I started out young. My family and I were out on the streets, but we didn’t beg. No. Begging was for those who had given up hope. My father was a very proud man, despite having no money, one set of worn out rags that he called clothes, and three mouths to feed. Three mouths to feed and no food. He would get so desperate that soon, one of my brothers disappeared.

“What happened to J’Carn?” My sister and I would ask.

My mother would cry, and father would tell us to stop asking questions, before distracting us with some bread and meat he had bought. We would scarf it down, hungry from days of scrounging for coin, searching for each scrap of food that might be our next meal. So when we had found enough copper for another loaf of bread, we were grateful. Yet, something seemed off… J’Carn had just disappeared and then suddenly, Father had a small sack of gold. About 50 pieces or so. Both Croqi and I were wondering where he went to. We soon got an answer. In the dead of night, father woke me up. He said to me “Makon, we need to go, the guard is after us!”

“But Papa, what about Croqi? We can’t leave her behind!”

“She’ll be fine, they only want us, Makon.” He grabbed my arm, and we started running, I didn’t understand why the guard wanted us in prison, but I trusted Father. I know now that my actions then, made me the man I am today. He dragged me with him, my little legs running as fast as they could, soon we reached our destination. A dark alley with a few cloaked orcs standing alone.

“Papa, why are we here? How will this help us escape the guard?” I never got an answer. He just pulled me along and tossed me in front of the orcs.

“Another? You must be getting desperate.” One of the orcs snickered,

“Just give me the money, so I can leave.” My father replied, with steel in his voice.

“Papa? What’s happening?” I again, didn’t get an answer. He took the bag of gold, and walked away. One of the orcs picked me up by the scruff of my neck and said,

“Yer coming to be a meal, boy!” He tied my hands and dragged me along behind him. Soon I was tossed into a large cage-like cart. The iron bars held me in a small space unlike one that I had ever been in before. It soon set in that my father had just sold me for a bagful of gold. The same man that had told me that family was everything. The same man that had preached daily about the value of a life, had just sold me to a bunch of slave traders. What an absolute hypocrite. All I could do is let that sink in. The man who raised me, cared for me, fed me, just sold me. So. I did the only logical thing someone can do at seven years old when they’ve been sold for a handful of gold. I cried. I soon bawled until one of the slavers hammered the cage with his longsword. “We’re almost there ya scaredy cat,” He cackled at his own cruel humor before continuing, “you should be glad that we didn’t eat you. Although you are a bit on the small side for my tastes.” He lunged towards me, and I threw myself against the other side of the cage. His orcish features twisted themselves into a cruel grin.