The Price of Life

"Alright." I waddled up to Letta, Giorno, Yaramin, and Rodin. "Our wares are registered. We have our numbers. Now here comes the hard part."

I paused to give myself a deep sigh in an attempt to calm my nerves. Though, I could swear all it did was increase my anxiety. "We're here to purchase slaves so that we can free them," I whispered while gesturing between Yaramin and I. "The rule is to purchase those without families unless families can be…" I swallowed. "Purchased without splitting them apart.

"We will handle that responsibility." I gestured between us two once more. "All I ask is that- no matter what you hear or see- all I ask is that you not cause a scene."

"You have my word." Giorno bowed immediately. He was a chivalrous one. Honorable and loyal, if not hedonistic. But I worried about Letta. She wore her heart on her sleeve. And in this place, such a thing could be traumatizing.

I warned them as best as I could have. I briefed them on how the auctioning process went. Then we entered.

Due to Mirfield's proximity to Luton, the first list of items to be auctioned off were ships and ship parts, along with tools associated with making them. In which, a few of our artisans who were native to here made a bit of coin. But the majority of us sat back and waited anxiously for the last calls to be made so the event could move on to the next set of items.

It was then that the majority of our coin was made. The list started with common and led up to the rare materials before it moved on to artisinal goods. Our tools, weapons, and equipment all fared as much as we expected. But Giorno and Letta became instant phenomenons.

Auctioneers were bidding left and right and in waves to be the first, second, third, and eventually the hundredth-and-somethingth person to purchase and show off such articulate wear.

Tens of thousands of coins worth of profit were earned, by not only them but every other artisan as well.

And most of it was spent on the liberation of slaves.

However, that wouldn't come until the livestock auctions came and went. Being living creatures, the house decided it'd be best to save them for the finale. Giving the auctioneers the freedom to stay and peruse for more items without worrying about caring for their new possessions.

It was smart. But sickening.

Due to the long journey and the lack of accommodations, the only livestock we purchased were steeds that were both stronger and faster.

And then came the hard part.

What made it worse is that Giorno and Letta were both behind me as I approached the slaver. I could practically feel the heat radiating off them as her face widened into a smile.

"Johan Silas." I lowered my head in greeting, just barely.

"Okay!" She beamed. "Let's see… ooh! Forty slaves! Wow!"

"Yeah. Wow." I groaned. "I'd also like twenty sets of negstone manacles. For our prisoners." I added with a smile.

"Gotcha." She nodded, then put on a childish pouting face. "Unfortunately, we're all out of manacles. All we have are negstone pins at the moment, but I can give you half off if you're interested."

"Sure." I groaned.

"Great!" She smiled wider. "Okay! I have you for… eight adults, aged twenty and above. Two males, at three hundred gold apiece. Plus six females, at five hundred apiece. And then… five male teenagers, aged between thirteen and nineteen, at six hundred each. Plus four female teenagers of the same age range at a thousand each. Then… six male children, aged three to twelve at a twelve hundred gold apiece. And four females at fifteen hundred apiece.

"And lastly, thirteen infants!" She beamed in some sort of twisted celebration. "Wow! You plan to keep them a long time, huh?"

"Mhmm" I nodded through a gag.

"Okay!" She nodded "Eight infant females, at three thousand gold each, and five infant males at twenty-four hundred gold each. Plus twenty negstone pins at ten gold a piece but at half off… that equates to a grand total of fifty-six thousand two hundred gold. Keep in mind that your purchase comes with a six months supply of rations for your return to your home of origin.

"Also included in your Slave Master package are two whips, one for thrashing and one for lashing, as well as recommendations on how to care for your slave. The Mirfield Auction House is not responsible for their health once the purchase is complete, and we do apologize for our paltry catalog this evening.

"It-it's fine." I stammered. Then I took the damn quill, signed the damn papers, and watched the damned people head outside to find my wagon and ferry their loot inside.

Meanwhile, a voice was pushed through clenched teeth behind me.

"Letta Sinclare. One infant male and female. Here."

The sound of a heavy sack of metal was heard hitting the counter. But the woman behind it was undeterred. "Oh! You got lucky! Siblings! I'll bring them right out."