The pain was extraordinary. At least it was fast. Getting a full back tattoo. Which would normally take days of work over multiple sessions, all in one hour, with zero healing time, hurt. And that was only the physical part. The manipulation of her essence brought on waves of nausea and vertigo.

Ink mages attached their creations, not just to a person’s skin, but also to their innate magic or essence. This living magic is how the marks were used to bind people: master to slave, husband and wife, even mage and animal familiar. Though familiar bonds were much more complicated and required a mind mage and usually a lot of gold. Not to mention a willing creature to be bound.

“Wow. It looks like they are blowing gently in a breeze and maybe slowly growing? And is that a ladybug?” Lilly speculated staring at the full back tattoo on Nita. The stems started at the top of her butt and the flowers spread to fill her whole back with at least 8 distinct flowers. “Don’t you think, maybe, you went a little overboard? Didn’t she ask for only one flower?’’ She asked turning to Scott. “Though, I'll admit it is absolutely beautiful.’’

“That’s not even the best part! They will appear to bloom fully before losing their petals and fading, then a new distinct flower will grow to take its place. Notice how some are even facing the other way? There will be at least 5 flowering at all times.” Scott gushed about his work.

“Yup overboard.” Nita confirmed a little excited by the idea of it.

“Ok where are we putting it on Lilly? neck or hand?” Scott asked Nita.

“What do you think, Lilly?” Nita asked turning to her new Half-Orc slave.

“It’s pretty, put it on the left side of my neck.” Lilly replied, surprised to be asked.

Owners brands could be placed anywhere on the body. This was mostly because of the size. Slave marks were generally about a tenth the size of the master’s brand, and most owners wanted their slave brands to be easily recognizable. Slave marks were required by law to be visibly displayed in warm environments and indoors. So were typically placed on the hands, arms, or neck. Though some cruel owners placed them on their slaves’ faces. There was one case of a Duke in the capital whose brand was an eye that he liked to place on foreheads, which was just plain creepy.

“Remember, if you’re ever sold it will lose its animation and becoming black and grey, but you will be stuck with it.” Ruth put in.

“Yea, neck please.” Lilly said cheerfully.

“I’m not sure how to say this. I’m not sure if your tribe ever mentioned how these collars work. But it’s been suppressing all your negative emotions and making you happy. Everything you should have been feeling, since you were collared, is going to hit you once Scott here finishes the mark, and the power switches from the collar.” Nita said frowning at Lilly’s cheerfulness.

“I know.” Lilly replied quietly. “It’s strange knowing how I should be feeling but being detached from it.”

“You need to choose an heir for your brand. Otherwise if you die, your slaves will automatically revert to the Crown.” Ruth said. “Unless, of course, someone else catches them and deactivates their brands.”

“I’ll just have them go to Count Galloway’s family for now. Do you have the paperwork? And does Scott have to do anything with my brand?” Nita asked.

“No, all legal brands, created in Walcester, are automatically connected to the Crown. So, it’s a legal proceeding to reacquire inherited slaves. Unless it’s a family brand, then the slaves will automatically transfer to the physically closest inheritor with space.” Ruth explained handing Nita some documents, which she started filling out.

Scott set to work, and they watched as Lilly sweated and shook from the pain and nausea. Keeping her lips pressed tightly together, barely making a whimper, tears running down her cheeks.

Nita got dressed and stuck her head out the door. Spotting Cid squatting up against the wall with his eyes closed she said. “Hey I’m done. He’s just doing up Lilly’s mark. You can come back in now.”

“So, when are you going to show me yours? I see you covered up already.” Cid said looking at her with a grin.

“You saw me almost naked plenty, when we were younger you leche.” Nita said giving him a smirk, pulling her head back into the room.

“I’m just going to see if they have rooms here.” Cid said sticking his head in after her.

“We do. Just ask one of the aide’s out front and they will help you.” Ruth said to his back as he left.

“You can go too. Maybe go check out the end of the auction. There should be about an hour left in today’s run. The unique offerings are generally at the end of the day, maybe you’ll find something you want. It might be good to give Lilly here some space when the mark is finished. It was you that took her and killed her friends.” Ruth said with a knowing frown for Lilly.

Nita caught up to Cid as he was finishing his transaction with a young Aid and turned to look at her. “We have a room on the 3rd floor. It even has its own bath, which I paid them to fill.” He said.

“Great. Want to check out the auction? I'm going to let them finish up with Lilly and give her some space to grieve. Ruth said she would bring her, and our bags, to our room when they were done.” Nita said.

“Sure. Father said to look out for good craftsmen at auctions on our way, remember. We have been avoiding that responsibility. You know him, anything to save a crown.” Cid said turning back to the aid and asking, “Can we get a number for the auction please?’’

“Of course. Here you go sir.” The aid said handing him a placard from the table behind him.

With that they headed through the main doors in the central hall and up the stairs beyond. As they crested the stairs to look down onto the auction floor, it appeared they were selling off a large cave troll. The Price was already a staggering 35 gold crowns.

“Mercenary companies.” Cid said pointing out the bidders.

“Ah.” Nita responded. “Well let’s find a seat, maybe we'll get lucky and find something for your father.”

