Chapter 101:

Anton sat in silence, slowly stroking Kal’s head, and waited to be called by the slavers. Kal tried to remain as calm as possible but he could feel her tension and fear. She had kept herself together well. Verona and Cetina sat on opposite couches, Cetina kept looking around as her hands massaged her legs while Verona picked at the few pieces of food left for them. They hadn’t spoken a word and all were keeping an eye on the door.

Finally, a tiny knock came through the door.

Verona stood up. “Yes?”

“Adara sent me to tell you that the auctions are about to begin.”

“Thank you,” Verona replied. “We’ll be out in just a moment.”

Anton patted Kal’s shoulder and helped her up. “You ready?”

“No.” Kal chuckled. “But I don’t ever think I will be.”

“We’re all going to be here. Just point her out for us and we’ll do the rest.”

Kal nodded and remained at his side. Verona took a small knife from the platter of food and took hold of Anton’s other hand. She activated her power and took a small vial’s worth of blood.

“Better safe than sorry.” Verona smiled as she wiped away the blood and returned the knife.

Cetina smiled as Verona’s body stopped glowing. “That’s still weird. Especially your eyes…It’s like it’s leaking a red mist.”

“Does it?” Verona cocked her had at Anton and Kal. Her hands reached for the back of her scalp. “I hope I’m not changing again. The last time was bad enough.”

Anton kissed her forehead, calming her a little, and she opened the door. A young Seocurian woman, wearing the tight orange long dress of the Slave House, smiled and waited on the other side.

“Um. Please lead the way.” Anton said.

The woman smiled and bowed. She led them out of the building, four Seocurian guards joined them and back out and into the city. The air was very hot, almost unbearably so. They arrived during the early morning and the sun had been weak. Now, near the middle of the day, the full force of the sun was unleashed upon them. Tiny beads of sweat started to form on his face, as did Cetina’s. Verona appeared fine, her enchanted armour was keeping her cool and there was no way to tell how Kal was fairing. The Seocurian’s were suffering but nowhere nearly as bad.

And the Beast-kin have to work out in this. Bent over, in the sun, hauling and working without break. This place must be complete hell for them. But they probably don’t know anything else. How will they react to Atros?

“There you are.” Adara approached them from the Slave House’s office building. “I thought you would have already been at the auction by now.”

Anton felt his body turn cold. “We were just told that it was about to start.” He glanced at the other Seocurian woman. “Are we late?”

Adara smiled and shook her head. “No. But most people tend to get there pretty early. To get out of the sun and heat before the fun starts.”

“It wasn’t that hot in there.” Verona nodded to the building.

Cetina grunted and wiped away a thin veneer of sweat building on her face. And Kal’s face was hidden behind a mask and cloak, like a miniature oven.

“We have enchantments to keep the buildings cool.” Adara turned to the other woman. “You can return to your previous duties. I will take it from here.”

“Of course.” The woman bowed and walked back to the Slave House. Anton didn’t see anything in the way she moved that hinted at annoyance at being dismissed but he did feel a fain pinch on his side.

“Are you going to be running this auction?” Verona asked.

Adara smiled. “No. But I am involved with the organisation of the sales. Ensuring that money is paid for stock before they leave the Auction House. Things like that.”

“Does that happen often?” Anton asked.

“Not often. Not often. I don’t think we’ve had one since I’ve been working here. No one would be that stupid. If they do they’ll be captured and sold as a slave. Or worse.”

Anton looked at the rows of wooden pillars. A Beast-kin was being nailed onto a pole, with a rotting corpse on the ground. The canine thrashed and screamed but he could not break free. The guards punched his nose and he became far more compliant. He screamed in pain as the nails were rammed through his hands and feet. Kal was furious but remained stoic.

“I presume because they’ll end up right next to them?”

Adara chucked and waved at a guard. “Exactly. No one wants to end up there, surrounded by screaming and dying Beast-kin.”

The guard handed Adara a large umbrella, one that was large enough to cover several people. The spines were made from thin pieces of dark wood with a thin paper material for webbing. Anton doubted it would keep away the rain. That was something they hadn’t had to deal with yet, thankfully. Adara moved closer to Anton and made sure to cover them all in shade.

“So, shall we go?” Her voice was very sweet and almost flirty. Verona resisted the urge to roll her eyes while Kal lightly pinched his side again. Cetina looked on blankly.

“Where are we going anyway?” Anton asked as they started walking.

Adara nodded to a large building attached to the wall of the Slave House. It was probably the second or third largest building in Danafra but was far more ornate and lavish than any of the Slave House buildings. Ostentatious levels of gold and lavish hanging gardens adorned the wooden beams jutting out from the top of the building. Carts and carriages, thankfully pulled by horses and Ix, waited out the front with dozens upon dozens of Seocurian guards keeping a close eye on everything. A young Seocurian man, very well dressed, exited the Auction House and approached one of the carriages. The guards descended upon him but he was able to talk his way out and they dispersed, all bar one which stayed with him, even as he returned to the building.

“You can never be too careful.” Adara began. “Many extremely wealthy and powerful people have gathered here. And we couldn’t have them suffer any misfortune under our care.”

“Not if you wanted to remain in business,” Anton added.

“Or keep your heads,” Verona said quietly.

Adara smiled and nodded.

They approached the Auction House, Kal felt even more nervous as the Seocurian guards turned towards them. They frowned but upon seeing Adara they relaxed and returned to their duty. When they reached the top of the stairs Anton heard another carriage arriving. This was considerably larger and more ornate than the others, built from a white wood, like Kal’s bow, and drawn by four of the largest horses Anton had ever seen. It brought back memories of Qaiviel.

