8

The Seltherats were seething, demanding the return of the children, especially now they had found ALL of them missing, including those in service already.

Instead, Jack told them he knew the children were all forfeit. He had talked to others and soon discovered that the children were along for the ride to this meeting because on the way home to their own realm after the meeting they were stopping off at the meat market to sell them all. This visit had been expensive. They had never intended keeping any of the eight children that were now missing somewhere.

If they did not want these kids… they would not have to have them!

The silence had been astounding once Jack had stood at the head of the table and roared that in the meeting room where everyone had been demanding an explanation.

It had stopped everything dead in the water as those of the Seltherat contingent not in the know, finally realized that they were going to lose their children and then all hell broke loose. Others from other realms also got involved, the idea of selling the children to fund the trip was abhorrent on many levels, especially given the fact the parentals did not know or have time to prepare.

As the argument started to fill the air once more, this time not as favourable for the Seltherats, Ianto simply left them all to it. Not his problem.

No.

He had a new one.

.

.

"Fabien, there you are" Ianto said like he did not already know where the boy was hiding in the castle.

There were at least a dozen kids in the room, all sitting on the floor eating food as they talked animatedly and Fabien said as he huffed Ianto "We will go see the kittens tomorrow. Tonight we are staying here, so we don't hear the storm outside. Right Uncle Ianto?"

"That's right" Ianto said, playing along with raw admiration for how quickly the boy had thought things through and how easily he was nurturing the children with a little white lie. "By tomorrow, maybe the picnic can be outside in the meadow."

Fabien waited until everyone was happy again and sidled over to Into "You are right, they know they are being sold. At least.. the big ones know. The little ones seem not to. The Bigs are ready for it, have fears of where they will go and a couple of siblings are clinging to one another for fear of separation. This is not something that is secretive… they know. They tell me their parents explained it was their time."

Ianto nodded, pleased to learn what he suspected is true.

The Seltherats not only planned to sell the children, the children knew. So the contingent knw. Still, they lie.

But why?

"Are they all accounted for?" Ianto finally asked, not sure what else to ask.

"All but a guy they call Cobra. He's sixteen… seventeen? Sort of hangs to with the kids but makes them a little uncomfortable because he's oiler. He was with them like white on rice, but has suddenly disappeared." Fabien frowned like he was annoyed.

Ianto felt the pricking of danger and acted quickly "Move them. Now… the the eastside hidey-hole. Tell tem… tell them it's a drill so if a meteor strike hits or something… get them away from here where that boy knows where you are."

"You think he's gone to rat us out?"

"Yes, is probably doing it now" Ianto nodded "I think he is the one supposed to discover somehow where are all the children hide in a time of panic. Go.. now. He is not to be trusted. I think whatever they want... he is here to get it."

As Fabien quickly organized the kids Ianto chose a comfortable chirr and settled to wait.

To see who Cobra brought back to the children's safe place.

He had a fleeing him here instead was not going to be what they expected at all.

.

.

Cobra stood eyeballing Ianto with open alarm. Someone had told him something, even if he did not understand all of it, he knew enough to be leery of this one who wore no high borne marks yet all seemed to move out of the way for. Fabien had returned to stand bravely by the chair, one hand on the back of it like he might protect Ianto. It was quite cute really. Ianto liked this one.

Ianto did not waste time "Right. All the children are to be sold at market on the way home, does that include you or are you now old enough to be a handler? A Breaker perhaps?"

"A Breaker?" Fabien asked with interest, "What's that."

"Some want chaste product, other want their already broken in and trained for pleasure. Someone of Cobra's age is perfect to be a breaker, to lay with the little girls and teach them how to pleasure a man, to cajole and tease until they learn how to be a good whore" Ianto explained.

Fabien stared at Cobra with wide eyes as he gaped at Ianto and spluttered "No! I am not! Da sent me to find the little cervices and hidey-holes where someone might place secret thins."

"Like explosives?" Ianto replied.

The child went silent, like he was trying to make up his mind and eventually he said "We don't do that sort of thing."

"Yes you do. You did. You are old enough to remember your parents and their covert mission to destroy a breeding stable, you are old enough to remember the smell of burning flesh as so many perished for your master." Ianto was angry now as he leaned forward "Who do you think set the explosives that killed them? Hmm? You parents. I know because I was there too. You don't seem to remember me but I remember you … Corbin." My mate Lisa used to braid your hair.

The boy's eyes bored into Ianto and finally he said in a small voice "Uncle Ianto?"

"Yes. And I remember it all. Your parents betrayed us, as they are now about to betray you. Is that not the sound of their carriages rolling out? I think they just abandoned you."

The youth cried out with horror, running into the keep to look out the opened gates, watching as the procession of carriages and others on horseback took off across the field heading for the mountain pass.

Heading for home.

They had decided to cut their losses, as in ... their children. Jack had offered a deal for some land in return for the children and they were happy. Fools. They know nothing do they. As if they would EVER be allowed to live in this realm.

Ianto felt nothing now but sorrow as the boy fell to his knees and wept onto the dirt.

So young and already so damaged.

Ianto then looked up to find not only Myfanwy but her mate Big Blue on the castle roof, both watching him eagerly as she clacked her teeth together in a mime to eating. Ianto nodded, the order silent so the children would not have to know their parents never made it home. The dragons would eat BBQ tonight, a rare delicacy as they do not usually eat human meat these days… but this was an exception. As the dragon took to the sky, calling to the others to follow for a roadside feast Ianto turned back Fabien to address the issue of the soon-to-be orphans.

"Come on then… gather the others. Cook needs help icing all those little cakes for tonight. Best one wins a prize!"

The kid took off with glee, the day's events forgotten as Corbin looked up at Ianto with tears running down his cheeks.

"Rule number one in life Corbin, one I live by and now am passing onto you. Trust only those you owe nothing to but loyalty. If you owe someone, or they owe you something… betrayal always circles." Ianto sighed "and rule number two… never turn down cupcakes."

The boy rose and rubbed his face with his sleeves and then he morosely followed Ianto. He knew he parents would not be coming back for them.

His silent wish for them to burn in hell was to be granted sooner than he thought.