Alina

The sharp bitterness of cold had died down a few days earlier, not because winter was over, but because the North was so far behind. It was still the highest peak of winter, but the cold here did not bite through flesh and drill through bones.

Alina lay on the floor of a caged cart, looking up absently through the bars above her, where the morning sun shone bright through clear skies. It had taken six weeks at least, if she had done the calculations right, trapped in that caged cart, travelling all the way from Nordenland, passing through woods, towns, cities and deserts, and suffering a number of blizzards and thunderstorms. Long endless nights haunted by nightmares of a boy screaming beneath a dark grave, and a throat slit open in a dark cell. Nightmares of wings ripped off, and a blinding pain that sent her screaming through the night, waking up everybody around her...

A shadow fell over her face and next, large stone walls blocked the sky from her view. Alina struggled to sit up, and so did the other slaves who lay packed around her, all chained to each other by their feet. They looked up at the enormous stone walls and the sky high towers above them. The cart wheels rattled, rolling over a cobbled path, making its way through the gates of Vausterland.

Alina watched around her in wonder as the cart passed through the bustling streets of the Western capital. The first thing that caught her attention was a couple of humans dressed in fine silk coats and unpatched boots. And the next thing she knew, most of the humans were as finely dressed as the winged ones, walking around confidently with heads raised high, that she could not tell the nobles from the commoners apart. It was a sight she had never seen before. She watched curiously, how they peacefully mingled with each other, no winged one throwing haughty sneers and no human cowering away in fear. And their exceptional harmony was only further confirmed by the laughs that came from a nearby fabric stall, where a winged customer stood joking with the human merchant, eagerly patting him on the back.

Squeals brought her attention ahead as a group of children both winged and wingless came running their way, playfully chasing each other with no regard to status or race. And as she watched them pass by her side, a homeless old human sitting in the corner between the market stalls caught her eye. But he was soon hidden from her view as a kind winged man bent before him to place a coin in his withering hands.

At that moment, Alina understood why Julian wanted to come here. Of course this was a heaven for humans. To freely walk around the city among the winged ones without being scorned. Julian would have been very happy here. But he couldn't. Because he was dead. Tears stung her eyes and her chest heaved as the image of a pale face and dead brown eyes flashed within her mind.

The cart made its way slowly through the crowded marketplace, and by-passers had turned to watch its progress through the street, pointing at the slaves inside and whispering in between themselves. Alina looked back at the onlookers absently, her mind still unable to process that she was one of those very same slaves the people had gathered to watch. She turned to look back up towards the skies, only to find the cart coming to a sudden halt as it reached its final destination, the Slaves Square.

Tens of large tents outlined the huge square, and a big crowd had gathered in the center, surrounding what appeared to be a stage. Alina wondered what kind of performance could be shown here. She could only manage to glimpse a line of chained boys and girls standing on the stage with lowered heads, and Alina realized this was not a show. It was a slave auction.

But the slaves in Alina's group, including herself, were not of enough value to be sold off in an auction, and so they were taken to one of the tents where they were forced to sit outside like products on display. A few customers, mostly men, walked up to their tent and silently scanned the boys and girls who sat trembling on the ground. Alina lowered her head, doing all she could to avoid eye contact with anyone.

She could hear Aaren, the slaver who had taken her over from Juha at Nordenvania's borders, as he stood before the tent, calling on for more customers to come and check his merchandise. Aaren was a stout winged one with long brown hair, but unlike Juha, he seemed less interested in flashing his fortune, and more interested in muttering and scowling. She could hear his mutters getting closer, and just as she looked up, she found his impatient hands reaching to the chains on her feet. Her heart stopped and she flinched, only to realize that he was unchaining the black haired girl next to her.

The girl was pulled up to her feet and presented to one of the customers, a middle aged winged man with an intense stare. The girl stood shivering before him, and the next instant, Aaren had pulled the girl's dress down to her waist, putting her breasts before the man on full display. Dread washed over Alina and she turned her face away, shutting her eyes against the disturbing image. Not many customers requested such an intimate inspection, and Alina could only hope that she would not meet the same fate.

The day passed long and slow as Alina sat chained outside the tent, dreading the moment when a customer would finally point at her. The place seemed to grow bigger around her as more boys and girls were sold, mostly the younger ones.

It was sometime in the afternoon, after she and the remaining slaves were given some dry bread to ease their hunger. She must have dozed off after finishing the meager meal, for she suddenly woke up with a start as she found her arm being grabbed, and the next thing she knew, Aaren pulled her up before an old balding man.