Adara caught his stare. “Yes. Those horses are from Qaiviel. The finest steeds you can possibly buy in the whole world. And incredibly expensive.” Adara frowned lightly. “More so since summer.”

“Clansmen?” Anton asked. “I know it’s a long way to go…through Bebbezzar, I think?”

“Not with Bebbezzar falling apart.” Adara shook her head. Cetina frowned and looked at Anton. “It’s almost impossible to get through now unless you can afford to hire a small army or hire a ship. And even then they’d still attack you.”

“What?” Cetina moved in front of Adara. “What’s happening there?”

“When were you last there?” Adara asked flatly.

Cetina coughed and calmed herself. “It’s been a while. I’ve been in Graterious for some time. But it wasn’t that bad when I…left.”

Adara ushered them underneath the protection of the building. The harsh rays of the sun disappeared and immediately Anton felt cooler. “In the past twenty or so days things have gotten much worse. The eastern provinces, on the Seocurian western border, has erupted into total revolt.”

“But the King will take care of it…Right?”

Adara winced. “No. I’m afraid that an assassin has made an attempt on his life. And while he is recovering the Merchant Princes are tearing apart the country, especially in the south. And the nobles in the centre are fighting amongst themselves for control of the regency. Quite frankly, it’s a mess.”

Cetina went silent and looked at the ground. Anton realised that he didn’t know what Cetina thought about Bebbezzar. He knew that Duran felt very proudly his homeland. Evidently, she cared to some degree.

“I…I didn’t think it would get that bad.” Cetina shook her head. “When we went through the border it wasn’t good, there were bands of peasants that had turned into bandits, but I didn’t think it wouldn’t actually fall apart.”

Adara smiled and held Cetina’s shoulder. “I may be speaking a bit of an exaggeration.” Adara tried to placate Cetina’s worry. “People like to tell impressive tales and the truth can be lost in there. But I can’t lie that it’s a bit of a mess right now. And it’s hurting our business with them as well, so we’re keeping an eye on things.”

“Is there anyone fighting to keep it together?” Anton asked.

They would probably head up to Bebbezzar someday, perhaps they would get involved in this civil war if it was still happening, and every piece of information was valuable.

Adara rubbed her chin. “I think that the royal family is still in one piece. I think they would be the most likely candidates. But we’re talking about things that we can discuss after the sale. Please, follow me.”

Adara led them inside as two large Seocurian guards opened the large heavy doors. Anton marvelled at the interior of the Auction House. The floor was a black and white marble, polished to a near mirror sheen. Large plants and small fountains filled the floor, in small circles, and many weeping vines hanged from pots hung from the ceiling. Stained glass covered the ceiling and allowed light to come through without the stinging heat. Hundreds of people filled the Auction House and not all of were Seocurians. Many were, wearing bright loose clothing, but some looked like they were from Graterious and Bebbezzar. Those from Bebbezzar dressed like Cetina but their yellow, blue and red clothes were far brighter and made from better material than Cetina’s. Even from this distance, he could see that it looked like silk. Was that the best material for this climate? Maybe they had enchantments like Verona’s armour. Those from Graterious dressed similarly to Lord Cassius. Simple yet expensive clothes. Anton’s eye was drawn to one group in particular. A man, a slim and older man with short grey hair and hooked nose, standing at the centre. He wore similar clothes to Cassius, almost the same, but his sash was green and blue. There was something about his aura, the way he carried himself with an earned self-importance, which drew his gaze.

Groups huddled around the fountains, eating and drinking while Beast-kin servers held plates nearby. The beast-kin wore something akin to a butler’s or maid’s uniform but it didn’t particularly suit them, especially with the expressions they desperately tried to hide. They held their gaze away from the humans but had to make every effort to ensure they served them perfectly. Anton saw even their hands were gloved.

“You four should find somewhere to wait until the auction begins,” Adara said. “The auction will start shortly and I need to continue with my work. I hope you find what you are looking for.”

“Hang on,” Anton said before she turned away. “How do we bid?”

“There will be someone to help you with bidding. I will make sure that someone good is assigned to you. We know that you aren’t wasting our time.”

Adara bowed her head and left them alone. Anton looked around and found a fountain that was free. Verona let out a deep breath and looked around. Anton squeezed Kal’s hand, which she returned. She was still holding together. Cetina appeared a little rattled about the revelation of Bebbezzar. He had no idea how long they would have to wait and speaking about anything other than their current situation would be preferable.

“Cetina.” Anton began. “Are you worried about Bebbezzar?”

Cetina looked at him. “I…I don’t know. I suppose since it’s my home I do, but on my journey, I didn’t feel anything for the places I went past. I guess I missed living in Thessos before…you know…but I guess that I’m worried that war will come to it. I know a few people there, good people.”

“But it’s right on the border with the Clans,” Verona said. “That can’t be safe.”

Cetina smiled. “They have high walls and lots of soldiers. They’ll be fine. When I was there they never got over the first wall.”

“But if you could go back to help, would you?”

Cetina hesitated. “I-”

Kal squeezed his hand tight as a Beast-kin server approached with a plate of food and another of what looked like wine. The male feline Beast-kin looked surprisingly well off, compared to those in the Slave House, but there was something in his eyes. Or a lack thereof. An emptiness, that not even those kept in cages held.

Anton looked at the girls who shook their heads.

“No thank you,” Anton said.

The Beast-kin’s ears twitched as he bowed his head and slunk away. Kal shook her head but said nothing. Cetina looked wistfully as the wine slowly drifted away.

“I don’t know.” Cetina continued. “I honestly don’t know. When I heard it was falling apart my heart just moved on its own. But there’s not much I could do. I only have a sword and a dented shield. And even though I know you three are strong I don’t know what you could do to fix it. Whatever that even means. It’s a big place.”

