The journey was slow and painful, from the northern border of the Shroud to the southern tip of Thanalan. Would that the Calamity hadn't happened, things would have been considerably smoother. As it was, the entire face of Eorzea was scarred now. What roads had survived were pitted with craters and upturned stones. Trees were felled in numerous places. Crucial bridges over key waterways were destroyed. And whenever the train moved it was under cover of nightfall.
Occasionally a day would be spent in seclusion with minimal guard while Cadmus and the rest had gone out to salvage the remnants of yet another village. Sometimes more unlucky souls were brought back. By the time they neared the city of Ul'dah, four more girls were added to the wagon where Florence huddled. It was cramped; They were all tired, hungry, and caked with mud and grime.
It was once again night when they finally drew near to the city. The open plains of Thanalan gave clear view to the Jewel from afar. It was also faster going now as there would be little cover during the day, and the looming threat of an Amal'jaa raid if they were spotted. Coatleque had been watching the city from the distance as they grew ever closer with no small amount of wonder despite her predicament. She had never seen a walled city before and a small part of her held onto the excitement of a new experience.
During the day it blended in with the tan horizon and was almost obscured by the heat rising from the sands. She blinked her eyes many times thinking it to be a mere puddle in the distance. The smoke rising from still smouldering buildings made the city more apparent as they grew closer. At night the city was aglow with the typical bustle of a near sleeping metropolis. Commerce would not be stopped regardless of the devastation surrounding the landscape.
Dreams were shaken back to reality as they drew up along the very wall of the city's southern side. All streams run downhill to the ocean, and there was no exception in Thanalan. They stopped near the large sewer opening. A large half-circle of stones with thick rusted, iron grating was before them. The grate had a heavy hinged door which was usually secured with a large chain and lock. These now lay on the ground beside the open grate, and a small gathering of people awaited them. Torches were lit and wagons thrown open as they were made to line up before these new faces. Florence and another girl were kept separate at the very end of the line.
There were more armed men who flanked them. They were different than Cadmus and his group, however. Much cleaner, better equipped, and more importantly - quiet. There were also two women. Miqo'te girls in light silken garments that were as elegant as they were revealing. One of them, a Seeker, had dark hair and deep blue-purple eyes. The other, a Keeper, had tawny hair and light brown eyes. Both of them followed an average sized man. A Hyur in a purple suit with a large feathered hat. He carried a jeweled cane and had an incredible air of superiority over everyone else present.
The three of them slowly moved down the line of girls examining each one, though he did not touch any. After each one he would turn away and converse quietly with the Keeper before moving on. When they finally reached Florence she quickly looked to the ground, afraid and unable to meet any of their gazes. The man looked over his shoulder and gestured to Cadmus who had been following along this whole time, offering his own commentary on each girl. He seemed to mostly ignore the scoundrel till this point.
"We've done enough business over the years that I know you've been holding something back for me." His voice arrogantly drawn out as if always speaking to his lessers. "These two. What is wrong with them?"
"Ah, quite te opposite, my friend. I must say, ye know me well, but call'n me honor into question? For shame, me Lord. These two exotic beauties I saved ye for last. Ye see, they are... unspoiled." Cadmus made his best impression of an experienced merchant, but even that couldn't hide the lewd sneer in his voice. He finished his sentence while lingering on the last detail. He was here for one thing, and one thing only.
"Cadmus, you cad. How dare you keep such prized possessions locked away from the world for so long. Have you no scruples?" All the while he smiled at the man with a gleam in his eye. His hand shot back over his shoulder in the Keeper's direction with a snap of his fingers. She stepped up immediately and handed him a leather folder. "Sapphire, you know what to do.", the man said before turning back to Cadmus. "Come now, let us go and discuss price."
As the pair walked off, the two Miqo'tes went back down the line, pulling specific girls out and making a seemingly separate line. Both Florence and the girl beside here were taken as well. Those not taken were ushered back into wagons by Scrotus and the other men. Before long there were only seven of them left standing. The armed men promptly went to work as the two Miqo'tes stood back, affixing each with a heavy collar and a long thick chain that ran between all of them. The collars were designed to slip tighter but not loosen without a key. If one was to run, she would inadvertently choke the rest.
The two men returned a few moments later with Cadmus carrying the leather wallet. "You know what to do. Take those to the treasury house on the east side of the city. There you will receive your gil. And we... never met."
"Aye, that ye can count on!", he replied with a grin. "Alright, boys, get these rejects out of here. We have a payment to collect." Cadmus hoisted himself into the driver seat of the closes wagon and the train began to move on following his lead. The rest stood there without word until the heavy wooden wheels could not longer be heard and the silence of the night began to take hold.