Alina's heart sank as she looked up at the customer. He had a large dangling belly and a creepy smile that showed his yellow teeth. And before she knew it, Aaren suddenly drew the string at the top of her dress. Alina gasped and she instantly raised her hands to stop him, only to find Aaren's hand falling against her face with a hard slap, along with a hissing curse. And next, he had forced the dress down to her waist.

A chill crept through her body as cold air brushed against her bare skin. She stood there frozen with horror, and she could barely register the dress slipping further down over her hips, the coarse woolen fabric brushing against her thighs, before the dress was completely down on the floor around her feet. She screamed and involuntarily knelt down to retrieve her dress, only to find herself being yanked back up before a sharp smack landed on her exposed backside.

"Stand still!" Aaren yelled.

Engulfed by dread and humiliation, Alina burst out sobbing, while the creepy old man stood ogling and licking his lips, his hungry eyes leisurely devouring her naked body all the way from her breasts, down to the spot between her legs. But that was not the only problem. Many other by-passers had gathered as well.

Alina was mortified, realizing that she stood entirely naked on display before a crowd of total strangers who gathered to watch her, studying every inch of her fully exposed body. Tears continued to stream down her horrified face, and she shut her eyes tight as if this would block out the burning leers.

"How many pieces of gold for this little pussy?" the old creepy man asked in a thick Western accent, and Alina shuddered at his words. If that's how he called her now, then what would he do with her when he bought her. Alina prayed to all the Gods in the world, although she believed in no Gods, that this old creep would not buy her.

"Ten pieces," Aaren said.

"No way!" The man spat, apparently displeased. "Ten pieces for those small tits?" Alina was mortified all over. Aaren released his grasp off Alina as he turned his attention to the horny customer, and Alina took the opportunity, immediately pulling her dress back up to cover herself. Still crying, she wrapped her arms around her shaking body, and she kept her head lowered as the two men argued her price.

"I'll pay only six," the man said.

"Fuck off!" Aaren grunted.

"Eight then!" The old creep grinned, apparently not intending to give up. He kept standing there, refusing to leave as he pressured Aaren to accept the eight pieces of gold. Aaren sighed and turned to look at Alina for a long moment, apparently contemplating accepting that price. Shit! Alina looked up at him with wide desperate eyes, silently pleading him not to accept.

"Come on!" The old creep urged with a wide unpleasant grin. "Trust me, no one else will pay that much for those small titties."

Aaren sighed again and turned to the man, apparently giving in. No! Alina's heart sank and her insides churned with dread. Aaren had barely opened his mouth to give his response, when he was stopped by a feminine yet stern voice behind them.

"I'll buy her for the ten pieces you asked for," the woman said, and Alina noticed how all eyes widened and turned towards the woman. Either that price was indeed ridiculously high, or this woman was someone very important. And surprisingly, the old creep only muttered a few words before he suddenly disappeared.

"Oh, Miss Klara!" Aaren greeted the apparently well-known woman with a wide smile that transformed his bitter face. But Klara, the sour looking elder, did not smile back. She only took out her pouch and emptied ten pieces of gold into Aaren's palm, wasting no time in greetings or small talk. Alina wiped her tears and looked up at the woman curiously.

Klara was tall and slender, elegantly dressed in a long emerald silk dress with gold trimmings, and a matching sheer veil that covered her graying hair. She was a wingless human, yet she acted as gracefully and haughtily as any high ranking noble. And before Alina figured out what was happening, she found Klara grabbing her arm and leading her away. Was that it? Was she really sold to that woman, just like that? Alina was baffled.

"What is your name?" the woman asked coldly with a surprisingly correct Northern accent.

"A... Alina," Alina stammered, still in shock, as she followed the woman.

"No, this will not do," Klara stated flatly. "You are not a princess. You will be named Viki." Alina stopped walking, finally snapping out of her shock, before she turned to Klara with a narrowed stare.

"You are going to be a household servant. And you do not look at me like that," Klara warned, stopping as well and narrowing her unfriendly grey eyes at Alina.

Alina lowered her head timidly beneath the intimidating stare. And the next moment Klara tugged Alina's chains, pulling her along as she resumed walking again.

But where to, Alina had no idea...

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

So, can you guess where Alina is being taken?

If you like this chapter, don't forget to leave a comment and vote!