The King and I were left to gape at the contents.
A whimper came. The people inside the wagon—humans, Ricarri, Okon, Deldin, and Hulfrin—cringed and blinked in the sudden light. They were chained, several of them beaten. The Deldin and humans hunched when they saw us, but the Ricarri, Okon, and Hulfrin called out to us.
“These men are slavers! Please help us!”
“I am your king,” Raventar announced. “You are safe now.” He extended his hand but then paused, realizing that the Okon carriage driver was gone. “Where is that bastard?” He turned and spotted the man launching into the air. “Stop him!”
Sir Vanoak pulled a crossbow from his carriage, strode past the caravan, aimed, and fired—all with calm nonchalance. The Okon fell to the ground, an arrow in his shoulder. As Vanoak went to collect his prey, the King looked up and down the caravan at the other drivers.
“The next man to take flight will not fare so well!” the Dragon King shouted.
Vanoak tossed the wounded Okon at the King's feet. “Your Majesty.”
The Dragon King nodded at his knight and then held his hand out to the whimpering Okon. “Keys.”
“I need aid!” The Okon's wings curled around him. “He shot my shoulder!”
“We will remove the arrow,” King Raventar said. “Afteryou help me free the people you abducted.”
“I didn't abduct them! I was just ordered to transport them.”
“By whom?”
The man's eyes went wide.
“Chief Nahel? I know your tribe.” The King motioned at the man's red feather.
“Oh, fuck,” the Okon whispered.
“Yes, you're definitely fucked. Now give me the keys, or I will pull your wings off, tear out your throat, and take the keys off your dead body!”
The Okon's hand shot into his jacket and pulled forth a ring of keys.
The Dragon King took them and handed them to me. “Eliel, will you please help these people?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” I hurried over to the wagon.
Down the line, other wagon beds were revealed, and not all of them carried people. The knights didn't bother with the cargo. They secured the drivers and freed the captives first. As I would.
Purpose gave me courage, and I went to the back of the wagon. “You're all safe now. Come forth, and I will release you.”
The captives surged to their feet.
“Easy now!” I held up my hands. “One at a time. You will all be freed. You're safe. I promise.” I motioned to the Deldin man on the left. “You first.”
The Deldin crouched and held out his manacled hands. I opened the manacles, tossed them aside, and helped him out of the wagon. With that first release, the other captives relaxed, waiting patiently for their turn. As I released the captives, I overheard the King talking to his knights about the Okon drivers. Glancing over, I saw them in manacles. Grinning, I felt a warmth fill my heart. Justice. This is what it felt like to give someone justice. This was why Katai was so invested in his work. It felt amazing, especially after someone had given you justice first. It was the completion of a circle.
With every tossed set of manacles, I felt stronger. I met the captives' wary stares with compassion and assured every person that they were safe. Their relieved tears were my reward. Memorizing their faces, I knew they'd be a comfort to me whenever I felt weak. In them, I saw myself and also their potential to recover and become someone stronger than they were. All it took was one traumatic event to change the course of a life.
My life had certainly changed. I had gone from prisoner to a companion of the Dragon King, assisting him in rescuing people like me. Raven was walking the line, overseeing everyone except me. His faith in me boosted my confidence. He'd seen me with other captives that we'd freed in the city and knew I could help these people without his instruction.
“Just wait over there with the others,” I said to the last captive.
Then I heard a soft sound. Just a shift of cloth. I leaned in so I could see the entire wagon bed. At the front of the wagon, wedged into a corner, someone huddled, thin arms over their head.
“Hello?” I called out.
The person flinched.
