Love and Liberty

Chapter 3

Now the first day of the week, the auction of slaves in the palace has commenced.

Olamide still wondered how the Prince speaks his tongue and saved him from the claws of his killers but all that doesn't matter now, he became a servant for the son of a man that wants his head on a spike. Quite a situation he found himself in.

Although, he was grateful for his condition because other slaves were bought by pleasure houses, farmers, drug lords, and other owners he could not point out their line of work. But in all the slaves that were auctioned, he could not find his gem.

Olamide kept searching for Abeni since the first day of the auction, he searched for her tirelessly but unfortunately, his search ended in futility.

Owning slaves in king Stefan's reign had steck twisted procedures that were necessary for efficient record keeping of owners and their respective slaves. Already they had faced countless slaves turning against their masters, fleeing away from their master's abode with their most price possessions, conspiring with other slaves to murder or other inhuman crimes that could be committed against masters. Although, all these puzzling circumstances had their remedies, which were provided by the one and only clever king Stefan. He made rules such as all slave owners and all noble-born must speak the native languages of their slaves, and all slaves are branded after being purchased from the royal slave's group sale organized at the palace: which goes thus all slaves must bear a glyph that is associated to its master made through the heated metal surfaces that has the shape of the associated glyph.

Now the hour of branding is upon us, all 80 royal slaves received scars of the three lying lions on their arms, back, and chest signifying that they are property of the British empire.

Furthermore, only 65 slaves completed the process of branding, the remaining could not bear the burns generated as a result of high temperature therefore such slaves were taken to the dungeon of the palace to die as a result of infections from the wound, starvation, and some filled the bellies of hungry lions.

Prince Jasper walks into a room comprising slim braziers attached to one side of each of the sixteen basalt columns light up the entire throne hall and cover the hall in dancing shadows and a warm radiance. The illustrations of a kingdom in the sky on the bowed ceiling dance in the flickering light while carved images and statuettes look down upon the slate floor of this glorious hall.

"Father these methods are archaic and twisted we had lost 15 lives from the branding process, don't you think it is too malicious and old," Jasper said.

"My good naive son you have no right to speak of my methods you have your own say over your slaves which excludes my slaves and tell me what glyph will your foolish slave bear or you are going to leave him unbranded leaving him the advantage to run off like a dog without a leash and I guess you know the consequences that he'll suffer if he dares tries it" Stephan threatened.

"Yes father he bears my glyph letter J besides his new name is Davis" Jasper clarified.

Prince Jasper was quite frustrated about his father's twisted ways. He, therefore, leaves the throne room beautified.

"How's your scar" Jasper inquired.

"I traveled across the world just to be property in a strange land and by doing that I will have to go through inhuman procedures so I am fine", Olamide retorted sarcastically.

"You could always talk to me don't see yourself as a property you could call me your brother" Jasper elucidated further.

"Yeah says the son of a man that wants my head on a spike". Olamide said.

"You want me to prove to you that I care for you and I am gonna do so".Jasper notified Olamide.

After branding, all slaves are given the ordinances of their respective masters. of their slaves and farmers never let their slaves feed from their farms and scientific considerations uses their slaves for lab rat as a result movements of such slaves are restricted to the highest level.

All royal slaves in the palace were summoned for meeting concerning the code of conduct in the palace.

"You are all lucky to be here, you were chosen from your shitty and impoverished lands to serve the English empire." The hand of the king proclaimed to all slaves in the English palace.While steering at olamide with contempt. Edward continued "There are rules for persons like you here, and if any of you are found on the wrong side of the law then you would face whatever consequences that comes with such despect,so without wasting more time let's us move to the business of the day."

You have only access to 3 hours to sleep, you are only allowed to one meal per day just for strength and on some days you would not,No stealing,Not chit-chat,the males must never be seen with a female slaves and the most important of all you cannot look at the king and his son who happens to be the prince in their eyes". He declared and took a deep breath which resulted to a halt in his speech while looking around to see thirty wretched rags and perceiving stench from their unwashed body.

"If you obey the rules laid down for you,who knows you could be promoted from the roles of slaves to something greater and if eventually you were caught on the wrong side of the blade you would face the consequences so I advise you all to be good properties to the empire.You could all go now to your respective stations, Good day".

A servant came running towards Edward "His majesty sends for you to meet him in the throne room". The servant declared. Edward's draws his lips in tightly, then replied him immediately "tell him I'll be with him very soon".

Edward's rushes into the royal chamber and proclaimed "Your highness you sent for me" "yes I did,come sit". Your highness I wish to assist you with many matters and represent you at various occasions involving the people so I need to prepare so as to represent you well".Just sit with me and talk." Edwards sits next to king Stephan, bows his head, folding his hand together and his feet parallel to each other.

"I want you to pay extra attention to a particular slave".King Stephan whispered.

"Which of them your highness" Edward replied the king. "Come here" the king commanded. Edward moving slowly and closer to the king to hear the whisper in his ear.