The caravan carried forward, the sounds of rattling metals sending shivers up Aspen's spine.
A dull ache was radiating through his skull, dragging him out of his slumber.
Clop
Clop
The steady footsteps of horses pulling the massive cage echoed through the road.
'What kind of situation is this?!'
Aspen looked around him, noticing a large metal collar around his neck, with dozens and dozens of other people- most he recognized, like the village chief's son, the local salesman, others he didn't know- shackled just like him.
Surrounding the caravan, thorough the cage bars, Aspen could see rough-looking people- among them was that bandit he had spotted at the village.
'Kidnappers? My cursed luck…' thought Aspen, struggling to lift his head, inwardly cursing his misfortune.
Born as an orphan with nothing to his name was bad enough, but getting kidnapped too? that was next level rng.
'No use panicking, let's just live with it' thought Aspen leaning at the bars, letting his eyes drift shut
***
A week has passed in a rhythm Aspen slowly grew used to. Wake up to the rattling of chains. Endure long hours of travel. Listen to the silent cries of inmates. Eat whatever stale bread was tossed into the cage.
Somewhere along those days. Aspen started talking to the hunchbacked old man chained beside him named Alfred. Alfred talked alot, maybe a little too much. But Aspen didnt mind it.
At first, Aspen thought the man was senile, mumbling things to himself.
Little grunts, complaints, and incoherent sentences that sounded like a feral goblin.
"Never thought i'd end up back in a chain at thirty!" Alfred said with a dry laugh
Aspen turned to him
"Back?"
Alfred snorted "Aye, this aint my first rodeo" rubbing the chain on his neck. "Verlin city guards got me once for peeking into the wrong things" his gaze slid away, avoiding Aspen's eyes
"What things?"
"Well, uh um- it depends on who you ask. I was appreciatating the local scenery. They say I was loitering outside the woman's bathhouse."
Aspen blinked
"Scenery?"
"Aye!" puffing his chest proudly. "Boy i tell you… every woman got their own aura. Their posture, the way they walk- each one tells a story. I just needed a better look" Alfred rambled, shamelessly acting like some wise old man passing down forbidden knowledge.
"That sounds like something a pervert would say" Aspen grinned
"Bah, kids these days got no appreciation on the art of womanhood" lifting his chained wrist dramatically "Look at me. Locked up again. how tragic…"
Aspen inhaled slowly.
He wasn't sure which was worse. the chains or being stuck with a perverted old man.