The Curse of Thir

Her eyes dropped to the ground as she trudged through the large group of milling humans, pulling her reluctant donkey along. They didn’t seem to be in any rush and walked slowly about, forcing her to match their pace in order not to draw any attention to herself. This agitated her greatly, she hadn’t wished to be here so long, but this slow pace made it impossible for her to complete her task in a reasonable amount of time. She’d defiantly be punished when she got back.

But the fact that Aaraos had even suggested she go, had shocked her, she mused about this as she eyed the first stand on her long list. He had handed her the list and threatened her as she gazed at him with her jaw slightly ajar in disbelief. She was instructed to acquire all the items on the list and if she came back with anything short he promised to give her the traditional punishment for failure amongst the Dreag. The Pull. Tied behind a horse, face to the ground and dragged across a series of different landscapes, the first being red gravel rock, the kind found on most roads of Ridgare. Generally the victim survived the first few pulls, but the point was to leave them alive and allow their wounds to fester: slow, sickly painful death to say the least. She’d seen it twice in her short seven years of life. Once for a runaway human who had been found wondering lost on the nearby woods, and once for a Dreag for accidentally bumping into Bonifacio when he was in an especially foul mood. Which was his normal mood.

Tilting her head slightly too view the display of fresh and colourful pumpkins yet careful not to show too much, she pointed at three overly large pumpkins and grabbed a fistful of coins, expecting the large man behind the stall to take what was required. He smiled greedily at this tiny palm full of gold silver and bronze coins displayed itself in front of him, reached out and took most of what lay there, leaving the bronze.

“Donavan, give those back immediately!” A woman in her mid forties glared sternly at the greedy man. He frowned then puffed his lips and blew out.

“Fine.” He placed everything back except for a single silver.

Xylee took the three large pumpkins and placed them in the basket the donkey carried on either side. It looked lopsided but she figured she could even it out as she continued along. The woman gave a disapproving noise and stepped out from behind her stall, that held cabbage and beans. She strode up to Xylee.

“You put the two biggest pumpkins on the same side.... here.” She took the smaller of the two large ones and placed on the other side. The weight looked slightly more even. The woman nodded in satisfaction and waited for a thank you but frowned as Xylee merely latched onto the stirrups of the donkey and carried on walking.

“You know, my mother always told me to be polite. A simple thank you ma’am would suffice child.” Now Xylee wasn’t impolite by nature, she simply did not understand the concept of thank you and please because there was no use for it in the compound and nobody had ever taught her any better, besides that she found herself beyond terrified. She stopped and turned, slightly about unsure of her words, she whispered thank you and attempted her escape once more.

“Well I guess that’s better, apart from the fact I could barely hear that.” The women viewed Xylee with suspicion, her grey cloak covered the majority of her face, her clothes seemed too small for a child her size and her manner seemed odd. “Are you shopping for your mum?” The woman folded her arms and walked quickly in front of Xylee blocking her escape. Xylee stopped short, scared of discovery, she nodded slightly without looking up. The woman cocked her eyebrow, unconvinced but not enough to coax the truth.

“You need some help then? You seem unfamiliar with this place.”Without waiting for Xylee to answer, she looked at the fuming pumpkin store holder and demanded he look after her stall.

Xylee felt her heart tremble inside her tiny chest as the woman held out her hand.

“My names Oristar, but most people call me Ori.” The hand hung in front of Xylee, waiting for something. Xylee reached in her coin purse and grabbed a few coins and attempted to place it in the woman’s hands.

“...no...” She shook her head and pulled her hand back, then squatted on her haunches in an attempt to look at Xylee. Xylees head sank further down.

“Child, are you here on your masters bidding?” Oris’ face filled with curiosity and concern, a spectacle that Xylee had never witnessed before.

“Yes.” She whispered this, it was the truth. Aaraos was her master but the woman needn’t know her master was a Dreag. Oris’ puffed out in anger, she had little regard for the so called higher class of her society and a child slave was enough to set her mood on edge.

“Well, that just isn’t right. No child should be a slave!” She looked about as if searching for the guilty party, but found none to cast her blame upon. “Do you even have a name child?” Ori stood up and took on a motherly pose daring any individual to just try and take this child.

“... Xylee...” Her voice was barely a whisper of noise. This human was preventing her from doing what she was commanded to do, and she had no way of dealing with her.

