An Encounter at the Auction – 3C-QO

Chapter 3 – Getting Underway (continued)

Kaylen’s group moved all throughout the marketplace, stopping at stalls, and shops, and booths, along the way. They picked up a map of the surrounding countryside, and purchased rations consisting of a mix of hard bread, dried fruit, smoked and salted jerky, and cheese. A few of them needed to pick up some extra gear and tools, either to replace things that had worn out, or to supplement their roles in Kaylen’s party. They made sure everyone had a tent and sleeping roll, and even made certain everyone but Ursa had a mount of some form – there simply wasn’t anything big enough for the half-giant – but by that point they were near an unusually noisy section of the market, and that was saying something since the whole place was crowded and boisterous. Kaylen found himself pausing at the edge of a crowd gathered in front of a stage where a pair of teenage boys in drab but clean clothing stood, bound at the wrists. One of them had a small bandage visible on his cheek.

He heard Lyria’s armor clinking as she approached, “You don’t want anything here.” His sister was quick to point out when she noticed him watching the proceedings.

“What’s going on here?” Kaylen asked. “Is that…?”

“A **** auction.” The brown-haired girl confirmed.

“They look pretty young.” Kaylen had never even seen a **** before, at least not that he was conscious of. Though he supposed his old mentor’s indentured servants weren’t much better than slaves.

Lyria sighed, glancing towards where the others were browsing a nearby stall before turning back to her brother. “Do you want a closer look? Do you need to see it for yourself?”

“I think I do.” Kaylen acknowledged.

“Then go ahead, I’ll let the others know where you’ve gone.” Lyria offered, turning to head back to the eclectic group still shopping at a handful of nearby stalls.

Kaylen nodded, and made his way closer through the assembled crowd, towards where the people actually bidding on the auction were standing.

He wasn’t sure how long he watched before he felt a hand on his arm, and looked behind him to see Janel standing there. The kitsune’s dual colored eyes were somewhat haunted as she glanced from his face, to the stage.

“We shouldn’t be here.” Talindra said, drawing Kaylen’s gaze to the silver-haired elf just a few steps behind Janel. She looked uncomfortable and out of place, and he beckoned both girls closer, feeling a protective instinct surge up within him. “Elves do not believe in slavery.” Lynn added softly.

“I thought slavery was pretty universal.” Janel turned her gaze on the high elf.

“Among most other races, perhaps.” The slender archer replied.

“You mean, ‘lesser’ races?” The kitsune asked, arching one red eyebrow.

“No, I… some elves may think that way. But I’ve always found them intolerable.” Lynn insisted, her green eyes flashing fiercely.

Kaylen nodded his agreement, “I’m glad you don’t think that way, and I’m sure no one in the party judges you for those elves who do.”

Janel nodded as well, “I was just teasing, I don’t think you’re like that.” She explained, and the pale elf nodded in acceptance of her explanation.

The three of them then turned back to the stage as one of the young men was led away, and the hawker began extolling the ‘selling points’ of the remaining ****. “He’s the son of a tanner, so he’s used to hard work, and can craft or repair high quality leather goods from tack to boots. Is there none here who could make use of such a valuable skill?”

Then the man pointed towards Kaylen, “You there, you look like the mercenary type, maybe you could use an armorer on the road, this **** is fresh and untrained, so the price is low, and if he’s stuck in the wilderness with you, you won’t have to worry about him trying to steal from you or run away while you’re teaching him.”

The dark-haired boy with a dirt-smudged nose and a bandage on his cheek looked frightened, and Kaylen was at a loss, but then Janel caught his attention, and he glanced her way, “You should buy him, Kaylen. Before someone less kind decides to.” She advised.

“What?” Kaylen turned towards her, but the hawker seemed to take that as an encouraging sign.

“Why don’t you come up here, and inspect the merchandise for yourself, young master?” The hawker was waving towards him, gesturing him to come up on the stage.

Kaylen glanced at Talindra, who nodded, the tail of her silver hair bobbing, and then looked to Janel who made a similar gesture of agreement, along with a flicker of movement under her scarf that he assumed was her ears twitching. And so, bolstered by their support, he made his way up onto the stage and approached the teenage ****. Kaylen noted the boy’s eyes were blue, and his skin seemed fair beneath the grime and bruising, though with a light tan.

“How old are you?” He asked.

