---Nadir's POV---

My hands trembled as I made my way across rooftops and walls, a shadow in the night that saw but was unseen. I swallowed thickly, feeling the slight niggling guilt in my stomach for taking a human life.

But was it really a human life? He deserved it. He enslaved so many people, ordered the death of innocent men, women and children, exploited them... He deserved to die.

Nodding to myself, I made my way to the small watering hole, drawing up a bucket of the precious liquid before using it to wash the sweat of my face. Dipping my hand down, I cupped the water and drank it, soothing my parched throat.

That was one of the many targets I had. Word would spread quickly now but my next target wouldn't know what hit him. I would make his death as painful as possible.

Hence why you made Javier an example of what would happen to slavers.

A smirk curled at my lips as I remembered Javier's sneering face turn horrified when I had knocked him out. Most would've thought me to be cruel about killing him the way I did but I simply rewarded him the same treatment he gave to his slaves.

The necklace I had left on him was once Saemus'. A mark of possession of his most prized slave. Back then I had no idea but I learned now that I had made the man a small fortune.

Sitting down on the sand, I loosened one of my boots and looked at the scorched mark on the sole. Even after all these years, it felt incredibly sensitive and each step I made was a solid reminded that I had once been a slave.

An object. A mindless being to abuse and disregard without further notice.

I was lucky that I had only been branded on the foot and lower back. I've seen many different types of slaves and saw different brands of tattoos. There had even been one female slave who had been branded on her cheek, for refusing to "service" her master.

She didn't live long after the branding. Killed herself after many of her master's men had visited her in the night. Her body never buried, because it wasn't a slave's right to pass onto the afterlife, according to our masters.

Sighing deeply, I quickly shoved my boot back on and disappeared into the darkness. I was going to make my way to Aakif, my second master. And the most monstrous one in my opinion.

Most of my former masters had the same jagged and warped minds, which need to humiliate and abuse a weaker person. But Aakif... Aakif was a monster in his own realm, feared and hated by all his slaves.

And he had many, though he sold numerous amounts to his friends and allies. Bargaining chips in trades, rewards for his men or simply work labor.

Looking at the morning sky, I smiled at the sunlight, though I was still trapped in the past. Seeing Saemus after all these years had been hard, harder than I had expected it to be.

I could very clearly remember his and Javier's training sessions in obedience, attitude and posture. Fingering the long scar on my collarbone, my eyes grew blurry with the memories assaulting my mind.

A strangled yelp escaped the young girl in front of him but Nadir couldn't, wouldn't look up. He knew that Javier was standing right behind him, whip in hand and an all too eager hand ready to lash out.

"Like I said before, slave, you have no name. What do I call you?" Saemus asked in a bored tone, glaring down at the girl as she sat on hands and knees, head bowed and tears dripping down her face.

"A-Anything y-you wish, S-sir?"

"And why was that a question and not an answer, you whiny brat?" Saemus snapped before Nadir flinched when the whip flew through the air to crack over the girl's back once more. The young boy was shaking on the spot, but not in fear.

Oh no.

He was enraged. How dare they hit a woman... His father had taught him to treat any female with the respect they deserved. They should be worshiped, defended and sheltered from such evil. Not this, never this.

The boy glanced back from the corner of his eye, glaring hatefully at the slaver. It had been a few months after he was abducted from his family and most of his fellow slaves had already been trained and sold.

But not him. He had an attitude problem, according to Javier. And when the man raised his whip to hit the girl once more, that attitude sparked in Nadir, resulting in a quick shift of his foot, kicking against the man's ankle so Javier lost his balance and nearly toppled over.

"You filthy slave!" The roar hurt in Nadir's ears but not as much as the fingernails that clawed over his sensitive scalp without a care, snatching a handful of his dark curls before lifting the boy completely of his feet.

A strangled cry escaped him as he clawed at Javier's hands while he was dragged towards the front of the room, the few children already looking on with fear at the object everyone hated the most.

The post.

The massive, wooden post that Javier used to chain any unruly slave onto, lashing them to his hearts content and leaving them without food or water, depending on their misdemeanor.

If they stepped out of line when being led to the mines, Javier would skillfully aim his whip at their feet, bruising toes and creating small yet extremely sensitive cuts that were easy to infect in the sand.

Taking food that wasn't earned got you a lashing with the iron laced whip, which always resulted in heavy scars on the back of the hand. A clear sign to any future Master that their slave was untrustworthy.

Nadir did his best to escape Javier's hands, getting in a few claws and a single bite to the man's hand before he was punched in the eye. Blinking slowly, he felt the shackles already on his wrists, shirt tearing off his body as Javier let out a menacing chuckle.

"Don't kill him, Javier." Saemus warned dryly, clicking his tongue as he noticed that I was looking defiantly towards them. "Aakif was very interested in this one."

Javier's cruel grin grew even wider if that was possible before he chuckled, glancing down at me. "Aakif doesn't mind a few scars on his merchandise. He just wants them untouched, not unblemished."

Nadir swallowed heavily as he heard the telltale snap of the leather in Javier's hands, the clinking of the iron weights at the edge before he cried out as a jolt of fire licked over his back, followed instantly by an explosion of pain. His breath caught in his throat and his whole body jerked in reaction to the punishment.