“What was that dear, couldn’t hear you.” Oris’ bent slightly down to listen.

“Xylee...” It wasn’t said much louder.

“Xylee? That’s an odd name. But it is pretty.”

Her name was pretty? Xylee found the idea of a name being pretty rather odd. How could something be pretty if you couldn’t see it?

“Is anybody here keeping an eye on you? You know make sure you don’t run away?” Ori scanned the slow moving crowed eyeing each individual suspiciously. Xylee shook her head and said no.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes...”

“Then come with me.” She extended her hand once more and waited, when nothing happened she reached down and gently took Xylees trembling hands.

“You don’t need to worry, I’m not going to hurt you.” She looked back at her stall and gave Donavan a steely gaze, then walked on with a reluctant Xylee and donkey in tow. Ori spoke about many things in the din of the crowd, a vague attempt to consol the trembling child. Xylee felt icicles of fear trembling through her spine. She’d done it now, she was going to get punished, but somehow the warmth of this woman’s hands made her made her hesitate in her decision to run away. She’d never had anyone hold her hand like this before, she found it nice.

The trio weaved and bobbed through the increasing mass of humans, sticky sweat dripped down Xylees concealed forehead, her grey cloak becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Finally they stopped in a small alleyway covered slightly in shade from to overhanging tarps, not that it helped the heat. There was a bray of announce from the donkey, it was thirsty, so was she.

“Here we are Xylee. My home.” She indicated to a flaking green door. “it’s not much, but it’s enough.” Taking a key from around her neck she unlocked and opened it, Xylee stared in. What exactly did this woman expect her to do?

“Hmmm... well I see you are cautious and that’s a good thing. I’ll get you a mug of water and something to nibble. Just wait here.” Ori nipped inside and disappeared. This was Xylees chance to make a run for it. She looked to the sides noting the heavy stream of humans flooding the street she had left and the heavy clay and brick houses looming ominously about on the other side of her, adding to the feeling of being trapped. Maybe she could just wait till the crowd thinned out, then she’d run; besides she was thirsty and a little hungry too. She licked her drying lips in the thought of water just as Ori came out with a clay earthen mug and something smelling of honey and bread in a clothe napkin.

“Here we are.” Ori held out the two items for Xylee to take. Xylee reached out slowly and took the mug and bread. She sniffed attentively at both, her nose twitching up and down in quick succession. It was safe and the bread smelt delicious. She took a deep glug of the water and bit deep into the sticky bread. The sweetness was uncommon to her taste buds and teeth, sending a type of sweet pain into her bones. She made amusing tongue smacking noises as she allowed the flavour to disappear then took another sip of water. The donkey who had been surprisingly patient until then brayed loudly and nudged Xylee with its muzzle, this action surprised her and she turned about, unwillingly allowing the donkey to bite into the bread. Xylee stared in shock at the large chunk of bread and the wet toothy marks. Ori burst into a tilt of laughter, having found this highly amusing.

“I should have brought something for him as well.” She went back inside laughing as she walked. Xylee looked angrily at the donkey.

“Stupid donkey....” It brayed in reply, obviously finding the bread tasty.

“Here,” A smallish pail of water was set in front of him and he immediately began nosily lapping it up. Oristar smiled and petted him. “Now Xylee, I can look after you for a few days, till I can find some folks looking for a child of their own. Hopefully your masters won’t come looking here by my home.” She smiled reassuringly. Xylee nibbled on the bread, eyeing this strange woman offering her freedom as if it were something handed out freely. Ori was not young, her hair faded in colour and her eyes stern, but her smile was welcoming and warm. She stopped chewing and considered what this woman had said. Could it really be that simple? Could she leave just like that? No... She wasn’t the same as others, and Aaraos spoke of how cruel humans were to those who were not the same as them. But Ori was friendly and human, maybe Aaraos was lying. She found her voice and spoke.

“I’m not... like you. I’m different.”

“Of course you are, not two children are alike.”

“But... I... live with...” She gulped and Ori leant in closer to hear her fading voice, “I live with the Dreag.” With the mention of the Dreag, Ori bolted back and gasped, although her eyes never lost their concern.

“Oh you poor thing! Such awful... Come here.” She scooped Xylee in her arms and hugged her tightly. Xylee dropped both water and bread in surprise, she’d never been hugged before and it felt wonderful. “No child should ever be exposed to those creatures.” Salty water tickled the corners of her eyes at the thought of her life so far. The Dreag had no kind words or actions or thoughts yet they had a child in their midst. Her life must be a cruel joke to someone. As she thought this the salty water tumbled down her cheeks, her nose sniffed noisily of its own accord.

