Time passed slowly in the wagon that morning. Aldric felt trapped in his own mind, constantly thinking about the dream he had the night before. The sack over his head did not help. Did he really feel so close to a man he only met the day before? The girl calling for him, it had to be Claire, didn’t it? What was with all the water and the hole? That Island, it seems so real. Man made mountain? All squares and corners, it looked a lot like dwarven architecture, but also different, maybe some elven too. Aldric felt increasingly confused by his dream. Who was that woman’s voice right before he woke up? I should ask Martin.

  Wait, why should I? He’s just some old guy, I just met. Why would he care? Aldric went back and forth on the topic, until his mind started to drift to the ocean, he longed to see it. The calm water overlooking a cliff. He wanted to be on the sea, sailing. In the ocean, swimming. It was weird, he had never been on a boat or swimming in the ocean before. But he could feel a longing to be there.

  “Aldric, my boy. Thinking about the sea again?” Martin asked after a long silence.

  “What? Yes, I guess I was.” Aldric replied. “How did you know?”

  “Your magic was beaming out of you.” Martin, sounding his usual charming self. “I could feel it radiating from you. Just like this morning.”

  Aldric froze. “What do you mean?”

  “If I was to guess, my young friend.” Martin replied, sounding confident in his prediction. “I would say you were dreaming about the sea?”

  “I… I was.” Aldric began, still deciding if he should say anything. “I dreamt, we were sailing and you were showing me how.”

  “Interesting, maybe a metaphor for me mentoring you?” Martin replied, mostly to himself. “I am sorry, Aldric. Is there more to the dream?”

  “I heard a girl’s voice, angry, telling me that I left her and asking why I wouldn't save her. Right after a storm appeared in the sky.” Aldric continued, embarrassed to say this out loud. “I think it was my sister’s voice.”

  “You are not sure?” Martin asked, concern noticeable in his voice.

  “No, because I was falling into a hole that started to fill up with seawater.” Aldric continued. “I asked who she was, and got only the reply, you don’t even remember me.”

  “Aha, maybe you are conflicted about your relationship with me and your desire to save your sister?” Martin said to himself, only just loud enough for Aldric to hear. “Interesting, indeed.”

  “Then the water rose to my chest while I could hear you laughing. And then something grabbed my ankles, so I couldn’t escape from the rising water.” Aldric continued, not paying any mind to Martin’s comments. “When the water started to cover my face, and I looked up, I was standing on a beach seeing who I think might be White Stip Jin and my sister walking up to a jungle on a small island with two mountains, one normal, the other was man made.”

  “Aldric, this is very illuminating.” Martin replied after a moment. “The something holding you down in the water, sounds like it could be your insecurity about your situation. And I think the end might be your magic giving you a hint for where you should go.”

  “You think so?” Aldric asked in confusion. “How do you know all of this?”

  “Aldric, I have dealt with magic for decades.” Martin replied wariness in his voice. “Magic rarely gives direct hints to what is happening. Fey magic is wild and chaotic, most illusionary and charms. But the dream realm is not off limits for those of Feyblood.”

  A couple of minutes went by in silence, before Martin began. “You said two mountains, one normal, the other man made? What do you mean by one was man made?”

  “Hm? Oh, it looked like it was built by dwarfs, humans or even elves.” Aldric replied, thinking back to the dream again. “Oh and right before I woke up, I heard an unfamiliar female voice, but it felt like I had heard it before.”

  “It is fascinating how much you remember from your dream, Aldric.” Martin replied, something like pride shone in his voice.

  “Really? I never forget a dream.” Aldric was about to continue, when Martin cut in.

  “The man made mountain, I unfortunately do not know what it could be or what it could mean. For the female, what did she say?”

  “Oh? hm. She asked, what is taking you so long? And then she said, you are so far away.” Aldric replied.

  “And you did not recognize the voice?” Martin pressed.

  “No, but I have heard it before.” Aldric replied.

  “Very interesting.” Martin started again after a short silence. “Aldric, I want to thank you for sharing this with me.”

  Before Aldric could reply, the wagon came to a sharp halt and the wagon violently shook from side to side. Shortly after, the door to the cage, could be heard, slammed open.

  “You two! Get out!” the now familiar deep rusted voice of one of the orcs shouted at Aldric and Martin.

  “My good sir, I would love to do as I am told, but you can see…” the sound of the heels of a pair of boots could be heard and Martin continued. “We are in the same predicament as yesterday.”

  A loud snort filled the cage, before a heavy footstep shook the wagon once again and Aldric felt something fiddling with the restraints on his ankles. He was forcefully pulled to his feet and off the wagon. After being dragged for several minutes, Aldric felt himself being pushed into a group of soft bodies and again the sharp noise of metal on metal rang through the sweet rot smelling sack over his head. His hands were still tied, but he managed to pull the stinking sack off. He was standing in a big cage together with 10-15 other prisoners, probably all about to be sold into slavery. They stood shoulder to shoulder, there was just enough room for all of them to stand without being uncomfortably close.

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  Aldric quickly scanned the cage for Martin, but was not able to see him anywhere. He pushed his way through the small crowd of people to the side of the cage, from where he saw something like a stage with a few chairs lined up, one visibly bigger than the other ones.

  “Why are all of the prisoners hooded?” the familiar growling snare that sent ice water through Aldric’s veins, Ashborn shouted from somewhere unseen. “I want them to see me murdering their legendary hero.”

  Ashborn walked through the crowd of bandits finishing setting up the stage. Walking directly towards Aldric and the other caged prisoners. His knees buckled. He locked them with effort, swallowing last night’s dinner that rose in his throat. Everything in his body screamed at him to run.

