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Chapter seven.

Elves.

Flynt shot upright at a loud rattling sound tearing him from his sleep, he stared at the large bear beating his baton against the metal door. Keys rattled and unlocked the metal cage door and with a groaning creak it swung open, "Come on out, breakfast time!." Flynt blinked as reality surrounded him, he flicked his ear at the sound of a stretching and yawning Tacnae. The rodent swung his legs out from under the blanket and pressed the soft sweat beaded pads onto the cold stone floor, a swallow wet his dry throat before he drew a great yawn of his own and rose up on those feet of his and walked towards the open door staggering a bit and holding his head where the hammer blow from Narsin left a lasting impression in the form of a searing migraine. the shuffle of scaly feet filled in behind him, "Oph,breakfast already eh?."

The kobold smiled and streatched again as he followed his furry cellmate into the corridor where many other inmates were emerging and walking up the wooden steps up and out into the world above.Flynt squinted and shielded his eyes from the glaring sun that beamed gloriously over the world, young Flynt looked up at the bear guards who seemed to be standing in a largely spaced formation,leading the prisoners to a long house with a straw roof. In front of young Flynt stood a tall well built tiger and behind him Tacnae but behind the rodent a wolf. none of them spoke, not a single in mate spoke as the line was fed into the wooden building and the smell of food the rodent couldn't place permeated his senses.

Flynt was given a wooden tray with a half loaf of bread and a bowl of scrambled eggs and a cup of some form of juice. Apparently the warden bear was partially right on the food given some additions now and then deduced the Ratling, Flynt went to sit down at a table but gave out a shout of surprise when he found himself falling to the floor his tray clattered across the wooden floorboards scattering the precious if flavorless meal, the black and grey rodent whimpered and rose on his hands and knees looking up at his assailant,a brown wolf like creature.

Tacnae stood there with wide eyes holding his own tray of food, "Hey, you bully!." the onlooking prisoners murmerd and scooted back as the wolf harrumphed crossing his arms,"Stupid rat, what ya do?, you trip over your own tail?" the wolf laughed and kicked the rat in the side then planted his foot on the rodent's back pinning him to the floor with a thunk and a soft squeak, the Kobold hissed and called out for the guards. a fox inmate whisperd towards the rat,"Don't fight, if the guards see you they will punish you to!."

The wolf laughed and grabbed the rat by the scruff of his neck and with a closed fist he snarled barring his teeth,"I don't like rats, keep your filthy disease ridden ass outa my mess hall!." the thump of a closed fist smashing against a head resonated through the mess hall, the strike was heavy and nearly broke the rodents neck, a back hand across the face and the wolf threw the small four foot tall Ratling at the door. with a crack the Ratling struck the door frame and collapsed in a heap. Whimpering the rodent rose to his feet his fur rising and his body heating up with anger. his body beaded sweat as he watched the wolf aproaching him with one of the trays brandishing it as a weapon the rat quickly looked around for something to defend himself with. finding a broom leaning against the wall he grabbed it and prepared to defend himself. the wolf swung the tray at the rat who ducked and side stepped around the wolf, arching his wooden weapon around and striking the wolf in the back with the wooden end. The lupine howled in pain and swung behind him to hit the defending rodent but Flynt was to quick, his studies and training sessions paying off.

the wolf howled and kicked at the rodent holding the broom like a spear defending himself as on lookers bore witness. Flynt side stepped again dodging the blows and hit the wolf in the leg, then with another loud wooden strike hit the lupine over the head, he scooted back and held the broom like a pike aiming at the wolf. The dog howled with rage at having a rat best him and with lightning fast movement he flung one of the four legged rectangular tables at the rodent, flinging food and drink everywhere, the rat went wide eyed and in his frozen surprise the table struck the rat crushing him against the wall. the rodent whimpered and when the table fell down on its broken legs the rodent collapsed on that wooden floor in a heap, blood seeping from his mouth his hand firmly wrapped around the haft of his broom, the wolf howled his victory just as a pair of armored guards were coming in.

