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2024-10-29 19:42:56"Only law enforcement, Their Royal Majesties, and the Slave Owner may harm an owned Slave. All unauthorized individuals caught harming an owned Slave without permission from the owner will be prosecuted to the utmost of the law in addition to paying the owner the full value of the harmed Slave."
With her head hung low, Nadia followed Polaris out of the sparring room and down the corridor. Rein perched on her shoulder.
"Go ahead and let him know of your curse, Nadia," Rein whispered into her ear. "It might be better for everyone if he knew about it."
Nadia wasn't sure if she agreed with Rein. In the parlor, Polaris took a seat in his wing chair in front of the fireplace, which was adjacent to Drake wh
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Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles Chapter Thirteen: The Return of Ravan the Great
"Slaves in public must carry a visible form of identification approved by the Association of Slave Owners. Any violation of this law will result in severe physical punishment that will continue until the Slave gives up its owner's name and location, at which point the owner will be fined. If the Slave still refuses to reveal its owner's name and location, it will either be disposed of, sold in the next Slave Auction, or assigned to the following Annual Slave Arena."The next day, on Malla 10, King Darren, Queen Ariana, Lady Lusi, Lord Polaris, as well as their many knights and body guards, left the palace to make their way to the Kingdom of Saíd, which happened to be as long of a journey as Drake had mentioned it to be: five weeks, which was twenty days. After settling some of her own affairs, Rein made her w
Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles Chapter Fourteen: An Offer for Polaris
"A Slave's identification must consist of the following in order: [Slave's Name], Property of [Owner's Name], [Owner's Title if Applicable], [Owner's Address]. Any violation of this law will result in the Slave either being sold in the next scheduled Slave Auction, or assigned to the following Annual Slave Arena. The owner may or may not be informed and will not be reimbursed for the Slave's value."Suddenly, Ariana found herself in her bedchamber in the Helvetican Palace, alone with Ravan the Great. She watched his attention go straight to her silver vanity."Lovely mirror," Ravan commented as he stroked the glimmering frame. "The accent of pearls with this spiral, floral array is absolutely intoxicating."
Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles Chapter Fifteen: A Devastating Loss
"Slaves in public must keep their faces covered from the nose down at all times. If this law is at all violated, the Slave will undergo severe physical punishment. If this law is violated against one of Royal or Noble Blood, the Slave will thereafter either be executed or assigned into the following Annual Slave Arena. The owner may or may not be informed and will not be reimbursed for the Slave's value."A snowy-haired boy much older than Nadia came from around the corner, followed by another boy only slightly younger than him, and a third boy who appeared about twelve years of age though he was probably fourteen."Is that a slave?" asked the third boy.Immediately, Nadia dropped to one knee and wai
Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles Chapter Sixteen: A Deeper Pit
"Slave Owners may sell their Slaves at their own discretion. The Association of Slave Owners must be notified within forty-eight hours after the Slave is sold."Nadia knew that Lady Skye was headed directly to the rear courtyard to retrieve the satchel which held Nadia's golden ball and she bolted out the door after her. Skye flew down the staircase with her turquoise locks bouncing behind her, and Nadia slid down the railing to pass her by. She and Skye dodged around pillars, hopped furniture, and shoved past people as they fought to reach the rear courtyard before the other. Then Skye finally recalled that she had authority in this household."Stop her!" she shouted. "Grab her!"A few servants trie
Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles Chapter Seventeen: The League of Assassins
"A Slave must obey its owner's rules, excluding rules that violate the Law of Noelle. If a Slave Owner experiences consistent disobedience from his or her Slave, the owner may dispose of that Slave. All Slave deaths must be reported to the Association of Slave Owners within forty-eight hours of the death."Rein shot above the trees to remain out of sight and then dove back down into the forest once she believed that she was well ahead of the cloaked woman. When she found Gideon again, she peered behind him to see that his pursuer had made incredible progress and was right on his tail. The moment of truth had arrived. Rein opened her mouth to call out Gideon's name."Gideon!" The fiery redhead had beat her to it.
Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles Chapter Eighteen: The Marchioness of Aramycius
"Slave Owners cannot be sold into slavery unless the owner is homeless. When a homeless owner of a Slave is sold into slavery, the owner's Slave belongs to the new owner."The ride to the manor alone was relieving. Just getting out of the palace to spend a sustained amount of time someplace where there wouldn't be extensive talk about a pointless war was enough to allow Polaris to relax. Now, he could discuss matters of real importance with someone who could most likely do something about them. It was finally a step that felt like it had been taken in the right direction.At long last, Polaris's coach arrived at the large black mansion trimmed in gunmetal. Streams flowed over and around it like they did over the Saídan Palace, but the trees surroun
Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles Chapter Nineteen: What Happened to Garnet
"Thieving of a Slave will be dealt with in the same manner as the thieving of any other valuable property."After her discussion with Polaris, Rein had visited Nadia at Aimonbay Estate and convinced her not to do anything foolish to free Garnet from Helvetica's pottery clerk. It took several weeks for Rein to feel certain that Nadia would behave before she came up with a plan to free Garnet. She assured Nadia that her plan would work and then left to search for the house in which Garnet served.It took almost another month for Rein to find the potter's dwelling since Helvetica was a sizeable town and finding this clerk's tiny home required much investigative work. Finally, on the evening of Crest 35, Rein found the house in which Garnet was being kept. Th
Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles Chapter Twenty: The Curse of the Golden Orb
"All existing Slaves must be documented with the proper paperwork copied thrice. Two copies must be kept in the records of the Association of Slave Owners, one with the Slave, and the original copy must be kept with the Slave Owner."Back at the Ronanan palace on Miseria 3, King Darren and Queen Ariana walked together down a long corridor which beheld a view that overlooked the kingdom beyond the waterfall on which the palace sat."Parliament doesn't want Ramses to be a member, Dear," Ariana said. "It would require voting someone out. There is already so much happening now with the merging of three nations, they don't have time to deal with exchanging members.""Very well," said Darren. "We'll put th
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- Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Thirty: Lady Ivanna's Phobia
"Those birthed from a Slave are immediately determined to be a Slave. The proper paperwork of the Slave's official birth must be turned in to the Association of Slave Owners within the day of that Slave's birth or the following morning."Rein's posture changed to defensive upon seeing the sheer panic in Ivanna's eyes. She looked at the webbing between Ivanna's fingers and then glanced at the four assassins. "Yes, they know you're part mermaid. I'm sorry. I thought it was necessary to explain your plans involving the marquis as a way to further explain your feelings about elves since he plans to use cuffs engraved with Elvish against you again.""Please don't feel concerned that we have this knowledge," said Elion. "We also understand what it's like to be
- Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Sword of Defense
"All Slave Auctioneers must carry proof given to them upon being appointed, stating that they have been affirmed by the Association of Slave Owners. If proof is not available upon questioning, it will be assumed that the auctioneer in question is not legally appointed.""Your queen will now choose the sword she deems most important by which to rule."Queen Ariana rose and set the orb on a marble podium between the thrones and leaned the scepter against the same podium. She then made her way down the steps of the dais and lifted the sword with the black hilt from the floor. She returned to the top of the dais and with both hands held the sword out towards her audience."These are dire days in our belo
- Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Triumph of Evil
"All Slave Auctions must be run by auctioneers appointed by the Association of Slave Owners. Any auctioneer not authorized by the Association of Slave Owners will be taken into custody and sold in the next scheduled Slave Auction."Hours after Nadia's lessons ended, Ivanna sat in front of Polaris's active grand fireplace in the drawing room deep in thought with a chalice of lona in her hands. There was much to contemplate and it all distracted her from enjoying her drink and admiring the fire. Polaris soon entered with a glass of bourbon and sat in the seat across from her."So," he began. The sudden utterance snapped Ivanna back into the room. "You have a plan to prepare the kingdom for Nadia's ethnicity."
Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Hard-Headed and the Stubborn
"All Slave Auctions will take place once a month on Market Day, the date and time of which will be determined by the mayor of the town."Despite the fact that Ezra knew her skills were limited, she could never forgive herself if she didn't at least try and end the naiad to save her brother in Iah-Ra. Suddenly, the flame in her hands erupted into a ball of fire larger than she thought she could manage. She pushed her confusion aside for the moment and threw it at the naiad where it exploded into an inferno that left nothing behind but a puff of vapor.
- Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Twenty-Six: The Rogue Assassins
"Each town is allotted one auction stand to be kept in the center of town for the Slave Market. Each scaffold must be ten feet tall, twenty feet long, and eight feet wide."Nadia didn't appear any better than she had looked before Makiar forced her to touch the ball. She lay there motionless, breathless, completely void of any sign of life. No one said a word while Makiar placed his fingers against Nadia's throat."Her pulse is back to normal, my Lord," he informed."Good," Rallian said as he released the breath he had held. "Inform the nursemaids that I want her nursed back to health as soon as possible so that she can get back to her chores quickly."
Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Twenty-Five: Secrets
"The death of a Slave must be reported to the Association of Slave Owners forty-eight hours after the death."There was so much information in Marquis Rallian's journal that Rein wanted to read the entire thing right then and there. Unfortunately, she knew that she didn't have enough time to do so. She would just have to return once Rallian was asleep and read it then. In the meantime, she had to prioritize the more important subjects within the pages: Ariana and Nadia.Much of the content of the journal was surprising to Rein. There was silent strain and much mistrust between Rallian and Ariana. He expected her to demand Nadia's death any day now and predicted it to be the beginning of the end of their friendship since he was prepared to refuse. However,
- Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Twenty-Four: The New Year's Gala
"Slaves over the age of eighty that are not sold at the end of the first auction are to be disposed of."Polaris was completely horrified when he found not his king being threatened, but his king huddled in a ball against another hedge, having entirely lost control of his specter abilities. Polaris felt the blood drain from his body as he watched King Darren's skin change color, change texture; as his hair grew long, then shortened, then became curly, then wavy, then straight. The spectacle didn't end there. The control was so lost that Polaris could examine as King Darren's bones twisted, turned, changed position, and even changed shape completely beneath his morphing skin."S-sire?" Polaris managed as he sheathed his sword. King Darren didn't even seem
- Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Twenty-Three: The King's Sanity in Question
"Slaves under the age of eighty that are not sold at the end of an auction will be put into auction a second time. If by the end of the second auction they are still not sold, they will be sent to another town to be sold there."Polaris wasn't certain how to feel when he learned that Parliament was gathering for an emergency meeting, though he knew it could mean nothing good. As Drake had no official court title, he was not permitted to attend. This was unfortunate as Polaris had the haunting impression that he could use the moral support of his close friend at that time.Polaris made sure to be dressed impeccably in a black glittered vest and gold shirt when he entered the foyer of the forum in the center of Helvetica. He felt the need to stand outside t
- Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles
Chapter Twenty-Two: An Awakening at a Wake
"Those who are sold as Slaves officially become Slaves when the proper paperwork is turned in to the Association of Slave Owners."Because Polaris was on his own and not part of a slow caravan, he made haste and managed to arrive at Lakeblood Manor in the former Kingdom of Saíd on Zafirô 18, eleven days after he learned of Myrdor's passing. The once red trees were void of leaves and flawless white snow blanketed the ground, the black rune-like designs of which decorated the estate with a dark elegance. Polaris's coach rolled up to the entrance and the butler answered the large, gunmetal doors."Your Honor," he said. "The lady is expecting you. Allow me to show you to her and I'll have someone take care of your coach and horses."
