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Warning: this chapter mentions sexual abuse. It doesn't go into detail, just mentions what a character went through in his past.

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Vengimi and Keth faced the Mijishian pirate captain, Zylin Bastin, and his first mate, Freyde Serildar, as they sat on the cushiony benches in the train-like transport ship. Their hands were bound in front of them with jeweled metallic bronze handcuffs. Keth's sword and sheath were placed back in his ship, which was now in possession of the Mijishian pirates. The transport ship carried them through the steampunk city, meandering towards an exotic palace in the distance.

The pirate captain sat across from the ship captain, in contrast with each other, not just in age, but in style of dress and physical appearance.

Zylin's long red hair shone like rubies in the gleaming sunlight through the window, leaving a red pallor on his deep blue and copper coat with intricate buttons. Though the pirate captain was in his late fifties, he was fit and in excellent shape, keeping to a routine workout regimen. There wasn't any gray in his hair because he kept dying his hair with sea mollusks. He wore a frilly white long sleeved shirt, deep purple pants, and black boots underneath his pirate coat.

Fredye dressed simply in a white waistcoat and a brown overcoat over burgundy breeches and dark brown boots. Underneath a red cotton bandana, his tawny brown hair was showing signs of grey, though he too appeared in good shape. Nobody was overweight or out of shape on his crew, Vengimi recalled.

"So where are you auctioning us off to?" Keth asked, assuming they were to be sold into slavery. "What vile fate do you have in store for us? Gladiators? Metalworkers? Stonemasons? Glamour lads?"

"What's 'glamour lads'?" Vengimi asked, confused by the strange term.

Keth gave him a look. "My, you sure are innocent of the seedier ways of the galaxy. Glamour lads are like glamour girls. What your planet would call prostitution."

Vengimi's eyes widened in shock. "What?!" He turned to Zylin and Fredye, his face the very image of horror. "You can't be serious! This is not the kind of fate I had set out for! Had I known this would happen....it would be better to bear the burdens of my horrible wife than to – " Vengimi shuddered, unable to even comprehend such a possibility.

I would rather die than be forced into prostitution. I didn't escape abuse just to fall into another, Vengimi thought, becoming pale and short of breath as certain images appeared in his mind, horrifying images of his wife committing such abuse towards him, the emotional and physical trauma he endured when she strapped him to the bed and did things against his will. Vengimi felt like he was going to throw up, unable to stomach the thought of a repeat of his past life, the life he tried so hard to escape from.

The life that sent him running away into the cold silence of the night.

The only thing that comforted Vengimi was that his son was spared from the knowledge of what happened to him behind closed doors. He wanted desperately to take his son away before his wife could dare hurt him in a way much worse than the yelling and screaming she inflicted on him.

Keth saw Vengimi was hyperventilating and knew he was in unwell condition. He gently nudged him with his handcuffed hands, murmuring softly, "Hey, take a deep breath and slowly let it out. I'll talk us out of such a cruel fate."

Zylin chuckled humorlessly. "As handsome as you men are, the King pays far more handsomely for recruiting soldiers than any cheapskate would pay for recruiting glamour lads."

"The King?" Keth repeated. "You mean your royalty deals with the likes of you pirates? What a corrupt form of government."

"The King hired us to recruit soldiers, allowing us to confiscate the ship and cargo, while suitable men and women are to be brought to him for evaluation," Zylin informed.

"Do you ever kill those you capture?" Vengimi asked quietly, having finally calmed to where he could breathe again, following Keth's advice to take slow deep breaths. "Do you sell them into slavery, or worse?"

"We let the weak ones go and we keep the strong ones," Fredye told him. "We are not authorized to murder, just thievery and recruiting."

"You mean thievery and trafficking," Keth said brusquely. "I didn't exactly see a volunteer poster saying the King was in need of soldiers. Pray tell, why resort to such means?"

Zylin spoke, removing his elbow from the windowsill as he straightened in his seat. " wants his army to be comprised of the most powerful men and women. Whether those men and women are of our own planet or a foreign planet, as long as they are fit and in good condition, and if they successfully undergo the Path of Shattered Glass, the King is satisfied to see such additions to his army. He evaluates each and every recruit, personally determining which of those people would make it to his circle of illusionist soldiers. If those recruits become illusionists, they are given the highest positions in the army. He's been gathering a force of powerful illusionists for a secret purpose. I would like to know that secret purpose."

"Illusionists? Do you mean magicians?" Vengimi asked.

"Illusionists are not magicians; they are soldiers who specialize in illusion warfare, using glamours, illusions, holograms, and projections to manipulate and trick the enemy. It is a superhuman ability, not a magic or sorcery," Zylin explained.

Vengimi and Keth were silent, not buying into any of what Zylin told them.

"A ridiculous notion," Keth denied. "I think I would prefer to be a metalworker. Bending metal is more credible than any of the nonsense you spewed."

"Believe what you will," Zylin said in a careless tone. "You will be sold to the King for a high sum and recruited as illusionist soldiers. Whether you pass the Path of Shattered Glass is completely up to you. If you want your freedom, I will demand information of the King's secret purpose, his reason for amassing such an army." 

"How fascinating," Keth commented. "The ultimate blackmail. You should wear it like chain mail."

Vengimi looked past Keth and towards the window at the landscape as the transport ship continued to carry them away from the docking station. The hustle and bustle of the steampunk city disappeared into the view of a railroad built above a massive waterfall, showers of water spraying above the transport ship as they moved across the top of the waterfall.

