Nita woke to a sharp pain on her abdomen. Looking down she saw a small hand, with claws sneaking in and out, kneading her stomach. With a groan she gently took Kit’s hand from her stomach and shimmied her way out of bed. Glancing at the large grandfather clock in the corner, she swore quietly to herself, seeing that she had less than an hour to get ready and get to the Auction. Turning back to Kit, she gave her a couple good shakes.

“Wakey, wakey, we have less than an hour to get ready.” Nita said when Kit looked at her blurrily.

“So, I take it we won’t be seeing the armorer today?” Kit said, rubbing her eyes vigorously.

“Nope looks like we slept a good 6 hours.” Nita said shaking her head, as she shuffled through a trunk in the corner of her room. Pulling random articles of clothing out and tossing them on the bed Nita continued to dig. “Where the hell are, they.” She mumbled to herself.

“What are you doing?” Kit asked curiously.

“Ah, ha!” Nita exclaimed holding up a pair of ratty pants to dig into a seam of the left leg. After fiddling with them for a minute Nita displayed a key to Kit. “Found it. Now which stone was it again?” Nita asked herself, tapping her chin while she studied the wall to the left of the door into her bedchamber. Finally, sure, she used her full weight to push on a rough grey stone that looked no different than the ones next to it. With a click it shifted back an inch and stuck. Behind the chest she had been digging in there was another click, that coincided with the first. A larger stones face fell open revealing a small chest. Nita gently picked it up and unlocked it to reveal the contents. Inside was 2 platinum kings a smattering of crowns, bits and chits as well are her dead cellphone and a fine gold chain with a tiger’s eye pendant she had been wearing when she came to this world. She picked up the pendant and stroked it gently before setting it back and digging out the coins and dumping them in an empty purse. She then relocked the chest and replaced it, fitting the big stone’s face back in place and pressed hard. It clicked back in place and the stone by the door resurfaced correspondingly.

“Thank you.” Kit said quietly when Nita was done.

“For what?” Nita asked raising an eyebrow at her.

“For trusting me with your secret stash.” Kit said grinning at Nita.

“Right! Here.” Nita said holding out the purse to Kit, shaking it once.

“What?” Kit asked startled, taking it hesitantly.

“It’s safer with you. You are obliviously a slave, with the facial brands and all, so no one would expect you to be carrying any sort of real wealth.” Nita said with a laugh. “Anyways, we better get dressed and skedaddle. Evelin will be pissed if we miss the start of the Auction.” She continued as she slipped pants on and checked her half naked self in the standing mirror, messing with her hair before starting to braid it into a single long tail.

The Yellow Light Auction house in Riverhead was a beautiful building, comprised of white marble with streaks of a light blue running throughout, it stood 4 impressive stories and took up nearly an acre. It was an elegant display of arches, balconies and dark tiled steep roofs. Nita once again took in the marble, as she and Kit mounted the steps following the line of people, a mix of both elegant and tasteless, that were making their way inside. It was always impressive what Yellow Light was able to accomplish in a short time. Riverhead wasn’t even 2 years old and they had this building completed in the first 6 months.

Straightening the dark leather vest, she wore over a bright white blouse, Nita turned back to check Kit was still behind her before greeting the usher with a wide smile.

“Evening Milady. Do you require a seat and placard?” The panther-kin asked with a short bow.

“I’m meeting with Lady Olane, box 12. Anita Alexander.” Nita said with a smile for the handsome kin.

“Of course, follow me if you would.” He said with a sweeping motion, after checking his logbook, before leading them to Lady Olane’s box.

“Ma’am your guest is here.” The usher said after rapping a knuckle on the door twice.

“Thanks.” Evelin said to the usher when she opened the door. He gave a short bow, and turned sharply and left.

“Nita love, do come in. Father is running late so it’s just the two of us till he shows. Oh! I see you brought one of your collection! My, she is fearsome looking with all those scars, brands and the ear. My dear, are you a pure Bengal?” Evelin addressed Nita, then asked Kit.

“Yes, Milady.” Kit said politely under the lady’s scrutiny. Kit took a quick look around, noticing a large bear-kin with a large mace standing guard at the door, she nodded to him, and took up place on the other side of the door; which opened out into the hall.

“Do you know how rare Bengals are? Where did you find her?! Don’t tell me she is your mage.” Evelin asked, hitting Nita gently with the back of her hand. Then flopping back into one of the couches with a good view of below; her skirts fanning out around her.