"Get that rat on his feet,and put that wolf in irons!" bellowed a black bear approaching the grizzly aged wolf, the ursine glared at the lupine before grabbing his shoulder and pushing him towards the doorway,"Always fighting, I warned you the first two times your going into isolation." growled the bear brushing past a slowly rising Rodent, the wolf hacked and spat a glob of mucous at the rat.The spittle struck the rodent coaxing a startled squeak and the wolf was rewarded with a blow to his back."You will never learn will you!, I should just let you two duke it out in the training yard!." The Bear did not pit wolf and rat against each other, instead marched the old wolf to a lonely squat wooden structure sitting against the far wall of the fortress. A brown bear picked the rat up not bothering to let him walk on his own, the broom was left on the floor. the bear carried the rat under his arm behind the wolf charged ursine.

Tacna stared in dismay his tail drooping. "B-but he didnt do anything! He was defending himself!." The Bear paused and sighed staring over the battered rodent bleeding from his lips."Tacnae I know, I am just taking the rat to the infirmary but because he fought I have to stick him in Isolation for the day." Tacnae sighed and deflated watching the bear carry the rodent away the kobold couldn't do anything.The guard gave the rat a look smiling softly as the rodent curled up pressing into the bears chest shaking a bit,"Not going to resist eh?." The vermin shook his head his body shaking a bit,"It will be fine little one, Isolation is just an underground cell you will be fed and tomorrow you will be let out."

The small lizard lowered his head and loosed a soft sigh turning around and wandering back inside the messhall to finish his breakfast. He nearly bumped into a tall slender humanoid staring with icy moon eyes in the direction the rodent was carried off to, rubbing his chin the Drow gave a sly grin across his lips of deep grey. The kobold stared up at the elf, "Oh,excuse me mister." the kobold was about to move on but he was stopped by the visiting elf whos hand lay upon the reptiles shoulder, "Where are they taking your friend?" asked the Drow in that soothing seductive voice. Tacnae gave a slow sigh,"To isolation he got into a tussle with a wolf, why?." the elf was silent in thought for a moment and waved his hand,"Nevermind." and off on the heels of the bear he went. the humanoids long coat fluttering a bit as he went along. Tacnae didnt trust elves in particular Dark elves, But there was little he could do he could tell a guard, but the guard wouldnt believe him or simply blow the reptile off,so the Kobold simply walked back into the mess hall and dinned on his simple breakfast of eggs and bread. Flynt's injuries were cheked out, the Bear who scooped him up seemed to enjoy how the small rodent curled against his chest and remained by the rats side while he was cheked out, he was cleared with only a few bruises and no broken bones despite recounting all of what happened to the bears inquiring about it. The nice bear went back to keep watch on the other prisoners giving the rodent a ruffle of his head, when he left Flynt could hear another bear talking to him about Flynt being a thief.

The Drow had walked into the guardhouse and leaned over the table where a single guard was sitting minding his own breakfast of ale. The Dark brown and tan nose capped bear looked up at the Dark elf with brown eyes of curiosity and annoyance."Can I help you sir?." The elf smirked and nodded slowly before sliding three shinning gold coins onto the table."The Ratfolk that was recently brought in here, I wish to see him." The bear raised a brow at the gold offered then to the Drow,"Isolated prisoners do not get visitor-" The bear was cut off when the elf held up a leather purse full of coins both gold and silver,"Oh I am not visiting, I am interested in his fur and species." The bear blinked a few times and stared at the purse,"Slavery is abolished in this region, I should report you." The elf smiled and held the purse between two fingers and swung it back and forth."Oh I am not looking to make him my slave, I want to sell him to someone who dose. I will make it worth your while." The elf pulled open the tie and spilled the gold coins across the wooden table smirking wickedly at the ursine as that large guards eyes stared down at the discs of persuasion glistening off of the lantern light in the small guardhouse acting as a simple cover for the dungeons below. The Bear licked his lips and stood up from the table situated against the wall of the twenty by twenty guard house."Right this way." The elf smirked and rubbed his hands together emitting a rustling noise as he followed behind the bear. Venturing through a door and down a small flight of stairs before reaching a platform of wood and a ramp the duo had to travel down the pair found themselves infront of the iron bar doors of Spritepoints dungeon.