“Maybe we’ll get there, one day,” Anton said. “We’ll definitely take you as a guide.”

Cetina smiled. “Maybe. At least I won’t look odd in these clothes compared to everyone else.”

A loud bell cut through the murmuring of the people’s chatter. Adara stood above them on a small podium. “Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for waiting. We will now proceed with the auction. If you would please follow your designated attendants we will begin.”

“Where’s ours?” Verona asked.

Anton looked through the crowds. He saw young Seocurian women, again wearing the tight orange dresses, paired off with the groups. Some were talking with just one person but Anton couldn’t see any approaching them. Eventually saw a Seocurian woman approaching them with a soft smile on her face.

“Excuse me for interrupting but I have been assigned to you for this auction.”

“Excellent.” Anton smiled and tried to sound upbeat. “We were starting to think that no one would be coming.”

She smiled and bowed her head. “We would never do such a thing. You are a valued customer. If you would please follow me we will proceed with the auction.”

She led them through the main foyer, waiting for most of the other groups to pass, and deeper into the building. The Beast-kin servers slunk away without making a sound, no one paid them much attention. Anton saw one, the male feline that had tried to serve them earlier, put something into his pocket. A coin purse, a very small one. Anton suppressed a smile as the Beast-kin patted the pocket in his butler’s uniform. There was some resistance from the Beast-kin slaves, but another slave would probably be punished for the theft.

They travelled through two large doors, flanked by Seocurian Guards, and into a large auditorium. At the front lay a massive raised platform. Along the front Seocurian guard’s stood with their back to them and archers stood at the side with their bows out and an arrow nocked. Anton doubted the chances of any beast-kin trying to make a break for freedom. Throughout the auditorium lay small circular booths. They were tall enough to see over even when sitting down, cosy but still open. Many more people had already assembled inside. The young woman led them to a booth near the front and directed them to have a seat.

The woman produced a ream of paper. “I am required to ask this, but can you read?”

Anton nodded. “I can. But I would still prefer if you would explain how this is supposed to work.”

“Of course. I just needed to check.” The woman moved close to Anton, which slightly annoyed Verona. “The auction is incredibly similar to bartering. Stock will be displayed and you can bid on purchasing that piece of stock. Of course, others are open to bid at a higher price, at which time you may bid again at a higher price.”

Seems standard. Though Kal’s getting more pissed each time she hears Beast-kin referred to as stock. How will she handle seeing her mother up there?

“Do we have a placard or something to hold up?”

The woman handed over a thin piece of wood with the number forty-seven in bright red paint. “Simply raise that when they call out a stock number and place your bid. It’s very simple and easy. I will record your bids and purchases.”

“So what’s on sale today?” Verona asked. She appeared very uncomfortable to talk about Beast-kin that way.

The woman looked through several sheets of rough paper. “Today we have some special stock to be sold. To start with we have some worker batches but the most interesting sales are regarding the special companions.”

“I was told those would be sold today,” Anton said, trying to remain calm and indifferent. “How many are we talking?”

“Currently there is an abundance in the training houses, so there’ll be quite a few. Quite a variety in type and cost. So there’ll be something for everyone.” A sly smile graced her face. “For boys and girls alike.”

Verona forced a smile while Cetina kept watch on the surroundings.

You work them as slaves but are more than willing to have sex with them? I’m sure that’s hypocritical.

Another bell rang out from the stage. A female canine Beast-kin, her fur a light brown with white patches, walked onto the stage and smiled warmly at the crowd below. She wore virtually nothing; a see-through dress hanging from her waist and a tight bra over some modest sized breasts. Anton frowned as he saw she had golden piercings on her bellybutton, her nipples and her groin, a thin golden chain connecting each of them. Small golden clips were fastened on the bottom of her short and upright ears and golden bands on her small bushy tail.

“Lucia…” Kal whimpered faintly. “What have they done to you?”

Anton said nothing and checked that the Seocurian woman didn’t hear anything. Lucia rang a bell and the murmuring died away.

“Everyone! Welcome to the Auction House!” Lucia spoke clearly and with great enthusiasm. Too much enthusiasm for a slave.

Anton saw she had a tongue piercing, again made from gold, but her eyes disturbed him most. They brown eyes twitched and darted about too much, her pupils were almost constricted to pinpricks. Her clawed fingers twitched and her feet scratched at the wooden floor. She looked like she was on drugs. Powerful drugs.

“What’s wrong with her?” Cetina asked, a frown on her face.

The Seocurian woman glanced a Lucia as she almost started dancing and swaying her hips. “Lucia, our loyal servant. She keeps things fresh and interesting. She has a lot of energy, even without the Purple Shade.”

Kal’s hand squeezed down hard. He would need to ask later.

“Without any further ado.” Lucia lent forward and licked her lips. “Let’s get the sales started!”

The crowd cheered, more subdued than Lucia’s attitude, and Lucia stepped to the side. A large torrent of worker Beast-kin, wearing nothing other than thin rags over their genitals, were brought out. Each had their hands and legs bound by metal cuffs and to one another in a line. They looked pretty good, compared to those in the Slave House, but they looked tired and empty. Lucia stepped to the side as Seocurian guards moved onto the stage and arranged the slaves in a line.

“The bidding will start right now.” Lucia winked at them. “I hope you are ready, because these big boys and girls are going to sell fast.”

Anton had no capability to buy any more worker slaves, the ship was already basically full, but he still didn’t like seeing them paraded around like cattle. They sat in silence as Lucia directed the sales. She loudly shouted prices, rapidly rising and pointed at the bidders, smiling wider as the prices rose. Anton saw the looks of the Beast-kin as their prices rose. Their eyes were kept down but every so often they would glance at Lucia with outright hostility.

