The streets of the city of Adinah were home to many things, but mostly they presented a huge opportunity for anyone wishing to sell their wares to the largest customer base in the land. Sure the market stalls of the Samin Desert were famous, but they were located far from many potential buyers. So the streets of Adinah were the best alternative. And it is here where one warlord from the Samin Desert itself can be found searching for his first purchase on rising to power.
“Remind me again why I have to do this…” Warlord Sal-Dalin muttered to his advisor as they wound their way through the narrow passages between the city stalls, his eyes keenly observing for any potential pick-pockets eyeing him up.
“My lord, you MUST have a harem, it is customary from any person within a position of power to surround themselves with beauty; it shows status, it shows wealth (the bigger they are the better), connections and builds positive relations with other regions” the adviser reminded him in a slightly scolding tone.
"Fine, but let us be done with this affair as soon as possible, I find these markets detestable” Sal-Dalin noted as he stared daggers at some salesman trying to oversell a piece of pottery for far more than it’s worth.
The duo made their way through many stalls, some dealing in potential members for a harem, but each time Sal-Dalin was not satisfied.
“But my lord, she is beautiful and extremely well fed” the warlords advisor exclaimed, trying to convince the man that a very overweight Harpie was being sold for a good price. Sal-Dalin simply shook his head, from what he knew of harpies they were constantly as hungry as a starved pig. It would be much cheaper to find a thin Harpie and let nature take its course.
“No, come along Tar-quil, I see nothing here” Sal-Dalin stated flatly, eager to get away from the creepy salesman.
“My lord, please stay, I…I might have something in your taste right here!” the man in the shop stuttered before hurrying himself and the fat feathered woman away, returning with a pitch-black and much thinner slave. “A Rakshasa from the Motee Marshes, very rare coloring” the man gestured as the potential buyers surveyed the new entrant. She was clearly a Rakshasa, quite well-built and with black skin and short black fur.
“Is she…safe? I hear the Rakshasa’s eat…meat…plentifully” Sal-Dalin half-asked already knowing which way he leaned with this potential purchase.
“I can assure you she is quite tame, I had her claws trimmed this morni-YEOWCH!”
Sal-Dalin and Tar-Quil jumped as they watched the cat-like woman lunge at her “handler” digging her long canines savagely onto his hand. Thankfully her arms were tied, or things would have become much bloodier. The stunned pair watched as she was quickly ferried to the back as well, with the shop-keeper returning a few minutes later, hand-bandaged and a rope being held in the other.
“One last one….I can assure you this one does NOT bite” the salesman almost scowled as he tugged on the thin chain. And out from the back emerged a thin, red-skinned woman with a pair of long horns and fur-covered cloven hooves on her feet. “I can offer a low price on this one, most turn their noses up at keeping a…demon in their harems…” he stated, teasing the woman’s species out with a grin. While she was rather short and petite, her horns jutting out the sides of her head and her blood-colored skin easily singled her out as a demon.
“A demon!? How by the gods did you come by one?” Sal-Dalin asked in shock. Demons were immensely powerful and servants to nobody but their basal urges.
“I will not drag your stay in our beloved city out with a tale of how I can across such a rare and beautiful creature, but if you are interested I can have her ready to go immediately”.
Sal-Dalin stared at the woman, her beauty was entrancing, even though he could not see her face fully due to her bowed head, and a demon would certainly shut Tal-Quil up about needing a whole harem if he had a DEMON in the palace. “We will take her” the warlord stated firmly as he advisers eyes bugged, she might be trouble.
The ride back was uneventful, almost eerily so in fact. The demon simply sat on the horse that had been provided, hands clenched into fists, her body physically trembling.
After some time on the road, they made it back to Sal-Dalin’s palace. It was modest by palace standards, barely taller than the surrounding buildings and possessing little in the way of distinct architecture.
On arrival, the Warlords new consort was shown her quarters and given some robes to wear.
“Here is your dress, veil and top, I hope they are to your liking; we have also provided you with the best room in the palace, there is a built-in spring if you wish to freshen up” Sal-Dalim stated, offering the clothes. While they were rather revealing, they were certainly not as ridiculous as the almost string-like garments the demon was currently dressed in. He hoped that the idea of wearing something more appropriate might cheer her up, but she still refused to meet his gaze. Sal-Dalim wondered if her refusal to look at him was a pride thing, demons were normally care-free, so being caught must really have shaken her.
***
Some time later the warlord and his advisor were in the throne room, discussing general affairs, but mostly the recent acquisition.
“I am telling you it is bad luck to keep a demon in the palace, let alone what mischief she may cause, she probably spent the whole trip back plotting some horrible revenge” Tal-Quil ranted and raved, pacing back and forth in front of the throne.
“Calm yourself man, she is as timid as a baby unicorn, I am sure we won’t be having an trouble from her” the warlord sighed, rubbing his forehead with his thumb and fore-finger. As he did, a *clip-clop* noise signalled the aforementioned demon’s arrival. “Ah! Here she comes now!” Sal-Dalin announced as the entrance curtain to the room parted revealing a figure with light-brown skin and a pale expanse over her stomach. It LOOKED like the warlords demon he bought for his harem…but her skin color had changed! How did this happen?
“I…I hoped this wouldn’t h-happen” the woman stuttered, now dressed in a short light-blue dress and matching top & veil bearing the warlords banner symbol on them.
“What…what!?” the advisor exclaimed, almost jumping out of his black robes.
“My….former master misled you…I am not a demon…at all, he p-poured red dye over me to try and get a better price…I am actually a minotaur” she continued, muttering towards her hooves as she poked the ground with the tip of one of them.
“I knew that trawling the markets was a bad idea” Sal-Dalin grumbled as he glared at his advisor. “Tell me; what is your name?”
“Grargi, master” the minotaur replied, now holding her tail in both hands. Rising from his throne, Sal-Dalin took a closer look at her. It seemed the shifty salesman had shaved some of Grargi’s fur in places, to make her look more demonic, like her legs and the tip of her tail. Her loincloth had also hidden her udder, which thanks to the short skirt Sal could now just about make out.
“Aren’t you rather…small for a minotaur?” Sal asked, causing the half-cow to flinch a little.
“Y-yes, I am, I was the smallest of my family” Grargi pointed out.
“Well, I will send for someone to scrub your bath, I am sure it is stained redder than a battlefield right now, for now make yourself comfortable in the dining hall, I will have someone prepare you a meal.”
At this Grargi gave a short bow and hurried off, her hooves clip-clopping off into the distance. She never had much of an appetite, but after this ordeal, she could really go for a big hot meal.
*Chapter provided by Trampltrum
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