They walked from noon till dusk, and at last, the four companions arrived at a small town built alongside a river.
Will spoke first. "Lord Kaen, this is Azure Spring Town—the largest and most prosperous settlement along the Silver Spring River. It has over two thousand permanent residents."
"For dozens of miles around, all the villages, big and small, come here to trade."
"The local ruler is Lord Brut, of House Brut. His family has governed this land for generations. He is known as a wise and just lord."
Kaen nodded. "It's already late. Let's find a place to rest for the night. We'll pay a visit to the lord tomorrow."
And so, Kaen, Gandalf, Will, and Caden entered the town.
With some directions from the townsfolk, they soon found their way to a tavern.
….
Inside the tavern, the air was thick with the scent of ale and roasting meat. A bard was standing on a low wooden stage, spinning a tale about Túrin, the great human hero who slew Glaurung, the Father of Dragons.
The moment they stepped in, a server approached them with a practiced smile.
"Welcome, travelers from afar. What can we offer you? Ale? Lodging? Or something else?"
"Four rooms," Kaen said. "And something to eat. If possible, I'd prefer roast meat and strong wine."
"Not a problem. That'll be one silver coin for the lot."
"That's quite fair," Kaen replied with a slight smile. "Though I admit, I'm a little concerned about the quality of your wine."
"Fear not, good sir. The quality speaks for itself. You and your companions may rest in the hall while I arrange your rooms and food."
They found a table near the hearth and sat down.
Around them, the tavern bustled with life. Some patrons were locals who had come to drink after a day's work, others were merchants staying in town temporarily for trade. Some listened intently to the bard's tale, while others whispered among themselves in hushed tones.
….
"Did you hear?" someone murmured at the next table. "The new lord, Brill, has cast his own brother Bree into slavery."
"What? When did this happen? I heard nothing of it."
"Just today. I've been told that not just the second son, Bree—even the old lord's hundred personal guards—were all demoted to lowly slaves."
"That Brill is ruthless. To do such a thing… and to his own brother, no less."
"Ruthless? You don't know the half of it. Let me tell you—"
These snippets drifted toward Kaen and Gandalf, who exchanged a sharp glance. Their expressions grew grave.
Will stood and walked over to the gossiping pair. He pulled out ten copper coins and set them quietly on the table.
"Good evening. Our lord has a few questions. If you're willing to answer, these ten coins are yours."
The two men instantly lit up with joy.
Ten coppers—that was the same as a silver coin. A generous payment indeed.
"We're happy to help, good sir!" they said eagerly.
Will beckoned them over.
Kaen looked at them and said calmly, "We're new here, and we overheard that the old lord has passed. Tell us everything you know."
"Yes, my lord. It's not a secret…"
And so, the two men recounted the tale.
…..
The old Lord Brut of Azure Spring had two sons and a daughter.
His eldest child, Joanna, had studied in Rivendell since her youth and rarely returned.
The eldest son, Brill, was arrogant and cruel.
The younger son, Bree, was modest and gentle, a stark contrast to his brother.
A Month ago, the old lord passed away suddenly. Brill moved swiftly to seize control of the territory.
At the time, Bree was visiting Joanna in Rivendell. By the time he returned, Azure Spring had changed hands.
Brill had him arrested and imprisoned.
After securing his power, Brill went even further—he not only enslaved his brother Bree, but also the hundred elite guards who had once served their father loyally. He sold them off cheaply to slave merchants.
The two men sighed deeply.
"Master Bree is a man of honor," one of them said. "He was always kind to the people of this town. We all feel for what's happened to him."
"Yes," the other added. "He and the old lord were both gentle and just."
Kaen nodded. "That's all I needed to hear. You may go."
Once the two men left, Gandalf spoke in a low voice.
"A cruel lord now sits in power. Azure Spring will know no peace."
Will's face darkened. "Lord Brut was a good man. He helped many villages survive the winters. He even sent troops to assist us when we were under threat."
Kaen fell into thought. "It seems we'll need to change our plans."
The others turned to him.
Caden asked, "My lord, what do you have in mind?"
"We're going to the slave market."
Kaen's voice was calm, but resolute. "Rather than recruiting raw recruits, we'll buy those enslaved soldiers instead."
Gandalf said, "Then I'll take my leave of you for now. I want to pay a visit to this Lord Brill… and see what sort of man he really is."
….
That night, the group stayed in the tavern.
The next morning, Gandalf set off alone to visit the lord's castle.
Kaen, Caden, and Will made their way toward the slave market.
….
The eastern side of town was little more than a wide, open clearing, filled with iron cages. Hundreds—perhaps thousands—of people were confined inside, many barely clothed.
Men with whips patrolled the grounds, while others stood in clusters haggling over prices.
A corpulent man waddled toward them, his jowls squeezing into a grotesque approximation of a smile.
"Welcome, gentlemen!" he beamed. "I am Balrod, the manager of this slave market. At your service!"
Kaen nodded. "I'm looking to purchase slaves—high-quality ones. Price is not a concern. Health is."
Balrod's eyes narrowed as he examined the trio.
The young man before him wore all black, his features noble, almost otherworldly in their refinement. At his side stood a tall, powerful man bearing a massive battleaxe, and a composed youth with sharp, clever eyes.
Balrod quickly realized: these were not ordinary buyers. This could be a major transaction.
He grinned even wider. "Of course! If the price is right, beautiful women and strong men alike can be yours. Please, follow me—I'll explain the backgrounds and conditions of our finest slaves."
….
The slave market was clearly organized by quality.
The outer rings were filled with the lowest grade: slaves who were sick, wounded, or crippled. They cost no more than two or three silver coins.
Further in were the mid-tier slaves—healthy, but unremarkable. They sold for five silver coins to a full gold piece.
As Balrod led them inward, he chattered incessantly, all the while watching Kaen's expression.
Noticing that Kaen showed no interest in stopping, Balrod's grin only widened.
Finally, they reached the heart of the compound.
Here, things were different. The area was clean. Slaves wore tidy clothes and were housed not in cages, but in proper shelters that shielded them from wind and rain.
"These are our premium slaves," Balrod said with pride. "The women are lovely and pure—fed well, washed daily, and untouched by any man since arriving here."
"The men are strong, healthy, and highly skilled—some are master craftsmen, others seasoned warriors. Each one has real talent."
"Of course, quality comes at a price. Each of these costs five gold coins."
"But if you're buying in bulk, we can offer a discount. Four coins per head—minimum."