Wrangler 2 (The Wrangler Saga) by Hondo Jinx

Author:Hondo Jinx [Jinx, Hondo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-09-24T16:00:00+00:00

22

Braddock sat bolt upright as the half orc stomped onto the stage and held his hand up over his head with the palm level to the ground, like a man carrying a platter.

“A lovely yet broken little sprite,” the announcer said, and through some magical trick, he created a wavering image above the stage, magnifying the little woman kneeling on the half orc’s hand for all to see.

She was a sprite all right, and in desperate shape.

She leaned forward, braced upon her arms. A strip of leather tied to the half orc’s finger was fastened to what Braddock presumed was a collar, though the girl’s neck and face were hidden by her long, mouse-brown hair, which hung all the way down to the huge, calloused palm supporting her. The poor girl was slender and bruised and bedraggled, and Braddock winced at her bloody shoulders, where the wings had been torn cruelly away.

“She is a taming sprite with a magical talent for animal husbandry and could serve a resourceful master in any number of capacities, from training hounds to luring game to the slaughter.”

“Damaged goods!” someone shouted down the line.

The auctioneer smiled. “Admittedly, the sprite was damaged during her procurement and is being sold as-is with no warranties should she expire after the sale.”

All along the bleachers, hooded onlookers laughed and grumbled and waved off the auctioneer like he was a snake oil salesman.

Nearby Braddock, a man laughed, “Run her through with a skewer. All she’s good for is a kebab.”

“We shall begin the bidding at 50 gold.”

Braddock raised a hand, as did several others, including the man who wanted to eat the girl for lunch.

Once again, Braddock felt Jazeen’s hand touch him.

“Pace yourself, Mr. Braddock,” she advised.

This time he brushed her hand away, and as the bidding escalated, he kept his hand in the air.

Two hundred, two-fifty, three hundred…

Bidders fell away, but a few remained.

Three-fifty, four hundred…

With startling speed, the sprite leapt to her feet and spat at the crowd. “You will never own me!” Then she dove forward and bit the finger to which she was leashed.

In the magnified image, the little sprite shook her head back and forth like a dog killing a woodchuck.

The half orc howled with pain.

The crowd burst into laughter.

The half orc raised his free hand to crush the little woman, but the announcer shouted, “If you kill her, it comes out of your salary, you stupid lout. The bidding is at 500 gold. By the law of the blocks, you would owe twice that price to the owners of the unsold slave.

Behind the stage, a centaur shouted, “Do it, pig man. Smash the little biter and fill my pouch with your gold.”

The centaurs bellowed laughter.

The half orc hesitated then lowered his hand, making the centaurs laugh louder.

The sprite jumped to her feet again, spat out a mouthful of blood, and cried to the loam and rain to strike everyone in attendance blind and impotent.

The bidding continued, though the girl’s savage display instantly cut the bidders in half.

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