Asha was so captivated by the knife seller's story that she almost missed the carriage that stopped in front of The Trader's office. She couldn't see the man that stepped out, but she could almost feel the vibrations of his boots as they hit the ground. She couldn't remember how long it had been since she left The Trader's office. And she didn't know what consequences she would face if she was late to meeting Amon. She could see her future slipping away in front of her. Asha thanked the woman for her time and got ready to leave.

The woman grabbed Asha's wrist. Her grip was so tight, Asha was sure she would leave a mark. "You don't want it?" The woman asked. She didn't let go of Asha's wrist, even when she tried to tug her hand free.

"I have to go. I'm sorry," Asha started pulling with earnest now. She didn't know what she would do if she let this job slip through her fingers. Where would she go? Her father raised her to be a survivor. A fighter. He told her that a smart girl would need to find her own way in the world. That she would need to make things happen for herself.

The woman tightened her grip and yanked on her arm. Asha glanced back at her, anger creeping into her voice. "Let me go." The woman paused a beat and followed Asha's eye to The Trader's office.

She forced the dagger into her hand before letting go of Asha's wrist. Asha shook her head and tried to give it back to the woman. "I can't pay for it." When she refused to take the dagger back, Asha set it on the table. She wasn't going to be indebted to a woman she didn't know. But the woman grabbed Asha's wrist again and forced the weapon into her palm.

"You are the only one who has ever noticed it. You're the only one who appreciates it. Besides," she said, nodding her head towards The Trader's office. "you'll need it where you're going."

Asha wanted to argue. She wanted to tell her that she had no use for a blade. That she didn't even know how to wield it. That she would probably end up hurting herself if she even tried. But Asha didn't have time to argue. Someone had lit the fire in his office, and she was going to be late for her appointment. She murmured a quick thanks, shoved the dagger deep into her bag.

She ran until she was just a few feet away from the office. Asha smoothed down her dress and took a deep breath to calm her trembling fingers. She was sure that the merchant hadn't arrived yet. The carriage stopped in front of the building spoke of functionality. Not opulence. It was shades of black and grey and only had one black horse pulling it. A wealthy owner would have made it so ostentatious, it could be seen from a mile away. And even she knew that white mares were the preferred breed for nobles. But the black canvas covering on the top of the carriage was expensive. Very expensive. The privacy of a covering was a luxury only the wealthiest could afford. She guessed it was Amon's. The colors made it blend in with the night, and she guessed it was covered to hide whatever he would be transporting – whether it be weapons or people.

Asha hopped up the few steps to The Trader's office, trying her best to dry her moist palms without leaving a stain on her dress. Even from the doorway, Asha could tell the room was much warmer compared to outside. She pulled the blanket from her shoulders and haphazardly stuffed it into her bag.

The Trader was sitting on his desk and talking to a giant of a man. The man's back was to Asha but even that glimpse of him made her heart beat faster. He was probably more than a foot taller than her and his muscles bulged out of his arms so much there were permanent veins adorning his biceps.

That was probably Amon. The muscle behind the operation. The man who handled the money. She didn't want to know what happened if someone broke their contract. They were talking quietly enough so she couldn't make out what they were saying.

Asha stepped into the office and cleared her throat, hoping she wasn't interrupting something important.

The Trader glanced up at her and smiled, "Ah! Right on time," he jumped down from the desk. "This is Asha." She stepped forward and stuck her hand out to the giant man. He turned his attention to her and just seeing his face made Asha's heart beat out of her chest. He was just as terrifying from the front.

He had a permanent sneer on his face and a scar that went from his cheek to the bottom of his chin. He reached forward to grasp her hand. His grip was light and gentle, almost as if he was scared of hurting her if he put any strength into the handshake. He looked at her head to toe, pausing at her eyes. She saw a flicker of surprise on his face, but it vanished just as quickly.

"Nice to meet you. I am Amon," Asha could see what The Trader meant when he said he wasn't a people person. If she had seen him sitting at the desk when she first came here, Asha probably would have turned around and run back to her village.

"Amon will tell you all the rules, do the procedures, and then you'll be on your way," Amon grabbed a piece of paper from the desk. "The merchant will be here in about an hour."

