“I thought you needed soldiers and workers?” I asked no one in particular.
“Our female population has dwindled significantly, too,” he replied simply. “We need women for other tasks.”
I prayed that those other tasks didn’t involve forced companionship. Cyler seemed respectful enough, but desire and need can make people do harmful things.
I watched in awe as the line of Walkers boarded the train. Cyler monitored them as a large, wooden chest was given to the Galla guards that stood watch over the transaction. Cyler guided me towards them and opened the chest, revealing an insane amount of gold. I dropped my mouth in astonishment.
“We had over three hundred applicants.” Cyler said with a hint of pain in his voice. “This was all we could take right now.”
Cyler then walked towards the Governor’s Guard that stood watch over the entire ordeal.
“This should cover the cost of the vaccinations and Walkers. The Dormas province thanks you for your cooperation.” Cyler bowed while throwing a wink in my direction.
Slowly, the Walkers boarded the train in hopeful anticipation. Cyrus led me towards the front of the train, into the first class cabin.
“Oh, I don’t mind sitting with the other Walkers, Master Black,” I said.
“Oh hush, I don't bite." Cyrus gathered my curly, light-brown hair with his large hands into a thick bun on top of my head, revealing the tag placed on my ear, signifying my role as a Walker. He glared at it and motioned for a member of the Guard to come and remove it. A beefy man with an angry expression strolled over with apparent disdain and clipped it off quickly. The tag fell on the ground, and I gripped my now naked ear. I noticed others appraise us curiously, apparently unsure about the nature of our companionship. Some Walkers even smiled.
Cyler then grabbed my hand and led me up the stairs to the main cabin, then dropped it as soon as we were out of sight. I felt like a political pawn in whatever games he played.
The cabin was plush and luxurious. A bar sat on the far-east side fully stocked with liquor and other novelty drink items. The seats were purple velvet with gold trim. Never once did I imagine that I would be allowed to travel in such conditions. Once again, Cyler surprised me.
I looked at him in awe. His whiplash of moods always had me questioning myself, but ultimately he seemed to be a good leader that wanted to provide for his people.
“Can I get you anything to drink, Master Black?” I asked. Cyler looked up from his tablet with an annoyed expression.
“What’s with this ‘Master’ business? I hate that, just call me Cyler. And before you fall in love with me, I’d like to make it clear that my informal preferences stem from feeling extremely uncomfortable about my new role in this society.”
His candid admission made me feel simultaneously vulnerable and angry.
“Don’t mistake my politeness for affection, Cyler. Old habits are hard to break, and I think it would be challenging to fall for someone that uses people as pawns for political gains.”
“Then how did you ever fall for a guy like Josiah Stonewell?" he asked in a sharp tone, and the truthfulness of it felt like a slap in the face. "I do what I have to for my people,” he said simply. “Our numbers have dwindled while these pompous assholes hoard the cure for a preventable virus. Now that we’ve become one of the most profitable provinces in the empire, there are certain steps we have to take to make sure what we have isn’t taken from us.”
He had a point. It would be easy for Josiah to lead a team and capture the Dormas lands.
“So, you’re giving them gold while building an army,” I stated.
“Ah, you’re a smart one. Yes. Galla men are greedy. It's easy to flash some gold and offer to allow their lower class population into our province. It’ll also be easy to motivate the Walkers to defend their new home. I will provide them with freedom and respect. Something they’ve obviously never had. We have enough gold stockpiled that we can afford the Galla province’s steep rates and enough vaccines to protect our people from Influenza X. And letting my annoying sister marry the poor lad as a gesture of goodwill buys us some more time,” he continued with a chuckle. “She’s been begging me to move to Galla. The alliance will make them feel good about our partnership.”
Hearing his brash opinion of his sister made Cyler that much more menacing. Could he honestly be that heartless to pawn off his blood? Although I wasn’t necessarily a fan of Jules, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her brother’s opinion of her.
“Why tell me this?” I asked Cyler while he rose and poured two glasses of amber liquid in chilled glasses. Cyler handed one to me and swallowed his in one gulp. I watched his Adam's apple bob up and down.
“You would have figured it out, anyways. I need to build a rapport with the Walkers. I’ll need your help to do that,” he said. I took a swig of the drink and coughed down the flames that scorched my mouth and throat. My belly immediately felt warm. Cyler chuckled at me, and we then sat in awkward silence.
Within the hour the train started up and we were moving towards Dormas. Cyler set up his office in the main cabin and worked throughout the day. I brought him lunch and snacks but mostly listened to the various calls he made.
I watched in awe as we passed through different terrain. Abandoned cities and desert made a dramatic wasteland portrait in the huge window. It made me feel small and insignificant. The Stonewell home was where I’d spent the majority of my life. My existence revolved around their routine, and in that, I lost myself. It was equal parts humbling and saddening to see that the world was so much bigger than Josiah. So much bigger than me.
I felt hopeful about my future, despite the fear of the unknown. I was excited to experience life outside of pining for Josiah Stonewell and wishing I was something I’m not. Ultimately, I looked forward to figuring out who I was outside of my duties as a Walker. Cyler said I would be free in Dormas. The train ride made me realize that I wanted to use my freedom to become something more than the timid Walker that obeyed every command.
Later that evening, a call came through for Cyler that caught my attention. It was about Jules, and the person on the other end of the line seemed acquainted with her.
“Ay, brother. She’s gone for good. It's for the best. I don’t think the poor fool truly realized that we got the better end of the deal. I’m disappointed, too. But it’s what she wanted. Wait till you see who I got in exchange for her.” Cyler looked up to meet my gaze and winked at me. His words made me feel like auctioned cattle, and I frowned. Cyler then told the person on the other line goodbye and hung up.
“What’s with the frown, Ash?” The nickname rolled off his tongue, and the familiarity surprised me.
“I feel like cattle,” I replied.
“Oh, don’t worry. I was just messing with my brother. He has a soft spot for pretty gals, and I’m sure he’ll drop his jaw when I waltz in with you. But I want to be abundantly clear– you aren’t my property.” Cyler got up, grabbed my chin and forced me to look him in the eye.
“If you believe anything I say, believe this. You will have freedom in Dormas. I am not forcing you into my household; I’ll pay you, protect you. All I need in exchange is loyalty and some more of that damn good chocolate cake.”