NOVEL NEXT Return to the surface.
The morning took longer to get started then expected... honestly, Emerie had expected to be made to walk.... or at least carried over the shoulder. Her captors solution however... she never saw coming. And she kind of wished shed shut up and walked now... she was in a full shibari like harness... embarrassing enough, but her legs were tied pinning her knees to her chest, and straps had been made attached to the whole thing... essentially making her a backpack. One thing was for sure... she wasn't escaping off her captors back. She grumbled into her gag, because of course she was gagged again. Aya followed close behind, so when she wasn't being bounced about, Emerie glared at her. A Nekotype held more rank than her... as a slave? After what her kind did in the war... probably how she earned her collar. But...she seemed a bit young to have been in the war... it was nearly 30 years ago... and Emerie couldn't read demi-humans well, but she didn't look older than 20.... still...
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After the delay of getting Emerie settled, we set off to return to the surface. A mercifully shorter trip then the way down. Each rest floor had an alternative route up. These routes lead to smaller, single room sized versions of the floors. Monsters still appeared, but in much smaller numbers. The only issue is once you reached a floor, you couldn't go back down as the way magically sealed behind you. Which meant the only way down, was to redo the floors. It made returning to the surface much easier.
We climb the stairs to the third floor, only a couple skeletons were roaming around. I gave Aya a nod, and we advanced. She dispatched the first one easy, I dodge mine, its strike missing as i return the hit.
"Heymph!" Emerie yelled through her gag as she was jostled.
I glance back. "Oh... sorry..."
She just grunted, as Aya returned with the loot. "Thanks, Aya. Let's continue... I think both Emerie and me will be happy to get her off my back."
"Fuphm riph." Emerie confirmed.
"Yes master." Aya said. And we continued up. The rest of the way went about the same. The fewer number of enemies was a breeze to get through compared to the actual floors. The journey up only takes a few hours, and we reach the surface before noon. I let Emerie down, and unbind her legs. She just glares as i untie her.
"You're on the surface." I say. She just nods. I gesture for her to follow, and she begrudgingly does so. Our first stop is the guardhouse near the dungeon. I need to legitimize her capture.
I lead her to the guardhouse. The clerk looks up from her desk. "Slave registry?" She asks, sounding bored.
"Yes. I won her in a duel on floor five." I say. Emerie grunted.
The clerk nods. "we will have to confirm with her... please remove her gag.... and any excess rope. You can keep her hands bound if you wish."
Emerie smirked. They were going to interview her. This was the way out! Shed just deny the legitimacy of the duel and she was free! Meanwhile I remove her gag, and undo the shibari, leaving her hands tied.
"Sit here..." the clerk instructs her. Emerie sits on the chair. The clerk circles the desk, and unbuckles Emeries armor, then part the top of the undershirt.
"He...hey!" Emerie protested.
"Relax, I just need the upper part of your chest..." the clerk says, as she draws a small binding crest on Emerie. "This is to confirm results. It only lasts about an hour then fades. "She says to me. Emerie just looks puzzled at it. The clerk continues. "Now then... Did you lose the duel?"
Emerie smirked. "Yes. Technically." Emerie thought felt a small sting as she said it.
"Try to stay with yes or no." The clerk says dryly. "Were the stakes of the duel clarified before it was fought?"
"Yes." Emerie said. "But..."
The clerk cut her off. "Only answer questions. Now was the Duel fought fairly?"
That was actually the point Emerie was going to argue. "No." As soon as she said it, she felt a sharp pain from the crest, grunted in pain.
"So, it was. But explain to me why you don't think it was."
Emerie blinked. The crest would hurt her if she lied? Even a little bit? "He... used magic."
"Was magic allowed in the duel."
"Well... no....ahh!" She once again felt a sharp pain, like a shock. "I mean yes... but I didn't know he had strong magic."
"Underestimating your opponent is not a valid reason to dismiss the duel. Any other reasons?"
Emerie searched her brain, desperately trying to find a loophole. But with the crest preventing her from lying.... she dropped her head. "N... no...."
The clerk nods and return to the other side of her desk and starts filling out the forms. "Her capture is mark legitimate..." she said stamping the papers and handing them to me. "She is now yours. Present this to the slavers of your choice to get her crested or sell her."
And just like that.... Emerie was now a legal slave. I thanked the clerk and led Emerie out into the street. She kept her eyes down, embarrassed, and angry. We crossed to the slave trade. Marvain's Slaves and accessories. I brought them to waiting area just outside the side door. "You both wait here. I'm going to get us on the wait list." I say as I head inside.
Emerie plopped onto the ground against the wall, annoyed to be in such a public place tied up.... and awaiting a slave collar.... and apparently a more powerful version of this dammed truth telling crest. Now that she knew of it, she noticed Aya wore one, right on her bossom. K S.... Kiron.... his initials? She was going to have to wear his initials! Emerie grumbled again and turned her eyes to the street. And locked eyes with an Onikin. Tela... a childhood friend. Tela quickly turned away disappearing into the crowds. Emerie frowned. She didn't even say hello...
A short while later I returned. "We are on the list. Shouldn't be too long."
Emerie looked away and Aya kneeled patiently next to her. Two slave girls... I had two slaves now!