Chapter 4: Residue 

     There were only ten bidders still in the running by the time the auction ended. 

     Two of them were not that much older than Gale when she’d been taken. 

     When it was over, the auctioneer assigned two guards to escort Gale’s wagon back to the border. They’d report to the watchtower at the gate, spend the night in town, and return in the morning. 

     “Until next time, Gale.” He kissed her cheek, as was the custom there for all who bought slaves. His robe smelled of cinnamon and sweat, and his breath of a pipe mixture she didn’t know. It wasn’t unpleasant, but neither was it welcome.

    She’d had enough of stenches for one, pleasant or otherwise.

    Fortunately, the breeze off the evening water was clear of the scents of fish offal, brine, and salt. It was actually a bit chilly, and Gale breathed deeply as she stood by the wagon while the guards brought out the new slaves.

    Zephyr watched the process in a sort of daze, only helping them to keep their balance and get settled onto the blankets on the floor. 

    For whatever food and water they’d need, that would be given when they returned to the palace.

    He took a moment to watch the ocean, calm at low tide, hissing whispers to the sand in a language eons old, taking a little more land as it receded. 

    If the rebellion ever grows large enough, I’ll lead the charge myself that sees this hell ended.

    His head hurt from the raucous din of the bidders, musicians, and wailing slaves that comprised the bulk of his afternoon. As it went on, he found it difficult to keep the memory of his parents’ butchering at bay.

    He vowed he’d never come here again, unless it was to lead the charge that saw this hell burned to the ground. 

     Not even for Gale. 

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    The new slaves, cowed by the muscled, well-armed guards, kept their silence, resigned to their fate. They were too tired to worry about what would happen, and too frightened to risk death by defying the guards and Zephyr to kill their buyer.

    Zephyr sat beside her, seeing the stress of the day on her face as well. 

    “You hate this too.”

    Gale nodded.

     “Then why take her place?”

     “She left me no choice. As I served her, she claimed to see parts of herself in me…”

     “Your defiance.”

     “I guess so. But you…”

     “She got to me early too. I had no choice but to embrace the training. My thinness made me sport among the squires and stable hands, until Amadi…”

     He looked at her profile until she felt his gaze on her and met it. “Gale, no one I care about is ever going to get taken from me again, not without a fight.”

      “So it’s come to this. I put people in chains, and you put them in graveyards.”

      Zephyr sighed and sat back. “They’re both death sentences. One just takes longer to kill the soul.”

       It was Gale’s turn to sigh. “We’re going to wind up on opposite sides of this, aren’t we?”

       “Seems so.”

       She stopped the wagon, and one of the guards called from the back. “What’s the matter?”

       “Nothing. Let them stretch and relieve themselves. We’re close, but not close enough.”

       “All right.” The slaves began to emerge, grateful for the opportunity despite the circumstances. 

        She looked at Zephyr. “Let’s do this now then, before the weight of it collapses on us.”

        “Do what?”

        Going the opposite direction of where the guards were sending the slaves, she took him by the hand and led him into the woods.

Chapter : Release

    There was a tender intensity passing between them in the exploration of bodies and taking of pleasure, leaving them both with a sense of regret and wonder.

    He was no longer ‘bones-on-a-rope,’ filling her hands with hard muscles and hot skin, and the sounds he made against her ear and in the hollow of her throat as he took her pushed her to greater passion.

                                                              **************

    He felt the longing emanating from her, the fear and uncertainty of their fate disappearing in the moment.

    He slowed himself, seeking to savor and prolong, guiding her to match the rhythm he wanted, feeling her yield to it, feeling his desire not to let her go because of what could happen when it was over.”

     “Tell me your real name, Gale.”

     She did. “Now give me yours.”

     He did. 

     The release came moments after, more intense for the moment of intimate trust that prompted the exchange.

     He hoped it was a moment that wouldn’t cost them everything.

     She hoped it was one they would never regret.

                                                                  ************

     The guards had the slaves back in the wagon, standing beside it, all smirks as the two of them emerged.

     She ignored them as she got back into the seat to take the reins again.

     Their smirks disappeared when Zephyr looked at them, though he never visibly changed the expression on his face. 

     He climbed up on her side, took the reins from her, and got the wagon going.

      Gale smiled, and blushed when he took her hand and placed it on his thigh.

      But she left it there.