The first village we came across was named white stag. We left the death knights in the forest close by in case we needed them while we looked around the village. A pair of guards stood outside the entrance to the village with halberds as their weapon of choice. The blocked our way into the village and pulled us to the side.

“What is your business in white stag?” The taller of the two asked.

“Shopping for herbs, and maybe a slave or two if you have a trader.” I said while being pat down.

They found my sword and took it from me.

“Do you have a license for this?” The short guard asked.

Thankfully I was a guard before I died so I did have a license. I pulled my glove off and reached into my chestplate. A small white card was pulled out that read my name and permission to carry.

“Very well Mr. Rayn enjoy your stay at white stag.”

The guards moved out of our way and we entered the village. This village was a lot bigger than ours, if it weren't for the fact they didn't have a wall this could be called a town. The first thing me saw when we entered was an armor smith.

“Best we stay away from him, he will know we have armor of the holy church.” Garrett said

“Agreed.”

We made our way to the center of the town and saw the type of stall we were looking for. A slave trader was sitting in the very center of the village with beautiful women and you men standing next to him with collars of. We walked over to the trader and he had a big toothy smile appear on his face.

“Welcome friends! What could I interest you in today?” He asked, his voice boomed and echoed around the entire plaza.

“I am not interested in your slaves I am more interested in their collars, how would one make them.” I asked examining the collar on one of the women's necks.

The man's face turned from a happy go lucky grin to a sour face. He turned his back on us and waved us away. I figured this would be his reaction what slave trader would tell anyone how to enslave people, that would make the trade way to saturated with upstarts. I pulled my coin purse out of my pocket.

“I have plenty of money.” I said jingling the coins around.

I got most of the money from the holy knights and the priest, the priest had five gold coins on him.

“Two gold and I will tell you how.” He said scratching his chin.

“One gold and three silver.” I countered his offer after a few seconds of acting like I was thinking

“Very well.” He said hold his hand out.

After giving him the coins he drew a diagram on a piece of parchment.

“This is the basic diagram of a slave collar, you will have to re enchant the collar every five days but as long as you have guards watching over them I doubt they will run.”

Stolen story; please report.

He went behind his desk and yanked a woman by her chain and pushed her in front of us. She had a horrible scar on the right side of her face.

“You can take her as part of the deal, she won't sell, her face is badly burned no one wants a slave like this.”

I didn't really need her but I pitied her so I took her along with me. The trader bid us farewell. The woman the trader gave to me was staying a fair distance away not to close but not to far. The trader probably taught her how to behave in front of her master. This made me feel very uncomfortable.

“First off, what's your name and you don't need to be that far away. Its making me feel weird.” I said beckoning her closer.

“I'm sorry master, my name is Iona.” she said walking to my left side.

Now that I see her up close her body was well built, she looks as if she has strong muscle. Was she a warrior or something similar before she was enslaved? Her posture suggested she was well versed in wielding a sword.

“What were you before you were captured?” it wasn't me who asked the question it was Garrett he seemed to have the same question as myself.

“I-I was a handmaid at a nobleman's house.” she stuttered.

The look on Garrett's face showed he didn't believe a word she said. Neither did I, why would she hide what she was before she became a slave? Garrett and I stopped in our tracks. Iona noticed we stopped and turned around, she tried to play off an innocent face but we saw through it.

“What were you really.” I asked in a demanding tone, I don't like people who hide their past from me.

She began fidgeting with her hands and the tunic she was wearing. Was she ashamed of being something even a slave owner would find disgusting?

“I was a Knight for the holy church.” she said quickly why shutting her eyes tight already expecting a beating or worse to be killed.

Garrett and I drew our swords and pointed them towards her neck. All the people in the village that saw what was going on saw her slave collar and ignored it. The fact that she was a holy knight infuriated me to no end. To kill her outright when I could feel the potential in her made me feel like I was looking a gift horse in the mouth. Then an idea came to mind. I threw the short sword I took from Joshua in front of her.

“Fight Garrett, if you kill him or inflict a serious wound on him I will let you live but you will be on a tight leash for the time being.” I said turning around to sit on a bench that was close by.

A crowd of people began to form around the scene. Obviously these people wanted to see a show. This got me thinking, if i'm going to create a thriving fief I need funding. I started to shout to the crowd.

“Ten copper to watch the fight! Kids watch for free!”

The crowd started to mutter to one another.

“oh it's a show that makes sense why would a slave and its master start fighting for no reason.” was what most of them were saying.

Out of everyone watching I made about three silver pieces. Thought the fight had already technically started Garrett and Iona were just staring at eachother. Iona made the first move sher stepped forward and picked up the sword. As I thought she was well trained in using sword. She took a fencing position  her body turned sideways and one hand placed behind her back with the sword pointed towards Garrett. She slowly moved forward. Garrett drew his sword and gripped the hilt tightly getting ready to strike.

Iona touched swords with Garrett, this was a sign of honor in sword fighting and tactic to get close to the opponent. As if he was offended Garrett smacked his sword against hers and lunged forward. Iona was ready for this kind of reaction she twirled like a ballerina and smacked his sword aside and cut Garrett's cheek.

“Did she miss his neck?” a man and woman asked one another looking confused.

“No, she's toying with him.” the tall guard who questioned us at the gate said.

He walked over to me. Did I do something wrong I wondered.

“If you are going to have a fight in the streets at least pay for the clean up crew.” he said with his arms crossed.

I handed him thirty copper pieces. He seemed happy with the small amount and sat down next to me. The guard then began to start cheering like the rest of the crowd. Though he was a guard it seemed not much would bother him.

“Who do you think will win?” he asked me while placing a bet with someone in the crowd.

“At this point I don't know, Iona is nimble and quick but Garrett has sheer power behind himself.”

The guard nodded in agreement. It did look like Iona was toying with Garrett slightly. This was making him even more mad and he started to swing his sword like a savage. This was the perfect chance for Iona to strike at all his openings. She knocked his sword out of the way and had her sword on his throat but she didn't kill him. She started to walk towards me. Garrett was standing there dumbfounded.

“What are you doing, I said the fight only ends when someone either dies or is seriously injured.”

“Why it's clear I won't.”  she said with confidence.

I smirked with a devious smile.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

As I said that a sword pierced her through her back and into her chest. She turned her head around and Garrett was standing behind her and twisted the sword. She began to cough blood. She gripped her sword and swung her sword towards Garrett's head but I stopped the sword before it connected.

“I can't have both pawns die in one fight now can I?” I said sadistically.

She looked at me with sadness not anger before she collapsed from the blood loss. The crowd started to dissipate. The guard collected his winnings from gambling. Garrett threw Iona over his shoulder. No one seems to care that a slave seems to have died in a fight, humans truly are sickening. I had no plan of actually killing her, we will bring her back to the village to heal her but I will need more mana to break her will for now I will make a few dozen slave collars for the prisoners. I quickly healed Ionas wounds to keep her alive at least. Even with my magic if she survives this it will be a miracle, because her heart was punctured.