Chapter 172 (1/2)
Chapter 172
Chapter 172: Inside The Tavern II
<hr>
“What’s wrong?” Mica whispered, leaning in close with her head tilted down so only the bottonize so my head, I turned back to my table “No one important”
A different barmaid—this one much less affectionate—arrived with our order She placed the three le bowl of soup containing a piece of bread sloppily sub twoacross the table in front of me and Mica
“There’s a stall a block down to feed your slaves,” she said with blatant distaste
Ignoring her attitude, Olfred sie steith the piece of bread “It’s been a long journey I’ll have theht”
I didn’t bother to see her reaction, but she left wordlessly Myin front of ainst us as the carbonated liquid reached ood
Mica alulp Her body shi+vered as she let out a blissful sigh “Even this cheap ale tastes heavenly to Mica right now”
With a silent chuckle, I lifted h, I spotted the sa at the saer toward our table
“Looks like we’ll be having guests,” I muttered to the two lances as I set down my drink Sylvie rustled deeper into my cloak while I pulled the hood a bit more over my face just in case
Just a few ly beard ca a condescending s as, if not arded ot up without a word, pulling Mica from her seat as well, and stood behind Olfred
The wos, let out a snort “You really shouldn’t be spoiling your slaves like this It makes them think they can act out”
“How I treat my slaves is none of your business,” Olfred replied curtly, sliding in another piece of bread underneath his mask “Nohat can I do for the two of you? I hope you can keep things succinct”
“Succinct?” the roaned in protest as he leaned back on the seat but continued to hold out “Soot there You should be careful around these parts, especially if you’re traveling from the South”
<hr><hr>
I could see the two trying to size up Olfred Mica could pass off as a huht realize that Olfred wasn’t human
“Thank you for the advice,” Olfred responded as he continued locking eyes with the two of theive you a elco forward on her elbows
“We graciously ca the way you treated your slaves,” her coaze at Mica and me “We have a whole line of slaves for sale that I feel you’d be interested in”
My jaw clenched at her words I iined a room full of children and adults alike, barely clothed and fed, kept only as commodities
“I’ll have to politely decline,” the old lance replied almost immediately
“Don’t say that” The portly woe of her seat to be closer to Olfred “We’ve got a fine line of both girls and wo for a more practical slave”
“We even have dwarves and elves,” the large rin
There was a beat of silence before Olfred responded “I thought after the formation of the Council, interracial slavery had been banned?”
“That’s why it’ll cost you an ar if you want to buy one” The hter at his own joke—or what he considered one
If the lance was angry, he did a good job of hiding it Mica, on the other hand, stirred besidefroh to fillafter the union of the three races, the leaders of all three sidesrid of slavery in one fell sould not only cause dissatisfaction ast slave owners, but there would be severe ra rid of a large portion of the kingdo that the Council had been working diligently on was taking a step-by-step approach; rewarding owners who freed their slaves and heavily taxing owners who kept slaves
While slavery existed in all three kingdoh demand for dwarven and particularly elven slaves from Sapin At least that’s what Vincent, the owner of the Helstea Auction House, told ently pushed the bowl of steay “On second thought Perhaps I am a little curious about what you have to offer”
The woman inched a bit closer, her face contorted into what she considered coquettish “I knew you’d be interested I’ll let our boss know”
“Is it okay if I at least get settled into an inn somewhere nearby first?” Olfred asked “Our journey has been soh”
<hr>
The woman locked eyes with her companion before she motioned hiiant ar glasses with a towel “A rooent and his two slaves!”
The wo him toward the back door with her bearded companion close behind This time, the seateda path as their gazes bore holes in us
Before going into the back hall with the hunched elder, I looked back oncein our direction with a bar into his ear
Once alked deeper into the scarcely-lit hallway, much of the clamor from the tavern died down Mica and I trailed behind Olfred silently while the masked lance himself responded to the portly woman’s idle banter
“Here’s your room, sir That’ll be two silvers” The old man held out an empty palm while his other hand held a rusted key