Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Eleven: Life is Grand as a Count

"Owners of Slaves may do what they wish to and with their Slaves, as the Slaves are the owner's personal property. However, unnecessary, inappropriate, and/or too much punishment of a Slave will be determined as Excessive Punishment and such actions are liable for a fine of up to but no more than the Slave's value."

Polaris was genuinely shocked. Then followed the concern that the confessor may have been Nadia. "Really?" he asked. "Have you seen this one in true form?"

Rallian shook his head and shrugged. "The confession was enough for me. She told me she's part human, part limoniad, and part mermaid."

"Her parents must have an interesting story."

"No doubt."

After a few more moments, Alik returned with the four slaves Rallian had asked for with Nadia being among them. All were clearly nervous with their lips tightly shut and they stood in a line in between the dining table and the entrance to the dining hall. Nadia was mostly bothered by Skye's evil smile. She was quickly growing to hate this girl.

"Ah, there they are!" Rallian exclaimed. "These are the slaves whom I believe to be merpeople, and this one here has already confessed it to me."

Rallian summoned closer the young girl with the freckled face which was framed by her light blue and lavender wavy hair. She was clearly upset that her secret was now out and everyone in the castle was destined to be aware of it by the end of the day. Nadia and the two other slaves looked at the young girl in shock, betrayal, and anger. Her confession certainly did little to help them keep their true ethnicities secret.

"Paola here is the part human, part limoniad, and part mermaid," Rallian went on. "She explained to me that she can turn within a minute of being submerged under water. Show the royal advisor your back, my dear."

Paola swallowed hard and hesitantly removed her shawl to unveil the part of her back that remained uncovered from her small choli top. There was a blue discoloration that faded from her waist to a little passed the middle of her back, and only kissed the back of her arms and neck. In addition to the color were the faded stripes which curled horizontally around her torso. It was clear to the other three merpeople as to why Paola had to confess to her ethnicity. Her tell-tale birthmarks practically did it for her. Polaris rubbed his chin and cheeks as he also realized this poor child's misfortune. Since he too had studied up on merfolk (and according to his journal he knew one personally), he was aware that there really could be no other explanation for her birthmarks.

"These are typical mermaid markings," Rallian explained. "Notice they match the stripes of the tiger shark."

"Yes, I do see that resemblance," Polaris replied. "I suppose this makes your slaves more valuable?"

"Oh, it must add at least a thousand crescents to them!" Skye explained in excitement.

"I'm actually not sure how much more they are worth," said Rallian. "Essentially as much as anyone would be willing to purchase them for. However, I can assure you that I won't let them go for any less than five dawns." This equaled out to about ten thousand dollars.

"Well I don't blame you," said Polaris before he took a much-needed sip of his wine. Purchasing Nadia wasn't going to be cheap.

"You can put your shawl back on, Paola," Rallian said. "It's time for the others to reveal their backs as well."

"Master," Nadia began, but Rallian gave her a most frightening look that seemed to hold her tongue for her. She made eye-contact with Polaris, but could not read the look on his face. She glanced back at her master, catching his increasingly threatening glare and finally proceeded to follow orders. Slowly, she removed the scarf she let hang down her back so that everyone could see the different sized spots which lined her arms and each side of her spine.