fred without saying it. So, neither will get repercussions of the crime of talking to slave as an equal. Sighing as he is not shocked by how Fred behaves. For the Green Empire, slaves are also a booming business. Fred even called Aaron a slave on numerous occasions in the past. Slavery is normal to the Green Prince, whose family-owned thousands of them. They would have worked and did everything to make their kingdom function smoothly. Aaron did notice though, that Fred has softened to the ex-slave. But Aaron did not know why…

"It is so hot here!" Fred exclaimed he bends over as the heat is slowly becoming unbearable. Using his thick and large hands as a fan. The late afternoon is at the day's worst. Aaron quickly walks over and gives him a drink of water and moisturiser. As Freds' white skin is starting to turn red like a tomato. The prince felt as if his whole body is on fire. He wanted to scream and cry as his body hurt so much.

"You are getting heat sickness," Aaron said to the disgruntled prince. "You need to be covered head to toe to protect your skin and sip water regularly. Also, use the moisturiser that Iolene gave us, it helps cool the skin." Aaron gives him a small brown clay pot. Instructing Fred on how to apply the medicine. Fred having no choice uses it begrudgingly. For men should never use such things. His father Emperor Kaiser was sick when he was younger. People thought he was going to die… He proved everyone wrong by defying all healers' aid. He had no help from those con artists his father proclaimed. They are all bullshit! You are a man! You fight to live! If you do not you fail and deserve to die as a weakling and a disappointment! Child Fred little realising that after proclaiming them as con artists many healers fled. Which caused a massive spike in preventable deaths in Demir.

The blue cream is thick and glossy. Fred rubbing first on his left arm he felt an instant cooling sensation. Fred moans in relief as it felt good. "Aaron, thank blondie for this thing," Fred says as he felt pain relief sounding in complete ecstasy.

"I will…" Aaron chuckles as he opens Iolenes journal. Full of useful medicinal and apothecary recipes. She researched and studied hard for the details. He will need to make more of the moisturiser. With Mali, they shop for the ingredients. To their luck, they are common plants and weeds, cheaply harvested. Buying a decent amount from a snappy orange dragon who demeans humans. Aaron and Mali remain polite, the offer of gold always changes an orange dragon's mind.

The night begins to fall as the group tent outside of Ramel. In measure to make sure they join the next caravan which will be tomorrow night.

The night is always the best and coolest. But even starting the journey during the night has its dangers. The desert is immensely dark, with sinking sand and dangerous creatures lurking underneath the ground. The caravan usually has trained dragons who know the sand sea by even having their eyes closed.

Mali drags his sleeping bag next to Aaron as the slave looks up to the stars.

"Do you remember the constellations I taught you?" Mali asks playfully.

"I do…" Aaron smiles with accomplishment. Looking down at his bowl of old meat and half-rotted basic vegetables. He eats it all eagerly with his hands.

Fred stares at his comparative bowl of disappointment and eats it sourly.

Iymp, Duryss, and Beau being visiting dragons get gifted a large roast desert bird each. Beau is impressed as he ate his bird quickly. Beau is starting to love cooked food. The only danger is that cooked bones turn brittle and can cause harm to the gut. But the taste of cooked birds is amazing. As a dragon from the wilds, they eat food raw. Innards, feathers, scales, all of it. They never made fires or anything as his father spoke against human influences. But he could not deny the extra level of deliciousness humans strive for when it comes to food.

Iymp felt as if a piece of himself has been taken away from him. Lexi is with Iolene across the salt water. Trying his best to hide his feelings he clings to Beau closely. He misses her… Beau knows this and does not understand how Iymp can miss a human so badly. But his own heart ached... He wondered himself until Iolenes face appears in his mind's eye. She was so kind to him… Even when they first met when he was a mutated creature who couldn't control himself. He would have been a non-stop killing machine. He thanked her by helping to protect her, but now he is free in a country ruled by dragons. He is excited to see Dominus Sahara.

Fred sighs as he finished his dinner and rubs more ointment on his skin. "Happy to be home?" Fred says cheerily to Aaron.

"I don't have a home…" Aaron admits. He and his mother lived in a small room until her death. Boarding in a kennel alone in Watersgate. Being a slave in Master Isil's coliseum barracks. He lived there… But it was never home. A home he desired is a little cottage where he will be a husband and father. A peaceful life away from death and fear.

"Huh… Well, I miss my home. A large palace on top of a mountain, where I had gorgeous women servants to tend to my every need. In and out of bed…" Fred smiles at the thought of his three maids. But his thoughts soured as he knows they are dead.

"I'm sure you do." Aaron interrupts, not shocked that he would have sexy slaves. Aaron instantly put off that Fred called them servants. The women were slaves… Aaron knows the difference between servants and slaves. Servants can have choices and are paid for their services. Slaves are owned and whatever money is involved is given to their master. Their conversation ends as everyone sleeps and prepares for their long multiple-week journey across the sand sea.