Of course they’re going to be pissed. Having a fellow slave sell you off, with such glee and enthusiasm, I’d be pissed as well.

The first batch of slaves was sold off for what Anton guessed for a reasonable price. Lucia clapped as they were dragged away by the Seocurian guards. Another group was brought out as a Beast-kin server approached with a platter of fruit. She placed it on the table and quickly scurried away. The fruit looked good and they nibbled on the food, except for Kal who kept close and breathing deep and slow in an attempt keep herself calm. The Seocurian woman with them also partook but didn’t seem worried or concerned that they show no interest in purchasing any slaves.

After nearly an hour the workers were finished. Anton felt drained watching these people go off to their fate. If he didn’t have a reason to stay he would have left already. Lucia stepped off the stage for a moment, talked with a Seocurian guard and received a mug of water. Before she drunk it she begged the guard for something. He produced a small purple pill and held it above her. She whimpered and begged, running a hand seductively along his chest, before he smiled and dropped the pill into the water. Her eyes widened and she sculled the water in a few seconds. She didn’t care as the water spilt out of her mouth and onto her see through clothes. Her shaking and twitching calmed. She returned to the stage, not caring the water made the clothes stick to her body.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“What an exciting sale so far.” Lucia’s voice was lighter and more relaxed than before. “Now that we’ve got them done with we can get onto the stuff I know you have come for today.”

The crowd chuckled as Lucia nodded to a guard on the side of the stage. The guards brought out another line of Beast-kin but these were different to the workers paraded before. While the Beast-kin before had been the more common types; Canines, Felines, Reptiles and Turtles, these slaves had much more variety. A few were Cobras and some were Minotaurs and one was even a Drakeling. They wore far better clothing, not simple rags but clothes more like Lucia’s. They were designed to be titillating and enticing, showing skin and curves to entice their potential buyers. Even though their hands were bound they tried to cover their bodies but it was a pointless endeavour. The chains connecting them in a line were unlocked by a Seocurian guard. Two guards pushed a feline female forward. She looked quite young, perhaps barely fifteen or sixteen, and looked terrified at the people in the crowd.

“A young and beautiful feline.” Lucia walked towards the young woman. “She, and everyone here have only spent a few days in training. So…” Lucia saw the look of scorn from the other Beast-kin but only smiled. “Don’t worry, sweetie, soon enough you’ll have a master that’ll make you feel fantastic.”

The feline recoiled but a Seocurian guard pushed her back to the centre.

“So, let’s start the bidding.”

Anton turned to the Seocurian woman. “How long do Beast-kin stay in training?”

“About forty days at most. But we’ve had quite a few troublemakers within the general slave population, so there’s been a massive influx. Usually, they wouldn’t be sold until they’ve been fully trained but they’re taking up too much room and we need to sell them. There’s also less chance of death as they haven’t undergone much training.”

“How bad is it?”

“About thirty to forty percent die before it’s completed.” The woman nodded at Lucia. “But when they’re done they’re completely loyal and docile. Like Lucia up there.”

So long as you keep feeding them drugs. But at least I know what I’ll need to heal when we find Kal’s mother.

The feline was sold for quite a low price, Anton guessed from the look of disappointment on Lucia’s face. Tears flowed down her face, which only seemed to encourage some members of the audience, but she was dragged off the stage. Lucia sold each slave individually, the Drakeling sold for a huge price, until all were sold.

The second batch of slaves was brought out. Many of the Beast-kin were very large, some were Minotaurs, but these Minotaurs didn’t have the empty look as their fellows. The Seocurian guards started to unlink all the Beast-kin from each other. The moment they were unlinked fro they charged towards the crowd. The Seocurian woman backed into Anton and pushed him back further, Cetina drew a hidden blade and Verona hovered her hand over her clay vials. The three Minotaurs held the eyes of the damned, one born of desperation and defiance. They were not going to be sold off as personal slaves. Just as they reached the edge of the stage two fell limp. Their large frames’ inertia carried them off the stage and onto the floor. Large black arrows jutted from their necks and blood pooled around their body. The remaining Minotaur glanced at his dead comrades and then to the Seocurian guards rapidly approaching. More guards poured into the room and formed a protective wall between the Minotaur and the audience.

Lucia stepped forward, still on the stage, and tried to get the Minotaur’s attention.

“Do you want to die?” she asked. “Are you stupid? If you take another step they’ll kill you, just like they killed your friends.”

“I won’t-”

An arrow pierced his neck and silenced the Minotaur. He staggered for a moment before falling back against the stage. Lucia shook her head and rubbed her forehead. The Seocurian guards began to disperse as Beast-kin slaves emerged to remove the bodies. Several were needed for each one and smaller Beast-kin started to clean up the blood.

“Please…Please forgive the interruption and delay.” Lucia said, panic clear in her voice. “Once this has been dealt with we will continue. Please enjoy our free refreshments.”

Anton looked around. The buyers did as she said and began chatting amongst themselves, completely ignoring the dead Minotaurs. Those still on the stage were now watched far more closely by the Seocurian guards.

“Sorry.” The Seocurian woman gently lifted herself off Anton and back to her old position. “I got a little nervous there.”

“Does this happen often?” Anton asked. “I don’t know if I feel particularly safe right now.”

“I-I can assure you that something like this hasn’t happened in some time. This is exceptionally rare.”

“Your response was very quick,” Cetina said. Verona nodded in agreement.

“The guards practice daily in preparation. I can assure you that something like this will not happen again and that our business is secure.”