Rattling some keys the bear unlocked the door and swung it open walking inside before the elf to stare at the wolf chained up against one of three stone pillars in the rectangular dungeon who's walls were riddled with areas for prisoners to be chained up to. Flynt was in the oposite side of the dungeon which was a mere thirty feet long and twenty wide with a height of barely ten feet. The walls were adorned with torch light the Bear stared at the rat sitting there shaking from the cold down here, the vermin looked up at the visitors only to squeak and stare warrily at the Elf. Flynt had seen elves before but never this close. The bear stood back as the Darkelf moved towards the rodentian. Flynt's arms were in cuffs linked to chains that were latched to the cobble stone pillar, when the elf knelt and took hold of the rodents chin Flynt tried to tug away but to no avail. The elf tilted the rodents head this way and that looking over the fur, even drawing a knife to caulosly cut off the ratlings robe and tunic to inspect the pelt beneath. The Drow clapped his hands together eyes wide upon seeing the rodents pelt."Oh how extraordinary!." Turning on his heels the elf approached the Bear and in a hushed tone with the wolf staring curiousely towards the rat."I want you to slip this into his next meal, I will be waiting for your signal to come retrieve him." The bear took a vial that held a green herb inside it."I want more gold, what your doing is wrong." The elf rolled his eyes,"I will give you a thousand gold when I return for him, deal?" The bear huffed and stared at the wide eyed rodent peering back at him."Fine."

Hours passed by since the two had left, The rodent had dozed off unable to focus in his prison, the wolf tisked and called to the rodent,"hey worm tail, what was that all about?" the small unfed rodent looked towards the wolf and shrugged,"I...I don't know." Suddenly the rat found himself staring up at the tower of bear unlocking the cell door and slowly opening it.the large soldier like creature made his way towards the rodent and held out a wooden bowlto the rodent,"Here eat your supper." Flynt swallowed hard and nodded before reachign out to accept the bowl, he stirred a spoon of the same material before spooning the gruel into his narrow maw.

It was flavoreless and lukewarm, there was a small amount of meat in it and the rest felt like the residue from potatos. the young prisoner slowly devoured the whole contents of the bowl discarding the spoon to tip the vessel to those whiskerd lips and drink the sludge down.

The Bear held a guilty stare on the rodent and accepted the bowl when it was offerd in return, the Ursine was about to leave when the rodent spoke up."What did the elf want?." Shaking his head the armored guard closed the cage door and locked it peering through the bars at the rat,"Don't worry about it." Flynt simply nodded and leaned back against the pillar listening the thunk of the bears boots on the wooden ramp become more and more muffled.

Flynt sighed and closed his eyes for a moment taking advantage of the seclusion in the cell to reflect on all that had happened in the past weeks. Having dinner with his human family at one moment then the other smuggled out of his home by a Minotaur when a woman took power and began to kill non-humans in the city he grew up in!.Only to be left behind by the minotaur with his last words,'Be strong,be touph.' Flynt loosed a shuddering breath as tears began to well up in his eyes. 'How can I be touph?' thought the rodent, 'this is to much.' tears began to soak his fur. Flynt weeped silently in the dim dungeon. He had fallen in love with Daugh,mated with the lizard no doubt eclipsing him in age,the two Nagas who were royalty accepting him as a son, a son!. Then both nagas mated with him, well Sjinel did and he was nearly consumed by Thrisha. A family he had finaly obtained, a family that didnt care he was not a lizard or Naga, they seemed to relish the fact the rodent preferred men.'framed, framed and locked away.' the rodent whimperd sniffling as tears patted quietly to the stone floor.''That elf should be in here not me." growled the rodent catching a gaze of curiosity from the wolf all the way in the other end of the dungeon. Despite his wrists being locked in the iron cuffs and being forced to sit on the cold hard floor the ratling found himself feeling progressively tired and and before long his head drooped as he fell into a deep drugged slumber. His final thoughts were of Sjinjel and Thrisha, the Minotaur Briar, his human family, and especially Daugh.