Looking around the box, Nita took in the couches and chairs and small bar with refreshment and food, then she looked down onto the auction floor and the seats situated before the stage, with its huge red curtains. The Yellow Light’s slaves and employees were busy setting up and ushering people in. Turning back to Evelin she smiled. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me love. I do love a good story.” She said with a grin and twinkle in her eye.

Nita laughed; she would swear that was the first genuine grin she had seen from Evelin.

“I found her in Ashville the same night I got my brand. And no, she’s not my mage. That would be Lillian; the half-orc teenager Cid and I took when her and her friends decided to rob us- “

“Ha, I knew it! Jacey owes me 2 chits!” Evelin interrupted with delight.

Shaking her head at Evelin’s interruption, Nita continued her tale. “So, we went to the auction to kill the evening after my branding. Cid and I bought Rebeca a rabbit-kin together and Kit was the last offering of then night and a last-minute addition the house put up.” Nita said.

“So?” Evelin prompted.

“So, what?” Nita asked goading her.

“How much did you pay for her, you ninny!?” Evelin asked with a come-on gesture.

“You’ll never guess.” Nita said with a wide smile.

“This isn’t funny Mistress.” Kit put in quietly, shuffling her feet.

“I’ll bet you a crown you can’t guess in three tries.” Nita dared.

“Oh? Okay, I get to ask Kit 3 leading questions, and I win if I’m within 1 crown; and you’re on.” Evelin said playing along, while gesturing Nita to sit beside her.

“Deal. What is your first question?” Nita asked confident.

“What was your first owner’s profession?” Evelin asked Kit, looking over the back of the couch at her.

“He was a Breeder Ma’am.” Kit said.

“Shit, that makes no sense, why would you have so many scars with your breeding? Your first owner would have been very careful to make sure any punishment didn’t have lasting marks.” Tapping her chin Evelin continued to work her way through the problem.

“Ok, next question. Where were you when you received most of your scars?” Evelin asked Kit trying to narrow down her thoughts.

“At sea, aboard the pirate frigate Blackstrap, and an equal amount aboard the Privateer schooner Hitchcock’s Revenge.” Kit responded with a slight smile warming to the challenge.

“A swashbuckler huh. Quite the jump from a breeder’s holdings. Hmm.” Evelin thought a while longer.

“Ok, last question. What profession did your last brand owner, before Nita, have?” Evelin asked.

“Mercenary Captain.” Kits answered.

“Alright, my first guess is 18 crowns. She’s obviously a good fighter: she has been one for a long time if her scars and brands are any indication.” Evelin explained her reasoning

“Nope.” Nita answered keeping a neutral expression.

Evelin thought for a bit longer and studied Kit closely. How she held herself, the way she would brush her hands over her kukri’s gently and her constant awareness of her surroundings.

“24 crowns?” Evelin guessed, allowing that fighters that tended to live through lots of battles were well valued.

“Nope,” Nita said, fighting hard to keep the smile from her face; failing hard.

“Wait.” Evelin said seeing Nita’s mirth. “No… 5 crowns?” She asked suddenly dropping her guess greatly, because of Nita’s expression.

“Nope, not even close.” Nita said finally laughing. “I believe you owe me a crown.” Nita said her eyes shining.

“Wait, what did she pay for you?” Evelin asked Kit, knowing she couldn’t outright lie.

“Go ahead tell her.” Nita said with a chuckle.

“3 silver chits, Milady.” Kit said to Evelin.

“What!!” Evelin said looking back and forth between the two like they had pulled one over on her.

“She was in horrible shape when I bought her, unresponsive. They dragged her onto the stage like a corpse. No one would even bid on her.” Nita explained.

“That doesn’t make sense, love. There is no, logical, reason they would sell a slave like that.” Evelin reasoned studying Kit. “Why did they sell you like that, and not allow you to recover? They would have made more.”

“I would rather be whipped or deal with the three-fold-return damage from the brand, then let a man touch me. In fact, most of my scarring is from this personal stance; and the punishments from resisting. Simply put, I’m only attracted to women. Also, I had a rough day, before I was sold, and was a little hysterical.” Kit explained.

Evelin nodded finally understanding.

Nita, however, just stared at Kit slightly bemused. Huh. She thought to herself.