**ONE**
The girl was terrified, unable to bear or comprehend that she was finally going to meet one of the terrible fates she had fought so hard to escape. He could see it in her eyes, in her hateful glance. They were in the land of Teluria, the continent which held the western realms. An ocean breeze caressed Tier, the capital city. They stood in the king’s palace, in the long, rectangular, stone throne room; the ceiling arched far above them and pale, cold light trickled in from the high windows. Newly minted lords and knights lined the walls and filled the room with echoing sniggers and japes. King Barion, sitting casually on the throne, had just offered up the girl as a final prize for Ben’s service, and had commanded her stripped for his inspection. Every curve of her was bared now, her plain slip in rags on the floor. She tried to cover herself with an arm hugging her ample breasts, and her other hand was tucked over her groin. He could see her blushing and her gaze had left him and sunk to the floor in embarrassment. She was from Idaria, in the east, and the lords of Teluria despised her for it, and took extra pleasure at her humiliation. It was in popular taste to do so.