“Fifteen.” The boy gave him an odd look, partially fearful, but also allowing himself a glimmer of hope.

“Is what he said right?” Kaylen gestured toward the hawker, who stood nearby, watching them carefully. “Are you skilled with leatherwork?”

“Um, I am. Though I’m still learning.” Came the reply, the boy’s blue eyes downcast.

“What’s your name?”

“Gregory. Gregory Thatcher.”

“Well, Gregory, you might have a new master today.”

Kaylen turned to the hawker in his colorful vest decorated with cheap jewelry, “Shall we negotiate price?” He asked, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

“Certainly.” The hawker motioned for a pair of slavers who escorted Gregory off the stage, with Kaylen following. Lynn and Janel caught up with him on the way to a low warehouse style building that contained cages with at least a dozen other slaves, one of which was being brought out towards the stage as they passed.

Kaylen’s group was led into a small room where a large man wearing expensive jewelry all over his body waited behind a desk. “Ah, an adventurer. We don’t sell many slaves to your type.” He stood up, taking in Kaylen and the two women following him. He was a little overweight, but his arms showed strength, even if his clothing spoke of luxuries, as did his well-maintained blonde hair. “So you want to buy the tanner boy?”

“Your hawker said he could repair armor, tack, and other kit.” Kaylen explained. “He also said I could get a good deal due to him being untrained.” A quick glance showed that the blue-eyed boy was despondent, resigned to his fate, it seemed. But another glance at the tall elf and shorter kitsune behind him reminded Kaylen what they had said before he’d gone up on stage, and he resolved to improve the boy’s fortunes, as much as he was able. Maybe the adolescent boy would grow to appreciate traveling amongst a band of five attractive women.

The richly adorned **** master sorted through a stack of papers, then stepped forward with a single scroll in hand, and offered his free hand to Kaylen. “Garion Tilk.” He said, introducing himself.

“Adept Kaylen Gallowglass.” Kaylen shook the blond man’s hand.

“Oh, a mage adventurer.” Garion grinned widely, flashing a gold tooth.

“A mage?!” Gregory’s blue eyes widened in alarm.

But before Kaylen could respond, the door to the room burst open and a dark-haired young woman stumbled in followed immediately after by a burly slaver trying to grab her.

“Master adventurer, please!” The lightly tanned woman beseeched Kaylen, as the slaver who’d chased her into the room finally caught ahold of her arm. “I’m a much more skilled artisan than my brother, let me pay his debt!”

“Danny, don’t, he’s a mage!” Gregory warned.

The woman’s eyes widened, but she did not back down. She had the same blue eyes as her brother, Kaylen noticed, and her tan was a shade darker.

“You can let her go, Barnus.” Master Tilk said. “I don’t think we’re in any danger from this girl, Danny is it?”

The slaver, Barnus, released the girl’s arm. She huffed, and stepped right in front of Kaylen. “Master mage.”

“Adept.” Kaylen corrected.

The girl, Danny, blinked but nodded, “Adept, please. I wish to serve in my brother’s place to repay his debt. I promise I will serve you better, and… I’m sure you’d find my company more pleasing.” She looked down at her plain attire, consisting of a somewhat stained brown tunic over a green dress and mud-spattered black shoes, but still attempted a pose to show off her figure.

“I doubt that will tempt Adept Gallowglass.” Talindra chimed in, seeming to find Danny’s flirtatious display distasteful.

“I dunno, he does seem to have certain inclinations.” Kaylen’s red-haired companion retorted with a mischievous grin.

Kaylen sighed, this situation was getting complicated, and he was already uncomfortable when it came to the issue of slavery, as were some in his party. But he had a way to get to the bottom of this.

He brought his staff forward, and tapped it on the ground three times while uttering a harsh incantation. Nearly everyone in the room flinched back or reached for their weapons, including Lynn and Janel, but after an invisible burst of energy vibrated the air briefly and nothing else happened, everyone but the slaver enforcer, Barnus, seemed to relax slightly.

“What is your name, girl?” Kaylen asked in his most authoritative tone, pointing at Danny.

“Dinnae Thatcher.” She responded immediately, her blue eyes widening at her compelled response.

“Why is your brother being sold as a ****?” Kaylen continued grilling the brown-haired girl.

“He was caught stealing on a prank, and he owes a lot of money, so the judge said he had to be indentured to pay off his debt.” She was still a little alarmed at the way Kaylen’s spell **** the words from her.

