This has been a very successful hunting season for the Drow slaver's guild. The surface kingdoms went to war with each other and with their armies away, the drow slaving parties have been free to pounce on the undefended human villages far from the front lines, carrying off hundreds of peasant maidens into captivity. Here, one of the slave trainers inspects a new coffle of slaves, just arrived in the cavern city. One particular captive catches her eyes, a tall slender peasant lass with flaming red hair. But the quality that grabs the slaver's attention most is the look of defiance on the girl's face. Stripped naked, bound and gagged, carried far from her home and destined for the underground auction block, she shows she still remains unbowed, unbroken. The drow walks over to her. She extends a hand, to feel the slave's breast. The captive girl doesn't flinch away, doesn't cringe or sob or plead for mercy like any of the countless other captives who have passed by this season. She merely looks back at her captor, teeth clenched around her gag. The slaver grins. "I'm going to enjoy training this one..."

*** 

Been on a bit of a fantasy kick for a while. After a hiatus, I'm going back to the Three Crowns project I started last year. I've been working on a second part, Three Crowns: After Dark, which hopefully will be finished soon, as well as some more stories set in and around the slave fair which will be posted at the same time. While I was working on that, I got the idea for this picture and took some time to draw it up. Hope you enjoy!