Anton nodded non-committal. She looked towards the stage as canine Beast-kin cleaned up the blood.

“You poor fools,” Kal whispered. “At least you aren’t going to suffer anymore.”

Anton didn’t have anything to say. They waited until the blood was removed and the auction continued as normal. Lucia, under instruction from someone to the side, threw in some bonuses to purchasing the next slaves to rebuild the buying atmosphere. It worked very quickly and the enthusiastic bidding began once again. It amazed Anton how quickly they forgot that three Beast-kin had just died. But if he saw three chickens die in front of him he would feel bad for a while but it wouldn’t stop his day. That’s how nearly everyone in this place saw the Beast-kin.

Another three batches of slaves were brought out but none were the one they were looking for. What disturbed him most was the way the Beast-kin were degrading as time went on. They started to look more and more like Lucia, at least the way their hands and fingers twitched. Anton wasn’t liking Marion’s chances.

When the fifth batch of slaves was brought out Kal let out a tiny squeak. The Seocurian woman looked to Kal but turned back to the stage. The slaves were brought out and Kal pulled close.

“I can see her.” She whispered. “The tall feline fifth from the left. That’s her. I know it.”

Anton looked to the Beast-kin. She was a tall feline Beast-kin with dark aqua fur like Kal. Her tail looked a little similar to Kal’s but lacked the three fans, instead just one. And her eyes looked almost identical to Kal’s. She really did look like Kal’s mother. Anton knew it was wrong to notice right now but she had Kal’s hips and a bust bigger than Verona’s. Verona and Kal had told him that but he didn’t expect it to be quite so obvious.

Anton signalled to Verona to move closer.

“We’ve got her,” Anton whispered to Verona. “Fifth from the left.”

Verona looked around his head. “Yeah. I can see the resemblance. She’s really pretty. So what do we do?”

Anton looked at the line of slaves. “We can’t just buy her by herself. Might raise questions. We’ll buy the two either side so it doesn’t look too weird. Like we decided to buy a batch.”

To Marion’s left stood a blue-skinned female Minotaur, easily three meters tall, with a large orange and red horn sticking out of her forehead and parting her long red hair. Her long red hair almost reached her hips and were bound with small black bands. Long ears, twice as long as a human’s, were pulled back and mostly hidden by rough strands of hair, several golden clips were clipped on the bottom. Her face looked like the Minotaurs he had seen before, almost like a human’s with a slightly larger nose. She had hooves for feet and large, strong legs. Her tail was small, like all Minotaurs he had seen and slowly swayed in the air. She lacked any real fat except for a quite large pair of breasts, slightly bigger than the previous Minotaurs.

On Marion’s right stood a male Minotaur but he was a little different compared to the others again. He was a little smaller than a normal male Minotaur but he had their muscle mass. Horns grew above his ears into short black hair, the tips had been filed smooth, which grew into a tight swirl. A small tail with a black tuft of hair on the end hanged low between his legs. Like the other male Beast-kin, he wore only a loincloth which left little to the imagination.

“Who’s meant to be getting who?” Verona smiled slyly.

Anton rolled his eyes. Verona chuckled and motioned for Cetina to come close. She turned to Cetina and started whispering in her ear. Cetina returned it but she appeared a little awkward.

Kal squeezed his hand. “I…I think I know that Minotaur. The blue one. I pretty sure she’s got Oni blood in her. That’s why she’s got the horn growing out of her head. And blue skin. I’m sure I know her. I don’t know the other one.”

“Oni…That’s…Hmm. Well, we’ll definitely get all them then.”

Verona patted Cetina’s leg and she shuffled back to her previous position. Verona nodded and leant to Anton’s ear.

“I just asked Cetina and, if we need to, she’s willing to give us enough money to buy them.”

Anton nodded. He would need to thank Cetina when they were back on the ship.

Lucia moved through the Beast-kin slaves until she reached the blue-skinned Minotaur. “Here we have a lovely Minotaur, with Blue Oni blood mixed in. A very rare specimen.”

Lucia smiled and the Minotaur scowled. Lucia chuckled and strode to the front of the stage. “A very rare specimen. The bidding will start at four hundred silver.”

“How much?” Verona asked.

“Crossbreeds are a rare thing.” The Seocurian woman chimed in. “Of any kind, and they always go for very high prices. Usually they don’t live until adulthood. Let alone this old.”

“Four fifty!” Lucia pointed to a group far away.

There was information that could be gleaned but they needed to still buy this Beast-kin. He passed the wooden paddle to Verona. She scrambled to catch it and raised it high. Lucia pointed at them and the price increased by another fifty silver.

“Why are crossbreeds rare?” Anton asked. Kal’s hands tightened on his. “Is it difficult for them to be conceived? Or are they not liked by the Seocurian masters?”

The woman looked to Anton as the price rose again, that Verona immediately countered.

“My employer doesn’t have a problem with them…”

She smiled. “It makes cataloguing the Beast-kin quite difficult, it’s important to know for planning, but we don’t have a problem with them. Interesting breeds can emerge. Like the Cobras. Though that was forced. But we don’t have a real concern with cross-breeds. They can work like everyone else. It’s the Beast-kin that have a problem with them.”

“They…”

“Yes.” Kal’s hand became deathly tight. “They kill them. Usually in the night when they’re sleeping. A group will hold back the mother and kill the child.” She chuckled as she looked back to the stage. Lucia was searching for more bidders but Verona currently held the highest. “Strangled or battered to death usually. She was lucky to not live with the Beast-kin puritans. You’d think slaves would have something better to do than killing innocent children.”