Amon motioned for Asha to take a seat in front of the desk while he sat down in The Trader's chair. While the chair had swamped The Trader, it looked like a perfect fit for Amon. He picked up the piece of paper.

"You are signing up for a three-year contract with Alden Dryden, a merchant that specializes in trade between the kingdoms. You will be working as his personal servant, assisting him in his everyday tasks including household chores, written work, trade deals, accompanying him on business travel, and anything else he may need."

Asha nodded. She expected as much. Amon showed her five pieces of stationary. When he reached over the desk, his sleeve lifted up a few inches. Asha noticed he had a tattoo on the inside of his wrist. It was a little faded and worn, she could tell he had it for a while. There were some intricate symbols inside a circle. She wanted to ask him what it was for. She expected someone like him to have a lot more marks on his skin, but he only had that one. That she could see. Before she could open her mouth to ask him, he started talking.

"Our duty is to protect you as much as it is to make sure you follow through with the contract. Your employer will also sign a contract stipulating that there cannot be any sort of sexual or romantic relationship between employer and servant. If anyone in their home, including other slaves, were to sexually, physically, or mentally abuse you, you may use the stationary provided to send a letter."

The stationary was different from the paper she had seen in the village. It was thicker and had a black and gold design on the border would intertwine in the corners. Each paper was stamped with The Trader's signature on the bottom right.

"The paper is distinct and cannot be replicated. It will find its way to us and then there will be an investigation," he glanced at Asha, his eyes dark and unforgiving. "Punishment will be ... severe." The hair on her arm stood up at the thought. "Be aware of that before sending the letter."

But it made Asha feel better. To know that there was someone she could come to if there was trouble. If something unspeakable happened, she wouldn't be wholly alone.

"What happens if they are punished? Where will I go?" Asha's voice was small, but she refused to break eye contact. She was terrified, literally shaking in her chair. But she wouldn't shy away from him.

"If it is not the master who committed the act, you will remain there until the completion of your contract. The person will be removed from the property and the location will be monitored." The way he said it made it sound like they wouldn't be going anywhere for a long time. "If it is the master, they will be blacklisted from The Trader's office and you will be placed in another home of your choice. You will be paid immediately for the work you already did and your next contract will be negotiated."

He laced his fingers together and leaned towards Asha. "I assure you. They will be punished appropriately."

Asha wanted to know more. She wanted to know if this had happened before. What happened to them when they got removed? How would they decide where she got placed? Would she get compensation for what happened to her? What happens to all the other slaves in the home if the master gets taken away?

But before Asha had a chance to ask him, Amon took a deep breath and stared into Asha's eyes. "But be assured that if you try to cheat this contract. If you try to run away. If you steal. If you do anything contrary to your job, we will find you and you will be punished," he gripped the edge of the table so he could lean even closer to Asha. In perfect clarity, Asha saw the scars lining his face and arms and the weapons strapped to his chest. She wondered just how many people he had to hunt down. How many people he had killed without a thought.

Asha nodded, trying her best to not let her fear show in her face. He leaned back in the chair. "Good." He handed her a pen. "Do you know how to write?" She nodded and grabbed the pen from his fingers. His fingers were surprisingly soft for a man who spends his days killing and maiming. The Trader had been quiet this entire time, sitting by the fire, but she could hear him moving around as she signed her name at the bottom of the contract.

It said everything Amon had gone over plus the total sum she would get at the end of her servitude. 4,000 gold pieces. Maybe she would live in the town. Or she could travel to the other Kingdoms. One without a winter. She never wanted to see snow again.

Amon took the contract from Asha and filed it in a big black folder filled with similar pages. He motioned to The Trader behind her. Asha stood up, running her thumb down the strap of her bag. "So, when is the merchant going to get here?"

She felt The Trader's hands on her shoulders. "He'll be here in just a few minutes," he led her to the fireplace and handed something off to Amon. When she was right next to the fireplace, The Trader stood in front of her and held up a thickly folded up cloth.

"We pride ourselves in our workers. But there are always the few who try to cheat the system, and we need an easy way to identify that they reneged on their deal. If we don't show our customers that we can control our slaves, then we won't have a business," the way he stared at her, his eyes pleading, it was as if he was begging for forgiveness. Asha felt her body tighten and her heart beat a little faster in her chest. Something was wrong.

He handed her the cloth. "Please take it. You'll need it."