Ezren snapped his fingers, ordering one of his men to bring a clean towel for him. One of his guard stepped forward, handing him the towel, he then wipes away his blood-stained face. Yet.. there's not a sign of remorse in his eyes while he is wiping his face, he doesn't care that he just killed someone.
"See to it that this overseer's body be disposed off."
He says casually, before turning his gaze to the other slaves.
"Let this be a lesson, that whoever dares to cross the line, shall meet the same fate."
Ezren said with a piercing gaze towards the slaves. All of them quickly avert their gaze, afraid to even make an eye contact with him. He then looks at Noah, his trembling form lying on the ground, half of his face was screaming obedience, cowardness, and fear. The other half.. was a display of determination, rebellion, and will power.
His face was a canvaa, showing a striking contrast between to fight and be fought.
"As I said earlier, I will be taking this one back to the noble housing, he'll work as a servant boy for the Floren House."
He restated his earlier statement. He signal to his guard to cut the chain that binds Noah with the rest of the slaves, keeping only the chain on his neck.
Other slaves look at him in envy. Sure, a slave is a slave, no matter where they go, being a slave in a noble housing doesn't really mean much, given that it doesn't change anything. But at least they are guaranteed to be given meal per day. A slave that went to a noble house like Floren will at least be given the benefits of doubt, not an outright punishment.
Ezren turns to his guards, barking orders.
"These other slaves, see to it that they'll be kept under a roof and be given enough meal until a new overseer has been posted."
Ezren said with a non-hostile tone, a contrast to his earlier tension. For someone who killed a person in public in front of the masses, he is somewhat generous.
He then turns to Noah again, grabbing the chain on his neck.
"Come on, we don't have all day, don't keep me waiting. My chariot has been waiting for some time now."
Ezren pulls Noah to stand up, he doesn't look back whether he followed him or not, as long as Noah didn't resist, there's no need for him to kill him. Noah, who was still blown away by what just unfolds before him, stands up with shaking legs, slowly following behind Ezren. He only has two options, obey, or being six feet underground.
Ezren and his guards arrived in front of the chariot, followed by Noah, they start climbing the chariot one by one. However, Noah stop in front of the chariot, unsure what to do. Should he step inside the chariot? Or will Ezren order him to walk alongside the chariot back home?
"What are you doing? Playing dead? Climb up."
Ezren said, his patience wearing thin. Noah jumps a bit from the sound of his voice, slowly, he obediently climbed inside the chariot. The wooden door closes behind them, as the horse started to walk and depart from the scene.
Ezren gaze towards the empty seat in front of him, silently ordering Noah to seat across him. But Noah didn't notice, so Ezren tugged on the iron chain, making Noah jerked forward, he then slowly realized that Ezren is ordering him to sit on the seat. Slowly and shakingly, Noah climbed onto the seat, sitting across Ezren, he tried to avoid his gaze, but Ezren take his chin firmly, holding his head in place as their eyes meets.
"I didn't say you can look away. I'm your new master, and you will do as I say, you will eat when I say, you will breathe when I said you can. Understood?"
Ezren tightened his grip on Noah's chin, as Noah reluctantly nods at his words. This is the truth of slavery. Slaves are not human, they're tools for mere satisfaction. After a while, Ezren release Noah's chin, crossing his legs and arms elegantly, a way that befitting a noble family.
"Good, I'm glad we agreed. And remember, from now on, your only home is the one beneath my feet."
Ezren said harshly, those words cut like a twisted knife to the gut. But Noah nodded anyway, knowing full consequences of what would happen if he were to disobey Ezren's order. This is his life, forever. Eternally. Till death.
[—To be Continued—]