Ori set Xylee down.

“Come, let me see you face and wipe away your tears.” She reached for the hood but Xylee jerked back, still crying and sniffing. “What’s wrong Xylee?”

Xylee held the corners of her hood firmly.

“I...not... *sniff* I’m not the same... as you. I look different...” Ori frowned at Xylees words.

“Of course you won’t look the same as me. Every person looks different.” She made for Xylees hood again, this time Xylee did not pull back, but she still held onto her hood. A strange feeling fluttered neatly inside her chest as she faced Ori and her hood slipped down. She couldn’t think of the word for it but it felt as if Ori might just accept her no matter what she looked like.

But that feeling was shattered as she saw the realization in Oris’ eyes. The light brown eyes darted quickly over Xylees face. She stood up slowly and backed away, a word hovering on her lips.

“...demon...” She pointed at Xylee, “Demon...” She looked about trying to find a witness to what stood before her. Xylees eyes glowed yellow with grief as she stood there, frozen and hoping that Ori would look at her as she did before, but instead her eyes flitted from her doe ears to her sharp black horns.

“You... You tricked me!” Oris’ voice rose in shock.

Xylee shook her head and began to plead with her, but her hand shot to her ears to block Xylee out.

“I will not hear another word from you... you demon.” Her face scrunched up in disgust a sight Xylee knew well. The tears streamed down her cheeks and onto the hard cobble stones.

“You cannot fool me with your deceitful tears! You were going to take me to the Dreag!” Her shouts began to draw the attention of a few slow shoppers, one of them seemingly well acquainted with Ori.

“You ok Ori?” This new human stopped and turned into the alley then spotted Xylee. “What on Thir is that Ori?”

“Cover your ears Lucy! It will try to bewitch with its sweet voice.” This Lucy person held her hands quickly to her ears and backed into a crowed adding to the growing interest.

Xylee felt the urgency to flee growing as more and more bewildered stares found their way into the tiny alley way. She was trapped and terrified as shouts erupted; realising the only way out was through the mass of equally terrified grown humans. Clutching onto the rope reigns of the donkey, she sucked in a deep gulp of air and drove herself and the now happy donkey quickly into and through the humans. They parted easily as they didn’t wish to be touched by the thing people now claimed to be a demon child of the Dreag. Oris shouts could still be heard by Xylees sensitive ears, declaring everything that had just happen to have been a ritual of bewitching, forcing her to find pity in what she thought was a poor slave girl. The tears did not stop as she quickened her pace though the heaving mass of humans, who had all by now caught onto the cries of a woman, and echoed her thoughts like mindless sheep.

There was no place for Xylee here and she knew if they hadn’t been so confused they would have caught her and killed in some public execution, regardless of any truth she spoke or her age. An angry man pointed her out to a group as she fled into the outskirt of the town. A woman screamed as she bumped into her, distracted by the intent in their eyes and accidentally grazed her lower arm with the now exposed horns.

“The Demon tried to kill her with its horns!!” The angry man took up the cry and they began to walk quickly towards her. Xylee pulled for the donkey to go faster but it decided to stand fast. She let the rope go and sprinted, luckily she was faster and nimbler than average children and her fear gave her speed as she darted down the road making it out of the town with no sign of pursuers. She stopped for a second to look back; a few stranglers caught sight of her and called for help. Her hand brushed heavily across her face in an attempt to remove the tears. Then she ran, ran until her legs ached and her feet craved freedom of the boots that were too small for her. She ran until night fell and her lungs wheezed in complaint. Finally, as she took her last step onto the upward slope of a hill she saw the compound.

The lights flickered in the darkness and for a small while they seemed friendly. But the cruel reality cut her happy thought in half. There was to be punishment for not completing her task and losing a donkey. Perhaps they would kill her, she didn’t know, but she doubted that Aaraos truly wanted her dead. Otherwise he’d have no one to boss around. She wiped the dirty tears from her face, there would be no place for it there, and with that she walked down to the only place that would have her.

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Xylee believed he did stupid things just so she had less time for herself. Which was the truth, he hated it if she had time to breathe, relax, play or think. She was his and his only to control and command.

