Free Day

Free Day 1

Altheia Summers2

The young mage student sat at her dorm table studying the book entitled "The First Wizards" for her History of Magic class. Her dormitory room looked like all the other rooms with a bed, a closet, a dresser drawer, a table, chair and lamp. The walls were a bare white. She stretched and yawn. She has been reading all morning. She wanted to do well and become a mage. She wanted her mother to be proud of her. A knock at the door woke her from her thoughts. "Come in." 3

Through the door bounced an elven girl with blond hair and blue eyes, a couple inches shorter than Altheia. The girl went by the name of Stephanie Winterdawn. "Hey Allie, whats up? What ya doing?"4

Altheia nicknamed Allie held up her History of Magic book. "Reading what else would I be doing? The professor assigned us alot of reading in this class." 5

Stephanie made a face. She was in Allie's class and knew fully too well the course load of that class. "Allie, you cant be reading on Free Day." 6

"What is Free Day?"7

"You mean no one has told you? Free Day is an extra day in the week where you can do anything you want to. It comes between seventh day (Saturday) and first day (Sunday)." 8

"So I wanted to read I can read right?"9

Stephanie thought she was missing the point.
"Yes, you can read but not school texts. You are supposed to have fun on Free Day." 10

With that Stephanie took the book from Allie. "Hey! Give me that back!" 11

"Not til you promise to come with me into town and have fun." 12

"O.K. you win. Lets go." 13

Stephanie handed her back the book. "Good, I knew you would see it my way. Dont forget your money pouch.
We are going shopping!" 14

Allie dug around in her closet for her pouch and tied
it about her waist. "O.K., lets go. Oh, can we stop at the stables and pick up Diamond? I think he like to have a Free Day too."15

The trio reached the city. It stood in all its magnificent glory. One can go to the city one hundred times and never see the same thing twice. Allie thought it looked different from just a month ago when she arrived here. 16

"Well , where shall we start first?" she asked. 17

"Come on Allie. I will show you a good time." The two girls and one unicorn went from stall to stall looking at all the goods. Allie had bought herself a few more new outfits and even a little something for Diamond, a
blanket to keep him warm in the stables. After all that shopping, the girls went into one of the inns for a bite to eat. The inn was a frequent hangout of
the mage school and they saw many classmates. Stephanie seems to know a great many of them. Allie waved to them out of courtesy as she was introduced to each person who stopped at their table to say hi. She had no idea how she was going to keep all their names straight. 18

When the girls finished their socializing, they got up to leave. Out in the fresh air, Allie took in a deep breath. The air in the inn had been a little smoking and smelled of ale. It was good to smell fresh air. "Whats that?"19

Her friend gazed to where the mage student had pointed. "I have no idea." There was a big crowd standing in front of the center of the
square around any empty platform. A makeshift pen stood near the platform. 20

Inside were people dressed in rags with their hands behind their backs. Their hands and feet both shackled in irons. The crowd of people had grown while they were looking at the platform. "What is going on?" asked Allie. 21

Her elven companion's lips formed a thin line. "These are slaves to be sold to the person with the highest bid." 22

"Slaves! In Avalon? I thought slavery was illegal here." 23

"It is but people have them anyways and the magistrates of some villages let it go on because it helps "certain" businesses." 24

Allie caught the girls italics on certain but didnt say anything. "How horrible to be a slave and sold at whim." 25

A hush went over the crowd as a big, burly man with a gray beard sauntered up to the platform. He wore black cloth shirt and pants and carried a leather whip. A handler brought the first slave to the platform, whipping him in the process. This slave looked human. He was muscular and tall with brown hair and green eyes. His lowered his head so Allie could not see his
face. Otherwise, he stood perfectly still. The women in the crowd stared in perfect awe of the slaves form and gave secret smiles. 26

The burly man spoke in a loud voice. He seemed to be the auctioneer. "Now what do I hear for this strapping lad? He is very strong and would make an excellent slave for any farmer. Or perhaps a fine lover for any of you young ladies. Lets start the bidding at 10 gold pieces."27

Someone shouted, "Is he obedient?"28

"Ah, I see you are a smart customer sir. Let us humor you. Turn around and pull up the back of the loincloth." the auctioneer ordered the slave. 29

The slave obediently did as he was told. The first blow came with a smack. Allie could not see the man's reaction. Another blow with the whip came down hard.
Allie could see the strain in the man's body but no sound came from his lips. 30

The blows came faster and harder. Allie can see the man buckle under the blows. One especially hard blow made the man utter a cry. The crowd cheered loudly. The man started to weaken and now he more cries escaped his lips. Allie can almost feel the blows as she herself had been whipped with the cold whip. When the whipping finished, the crowd gave a great cheer, satisfied with what they saw. "31

