Wild Wastes by Darren Randi

Author:Darren, Randi [Darren, Randi]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: RandiWDarren
Published: 2017-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

The gathering had the look of an elegant masquerade party. Conversations were ongoing everywhere as people ate and drank.

Both food and drinks were being shuttled around the room on platters as well as at tables laid strategically throughout the room.

Decorations were heavy but simple. Streamers, banners, and all sorts of things dangled from everything and anything.

Hanging from the wall opposite the main entry was a banner that read, “Stock Holders and Board Members sixty-seventh annual meeting.”

“Is this a company or…?” Vince let the question hang as his eyes swept down from the banners to the floor again.

Lining the walls were a strange and out of place collection of chairs, benches, pedestals, railings, and pillows.

A waiter passed by and offered them glasses of champagne, which they both accepted as to not seem further out of place.

“By the door,” Petra said after the man had left.

Vince looked to where Petra had indicated. Understanding dawned on him.

The bright blood red armor of slave auction guards stood watch at the door, checking everyone for weapons.

Every guest was handed a “gift box” as well. They were rectangular and a foot long by a half a foot wide, with only about three inches in height.

“Right. That explains that then.

“I wonder where-” Vince stopped talking when he felt, more than saw, Seville and his closed mind. Trying to look in that direction as inconspicuously as he could, he found Seville and his elf lounging in a set of chairs in the corner.

Neither had partaken of food or drink, and both seemed like they were waiting for something. They made no effort to join the party or to mingle in any way or form.

Whatever they were here for, it was business and only business.

“Goodness me, where ever did you get such a specimen like her?” slurred a man at Vince. He’d somehow managed to stumble his way over when Vince wasn’t looking.

“Ah, no idea. I simply purchased her through an acquaintance. She hasn’t deigned to tell me where the rest of her people are.”

“And you br-uuuhhhggh-brought her here? You know the rrrrrrrules. You must have trained her hard.” The drunk emphasized the word hard. “You renting her?”

“Fraid not. Been training her diligently for myself alone.”

“Pity. Here, you don’t have a present. You can have mine, I’ll go get another,” mumbled the drunk, handing Vince his wrapped gift from the guards.

Turning around the man trundled off towards a table filled with glassware. Trailing along behind him was a short woman in a toucan mask. She topped out at four feet all.

“Short.” Petra’s words were curt, her voice hard.

“Very short. Probably a gnome, dwarf, or something of that nature. Thinking maybe we should get out of here. This isn’t what I was expecting and I don’t think we’ll get anything useful out of it.”

“Agreed. Let’s-”

“Everyone, may I have your attention!” boomed a voice.

“We’re leaving. Now,” Vince said and turned around. Only to find the stairwell now guarded by slave auction guards.

In fact, looking around he saw nothing but guards at every window and door.

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