The next morning Nilok was dressed in white knee-length leggings and nothing else but his collar and leash. After they had eaten the girls hitched a horse from a stable block at the end of the garden to their small open carriage from the side of the house. They then joined the steady stream of carriages and pedestrians on the road to the Market Square. Nilok had plenty of opportunity to survey his new 'hometown' which had been thrust upon him. As the carriage struggled up the incline on a narrow road which breached the stark granite uniformity of the houses hiding the recess in which the homely villas sat, he looked behind him to see larger elegant carriages appearing through a narrow gap in a wall between a similar row of houses in the distance, all another storey taller, which lay beyond the villas' recess. Nilok realised that dwellings of a more affluent design must lie beyond the upper stark row of granite housing; the whole thing was designed to give onlookers from beyond the city wall an austere view of a granite faced fortress, not unlike a barracks or prison; the reality was that there was more than an element of decadence beyond the façade; a hidden decadent community which thrived amongst the warrior-like people which Nilok would soon experience.
Nilok noted that the faces of the people upon the road to the market seemed to change uniformly as they moved past the granite housing. It was as though they had entered into a different world, where any liberal sense of posture should not be shown. From this point Nilok could see over the top of the granite perimeter wall, to the inviting forested hills beyond, that far off it was as though he were looking at the tops of several raw cauliflowers. Just the same, the mere sight of those trees gave him hope of being amongst them, with this place far behind him.
The road opened out into a huge square, where the market nestled centrally; the perimeter buildings lined with various retailers; drapers, grocers, chandlers and the like. To one side of an elevated display gantry was a smithy's workshop; the clanging of iron being worked, audible above the hubbub of the gathering crowd and vendors who erected small stalls close to those retailers, to display their wares. Nilok was taken by Marcia to a holding pen where other grim faced slaves waited; a numbered card on a chain was placed about his neck and Marcia bade him farewell. He looked back to see Zeta holding Tara; her puffy eyes red with sadness. A large ferocious looking woman with a spiked rod and small sword, marshalled the slaves into a room below the gantry; a ladder leading to a trapdoor above. After about half an hour, slaves began being taken up through the trapdoor in threes. He looked through the gaps in the boarding at the front row of the crowd outside; all women, those there for the show bayed and taunted, whilst the occasional arm was lifted aloft as active bidders showed interest. The noise of several pairs of feet resonated on the boarding above as market assistants helped display the human goods to the eager crowd.
He was led up through the trapdoor with two others; only then could he take in the full extent of the crowd which was huge. He could also now clearly see the three cages hung on the wall above the walkway he'd traversed on arrival, the gilt ironwork glinting ominously in the bright morning sun. Nilok pondered the fate of the three occupants and wondered how they had tried to escape and where they had gone wrong. His attention was soon diverted to the crowd once more as bidding began. Three women approached the male to his left; a skinnier but younger male, who looked terrified. One of the women pointed to his number, whilst another first made him open his mouth to display he still had teeth, had him turn full circle to allow a view of his general anatomy, and then dropped his leggings. The crowd jeered as the more slender of the two cupped his balls, whilst a sneering buxom woman removed her panties and had him sniff them. The women applauded and several bids were made as the hapless slave's cock rose to order at the womanly scent. A tall woman of about 40 made her way smiling through the crowd to the gantry door where a woman with her hair in a bun added details to a ledger, as the skinny male was brought down to her.
A similar show was made to the exhibit on the other side of Nilok; this was a man of similar age, but somewhat portly; the women made much fun of his tiny cock which jutted out like a large pencil as he took the scent. The derision was of no consequence to him, as he was led away to be greeted by two somewhat senior women, who led him away as though he were an item of grocery. There was almost a hush about the crowd when the women on the gantry turned their attentions to Nilok and pointed to his number; several hands went up as did the level of sneering and jeering from the crowd as they waited for his display; Nilok's cock was already bulging in his leggings, having seen the prior displays, and the women were not disappointed when his leggings went down, to reveal a firm and attendant member. Nilok held his breath as a lady with a gavel he could now see, having been brought forward for display, pointed as hands went up and down. Eventually, an elegant chestnut haired woman of about 50, attended by two younger females made her way through the crowd. Nilok swallowed hard as he recognised her as the buxom woman with the horse-whip who had viewed him at the garden. He was led away to be given to her.
She looked at Nilok with a pleasant smile, and the two younger women covered their mouths as they giggled and eyed the bulge in his now re-fitted leggings. The ledger lady spoke as she scrawled.
"Deanna of Downlands House... slave.. six feet...white...hair brown...eyes blue...medium endowment." Marcia, Zeta and Tara came forward.
"We're so glad it's you Deanna; he deserves a good home, he'll work hard, we know that from watching him before he was caught." Deanna could not help but notice how Tara had grasped Nilok's arm like she did not want to see him go. Deanna smiled.
