‘A present?’ I repeated, sceptically.
‘I told you I have been up for hours. I went to the marketplace before you woke,’ he said. ‘Wait a second.’
He ran from the room and returned a moment later with something long and metal in his hands. It looked heavy.
‘What is that?’ I said, rather alarmed.
‘Shackles,’ Jack held them out to me. ‘To go with the rest of your Human attire. I think they’ll suit you.’
‘Shackles?’ I repeated. ‘I have to wear shackles?’
Jack nodded and sank to his knees in front of me, fastening the shackles around my ankles. A moment later he straightened up and looked at my bare feet.
‘There.’ He smiled. ‘Now you’re perfect.’
‘Jack, they’re really heavy,’ I said looking down at them. I tried walking and found that they rubbed my ankles uncomfortably.
‘It’s just for one day,’ said Jack apologetically. ‘All of the Humans for sale in the marketplace were wearing them. They have to, I guess, so they don’t run off.’
I sighed and looked at my reflection in the gritty kitchen window. I was a mess, covered in grime and dirt. I looked like … well, like a Human.
‘Let’s do this,’ I said, turning to Jack. ‘I’m ready.’
Chapter Eight
The Realm
Jack instructed me to walk in his shadow. He wore his best clothes for this occasion and looked quite smart as he marched up to the swarm of protestors that surrounded the gate of the Headquarters. I was barefoot and it was hurting the soles of my feet. I supposed that slaves would be used to being shoeless, so they must have built up calluses on the soles of their feet. I kept my eyes on the ground, focusing on each step I took. The shackles dug into my ankles painfully and chinked with every step. As we approached the protestors, some turned to face us and stared at Jack with pure hatred.
‘Slaver!’ An elderly woman spat at Jack.
‘How would you like to be in chains?’ A man hurled.
Jack ignored them, his chin high. A path formed in the crowd to allow Jack and me through. The intensity of their stares would be enough to make any man turn on his heel and run. But this was Jack Greenwood and he did not bat an eyelid. He marched through the crowd, with me following in his shadow. Someone threw a rock, but it missed Jack and hit another protestor. An uproar began.
People tried to grab Jack and I, tugging at our clothes and hair. I cried out in surprise, but Jack was prepared. He grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me over his shoulder. He carried me to the gate where the men in red cloaks stood, waiting for us.
‘I’m here to register this Human,’ Jack panted to the guards. I couldn’t see what was going on, but I heard the gate swing open and a moment later we were inside the perimeter.
Once inside Jack threw me to the ground in disgust. ‘Come, girl,’ he snapped. It was just as we had rehearsed.
I made the fall look more dramatic than it actually was, limping along behind Jack, while two guards escorted us up the stone steps towards the large wooden doors.
Once at the top of the stairs another pair of guards opened the oak doors to allow us entrance. They nodded to Jack as he passed and sneered at me as I hobbled along behind him. I avoided their gaze and looked at my filthy feet.
As we stepped into the entrance hall of The Realm Headquarters, I could not help but look around in awe. The entrance was bathed in sunlight from the domed glass ceiling, the whole entrance was several stories high. An enormous spiral staircase followed the circumference of the round room. On each level I could see many important people gliding about in red robes. I quickly dropped my gaze to the marble floor and hurried to keep up with Jack who was halfway towards the reception desk.
A pale Mage with red eyes stood behind a podium and watched as we approached. I thought I played my part well, cowering behind Jack as he approached her. She too wore a blood-red cloak that matched her eyes.
‘Welcome to The Realm of Mages, how may I help you today?’ Her voice was bland, as though this place had drained all of the life from her. She stared, unblinkingly at Jack, as though she soulless.
‘Good morning,’ Jack said, ‘I-I wish to register my Human.’
‘The Human Registration Office can be found on the third floor. Please take the stairs to your right,’ she said.
‘Th-thank you,’ Jack stammered. ‘Uh, come along, girl.’
I quickly followed, glancing up at the girl behind the podium. I thought I saw her eyes flicker for a moment, as though she was not really there at all.