Daniel walked into Kessle house at 6 p.m. The slave house’s whitewashed board showed 125 slaves up for sale today. The floor was swept and gleaming under the falling sun. A polished brass rail ran the length of the block at the front of the hall.
Each detail told Daniel more about the establishment.
Julia and Alys didn’t speak as Anillita stayed close by his side.
An odd, fruity scent wafted through the air.
[Abnormal substance is ineffective]
Angel’s voice came from the screen that popped up.
I guess Clara’s voice through this system got overridden by Angel with the Farmstead upgrade. She’s not going to be happy about that.
“What’s that?”
“Sunroot incense,” Alys mumbled. “If inhaled, it invokes hallucinations and makes the person more compliant. The building is laced with it. It has a minor effect on the bidders. I find that unethical. It may only be minor at that dose. But it does affect their decision-making. The concentrated dose is used strictly for slave reeducation.”
“I see…”
My angel physiology is immune to it, I suppose. Does that mean alcohol is also ineffective? I haven’t tried. It’s worth testing.
Dressed and groomed for the part, Daniel went to the front desk.
No masks or incognito meetings. Most of the upper class wore what they called Victoria high fashion. Craftsmen, adventurer parties, and housewives chatted around the entry in their groups, waiting for the auction to open in thirty minutes.
He immediately snatched attention when he entered with the three women.
A clerk took his identification card, read it twice, and became a different man halfway through the second reading. He wasn’t left in the lobby. The clerk swiftly guided him to a cushioned chair on an upper balcony. It came with an apology for the smell.
The clerk bowed to him.
“Lord Daniel, I have heard much about your travel through the city. Please, feel free to use this to communicate your wishes.” He handed him a wooden tablet with runes inscribed on it. “The circle is for private staff. The square is for an offer. The triangle is a private offer.”
Servants arrived shortly after the exit with a cup of something warm. The viewing area shutters were half-drawn as the higher-class individuals were led to their seats below.
Daniel motioned for the three women to sit on the remaining chairs in the private box. The rat beastfolk girl didn’t miss the elf being told to sit. Anillita did as ordered. She tried to make herself small, even if she was around the height of the average human male.
“What is your take on this place, Anillita? Be honest with me.”
The elf and rat teen met eyes, then looked away.
“It is the main auction house used. They deal not only in new slaves but those who are to be resold. If a master wishes to sell their property, they must go through a legal process. About half of the slaves will be resold as merchandise. The other will be new captures from slavers.”
“Is it worse now, or when you were younger?”
“Now, Master.”
“That’s good…”
They brought in three elves, young enough that the word for them was still girl in his head. Two stood, and the third came in with her chin up, resistant.
The rat teen beside him spoke without him prompting as the auctioneer threw out a summary of their history. The rat teen knew a decent amount more than he gave.
“They’re lots forty through forty-two, My Lord. They were a part of a border town to the north, hidden within the Misty Forest. Eighty were captured out of two hundred. Two have few scars. The defiant one has had three fingers broken, a nose improperly healed, and seven fractured ribs. Only half of the injuries were sustained in the raid.”
“What do you see, Anillita?”
The rat teen’s tail stiffened, mouth becoming a line as the elf spoke.
“Rejects are sent to the border. Elves of low military or magical lineage,” she whispered, rubbing her elbow and staring at the girls. “The slower and braver ones would have been captured first. Elven society hates weakness. It is why human women are seen as inferior to men.”
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Alys’s throat constricted, her hand clutching her stomach as she rose with a low murmur.
“I need a minute…”
Wendel and Marg were going to sell her to the elves…
Ralph didn’t defend her, either.
I should have seen that. This must be hard for her.
His gaze darted to the rat girl, glaring at Anillita as if she’d stolen her job.
Finding a better living situation requires usefulness.
The beastfolk in the Farmstead can’t speak human or elf.
She’s trained herself to speak human to get this opportunity to cater to a high-value client. There is a lot going on.
The man below started the bid at 5 copper each.
He got one begrudging call. Humans saw elves and beastfolk with disgust. So teen girls without many skills were not in high demand.
5 copper for a teenage elf girl? It sounded absurd. But Anillita, a highly skilled artisan, even with some failings, capped out at three silver. And Mr. Cooler was apologizing for the high price. He’d invested a lot in the elf.
A piece of bread costs 2 iron coins.
