Same chapter different POV!

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Chapter Five

Alice

It's hard to say what drew me to the girl in the cage. Something in her eyes perhaps. In the fearlessness of her gaze that stood out amongst the panic and cowering affect of her fellows.

Magnus and I seldom even ventured to the back of the barn, where slavers kept their most premium stock. The business model we'd established relied upon buying up our girls cheaply and investing excess funds instead into helping them grow while providing true comfort. It was an arraignment I myself had devised in hopes of rescuing those who most needed it while ensuring Magnus would be successful enough to continue his trade. But I felt her eyes watching and so, I looked.

I was used to the gazes of hatred that would fall upon me at the markets. The disgust from those awaiting sale as they gazed upon a human on the other side of the bars. One so at home beside a sibla master. I'd learned to ignore the discomfort long ago. But this girl's stare was not hateful or even frightened... it was curious. That intrigued me enough to take a closer look.

Magnus hesitated to follow when he saw me turn towards my new quarry, as I knew he might. The girl I pointed out was young, plump, and had a pleasing face with deeply tanned skin and shiny black hair. Even among the most valuable wares, she stood out. But Magnus trusted my instincts at the markets and had for nearly three decades, reluctant as he might be, he did not pull me back, instead turning to catch up with me, his long-legged stride by my side almost instantly.

The girl's expression changed to one of fear as we approached. Not surprising. She could have no way of knowing I was not her enemy. I was nonetheless impressed that she didn't look away nor cower to the back of her cell as the girls around her did. It gave me more of a chance to observe.

I stood by quietly as Magnus pointed to the human I had identified, inquiring as to the price, and saw the frown on his face at the reply, but I continued to watch the girl as well.

She was only eighteen at the most by my estimation. Perhaps younger. Her baring however suggested maturity beyond her years. In her face, I saw something. A determination that kept my interest peaked.

"Let us at least examine her," I said to Magnus, well aware, he was ready to walk away given the price the slaver claimed she would garner at auction. Magnus expected to purchase at least ten humans and the budget we'd agreed upon would allow no more than 350 gold for any.

Reluctant as he might be, Magnus nodded to my request. He always deferred to my advice when it came to human purchases. After all, it was I who would be expected to raise them to a finished weight. I had served well in this gruesome employ long enough for him to trust. At least enough to look the girl over.

She did not resist as her captor slipped a lead rope around her neck and brought her forward at Magnus's request. Obedient and yet, there was rebellion in her eyes nonetheless. The spark of one not yet broken. One resolved to face her end with dignity, whatever it would be.

As the slaver prodded the unfortunate girl with his baton, extolling upon us the quality of meat the animal might yield and the offspring she might produce, I watched her face closely. I could see her eyes grow glossy with the threat of tears. None fell. She stared straight ahead as if willing her mind to transcend this horrific reality. Somehow, seeing her bravery tugged at my heartstrings more than the most piteous weeping ever had. It was for one much like her that I long ago committed to rescuing as many wild humans as I could from the fate of the markets.

"What is her origin?" I asked.

I regretted my words the moment they left my lips. I'd been momentarily swept up in my curiosity but I should have known better than to expect a sibla man might have answered my query. I saw the expression on my Master's face when the slaver failed to respond. The anger.

"You will answer the human," he said.

The slaver frowned deeply. "I don't take orders from animals," he said.

Childish bravado from both. It was all I could do to keep from rolling my eyes at the exchange. I appreciated Magnus's care and defense of my position, but we could not afford to draw more attention to ourselves than was necessary. Magnus's family name, personal reputation and standing in the industry was enough that most overlooked my rather unusual position by his side, but that could change if any other customers complained to the authorities that ran the site. If they should take umbrage with uppity human allowed to run amok and act as if she had any standing in this world.

"It's fine, Master," I said to Magnus, lowering my gaze and donning my best impression of an obedient animal, " Just ask him if I might speak to her."

"My slave, Alice, acts as consult on all of my purchases today," Magnus explained to the man, thankfully reigning in his frustration and annoyance and speaking with a neutral tone. "Will you permit her to put questions to the creature and inspect your wares properly?"

With Magnus acting as my voice the slaver acquiesced to our request, gesturing permissively to allow me forward. Magnus was a man of means and had the bearing to proclaim it. The slaver might see his odd behavior towards me as eccentric, but his money would spend just the same. Of course, that was the issue I would have to contend with. Magnus would not spend excess funds on such a creature as I walked towards now...

I approached her as any sibla slaver might, assessing her condition, ignoring the downcast eyes and fear radiating from her body. I lifted the girl's arm gently turning it to see its girth, assessing a fellow human as if she were a piece of meat. The slaver already was suspicious of my role by Magnus's side. I would show him the face of one entirely impassive to her fellow's suffering. The face of a true greyskin. A traitor. The disguise that kept me safe among monsters.

"She is of a healthy weight," I commented to Magnus, affirming the obvious. The girl was young and well-fed. I did not doubt the slaver's assessment of the money she would fetch on the auction block.

As I let her arm go, the girl continued to stare at her feet, avoiding my gaze now that she stood before me as an item for sale.

"How did you come to be here?" I asked, directing my earlier question to the girl directly.

"I was traded," she replied. Her words interested me as did the tone as she spoke them. When most of our acquired humans shared their experience of sale through the meat markets, their voices filled with resentment and anger. We were accustomed to purchases from the dregs of the stock slavers bought to the auction. Those humans who had little worth to the sibla and to their own kind. Girls who had been pawned off to pay a debt and were thus offered to pad the tribute of wild stock the sibla required from all registered human settlements. But this one, she was a prize. A woman who would have had a true life in a free settlement were she not offered in sacrifice. Sold to gain favor from the sibla so others would thrive, profiting from her flesh.

"You were sold," I corrected her. Perhaps it was cruel to do so though it was a reality. I saw her cheeks flush red but she did not back down.

"I volunteered."

As the impossible words came from her lips, the girl raised her gaze again. Her green eyes met mine with electrifying intensity.

"My family was selected to relinquish one of our children to the sibla slavers," she continued, in answer to my silent incredulity. "It is the arrangement that keeps our village safe and fed. I was the eldest and could not allow my siblings to go in my stead, so I volunteered."

I stared at the girl awestruck. It seemed impossible that one born free might willingly offer themselves up to the sibla but I didn't doubt her words. Her gaze had only intensified with the statement. Her body standing just a bit straighter. Pride. Pride in her actions even now that she stood naked before me. A condemned creature waiting to be sold off to death or worse. A human who knew exactly what the choice she'd made would mean and still stood by it.

"What is your name, child?" I asked, softening my tone. I forced my expression to remain neutral, but my voice betrayed me. Or it might have could anyone truly read me. I'd worked hard to hide all outward emotions when dealing with other humans over the years. And yet, somehow, I imagined this girl had noticed the shift. Her intense gaze faltered slightly as if confused. As if she was herself assessing me as I had been her.

"Kathryn," she answered.

Our eyes remained locked a moment longer, like two experienced mediums each trying to read the other's mind before I broke the connection.

"I'm finished here," I said, turning back to Magnus. My Master nodded.

"Come then, Alice," Magnus replied. "There are a few more animals I wish to examine before the auction begins."

"Of course, Master," I agreed, forcing my eyes to remain focused on him. To avoid turning back to the girl least any see my true mind. And yet, I already knew then, whatever the cost, I would spare this girl the horrific fate that awaited so many. Kathryn would return with us to Magnus's estate.