Rorin slowly stood over the small table where he sat many hours protecting the prisoners in the guard house. "Its done, he should be fast asleep now." a low soft voice rose from the shadows, leaning against the wall the elf who had witnessed the confrontation hours earlier between Flynt and the wolf. the Dark elf pushed off the wooden wall smiling that wicked smile of his,"Wonderful, here you go." the dark skinned pointy eared elf held out a fat purse of gold to the Bear, Rorin hesitantly took it.The ursine didnt like making this shady deal but the thousand gold would feed his family for weeks. he closed his eyes and took the purse of gold. "lets just get this over with, I dont wanna get caught." the ursine turned and lead the elf into the dungeon. Rorin used an old iron key to unlock the two cuffs keeping the very limp rat in place one cuff clicked and swung free letting the youth slump down. the cuff cutting slightly into his wrist, with molasses like lazy movements the ursine unlocked the other cuff and both Drow and armored mammal watched as the little prisoner slumped to the ground in a heap of unmoving flesh and fur.The two accomplices stared at the shallowly breathing heap before the Bear broke the silence,"I'll get something to carry him in,don't want everyone else seeing I betrayed the safety of this prisoner." the elf groaned and simply nodded staring down at the rodent or more specifically his fur. slick black with ash white spots all across his back butt and upper thighs the elf found the fur tantalizing and knew when he was away he would get a fortune off the Rare breed of Rat, just because of his unique fur.

The Drow looked up at the clammor of heavy boot falls and a thud of wood, spying a round top chest at the feet of the large bear he pulled the chest open to reveal its empty belly,"Shove him in here, I will help you get him off the grounds." the elf blinked and stared at the chest for a long moment before a sly grin drew across his purple lips and his hands went under the armpits of Flynt, dragging him away from the pillar, with the aid of Rorin the small prisoner was rolled up and stuffed into the wooden chest. the elf and Bear stared at the bundle of fur tightly curled up inside the chest for a long moment before the elf shut the lid and the ursine locked it with a brass key. both hands gripping around an iron handle the elf took up one side, and the bear took the other with a single hand. Both were off walking casualy out of the guard house pausing Rorin glanced around, up along the walls and towards the watch towers.

"its surprisingly light." commented the elf as the duo reached the tall wooden gate, an ursine guard nodded to his fellow bear and signaled for the gate to be open."Selling some more junk eh Rorin?" the already guilting guard chuckled nervousely looking at the elf and nodded,"Y-yea, bout sums it up." the bear shook his head and gestured for the two to exit when the gate was ajar. not far outside the gated wall the drow's small two wheeled wagon sat strung to a single pony the rhino was all to happy to slide the iron braced chest onto the back of the wagon. pushing it up against a crate and another chest. Those brown eyes stared into the drows and with a snarl the bear turned to march back into the safety of the fortress, likely to 'persuade' the old wolf he did not see the rat get taken away in such a manner.The Drow simply smiled and patted the round chest,"Easiest haul ever." he grinned and mounted the uncoverd wagon and with a crack of the reins he urged the black nag down the small road, the wheels rattled along the muddy road.

The morning sun slowly rose over the horizon casting its radiant glow over the vast rolling caledescope land. the single horse wagon rattled and rolled along the road, passing the stray fellow traveler leaving the wide open hilly plains where the prison was passing from here and into a forest where many eyes watched the wagon. The cart rattled and rolled along stopping when the sun settled out of view and let the moons rise in its place. The Drow set up camp fires and cooked meats feasting and remaining warm while rain slowly began to cascade over the slowly warming landscape the port city was long gone behind Flynt now. Flynt who was completely obliviouse to what had transpired to him. Sjinjel and Thrisha had returned with the money but there was no ratling to be found at Sprite rock. Only a Bear who claimed the rat had escaped, of course they didnt believe him and after many angry heated words and many threats of war from the Naga a desperate investigation soon went underway ran only by the nagas as the governing powers seemed far to lax and adament about not aiding them in finding Flynt. apparently a single ratkin was not important enouph to mount a search for.It pained the reptiles that the search had to be put off when a messenger from their Kingdom of Azuray came and they had to return to take care of their homeland, though Flynt was never far from their thoughts.

Flynt's eyes slowly drew open, a low groan escaped his lips as he tried to stretch and move, only to find he could not. He looked around his dark nearly pitch black surroundings sniffing for any sign or clue as to where he was. the young rat sniffled then sneezed.His eyes slowly adjusted to the thin rays of light sneaking in through the cracks between the wood of his 'cage' Flynt gazed along the square belly and round top of his prison. the small rodent tried to kick but he had barely enough room to move his legs an inch. He froze at the sound of voices outside,his ears upright listening intently. A rattling of light metal sounded, a pause then a single word in a language the rodent didnt understand he gave a soft squeak when the sound of a key opening a metal locking mechanism echoed around him the squeak of a metallic latch then the groaning of joints as the lid of the chest slowly gaped and eyes peered in. Flynt squinted and squeaked turning his head away from the bright light.The voices persisted, talking between one another. when Flynt's eyes adjusted and he managed to see without squinting them shut he looked up at a loosely clothed Dark elf conversing with a human, both were speaking in a language the young rodent couldn't understand but he could tell that a deal was being made, the human looked down at the ratling for a moment rubbing his chin.he gave a smirk and shrugged shouting,"T'zaraw!." the man slapped his hand into the elves and they shook both smiling like kids at a fare.

