Slave to Warrior: Prequel - Circle Trilogy: MM+ Fantasy Romance, page 1
Contents
CIRCLE TRILOGY
Copyright Notice
Prologue | Author's Note
Chapter One | Sebastian
Chapter Two | Leozeuramun
Chapter Three | Meshia
Four Years Later
Chapter Four | Sebastian
Chapter Five | Leozeuramun
Chapter Six | Meshia
Three Years Later
Chapter Seven | Sebastian
Chapter Eight | Leozeuramun
Chapter Nine | Meshia
Eight Years Later
Epilogue | Sebastian
About the Author
CIRCLE TRILOGY
Prequel
SLAVE TO WARRIOR
JT Fader
Copyright Notice
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidences, and dialog are drawn from the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All sexual activity depicted in this work of fiction is between characters who are 16 years of age or older as dictated by the laws of Canada where this story was written.
CIRCLE TRILOGY – PREQUEL – SLAVE TO WARRIOR; Copyright © 2024 by JT Fader (Leigh Jarrett). All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. All trademarks are the property of the respective owners.
Published independently by Steambath Press
eBook Edition published January 2024
ISBN: 978-1-998008-43-8
Prologue | Author's Note
This book is a prequel in the Circle Trilogy series. It can be read before or after you have read the three main books. That said, if you do read the other three books first, I think you will have a much better experience with the prequel. All the trilogy books are available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Please follow the links below to read the others first.
Age of Mycea – Book 1
Age of Cardin – Book 2
Age of Tunisca – Book 3
This book is about the early years of the characters Sebastian, Leo, and Meshia. The story follows them from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. If you remember, Sebastian and Leo met when they were thirteen and became sexually active soon after. I've refrained from delving into the details of those moments but there is off-page underage sexual activity between them.
The sexual activity becomes on-page when they reach the age of consent which in this case is sixteen as dictated by the country of Canada where this book is written.
This book is light on explicit sex. Lots of fade to black.
If any of these details affront you, please stop here!
Chapter One | Sebastian
My earliest memory was the woman I assumed was my mother screaming as I was yanked from her arms. It haunted me. Seven years later, it still invaded my dreams. I didn't remember anything else about my birth planet of Cardin. At age two, I hadn't formulated any memories yet.
I was told it was a blistering hot, sandy, bleak place with little water. Someday, I might visit Cardin if my life of servitude ever allowed me to do something like that.
Or if my life changed completely.
I turned on my side and looked out the window from my bed. The dense foliage outside was whipping around in the wind and rain. It was going to be another wet day on the damp planet of Mycea, which meant after riding to military training, I would be a cold and soggy mess.
Not an unusual experience when living on Mycea. The planet was lush and green from the abundant rain. Immense forests with small villages dotted the landscape.
Most grew food for themselves and the capital city of Neter. Some provided lumber for construction projects in other villages. Some mined for gold.
Since arriving, I'd never been outside of the Neter Capital Region. By the nearest estimate, I might be nine years of age. Yesterday had been my master's daughter's birthday. My master had assigned me the same birthday as hers from the time I'd supposedly turned three.
At the age of nine, the lives of every Mycean child changed.
Today would be the first day I would wander onto a warrior training field. Today would be the first day any Cardinian child had ever been included in Mycean military training.
My Mycean master's daughter Lakeda had advocated for me to be included. She'd begged that her childhood companion slave be permitted to train alongside her. Argued convincingly that she wouldn't feel comfortable without me there with her.
Her father had caved.
I was thrilled for the opportunity. I'd been jealous of the fun Lakeda would be having without me, learning to fight and use swords. To perform combat atop a horse.
She surprised me with the good news yesterday as a birthday present.
I rose from my bed, a little nest of blankets in a trundle bed beside Lakeda's four-poster lavish one and looked at myself in her mirror. For a Cardinian, according to Lakeda's nursemaid, I was filling out well. I was as tall and muscular as any Mycean—an oddity for my race.
My master credited his generosity when it came to my diet. That I was growing so well. I was glad of my size. It meant I wouldn't feel disadvantaged with a sword.
I used a piece of leather to tie my long black hair into a knot at the base of my neck. I looked at the tattered leather armor my master had secured for me to wear to training. I knew in addition to being bullied for being Cardinian, overly worn equipment would catch attention.
I suspected Lakeda's father assumed I would fail to compete within the first day or two. That I'd want to drop out. That I couldn't possibly keep up with a Mycean child.
I stared into my startling blue eyes in the mirror. Lakeda's father didn't realize that I had aspirations. That I was going to grasp onto this chance to improve myself and run with it.
I set my stance and challenged myself.
The Mycean children didn't stand a chance.
"Sebastian, are you ready?"
