No guards waited outside the gates of Ashville when they arrived, instead they lounged at a small card table throwing dice just inside. As the trio rode up, one guard shot to his feet and staggered over, obviously drunk, “State your names and business!” He demanded.

“Selling some horses, checking out the auction, and maybe an inn for the night, if we can find a clean one in this shit hole.” Cid replied curtly taking the guard in with disgust and disappointment.

“We also need to see a magistrate. Took a captive in an ambush on the road from the capital.” Nita spoke up, pointing at Lilly.

“Copper a head.” The Guard replied squinting at Lilly.

Handing over the coins they forced their way into town; headed for the large white marble auction building at its center. Ashville was a dank, dilapidated town with sewage running in the open gutters and lean-tos clogging every alley.

“Leave it to the slavers guild to have the only clean building in town.” Nita said dryly, when it came into view.

“Well it, is, the only trade in this place. Not even farmers are trying to grow anything this close to a contested border.” Cid replied. “With any luck the magistrate’s office will be in the auction building and not down one of these shit stained alleys.”

“One can only hope.” Lilly chimed in.

“I think I’m starting to like you. Too bad you tried to kill me.” Nita said throwing Lilly a grin. “Don’t worry I’m keeping you around for a bit. I want to see if you awaken to anything. You’ll be worth more that way.”

“Thank the Goddess. I didn’t want to be sold here. With my luck I’d probably be sold off as troll fodder or something.” Lilly replied with a shudder. “I’ll just have to convince you to keep me. You seem like decent people and I’d rather not hang, regardless of what my father would say about honor.”

Approaching the stable yards, a block shy of the Auction house, Cid dismounted and approached a stable hand loitering on a fence watching horses in a paddock.

“Hey, I’d like to stable our 6 horses, have them brushed, fed, and a farrier take a look at them.” He requested.

“Dat’ll be 3 silver chits for a day and whatever old Barlow says if’n they need work.” The man replied sticking out a hand and letting out a high-pitched whistle with two fingers of the other.

Paying the man with a nod, Nita and the others dismounted and each shouldered two sets of saddle bags. Then headed further up the block toward the Auction house; as stable boys came running out to collect their horses.

“Think this Auction house has rooms? Didn’t your dad mention something about that?” Nita asked Cid.

“We shall see.” Cid said with a shrug.

“I sure hope so, would be nice to have a bath or at least a basin and pitcher.” Lilly chimed in.

“Not going to ask her to keep her mouth shut, are you?” Cid asked Nita.

“Nope. I think she’s kinda cute and funny. Why would I shut that up? Besides how else would we know that there are Orcs in the world that dream of being clean?” Nita questioned cheekily.

“You’re impossible.” Cid laughed.

“Excuse me is the Magistrate’s office in this building?” Nita asked a passing aide as they walked into the large entrance foyer.

“Yes mam. Head down that hall there, it’s the fourth door on the right.” The aide replied pointing.

“Thanks.” Nita said taking the lead; knocking briskly when they arrived.

“Come in!” A female voice said, muffled by the door.

Opening the door, the trio found a small, positively ancient, fox-kin sitting behind a massive walnut desk. She had the royal brand prominent on the left side of her neck; marking her as an agent of the crown.

“Come in. Come in. my name is Ruth how can I help you people today?” Ruth asked, gesturing for them to sit.

Entering, they all dropped their bags in the corner and sat in the proffered chairs.

“Well, Lilly here, and some of her friends tried to rob us on the road earlier today. We subdued and collared her. Her friends, unfortunately perished in the incident. We need to have the events read, verified and documented. She has agreed to branding instead of the noose.” Nita explained. Looking at Lilly who nodded in resigned confirmation.

“Easy enough. There will be 6 silver chits in fees. Please give me your hand.” Ruth said holding out her left hand.

“I’ll do it. I had a better view of events.” Cid offered, putting his hand in Ruth’s before Nita could move. Cid’s face scrunched up as soon as his hand touched Ruth’s, then slackened into a blank look almost instantly.

“That part always creeps me out. Mind mages…” Lilly said with a grimace.

A few minutes later Cid looked like he was waking from a deep sleep as Ruth looked up with a smile. “Well that was very cut and dry. It’s refreshing to do that to someone whose been trained to open up. Just need to have a look through our young Orc friend’s mind now.”

Lilly shuddered before she put her hand in Ruth’s, and went slack just like Cid minutes earlier. When Lilly was done Ruth nodded, pulled out a stack of documents, and started to fill them out. She asked Cid and Nita to sign occasionally, and Lillian to spell out her full name: apparently, she had only the one.

“Okay, now the big question. Are you keeping her? Or selling her here at Auction?” Ruth asked.

“I’ll be keeping her for now, at least till she is past her possible awakenings.” Nita replied.

“Ok, so do you have a Brand? I see your friend here has one.” Ruth said looking at the 3 big stars on Cid’s left arm.

“No ma-am. I haven’t ever kept a slave myself, always handed them off to Cid’s father.” Nita said with a small grimace.

“Ok, do you have a family brand?”

“No, I’m an orphan, and Galloway retainer.” Nita replied. It was the easiest answer she found.

“Well you’re going to have to pick one. I must retrieve Scott and the registration book. You have a good think about what you want. Just remember, everything obvious is probably taken.” Ruth said getting up and heading out the door. Sticking her head back in she said, “Oh, the master’s marks usually cost about 15 gold crowns, plus one for Lilly there.” She pointed.

“Shit.” Nita muttered, looking at her hands. At least Cid convinced me to save for the mark years ago, besides I’ll get something from the gear and horses. Though we will have to keep Lilly's horse. Looking up and around, her gaze settled on Lilly. Something that no one has. Well I haven’t seen a tiger lily since I landed in this world, and mom loved those. But how do I describe a tiger lily to someone that’s never seen one. As her thoughts ground down, Ruth walked back into the room. Mind mages can plant thoughts as well as receive.

“I know what I want, but I need your help, because I’m pretty sure no one around here has ever seen one.” Nita said with a slight smile.

“Oh? What’s that?”

“A tiger lily. It’s a flower from my home. I want it full size. Up the center of my back.”

“A tiger lily huh? You’re right I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of one. Give me your hand, I won’t even charge you. You don’t get to see many beautiful new things at my age. Especially in my line of work.” Ruth replied smiling with her hand outstretched. Placing her hand in Ruth’s, Nita concentrated on the image of the lilies that used to grow in her mom’s flower bed.

“Beautiful, I like it.” Ruth said standing and approaching the young man that had snuck in while she was in the trance, holding out her hand to him. “I have your image Scott.”

“You know, just once I’d like to do an image the way I want.” Scott grumbled.

“Oh! It’s just a memory of the flowers. You can do it however you want, as long as it’s that flower, and beautiful.” Nita said cheerfully.

“Well I’ll see what I can come up with.” After getting the image from Ruth, a smile slowly crept onto Scotts face. “I got just the thing.” He said.

Taking a box from his shoulder bag and setting it on the table Scott opened it to display ink in an assortment of colors which he started rifling through; setting some aside and opening others. Looking up at Nita he asked. “Please take your armor and top off. Turn around for me.”

“You go sit outside. I don’t need your lecherous gaze.” Nita said looking at Cid.

“Oh, come off it, Nita, it’s not like I haven’t seen you topless before! Besides like we were discussing this morning, it’s not like you even got tits!” Cid said dodging Nita’s surprisingly quick kick and ducking out the door.

“Git! Swine!” Nita shouted at his back, while Lilly and Ruth both laughed at their antics.