Karma came down the next morning, her belongings packed and ready for departure. She descended the stairs and spotted Omar sitting at the table where she had told him to meet her. He absentmindedly scratched Shari under the chin, the ferret stretching into the touch.
His hood was pulled low over his head, concealing his elven ears. As Karma approached, Omar smirked and held up his room key. Without hesitation, Karma snatched it from his hand. Shari hissed in protest, but she ignored the ferret, offering a simple "Good morning" before heading toward the bartender.
The clatter of the keys on the counter caught the bartender's attention. He turned to her with a toothy grin, his yellowed teeth on full display.
"Well, good morning, little lady. Guess your stay here is done?" His hot morning breath made Karma fight the urge to wrinkle her nose.
"Yes," she replied curtly. "Our business takes us elsewhere." The bartender glanced past her toward Omar, then back at her.
"So, you and your companion are on some kind of secret mission, huh?" he chuckled. Karma didn't answer. She simply turned on her heel and walked away.
The market bustled with activity as Karma and Omar navigated the crowded streets, stopping at various vendors to stock up on supplies for their journey. Omar let Karma do most of the shopping—not just because it seemed like a "girl thing," but because he couldn't afford to get caught in a crowd this large.
He clenched his jaw as old memories threatened to resurface. Closing his eyes tightly for a brief moment, he shook his head, willing the past away.
A sudden uproar of noise caught his sharp elven ears. Curious, he followed the commotion. What he saw made him freeze in place, his blood running cold.
A wooden stage had been set up in the heart of the marketplace. A tall, lanky man strutted across its surface, speaking loudly to the crowd. His voice boomed, drawing attention—but it wasn't the man who had stopped Omar in his tracks. It was what stood behind him.
Bound at the wrists and ankles were an elf, a dwarf, and a sprite. The sprite's delicate wings were cruelly tied down. Omar had heard rumors of such slave auctions but had never witnessed one himself. Now, standing there, watching the scene unfold, a deep, simmering rage began to bubble inside him.
"Omar!" Karma's voice came from behind him. "You can't just walk off without telling me where you're—" She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes locking onto the stage. "What the...?"
The auctioneer's voice boomed over the crowd. "Now, folks! We have a special treat today! A rare sight indeed—a sprite! Shall we start the bidding?" The crowd immediately erupted with offers.
"Five silver coins!" someone shouted.
"Ten!" another voice called.
The bids climbed higher and higher until one voice rang out over the rest.
"Fifty silver coins!"
Silence fell over the marketplace. A few murmurs rippled through the crowd. Karma felt sick. She could hardly believe what she was seeing and hearing. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She turned to Omar, who remained frozen, his hazel eyes dark with fury.
Termis, I swear to the gods, I will kill you for this.
"Fifty silver coins going once... twice... sold! Fifty silvers to the man in purple!" A towering brute of a man strode up to the stage, a heavy pouch of coins clinking at his side. He handed the money to the lanky auctioneer, who grinned and nodded before gesturing toward the bound sprite. Without hesitation, the man grabbed his new purchase and began to walk off.
Omar tensed, ready to go after him, but Karma's hand shot out, gripping his forearm. "Don't," she said, regret thick in her voice.
Omar turned to her, fire burning in his hazel eyes. Even Shari hissed, baring his tiny saber-like teeth at the men on the stage. Suddenly, the ferret scurried down Omar's arm and vanished into the crowd. Omar clenched his fists, his body rigid with fury.
"You know as well as I do that going after him is a bad idea," Karma continued, her voice low but firm. "You can't be caught. I want to stop this, too, but what good would it do right now?"
Omar took a deep breath, his jaw tightening. She was right—he knew that. As much as it pained him, acting now would only bring more trouble than they could handle.
"Come on," Karma urged, gently tugging his arm. "Let's get out of here and figure this out later. I promise you—they won't get away with this." Just as they turned to leave, a piercing scream tore through the crowd.