Chapter 3(THIS IS NO SOUTH)

Chapter 3 

Blinking groggily, I found myself in the swaying embrace of a moving horse. The rhythmic jostling stirred me from sleep, and the creak of leather and the soft thud of hooves against the ground echoed in my ears. A surreal sensation of motion surrounded me as I gradually became aware of the saddle beneath me and the warmth of the horse's flank against my legs. The landscape rolled by in a blurry scenery, and as my senses adjusted, I realized I was part of a journey whose destination remained a mystery in the hazy dawn.

"Finally awake sleeping beauty," I heard behind me followed by laughter, panic set in as I immediately looked behind me. Have I been caught already? 

To my surprise none of the faces were familiar, and their distinct features gave away that they weren't wolves either. Have I finally arrived in the South? Are they Rogues? I looked around watching them laugh at me while I wondered which of them were Aisling's brother.

"So what is your name?" I was asked, for some reason they all looked at me with lust in their eyes. The horse suddenly stopped and to my surprise, they became hostile, kicking me down the horse. My eyes immediately traveled to the back.

"Are you deaf? What is your name?" the heaviest of them asked, annoyed. I bite my tongue in frustration, again I am confused none of them look like Aisling. My eyes again looked behind. The faces I met were sad, their hands bound together as they walked in two lines, and amongst long lines were children as well.

"Perhaps she doesn't speak our tongue," One of the men said getting my attention

"From traveling the world I have come to know that the little wolf town Luparia, speaks a part of our tongue." He barked back, still glaring at me.

"She might not be from Luparia." They continued to argue, I am from Luparia and of course I could understand them even with their thick accents.

"She is obviously not human, she is a wolf," the argument continued. My eyes wandered around till it rested far behind. This is not far south and these men are not Rogues. I have been captured and am not the only one. Several men and women, even children tied up like slaves.

"Here," I was dragged and without uttering another word I watched as my hands were bound just like the rest.

"She is beautiful, And I found her," The youngest amongst them said with excitement in his voice as he was handed over the rope that tied my hands.

"For a fair price I will acquire her from you," again the heaviest of them said, eying me up and down from his horse.

A chuckle left my mouth as finally I began to understand. While in my dilemma trying to escape I forgot to run South. Running away from death I ran into trouble. But still it was better than whatever Lucuis planned to do to me.

My hands now tied and the rope in the hands of the youngest who apparently found me. He rode on his horse on which I was sleeping on before while dragging me to walk beside him. 

A severe urge to quench my thirst I watched as they sat on their high horses drinking from a mysterious-looking glass jar.

"Is that Thorian?" The young man asked, looking ahead. I followed his gaze to see a familiar white horse standing at a distance. Too far to see its rider I looked on as everybody else.

"That's impossible, how Can the prince be here?" Another replied full of doubt.

'Prince?' I wondered. Just where are they from? There is only one place coming to mind. Father spoke about. LYTHRIA. The land which has a different ruling system but that is the least of what I should be worried about.

Upon nearing the white horse and its rider I needed no seer to tell me what he was. His unusual golden eye color is a dead giveaway. A lycan… They are all lycans. My heart rate tripled as I felt cold sweat trickling down from my forehead. I should have known upon seeing them. Their strong physic.

"Your Highness," they greeted him. I lowered my gaze immediately looking away from his eyes to look at his horse, it was the same horse I saw at the river bank.

"Your Highness, how come you are here?" Again the heaviest asked him.

"Words came from the kingdom, I have been summoned by my father," his voice was cold like his eyes. They began to murmur in disbelief while I listened. From the confusion I was able to gather this was the first in years he was joining them to go home. A prince who lives in a foreign land. Strange, I thought.

"Why is she tied to you?" He asked looking at me, again I met his eyes, resting on his face is a frown looking me up and down to rest on my tied hands.

"Uhm, I found her not far from my tent, passed out, She is not from Daus." The youngest replied cheerfully while I listened wondering how that came about. I only remember passing out by the river, how come he found me by his tent?

I watched as he nodded looking at me. "I can tell she is not from Daus, did she say where she is from?" he asked again while they remained quiet, staring at each other.

"Your troupe left with a total of 500 hundred slaves which half have reached LYTHRIA. Picking up a passed-out maiden who likely is a spy and obviously not from Daus…" he paused looking at me, his frown deepening.

They all lowered their heads as he continued to fume. He was younger than most of them, if I were to guess his age he should be a couple or of the same age as Lucius…

I watched the largest carriage I have ever seen arrive with no horse driving it, both I and the people of Daus who were captured marveled at the sight in front of us. I have never seen anything like this ever. Like the tales father would tell. That the Land of THYRIA is like that of the future. My heart bleeds for my family. What have become of them? And what of Aisling who fought sending me away? 

"Move!" I was nudged inside the carriage with the others. By the command of their prince, I was locked with the other slaves and from my observation straight to LYTHRIA. The strange carriage was faster than that of a normal carriage.

I could only wonder how they managed to build something this convenient. What level of magic and soccerey was used to build such carriage…

After days of traveling, we finally arrived. For the whole journey, all I did was pray to the moon goddess. There was nothing else a Coward like me could do. I saved myself finally. There is no way Lucius can find me In LYTHRIA. 

In a straight line, we were piled up vacating the long carriage. The fresh scent of good air, refreshing I breathed in. I looked around in shock at the sight in front of me. An open-versed land filled with people with various food products in front of them. Dressed in luxurious clothing and fancy hairpieces.

"They are selling food?" I let out in shock watching the exchange between two women, one offered coins while the other offered back a basket of fruit.

In Luparia it is forbidden for one to sell food. "Move!" We heard the loud order from the heavy man who I have come to know as Laux.

In complete awe, I watched the tall buildings standing in the distance and the strange high statues standing around. All the tales were true, LYTHRIA is a really strange place.

"You do not get to keep a slave girl because you fancy her, you do not get to sell her either," Again I hear his voice. The supposed prince's name is Thorian. He spoke with authority, making eye contact with each of his men.

For the first time, I saw him stand on his feet, unlike the rest who wore thick cloaks made with animal furs. He wore a blue thinned fabric shirt that seemed to be in a fight with his muscles. The fabric for his pants is a mystery to my small knowledge.

"What about the wild-eyed wolf girl?" Laux asked followed by an unpleasant loud laughter. It was obvious he had his eyes on me for some strange reason. And I pray I don't fall into his hands.

"She is not from Daus, she could be a spy," The prince said, meeting my eyes. Confused, I refused to look away. 'What about me calls for a spy?' I wondered.

"She comes with me," he said to my surprise.

"Ooooohhhh!" they all blurted out with mischievous smiles whispering to each other. I could hear every of their lewd and dirty words.

"It is only right that the prince keeps the prettiest one," my stomach growled in pure disgust. It is obvious they have no respect for women by how loose their words were.

I watched as we were selected in pairs. I along with a handful of slaves were picked to go to the place where they called the palace. My eyes refused to look away from him yet. What has he planned to do with me? His face was stoned compared to the men who were full of smiles. But unlike them, he had no lust when he stared at me or any maiden. Will he really take me and do the evil and dirty things they speak of? What kind of man is he?

From what I have learned so far. The people of Daus are not fully wolves, neither are they humans. They lack the gift of transformation. The Lycans took over their land and overpowered them, acquiring them as slaves…