Let's go.Let's go." He collared the four women and attached small numbered metal tags to the collars. Jess fought and balked all the way aboard the ship. It took four of the slaver's crew to hold her while her clothes were removed. Brianna looked superior at the sight of Jess's almost curveless body and tiny breasts. Upon seeing the scars that covered her body, the captain looked disgusted. "You'll not sell high with all those marks on you. Let's see what that eyepatch hides." He lifted the black patch and looked. The scar that ran up her cheek also slit her eyelid. The eyesocket was empty. "Aye, you'll keep that. You're no beauty, but the gladiator school doesn't much care as long as you can fight." Noting the hairlessness of her body, he took a closer look at her ears. "Elven breed, are you?" Jess spat in his face. The captain struck her. "Listen, slave," he snarled, "I own you now and I don't take that treatment from anyone, free or slave. You be good and I'll sell you to the gladiator school. You give me trouble, I'll cut you up alive for fish bait." He made a motion to a nearby sailor, who disappeared. "Take her over to the mast." Jess fought every step of the way, losing the stiletto she had managed to conceal tied in her hair. "Sneaking weapons aboard my ship now, are you?" the captain noted casually, as he stooped to pick up her fallen blade. Examining the quality of the knife, he slipped it into his belt as he stood. "Looks as if I'll have to teach you more of a lesson than I thought." The sailor who had disappeared, returned with a bag. "This is a reminder, slave," the captain told her as he brought the whip down on her back. Jess flinched and clenched her teeth, holding in her scream. Two sailors pressed her to the mast by her arms. "Brave and strong, too," the captain noted, drawing back for another stroke. "Good, but a few more scars aren't going to affect your price. |