the man in black

Bradin was in shock, as he was led over to the desk to finish being sold. Why would some one pay that much for him? Bradin wondered what could he have possibly done to get this man's attention?

Immediately Bradin thought about the staring contest. Did he anger the man? That didn't make Sense, who would spend that much on a slave just to get back at them, for any kind of slight.

The man came to the desk and placed one gold coin on it as he filled out the paper work. the guard handed him the gray crystal, and then the man turned and started walking off. Bradin hurriedly walked after him, still worried about what the man wanted with him.

Bradin had to jog to keep up with the man in black, as he led the way out of town. He had originally thought that they would be heading back to the tavern, but the man headed to the opposite side of town.

Bradin was surprised when they left the town, and started going down the main road. Most travelers would stock up on supplies before they just left a town or city. for some reason the man in black didn't.

Bradin still had yet to even see his new masters face. all he knew was he had piercing light blue eyes. he wondered where they where going, but judging from the staring match, he knew he did not want to anger his new master. so he kept quiet.

As they walked Bradin looked around at the country side. everything was covered in a fresh layer of snow. except for the road, the bricks where enchanted to be just warm enough to melt any snow or ice that could form on them.

Not all roads had this enchantment. only the heavily traveled trade routes did. Bradin wondered if his master was a merchant. He didn't think so, he wasn't carrying anything to sell. How did he have enough money to buy him?

Maybe he was a lord of some estate. no that couldn't be it they always traveled with an entourage that was heavily guarded. bandits and wild animals where a risk one took when they traveled to neighboring towns.

Bradin and his new master walked for hours. as it got close to midday, the man in black stopped and pulled out some dried meat from a bag tied around his waist. he handed three large pieces to Bradin, still saying nothing.

"thank you master." Bradin said for the first time addressing the man in black.

"don't call me that." the man in black grunted.

"what should i call you then sir?" Bradin asked surprised

"don't call me sir either."

"then what should i call you?" Bradin asked getting frustrated.

"why do you have to call me anything?" the man in black asked

"Because you are my master!" Bradin said raising his voice. "i have to call you something."

"why, who made up the rule that you have to call me or talk to me for that mater?" the man asked

Bradin felt confused and then angry at this man.

"fine if you won't tell me what to call you i will call you..." Bradin thought for a second then he found the perfect title. " Black ice."

Black ice blinked at Bradin surprised. "why would you call me that?" he asked in a low voice

"because you are cold and you wear black." Bradin answered still angry.

" what do you mean, by "i'm cold"?" Black ice asked

"whenever i look at your eyes i feel cold." Bradin stated now worried that he was going to get a beating, for talking back to his master.

black ice reached up and pulled back the hood of his cloak. as Bradin got his first look at his masters face, he was surprised. The man looked to be in his thirties with a strong jaw and high cheek bones. Bradin could have sworn he was older. black ice had short spiky white hair. Combined with his light blue eyes he looked like some creature made out of snow.

What surprised Bradin the most though was the curling lines of light blue tattoos, that came up from under the collar of black ice's shirt and ran up the sides of his face framing his eyes and disappearing into his hair.

Bradin had never seen tattoos like this before but he knew what they meant. the only people to had these sort of tattoos where mages, and each mage type had a different color of tattoo. which meant only one thing.

Bradin's new master was an ice mage.