"What's the plan? You'd never buy slaves for yourself."
We were inside the guesthouse and now occupied separate, large beds—still not as comfortable as his own, despite costing far more.
"I want to see a market dedicated to this. Who are these people they sell? Dharma is not a war nation."
"It's her own people." I rolled onto my side and saw him clearly in the dim candlelight. "...Those who need a coin for food, or tools, or just a healer. They borrow from the Church, and the repayment terms ensure they technically sell themselves if they can't meet the deadline."
The sad fact was that almost every lower-class family, at one point or another, required financial assistance. Where do you turn for help if your neighbors are even poorer than you, and you have no family to speak of?
"What a racket." Even in the dark, I could see his disapproving frown. "They certainly have it figured out, preying on their own people."
Word by word, the truth. "Insatel is more or less the same. Every nation is, Zeph."
"Hmm... tell me, how much is a human life worth these days?"
I closed my eyes while answering. "A few bronze coins, depending on many factors. Age, health, mental or physical disability, education, man, woman, children, race..."
"I see. Well, after that is done, do you want us to meet your little cousin?" he asked.
"Sure. That sounds good."
I was still deeply fatigued, and without further conversation, we both drifted away, finally sleeping somewhat comfortably again.
~
"I see the cold didn't deter the customers."
We were deep in the city with about two dozen people surrounding us, mostly my distant, opportunist family.
If Lylly saw this, he'd already be paying for it—even if it wasn't his fault.
Even the slaves' dead eyes followed him, regaining a faint light as they watched him in his new clothes, custom-made by Shilian and Merry, who had waited for him that morning. Dressed in all blue with a large scarf—the kind the Revel twins wore—he stood out even more.
"Come, young Lord! Please browse and pick: black hair, blonde, or redheads? Hmmm? COME ONE, COME ALL!"
An enthusiastic cockroach of a man waved Zephyr over, standing in front of a giant wooden cage holding people huddled together. He was mirrored by dozens more vendors with similar figures, doing their best to hawk their human wares.
They all looked toward him, as a large crowd now followed him, quite apart from my own family of snakes. People whispered behind him, but within my hearing.
"I wonder if he is some foreign prince?"
"Of course he is, Yelda. Look at those features..."
"To hell with his looks, I would marry him for his hair alone."
"I bet you a bronze coin he is a Child of God..."
"I'll take that action."
"Me too..."
His presence and appearance provoked a reaction from everyone, mostly favorable.
Zeph, having good looks and charisma is a hell of a thing.
Having the brains to utilize it, the grace to blend into any situation, effortlessly bending worshipped individuals to your will... I agreed with some of the nauseating crowd. He must be nobility, at the very least from a different life. After all, he lost all his memories.
He walked closer to the toothless man, who was already rubbing his hands together, smelling coin from afar.
"What's your name, friend?" he asked softly.
The man was startled and took off his warm hat, offering a slight bow. "Harmon, Lord. Xenir Harmon, your humble servant."
"Hmm. Talk to me about them." He nodded toward the cage behind him.
Harmon replaced his hat and transformed into the astute businessman in a flash. "These ones, Lord? Wretches who couldn't pay back the good will and generous loan our Lord God provided them. Thieves, really." His expression and attitude were mirrored by almost all those standing in the crowd.
"This is Zephyr Astoria, a dear friend of our family. His Holiness himself will celebrate his presence tonight as a fellow Child of Ehlite."
Mother's pointless information, only used to promote herself, caused a small frenzy. Some began, others followed; soon, most people were bent over, some even on their knees in the snow mixed with mud.
Harmon himself was no different. "My Lord, I should have seen it before ever hearing it. It was obvious. I am unworthy." He bowed deep.
"No need." He wasn't amused, I could tell, despite his phony smile. "Enough, people. Get up."
Those still unmoved slowly raised their heads. The good news was that most left soon after. Fear was a big part of religion, and power such as ours was best viewed from a distance.
"Tell me, Harmon. How much do these people cost?"
Oh boy. I had a feeling.
"For you, Lord... how is one silver coin for two of them? Any gender or age?"
He was generous. Most of the skinny or old ones cost more than that.
"How much for all?"
There he is.
"All, L-lord? As in all of them!?"
The bastard was the most surprised. Mother was mildly confused, along with the rest.
"Yes." Zephyr smiled.
Other slavers came over now, hearing this wild proclamation.
"I-I... well, um... I have about thirty of them, Lord. I'll take fourteen s-silver for the lot?"
He was generous once more but still hesitated with the price, afraid to offend him. Zephyr gazed at the poor souls, who watched him with a mixture of hope and fear visible in their eyes, and turned to the others surrounding him.
"What about you good people? How much for yours?"
They had been waiting patiently and now huddled together, discussing it.
"Lord Zephyr, are you sure...?"
Even my family doubted his financial status. But if they only knew.
"Yes. I'm actually looking for people for my village. As far as prices go, it's favorable."
I could tell how disgusted he was by the sad fact that he spent more on chocolate for his wife than he would on... a hundred people, maybe?
The slavers finished their tally and agreed on eighty-nine silver coins in total for over one hundred and four men, women, and children.
"Carlos?"
I made my way closer. "Should have known. We can house them, but how are you going to..."
"I'll purchase wagons for those who wish to leave, food and other supplies, warm clothes, whatever else is needed... and you, Mr. first son of the house of Em, will provide security for their long journey."
Mother and Maria were speechless. The money was negligible, but the fact that he bought every single soul was shocking. Others who came to purchase would have grumbled, but they understood the consequences better than even those in Insatel if they somehow angered him. They all left, looking anywhere but at us.
"I see. What are you doing with them? Making them Emet's new residents?"
He looked at the newly released people emerging from the cages, wearing only light layers despite the weather. They mostly stared at him, probably wondering about their fate and who he was.
"Those who wish it... they are free to choose. But first, let's take them back. I hope that's okay with you, Julia?"
"Anything, dear. I will make sure they are well fed and given clothes in the meantime."
"I'm grateful." He showed a genuine smile to my mother.
I smiled faintly, thinking how Lylly was smart not to show him the slave market in Malai. He would buy them all. He had a good heart, and even if he couldn't save everyone... he simply couldn't ignore them once seeing the condition they were in.
I wonder how the village is back home? Hope nothing crazy comes up, extending our trip even further.