Anelle tentatively opened her eyes. Pain pounded rhythmically against her skull as she lifted her head.
She lay on a rough stone floor, covered in a mix of dirt and a mystery sticky fluid. Her blue dress was covered with brown smears. The smell of blood, shit and decay was soaked deep into the stone permeating from every surface, attaching her nostrils. Anelle took a deep breath and instantly regretted it. The awful smell enveloped her mouth and throat, making her gag. It took every bit of her will to keep her last meal down.
The room was surrounded by bars. A central corridor split the room in two; one for men and one for women. A barred window let in small rectangles of light into the cell.
Anelle looked around. Girls were lying on the ground or hunched over to keep warm. A few stirred and looked around as she did. Many cast their eyes down, a look of quiet defeat and acceptance mixed with unbridled fear. Some women huddled together for warmth; spring's beginning still contained a bit of winter's chill in the morning. The cell was filled with women and children, some as young as three years old. The child's small bewildered eyes looked around.
The cell across the corridor contained a similar group of men. Most sat or lay with purple and blue bruises. Anelle shuffled to the bars, searching each of the men's faces. Looking for a head of dark hair and inky black eyes. Please, please, Anelle prayed to any god who would listen, please let him be safe. She checked every hunched figure and breathed a sigh of relief. Kae wasn't here.
The click of a lock pulled her attention to the end of the corridor. The heavy wooden door creaked on its hinges as it swung open. Two guards in black uniform with red trims walked between the cells towards her. Two nobles followed the guards. The first a tall man wearing all black; decorated dress pants with black stitching down the outside of each leg, a dress shirt, black leather gloves and a capelet draped over one shoulder. His black wavy hair strikingly contrasted his pale skin. His piercing emerald eyes scanned the cells, exuding confidence and appearing right at home. The second noble was shorter and wider. He wore a cream suit with bright blue accents and cream dress shoes. He stepped carefully, avoiding any muddles of muck. He screwed up his face and held his pocket square over his mouth and nose.
One of the soldiers banged the pummel of their sword against the bars.
"Back, back." The guard commanded.
Anelle jumped at the vibrations running through the bars and scurried back to the wall. The prisoners tentatively looked up at the sound. The guards watched them with satisfaction. The group turned towards the opposite cell and the plump man pointed at a boy sitting at the back.
"You stand." The guard ordered.
The boy, close to sixteen, slowly stood holding the wall behind him for support.
The noble lowered the cloth around his face and addressed the man in all black.
"I'll need to feed him before he's of any use. One hundred."
"Oh come now, he's young and healthy. After a few years of hard work he will pack on some muscle. There are plenty of pleasure houses that would take him as he is. One fifty is a very generous offer, good sir."
The man in the cream suit thought for a moment before nodding.
The guards opened the cell and drew their swords. One walked over to the boy and hauled him out. The guard returned a few moments later. The nobles moved on to discussing another prisoner. Two other men were marched out before they turned to Anelle's cell.
"Are you looking for any of the fairer sex?" The gentleman in black asked.
"Hm, I could do with another scullery maid." He replied.
The guards banged on the bars making the women jump.
"Stand if any of you can cook." The guard commanded.
Most sat in shock but one woman stood, she shushed the toddler by her feet.
"My lord," she bent into a shaky curtsy, keeping her eyes on the ground, "I can cook and clean. I work hard and my daughter is fast at fetching things."
The portly man took notice of the child.
"I'll take her but I have no need for the child. One hundred and I won't let you swindle me of any more coin." He said, turning to the gentlemen next to him.
The woman's face dropped. She held her child tight.
"Look, think of the child as an investment." Replied the man in black. "You can have her for free and she'll work hard knowing her mother's well being depends on it."
The man in the cream suit brought his pocket square back to his mouth and thought for a second. "All right."
The woman picked up her child and held her tight as they were escorted out of the cell.