...

Marcella was still imprisoned as a slave at Fortress Blackstone. Valka left her alone and Valkaia did not give her much in the way of duties. She mostly sat at Valkaia's window sill and stared out at the sky, nursing her damaged fingers. Marcella rocked back and forth against the wall, unwrapping the gauze around her fingers. The exposed bed was crusted and bloody and Marcella noticed that the skin around it was starting to turn green.

"I want to go home." she whispered.

"The princess herself will be arriving tomorrow, and the prince." said Valka's voice from another room, loud enough for Marcella to hear.

"What about our prisoner? Are we going to present her?" Valkaia's voice asked.

"Certainly." Valka answered, "They will be happy to see our prize."

"And then what?" Valkaia wondered.

"We give the princess the honor of killing her." Valka said, "And consuming her flesh at tomorrow's banquet."

"A pity." Valkaia mused, "I rather like her."

"We can always get you another servant." Valka suggested, "One that does not seek to destroy us."

"I wonder what she tastes like." Valka pondered, "We will know soon enough."

Marcella stammered in fear as she put her hand to her mouth. She had considered the reality that she might die in battle but not that she would be captured, tortured, and eaten. For a moment she considered flinging herself from the window to her death but then Valkaia stepped in.

"Oh." Valkaia announced, "You heard our conversation. My sister wanted you to hear it. We both speak Rosemarblian. I'm sorry."

"I'll kill myself right now." Marcella decided, "I'll jump out the window and be in Heaven with Our Lady."

"I may convince the princess to spare you." Valkaia suggested, "She could make your life here at least a little comfortable."

"In her stomach." Marcella jeered.

"Please don't do anything rash before the princess sees you." Valkaia said, "Besides, I have wings, I could just catch you if you fall."

"What do you care, degenerate?" Marcella snarked.

"Degenerate?" Valkaia questioned, "Ah. My time spent with the children. Do not try to tell me you have no method of relieving your body's natural cravings."

"Not...that..." Marcella said through gritted teeth.

"In any case, I must be off." Valkaia said, "Do get some rest."

The following day, Valka went about doing what she could to make her captive presentable. Marcella was taken down to the warg stables and forcefully bathed in a trough full of water mixed with rose petals. She nearly drowned but smelled pleasant. Marcella was then put in a plain while sleeveless robe made of spider's silk, the clothing of slaves who served royalty. She was then made to stand in formation next to Valka, Valkaia, and a handful of soldiers in front of the Blackstone gate.

A large black carriage with red curtains soon pulled up, driven by four black horses. The horse driver was a human slave man wearing the same outfit as Marcella. He opened the door to the carriage and held the hands of the prince and princess as they stepped down.

<Announcing Princess Asheron of Bloodmarble!> the man shouted, <And her consort, Prince Metron!>

The vampelles knelt in reverence and a soldier forced Marcella to do the same. Asheron and Metron both had the typical red eyes, white skin, and purple hair of most vampelles and they appeared to be as young as adolescents. Asheron had long hair adorned with a black tiara and rubies. She wore a sleeveless black dress and gloves that came up to her shoulders. She had matching red stockings and a ceremonial needlepoint sword at her side. Metron wore a fancy black uniform and pants with gold trim and tall boots. He also had a sword at his side.

"You may rise." Asheron instructed.

Everyone rose to their feet as the royals walked right up to Marcella.

<Is this our sole captive?> Asheron asked, <Have any others been taken?>

<I have not heard any new reports, my princess.> Valka replied.

<Does she speak our language?> Asheron asked.

<No.> Valka said, <I will translate.>

<I do not have the time to learn Rosemarblian.> Asheron remarked, <I don't like how it rolls off the tongue.>

<A plain, brutish language.> Metron added.

<Why do you seek to destroy us?> Asheron asked Marcella, <We would never dream of invading your queendom.>

"The princess wants to know why you have invaded." Valka said.

"You keep human slaves." Marcella answered.

<Slavery.> Valka repeated.

<It is our natural order.> Asheron replied, <Ever since my ancestors founded this queendom, humans have been our servants. But they are our humans. We do not bother you, so you should not bother us.>

"The princess says that our humans are our property and no concern of yours." Valka translated.

Marcella started to say something else but Valka gave her a rough nudge to the ribs.

<My princess, I offer this human enemy as the main course at a banquet in your honor.> Valka announced.

<Does she not make a good servant?> Asheron questioned, <Why would we eat her?>

<Why not?> Valka asked, <Is it not fitting?>

<I do not think she has outlived her usefulness to us yet.> Asheron decided.

<Let me kill her now.> Metron requested as he drew his sword and pointed it right at Marcella's neck, poking her just enough to draw blood.

<Metron, put that away!> Asheron chided, <I plan to borrow her.>

<You are actually going to bring an enemy soldier to Castle Bloodmilk?!> Metron questioned, <What if she spies on us?>

<Then and only then will we dispatch her.> Asheron said.

The princess then placed her hand on Marcella's shoulder and looked right into her eyes.

<Do you really mean to do us harm?> Asheron asked, <I do not see any ill will in your eyes.>

<This one is a coward.> Valka explained, <I doubt others of her kind are so docile.>

<Very well, coward.> Asheron said, <You shall be coming with me.>

"The princess says you are living with her now." Valka translated, "Consider yourself lucky. I had every intention of roasting you into a stew."

<Oh. I have a present for you, General Valka.> Asheron said.

The human slave reached into the carriage and retrieved a solid gold pike and handed it to Valka. Valka took it with her good arm and examined the blade. It would not suffice in combat but it would look nice on her mantle.

<I've been meaning to give you this.> Asheron explained, <It is the perfect weapon for such a bold leader as you.>

Valka almost corrected her princess as to the usefulness of the weapon but then Valkaia opened her mouth.

<Can you really fight with a gold blade?> Valkaia questioned, <Seems rather gaudy.>

<Silence, my sister!> Valka ordered, <It is a fine gift.>

<We will talk strategy later.> Asheron said, <But as for now, I must be off. Come along now, human.>

A soldier shoved Marcella toward the carriage and the enslaved man gently lead her along. The prince and princess returned to the carriage while the driver and Marcella sat at the front.

The driver suddenly clutched Marcella's hand, making her cringe. He looked right into her eyes and whispered.

<Freedom> "Freedom."