The slave market was extremely crowded. Azure guessed that there were several
hundred bidders in attendance, and hundreds more who were just there to gawk at
the “goods.” The center of the market
was a large raised wooden platform, surrounded by a high rail. Next to the platform was a large roofed
compound. This was the holding pen for
the merchandise. Azure and her sister
were herded into this enclosure, along with several hundred more captives.
Inside, there were already a large number of
captives. As the new prisoners entered
the compound they were marked for identification by an official at the
gate. This way each slave could be
easily identified so that the seller could receive payment from the buyer. They were marked with a brush dipped in
black ink. It would wash off. If the buyer wanted to mark his purchase in
a more permanent manner it would be left up to him. A sort way from the slave auction was brazier full of hot coals
and branding irons for those who wanted to burn their mark onto their new
possessions.
Both Azure and Sapphire shuddered when they saw all
of this. The terrifying nature of their
predicament was becoming more clear with every passing moment.
The auction began.
The less costly slaves were auctioned off first. Azure and Sapphire were herded off into one
corner of the compound along with a few more of the more attractive women. It was obvious that their amazing beauty
marked them for sale near the end of the auction.
Azure noticed that all of the other young women she
was placed with were unfettered. All
except one. This was an almost
unbelievably beautiful young woman about Azure’s age. Like Azure and Sapphire, she was heavily chained. Her tall, athletic body spoke of great
physical strength. Azure did not think
she had ever seen a stronger looking woman.
Azure and Sapphire were no longer as heavily
fettered as they had been before. The
long pole that had forced their arms out to the side had been removed, and
their wrists were now manacled to the belts at their waists. There was still no chance of escape. The chains that remained were more than
enough to keep them under control.
The two Sky Maidens found themselves standing right
beside the other chained captive. The
tall dark-haired woman held her head high in a seemingly haughty attitude. Turning her head, she glanced down at the
two sisters.
“What did you two do to deserve the honor of being
chained little one?” the Amazon asked.
She was speaking a northern dialect, one that Azure and Sapphire had
been taught to speak.
“We are Daughters of the Sky,” said Sapphire,
answering for her sister, members of the Sisterhood of the Blood Ruby.”
“Ah,” said the Amazon, lowering her head a little,
“I have heard of your order. I am
Shanna, of Clan Wolf. How did you
manage to get yourself into such shameful circumstances?”
“We were over eager in our first mission,” answered
Sapphire and were overwhelmed by superior numbers.”
“I wish I could say the same,” said Shanna, “but I
was simply a victim of my own stupidity, captured by two scumbags not worthy to
lick my boots.”
The three girls continued to chat, learning as much
about one another as they could.
Sapphire found that Shanna's almost imperious composure hid a
compassionate heart. Like herself and
Azure, she was a force for good. She
had been foolishly trapped, but her motives were of the best, and she had real
concern for all of her fellow captives.
Like Sapphire and Azure she would have liked nothing better than to get
a sword in her hand and wreak havoc on those who had taken her prisoner and the
other slavers in El Arish.
It was late afternoon before the auction disposed of
all those who were to be sold before the turn of the three warriors came
up. They were last, and were herded
onto the auction platform together.
“And now, gentle folk,” the auctioneer announced,
“the trio you have been waiting for.
Three warrior virgins, the like of which has never before graced our
market. Behold, an Amazon of the Wolf
Clan, and twin sisters from the Sisterhood of the Blood Ruby. Spirited virgins all. They will be a challenge to break, but such
a challenge will be a lifetime experience.”
The auctioneer paused, giving time for his words to
have effect. “Who will make the first
bid? Remember that each maiden is worth
her weight in gold.”
“A thousand crowns for the Amazon,” came a cry from
the assembled bidders.
“A thousand crowns? An insult” replied the
auctioneer. “Look at this magnificent
body!”
