“Ah! Welcome, welcome esteemed Master!” The slave dealer called in a loud voice, coming out of his tent, the many brass ornaments decorating his rich purple robes jangling as he bowed deeply. “You are most wise in coming here, for Tiradar has the finest chattel there is in all the land!” 

“If that is so…” Called the merchant from the next stall over, “Why are you selling this pack of mangy curs? When the Master has finished looking at your sad wretches and wants to see something good for a change, he might come and take a look at what Miracat is selling today!” 

Tiradar studiously ignored the jabs of his rival merchant. “What is it Master wishes to see? Strong laborers? Intelligent scribes? Ah no, I see that look in Master’s eye. He seeks beauty today! He seeks fair maidens with sparking eyes, warm caresses and full of sighs for Master, yes? Well, I have just the thing!” 

In a flash, Tiradar disappeared back into his tent. The merchant appeared again a moment later, pulling on a short chain. The other end was attached to a pair of handcuffs, locked around a pair of dark, slender wrists. Another sharp tug and the rest of the girl they belonged to stumbled out of the tent, blinking in the sudden, bright daylight. She was a pretty, demure thing with long, dark hair which framed brown cheeks that blushed deeply, unsurprising considering that apart from the leather band of a slave collar circling her slender neck the girl was completely nude. 

“Come come, my dear, step onto the platform here and let the Master see you. Yes sir, did I not say I had just the thing? Isn’t she lovely? Turn girl, let him see you from all sides. If sir would like to feel and confirm she is young and nubile…oh stop flinching away girl. Let him get a feel. Yes Master, a worthy prize indeed!” 

“Perhaps if one’s idea of quality is a common peasant maid.” The rival dealer jeered. “Go to any farm in the countryside, Master, I assure you they’ll have daughters a plenty just like her, who can be had for a handful of coppers, to save her family the expense of a dowry!” 

  “No, not to the Master’s liking? Fear not, Tiradar has plenty more beauties much better than this one.” The merchant turned and gave the dark haired slave a push in the direction of the tent. “Get back inside, you common whore!” The red-faced girl ran to the tent, grateful for the chance to get out of public view, for a time anyway. The slave dealer followed her inside.

A short time later, the slave dealer came out again, pulling the chain. The new girl on the end of it was tall and refined, with olive skin, curly black hair and dark, flashing eyes. She regarded her captor with a disdainful expression as she took the stand, seeming to defy anyone to shame her for her beauty. 

“Here is the daughter of an aristocrat, yes blue blood runs in her veins, yet she stands before you a lowly slave.” Tiradar said. “Her father had many enemies at court, who whispered in many ears and soon his neck was stretched on the block as a traitor, as did many of the other men of his house. As for the women, they were spared that ignoble fate for another. In recognition that it would be a crime to waste such beauty, they were stripped of title and freedom and reduced to slavery. I was lucky enough to secure this pretty thing, surely the prize of them all! Doubtless she would grace the Master’s harem with her regal bearing!”  

“I’m sure she would, if one wanted a slave who gave more orders then she obeyed.” Miracat called and jeered. “A slave like that is too high maintenance for one master. She needs many men to tame her. Sell her to the brothel, I say. Doubtless that’s where her father had her anyway!” 

“Ah yes…well, this one perhaps needs some more time to…compose herself to her new station in life…” Tiradar said, struggling to hold the chain of the slave who had thrown herself at his rival with a snarl of fury. Slowly, he dragged the outraged former noblewoman back to the tent. 

After another moment had passed, he appeared again, this time leading a tall, young woman on the chain. She was pale skinned, the smooth surface worked here and there with delicate blue tattoos. Her head was covered with short cropped hair a pale golden color. She was led forward to the platform and ordered to pose upon it by the slave dealer, displaying a fit, trim figure. 

“Here is a barbarian maiden from the northern lands. Snatched from her home by pirates. Her hair was much longer originally, but a woman made a good offer for it just the other day to make a wig, but it will grow back quickly, I assure you. You may see, the hair above her womanhood is of the same hue, there are no tricks with dyes and bleaches here! With Tiradar the slaver dealer, you may be assured you always receive the genuine article!” 

“She’s fine, sure…if you like your slaves with hair made of straw. Keep a close eye out, or a passing horse might try and eat it!” The rival dealer called with a laugh. “But in seriousness, watch those barbarian slaves. You can’t teach them anything and if you take her to bed, well let’s just say sleep with one eye open!” 

“Not for you? Of course, the Master is entirely correct.” Tiradar said, eying the other merchant with a sour look. “Well, Master is in luck, because I have one other slave girl right now, acquired by good fortune just last night! One whom I am sure my friend will agree is indeed a piece of the highest quality!” Turning, the dealer led the tow-headed girl back into the tent. 

After a much longer pause, he reemerged, pulling hard on a chain lead. Unlike the previous two girls though, the one attached to the other end of this one by her leather slave collar did not come out willing though reluctantly, but fought the dealer’s pull until dragged out of the tent. She was also more securely restrained than they had been, her wrists shackled behind her back, ankles locked in fetters and a leather muzzle strapped tight over her mouth, muffling her grunts of complaint. Aside from these though, she was as naked as the other slaves, something she found highly embarrassing from the flush on her cheeks as she was dragged to the stand and forced up onto it. 

“A most lovely find.” Tiradar said, grinning. “The former mistress of a prominent local merchant!” 

“Wha-hey!” Miracat exclaimed in shock, seeing his mistress naked and chained. She turned, giving him a plaintive moan through her muzzle. “Where did you even…” 

“Tiradar was most lucky, buying her from the city guardsman who caught her out on the streets past curfew.” Tiradar continued, enjoying his rival's discomfort. “I am sure the Master could find all sorts of uses for her, tilling the fields, mucking the stables…” 

“You know…perhaps I was hasty in my judgement of the other girls…on reflection, some of them had their charms…”