7 Enter, the Kathro

What seemed like the slowest, and quickest three days of his life, the time has finally arrived for the Kathro to come to the diminutive slave camp. Jayson and Misrurri woke up earlier than usual to finalize the details of Jayson's escape.

Huddled together in the back of the cell, they whisper to one another.

"Jayson, todays the day. The ceremony will begin shortly after sunrise, and it is not a long process. After the ceremony is completed they will begin the branding process. Use that chance to run towards the stable and meet me there."

"Right, and from there, I'll steal a horse as you free the horses and set fire to the stables. However I do have one big concern."

"What is it?"

"W-well what'll happen to you if you get captured? I don't want to see anything bad happen to you."

"Thank you for the concern, but I can take care of myself."

This woman… can't she see she's putting herself in peril for my sake… I wish she wasn't ready and willing to accept whatever happens…

Still huddled up with their whispered words they notice the guard approaching and separate after nodding to one another.

"Let's go ya maggots. Time for food then off ya go to the ceremony. No dawdlin!"

The same guard as it's been since I got here said so, and truth be told I can't wait to be rid of bastards like him.

After eating, the new people including myself are separated from those who've been branded already. We head towards what would be similar to a courtyard near the center of camp.

Upon arrival I notice two people standing on what appears to be an altar. One is the beastman who runs this place, Zenith Proudmane. The other must be this Kathro person…

The kathro is about average height for women in this world from what little I've seen. She's a beauty that's for sure, curves in all the right places, her face looks angelic, and her blue hair is braided…

Mesmerized by her beauty, I notice she's looking in my direction, is she looking at me? She flashes a brief smile before looking at Zenith. Zenith takes the look as an OK to start the ceremony.

"As you criminals and slaves know, today is the ceremony for branding. The kathro here is to gauge everyone's abilities, where you rate will determine if you're kept here, to be sold off or left to die, so you better pray to whichever god you believe in for the better options. Now Kathro if you'd please."

He ends his speech and those around me, myself included are shaken by his curt words. The kathro nods towards Zenith and steps forward onto a small platform in front of her. She clasps her hands in front of her seemingly resting on her bountiful breasts as she closes her eyes.

After doing so an ominous wind stirs as she begins to speak.

O god of insight

impart on this humble servant

the privilege of peering

into the hearts of those

before me today

let me see their true self

that would otherwise

be hidden from the surface

I ask for your grace

to bestow upon me

the knowledge of their innate talent

Identify!

As she spoke these words the wind picked up and flew towards those of us gathered together. The gust feels as though it pierces one's soul.

A cold shiver went down my spine for a moment, I looked at this woman filled with bewilderment. Once again she looks this way and shows a malicious grin as my spine shivers again.

"With this our ceremony is complete, now Zenith it's all up to you."

When the kathro says that I check my surroundings, with the exception of the beastmen guarding her, I don't see any guards near me and the back of the group. Knowing this is the moment I've been waiting for, I slowly back away from the group as the guards start gathering the people from the front and moving them by groups of three towards the east of the camp.

Now's my time, I have to hurry!

With that thought, I turn around and run towards the stables near the south of the camp.

Running as fast as I can, I make it to the stables in a few minutes. Along the way I noticed some slaves and the guards looking at me, so I know my time is short, this has to work.

Entering the stables I see Misrurri finalizing her preparation with the horse. She notices me and motions me over.

"Our time is short, Molgrur is asleep three stalls over from the right; from what I saw he has his blades on his waist, along with a pouch that could have money. I snuck some supplies into a bag tied to the saddle to help you out on your journey so make haste."

"Okay so while you're finishing up here I'm going to deal with Molgrur then I'll be back."

A faint smile appears on Misrurri's face, and for the first time in a while, it's a real smile.

Turning to the right I see a shovel that's used for the horse waste. I pick it up and head towards the stall where Molgrur should be sleeping. In no time at all, I get to the stall. I peak in and see that he's asleep with his arms behind his head, with a big dopey grin on his face.

I walk up to this lazy beastman and raise the shovel up with the point facing down. Taking a deep breath, praying to be forgiven for what I'm about to do. After a moment passes I slam the shovel down on his exposed neck. His eyes open wide with the impact.