I have 435 gold after all my recent commitments.
Converted, that is 435 million iron.
No wonder people are tripping over themselves to serve me.
Daniel made his decision, and it wasn’t close.
“That’s 5 copper for both girls. I can throw in the third for another copper! Going once…”
He pressed the square on the plaque, and when he spoke, his voice was projected below.
“How many slaves do you have total?”
The laughter, clinks of glass, and chatter fell as eyes lifted to his box. The rat teen beside him stiffened as if he’d dumped cold water over her head. She swiftly whispered to him.
“125, My Lord.”
Daniel smiled and rubbed his chin, watching the light in Julia’s eyes brighten as she answered for him.
“Lord Daniel isn’t asking about the head count today. He’s asking total.”
“Including the slaves you have staffed here and throughout the city.” He added. “In fact, including those of the other houses, if you could give me a figure.”
The man below forced a laugh, loosening his tie.
“My Lord, we are in the middle of an auction. Would it be possible for me to collect such an exhaustive account after?”
Daniel snorted, performing to sell the act. Even Anillita flinched at his cold tone.
“What would be the point of a count after your merchandise has been sold? Perhaps I am not making myself clear.”
Standing, he carried the tablet with him to the curtain and pulled it back. All eyes centered on him with the pale, magical lights moving to illuminate his golden hair.
“I want to buy every available slave in the city… So are you going to get me that number?”
It was as if he’d sucked all the air from the room as the humans tried to process what he’d just said. The rat girl’s ears and tail fell with Anillita’s ears. The elf teens pressed closer together, the defiant one standing in front of them protectively.
He broke the quiet, the auction master flinching.
“Did I stutter? Give me a ballpark figure. I’m hiring your house to make the arrangements. Obviously, you’d get a cut of it. I’ll even purchase every one on the market for the next month. What is it?”
His new broker swallowed his tongue and took a moment to dislodge it.
“Lord Daniel, there must be over 5,000. Perhaps 8,000.”
“Will this be enough for you to make the arrangements? You may keep the excess.”
[Vault] came to his hand, releasing a heavy brown bag in a swirl of silver light. He tossed it hard enough to land on the stage at the man’s feet.
The audience watched with bated breath as the man knelt down. With trembling hands, he opened it and counted it out loud.
“Forty-nine… Fifty gold coins. That would roughly cover 8,000… My Lord.”
“Oh, not enough?” Daniel laughed, causing a lump to fall down each throat as he summoned a second bag and tossed it onto the stage. “There’s your broker payment.”
Even Julia looked floored as she hissed at him.
“Daniel, are you serious? He could really buy 8,000 slaves.”
The man stuttered as he counted out his house premium.
“I am sure. 8,000 is not my cap, good sir,” he stated without blinking. “I will receive them in your warehouse over the month at 6 p.m. each evening. That is all.”
“Ten gold coins as the broker’s payment? Ahem! Yes. Yes, Lord Daniel! We look forward to serving your needs!” He turned to the audience with an almost manic laugh. “Auction over, folks. I think you have quite the story to tell. Lord Daniel is in search of slaves. Please, do get in touch with our house if you wish to sell your slave.”
Voices picked up in volume, only to quiet once more as Daniel issued one last command.
“I will take all your current stock and those you can gather in your warehouse. I will talk to you in private about it there. I will see you there in five minutes.”
With that, he turned to the awe-struck rat girl and flashed his teeth.
“If you could guide me, Young Miss?”
“Young Miss?” she repeated, as if hypnotized, her thin tail quivering. “Oh. Yes. Yes, Lord— No. Master Daniel. Please, this way.”
With that, Daniel followed her to the slave house’s warehouse.
Now, I need to get them into the Farmstead and bail out this High Cleric.
People will wonder where the slaves go. But it isn’t like they’re worried about their well-being. They die if their master is killed. The mystery is what will open doors for me.
I need to expand my orders, as well. All the artisans I need to make a functioning farmstead will be in there. Yes, this is a bigger project than I planned. But I’ve got the money.
He noticed the looks he got as he left, men and women spilling out to watch him leave.
I already had a target on my back. Making myself a public figure forces scrutiny; they might not be willing to pull the trigger now. I’ve given you a lot of trouble, Bellamy.
He chuckled to himself.
Sorry, not sorry!
Clara, I am expanding our kingdom. What else is money for?