Free Kingdom of Lies by Cato Zachrisen

Casualty of War
    Bare feet stepped on soft dirt and sharp grass. One pair in a small army of misery, unity and anger. The simple clothes they wore a symbol of their break from the material world. As former slaves nothing was theirs. Not any personal possessions, zero freedom, not even their own bodies. Everything belonged to the master and the ruler of the kingdom to which they lived out a life of servitude. When they were no longer of use they were gotten rid of. Like a broken toy or a rabid dog. Most came from the war loving Quatz Kingdom. But a few escaped more surprising places.
    The realm of Alara had four main kingdoms with scatterings of outside villages and communities. The latter was getting fewer as the kingdoms expanded and as more attacks forced them to choose a stronghold. Quatz Kingdom was known as the most flourishing and maintained their lavish lifestyle by plundering the resources of others and demanding resources in exchange for protection. Their favorite target was the Sluvic Kingdom which fell out of favor with Firara Kingdom because of greedy practices. The Evinara Kingdom never offered any aid and few knew of what happened within those walls. Each kingdom had their traditions and practices. Laws existed both inside the kingdoms and throughout the realm. Some were steadfast and a blasphemy to be broken. Others were only kept when it came to the convenience it served the individual kingdom at that appointed time.
    No one was quicker to break rules and assert dominance than the Quatz Kingdom. There were no poor there because they plundered enough to keep all citizens happy with a rich lifestyle. In exchange they gave their strongest children over to the military. To keep all out of servitude slaves were gathered from places their conquered. The Sluvic Kingdom gave them a steady supply in exchange for protection. Ironically that protection was actually just a bribe to keep the Quatz Kingdom from crushing them. Slaves there were worked to death and severe punishments were metered for the smallest mistakes. Upon death they were thrown into a massive pit which had quicksand that sucked the bodies into its depths. Repeated attempts to escape also had some slaves bound and flung in alive.
    The other two kingdoms mostly turned a blind eye to this depravity. Evinara was extremely private and often fought back the bullying kingdom. But every three years Evinara sent a steady supply of fine cloths and pottery. During that time they were left alone and no one questioned the motives for this temporary truce. Firara had magicans to shield and protect them. They were mainly a peaceful people but very tricky and saw no problem deceiving others for the greater good. Their main resource was agriculture and those who traded with them paid handsomely for the best crop in Alara.
    However at this moment there was a group of former slaves walking through the forest. They were a nomadic community calling themselves Blood Knot. Yet many in the outlying villages whispered the less likeable nickname Cult of the Damned. This had nothing to do with them being former slaves. Many a community had their people taken and sympathized for those who escaped. Aid was offered in shelter and kind until the escapee moved on to prevent recapture. But the power of Blood Knot’s leader tore all goodwill from their breast and struck terror into their hearts. When someone could kill you with a single touch it was hard for others to consider socializing a good idea or that a great evil was not at work.
    Tarr was a former slave of the Quatz Kingdom. She was handed over from the Sluvic Kingdom at the age of three. With straw blonde hair, bright blue eyes and soft skin she could have been raised to be a concubine or to work within the walls of a well off family if she had stayed. But she was instead taken and all slaves in Quatz had to do hard labor whether in the almost barren fields or wherever their service was most needed and the best use. Tarr