Now, said the auctioneer Who will give me 30 gold pieces?" 32

"30 gold pieces," shout one man. 33

"35 gold pieces." It went up and up to 50 gold pieces. 34

"50 gold pieces going once...going twice....Sold for 50 gold pieces." The slave was taken away in the chains he was shackled in. Altheia looked pained as the new owner walked off with slave in tow. 35

The handler brought out another slave to the platform. This one was a elven girl with long wavy, brown hair and maybe blue eyes. Allie couldnt tell because the girl was crying. Crying loudly, as she was pushed to the platform. 36

Then Allie realized she wasnt wearing any clothes and totally naked. She glanced around and saw all the women slaves were naked but the males wore loincloths. Allie looked back at the platform. The girl slave shivered. Not so much from the cold but from embarrassment. "Lookie here." called the auctioneer. "We got quite a pretty one. Perfect for any man or any tavern."37

The auctioneer felt her breasts and she blushed. "Very firm." He squeezed her nipple and it turned pink. "Very responsive." He then spread her legs so
her endowments showed. "Very well endowed. What do I hear for this lovely beauty?"38

Allie felt sick. She couldnt watch anymore but could not tear herself away from the platform. "Could you believe this?" 39

She had forgot Stephanie was there. "No, I cant. It is just wrong. People should have a right to be free and have self respect." 40

Bids went higher and higher for the slave girl until the bid was up to 60 gold pieces. "Sold to the man in the back for 60 gold pieces." The new owner led his slave away from the crowd. The girl's cries grew louder. 41

The Nino Oro started to feel sick and wanted to go home. The next slave on the platform caught her eye and she caught a gasp in her throat. The slave was one of her own race. He had short, wavy brown hair and eyes. He had a medium build and very slim. Something in her snapped. Her eyes flashed and her face went as red as her hair. No one! No one would humiliate her people! 42

"How much will you bid for this fine slave?" she heard the auctioneers voice. 43

Unbelievable to her, she heard her own voice, "25 gold
pieces!" 44

"I have 25, will anyone give me 30?"45

Stephanie whispered, "What are you doing?" 46

"I am bidding." The auctioneer's voice went on. The bidding was up for 40 gold pieces. 47

"50 gold pieces." she bid again. 48

"I have 50, 50, who will give me 55?"49

Allie bid higher . "60 gold pieces." 50

"I have 60 gold pieces. Going once...going twice.... Sold to the young lady in the front."51

Still in a daze, she went up to pay for her slave. What was she doing? She never done anything like this before? The slave followed his new 52

mistress away from the crowd. He thought his new mistress very beautiful and she was the same race as he. There was something about his mistress that attracted him. 53

Now that she had time to think, Allie didnt know what she was going to do with him. Well she had to get him some clothes. He cant walk around in a loincloth. She went to the nearest stall and looked through the mens
clothes, every once in awhile holding them up to the slave. Oh, she hated calling him that. She wished she knew his name. She finally decided on some trousers and a tunic. She bought her purchases and then tried to find a place where he can change clothes. She found an ally. 54

After a search, found it to be abandoned. So far no one had said anything. Stephanie and Allie had been too
much in a daze to talk and their companion kept silent because they was to be expected of him. "You can change here. No one will see you." She handed her male companion the bought clothes then turned around to give him some privacy. 55

He changed without asking questions. "Are you hungry?" It was growing dark. They hadnt eaten since the noon hour. "You have permission to speak. Are you hungry?" 56

"Yes, mistress." he had said simply. 57

"Then lets go find an inn." 58

They found a quiet inn at the end of the street where all the other inns were lined up. They entered the inn and found a table in the rear. At this time of the day, it wasnt too busy. The dinner hour had come and gone. Only a few patrons were sitting, laughing and drinking. A young barmaid came and asked what they have. "What is the special today? "59

"Beef stew and peas with bread." 60

"Is there any left? "61

"Yes miss. There is some left." 62

"Then bring three specials." 63

"Yes miss. That will be six coppers miss." Altheia handed the girl the money. The girl went away to get the food. The silence still lingered in the air. 64

Stephanie and Allie exchanged glances several times. Their male companion sat quiet as usual. She had to say something. She cleared her throat and spoke to their companion. "What is your name?" 65

"Tristan." 66

"My name is Altheia, Allie for short. This is Stephanie." She acknowledged her friend. "How is it that you were on the auction block?"67

"I worked for the mines in Willows Bend. Suddenly, I was taken to your city and before I knew it on the auction block." 68

"How long have you been a slave?" asked Stephanie. 69

"Since I was one hundred and ten. I think about 50 years ago now." 70

"Do you have any family?" 71

"No mistress. My parents died of the Enferma when I was thirty." 72

"What is the Enferma?" 73

"It is a bad illness. You develop coughs , terrible coughs and fever. It gets worse when you break out in a rash."74