So he was highly annoyed that she could think for herself, but he had no idea how to remove that, and as a result he rained hours of endless repetitive work on her every day since she was able to walk and understand basic instructions. His hope was to break her spirit completely, but so far he had been unsuccessful, although he had come close once.

In vain for eight years he had tried to mould her into a perfect brainless creature, yet she had remained resilient, and stubborn, perhaps not outwardly, but he could see it in her eyes. He doubted many times at his decision to keep her.

But, even with the trouble she caused him at times, she worked hard and he believed she was almost of child bearing age.

He counted the days till that time arrived. His off spring would be unique to his hoard and perhaps even as appealing as Xylee. She was strong, and smart, perhaps he could even get two out of her before she died, two strong boys to add to their army of men. He would send them, or him, to the UnderDreag where they would learn to fight and survive. They would thrive and climb above all those other stupid Dreag, and rule them as his father had, and he, Aaraos would be the seed bearer of these powerful Dreagnance. This was his day dream, his night vision, and his waking wish.

Xylee would bare him good, magnificent boys and then he would be rid of her. But till that time he would make sure that she was kept busy and out of the eyes of Bonifacio.

Of course Xylee knew none this, she just knew that he was the worst being on the planet, and if not he was surely in the top ten. He had kept her at arms’ length giving her only enough to survive and then ripping it away. She had learnt the basics of reading from Aaraos learning from rule lists and thrashings, even so she managed to steal a few books from human villages, hiding them beneath the floor boards, and taught herself the beauty of words.

One of which was note book with recipes of foods she had never seen but craved so deeply.

They kept her next to a storage house near the stables, and although there was no lock and key to keep her there she never ran away. Her face had become a mask of roughness and bravery but Aaraos knew that the fear she had of them, him and even the humans ran deep in within her bones. Fear had always been the best prison.

Now even though she feared so greatly curiosity somehow always found a way around it. The thirst for knowledge, although dangerous, was a constant need within her, running even deeper than the fear. She found ways to squelch this desire by becoming invisible to those around her. In becoming invisible she saw what was hidden and heard what was not said. She learnt of the Dreag by cleaning after them and doing what she must whilst listening to the drunks. The Dreag had no female counterpart and were born from unwilling human women, who died immediately after giving birth. The baby was then sent to the UnderDreag; UnderDreag were the lowest in the line of Dreagnance, they could not fight and could not function above ground so they lived in a large compound built deep in the side of Mt Iron-Crown. They fed them, barely ever cleaned them and watched on as those with a higher intellect than them, taught the mini Dreags to fight whilst weeding out the weakest to stay behind and continue the cycle of Iron-Crown.

When Xylee had heard the stories of their upbringing she had felt lucky. They could have sent her there and she would have died. She might have felt pity for them but any compassion she might have felt was cast out her mind with every callous word they spoke, and there were many.

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

Xylee removed the saddle of Aaraos’ horse, as he had just arrived back from a meeting with some human king. Bonifacio had requested Aaraos join him on his travels. He had said he needed something to laugh at and possibly get in the way of stray arrows and broad swords, the men immediately suggested Aaraos, claiming his head to be funny enough to laugh at and big enough to get in the way.

Aaraos was none too pleased to hear this but the importance of joining the hordes leader allowed the reasoning behind it to slip on by. He gloated and pranced in the stable, his all too immense head seemingly puffed up as he rambled on about how important he was in this meeting, how Boni needed his advice. Xylee knew none of this was true and wondered, as she scrubbed his horse, who on earth is he talking to?

She then realised he was speaking at her general direction, but not to her directly. Everybody who had been nearby had sauntered off not willing to listen to his long-winded stories. She smirked at his stupidity, although he scared her it didn’t change the fact that he was an idiot and nobody liked him.

“...and then he told me I had done a brilliant job and he would defiantly take me with next time. Of course I told him my duties as his second take place here at the compound but he- What’s funny?”

Xylees’ smirk had not been missed by Aaraos. She hesitated with a brush stroke, but continued.

“Excuse me Sir Aaros?”

“What is so funny? Why are you laughing?”

She stopped and faced Aaraos with a docile yet blank face. She hadn’t been laughing but here with the Dreag a smile was as good as one.

“I didn’t laugh Sir, I merely smiled at your good fortune.” She had learnt that to show no emotion threw the Dreag off. They were very physical creatures and relied heavily on reactions. If she reacted in fear, Aaraos would feel the need to show his superiority with, perhaps, a strike to her body.