The man in the suit turned and slowly walked back down the line, stopping and turning to face them half-way. "Ladies. I am Master Korlon. Master Dace Korlon. And you... are now mine."
Occasionally a day would be spent in seclusion with minimal guard while Cadmus and the rest had gone out to salvage the remnants of yet another village. Sometimes more unlucky souls were brought back. By the time they neared the city of Ul'dah, four more girls were added to the wagon where Florence huddled. It was cramped; They were all tired, hungry, and caked with mud and grime.
It was once again night when they finally drew near to the city. The open plains of Thanalan gave clear view to the Jewel from afar. It was also faster going now as there would be little cover during the day, and the looming threat of an Amal'jaa raid if they were spotted. Coatleque had been watching the city from the distance as they grew ever closer with no small amount of wonder despite her predicament. She had never seen a walled city before and a small part of her held onto the excitement of a new experience.
During the day it blended in with the tan horizon and was almost obscured by the heat rising from the sands. She blinked her eyes many times thinking it to be a mere puddle in the distance. The smoke rising from still smouldering buildings made the city more apparent as they grew closer. At night the city was aglow with the typical bustle of a near sleeping metropolis. Commerce would not be stopped regardless of the devastation surrounding the landscape.
Dreams were shaken back to reality as they drew up along the very wall of the city's southern side. All streams run downhill to the ocean, and there was no exception in Thanalan. They stopped near the large sewer opening. A large half-circle of stones with thick rusted, iron grating was before them. The grate had a heavy hinged door which was usually secured with a large chain and lock. These now lay on the ground beside the open grate, and a small gathering of people awaited them. Torches were lit and wagons thrown open as they were made to line up before these new faces. Florence and another girl were kept separate at the very end of the line.
There were more armed men who flanked them. They were different than Cadmus and his group, however. Much cleaner, better equipped, and more importantly - quiet. There were also two women. Miqo'te girls in light silken garments that were as elegant as they were revealing. One of them, a Seeker, had dark hair and deep blue-purple eyes. The other, a Keeper, had tawny hair and light brown eyes. Both of them followed an average sized man. A Hyur in a purple suit with a large feathered hat. He carried a jeweled cane and had an incredible air of superiority over everyone else present.
The three of them slowly moved down the line of girls examining each one, though he did not touch any. After each one he would turn away and converse quietly with the Keeper before moving on. When they finally reached Florence she quickly looked to the ground, afraid and unable to meet any of their gazes. The man looked over his shoulder and gestured to Cadmus who had been following along this whole time, offering his own commentary on each girl. He seemed to mostly ignore the scoundrel till this point.
"We've done enough business over the years that I know you've been holding something back for me." His voice arrogantly drawn out as if always speaking to his lessers. "These two. What is wrong with them?"
"Ah, quite te opposite, my friend. I must say, ye know me well, but call'n me honor into question? For shame, me Lord. These two exotic beauties I saved ye for last. Ye see, they are... unspoiled." Cadmus made his best impression of an experienced merchant, but even that couldn't hide the lewd sneer in his voice. He finished his sentence while lingering on the last detail. He was here for one thing, and one thing only.
"Cadmus, you cad. How dare you keep such prized possessions locked away from the world for so long. Have you no scruples?" All the while he smiled at the man with a gleam in his eye. His hand shot back over his shoulder in the Keeper's direction with a snap of his fingers. She stepped up immediately and handed him a leather folder. "Sapphire, you know what to do.", the man said before turning back to Cadmus. "Come now, let us go and discuss price."
As the pair walked off, the two Miqo'tes went back down the line, pulling specific girls out and making a seemingly separate line. Both Florence and the girl beside here were taken as well. Those not taken were ushered back into wagons by Scrotus and the other men. Before long there were only seven of them left standing. The armed men promptly went to work as the two Miqo'tes stood back, affixing each with a heavy collar and a long thick chain that ran between all of them. The collars were designed to slip tighter but not loosen without a key. If one was to run, she would inadvertently choke the rest.
The two men returned a few moments later with Cadmus carrying the leather wallet. "You know what to do. Take those to the treasury house on the east side of the city. There you will receive your gil. And we... never met."
"Aye, that ye can count on!", he replied with a grin. "Alright, boys, get these rejects out of here. We have a payment to collect." Cadmus hoisted himself into the driver seat of the closes wagon and the train began to move on following his lead. The rest stood there without word until the heavy wooden wheels could not longer be heard and the silence of the night began to take hold.
The man in the suit turned and slowly walked back down the line, stopping and turning to face them half-way. "Ladies. I am Master Korlon. Master Dace Korlon. And you... are now mine."