Worse was the metal biting into his skin as Javier twisted his wrist, making sure that every time he pulled his whip back, it would leave a bleeding laceration and more likely a scar.

Biting his teeth, the boy did his best to not make a sound. He knew Javier got a kick out of a slave's pain and he could feel the man's frustration flare higher and higher with each lash the boy received.

But after that first cry, Nadir never made a sound until he was unshackled and unceremoniously dropped back on his place. Conscious or not, the lesson would continue and his back was a firm reminder to his fellow slaves that they needed to stay in the place they were forced in.

Or face the consequences.

They left Nadir on the floor, skin cracked and bleeding as he slipped between conscious and unconsciousness. A slight shiver of fear ran over the boy's spine in remembrance of the glint in Javier's eyes when Saemus spoke of a certain Aakif.

What kind of man was this Aakif that a cruel bastard like Javier smirked in pure delight just by mentioning him?

The boy didn't know he was going to find out soon.

Too soon.

"Hey there, are you okay?"

I blinked, dazed from the life like memory before I looked up and instantly had to control my expression. The dark skinned male looked at me with slight worry, eyes flitting over my body as if to check for any injuries.

Mord'u... Carson's right hand man.

Luckily for me, Mord'u hadn't seen me last night. He had been more focused on making sure none of Saemus' corrupt guards went for the innocent bystanders as well. But standing here in front of this massive male made me worry; if he was here, his leader wasn't too far off.

And I had the feeling Carson would definitely remember me, as he had looked me clear in the eye. Hellfire, he had even made a move towards me when I was still aiming at Saemus. A good thing he got distracted, because from what I heard, Carson was tenacious in pursuing his targets.

"Hey!" The snapping of fingers in front of my face made me blink before I offered the man a wary smile. "Sorry sir. Just lost in thought." I added, unconsciously brushing over my wrists. Glancing down and catching sight of my heavily scarred wrists, his eyes gained an understanding light before he nodded.

"Must feel good to finally be freed."

"Huh?"

At my confusion Mord'u turned around, offering me a smile as he motioned towards the city. "Haven't you heard the news? The sheik's been killed last night, his slaves freed and brought out of the mines. People can now work there, willingly and paid."

I let out a small sigh of relief, feeling the guilt disappear at the news. I might've killed two people but I've saved countless others, improved their lives indefinitely and gave those children in the mines a worthy future.

"That... That is actually the best news I heard in quite a while." I smiled before it faded as I focused on the task ahead. And more importantly, I was still in the danger zone; Carson could come out and recognize me any moment, and might possibly hand me over too.

Mord'u chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Can't really say what's more interesting; a slave who doesn't know the head slavers are dead, or Carson being tongue-tied over some thief in the night."

I perked at that, curious. Why would the leader of a mercenary band filled with skilled assassins, spies and thieves alike, be interested in me? The big guy simply shook his head with a wide grin before turning slightly at a sound.

Once glance over his shoulder was enough to make my heart race, shoulders sagging to make myself as bland and unnoticeable as possible. Mord'u loudly greeted Carson, and I thanked the heavens for the cover his wide back provided as I easily slipped away.

A group of young women carrying water back to the town proved to be my way of escape. With a persuasive smile and teasing glint in the eyes, I relieved one of the women of her heavy cargo, joking with another. Instantly the girls giggled and blushed, hiding their faces behind their colorful hijabs and shayla's.

They provided me with enough cover to hide from both Carson's and Mord'u searching eyes. No doubt Carson knew exactly whom Mord'u talked to and judging by the way both men were on high alert and looking around, they both knew I was still close.

Heh heh. They have no idea how close...

I helped the women get their load to the city gates before bidding them farewell, stating that I had to catch up with my family before they traveled too far. They were all polite smiles and eyes filled with warmth and appreciation as they scanned me from head to toe, whispering their farewells.

Slipping around the walls, I found my trusty horse still waiting in the shades, nickering softly as he spotted me. "Hey Tahir...good boy." I scratched gently over his soft nose, smirking as he lifted his lip at my teasing before nudging my side.

The light grey stallion danced on his hooves as I reached back, holding the juicy carrot in my hand. "You want this, right?" With a soft neigh, he seemed to answer my question by nodding his head rapidly, stepping forwards as I offered him the small treat.

Tying his saddlebags, I made sure everything was firmly in place before I saddled up and turned him towards the desert. Tahir was still happily chewing on his carrot, clawing at the sand under his hoof as I nudged him forwards.

I made sure not to draw any attention or suspicion my way, following the trails of the Bedouin used to navigate through the desert. As long as I was still in view of the city, it was best to stay calm and collected. Galloping away would only draw attention to myself.

Glancing back, I couldn't help a smirk to appear on my lips as I spotted Carson and his men back at camp, Mord'u scratching at his head in awe. Good, he found the note I slipped in his pocket.

A new clue for a new master. I knew for certain that Aakif would beg for their help when he heard of Saemus' demise. But they would fail to protect him, just as they failed to help Saemus.

My back straightened as I followed the morning sun, knowing that this time, I was the one to make a move. This time, my former masters were just a pawn in the great scheme.

Expendable.

And soon to be dealt with.