I looked at Lakeda in the mirror. She looked formidable in her new leather armor. Formidable and beautiful. Sometime in the past year, my feelings for Lakeda had changed. She was still my friend of sorts. She'd always treated me well. There was a tingle of something else, though.
Probably nothing.
"Trying to look my best," I said and set about dressing myself.
"You worry too much about your appearance."
I sighed. I couldn't help it. I knew I looked different from everyone else on Mycea. My naturally tanned skin, blue eyes, and black hair were non-existent on the planet that housed the capital city and royal family of the empire. I'd never seen anyone else who looked like me.
According to what we learned in History class … yes, Lakeda had coerced her father into letting me attend school with her as well. What we learned was there was a period in history when society in Mycea used Cardinians as slaves but that the practice had fallen out of favor.
Apparently, we were too much trouble.
Our alluring looks and mannerisms had caused chaos among families.
Not sure what that meant. The history books hadn't gone into detail. Lakeda's father had been an oddity when he paid a slave trader to find a Cardinian toddler for his daughter to play with.
That was Master Narak, though. Always going against convention.
Now, we were both nine. We would spend the next seven years training to become warriors for the empire's military. I would be expected to follow Lakeda and continue to serve her wherever she was posted for a further two years of mandatory military service.
"Let's go," Lakeda said and pulled on my arm.
I looked at myself one last time in the mirror and followed her into the grand hallway. Master Narak had a magnificent house compared to many others in the region. He was an important political figure and member of the royal court. I'd grown up surrounded by opulence.
Two horses were waiting for us outside the entry doors. One grey. One black. Unofficially, the black horse was mine. He and I had been racing through the fields together for over five years. I'd named him Char in my mind because of his color. I didn't dare let anyone hear me calling him that. His name was Prince. A pretentious name that didn't match his wildness and aggression. He was a handful, but we had an understanding. Neither of us fit in the world around us.
I'd learned how to ride horses alongside Lakeda. I was practically as comfortable riding a horse as walking on my two legs. We kicked up wet gravel as we raced for the gates, seeing who could reach the perimeter of the property first. Char and I beat Lakeda—this time around.
We were both panting and laughing as the gates were opened for us. I allowed Lakeda through the gate first. I knew my place. Despite being given unusual privileges, I was still a slave.
I was owned.
My life was not my own. Master Narak could order me to be killed and no one would bat an eye. Except Lakeda. She'd never forgive her father if he ordered me to be harmed.
Regardless of her affection for me—I knew I lived to serve her.
We trotted along the winding road that led away from the estate as the rain poured down. We were already out in the countryside. The training grounds weren't too far away. We'd spend the week there and then have three days each week to return to my Master's estate to recupe
The sexes were separated in the tents on site. It would be my first time sleeping apart from Lakeda since I'd been given to her as a present. My bed in her room—I slept on the floor beside her in case she needed anything during the night. Snacks, water … anything she wanted.
In the camp, I wouldn't be there to get those things for her.
I wasn't sure I'd be able to sleep.
As we approached the training grounds, we both slowed. We heard them before we saw them. Hundreds of Myceans practicing with an assortment of swords. The clack and ding of swords colliding and someone yelling orders welcomed us. We weren't prepared for the sheer brutality of what unfolded in front of us. Bare-chested, sweaty young men, roared and lunged at each other.
My breath faltered.
With their taut and smooth shiny muscles—they were mesmerizing.
"We need to find the first years," Lakeda said.
"I'll follow you." I pried my gaze away.
We lumbered along a worn dirt path in short yellowing grass. As we passed the battling masses, they became younger and younger. Finally, the warriors in training resembled us.
"I'll find a commanding officer." Lakeda slipped off her horse and led him toward a large tent erected at the edge of the field. A young stablehand raced to her and took control of her horse. I wouldn't get the same treatment. I'd be expected to stable the horse I was riding myself.
I dismounted and stayed close to the stablehand. I could find Lakeda after she finished introducing herself and making our arrangements. Char was my priority at the moment.
The massive paddock was ankle-deep in mud. Master Narak wouldn't be pleased that his horses would be kept in such conditions. I led Char to a crowded covered area, threw some hay down on the ground to lessen the mud, and removed his saddle and bridle. There was wooden fencing beneath the semi-adequate shelter that would have to make do as a saddle rack.
Untacked, I set about brushing Char down and clearing his hooves of stones. The hay rack was already full, and the hay seemed dry. I smelled it to be sure it was suitable.
It smelled fresh.
He needed water. I looked around. The stablehand was busy with Lakeda's horse. He wasn't the only one in sight. There were at least twenty of them running around attending to the sizeable number of horses. I watched them to see where the water was coming from.
In the center of the paddock was a well surrounded by a stone wall. I removed a metal bucket from a hook on the shelter's post and made my way to the source of water.