Without her armor, Shanna wore only the flimsiest of
light undershirts. Her high, perfect
breasts were clearly visible through the sheer material, but just to make sure,
the auctioneer ripped away her shirt, leaving her naked to the waist. Shanna's majestic melon-sized breasts
quivered slightly, as she struggled to break away from the armed guards who
held her chains.
“Look at that spirit. See how she fights. A
truly magnificent specimen.”
“Two thousand crowns,” came another bid.
“Three thousand!”
“Three thousand five hundred.”
“Ten thousand, for the Amazon and the silver-haired
Sky Warrior!”
A hush fell over the assembled bidders. Ten thousand crowns was a truly astronomical
sum for two female slaves.
“Ten thousand for the two,” echoed the
auctioneer. “Any other bids?”
His question was met by silence.
“Then ten thousand it is. Sold to Prince Bandar.”
The guards closed in about Shanna and Sapphire and
led them from the platform.
“I will find you,” shouted Sapphire as she was
separated from Azure.
“And I you,” answered her sister.
“A touching scene,” interjected the auctioneer. “These women have great spirit. What am I bid for the last one?’
* * *
Valkar hefted his leather purse. It was quite weighty, holding five talents
of gold, worth over 5000 gold crowns.
He had come to the slave auction on a whim and had stayed to the end,
captivated by the beauty of the Sky Maidens.
He had never seen so beautiful a pair of sisters. He had not intended to bid on any of the
merchandise, but found himself filled with all sorts of erotic thoughts as he
gazed upon the loveliest young women he had ever seen. Now there was but one remaining, the
dark-haired beauty. She would fetch a
high price if the bidding for her sister and the Amazon was any indication of
value. He had fought long and hard to
earn this much gold. Now, the question
remained should his risk all of it in a bidding war in order to obtain what he
could purchase at any tavern for a few silver pieces?
The bidding had started. “Perhaps the high rollers have dropped out,” thought Valkar, “I
might be able to get this one cheaply.
“I am bid two thousand pieces of gold,” said the
auctioneer. “A small price for such
exquisite merchandise. Look at the lift
of her breasts, like ripe melons, but as firm as those of a
fourteen-year-old.”
As she spoke the auctioneer lifted Azure’s flimsy
chemise, revealing her proud breasts.
“Surely,” he continued, hefting Azure’s left breast, “she is worth as
much as her sister.”
“Two thousand five hundred,” yelled Valkar. “Somehow, he found himself repulsed by the
sight of the auctioneer groping the helpless young woman.
“Three thousand,” came a rival bid.
“Five thousand.”
Valkar hoped that the sudden jump would end the bidding the way that
Prince Bandar’s jump to ten thousand had shut down his rivals.
“Five thousand, five hundred.”
Valkar gulped.
That was almost five hundred more than he had. Standing next to him was his comrade-in-arms, Zendar. Valkar grasped his friend’s shoulder. “Lend me five hundred,” he implored.
“You’re mad,” replied Zendar. You’ve been fighting too long. You would spend all your money on one
woman?”
“Please,” Valkar pleaded, “don’t argue with me, just
let me have the five hundred.”
Zendar sighed.
“It’s yours,” he said.
“Six thousand,” Valkar cried.
There were no more bids. Valkar moved toward the auction platform to claim his prize.
* * *
Azure held her head high. She might be some man’s slave, but she was not going to be
cowed. She would find a way to escape,
and do everything in her power to resist her new master’s advances.
Striding up the steps of the auction platform was an
impressive figure of a man. He stood
well over six feet tall and was muscled like a god. His shoulder length wavy black hair rippled as he moved. With him was a much shorter stocky man, also
powerfully muscled. “Which one,”
wondered Azure, “was to be her new master?”
“Be careful with this one great warrior,” said the
auctioneer, respectfully. “She is very
dangerous. She has already killed a
dozen men.”
“I’m pretty good at killing men myself,” replied
Valkar. “I think I can handle
her.” Taking hold of the chain attached
to Azure’s collar, he led her from the platform.