Shit it's not enough force. I have to finish this quickly.

I take my foot and set it on the step of the shovel and use my weight and force it through to the base. Blood splatters all over and a little trickles out of his mouth as his hands fall to the ground ending his struggle.

Panic begins to set in for what I've just done as I frantically strip Molgrur of his blades, sash, leather chest armor and his pouch. With the armor in my hands the rich smell of iron and the sight before me hits me like a brick and I can't hold back regurgitating the terrible breakfast I had this morning. After puking I don the armor and run back to Misrurri.

She notices me and sees the gear I'm wearing and nods solemnly. She brings the horse out of the stall and hands me the reins.

With her hand still stretched outward, without thinking I walk up to her and lean down putting our faces close together.

"Thank you for everything this past month and a half. I wouldn't have learned how to ride a horse, nor would I have gotten this far without you. I promise you I'll come back and free you one day, so promise me you won't die."

"I do not know what the future holds Jayson, but I will do my best to survive, so get stronger for whatever the future holds."

Nodding briefly, I close my eyes as I take a deep breath. I take a plunge and pull her into me and press my lips to hers. Taken aback her eyes open wide before she closes them. As I open my eyes I see her hand press my chest and she pushes me away.

Her entire face is red up to her ears as she looks down.

"Y-you need to leave, I will set the fire."

I say nothing as I mount the horse. Stealing one last glimpse at her as she grabs some flint and what appears to be magnesium. I kick the horses side and we begin to run out of the stall as fires are being set in the stable.

Making my way out of the stables I notice a handful of beastmen running towards us armed to the teeth. They're shouting, demanding me to stop the horse. Ignoring their demands I lean into the horse and snap the reins telling the horse to go faster.

We barrel our way past the five beastmen, looking back they disregard me and head towards the stables now engulfed in flames trying to stop the horses who are running out of it from going wild. They won't be able to stop thirty horses with just five beastmen.

Leaving the southern entrance of the camp which is close to the stables, I turn the horse around as we stop for one final look.

Amidst the chaos I see Misrurri being dragged by two beastmen as more are gathering around trying to put out the fires and stop what horses they can from fleeing.

Turning back to the south, a tear glides down my cheek as the horse dashes further away from the camp.

"I'm sorry Misrurri, I'll come back for you, I promise."

Dashing into the woods I push my first murder out of my head, I have to get as far as I can before the sun sets.

**********************

Coming out of the stables, I see Jayson ride off into the distance. Sighing with relief a small smile floats on my face.

"We found the one who started the fire boss!"

Hearing that I turn to my left and see Greyeye and another beastman rushing towards me and grab both arms. Knowing there's no use in a struggle, I accept my fate for what's about to come.

Zenith and the Kathro approach as other beastmen struggle to apprehend the horses and put out the fire. The two approach me and Zenith lifts his hand and strikes my face with the back of his hand.

"You're lucky I don't kill ya right now, ya know that right, Misrurri."

"Now, Zenith, I know a fine gentleman who'd be interested in buying such a beauty. It would be a fate worse than death, and you make money out of it."

The Kathro flashes a malicious grin that sends me into a panic.

"Oh? You don't say… Hmm bring him to me when you depart, I'd like to meet him. Also, about the human who escaped. What did you see about him, should we chase after him?"

"No need for that, he'll most likely die by tonight. If I were to rate his abilities from F to S it would be as follows:

Strength: F

Agility: F

Endurance: F

Wisdom: D

Magic: F

Luck: SS

He also has two skills: Extreme Luck (Bad), Common Language Comprehension and Chosen One."

"I see so can you explain his skills, yea?"

"Well from my experience he'll be extremely lucky, in a bad sense for most things, but in general he will be lucky and pick up skills like his language comprehension. And I'm not sure what Chosen One is, but if we go based off his first skill, he'll die without it becoming a problem. And of course I'll send the Duke your way, remember to be polite to him even though he's a human like myself. He'll most likely pay more for this girl than I charged you for my services."

The two of them grin at their conversation talking about money.

"Take her away Greyeye, and make sure not to spoil the goods"

Zenith barks his order to Greyeye and I'm taken away from the front of the stables.