Hashim Khail And Keeper Of The Gates

Chapter Two: Imperial slave.

The next morning, Hashim was brought before King Yuri of Therakania. He was in shackles, as he was dragged before the king, he noticed that the one seated on the throne was a young man about his age, and there was a young beautiful lady who stood on the left side of the throne in a full length vibrant-red silk hooded cape. She looked like a princess but the hood over her magma-red hair made her appear more like a sorceress and not from it.

Things are not as they appear, try to remain calm said a soft female's voice that sounded in Hashim's head. He looked up and wondered if the lady in red was the one that spoke. She only crossed her arms across her chest, her visionary eyes anchored at him.

The king, a tall stalwart young man stood up and walked down to meet them, his cloak bore his royal emblem. The soldiers bowed before him.

"Hashim Khail, I presume." Said the king, "I've longed to meet you. I never expected it to be this soon, and in this manner." He stood with arms akimbo, "Pardon my men, their heart only reveres one throne."

Hashim stood 6-feet tall with his broad shoulders and bare muscular chest before the king.

"You're much taller than I expected," the king added as he looked up at Hashim. "You look more of a warrior than a prince, my friend!"

"You had my brother killed, "Hashim said, with a burning lethal stare. "I swear on my mother's grave, I'll make you pay!"

Hashim sighted a dagger around the waist of one of the soldiers, he rushed for it but received a punch in the stomach, he went down on his knees, and they took turn in kicking him.

"That's enough!" Said the king. He turned and looked at the lady in the red dress. She ignored him and quietly walked out of the throne room, her elegant personality caught Hashim's attention once more.

The king bent with his hands on his knees and gazed into Hashim's vengeful eyes. "For the sake of your mother, I hope you'd keep your lips sealed about who you are while you are here," said the king, "I don't have much to say for now." He turned to the soldiers, "Rid my sight of him."

The soldiers dragged him out of the throne room and locked him down in a dungeon.

For the days that followed, Hashim tilled the soil in the fields under the scorching sun just like any other slave and was fed twice a day. Every time they returned from the field, they'd be frisked by the guards before being allowed to enter their cells. Hashim found out that Yuri has succeeded his father, King Zaffariah, who had passed away.

One day while at the field, he sighted two slaves in a brawl and made an attempt to separate them but someone stopped him.

"Don't!" Said one of the slaves, a sinewy athletic looking man. "The guards will beat you up and tie you for days if you try to stop any fight on the field. They love it, it entertains them. Trust me, you don't want to be tagged a killjoy by these men."

Hashim ignored the man that spoke to him and ran towards the fighters. Before he got there, another slave who tried to stop the fight was caught, whipped and dealt with by the guards. They caught him, tied him up, and left him bare under the sun as the rest of the slaves were ordered to keep working. The fighters were ordered to continue their brawl moments later.

Hashim went back to the slave that warned him earlier.

"Thank you," He said.

"You're welcome, brother." The man answered.

"What's your name?" Hashim asked.

"Brutus Boriah." He said as he continued working. Hashim felt the man didn't want to be bothered, so he too went along ploughing.