The elf took a heavy pouch of what could only be coins and the human turned to stare down at Flynt his arms crossed,"alright, you had better sell more than i paid for you." the rat just stared up at the human shaking slightly,"Dont you look at me like that, get outa that box and follow me, i know you can understand me you rats arent all stupid right?" he growled and impatiently stood there as Flynt groaned and slowly crawled out of the chest feeling extremely weak his joints popping with each movement, Flynt had to wonder how long he had been in that chest, he gave a soft squeaking groan stumbling on a sleeping foot and leg. the human harumphed and turned to walk down a short wide hallway."Come on!." Flynt winced and looked back to the chest just sitting on a table within some form of building his gaze shifted up to a guard blending in with the wall in his yellow bone like armor.Deciding that he woudlnt be able to escape just yet the small rodent limped after the tall broad chest human. his small feet pita patterd across the beige stone floor and over woven throw rugs before turning and following the man up a flight of stairs made of the same stone.

The stairs seemed to be carved out of the floor itself but Flynt had no time to stare at the construction and debate who it was made by. the human was being impatient and finally decided to grab the rat by the arm and drag him upstairs."Come ON!."Flynt squeaked getting yanked off his feet and nearly dragged up the rest of the stair way into a round room, dimly lit by red candles. The walls were lined with stacks of miscellaneous furniture some of it was knocked over. There were five other people in the room, not including a drow holding a vicious looking baton. The group of five were all naked, and bound together by chains attached to steel collars around their necks. The human shoved the ratling who stood there with flat ears and wide eyes looking up at the human slave the two gnolls and two lizardfolk. Flynt stared at the beaten and sad looking lizardfolk, their backs were scarred with lash marks, their hands cuffed in irons as well as their ankles. The Drow nudged the rodent with the baton behind the human a scared wide eyed boy with thin black hair and a fair Caucasian body, the elf took a collar ring from his belt and clipped it around the ratlings throat causing him to whimper, though he wanted to the rodent decided it best not to resist or try to escape, for one he had no idea where he was, what reigion or town, and he felt extremely weak and very very hungry.

The Drow slipped a metal rod into the Rat's collar joint. then a short chain was clipped to the back of the humans collar and to Flynt's. the elf grabbed the rats chin and stared him in the eyes."I'm out of cuffs,your not gonna run are you?,i would really hate to ruin that pretty pelt of yours with my whip." he grinned maniacly while stroking his hand along the rats head,that grin only broadend when Flynt shook his head the elfs lips parted and utterd words,"good boy,keep up that attitude and you will live to be free again." he laughed and stood back clapping his hands and looking towards that human that pulled Flynt up here standing by an old wooden door."Alright lets send them out!."

Flynt had read several times about slavery, endentured slaves working off a debt their parents had to a certain party.prisonors of war, and even thieves becoming slaves as community service. Was this his punishment?. the rodent shook his head rattling the chain linking him to the human infront of him he stared down then quickly looked away.the human was completely nude though he did have a smooth butt. Slave auctions Flynt had read about were always outdoors and held on large stages. But this was in his mind no doubt an illeagle one, or at least it seemed as such as the stage was made up of many tables lined up against one another with a tarp lain over them.The onlookers seated around tables drinking and eating, holding paddle like objects were not very many.Some stood and walked closer to the table but Flynt felt somewhat confident that due to the lack of crowd that he wouldnt be sold,and he mentaly prayed in his mind that his studies were true,that even in underground slave trades if a slave didn't sell it was set free.the chain gang stopped as a portly man in a rather silly outfit looked at the first slave to be auctioned off,a Gnoll holding a very proud and steadfast posture. with the swap of key from elf to human the Gnoll was unlinked from the rest of the group and urged up into the middle of the stage onto a box so everyone could see him.Flynt watched in horror as the crowd slowly grew and shouted in a caledescope of dialects some common, others it was anyones guess.

