ROME
Rome found his way back to his study with quick purposeful strides, putting his encounter with Elora behind him. He needed to start making plans for their journey to the auction house and didn’t have time to explore his confused feelings for her. This single journey may be the most important one he would make to get rid of the slavers once and for all and Rome was not going to ruin it.
Skye stood by the large window in his study, looking out while Teriel and Noel sat in the chairs opposite the king’s mahogany table. The duo stood and bowed low as Rome walked into the room.
“Good day, gentlemen.” He greeted them, walking to his seat.
“Your Majesty.” They remained standing, waiting for him to offer them a seat.
“Your Majesty,” Skye greeted, bowing.
“I see you’re particularly interested in the clouds today.” He gestured to the window.
“Oh, no. I was thinking… thinking hard about our trip to the auction house.” She folded her hands behind her. “This business is a tricky one, one that must be handled carefully.”
“Yes, Skye.” He agreed, then turned to the duo. “Please sit.”
They quietly lowered into their seats. “Thank you, sir.”
“The prisoner is willing to do anything to help us as long as we spare him–”
He grunted. “Of course.”
Prisoners were bound to say anything once their lives were on the line. “Continue please.”
“You may not trust him but he has said everything he knows, Your Majesty. He is spent.” Skye informed him, taking a step forward to emphasize her point.
“I’m not saying otherwise, Skye. Carry on.” He was all ears now. If she had a good idea, he was willing to hear it.
She took a step back, relaxing. “We have to prepare for the auction party. He said anyone in attendance must have bought a slave or two from the auction house as the party is very exclusive to slavers. It’s happening in two days, I’m afraid we don’t have that much time on our hands.”
The slave trade business irked him more and more. They had the guts to throw an exclusive party! A party sponsored by the blood and sweat of people like them. He tightened his hands into fists and gritted his teeth.
“Yes, we have to attend that bloody party. Raiding the auction house will cause unnecessary bloodshed. We need to rescue as many people as possible unscathed.” He agreed rising from his seat to the window opposite Skye, looking down.
“Yes, sir.”
Their timing had to be calculated to the last second with was no chance of slip-ups or mistakes. Rome trusted Skye and Teriel to do a good job but he couldn’t help but feel jumpy.
“We know we’re supposed to keep this to ourselves. There’s no need to over flog that.” He said, still staring outside the window, “Are we all in agreement with the plans so far?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” They replied in unison.
Rome turned to face Noel.
“Noel, you are needed in case of emergency issues. You are required to get the best two of your staff to come along and as much Lycan medicine that you can take. As you know, we have two days and I trust you to be ready before time.”
Noel stood up and bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty. I have taken due note. We won’t disappoint you.”
“Good.” The king gave a firm nod. “I will be going with Elora as you all may know. She will be my sex slave and I a rich merchant.”
“That’s wise,” Teriel commented. “Of course, she will be disguised as she was bought from there.”
“Of course. I say she was bought from there and I’m ready to buy other sex slaves to entertain my numerous guests.” He added, trying to keep a straight face. The word ‘sex slave’ left a bitter taste on his tongue but he was determined to end the slave trade once and for all even if it meant acting like someone he wasn’t.
“That works,” Skye said.
“Only Elora and I will attend the party. Noel and Teriel will stay at a safe distance from the auction house to relay the signal for attack. Skye stays at a further distance, mobilizing the army for when the signal comes. Is that alright?”
“Yes, sir.” They said in unison.
Their plan was taking proper shape.
“Also, Your Majesty. There is a passcode to gain access to the party. Something along the lines of… ‘let slaves be slaves’,” Skye stroked her chin. “Yes, let slaves be slaves. That will be used to gain entrance.”
He almost rolled his eyes. It couldn’t by any chance get worse than it already was. “Let slaves be slaves?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Bloody hell…”
“Well, I do have a date to be getting to. So I….” Teriel said out of the blue.
“I see…” Skye’s eyes twinkled. “Mary?”
Teriel waved her off. “What do you think?”
“Good luck with that.” She stifled a chuckle, “There will be plenty of time for that after the mission.”
Rome laughed as the tension dissipated and turned to Teriel. “Mary? Who is Mary? Oh, that Mary!”
****
ELORA
“Goodnight, Elora,” Lucy greeted as she left my room.
“Goodnight, Lucy. Tell my siblings that I love them.”
“I will.” She shut the door and I fell into my bed.
I just ended a tutoring session with Lucy and some of the other royal staff and it was off to a good start, especially since they were more than willing to learn. As I read to them, they couldn’t contain their excitement. I was proud of what they achieved today and surprisingly, the thoughts of embarking on a journey to the auction house were pushed out.
Ever since the king informed me about the journey to the auction house, I had been living in a constant state of anxiety. I did not know what to expect and I wondered how we will not be recognized. Of course, the king would have sorted that out, he wasn’t stupid. Instead of four days as the king had told me, by tomorrow, I was supposed to be on the journey.
I slid down from my bed and picked up the teaching materials I used. I placed the books on the shelf and the ink on my study table. Then I went over to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. I did not want to have a bath as I wasn’t feeling up to it. I dab a towel on my face and walk out of the bathroom preparing to strip down and change to my nightdress.
Someone knocked on my door and I jumped, startled. It couldn’t be Lucy because she just returned to bed. I didn’t think it was the king because he would not have bothered knocking.
“Yes, please. Come in,” I called out.
Skye opened the door and entered the room. “Elora.”
“Your Highness.” I bowed.
Now, what did she want?
The last time she was around, it was to inform me about the royal family dinner. I hoped such wouldn’t happen any time soon.
“Let’s go straight to the point, shall we? Did the king inform you that you’re accompanying him to the slave auction house on the outskirts?”
I nodded.
As much as the auction house and everything it stood for haunted me, I was willing to visit there for some time as it ensured the release of many other slaves.
At long last, I would be starting my fight against the people that had hurt my family.