The woman smirked and looked to the stage. Lucia tried one last time to raise the bid but it was unsuccessful. She slapped her hands and announced the blue Minotaur was theirs. The Seocurian woman made a note on the paper and continued looking at the stage. Anton looked to Kal, though her face was hidden by her mask he could feel her shame. The shame at her own kind’s behaviour. She had told them that Half-breeds, with humans, were deeply despised due to their obvious relation to their masters, but she hadn’t told him about this aspect. Perhaps it was too difficult to say, that they could be just as brutal and cruel as their masters. Perhaps their circumstances made it even worse. Either way, it didn’t matter. He patted her hand, he couldn’t say anything right now to comfort her, but he wanted to let her know that he didn’t think any of this was her fault.

I didn’t think they would fight each other when they’ve got bigger threats. The Seocurians seem to think that as well. They must be laughing behind the Beast-kin’s backs every time that happens. But there must be a reason just beyond maintaining genetic purity. But what could it be? I’ll guess I’ll ask them when we’re free of this place.

“Next, we have a very special item.” Lucia began, speaking softly so people at the back turned quiet to listen in. “One of the few Beast-kin to successfully give birth to a human half-breed.”

That brought extreme interest from the crowd. Anton looked around and saw everyone leaning forward and speaking with their Seocurian offsiders.

This is going to get expensive.

Anton reached over and took the paddle from Verona. He readied himself to burn through most of their funds.

“Yes…Very interesting.” Longing, perhaps regret, flashed over Lucia’s face but it barely lasted a second before she returned to her unusually happy state. “She hasn’t been able to do so again but who knows.” Lucia leant forward and licked her upper lip. “Perhaps one of you will be to change that. They would sell for a small fortune.” Again the emotion flashed across her face. “So…The bidding will begin at twenty gold coins.”

Anton almost chocked at the price. So too did Verona and Cetina. Kal appeared just as shocked. Anton raised the paddle and Lucia pointed to him.

“Twenty-one gold!”

Marion scrunched her eyes tight and fought back tears. If someone else got a hold of her he knew what they would want from her. What she expected them to do to her…

Immediately the bidding war started. The price rapidly reached forty gold coins. Anton’s main rival was the old Graterious man. He appeared unconcerned with the high price, there was nothing on his face that even hinted at the amount of money he would potentially be spending. He didn’t turn his head towards Anton but his eyes were watching him. Finally, at sixty-seven gold, he gave up. Anton felt a wave of relief wash over him as Lucia gave the final call and announced they had won the bid. Kal was almost bursting with joy despite having to remain completely still. As he wondered if they should actually buy the next Beast-kin a look from Marion gave him pause. She looked at the smaller Minotaur beast-kin with longing and impending loss. They weren’t just two slaves put together, they were close. Very close. He looked at her too in deep worry as he was pushed forward to the centre of the stage.

Maybe they’re lovers? I know from that look that they don’t hate each other. We should probably get him just to be sure.

Lucia smiled. “What an interesting previous purchase. Now we have a Bull Beast-kin, think a slightly smaller Minotaur, one of the few this far north. The starting bid is two hundred silver coins.”

Nowhere near as much. This time I won’t go too hard at the beginning.

The bid started off similarly, but Anton noticed that most of the bidders were women. Unfortunately, a rivalry between a group of Seocurian and Graterious women flared up and the price spiralled out of control. When it reached three gold coins the bidding frenzy began to peter out. Anton spied their Seocurian woman smiling warmly. She caught his eye.

“Male Beast-kin can be quite fun. If they know what they’re doing. Especially someone as strong and muscular.” She chuckled and revisited some pleasant memory.

Anton nodded and raised the paddle. She seemed a little surprised but her professionalism took over. There were no more bids and Lucia announced them as the winner. The Seocurian woman noted it. Anton lent back into the couch, holding Kal’s hand tight, as they watched the continuing parade of flesh in silence.

---[]---

Several hours passed before the entire auction was finished. Anton felt drained, watching the auction in full. And seeing those three Minotaurs slain without a moment’s hesitation didn’t help. Despite everything, they had what they needed. Once the auction was finished Lucia thanked them for their time and purchases and they were led back to the main foyer. Quite a few were led to other areas within the Auction House. Anton realised they were probably being considered to be some sort of high rollers, doubly so with how much money they had just spent. Between them they had just enough gold coins on them. Anton handed them to the Seocurian woman and she scurried off to finalise their transaction.

They stood near the bubbling fountain they had before and stared at the gently flowing water. Kal was nearly jumping for joy and was desperately trying to hold it in. Verona kept smiling at Kal and Cetina looked quite happy herself.

“You seemed very eager to buy that Feline.” An older voice spoke to him.

Kal’s body stiffened and her hands gripped tight. Anton looked at the source. It was the elderly Graterious man. He smiled at them but Anton didn’t like the emotion hidden behind that face. It felt…cold. Very cold.

Anton said nothing and looked blankly at the man. The man mentally stumbled a little, unaccustomed to being ignored and opened his mouth to speak again.

“You spent quite a sum on buying such a rare specimen.” He continued. “Tell me, what would you be willing to take for her?”

Anton had no intention of engaging with him, even in friendly conversation. They had what they came for and they needed to leave as soon as possible. Thankfully the assistant interrupted him and arrived at their side with three pieces of paper. The old man frowned, shrugged his shoulders and returned to his group.

The Seocurian woman handed over the pieces of paper. “Here is the documentation for your purchases. They are now yours to do with as you wish. Any damage caused by them is also your responsibility.”

Anton nodded. “As expected. Thank you. Now, where are they?”

“They are being prepared.” She replied. “Adara has already sent your slaves to your ship. You didn’t mention that you owned a ship…”

Anton smiled. “Didn’t really feel it was necessary to say. But, are we done here?”

