">You can't be serious!<"
">Seems I am, child.<"
The appraiser flicked a dot of dirt off the engraved cube.
">Fool's gold. Copper. Worthless with any trader."<" She let it drop from her fingers onto the scarp of linen it was given in, as if handling the object was beneath her.
">But,<" Her lips curled in an unpleasant smile. ">Worry not. None would hold that little mistake against such a young, inexperienced-<"
The woman's voice became condescendingly sweet as she reached over the table, to pat the disgruntled cheek of-
Senu bit her finger.
The appraiser shrieked, pulling back the hurt hand, as the slave at her side sprang forth from a poorly concealed nap.
He unsheathed the sword at his hip, taking a groggy step forward, while the assailant swiftly threw himself off the stool, rolling and then scrambling across the floor for the spear propped up against the bar-
Senu's air left him when a heavy foot crashed into his back, pinning him to the floor.
The bodyguard-slave smacked his lips and scratched his hip, while his mistress furiously rose from the table, holding the bit finger. She was an older woman, dark skin losing its shine, coiled black hair peppered with gray - and that same mane bounced as she marched up to where Senu was struggling to take in a full breath.
"Ungrateful brat." She hissed in the Tradertongue. "I not take offense you sell me cheap grave-decor. I be kind. I be understanding. And you wound me?" She dramatically revealed her finger - a show put on for the foreigners assembled here for dinner and drink, to see how the well-established appraiser of items dealt with unruly customers.
The digit had not as much as a red dot on it. The woman realized this, and swiftly curled it within a fist. Repurposing embarrassment for anger, she lowered to her knees besides the pinned boy, reaching into her sleeve - pulling out a small dagger.
">Num, kneel on him!<" The slave obeyed, and the boy whimpered as the full weight of an adult man crushed him.
The appraiser took hold of his wrist.
"I treat other as they treat me." She said, vile shine in her eyes, and raised the dagger over the boy's hand.
">Seems I am, child.<"
The appraiser flicked a dot of dirt off the engraved cube.
">Fool's gold. Copper. Worthless with any trader."<" She let it drop from her fingers onto the scarp of linen it was given in, as if handling the object was beneath her.
">But,<" Her lips curled in an unpleasant smile. ">Worry not. None would hold that little mistake against such a young, inexperienced-<"
The woman's voice became condescendingly sweet as she reached over the table, to pat the disgruntled cheek of-
Senu bit her finger.
The appraiser shrieked, pulling back the hurt hand, as the slave at her side sprang forth from a poorly concealed nap.
He unsheathed the sword at his hip, taking a groggy step forward, while the assailant swiftly threw himself off the stool, rolling and then scrambling across the floor for the spear propped up against the bar-
Senu's air left him when a heavy foot crashed into his back, pinning him to the floor.
The bodyguard-slave smacked his lips and scratched his hip, while his mistress furiously rose from the table, holding the bit finger. She was an older woman, dark skin losing its shine, coiled black hair peppered with gray - and that same mane bounced as she marched up to where Senu was struggling to take in a full breath.
"Ungrateful brat." She hissed in the Tradertongue. "I not take offense you sell me cheap grave-decor. I be kind. I be understanding. And you wound me?" She dramatically revealed her finger - a show put on for the foreigners assembled here for dinner and drink, to see how the well-established appraiser of items dealt with unruly customers.
The digit had not as much as a red dot on it. The woman realized this, and swiftly curled it within a fist. Repurposing embarrassment for anger, she lowered to her knees besides the pinned boy, reaching into her sleeve - pulling out a small dagger.
">Num, kneel on him!<" The slave obeyed, and the boy whimpered as the full weight of an adult man crushed him.
The appraiser took hold of his wrist.
"I treat other as they treat me." She said, vile shine in her eyes, and raised the dagger over the boy's hand.