Kaylen turned back to Garion. “How much is his debt?” He asked, observing that the blonde man’s hand was still resting uneasily on the hilt of his curved sword.

“He owed five gold doubloons, I bought him for four, but if you purchased him, the remaining debt would transfer to you.” Tilk also seemed somewhat surprised by the words he’d spoken, making Kaylen curious, but he had to deal with this situation first.

“Can she sell herself to take on his debt?”

The **** master merely nodded.

“Would that change the price?”

“Typically yes. Female slaves always fetch higher prices.”

Janel chuckled, and shook her head. Talindra, meanwhile, had blanched at Garion’s admission.

But Kaylen ignored them for the moment, responding directly to Master Tilk. “Typically? That hardly sounds fair.”

“Well, the…” The blonde man stopped, and bit his lip.

Kaylen frowned. “What? Am I wrong?” He glanced from Tilk to the other slaver, Barnus.

“Master Mage, we usually don’t tell buyers when we increase the price for reasons like that.” Barnus responded.

“Then why did you tell me?” Kaylen looked back to Tilk.

The **** master sighed. “I wasn’t going to, but your spell made me.” He growled, scowling at Kaylen and his companions.

Kaylen blinked. “Huh, that’s not usually how that spell works.” He said, looking back at Dinnae. “It should have affected only you.”

“Strange.” Talindra observed.

“I’ll pay you six gold doubloons to buy his debt, and transfer it to her.” He pointed first at Gregory, then at Dinnae.

“That’s not a fair price.” Tilk’s scowl grew deeper, and both Barnus and Talindra put hands on their swords.

“Hey.” All eyes turned to Janel, whose hands were spread open in a gesture of peace. “We’re not here to cheat you, we’re just not as familiar with the process as you are.”

That seemed to ease tensions somewhat, and both the big slaver and Kaylen’s archer shifted into more relaxed stances before Kaylen turned back to the bejeweled **** master. “So what would be a fair price then, to handle the transaction?”

Tilk looked torn, but finally said, “Well, we need to make a profit, and two doubloons isn’t much profit. I would have asked for six doubloons for the boy, and increased the price to eight or nine for an adult female, but seven would still be fair, transferring the debt doesn’t cost us anything.”

“Then I’ll pay you seven doubloons, and five silver royals.”

Tilk sighed, but nodded, “That is generous of you, Master Mage.” He moved back behind his desk and began writing out a contract, meanwhile, Dinnae had moved to where her brother still sat on the ground, and began speaking with him in a low tone.

“Your magic is powerful.” Talindra observed in a soft tone, having moved up on Kaylen’s right side. “It is affecting me as well.” The elf added after a moment, her emerald eyes holding his gaze.

“It’s a little scary.” Janel said from his other side. “I wasn’t expecting things to get this tense. Most people do not respond kindly to being enchanted.”

“Well, as I said, it was meant to be a targeted spell.” Kaylen repeated. “I probably just put a little too much effort into it.” The kitsune seemed to accept his explanation, and if the spell was affecting her too, it meant she was being truthful, even if she didn’t speak. But Talindra still seemed concerned.

“Here’s the contract.” Tilk came back around the desk and presented the sheets of parchment for Kaylen to review, complete with their agreed price at the bottom. “We have a branding wand we can use to transfer the **** mark, or if you are familiar with the marking spell, we can let you place your own mark on the girl.”

“I know the spell.” Kaylen replied, turning to Dinnae and her brother as Tilk waved them forward, with Barnus standing close at hand. Talindra stayed close at his side, showing her solidarity despite whatever misgivings she might have had.

“First, I’ll need you to sign here, Miss Thatcher, indicating you are taking on your brother’s debt, and agreeing to servitude in his place.” Tilk handed the girl a quill, and she took a moment to scan the scroll before signing her name in a tidy scrawl.

“And I’ll need you to sign here, after you pay the agreed amount.” Tilk indicated the spot in the contract, and Kaylen counted out the coin and gave it to the **** master before accepting a quill that was handed to him. He signed where he was prompted on every copy of the form, then rolled up one set and slipped it into his scroll case before turning back to face his new ****.

Tilk brandished his wand over Gregory’s arm, causing a mark that had been magically imprinted on his skin to slowly fade. Then he stepped away as Dinnae stood forward, facing Kaylen with a brave but nervous expression.

