Chapter 337: 336. Slave By Choice

As the wheels of the magical carriage turned, the air became colder, for it was north where they were headed. The crowd on the road became far and few, while the grass and the farmlands at the sides seemed empty.

The miserable winter was going to wreak havoc harder this year as the northern region of Gracia suffered financially from the plots of the Masan Empire. After the whole Raftel and Jartel county debacle, the artificially created high economic activity by traders from Masan vanished. The shops, the farmers, the artisans--All were left waiting, but no traders from Masan came this time.

As Sylvester stopped in every village or town to buy food and clothes supplies for his campaign, he noticed the state of the people. So he didn't act heartlessly and only bought things they did not need.

For example, if a village or town had more grain than clothes, he'd buy grains, and vice-versa.

Thankfully, their path passed through the Green City, where Sylvester could buy almost seventy per cent of all his needed material. After that, he passed through the small city under Duke Grimton's rule.

But one would wonder where Sylvester stored all that material. Hiring a trader to deliver the material took more time and effort. So he used his portable magic cat and discreetly emptied all the warehouses full of items he bought.

It was a cheat that he used after a lot of consideration. He didn't have the luxury of time or geography, so he had to give himself some leverage. Using Miraj was risky in itself, but he was sure that if anything happened, he could always use God's name to explain the miracle. After all, he was the blessed Bard.

"Take the carriage to Baron Strongarm's keep directly," Sylvester ordered the two reinsmen at the front.

"So you want him to help," Aurora remembered the Baron.

Sylvester had planned everything and had sent a man to inform the Baron about his arrival beforehand. "Baron Strongarm was abducted by the Barbarians when he was small, and he lived with them for years. As a result, he knows more about them than anybody else. With his help, understanding the geography of those unforgiving mountains will be easier."

However, Sir Dolorem had not met the man before as he was going through the mess in Green City at that time. "If he still prays to Solis, then he should help."

"He will." Sylvester was sure about it. "I gave him an offer he can't refuse."

Soon, the Baron's castle gates opened, and the carriage stopped.

Sylvester got down and saw the Baron. The man looked the same as before, six and a half feet tall, burly, looking more like a caveman with a long beard and hair. But, there was cleanliness and more wisdom in the eyes.

"May the Holy Light enlighten us, Lord Bard." Baron Strongarm greeted Sylvester.

'Good, he seems prepared to come along.' Sylvester saw bags of luggage behind the Baron.

He saluted back and shook hands. "Good to see you again, my lord. I hope Baroness had healthy labour and that your child was born well."

The Baron appeared amused that Sylvester knew such a thing. He didn't expect to be of great significance in the eyes of someone as high and mighty as Sylvester, the famed Bard.

"She did, Lord Bard. By the grace of Solis, everyone is healthy... Except for the barony."

Sylvester bobbed his head in agreement. He was no god. He could not wave his magic staff and make the world lovely. He had to accept the ugly side of the world too.

"Thank you for joining. Let's move now, as the mountain tribes might attack anytime. We must stop them, or else the misery of this entire region will only increase manifold. Come, join me in the carriage."

Sylvester helped pick up the man's luggage and threw it atop the carriage. The reinsmen then climbed and tied everything with a rope.

Soon, the Baron greeted Sir Dolorem and Aurora inside, and they moved on to their destination. This was the first time Sylvester was going so far in the north, so he was busy studying all the maps he had. And now, with Baron Strongarm's help, he could understand the region better.

"My lord, I will be the battle commander if the battle does start, but I will need you to be my right hand and guide me this time. I do not speak or understand their language, so you will be my mouth, eyes and ears." Sylvester respectfully asked and kept a keen nose on all the emotions the man showed.

"I am blessed to be of help, Lord Bard."

'Good, he smells like tulips... The worship is re--'

But Sylvester's thoughts were disturbed when a loud shout sounded outside. They were still in the region of the Baron, so this was surprising.

"Slaves! Cheap Slaves! Buy some slaves!"

"..."

"Stop the carriage!" Sylvester ordered the reinsmen and got off to look. Following him, Aurora and Sir Dolorem came too.

They were just outside the Baron's small town, and a long line of carriages was stationed beside the road. A small stage was set on which slaves were being auctioned.

Sylvester glanced at the Baron and noticed the man had shame in his eyes, but at the same time, he smelled of anger and disgust.

So he asked, "Did you allow them?"

"I hate slavery, Lord Bard. But the times are hard, and my duty is to the citizens of my barony. Therefore, I must find ways to earn from anywhere possible. These slave sellers give me a small fee for holding their business here." The Baron replied in a low voice, opposite of the usually proud manner.