“Yes. Thank you for your patronage and we hope that you return soon.”

“We intend to…If, if I may ask one last thing.”

“Yes?”

“My employer will have need of additional slaves but I may not be available to purchase them myself. Is there some way around that?”

“Yes. If you will give me a moment I can have something arranged.”

She bowed and left. Anton turned to the girls. “So we can keep buying without having to come here, so we can go to other places.”

Verona smiled. “Good idea. But where will we head next?”

“I don’t know. We’ll have a chat about that when we get home safe and sound. There are quite a few things that we need to deal with.”

“Not long now…” Kal whispered. Anton smiled and squeezed her hand.

The Seocurian woman returned with a small wooden plaque and handed it over. It was very simple, like the metal identification plates from the Graterious Mercenary Guild, and that displayed his name and a few other random letters and numbers.

“Anyone that has this can purchase in your name, so we know they are valid, so long as they have the money.”

“My employer might be a bit miffed about this.” Anton forced a frown that quickly turned into a smile. “But I’m sure I’ll make it work. Thank you again.”

“May you have a good day and return soon.” She bowed low and left.

Anton turned to leave, after taking Kal by the elbow, and saw the elderly Graterious man out the corner of his eye watching them. He seemed annoyed that he may have been blown off but Anton didn’t want to get involved. It was clear that he wanted Marion and was willing to pay whatever he needed to, but she was not for sale. Not now. Not ever.

---[]---

Anton watched the last of the Beast-kin slaves boarding The Snowberry. They looked horribly depressed as they drudged up the gangplank and onto the ship. Seocurian guards, from the Slave House, prodded the Beast-kin to keep them moving. Wilford stood next to him and was talking through the lists of supplies he had bought. Anton didn’t know what prices the goods should have been but it really didn’t matter.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to have them on the ship?” Wilford asked. “I don’t doubt you but I know they’re bad luck.”

Anton smiled and handed over a gold coin. “You’ve done very well so far. Don’t worry so much.”

“But you’ve bought so many slaves…The ship is basically full.” Wilford nodded to some of the larger Beast-kin. Anton had bought several Minotaurs and large reptile species from the Slave House. “And those big ones. They’ll be able to tear through iron bars with no problem. Or just rip through the wood. Did you see the beak on those turtles?”

“They’ll be fine,” Anton replied. “I’ll talk to them when we set sail. They won’t rebel, I can assure you of that.”

Anton summoned a tiny flame in his hand and extinguished it immediately. Wilford looked shocked but nodded.

“I…I understand. We’ll set sail the moment everyone is on the ship.”

Wilford walked up to another gangplank and started issuing orders to the rest of the sailors. They appeared to hold the same thoughts as Wilford.

The worker Beast-kin slaves finished boarding the ship, leaving only three slaves to board. They didn’t wear their see-through clothes like in the Auction House, they wore rough but sturdy shirts and pants, but they looked even more depressed than the normal slaves. They must have thought they were being led to a terrible fate. How wrong they were. He saw Marion on the verge of tears as the Seocurian guards pushed them up onto the ship. He, and especially Kal, wanted to say something but they still had a part to play.

A Seocurian guard approached Anton. “You should know those three haven’t gone through the full training program. They won’t be completely loyal…”

Meaning they’ll probably try to rip my throat out if I try and rape them. How kind of you to point that out.

“We understand and will take it into consideration,” Anton replied.

The Seocurian guard’s face softened. “You’ll need these.” He handed over a small bag. Inside were hundreds of small purple pills, just like the ones given to Lucia. “If they start acting up just give them one of those. They’ll become docile really quick, especially after what they’ve been through.”

Anton smiled and nodded. The soldier whistled to his friends and they left the dock. Anton took a deep breath and they walked onto the ship. Wilford ordered his sailors to begin casting off.

“Where are they?”

“Down below,” Wilford replied. “This ship wasn’t set up for slaves so we had to modify a few things.”

“What do you mean, modify?” Verona asked.

“We’ve put iron loops onto the side of the hull and support beams. Their chains have been fastened to those so they can’t move too much.”

Anton nodded. “And the last three?”

Wilford looked more than a little disgusted. “The Seocurian’s told me what they are for…While I don’t agree with it...They have been chained to a room on the bottom of the ship. Here are the keys.”

“Thank you. Set sail for Rusaddir.”

“Are…Are you serious?”

“Yes. But we won’t be stopping there for long. Just enough to resupply.”

Wilford looked genuinely glad. Perhaps he didn’t want to have his friends back home know what he was doing. Either that he thought they would be attacked for bringing Beast-kin to eastern Graterious.

“As you wish.”

Wilford returned to organising the sailors.

Anton looked at Kal. “Are you ready?”

Kal weakly reached for his hands. She was shaking and shivering. “No…But you’ll be with me. Right?”

“We will. All of us will.”

“Okay…”

Kal wasn’t willing to go first. He led them down the levels of the ship. Cetina made a noise when they reached they reached the level of their rooms.

“What about Luna?” She asked. “Is she going to be alright?”

“I’ll check.” Verona ran towards their room. “I’m not going to miss this.”

“Is it alright if I come with you?” Cetina asked. “Since this really doesn’t involve me.”

“Yes,” Kal said, her voice shaking. “I think I’ll need everyone to get through this.”

“But isn’t this a happy moment for you?” Cetina raised a brow. “It’s been so long.”

“Yeah. And that’s why I’m so nervous.”

Verona skipped along the wooden floor. “Luna’s fine. She was asleep the whole time, but she has licked up some of the milk we left out. Seems she doesn’t need the cloth to suckle from now.”

