5 - He Who Shall Not Be Named

His horror must have shown on his face because the man laughed.

“No need to look so terrified, little omega. We will take great care of you until you are handed over to your new master. I’m not about to damage the merchandise. It lowers prices and casts a disreputable image on my business. I warn you not to try and escape, however. Foreigners always cause the most trouble with that. There are several guards at every exit and if they catch a runaway, they get to have a little fun before they are returned.”

The man strode forward and grasped Kari by the chin. His fingers dug harshly into his cheeks and the man’s lips twisted up into a cruel smirk.

“Don’t think you’re safe just because you’re an omega either. They might not be able to have their fun with your little hole but I’m sure they would happily make use of this pretty little mouth.”

He twisted Kari’s head around and inspected him much like one would a horse for sale. The man fingered his hair, forced his jaw open to inspect his teeth and even checked his hands and feet, lingering on the daiyan tattoo on his left wrist. The other man in plain robes waited impassively while all this occurred and Kari struggled to force down the humiliation at such treatment but he was far too weak to resist.

In the end, he suffered through the inspection in silence. Seemingly satisfied, the long-haired man released him and stepped back. He continued to survey him with an intent stare however.

“Once you are healthy and fattened up a little, you will come up looking very pretty. Almost a shame I’ll be giving you away. You would fetch me quite a large sum of coin. Now tell me little omega, are you a virgin?”

Kari gaped at him and felt his cheeks infuse with heat. The man’s lips curved up in a sly smile and he looked away in embarrassment.

“Oh? You’re blushing. How precious. And just how did you manage your heats, little one?”

“Not like that!” Kari snapped out, his voice horse.

“Oho, so you do have a voice. A feisty attitude, too. Normally I would beat you for speaking to me in that tone but your new master doesn’t like broken little obedient slaves. He has an odd fascination with things with spirit. You’re lucky it counts in your favor. Now answer me clearly omega, are you a virgin?”

Glaring at the floor, Kari whispered, “Yes.”

“Completely untouched by another’s cock?”

He felt his cheeks heat up more and risked an embarrassed glare up at the long-haired man. “Yes.” The other man looked exceptionally pleased with this answer.

“Oh, how marvelous. So much extra added value. It unfortunately means I cannot train you how to please your new master but it makes you a truly exceptional and perfect gift. There’s no way he could turn you down. Such a shame I won’t get to try out your pretty little mouth, however.” He gave a dramatic sigh and flapped a hand at the other man who was still observing. “Enid, make sure he eats and sleeps. We leave for the Halshany Vesnice tomorrow at first light. I plan to give him over personally.”

“Yes, Master.”

The long-haired man turned and swept out of the room, leaving Kari with the quiet man Enid. He stared at the door in shock. It wasn’t until Enid moved that Kari turned his focus back to him. He blinked at a small bowl that was handed over before he took it mutely. His head swum after that conversation and the revelation that he had been taken and sold.

A heavy feeling twisted in his gut and made him feel nauseous at the mere thought of food. The way he had been inspected as though he was an animal and not a person was humiliating but it was the questions he had asked and the meaning behind those that made his stomach turn.

It was good that he was a virgin and untouched. Why? What was he going to be used as?

Kari didn’t want to think on the answer to that. He was pulled from his musing by a gentle pat on his knee.

Don’t fret, little one. Everything will be fine.” Enid gestured to the food and tried to encourage him to eat. “You need to eat though. You nearly died and very skinny. You will need your strength for the journey.”

Kari gave him a small nod but didn’t move to touch the food. Instead he stared at it mournfully while he tried to get his mind to stop from turning to the dark suggestions of what his future held. Enid sighed and nudged him again.

“You have questions, yes?” Kari nodded. “I will answer so long as you eat while I do so. First you must take a bite and swallow. Then you can ask a question.”

Kari scooped up a small spoonful of a thick soup and dutifully brought it to his mouth. He was pleased that it didn’t need much chewing and he forced it down. It sat heavily in his stomach though. He took a few moments to think about what he wanted to ask but there was really only one thing weighing on his mind.

“What kind of slave am I?”

“You are being sold as a pleasure slave.”

Kari blanched at Enid’s blunt statement. “Does that mean that I have to…?” He couldn’t force himself to say the words.

Oh Yhieris, please no.

“Yes.”

He felt panic well up inside and clenched the bowl in his hands. He started as a hand gently stroked his hair. “Please don’t panic, little omega.” The hand continued to pet his hair in an effort to soothe him. “I know they don’t have slaves in your home country but it’s not as bad as you think. Many people here sell themselves into slavery, particularly omegas.”

He chuckled as Kari gaped at him in disbelief. “It’s true. Pretty omegas in particular fetch a good price as pleasure slaves. The only people who buy pleasure slaves are those wealthy enough to do so. There are many who will happily trade in their freedom if it means that they do not have to worry where their next meal will come from and their buying price will often help support their families for some time.”

“But they have to do…things with their bodies for their masters, don’t they?” Kari cursed his omegan instincts as he realized he unconsciously leaned into the gentle strokes and pulled away sullenly. Enid continued his petting with a small chuckle.

“I told you to eat between questions, little one.” He waited until Kari had forced another spoonful into his mouth. “Is it so bad to give your body to another? You would be well looked after through your heats too.” He seemed to sense the omega’s doubt.

“Pleasure slaves are shown off. That’s part of your role as a pleasure slave. Only the rich and powerful can afford such a luxury and as such, they are normally exceedingly well looked after. They are often put on display and shown off for their traits, but at the end of the day, they only have one master. It is a crime to touch another’s property without permission. Remember that is what you are now. Property. You treat your possessions with care, do you not?”

He waited for Kari’s small nod before he continued. “This is much the same. Your new master, Prince Lezzker, has a reputation for being a fair and respectable man who treats his staff and slaves alike with great care. He never had a pleasure slave before and has no any pleasure slave now so you do not have to share his attention.”

“Lezzker?” Kari spoke tentatively, trying the name out on his tongue.

“Prince Lezzker,” Enid corrected. “He is part of the ruling royal family and presides over the Halshany Vesnice. He is third in line for the throne and extremely well respected in Niamrean society. My Master owes him a great debt, which is why you are being given as gift to that man. Of any who could take you, you are lucky that it is him. It will take us nearly two weeks’ travel by carriage to reach the city of Mishal where he lives. The Halshany Vesnice has a warm climate and is known for its fruit and alcohol produce. It’s a very nice area. I’m sure you will enjoy your new home.”

Kari wasn’t particularly fond of warm climates, being an ice Daiyan and all, but he wasn’t about to bring that up. He wasn’t averse to it either but he much preferred the large snow falls in the dead of winter back in his home village. Still, it didn’t sound as bad as it could be. And the travel there might give him an opportunity to escape.

Although he wasn’t too keen on being caught after the other man’s warning, so he would have to plan any escape attempt very, very carefully. He finally finished his bowl of soup and handed the empty dish over to Enid.

“Lezzker is his family name, right? What’s his actual name?”

Enid gave him a gentle smile and spoke as though his words didn’t bring Kari’s world crashing down.

“Ryedir Lezzker, the Niamrean Prince of War.”