Thread: Worlds Collide [HeavenSundered x Inwiththebooks]

A rather dull and boring auction this was. The braying of the plebs filled Adelia Severa Utlus ears with an unpleasant ringing and the scent of stale piss and fear was palpable even this far from the slave kennels. On either side of her were two bulky men dressed in simple tunics and trousers though the short blades at their sides were quite enough to deter anyone from getting close to the noblewoman. Small blessings from the family ancestors she supposed. Black eyes were fixed upon the stage, the cold and calculating manner in which each slave was sized up marked Adelia as a different sort of buyer. Her misfortune had begun this morning when she had discovered someone, her younger brother no doubt, had arranged for her offering to the Empress to be stolen. It was an inside job, of that there was no doubt given that the vault had been opened with a key only she possessed. If she appeared to the Empress tomorrow of all days without a suitable offering it was tantamount to political suicide. She needed an endorsement from the Imperial family to secure the newest open seat in the Senate, with that kind of power and connection shed win without a doubt. Every single slave auction today had been disappointing, nothing drew the eye or amazed in a manner appropriate. Hence her appearing in a lower class auction, hoping to spy some exotic flesh. She was certainly dressed far differently than the rabble here, her pure white toga covering a tunic of purple and gold. Audacious colors for a noble to wear marks of either power or pretending at power. Supple leather sandals twisted down her lower legs and held her feet, nails well-polished. Her flesh was unmarred and pale, a sign of never having worked a day in her life in menial affairs. She was somewhat plain looking and possessed a good bit of cosmetics upon her face to mask that, her brown hair done up in a tight bun as was the style of this month. Each one brought out so far was rejected by her, too old, too weak, too grotesque, too masculine, too feminine, and too common. The list they were judged by was long indeed and thus far none of them stood out to her. Adelia was not looking for a whore or a beast of burden she was looking for a gift fit for a member of the Imperial family. How did one truly buy for one descended from the gods? The Empress was known for her exotic tastes and favored things from outside of the Empire. She was prepared to move on until it happened. Her breath hitched in her chest and her eyes widened by an imperceptible fraction, the creature dragged out defying description. She was absolutely exquisite and one of the most exotic creatures Adelia had ever seen. The auctioneer talked up a storm about her, touting her origins from the Far East. The tattoos mapping her form were strange and looked much like the warpaint northern barbarians wore into battle. The weapons and armor displayed off to the side were similarly exotic, marking her as a woman warrior. Such things were extremely uncommon in the Antaran Empire, it happened occasionally but most often women avoided warfare. Bids were tossed around, sums that were pitifully laughable died out as her true competition rose up. Her eyes scanned the crowd as two voices stood out. Both were men she was well acquainted with. Serik the Bloody Handed, dressed in full metal armor like a savage, was the master of the Bloodpit and made a formidable fortune in selling the sight of bloodsport to commoner and noble alike. The other was a painfully thin man with too much paint on his face, Veras Ronas Kilian, unspoken owner of Scarlet Way and owner of enough whores to bankrupt an entire noble house in a night. The sums they threw around were far more serious. 10,000 Denars! Serik, youd mar such a creature? How typical. 15,000! Ill mar you, whoremonger! 20,000! 25,000! 30,000! 50,000! The sum left Adelias lips smoothly and drew the notice of both men. Veras appeared to consider his options while Serik spat on the ground and merely crossed his arms, no doubt thinking better than trying out bid her. Her family was well known to possess ships to rival the Imperial Navy and purse strings made of solid gold. Veras sighed a moment later and kept to himself, a sign that she had won this round. 50,000 was a very steep price, with it she could likely have bought an army of slaves but it was mere change compared to a possible seat on the Senate. Sold! Next up we have The auctioneer said, the exotic slave already being dragged off out of the way. Adelia was quick to move though crowd and towards the backrooms knowing well what standard procedure for purchased slaves was. She entered into the branding tent before her purchase was brought there and was quick to forestall any protests from the brander with an unraised hand. There was no way in this world she was going to permit this slave to be branded like a common piece of meat. The Empress would take such a thing as a grave insult and Adelia was rather fond of her head where it was. Dont brand her. Merely have her delivered to the Utlus estate and my slaves will see shes kept in my holding cells. She commanded, departing afterwards and leaving the market with a smile upon her painted lips. Perhaps today was not a total loss.