the Gnoll sold quickly for a price the rodent couldnt hear over the commotion of voices shouting over one another the other gnoll was sent up on the pedstle and sold faster than the first,the price Flynt managed to hear only slightly,''1000?'' he whisperd softly,the human infront of him nodded slowly,"yea...gnolls are good for back breaking labor...same as lizards." there was a hiss from one of the reptiles,"You humanss are all the ssame, buy thiss ssell thiss. like you own everything." he shook his head and watched his fellow lizardfolk go up on stage,watching people bid on his life while the portly man shouted and danced about the stage like a lunatic. finaly someone bought the reptile, and like clock work, as if on some practiced dance the other lizard was sent out and sold after almost two heated minutes of bidding,apparently fins were more desirable than spines.Then it was the human, he was dragged by an arm up onto the box. The portly mans hand was on the flat of the smaller humans back, the boy seemed maby in his late twenties.

Flynt's eyes ever calculating turned to gaze over the crowd, a few eyes were on him but never for more than a moment, just focusing on the main attraction. Like the gnolls and lizards the man introduced the human,describing the human boy's features and skin tone, his heritage and like the gnolls what he would be most likely able to do. Unlike the gnolls the bidding was started lower Flynt heard the price tag, "200 gold." there was an awkward silence permeating around the room, Flynt's ears twitched, he could hear someone off in the crowd whispering degrading things about the human. the portly man even lowerd the opening bid to 60 gold, but no one would rais their hands or yell, someone accualy left the house. The portly man sighed and waved the human down and unlocked his bindings, the human slave with black hair went wide eyed and looked around nervousely and hopeful."go on lad." the boy was given a dirty robe from the elf and usherd off of the stage,he yelld in glee and ran from the slave auction without a look back.Flynt sighed and lowerd his head,eyes closed ears flat,he shut out the voices of the crowd and stood there alone in chains on the stage.His eyes opend when the fat bellied man was tugging on the chain attathed to his neck and the rodent confident no one would bid on him stepped up to the plate, standing there with his hands folded infront of his groin, his ruby red eyes stared out over the crowd murmering to one another's ears, eyes staring into him, eyeing him up and down, sizing him up like a slab of meat.

The portly man's hand stroked along the rodent's arm, trailing his fingers through the ratlings slightly thick coat of fur, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have saved the very best for last." his voice was low and he made sure that only those near the very front could hear him. "This is truly a treat, from the mystical frozen lands of Gordea where the snow is as tall as a man and forever falls, and the nights last months, where there are deep caves of chrystal and ice. Where there are winds so cold you can freeze where you stand!. with fur so rare kings can't even afford a single pelt!." he smiled and stepped away from Flynt to look out over the crowd,"My fair citizens I humbly present to you a perfect adolescent Gordeon ratling male!."

Flynt blinked staring confusion at the fat human marching around shouting what Flynt didnt quite understand, was he making it up?.The rodent looked down at his own fur,sleek black but thick,'winter coat' thought the ratling. 'my fur has always been thick, am i really a gordeon rat?'

Flynt's mental trail was broken when the mans hands were upon him again causing the ratling to squeak in dismay.The auctioneer held the rodents arms up and turned him around on the box,"feast your eyes folks, the ghost spots of Gordeon thouroughbreads, he is pure blood Gordeon ratkin, in his teens, the fur is perfect for harvesting if you so wish it, thick and flowing." someone shouted wanting the opening bid, the portly man chuckled,"now he may not look like much, but his species are hardy folk, living in the winter wastelands of the mysteriouse lands of his people where almost all other races will freeze in their steps!." the man turned the ratling back around to face the crowd, many were standing and staring wide eyed and hungry. the portly man aimed his paddel at the crowd, "For such a rarity I will open the bid at a very generouse..." he looked to the rat then back to the crowd grinning so wide his gums showed,"1200!."