I was very aware that the stablehands were watching me. They all stopped moving. I had anticipated the stir I would make. That surprise would escalate exponentially when the Myceans discovered I was training as a warrior as well. I'd stand out amongst their kind.
The day I started at Lakeda's school, there had been an uproar from the parents of the other children. Master Narak's position in government meant he had the final say but the parents' prejudice had rolled over from home into their children. I'd been treated horribly by them.
Even the teachers were rough on me. But realizing I'd been given a gift; I'd taken the schoolwork seriously. I was determined to soak up everything I could. I was especially good at math and science. Physics in particular. I was at the top of my fifth-year class with a steady 100% on all my assignments and tests. It made me even more unpopular.
I wasn't Mycean.
Never would be.
I didn't look anything like them.
Myceans were tall, lean, and muscular with blond hair and green eyes. Lately, my chest was filling out broader than the Mycean boys. I suspected that would continue. With the warrior training, I would become dangerous. Any Mycean challengers would find themselves overpowered by me. At least that's what I hoped.
I filled the bucket and returned to Char. He was glad of the water. I patted his neck and ran my hand down his side. He leaned into my touch.
Someday, I would own my own horse.
"Sebastian," Lakeda said as she approached. "We've missed sword training for today. Tomorrow is daggers. Magic class is next. Of course, you'll have to sit it out."
Of course.
It was a well-known fact. Cardinians couldn't perform magic. And even if we could, the Myceans wouldn't want to compromise safety and encourage the use of it by training us.
But I had a secret.
I followed Lakeda to an area close to the tent she had visited. The entire group of young Myceans were standing awaiting instruction. I held back. It seemed their lessons would be taught outside in the rain. The main school near my master's estate was traditional and indoors. Holding the class outside in the downpour seemed intentionally uncomfortable.
During magic class in school, I would sit outside near the windows even if it was raining to hear what was being said. It was hard to catch onto everything because I couldn't see.
My fingers tingled as they started their lesson on fire starting; a crucial spell when stationed in a camp with few supplies. I decided to hide along the side of the large tent to listen to the instructor. I could hear what was being said and no one could see me.
I let the tingle in my fingers grow. A fire sparked easily in my palm. I only had a few seconds to either use it to start a fire or extinguish it before my skin burned.
I closed my palm and it disappeared. I poked my head around the corner. Less than half of the Myceans were succeeding with the lesson. Lakeda wasn't one of the successful ones. Her spell-casting ability was horrible. She couldn't even cause small objects to move.
I looked at the ground a short distance from me. Little rocks started rolling away as I barely concentrated on them. The spells they were teaching, I had perfected years ago.
I had moved on to more practical spells. My master thought he fed me well. The truth was I was often hungry. I made a point of going into the kitchen each day to memorize what and where the different food items were stored. I preferred food that was within an enclosed space.
Back in Lakeda's bedroom when I had a few minutes to myself while she attended a course on being a politician like her father—a class I wasn't allowed to attend, I sat in a private corner of the room, concentrated on a food item from the kitchen I was interested in—and it appeared in my hand. I tended to take the dessert items. I wasn't permitted those with my meals.
I suspected the menu here wouldn't include dessert. I hoped we'd all eat the same thing, but my food might be rationed, and I'd be made to eat sitting on the ground outside.
The words of the instructor caught my ear. They were going to work on a protection spell. That was a spell that hadn't been covered at Lakeda's school.
I listened.
It seemed simple enough. And it was invisible. I could practice without being caught. If the Mycean authorities found I could conjure, I might be disposed of—hung. Master Narak wouldn't be able to stop them. The very idea of a Cardinian conjuring was abhorrent to the Myceans.
I cast the spell and felt the hum of the shield encompass me. It would be easy to throw into place even if I was occupied while in combat. It wasn't foolproof, though. It mostly protected you from malicious spells. Swords could penetrate it if your opponent struck enough times.
I released the spell.
"What are you doing back here?"
The voice scared me. I'd been so focused on the lesson that I hadn't heard anyone approach. It was something I needed to practice—becoming aware of the entirety of my surroundings.
I turned to who had questioned me. He was a boy not much older than me. Maybe ten or eleven. He had his arms crossed and he expected an answer.
"I'm speaking to you, Cardinian. Obey and answer me."
"I'm waiting for my mistress."
"Looked like you were listening in."
No point in lying.
"I was. I find it interesting even though I can't conjure," I said.
The boy didn't look convinced. "I should report you."
My growing internal combustion fired up.
"For what? I'm allowed to be here. I'll be training like everyone else starting tomorrow."
His eyebrows rose. "You're training? That's not possible."
That's what you think.
"Master Natar arranged it and he's a member of parliament. He's even a member of the royal court. So, it's happening and there's nothing you can do about it."