As they found a seat, the auction for the troll wrapped up, and attendants were dragging out a naked, short, and disheveled, bunny beast-kin. She had a beautiful face but was flat chested and assed. Her ears were mismatched as well, one being black and the other white. Otherwise her fur was an enduring mix of the two colors, but she carried her extra weight awkwardly around her middle.

“Now we have the runt of the litter, we had up for sale earlier. Do I have 1 gold crown?” The Auctioneer announced over the din.

“I have 1 crown. At 34.”

“I have 2 crowns on 56.”

…

…

“I have 12 crowns with 34. Remember these girls are 18 and legally allowed to be run out of a military brothel.”

“I have 12 crowns going once.” The Auctioneer continued.

“You know, if I could move her spare weight to her ass and tits, I bet she would be worth at least twice that. She’s beautiful otherwise, her nose is even human looking, and you know that’s rare on rabbit beast-kin. Look at her coloring its beautiful.” Nita said offhandedly with a sigh.

“All you think about is how to use your magic, every chance you can get.” Cid said slightly amused.

“I’m a result of my upbringing. I rarely get to use my magic on others. A girl is allowed to dream.” Nita responded sticking her tongue out at him.

“I’ll take that bet.” Cid said suddenly, holding up his placard.

“14 crowns.” He shouted to the front.

“Wait! I never agreed to terms, and I was joking.” Nita protested.

“I have 14 crowns. With 89.”

“Do I have 15? No?” The auctioneer asked looking at the lady with number 34, who shook her head.

“14 going once.”

“14 going twice.”

“SOLD! To 89.” The auctioneer finished.

“We will split the profit, after expenses, once we return to the capital. Well, you and father will, since it’s his money. But if you can’t sell her at a decent profit on our 14 crowns, you have to pay for the loss plus a crown and 5 chits for fathers’ loan.” Cid said with a wink.

“Fine! Greedy ass.” Nita grumped.

“Me and my big mouth.” She mumbled.

The auctioneers were taking the rabbit-kin off and were bringing out another troll. This one looked to be a small forest troll.

“How many would you front me for? Hypothetically?” She asked Cid suddenly decisive.

“Well your brand can probably handle about 20 slaves right now; if they are mundane. It is your full back, right? That is a lot of living mana. But that isn’t really the deciding factor. We have 6 horses, and 4 of us, now that we bought that rabbit-kin. So, go head and get two more if you can keep it under 20crowns. Father gave me 100 for the trip, and we can always use some of what you have squirreled away, if we get in a pinch. The same deal applies, you split the profit with the family, so choose wisely.” Cid said.

“Perfect!” Nita replied suddenly perkily, dollar signs blinding her. Deciding to, maybe, try embracing this new part of her life.

Unfortunately, the next three quarters of an hour, were mostly offerings that the various mercenary companies were interested in, and all went for 25 crowns or more.

“Alright folks. This is the last lot for today. Sorry about this, the handlers want to get her out of the pens, she makes the others uncomfortable. She is 22 and has some fighting experience, I’m also assured she can still have kids.” The auctioneer said. The handlers were dragging out a limp, small, at most 5-foot, Cat-girl with beautiful Bengal fur, and scars. Her whole body was covered in scars and newer abrasions, where her fur was missing. Some were openly weeping. The majority of her scars were on her arms and back, with only a few on her face and chest. Even her tail looked like it was broken in a few spots, and the top of one ear was missing, giving her a wild, feral look. She also had at least 12 slave tattoos, that Nita could see, indicating numerous owners.

“Oh, my God.” Nita said tears forming in her eyes.

“Some owners aren’t happy with the obedience magic inherent in the Brands. Or they straight up enjoy abusing their property.” Cid said shaking his head. “She's also had a lot of owners, could indicate she’s trouble or untrainable. Did say she had fighting experience however, so some of the scars will be from that.” He cautioned also noting the brands.

“Ok. I’d like to start the bidding off at 5 silver chits.” The auctioneer announced. There was silence. No one responded. There was some nervous shuffling. It seemed no one was interested in an unmoving, abused Cat-girl today.

“No? How about 3 silver chits?”

“Do it.” Nita said resolute.

“You sure? She looks catatonic, and we can’t afford to be slowed down. We are a day behind as it is, with the weather last week.” Cid asked

“Do it.” Nita repeated.

“Fine.” Cid grunted raising his placard.

“I have 3 chits, with 89.” The auctioneer said.

“Do I have 4?”

“No? Fine, going once, going twice. SOLD. To the man with 89, for 3 chits.” The auctioneer said clearly annoyed. “That’s all for tonight folks. Please make your way to the registrar to pay and pick up your purchases.”

“Well, let’s go pay and pick up our new girls.” Cid said shaking his head. Getting up and heading toward the kiosk, and the line of people waiting to pay.

“They will be worth it. I promise! Hell, 3 chits, that’s got to be the cheapest slave ever.” Nita tempered.

“I’ll never understand how you can find a positive in everything.” Cid snarked.

“I can’t help being this awesome!” Nita shot back pointing at herself, mock strutting a bit.