The slave merchant followed Kael's gaze and chuckled. "Ah, the problem lady. Name's Seris Halwain. Used to be a knight. Noble blood, if you believe the records. House Halwain got wiped out during the Northern Purge—something about treason or backing the wrong side of a rebellion. Political mess."
Kael raised a brow. "And she ended up here?"
"Yeah," the merchant said, tapping his ledger. "But she's special. Killed two previous buyers."
Kael tilted his head. "And you're still alive?"
The merchant grinned, lifting her collar to show the thin silver rune circling her throat. "Master-brand. High-tier binding. She can't lift a finger against me without frying every nerve in her body."
"But she's clever. First owner? She 'tripped' and he fell on his own dagger. Second? Heart stopped during sparring. Just happened to be during a thunderstorm, with a magically conductive training sword in his hand."
Kael whistled low. "That's not clever. That's artistically homicidal."
Kael studied the woman. Her eyes flicked to him—cold.
"Combat rating?" Kael asked.
"Tier B," the merchant said.
"She trained in sword and shield," the merchant added. "Was an officer, if her papers are real. She's strong. Not a virgin, though. Bit older. And her tongue—gods, her tongue's a blade sharper than most steel."
Kael frowned. "How old is she?"
"Twenty-seven. Good years still. Bones are solid. No diseases. Tested for magical resistance—none. Just muscle and experience."
Kael glanced over the line of slaves. Most were categorized by tags. Seris's tag glinted faintly—B1-Red. That last designation meant "High-Risk Behavior."
"'B1-Red,' huh?"
The merchant grunted. "Means she's combat-ready but rebellious. Still has too much pride. Won't break, even under enchantments. You want her, you better know what you're doing."
Kael stepped closer. She didn't move.
He asked, "Can you still fight?"
Her voice was dry but calm. "I'm not broken yet, if that's what you're asking."
The merchant laughed. "See? No manners. She's no pleasure pet. Don't expect her to bow and scrape."
Kael ignored him. "You'll be working a merchant stall. Guarding goods, moving crates. Maybe swinging a sword if someone gets stabby. I don't beat people. I also don't tolerate freeloaders."
She blinked. "And what do I call you? Master?"
Kael exhaled through his nose. "Call me Kael. Just Kael."
If I can keep her fed, treated like a person… maybe that fire doesn't burn me. Maybe it burns for me.
She gave a slow nod. No smile. Just that tired acceptance.
Kael turned to the merchant. "How much?"
The slave merchant's grin widened as he sized up Kael like a fresh-cut steak. "For her?" He rubbed his chin like a cartoon villain. "Normally, I'd say fifty gold—trained knights don't come cheap. But since she's defective… thirty gold, and she's yours."
Kael nearly choked. Thirty gold? That's thirty thousand bronze. That means 30,000$! That was more than he'd planned. A lot more.
He did the math in his head. Yesterday's profit was good. Today's market would still be there. And if he had someone like her with him, things would get easier. More efficient. But still—he didn't have that much money now.
He glanced back at the woman. She held his stare, unflinching.
Either I walk away now… or I buy a time bomb.
"Hey man, you said she was dangerous, right? So you should sell her at a cheaper price. Reduce the price," Kael jabbed a finger at Seris. "She's got 'future murder victim' written all over her! Look at her! She's eyeing your throat right now."
The merchant chuckled. "Twenty-eight."
Kael threw his hands up. "Oh, wow, a whole two gold discount for a slave who might garrote me in my sleep? How generous! Tell you what—let's play a game called Reality Check." He leaned in. "You want her gone. Badly. She's killed two buyers, she's scaring off customers, and every day she's here, you're paying guards to watch her instead of making money. So let's cut the 'premium product' crap. Five gold."
The merchant's smile froze. "Five? Are you insane?"
Kael crossed his arms. "I'm the only one dumb enough to buy her. You know she's gonna kill again. You know no noble's touching her. And let's be real—if she was actually worth thirty gold, she wouldn't be rotting in this dump." He gestured to the muddy pens and rusty cages.
The merchant's eye twitched now. "Twenty."
Kael scoffed. "Six."
"Eighteen."
"Seven, and I don't report you to the city watch for selling 'defective goods' without a disclaimer."
The merchant gaped. "What?"
Kael pulled a folded parchment from his coat—a fake receipt he'd scribbled while walking over. "See this? 'Slave purchased: one (1) knight. Non-homicidal guarantee.' You didn't provide one. That's fraud, my dude."
The merchant turned red. "That's not a real law!"
Kael gasped dramatically. "Ohhh, so now you're admitting to ignoring consumer protection statutes? Tsk tsk." He turned to leave. "Welp, guess I'll take my business to a reputable slaver. One who doesn't sell lethal surprises."
"FIFTEEN!" the merchant barked.
Kael paused. "Ten."
"Twelve."
Kael sighed. "Fine. Twelve gold. But you throw in the warranty and a free cleaning. She smells like a goblin's armpit."
The merchant looked like he wanted to strangle him. "Deal."
"Also give her some clothes to wear."
The paperwork was disturbingly simple. A contract scroll, signed in blood—Kael's to bind her, hers to confirm submission. The merchant unshackled her from the post but left the collar on.
Seris watched him with something between amusement and murderous intent.
"You haggle like a fishwife," she muttered.
Kael smirked. "And you're welcome, because now you're my problem instead of his." He tossed the merchant the pouch. "Pleasure doing business!"
The merchant groaned. "Just take her before I change my mind."
Seris's chains hit the ground.
Kael eyed her. "So. You gonna try to kill me?"
She tilted her head. "Maybe."
"Cool, cool." He handed her a sausage on a stick from a nearby vendor. "Eat up. We've got work to do."
Seris stared at the food, then at him. "...Why?"
Kael shrugged. "Can't have you passing out mid-murder attempt. Bad form."
For the first time, something almost like a laugh escaped her.
This, Kael thought, is either the best or worst decision of my life.
Probably both.