“A grand cock and sac. He has been tested for fertility already, and I have the paperwork to prove these testicles are full of ripened seed and capable of manufacturing much, much more over the years…if that’s your focus. But you must confess, this rod would be worth its weight in jewels even if he were barren! I have rarely seen so mighty a tool on a slave. Thick in circumference…long enough to send its seed to root deep in even the most stubborn of wombs. The foreskin was removed some time ago, perhaps in a tribal ritual when he came of age. I would allow the stimulant to continue until he ejaculates, but the slave has proven himself very potent and it might bring him out of stasis.”
The disappointed moan of the audience lasted only as long as it took for him to discontinue the stimulant. Then bids flew like birds up to him. Rhou managed them with smooth expertise.
“Damn me, I say 6,000 jewels and be done with it!” the Baron Majum burst out, slamming his fist on his table as he outstripped the last bid by 1,000 jewels. The handsome baron’s predilection for gorgeous males had made him the perfect invite to the auction, and Rhou had known he would be unable to resist so tantalizing a treat. It was all over now. Once Majum decided he wanted something, no one dared gainsay him. The Baron might have the beauty of vitality and looks all in his favor, but necessary doses of tolerance and sanity had been sorely neglected.
Still, crazy or not, the man’s jewels shone just like they should. Also, the Baron liked to tip Rhou an added surcharge whenever he brought “special” auctions to his attention.
“Excellent taste, Baron,” Rhou praised him, watching the avarice that swept over the man’s face as he stared up at his prize. “Six thousand jewels going once…going twice…?”
“The House Drakoulous bids 2 gems, milord auctioneer.”
Rhou almost fell off the edge of the stage. Two gems?! Surely he hadn’t heard right! No slave in history had ever sold for 2 gems! But he watched the shock rippling through the other buyers and the red fury exploding over the Baron’s face and he knew it was a legitimate bid.
Rhou’s eyes quickly sought out the representative of House Drakoulous. In a mélange of classes and a crowd of races, he still stood out in relief against the rest of the room. His height alone was impressive, and there was no way to discount the fact that he was an outstandingly beautiful male. However, it was his coloring, just like the merchandise at Rhou’s back, that truly astounded. Only, he was as blond as gold, rather than white. The curtain of his long, golden hair was left to settle freely about his huge shoulders, the length ending just between the blades. A long string of priceless jewel beads had been strung onto a slim rope of the gleaming hair from the top of his left temple all the way to the ends. He stood back casually against a rear wall, not up front where the prestigious House Drakoulous would have been expected to sit, his thick arms crossing a massive chest and a slave band connected around his biceps. The rich garments he wore, the sparkle of exotic embroidery, all lent voice to the wealth of his Master and his House.
Rhou would have gotten a pretty penny for that slave as well, were he up on his block tonight. His fair hair and handsome visage alone would have done. But alas, he was already owned and protected, according to that thick band around his arm, and now he would be coupled with the slave his House was about to purchase. They would make a nearly matched set and would be the envy of every House in the city. Two fine stallions in the Drakoulous stables. At such a price! This would be talked about for ages, and it would solidify Rhou’s reputation on this planet as a merchant of the finest slaves for the rest of his life.
“Sold!” Rhou blurted out, not even bothering with the formality of offering for more. Everyone there knew the bid was beyond exorbitant, and even with the High City’s notorious House rivalries, no one would counteroffer such a price. Not even the furious Baron, who went apoplectic before dumping over his chair and storming out of the auction house. Rhou quickly waved forward his assistants to prepare the slave for transport as the room broke up into a buzz of excited whispers. The Drakoulous slave pushed his way forward through the crowd, ignoring all questions and wheedling for gossip as the Rhou hurried off the stage to meet him.
“Master Drakoulous will want the promised paperwork proving fertility,” he demanded instantly as the Rhou scanned the slave’s band and downloaded the payment in full. He was shocked the slave would have access to so much wealth, but it only proved how high he was held in his Master’s esteem.
“But of course,” Rhou said, reaching into his documents bag and extending an insert chip to the slave. “You have a good eye for flesh, and your Master will be pleased.”
“Of course,” the blond male murmured as he accepted the gems for the documentation. “Have him delivered to House Drakoulous immediately. He has not been abused in any way, I take it?”
“No!” Rhou sputtered, aghast that a slave would be so bold as to question him in such a way, question his reputation!
“Very well. See that it remains that way. My Master is very particular about the treatment of slaves.”
“Yes, yes, so I see. You’re kept in a fine style.”
Rhou knew he was sneering simply because his pride was bent at this slave’s audacity, but there was something that flashed dangerously in the blond’s eyes that told him it would be best not to push his luck. Besides, it was always best to stay friendly for the sake of future sales, if he was the one who routinely did the selecting for the House slaves. It was never wise for a merchant to alienate anyone, no matter what their station.
“Tell them at the gate that Najir has sent you and they will accept the delivery if I am not there myself,” the slave instructed. “I expect you no later than sunset.”
Rhou kept silent and simply bowed his head in acknowledgement. This Najir may be a slave, but he was a powerful slave and it was clear that he knew it. So long as he lived under the protection of the mighty House Drakoulous, he was to be shown respect and all courtesy. The intricate metallic band around his upper arm with its ruby encrusted symbol announced it to all who encountered him.
As Rhou turned away, though, he secretly got pleasure from the idea that House Drakoulous might have taken on more than they were bargaining for. The new slave had been difficult to maintain. He balked against his captivity with a fury, threatening to kill his captors if ever he became free. Luckily, today’s technology could prevent that so long as one was careful. But as he had mentioned, in spite of technological superiority, the slave had fought his way out of stasis sleep more than once on the power of sheer force of will.
Anyone who fought like that was going to be quite a challenge to train.
Najir made only a quick stop at the bazaar before hurrying home. He was on foot, as he preferred whenever given the chance, so he lengthened his stride to improve his speed. He shot past all manner of pedestrians that shared the walkways with him—slaves, servants, and other commoners. Nobles and aristocracy out shopping for the high touch merchandise in the merchant shops. Clothing told the tale of their origins and their position on the rungs of society’s ladder. Jeweled adornments told a different story. One of wealth. Nobility and wealth did not always go hand in hand, but it was a fact that those with money earned far more respect than those without.
Najir was no fool. He was aware how lucky he was to be from a House with both wealth and class behind its name. When he had been sold into House Drakoulous ten years earlier, he hadn’t known a single thing about this society he now called his own. He had come from a completely different planet and a different culture altogether. Now he knew everything about this beautiful but deceptively dangerous planet and he still shuddered to think of all the other fates that might have befallen him. The worst, he believed, was to be bought and used by a man like Baron Majum. Slaves