“Well I suggest you keep your comments to yourself stupid girl. You will not laugh in my presence!”

“Yes Sir.” She bobbed her head and waited.

“Now... where was I? What was I in the midst of saying before your laughter threw me off?”

He truly had a knack for over exaggeration.

“You where saying your duties as second are here, Sir.”

“Ah yes, I told him my duties as second lay here, but he instead that my duties, although important, are at times beneath me. I was flattered but I did agree with him on that point...”

He carried on talking about how important a Dreag he truly was to Bonifacio for the entire time it took for Xylee to clean his horse. After she was done she patiently waited for the torrent of words to run out, at which point he accused her of being lazy and commanded her to water and feed the humans.

Getting away from him always felt like a holiday, not that she had ever had one, but she imagined it felt good. The human captives only ate twice a day mid morning and mid afternoon.

“At least they get given food.” She huffed this under her breath every time she had to feed them. Knocking at the door of the kitchen she entered slowly into the musky room, inside a hulking figure in dirty white overalls stood hunched over a stack of fresh meat chopping away methodically. Her stomach churned, not out of hunger even though she was starving. She looked away as she spoke, “Aaraos asked me to feed the humans Rocca.” Rocca shifted his eyes away from the meat and onto her, “Ai, it’s over there girl. Be quick about it, there meals late already. Aaraos must have been talking again for you to be late.” He ended the conversation and continued his methodical chopping motion. Xylee headed for the baskets and flasks at the back. Rocca was in a good mood today it seemed. Meat always put the horde at ease, it was rather eerie.

She headed for the human holding area, she hated feeding them. They where mean and scared which made for a nasty combination. The women hissed at her and called her demon every time she went there, the men called her a slut as they believed she was kept there as a plaything for the horde. Which was not true, they had never touched her in that sense and she shuddered at the very thought of it. She never allowed her thoughts to dwell on why she was kept there by Aaraos, but in a weird misguided sense she trusted in his intentions to be purely work orientated and nothing to do with the fact she was female.

Her basic instincts told her otherwise but, what could she do. She had nowhere else to go, no one would have her outside of the Dreag, she had Aaroas constant promises of death if she ran and even the other Hordes in Grys Spring would probably break her within an hour of her arrival. It was not a pleasant thought, she would have to hide her entire life and that was not what she longed for.

“YOU! What did you do with him?”

Her thoughts were interrupted by an angry female voice. She was standing at the fence staring at the humans behind it.

“What did you do with Gavan?! Where is he?! Answer me demon whore!”

Xylees face was blank with confusion, “Who?”

“Gavan! You stupid girl! Where is he?” The women behind the fence glared at Xylee her eyes narrowed with accusation. She was young, this women, possibly three years Xylees’ senior, most probably a local slave tribute from a neighbouring king to keep the peace.

“I don’t know who that is.” She held up the baskets. “Do you want your food or not?”

The humans around the fuming girl made their way forward carefully avoiding her. She handed each one a stale loaf of bread, an apple and a few flasks of mead to be shared between each other.

“You took him didn’t you...? You took my Gavan away!” The woman’s voice rose higher

“Would you shut it Daniela, you don’t want to attract the attention of the Dreag.”

“Don’t you dare tell me to shut it Anakal, you are the reason we’re here. If you hadn’t insulted that stupid Duke none of us would be here.”

“How was I to know this would happen? How was I to know he would send us off to the Dreag.”

She turned on the man she was arguing with, “You could’ve used what little brain you have.” Her hand snapped out in a blur and left a red mark across his cheek. “We’re dead now. Gavan is gone.”

Xylee felt as if she was intruding on their argument so she slipped the women’s food portions through the fence and turned to leave.

“I hate you... I hate your kind.... If I could I would gut every one of you wicked creatures and burn you to a crisp, and I would enjoy it.”

She had no doubt that this Daniela would and could do it if given half a chance. But she would never get the opportunity. Xylee walked back to the kitchen listening to her sobs. She put the baskets down where she had found them. Rocca was still busy with the meat and there in the corner sat a pile of bloody clothes.

“Boni was feeling a bit generous today, said the men deserve a real meal for a change. Get rid of the clothes.”

She picked up the clothes and examined them she noted the belt was still useable. She’d keep it.