“Where would you like the mark?” Kaylen asked, feeling somewhat charitable, and he noted Janel nod briefly in approval.

“Somewhere it won’t be seen.” Dinnae responded, still compelled to honesty by Kaylen’s spell.

“It has to be somewhat accessible so it can be checked. I assume you wouldn’t want to be unnecessarily exposed every time someone might need to check it, so where would you like me to place the mark that you would be moderately comfortable being checked on a semi-regular basis?”

Dinnae sighed, and turned slightly away from Kaylen, pulling her hair over her shoulder to expose the back of her neck. “Maybe here, just above my shoulder blades, where it can be checked without removing my tunic, but won’t be easy to spot when my hair is down?”

Kaylen drew his own wand, and gestured for Talindra to tug down the neckline of Dinnae’s tunic in the back, to expose a small patch of skin between her shoulders. Then he very carefully chanted the incantation for the personal mark spell, while tracing patterns in the air with his wand, and after a moment of this, his personal sigil appeared on the girl’s back, a few inches down from the base of her neck, but a little above the space directly between her shoulder blades.

“It is done.” He announced, and the elf woman moved back by his side.

“That was impressive.” Janel leaned a little closer, examining the mark. “No redness or anything. Plus your mark is very intricate and elegant.” She turned her dual-colored eyes back on Kaylen.

“It burns a little.” Dinnae admitted, rubbing at the spot with one hand as she turned back to face the three of them.

“That should fade soon enough.” Kaylen assured her, smiling at Janel’s compliment.

“Mine burned more than a little.” Gregory muttered, seemingly reassured by Kaylen’s spell being less intrusive than the magic that had been used on him, though he still glowered impotently at the mage who now owned his sister. It was clear he felt a desire to help her avoid losing her freedom, while knowing full well there was nothing he could do.

Kaylen was at a momentary loss for words, but didn’t wish to linger here, so he gestured for the two siblings to follow him, as the five of them made their way outside. Neither Tilk nor Barnus seemed inclined to follow.

Once they were out of general earshot, Kaylen addressed Dinnae and her brother. “If there is something you must do before we leave, I will allow you to do it. Is there someone who will take care of your brother while you are traveling with me?”

Dinnae nodded. “We’re supposed to be staying with my mother’s brother since our parents passing. Gregory kept running off to mess around with other boys his age, but I think he’s learned his lesson, and won’t run with them anymore, isn’t that right?”

“I don’t want to anymore. They’re still my friends, but I don’t want their kind of trouble.” Gregory answered, and Kaylen once again knew he was being compelled to honesty thanks to his spell.

“How long ago did they pass?” Talindra asked, her entire demeanor more relaxed now that they were out of the slaver’s office.

“Just about a year.” Gregory told the tall elf girl.

“Well it’s good you still have other family to look after you.” Janel offered the brown-haired boy. “Why did you come and they didn’t?” She asked of his sister, who was still rubbing at the back of her neck.

The blue-eyed girl sighed, and looked bitter. “They care about us, but they were also a bit fed up with Gregory. They didn’t want him to be sold into servitude, but they said they hoped it would teach him a lesson. I couldn’t accept that.”

“Some laws don’t always apply well to every situation.” Janel responded. “He must have ticked off someone powerful, theft isn’t usually punished by indentured servitude, especially for minors.”

Kaylen got the impression the kitsune was speaking from experience on that one. He wondered how many times she’d run afoul of the law in her own youth.

“Yeah well, nobles can be pricks, and my brother isn’t always very prudent.” Dinnae said with a shrug, then blinked, glancing at Kaylen. He realized his spell must have worn off, and perhaps something in her statement wasn’t entirely factual, likely the part about nobles.

“Well, let me introduce you to the rest of my party.” Kaylen offered, “Then we will deliver your brother to his aunt and uncle before we depart. We’ll also need to get you some gear and supplies for our journey.”

“Of course, Master Mage.” Dinnae said demurely.

Kaylen sighed. “I’m only an Adept, and if you must call me Master due to the whole indenture situation, I’d prefer you use my name, Kaylen Gallowglass.”

“Yes, um… Master Kaylen.” She replied, blue eyes downcast.

“Better.” Kaylen nodded then gestured to the market square ahead of them, where he could see Ursa standing near the fountain, the half-giant looking bored. “Now let’s get going.”