The auction house erupted into madness, Flynt's red eyes were wide watching the heavy set man with the large beard dance around the stages end taking bids and asking for higher bids it was a disgusting display. the rodent shook where he stood closing his eyes seething with anger and fear and uncertainty, ears flat fists clenched, he wanted to retaliate and run, but he knew it would be folly, with how high the bids were getting he wouldnt be able to get off scott free like the human, someone was going to buy him and own his flesh. the rodents eyes opend and he glared out over the people raising their hands and shouting, the one thing that Flynt noticed was the majority of the patrons were humanoid. elves of the Darker complection and humans, even a couple orcs were there but the way they were dressed they were just guards, terrifying, tall, musclebound, armed with giant axes, mere guards. The clothes the people bidding all wore were fine, brightly colored linens some were fur. they were wealthy some more so than others.

The portly man started shouting,"going once! going twice!." Flynt stared at the angry faces of elves storming out the portly mans face was as red as Flynt's eyes and sweating like a river,the thin young rodent simply stared at the human blankly and glanced to the elf the man thrust his finger at,"SOLD! for a staggering 10,000 gold royals!."

Flynt breathed an uneasy sigh as the portly human removed the collar,tossing it aside carelessly and leading the small rodent across the creaking wooden tables,the ratling leaned out his foot splaying his clawed toes before setting them on a wooden box, then another step of splayed toes and he was on the buildings carpeted stone floor. the ratling looked up at a robe wearing Dark elf that stared down its nose at the small rodent who barely came to the blue sued robed humanoids groin. The Drow snapped his fingers and a gnoll in an elegant raiment approached holding a small chest handing it over to the auctioneer."here is ten thousand royals, with interest of a thousand." the man in the silly suit nodded eyes wide as he took the lockbox and smiled to the dunmer, "pleasure doing buisness with you sir." and as if Flynt was not there the portly man turned to mount the stage and shouted the conclusion of the auction wishing everyone a fine day. Flynt was lead out of the auction house with the gnoll behind him and the elf infront of him. Before exiting the drow had the Hyena tie a rope around the rodents neck, using the slack as a lead the trio left the building. Flynt emerged from the house into a muggy midday under a stone porch with dirt and grass underfoot. an archway to his left and ahead of him,when the elf walked forward the rodent managed to gaze upon his new surroundings.

Next to a building across the alleyway stood what Flynt first deduced was a tree but gazing up at it his eyes went wide.There standing beside a building of beige stone construction loomed a fourty foot tall Mushroom.

Flynt was not given time to gawk at the towering mushroom standing a few feet infront of an accual tree nor the rising mountian further behind.The Gnoll usherd Flynt along behind the Dark elf around the stone archway allowing him to peer into what looked to be the town center. the exit he had come out of the auction house was underneath another door and stair way above it. The rodents ears were up and he was peering around curiousely,seeing guards in yellowed bone like armor, perhaps some form of chitin contemplated Flynt as each of his foot falls smacked softly on the partial stone street. The rodent peered up at a tall statue of a praying Elf with its head bowed and hands together standing in the middle of the walkway. A female darkelf sat on the bench going around the circular base of the statue a dual stairway of the same beige stone rose up along a low hill behind the statue. between the steps and another taller cliff like hill sat a pawnbroker building, crowning the hill was a towering wall with the tell tale roofs of more buildings behind it, 'residential, or maybe a temple.' thought Flynt whos eyes transfixed upon another towering mushroom sitting just at the brink of the hills radical slope, further down stood a tree with the most elegant greenery upon its branches.

Flynt's red ruby eyes met with a lizardfolks own yellow eyes, she was a rather pretty lizard, a female with a crest similar to a chamelian protruding from her head she stood upon a rug under a simple canvas set against a wall selling pottery. her eyes went wide when the gnoll tugged on the rope around the ratlings neck and she darted her gaze away. Flynt squeaked and stumbled pausing just before falling over and gazed out through one of a dual archway between wich hung a glowing lantern,the rat glimpsed a dock area the sail of a small boat. the bank across the river just gleamed by the rodent before he was rouphly shoved through an open door nearly tripping over the short step,he righted himself before he could smash into the wall and small bookcase.The elf simply stared at the rat and shook his head,"You had better be worth all that money." threatend the dunmer, Flynt simply looked away with flat ears.

The elf tisked and approached the grizzeld orc standing behind an L counter laden with an assortment of weapons Flynt wasnt allowed to get near as the Gnoll stood along the far wall near the steps leading to the upstairs area,no doubt where the orc had a bed.the Hyenas heavy handpaws rested on both of the rats shoulders.

