Camalias frantic behavior was being drowned out by all the bidding for the time being but you know the crowd wouldn't be distracted forever. Someone would soon notice her and you couldn't allow her to damage your reputation as a slave trainer before you even got started. Though you also realize how big of a shock this must be for the girl.
While you didn't know your father was behind the north shanty trading company either you weren't the one who was sold to the family that destroyed yours. Still you needed to stay strong and get her under control. She may have been used to throwing fits when she was a noble but you needed to remind her you would not tolerate such behavior. Slowly you approach the frantic girl. She continues to call your father a liar and thrash about.
"Camalia settle down at once. This behavior is unbecoming even for a slave." You say coldly surprising even your father. Camalia doesn't listen to you and continues thrashing about wildly. You needed to act and you needed to do so now.
Hesitation was not an option as Camalia seemed to grow more and more frantic. After reaching your hand back you deliver quick and decisive slap across the girls cheek. Both Camalia and your fathers eyes widen at this. While crude the act was effective. Camalia stopped her heretical rants and her arms slowly lowered themselves.
Bringing a hand to the cheek you struck Camalia looked up at you confused. The hurt in her eyes matched yours as you found no joy in such an act. But you knew she left you no choice. Leaning down onto one of your knees you come face to face with your slave. She instinctively leans away from you.
Slowly you reach a hand up to her face until you place your hand on the hand she has cupping her cheek. While hesitant to move it she doesn't resist when you pull her hand away for you to inspect her cheek. While it was lightly pink the area wasn't swollen. Luckily you knew how to control your strength. Camalia sobs quietly, letting tears trickle down her cheeks.
"Camalia. I will not apologize for striking you. Truth is many lesser people in my trade would have done far worse to a slave who has gotten out of line. And you are a slave now. My slave.
That means it is my job to care for you and make sure you know how to act. A job that once belonged to your father. A job he failed at worse than his trading company. "Camalias tear intensified as you brought up her father. She also clenches her jaw tight in anger.
Still she made no moves to pull away from you.
"Truth is I don't really know much about your father or his company. But what I do know is that if your father was so in debt that you were kidnapped and forced into slavery then your father would have been in that cell with you. While slavers aren't typically the nicest people they try and keep families together for the first few weeks. Mostly for paperwork. Do you know what that means Camalia?"
Camalia looks at you warily. Almost as if she was fearing your answer. Slowly you trace your hand up her arm until it reaches her stricken cheek. Tenderly you rub the tears away, carful not to hurt her further. "That means your father had a choice.
Save himself or save his daughter." Camalias pupils shrunk as you informed her that her father was most likely the one who sold her into slavery. "N-no...he wouldn't he....." Camalia tried to defend her father with a quivering lip as she tried to think back on the day she was taken away. "Did you see your father Camalia?
When they dragged you away did you see him at all?" Camalia quickly looked away from you, though her cheek still rested in your hand. "You said the men came to your room at an inn you were staying at? Did your father bring you there for business?" Camalia quickly turned her face back to yours.
Her blue eyes wide with confusion. "H-how did you know that?" You look behind yourself to your father. You share a knowing look before you look back to Camalia. "It is a rather easy trick.
Tell someone your going on a trip and stay at an inn close to a slave market. Makes it easy to sneak off and sell them into slavery." Camalia looks as if she was about to fall over as she slowly realizes the truth. "No...father wouldn't have. We had been selling off a few of our ships for collateral to the banks but nothing more than that."
Camalia thought before remembering seeing her father arguing with a man outside their home before their trip. Her father had looked quit agitated as him and the man yelled at one another. The next thing she knew her father had come back inside, cheerful as ever. He had told them they needed to take a trip for business. While Camalia hadn't wanted to go she knew her father was under much stress recently and went to keep an eye on him.
Camalia thought she was being a good daughter. But the truth was she was nothing more to him than a way to get out of debt. "D-daddy...." Camalia said before collapsing into your chest, sobbing like a child. You wrap your arms around her, comforting her, while lettings her know everything would be alright.
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