Verona led them down the stairs and to the bottom of the ship. There he saw the Beast-kin slaves shackled to the hull and support beams. Their faces were blank and their eyes empty. Some shuffled away from their sight but most didn’t seem to care.

“I can’t see your friends,” Anton said.

“Um…They’re right at the back.” Verona pointed. “They’re the only ones that look anything other than depressed.”

Anton saw the three. They did look a bit better than the others.

“We’ll talk to them once we’ve got this done.” Anton squeezed Kal’s hand. “You’ve waited so long for this and we shouldn’t stretch it out any longer.”

Kal nodded, took a deep breath, and opened the door. They stepped inside the dimly lit room, only a single small glowing crystal to provide light, and saw the three chained to a central wooden pillar. As Anton didn’t want the other Beast-kin to hear something so private he closed the door once they were inside.

Anton stepped forward and was about to push Kal forward when his eyes were drawn to the Bull’s Beast-kin’s hands. While Marion and the blue Minotaur had their hands fastened above them the Bull didn’t. His were hidden behind his back. His eyes and Anton’s locked and he saw the anger and desperation within. He leapt to his feet and ran towards him. Anton pushed Kal out of the way and prepared to fire a lightning bolt but he wasn’t fast enough to create a bolt that wouldn’t outright kill him. As Kal tumbled to the side Anton took another step back as a massive muscular hand reached for his throat. The fingers managed to find purchase and both crashed into the wall behind. Verona’s body glowed red and she tried to summon the blood but it was too old for her to control. Anton struggled to breathe as the Bull’s hand crushed down on his throat. Cetina elbowed him hard in the guts, Verona kicked him in the groin, but even then he wouldn’t let go. It gave Anton a moment to catch a tiny breath. The Blue Minotaur struggled to break free, the wood holding her back splintered and frayed. A hand ripped free but a quick rage-filled glare from Verona stopped her dead.

“No! Stop!” Kal shrieked. “Don’t hurt him!”

Anton fired a weakened bolt directly into the Bull’s body. His hands snapped back as he staggered away. The bolt should have knocked him flat but his size granted him some immunity. His hands refused to close properly and his legs couldn’t move well, even his mouth twitched uncontrollably. Verona and Cetina scrunched their fists and punched him hard in his nose. He fell back onto the wooden floor with a heavy thud. Cetina grunted while Verona shook her hand and bared her teeth.

“Fuck! That fucking hurts.” Verona smiled and looked at the comparatively calm Cetina. “How the hell do you do that without it hurting?”

“Practice.” She mumbled. “It still hurts…”

Anton spluttered to recover his breath. Kal ran to his side, he could hear her muffled cries as she picked him up.

“I’m fine,” Anton said as he patted her hand, his voice was still rough. He patted her hand and chanted a prayer to heal his throat. “I’m fine.”

Kal snapped her head to the Bull as he slowly started to recover. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Everyone recoiled from the volume Kal’s shouts.

“You could have killed him you stupid…fucking IDIOT!” Kal paced and took deep breaths, shaking her hands and rubbing her mask, her breath rasping through the confines of the mask.

“I told you not to do it,” Marion mumbled. “Now he’s going to kill you, you big dumb idiot.”

The Bull wiped away the blood from his nose. It appeared, and sounded, broken. “No one is going to rape my Marion. Ever.”

Anton summoned a small fireball. The Beast-kin looked in shock, especially the Blue Minotaur.

“Fuck.” The Blue Minotaur mumbled. “A fire mage…On a boat? Are you serious?”

Anton nodded as he dismissed the fireball. “That’s right. So all of you will just sit there unless you want to drown. And no, you aren’t going to be raped. None of you are.”

They looked more than a little dubious. The Bull shuffled back to the central pillar and wiped away the blood that continued to drip from his broken nose.

“Why should we believe you?” Marion’s voice was almost identical to Kal’s.

Anton pushed Kal forward.

“Okay…I…” Kal fingers fidgeted. “I…”

“What?” Marion asked. “Is this some sort of pet you’re going to set on us? For sport or for your sick desires? Well?”

“You’re going to regret saying that in a second.” Anton said.

He turned Kal around, removed her mask and her hood. Cloth still bound her hair and ears. As Kal’s hair and ears burst free the three Beast-kin looked on in shock and surprise. Kal, however, couldn’t turn around.

“You can’t be serious.” Marion growled. “You actually got a Beast-kin…”

“I...I can’t…” Kal whispered, her eyes full of tears.

“It’ll be fine,” Anton replied. “Just listen to what your heart tells you.”

He turned her around. The Blue Minotaur and Bull’s eyes widened in shock while Marion looked confused.

“Hello…Mother.” Kal whispered. “I…I came back.”

Marion’s eyes slowly widened. “What is this? Is…No. Kal? My Kal?”

Kal nodded. “I’m sorry it took so long. I…I’m sorry it…”

Tears poured down Kal’s face.

“But how?” Marion asked, tears welling in her own eyes. “It’s been so long…I thought you were gone forever. I thought I would never see you again. I…”

Anton gently pushed Kal forward. She didn’t resist and ran at her mother with tears streaming down her face, colliding with her chest. Marion burst into tears and tried to hold her daughter but her hands were still bound. Anton stepped forward with the key, eyeing the bleeding Bull Beast-kin and released her chains. She looked at Anton, who could only smile back, and held her daughter tight, her Beast-kin claws digging into Kal’s armour as she embraced her daughter for the first time in over twenty years. They didn’t speak a word. Both cried as Marion clutched Kal tight, slowly rocking back and forth, cries twisting into wails as decades of pain and loss flowed forth.