Past the waterfall was a bizarre feature that looked like sculptured water fountains, but instead of water, the liquid was shiny emerald green, smooth as glass, that formed into various shapes like flowers, stars, comets, planets, birds, and dragons. Far beyond was a magnificent building, golden white with emerald green, set against a picturesque mountain range with a scenic lake and evergreen trees.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Zylin remarked as the men stared at the scenery. "The name of the King's palace is Tieyota Macsima."

"Toyota Maxima?" Vengimi repeated in surprise. "That is the name of two different kinds of cars. Should be called Nissan Maxima, or Toyota Mirai or MR2."

"A car? Like a train car?" Fredye asked.

"No, a vehicle car," Vengimi elaborated.

"Must be an Earth thing," Zylin reasoned.

"Most likely," Keth stated.

"Certainly is," Vengimi confirmed.

The transport ship stopped in front of the palace. The men were ushered out, five more men following them as they started walking towards the palace.

"The King insists on personally meeting every person to be inducted into the Path of Shattered Glass, that way he can commit to memory the faces of those who will be serving him," Fredye told them.

"And if we don't serve your foreign King?" Keth asked.

Fredye tossed him a glance. "Then it's the blade," he told him grimly.

"That doesn't allow many options, does it? Either serve or be killed." Keth shook his head at the mock incredulity of it. "I learned so much about your King in the span of a few hours. What a charming fellow, indeed."

The palace doors were white marble rimmed with emerald. There were ornate water fountains on both sides, the water so clean it looked Alpine. The guards at the palace doors were embellished in metallic golden uniform with emerald green. They glanced at the men, recognizing Zylin and Fredye.

"Zylin Bastin, captain of the Gioden Shine, with seven recruits," Zylin informed the guards, who allowed the doors to open.

"What kind of ship name is Gioden Shine?" Keth asked in criticism. "That is no proper name for a ship, even a pirate ship."

Fredye sighed while Zylin gave Keth a scowl. Vengimi braced for a rough response, but all Zylin did was urge the men forward.

"Such gaudy taste," Keth commented as they were led inside the palace. The interior was white and gold, flaunting its gaudiness. An emerald green carpet draped over a marbled floor, golden décor, and spacious high ceilings. It was fancy and airy, a lavish place that flaunted its wealth.

They entered what looked like a steam room or banya, with a long glistening pool, marbled benches, towel racks, and ornate furnishings. There were rows of individual shower rooms, entirely closed for privacy, with a single door that was the only way in and out. The men were hastened into the shower rooms, ordered to take a shower and meet at the end of the hall where a tall fountain was situated.

Vengimi was relieved they weren't public showers, that each man had an individual shower with total privacy. He was awed by how nice the shower rooms were, with plentiful lighting, mirrors, mosaic floors and tile that prevented slipping, several small glass containers with shampoo and lotions, shaving razors and utensils, and a neatly placed towel on a rack just within reach of the shower. There was a robe and a fresh set of clothing, which were a simple cotton long sleeve shirt and pants. The clothing was a rich lush emerald green color with an intricate design.

After the showers, Vengimi and Keth went with several other men as they were ushered towards the men's division. Some men tried to sneak glances in direction of the women's division, but they were urged to go inside the men's sleeping quarters and select any bed of their choice.

The beds were all bunk beds. There were comfortable thick blankets, clean sheets, and fluffy pillows on each bed. Keth immediately took the top bunk while Vengimi took the bottom bunk. Vengimi was amazed at the blankets that shimmered when he ran a hand through the lush material. He placed his original clothes inside the shelf on the tall dresser beside the bunk bed, thinking of how nice everything was.

"This bed is incredible," said Keth as he lay on the bed, stretching out his legs and putting his hands behind his head. "The pillows are like clouds, so nice and soft, and the blanket is lovely and warm. I'm enjoying this, honestly. I really think things will turn out well for us."

"I hope so," Vengimi said quietly, not sure how to feel. Many thoughts ran through his mind, mostly of his son. He didn't know what was the intention of such nice things, but he appreciated them and hoped their situation wouldn't turn out terrible as perceived.

A palace servant named Beridus Kudor entered the men's sleeping quarters a few moments later. Even the servants' clothing is of high quality material, Vengimi thought as he looked at his cream white outfit trimmed in emerald green. Whoever the King is, he certainly shows care towards those who serve him.

"You shall be meeting with the King tomorrow," Beridus informed the men. "I suggest you all get some rest. Good night, gentlemen." The door locked behind him after he promptly left.

"So," Vengimi said vacantly, once the lights were out and everyone was settling to go to sleep. "We are to become illusionist soldiers."

"Better than the alternative," Keth said lightly. "Don't worry, Vengimi. We'll do what we can to get out of this mess. In the meantime, I'll take up on the suggestion of getting some rest. We'll need sleep if we are to get my ship back and find your son."

Keth went underneath the covers, marveling at how soft the sheets were, how warm the blanket was, and how easy it was to get to sleep. He felt like he was drifting on clouds, the bed like a ship sailing in the night sky. Such a peaceful night, Keth thought, feeling good about everything despite being captured by Mijishian pirates and brought to the King's palace.

Vengimi struggled to get to sleep, thinking of the son he left behind. He wished he could at least call him, but the Mijishian pirates confiscated his phone along with Keth's sword. He longed to hold his son in his arms, longed to take him away, but he couldn't return to Earth without Keth's ship. He had no idea how to navigate a ship or airplane, let alone an alien ship that sailed through outer space.

Maybe this is some crazy dream, Vengimi thought, hoping he would wake up and see his son again. Just doesn't feel like this is real. Maybe I've been reading too much of my son's stories.

Vengimi stayed up until tiredness overtook him and he succumbed to sleep. His last thought was of his son.