All three sluts carry Trimon's mark.

"The **** guild must have this slut." The master of brands declared in excitement, grasping Visha by her collar and staring at her avericiously. "In recent years we have barely translated a phrase or two from the ancient tongue, yet here is one who speaks it and can weave an incantation from memory alone. Oh ho, what secrets we could unlock if we had this slut in our thrall."

"She is not mine to trade." Rezma said with irritation.

"The guild would offer a pretty of equal worth, no two sluts just as fair." The old man's voice cracked as he showed desperation. "Five girls, the best we have of your choosing for this Stygian."

"Only Trimon can trade his harem slaves." The Shemite's voice rose with exasperation and finality. "He purchased Visha because she was rumoured to have powers. You must take the matter up with her master."

"As you say mistress, Trimon can expect a generous offer very shortly." The old man conceded. "But a boon if you would, allow me to brand this Stygian pretty next. I would see if her spell persisted long enough to transmute the pain of the quicksilver."

The Akkadian felt a pang of resentment rise towards Visha as this conversation unfolded. He had already been wary of the little witch, but this emotion was fresh and different. He was shocked to realise it was jealousy and the slavers guild valueing Visha more than he was the cause. It was petty and irrational, yet he had seen this reaction in **** girls before. Vying among themselves childishly to be the prettiest, the most wanted and adored, the one lusted after by the masters more fervently. He watched sullenly as Visha was reposition upon the chair and secured to receive her brand upon the thigh as he had.

The Stygian's branding proceded just as the Akkadian's had, except as the old slaver intoned the ritual and the liquid metal subsumed into Visha's flesh she cried out not in pain but in ecstasy. The witch writhed in the straps binding her, obviously in the throes of climax for the entire process of the sigil absorbing into her thigh. Whatever spell the little Stygian had cast persisted at least this long. Once Trimon's mark had seared into her flesh she was released and knelt beside the Akkadian at rest position as Tzu-Tzi took her place upon the chair. The Stygian looked smugly at the assassin.

"I know that look Minaja." She whispered, grinning widely. "Do not be too downcast, I am sure masters will still desire to plough that dark cunt. Though some of us have worth beyond being a wet sheath for a cock."

The taunt struck home, Visha had her sorcery. Maeve, Zula and the other captured warriors in the harem were strong and able to fight given the opportunity. Even among the harem of Trimon he was weak compared to the other **** girls. If he was to escape he would need the talents of might and magics the other enslaved girls possessed.

The Akkadian brooded as Tzu-Tzi was branded and her screams reminded him shamefully of his own. Once the final ritual was concluded the Khitain took her place kneeling in line and the coffle chains were attached once more linking the line of girls by their collars.