  “Ah, I see at least one of the merchandise knows how to present themselves.” Ashborn said through his ever present hungry snaring smile. “Yes, you will fetch a good price from the stuck up ass Nafid.”

  Aldric could feel the stank of iron and raw meat on Ashborn’s breath. Ashborn started to pull off the hoods from everyone he could reach. “Everyone take off your hoods, we need to present nicely. So you fetch me a nice price and you get a new lovely home.”

  “My king! The slavers are here.” the deep voice of Clyde sounded across the way.

  “Finally! It is time for a show!” Ashborn bellowed. “Where is the legendary hero? I know a couple of people who want to take you down a bit.”

  “He’s here, My king.” Clyde replied, pulling the hooded Martin.

  “Ah yes, the Famous Martin Eurus, the dragonslayer and my prisoner.” Ashborn laughed as he pulled off Martin’s hood.

  “It is Sir.” Martin replied in his calm and friendly tone.

  “What is sir?” Clyde asked.

  “It is Sir Martin Eurus.” Martin stated.

  “Aha? And what makes you think that matters?” Ashborn was right up in Martin’s face.

  “Manners always matter, my giant of a man.” Martin smiled. “I look forward to our duel, Ashborn. It will be interesting to see what you are made of.”

  “Oh you look forward to being slaughtered, do you?” Ashborn laughed. “You’ll have to wait a bit before I get to you.”

  Martin was dragged away, before he could say another word. Ashborn turned and walked to the stage and started giving orders. Aldric could feel the heat returning to his body, as Ashborn stepped away.

  A short while later, three red-skinned figures approached, draped in white and gold. Gem-encrusted rings glittered from their fingers, arms, and even ears. The first of the three was a taller, slender man, his skin was a dark burgundy. His hair was short cut, black at the roots, but growing redder in color all the way to the tips. He had a big smile on his lips that didn’t entirely reach his eyes, as he went to greet Ashborn.

  Behind him, came a shorter and older, but also slender man, he looked almost non the script. With buzz cut black and gray hair, his eyes were dark and empty. If it was not for the way he dressed Aldric would not have noticed him at all.

  Next to him towered a broad shoulder, well built woman completely bald, showing all kinds of deep and shallow cuts and wounds across her deep blood red skin. She was showing a scowl that made the blood freeze in Aldric’s veins. She looked over the cage and all the people standing in it, until she locked eyes with Aldric. He tried his best to hold her gaze, but again he failed and cowarded. He chanced a glare at her after failing to hold her gaze, and found she was smirking as she turned away.

  They were standing too far away to be overheard, but after some time of which the tall slender man did most of the talking, they moved over to the cage.

  “Ah, I see they are in better shape than last time, Dorian.” the tall slender man noted as they came closer. “This is very good, it is better for everyone, when there are no visible holes in the merchandise. Much easier to sell. Very good.”

  “That was a different situation, Zarik.” Ashborn replied, anger plain on his face if Zarik noticed, he didn’t show it, still showing his wide smile. Ashborn continued. “These aren’t prisoners of war. Only happy opportunities, happening on the way here.”

  “Very good to hear.” Zarik smiled, not paying much attention to the broader man.

  “We will take all 17 of them.” The shorter man said without any volume to his voice, almost a whisper.

  “We’ll evaluate them first of course, to ensure a fair price.” the broad shoulder woman said right as the short man had finished his sentence.

  “Of course, feel free to do so, Ravza.” Ashborn replied, looking directly at the shorter man and then shouting over his shoulder. “Clyde, line them up, so our guests can have a look at them.”

  “Yes, My king.” Clyde replied some way off to the side, where Aldric couldn’t see. “You heard the king, get out here.”

  They were all forced out of the cage, put in a line for the three red skinned slavers, who all three stood back and watched them closely, occasionally whispering to one another.

  “We will give you 20 gold coins for each of the five big men, 40 for each of the six young girls.” Ravza stated, there was no doubt in her voice. This was not up for discussion. “We will have to check if they have been with a man first. If they have… Then 10 gold coins.”

  Aldric started to sweat, feeling the anxiety building in him. Like a storm brewing in his chest and immediately all of the three slavers turned their heads to stare at him. Did they sense my magic? Like Martin did?

  “150 for the purple eyed boy!” the short man stated intently in the same whispering tone.

  “Hold on, Nafid. You know he is worth more than that!” Ashborn shouted, as he walked towards the shorter man. “300 gold coins! At least!”

  “175.” Nafid replied in a whisper, a coldness to his voice, that reminded Aldric of the time he went with his father to the market to sell crops and the buyer was intent on getting the better price and Aldric’s father had caved.

  “250!” Ashborn shouted, his face getting redder and redder.

  “190.” Nafid replied in the same cold whisper.

  “220 and you take the last four included!” Ashborn was staring the older man down, who in turn didn’t move a muscle and looked a bit bored.

  “Deal.” He replied after a short staring contest.

  Aldric was surprised by the price, 220 gold coins! How can that be true? He was standing open mouthed, feeling everyone staring at him, trying to figure out why this small boy was worth so much.

  The newly sold slaves were moved back into the cage. Where Aldric immediately had pushed his way to the edge of the cage. It wasn’t too difficult, as everyone sort of moved out of his way, with a concerned look on their faces. Maybe even frightened? If Aldric was being honest with himself, he was concerned too, unsure of what this means. Where was Martin, when he was needed?

  “As I told you before, I have another surprise in store for you.” Ashborn pressed, his face losing the redness. “You get to see me fight against a living legend!”