"What happened then Tristan?" asked Allie. 75

"I was taken to the orphanage. My relatives didnt want me and no one else did either." 76

"Did they treat you badly at the orphanage?" 77

"No, it wasn't so bad. We got feed at least. Then put to work dying fabric for the cloth shop next door. Sometimes we went without sleep to fill an order. I ran away a few years later." 78

"Where did you go then? They didnt come after you?"79

"No. I lived on the streets, I am ashamed to say, as a pickpocket." 80

The food was brought but laid untouched. Now they occasionally took bites as Tristan continued his tale. "When were you brought to the mines?" continued Allie through bites. 81

"One day I got caught pickpocketing a man's wallet and the guards brought me to prison." 82

The girls gasped. "At such a young age?" 83

"I was one hundred and ten then." 84

"One hundred and ten is still very young. You were put in a real prison?" 85

"Yes." The girls shivered to think of such things. 86

"For a few days, I sat there." continued Tristan. "One day the guard brought me out with some of my other cell mates and loaded on a wagon. I didnt have any idea what was going to happen. The worst kind of fear is the fear of the unknown. All I could think of is I am going to die. We reached the mines then. The guards bound us and marched us into the cave. For years, I ate, slept, and worked in those mines." 87

"You never thought of escape?" asked Stephanie. She found herself fascinated with his story. 88

"The caves were heavily guarded. Those who were suspected of escape received severe beatings." 89

"Were you ever beaten?" Allie feared the answer. 90

"Yes I was, many times. Suddenly as I was brought there, The guards whisked me again and put me on the auction block where you have purchased me, my lady. I am to be your humble servant and serve you well." 91

"You aren't my servant Tristan. I detest slavery; especially one of my own people."92

"As you wish, my lady." There was a pause. "My lady, now that I am free, may I ask a question?" 93

"Of course." 94

"Why did you purchase me if you detest slavery?" 95

"I dont know. I couldn't stand to see any being suffer what I saw on the auction block. The fact that you are Nno Oro made me even more furious." 96

"I am in great debt to you my lady. What of your story?" 97

"Mine? He nodded. Well, I lived with my parents in Blue Mountain Valley. We were very happy. One day, and I still cant figure this out, my house caught fire. I tried to get my parents out but they would not wake up." 98

Stephanie had not heard this story and was interested in it as she had been Tristan' s. Allie continued, "They died in the fire. I left the next morning and been wandering since then. About a month ago, I got into the mage school here in the city." 99

"How were you able to afford me mistress? Are you rich?"100

"No, not by far. I got the money from some thugs whose intentions were less than noble. I knocked them out and took the bags they had." 101

"Then we are both orphans." replied Tristan taking her hand. 102

This had never occurred to Altheia. "I never thought about it. I have been too busy in that time to dwell on it." 103

Tristan put his arm around Altheia' s shoulder for they were sitting next to each other. "We can go through the healing process together." He rather liked his mistress. He wanted to spend more time with her. Be with her every second. 104

"It is getting late and we should have gone an hour ago." Stephanie said realizing how late it was. 105

The magess in training nodded. "We will take Tristan back with us." 106

"What are we going to do with him?" wondered Stephanie. 107

"To bad we can't get him in as a student. Have you any desire to be a mage or a bard Tristan?"108

"Well, I guess now that I am free I should think about doing something with myself. I think a bard would be fun."109

The next morning, back at the school, the young people sat in Headmasters Mikeal's office. The whole story came out. The headmaster sat and thought. "There aren't any special requirements for bards unlike mages.
He is still required to take a test to prove himself a bard." 110

"Headmaster Mikeal, if he doesnt get in, could he still stay on the grounds somehow? Please?" 111

"I think that can be arranged. Come tomorrow for testing and if Tristan passes the test then he is in." 112

"Oh thank you!" cried Allie. 113

Tristan wanted to be a bard even more and be worthy of Altheia. He was sure it wasn't just that she freed him but he felt real love for her. He must pass. 114

Well, the next morning, Tristan leaped and jumped for joy. He had passed the tests to the disbelief of the committee. They didnt think he had any musical ability. He had proved them wrong. He could sing and play the
flute well. When asked where he learned to play. All he replied was, "I picked it up here and there." 115

Now he rushed to tell Allie and Steph the news. He found the girls in Allie's room. He burst through the door without knocking. The girls looked at him in his purple tunic and trousers. He wore the color of a bard student so he had passed. "You passed?" they asked in
unison. 116

"Yes I passed." he beamed a smile at them. 117

"That is great! This calls for a celebration." cried Stephanie. "Lets go!" 118

They ran excitedly out of the room, Stephanie, Altheia and lastly Tristan. 119

Now that he was a bard, he will work hard to be worthy of Altheia's friendship and hopefully love. 120