“Your attention, good people!” The booming voice of Septimus the Slave Dealer called out over the marketplace. “Gather round Dominus and Domina, the slave auction is about to begin!” A lively crowd started to gather around the small raised platform Septimus stood upon. It was well know he had good wares, brought from all over the Empire.

 When he judged he had attracted a sufficient crowd, Septimus gave a signal to one of his henchmen. With a curt bow, the burly Thracian disappeared into the small tent behind the platform. A moment later, he reappeared dragging on a short length of rope. The other end had been used to bind the hands of a young maiden. She was obviously from the north, with fair blonde hair, coming loose from its braids and pale skin.

 The tattered dress she wore, though scorned by the civilized Roman eyes, still showed some evidence of finery, though now all but obliterated by the dirt and grime it had picked up during its owner’s capture and long journey into slavery. Beside it, she had a small clay plaque hung round her neck on a string with latin characters written on it, giving her basic details.

 “Here we have something special for you, good people!” Septimus said as the struggling maid was dragged to the platform and lifted up by the Thracian. “She has a barbarian spirit, but a touch of the lash cure of it.” Septimus called to the crowd. The maid looked around, eyes wide with bewilderment as she found herself the object of the crowd of onlookers. After a long moment, she seemed to settle herself, resolving on a look of almost haughty disdain for the mob.

 “See her proud gaze…” Septimus waved. “She was once the daughter of a chieftain of the Ostrogoths, a barbarian princess! At least, until she was taken by our brave legionaries in a raid and now may be your if you have the coin! See how fair and pleasing she is…”

 Septimus reached over and grabbed the side of the Goth princess’ dress. A short while ago, he’d had one of his henchmen, who had a talent for such things, strategically cut the dress in places so a sudden sharp tug, such as the one the slave dealer made just then, caused the dress to come apart in rags and fly off in tatters, leaving the young woman suddenly naked. The crowd loved it, whooping and cheering as the shocked young woman’s face reddened with shame. She tried to cover herself with her bound hands, but the Thracian lifted the rope binding them, forcing her to raise them up, baring herself to the examination of the crowd.

 “What will you use her for?” Septimus continued his sales pitch. “Shall she clean your domus? Shall she serve wine at your next comissatio? Or serve you in bed?” He winked lasciviously at some of the men. The young maid, ignorant of Latin, didn’t know what the man said, but she could guess the meaning all to well from the looks and jeers from the men who surged as close as they could to the platform. The Thracian had to stamp a foot here and there to discourage some of the more enthusiastic from climbing onto it then and there.

 “Now, what am I bid?” Septimus grinned as hands shot up and amounts were shouted from the crowd. Bidding was brisk and the price of the Gothic princess swiftly rose higher and higher. Finally, when it petered out, the slave dealer gave a cry of “Going once...twice...Sold!” The barbarian slave girl’s new owner, a gray-haired hawk nosed patrician hurried forward, counting silver denarii from his bursa. At Septimus’ nod, the Thracian handed down the stunned slave to her master. He took the rope in hand and led her away, through the crowd of disappointed bidders.

 “Fear not, good sirs!” Septimus called out, drawing their attention back from the departing blonde slave. “I have plenty more wares for your perusal today! Up next, the daughter of an Egyptian priest!”