3: Exiled Lord — Chapter 3 – Slaves, Locating the Green Dot 3: Exiled Lord — Chapter 3 – Slaves,
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The slave market’s stench hit Field like a wall, sharp enough to make his eyes water.
Those miserly merchants were bloodsuckers to the last, not a single copper spent on bathing the merchandise.
Five or six slaves crammed into each narrow cage, sleeping, eating, and doing everything else in the same filthy square of iron bars.
No privacy.
No dignity.
And thanks to a lifetime of conditioning, not even the right to end their own suffering.
The cages outside held female slaves with nothing on their bodies, not even a scrap of cloth, their nakedness on full display for any passerby who cared to look.
A marketing strategy, apparently.
A successful one.
Every day brought a fresh crowd of toothless old lechers to appreciate the view.
“My Lord, looking to buy slaves?
Essential for any farmstead — hardworking, capable hands, every one of them.” “Rare Elf slaves!
Only one thousand Gold Coins!” “New shop, my Lord, come have a look!” Field cut a clean figure in his well-fitted black robe, a fine steel longsword at his hip and a face handsome enough to mark him as money.
The slave traders lit up the moment they saw him.
Nobles were their favorite customers, strong buying power, unlike the broke gawkers who showed up just to stare.
Better yet, Nobles burned through slaves at a remarkable rate.
Days later, they’d be back.
In a noble lord’s eyes, slaves ranked below his hunting hounds.
Something to be disposed of on a whim.
Field walked the row of iron cages.
The slaves inside had nothing behind their eyes, no spark, no life.
Matted hair and grime made it nearly impossible to tell men from women.
Their bodies were striped with ugly whip scars.
Whenever one happened to meet his gaze, they snapped their eyes to the ground and started trembling.
“How much?” The mini-map showed a Green Dot somewhere in this group.
Field kept moving while he asked.
“My Lord, prices vary considerably by race.” The merchant had a rat’s face, narrow jaw, pinched cheeks, small darting eyes.
He rubbed his palms together like he was starting a fire.
“Goblins, Halflings, and Pigmen run ten Silver Coins each.
Demi-humans are twenty.
Beastmen, sixty.
And if you’re in the market for a plaything…” He let out a wet chuckle.
“No upper limit on those.” He jerked his chin toward the cages inside the building.
The Elf priced at a thousand was impossible to miss.
Stunning face.
Thin, revealing gauze draped over snow-white skin.
And eyes as blank as a doll’s.
“That Elf got passed around by Goblins.
She’s delivered at least twenty-six litters.” The merchant laughed like he’d said something charming.
“Still a hot commodity, though.
I’m planning to send her to the auction house — she won’t be going for a thousand once she’s up on the block.
Care to get ahead of the crowd?” “Not interested.” The Green Dot wasn’t her, and Field didn’t have that kind of money to spend on a plaything.
He shook his head.
“What do human slaves run?” “Humans are smart and know how to behave.
Males, forty Silver Coins.
Females, twenty-five.
Good for labor, all of them.
If it’s entertainment you’re after, I’d still recommend an Elf.” The merchant smiled with his whole face.
“Even if pleasure isn’t your aim, they’re useful — kill them for meat, harvest them for magic materials.
Options all around.” A wave of cold disgust moved through Field’s chest.
The Nobles in this world were nothing like the polished, dignified figures from period dramas back home.
They were feudal thugs, plain and simple.
Elf flesh and blood was said to have restorative properties.
Proud, ancient beings who looked nearly human, didn’t matter.
Straight onto the dining table.
While the merchant kept talking, Field’s eyes found the Green Dot.
His gaze drifted to an iron cage in the corner, the glowing marker hovering above it like a quest indicator.
A Demi-human.
White Wolf Demi-human.
Crimson pupils.
Ears and tail pure wolf.
She was dressed in rough hemp cloth and lay flat in the cold, damp cage without moving.
The only thing stirring were her eyes, which kept sliding toward the key on the merchant’s belt.
“Rare grassland stock.” The merchant’s smug expression didn’t waver.
“Our Slave hunting squad worked hard to break through their stronghold.
Those savage little creatures don’t give up easily.
If you want to play with a wolf Demi-human, bring backup.
Otherwise, when you’re not paying attention, she might bite off…” He trailed off with a knowing leer.
“Well.
Better left to the imagination.” “A Beast-eared girl?” Field’s heart jumped into his throat.
As a veteran Blue Star shut-in, he had exactly zero resistance to red-eyed Beast-eared girls.
Moving slowly, like someone reaching toward a nervous dog, he eased his hand through the bars and tried to pat her head.
GRRR!
“You’d best be careful.” Butler Kao frowned.
The low growl came from deep in her throat, and those scarlet eyes burned with a clear warning.
Knight Captain Connor already had his hand on his sword.
“Lord Field.
I’d rather nothing went wrong before we reach Nightfall Territory.” “Relax.
She’s cute.” Field meant it, but he was also someone who took advice.
He pulled his hand back.
He’d seen it in her eyes: bravado layered over something worn and miserable.
Cute and pitiable at once.
He smoothed his collar.
“How much?” “Only three Gold Coins!” The merchant had clocked Field’s interest and raised the price without blinking.
One Gold Coin to one hundred Silver Coins.
One Silver Coin to one hundred Copper Coins.
Field’s expression went flat.
His eyes narrowed.
“You just told me Demi-humans were twenty Silver Coins.
Are you trying to make a fool of a Noble?” “Ah, but she’s exceptional.
Beautiful, isn’t she?
Freshly caught, guaranteed untouched, and not a single commoner’s filthy eyes have been on her.
She was also earmarked for the auction house.” The merchant spread his hands regretfully.
“A face like that, and a pity she’s a Demi-human, unclean stock.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t part with her for three hundred Gold Coins.” “Fifty Silver Coins.” Field crossed his arms.
His voice carried the easy confidence of someone laying out terms, not making requests.
“I’m on my way to take up my post in my territory.
She won’t be the only purchase I make.
One sale, or a hundred sales down the road, I think you can do that math yourself.” The merchant sucked air through his teeth.
He wrestled with it for a moment.
Locking in a repeat relationship with a Noble who held real territorial power, that was worth something.
He bit down and nodded.
“That depends on how much you’re buying.” Beside Field, Butler Kao shot him a quiet, puzzled look.
The old Field never haggled.
He’d have sympathized with the merchant’s overhead costs and paid whatever he was asked.
After working through the cages with careful attention, Field settled on 100 human slaves and 100 Demi-human slaves, 120 of them male.
With the Beast-eared girl included, the final total came to 53 Gold Coins.
“My Lord, these are the slaves’ soul contracts, each one verified by a Chosen One.” “Contracts?” Field took the sheepskin parchment.
Names covered every inch of it, dense and small.
“Blood oaths, sworn by the slaves themselves.
Anyone who defies your will gets burned to ash by divine fire.” The merchant grinned and held out the bundle of ropes.
“You can do whatever you like with them.
Enjoy yourself, dear customer.” “I intend to.” Field waved him off.
Once he reached that cursed land, if he couldn’t find a way to enjoy himself, the Corruption would probably kill him long before he got the chance.
➤ Next: The Purchased Slave, Unexpectedly