Once a Slave, Always a Slave (Gossamer)

[Lilith Krahe]

Once a Slave, Always a Slave 22nd of Spring 512 AV 'Walking, so much walking,' was all Lilith could think with her feet burning inside her shoes. It has been three days since her rescue from the slavers, and they were finally nearing the place she had called home. It felt like ages since she had seen that Majestic city, but it's brick walls and large gates never looked clearer in her mind. How many times had she fantasized about once again approaching those walls and passing through those gates into the beauty that lied beyond? She could not count the number. Even the Kabrin road and surround scenery brought back fond memories. Memories which Lilith had once believed she would never get to relive. The sound of the wind rustling the grass as their feet trod onward was so peaceful that she might have fallen asleep where she stood if not for her excitement. She was finally going to see her parents again, and the thought of them tugged at her in two directions. Lilith was exuberant to once again be able to embrace her mother and father, but it nearly brought a tear to her eye to think of how much they must have worried not know whether or not their only child lived. She looked around her at the soldier's and the other freed slave and wondered how many of them were thinking the same thoughts she was. How many had families waiting for them on the other side of those walls? Lilith wouldn't dare break the calm silence with the question, so she suppressed the idle curiosity. After all, hadn't her curiosity been what got her into this mess in the first place? As the came nearer to Riverfall, Lilith saw more and more familiar sights. She even noticed in the distance the stone outpost of Takula peeking through the high grass now and again. She had ventured out to see the outpost on one of her adventures outside the city, and she had ever since found it comforting to know that such of symbol of security laid in wait, protecting the city from invasion. Perhaps, had she been a little more careful about staying inside the safety of such structures, she might not have experience her recent ordeal with the slavers. Blaming herself, however, was not a constructive way of thinking in her circumstance and she determined to put the thoughts out of her head. Just then, she glanced up and saw the looming walls approaching like a giant stone beast rising up out of the plains. As they turned off the main road and headed toward the gate, Lilith could here the Bluevien river rushing in the distance. Snow melt and spring rain had likely cause it to flood as usual and she could just imagine the difficulty some poor traveler was probably having trying to cross it. The image in front of Lilith was overwhelming. It was home. Everything familiar, everything good, and everything safe laid behind those walls. It took all of her self control to keep from sprinting toward the gate and kissing the very masonry that held the sturdy walls. All this joy had an obvious and ominous cloud hanging above it of course, but Lilith could about think on that for just a few more moments. Apparently, she wasn't the only one excited about getting home, because the pace of their entire group sped slightly. Lilith could already hear the clamor of the city streets behind those marvelous gates, and she could no longer hold back tears. Tears of joy, excitement, pain, fear, and relief all flowed at the same time. In all this beauty and happiness there was still the nagging knowledge that refused to stay buried any longer in the back of her mind. She was coming home from the slavers camp to once again be subject to slavery. This was of course a much more pleasant kind of slavery, but it confinement and subjection none the less. She was lucky to have her life, but she owed her life to the Akalak. This was a debt they wouldn't let go unpaid. Lilith's internal conflict was set aside momentarily as they passed through the gates into the busy fray inside. Joy returned to her as she felt the familiar streets under her feet, and only one word permeated her. Home. She didn't know what would become of her as a Nakivak, but nothing had ever brought her such relief as being home. She could ask questions later, when she was alone, when she was still. Like, could she handle mothering an Akalak child, and what would become of the life that already grew inside her? And if she was allowed to keep the child, would she be able to love it, know the pain out of which it came? Lilith tried again to clear the harder thoughts from her mind and focus on the friendly face of her friends and neighbors. That was when she noticed it. There was something off about the city right now. Perhaps it was just from be away for a while, but the damaged buildings weren't in her mind. It looked as if something had torn apart some of the shops and homes, something massive. Were her parents okay? What could have done this to such a stronghold? Even more unanswered questions she didn't have time to get the answers to. They had arrived at the Healers where she could finally get her wounds tended to. She knew she ought to let her body heal before she became distressed over her uncertainty, so she did her best to stay calm and do as she was told.