"I need a robe or tunic for this Slave,he is a gift to my brother and I want him to at least look presentable enouph." the orc glanced over at the small black fured creature rubbing his stubble, the orc nodded with a soft grumble in a rusty voice he pointed a large finger at a shelf against the wall just next to the door laden with a caledescope of leather armors and some solid metal gear."theres a brown robe up there,got it from an adventurer some years ago,will be baggy on em,but is all i got."

The elf turned to look for the afore mentioned robe. finding it he pulled it off the shelf letting it unfurl and hang loosely.it was soil brown with a small hood and baggy sleeves."How much?" the orc looked at the elf and the robe,"hmm, just take it no ones tried buying it since i got it,i sell armor not clothes." the elf grinned and nodded softly approaching the young black rodent with the baggy robe and held it up,"Arms up, slave." obediently the rodent not wanting to anger the elf raised his arms up over his head and on went the robe,it slipped on with ease,the gnoll chuckled a bit and dug out the rat's leash tugging on it a few times. the Rodent held out his arms ignoring the Gnoll and looked down at the robe around his feet,it was clearly not meant for small ratfolk.the elf even chuckled a bit then pulled out his dress knife and began to carefuly cut and tear the bottom of the robe until it was just around the rats ankels he sheathed the blade with a click of wood and metal shaking his head again he turned and left the armorer.

Back the trio trotted up the dual staircase.the two stone lengths of steps were seperated by solid stone railings creating a kind of swath between them where grass rose and grew. the top of the steps were formed by flat simple packed dirt where the boots and feet of countless residents came and went,Flynt gazed up at a thick crooked tree surrounded by large stones and boulders just behind the tree rose the mountain and to Flynt's right rose another flight of dual stairs leading to the pressumed residential area of the town.

The rodent was not lead up these stairs,instead he was tugged along in the oposite direction along behind the buildings their roofs sticking up over the small rise the trio walked upon. passing behind the building with the mushroom alongside it the rodent stared down the walkway where the dirt slowly melded into cobblestone squares his ruby eyes gazed at the auction house with its red lantern aglow alongside the upstairs doorway.

Flynt's vision was obscured by the wall of a building passing infront of him,he barely caught sight of the buffeting tapestry scrawling what the buildings purpose was, a black goblet was inked onto the yellowed cloth surrounded by elvish wrighting. His vision shifted to a pair of urns standing side by side against the apparent pubs beige stone wall then he gazed up at the archway passing over him and to the guards tower where it linked to the archway.

Large wooden doors were held open by massive stakes, a guard in the yellow chitin armor stood sternly infront of each large wooden door. The road from these gates slowly turned along the side of a small hill proceeding the mountain lined with trees with heavy branches draping moss standing among boulders and mushrooms. The ratling squeaked when his leash was tugged a little hard,his eyes watched as a small inlet separated the town walls and the road,the dark elf took the rope leash from the gnoll without a single word and took the lead again. the ratlings warm soft feet stepped onto the slimy moist wooden planks of a rope bridge crossing over the river.Flynt took this moment to gaze and drink in a little more of his new surroundings the river was low and looked rather deep,there was another guard tower protecting the town,the docks moored a small long galley, the river was by the rodents reckoning at least twenty to thirty feet across and it went on until it nooked and the rat could only see tall mountains,he yelped when the elf tugged his leash again making the robe around his neck a bit tighter with each tug.the bridge rose at a lazy angle to connect the two landmasses,it creaked and slowly swayed as the wind swam over it buffeting the moss hanging off the rope. A forlorn lantern stood at a fork in the road several meters from the bridge,one way lead around a small stone house with a lantern illuminating its porch a figure prowled the roof.

Trodging along the packed road the trio passed the home leaving it behind as the sun glowed radiantly through grey sparse clouds making the humid air just that much more uncomphertable,the breeze with its cool kiss soothed the thick furred ratling but it could not make him feel any better about the situation he was in.Flynt gazed up at the mushrooms that started to become as numerable as the trees themselves, and just as tall. Heaving a soft sigh he lowerd his head and slouched, dragging his feet as the reality of his predicament came crashing in heeded by the rumble of distant thunder.