Sylvester could not be angry at the man. He had no right, nor did he have any moral high ground. "The business offer I have you will ensure you don't have to sell your self-respect, my lord."

Just then, the auctioneer started shouting. "Take this family of three with you. A man, woman and their ripe daughter--Fresh from the harsh lands of the south in the Sorrow Kingdom. I assure you, they are used to working hard as long as one meal a day is provided--Come, the price starts at five hundred copper muds for all three."

"One silver crown!"

"One silver and five hundred mud!"

"Two silver!"

The people started bidding.

"Five silver!"

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Just then, a new voice came, full of authority and might. Heads turned and saw the tall man with the face of a saint.

Sylvester extended five silver coins forward and reached the stage. As everyone saw Sylvester's golden armour and the massive carriage behind him, nobody dared to bid anymore.

"Sold to this gentleman!"

Sylvester looked at the family of three as someone pushed them off the stage and brought them to Sylvester.

The three looked utterly malnourished. Their faces were pale, and their eyes were baggy and devoid of happiness. The man seemed to be in his thirties, as was the woman, while their daughter was in her late teens. They had hunched back, untidy torn clothes, and messy hair.

Sylvester walked up to them and broke open their metal slave collars.

Thud!

"You're free." He told them. "Go wherever you want, live however you want."

"No!"

"Please!"

"Don't do this!"

The three almost instantly crouched down, picked the collars, and tried to put them around their necks again. They were frantic about it and almost out of breath.

Sylvester looked up at the auctioneer. "Where did you find them?"

The fat-bellied, short, bald man rubbed his hands nervously. "T-They... Sire, they came to me on their own and asked to be sold. Honestly, they are too weak and unsightly to be slaves, but I felt pity for them."

Sylvester looked down at the three with a sigh. He understood why they were like this now. 'Of course, their origin is not poverty but the lack of a way out. Even if freed, there is no work or way to feed oneself. Hoping to be bought by someone and fed once a day is perhaps the best life in their minds.'

"Stand up! If you do so, I shall give you a golden grace!" He ordered them in a stern voice.

Finally, the man looked up and fearfully stood up. But he kept his head down and didn't dare look at him again.

"Speak your name, and what are you doing here? I don't suppose it was an easy journey from the far south to the far north." He questioned as he did feel confused by their current location.

"I-I'm Corlis... My Lord... I just..."

"Be at ease, my brother in faith. I am not a lord nor a noble. I am a man of faith from the Holy Land. So speak your mind and tell me your pain." Sylvester asked, wanting to understand the current state of the southern part of Sol.

"W-We lived in a village of farmers, r-respected clergyman. Then the Grand Duke of Patch came with his armies and burned our fields, killed many of us and left us to die of hunger. We became one of the refugees after that and headed north.

"We served a high noble in the Highland Kingdom for a few months. His lands border the Sorrow Kingdom, so he takes many of us as workers. But he is cruel, Bradley the Butcher, everyone calls him.

"He is famous for his battle strategies of using brute force, torturing his enemies, and being overbearing on his people. He lends money at high-interest rates, and if people can't pay it back, he kills them or sells the women of the house to slavers, along with the kids, if any.

"He made us work eighteen hours for one meal every day. He gave us no places to sleep, and we lived on open grounds. Many died there from the desert cold. It was a garden of death, so we ran away."

The man cried silent tears by then, along with his family.

"Later, we were allowed inside Riveria, but then they threw us to the north as we were lowly farmers, and they only wanted craftsmen, blacksmiths and such. We kept walking for two months, hungry, on the verge of death, until we met the slave seller."

Sylvester took a long tired breath. 'The south seems to be in more turmoil than the north. Sol is so weak right now. I wonder if Beastaria will attack--I would if I were them.'

"Go to my castle." Baron Strongarm talked and passed on a piece of paper. "I am the Baron, and you may find work there, along with food twice a day. But don't expect money."

Sylvester also took out a gold coin from his pocket and handed it over. "As I promised. Keep your faith high, my friend. Solis is testing you, and good days are ahead."

The man fell to his knees and prayed while crying.

"Thank you! You are God's angels... Thank you!"

Sylvester moved away and returned to the carriage with a thousand thoughts in his head. But soon, he was once again attracted to the stage, but this time the shouting man was the slave.

"Outrageous, this is slander! How dare you sell me for ten copper muds? I shall not allow this! Never! I will protest until someone buys me for at least ten gold!"

'What a strange man. He doesn't even look impoverished... Is he a spoiled young master of some family?'

Sylvester was interested in him but moved on as he couldn't save all slaves. There was not enough money in the world for that.

'It seems I should tour the south after this campaign. Perhaps I can accomplish something there that can grant me the title of Saint.'

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