Rashid led us down a complex series of lanes and side streets, getting us to our destination in barely any time at all. The building was far larger and more pleasing to the eye than I’d anticipated, surpassing even the library back in the royal capital.
“Is this the store?” I asked. “It’s a lot bigger than I expected.”
“It is,” Rashid said. “This is the trading house we’re looking for, though I’ll admit it’s expanded quite substantially since last I saw it. Business must be booming.”
We made our way inside, stepping into a spacious lobby. At the back, an old woman in strange attire sat behind a white stone reception counter, puffing away at a tobacco pipe. I spent several moments gazing around the room, unsure of where to go, before the old woman impatiently beckoned me over.
“Excuse me, sir? You look a little wet behind the ears. First time at a trading house?”
“Yeah, this is all very new to me.”
“That so? Well, I’ll see to your friends behind you in a moment. First things first: You’ve come looking for a slave, I presume?”
“That’s right. We’re here solely on business.”
“You...don’t say. Well, since you’re a first-time customer, I’ll give you the rundown.” The old woman examined me critically from head to toe before breathing a short sigh. “The slaves our company deals in can be separated into three broad categories: for labor, for knowledge, and for companionship. The first group are sturdier than most, whereas the second are better educated, making them more adaptable to a variety of work. That’s reflected in their pricing, of course. More than anything else, however, we of the Galen Company are known for our pets and companions. Since your feet carried you here, of all places, I assume that’s what you’re looking for? They’re...rather expensive, I’m afraid.”
She really seemed to think I was broke. I supposed that I couldn’t blame her—after everything we’d been through, my clothes were in dire need of a wash. So was I, thinking about it.
“Actually, I’m looking for someone in particular,” I explained, then gestured over my shoulder. “That girl’s little brother.”
“Excuse me?” The old woman gawked at my request. “Be reasonable, dear boy. We deal in slaves; I can’t even begin to imagine how many brats her age we buy and sell every day. If you’re going to obstruct business, then please... Hmm? Now that I get a better look at her...yes, I do remember her brother.”
“You do?”
“Yes, though I’m afraid we can’t sell him to you.”
I exchanged a glance with Lynne before turning back to the old woman. “What do you mean you can’t?”
“How could we? We just moved him to the quarantine annex. He’s weak and diseased—already at death’s door. If we sold him, it would be a blemish on our establishment’s good reputation.”
Mina must have heard the old woman’s words, because she leaped down from Ines’s back and ran up to the counter, latching on to it. “P-Please! Please help my brother!” she pleaded tearfully. “I... I’ll do anything! So, please!”
“Your tears are nothing but a bother for me, little lady. Why not ask your master first? Not that I’d recommend it. We built the quarantine annex to prevent sick slaves from contaminating the rest—once they go in, there’s no coming out.”
“N-No!”
Despite Mina’s desperation, the old woman looked nothing more than annoyed.
“Isn’t there anything you can do?” I pressed. “I’m asking as well.”
“Tsk. You’re slow to catch on, aren’t you, sir? Sorry, but when I say a slave isn’t for sale, I mean it. Now, off with you! Keep pestering me, and I’ll have to call someone.”
“Pardon the interruption, madam.” Rashid approached, sidestepping Mina, who still clung desperately to the counter. He leaned close to the old woman and flashed her a smile. “Just for reference, how much would it cost us for you to consider making the transaction?”
“Excuse me? What nonsense are you...? Hmm. Haven’t seen you before.” The old woman examined Rashid’s face and attire closely before letting out a quiet sigh. “Well, fine. I suppose it wouldn’t be impossible to enter negotiations, as long as you cover the necessary costs. At a rough estimate, let’s see—sundry expenses, the slave’s base price, our commission... Two hundred million gald should do.”
“Two hundred million?” Lynne and I repeated, exchanging looks.
“Don’t take this as me trying to cheat you. To restore the slave’s health to the bare minimum necessary for sale, we’d need to pay for his medicine and treatment—and to do that, we’d need to pay the expenses associated with handling a person with a communicable disease, as dictated by Sarenzan law. There’s also the costly procedure of re-registering him as a slave; we removed him from the record, since we expected him to die soon.”
“How about it, Noor?” Rashid asked. “That’s her offer.”
“Well, I’ve got the money on hand, so sure. Can we do the deal now?”
“I thought you’d say that,” the old woman continued. “What kind of imbecile would burn such a vast sum on a beastfolk brat with one foot in the grave? If you finally understand the idiocy you’ve been spouting, then leave and don’t come back until... Hold on. I beg your pardon? Did you just agree to pay?”
I took two platinums from my pouch and set them on the counter. The old woman’s eyes flew open, and she reached toward the coins with trembling fingers.
“P-Platinum? R-R-Real platinum?!”
“Is that enough?” I asked. “I’ve got more if it’s not.”
“I-It’s plenty, sir! We’ll have your product ready for sale at once! P-Please, wait right there! I won’t be long!” The old woman sprang up and made to leave, only to stop at the sight of a plump, well-dressed man sauntering down a hallway toward us.