After taking a minute, Liddy looked back at Hannah. "So you saw the client..."
Taking the hint to finish the story, Hannah continued. "Wife was pregnant and couldn't please him apparently, so he fucked me in front of her as a demonstration. He couldn't see me past his gut or whatever half the time, so I took the chance to make the wife happy. The client never caught on and the wife loved it. Afterwards, she walked me out and we ducked into an anteroom for the kitchen, where I went down on her and gave her her first orgasm."
"That's about when I walked in." Easy added.
"Yup, apparently she's not known for keeping her mouth shut, so the client's wife wanted her gone. Didn't want her to talk and let slip what happened. Handed me the leash and papers, all signed. The other token she gave me after I made her cum. So then I brought this one home. Figured you would free her if she wanted to work here. If not, we send her back because free slaves don't do well apparently, and she's better off working there."
"I see," Liddy stated flatly. "Not that I am opposed to freeing a slave or anything, but that was a big risk you took with the client's wife. If you knew you would be freeing a slave, that's one thing but you can't be risking our reputation by serving others during a contract. I get why, I really do. But you need to keep things professional."
Hannah could tell Liddy was angry at her, but she didn't want to be angry at the results. "I understand."
"Good." Liddy knew Hannah meant it and considered it settled. "Now. What's your name?"
"I'm called 'Easy' ma'am," she replied, hoping the tension in the room would go away now.
"How did you get that name?" Mari asked, forming her own idea as to how.
"Well, I was bought as a child to be friends with Elsa. The wife of the man you were with." Easy looked at Hannah for the last part. "She called me Easy because I was so easy to get along with. When she got older, she was married off and brought me with her. Of course, since then I seldom got to see her, let alone talk to her, because her new husband didn't want an Emberborn consorting with his wife."
"Forgive me for not knowing," Mari interrupted again. "But what's the deal with Emberborn? You're the first I've ever actually met."
"I don't actually know," Easy started. "I'm just different and they don't tell you much in the stock house. I really don't remember much, and never got told anything as I got older."
"I can fill everyone in then," Liddy spoke up, happy to be friends again. "You know the emberstone contraceptives you get implanted through your belly button so that you don't get pregnant or catch anything?"
"You kidding?" Mari replied, "Poor Hannah had to fuck six people at the clinic to get me mine when I was sixteen and too young."
"Took me all week so they didn't catch on I was doing all of them," Hannah added while taking a seat.
"Well..." Liddy continued. "Sometimes, and I don't think anyone honestly knows how or why or what happens, you can still get pregnant but they turn out looking like something else. Animals of some kind, some real, some mythical, but nobody knows the combination of factors that allow it to happen. Regardless, we are still better off keeping our implants. The general consensus is that they make good slaves and are sold after birth."
"Yikes," Mari responded.
"So, the question right now is what's best for you Miss Easy. Do you stay or go? In case you haven't guessed, we have sex for money. You are a pretty girl, but I won't make you do anything you don't want. I can give you a crew job if you want," Liddy offered.
"Oh no, I really want to have sex," Easy responded with excitement.
"I wasn't expecting that level of enthusiasm. Care to explain?" Liddy inquired.
"Well, there is a pretty strict taboo about fucking Emberborn, so most of the time they don't risk it. Of course, I know what I look like and could very easily talk anyone into taking the risk. But of course there was my problem, they knew about how much I talked and so no one ever touched me. They resented having me around, but Elsa never let them sell me off. Of course, there were other slaves, but while Emberborn are extremely infertile when it comes to humans, we are the opposite with our own. Unfortunately, outside of the slave breeders, nobody has the talent or tools to avoid the equally high chance of miscarriage. So you would think I could have my fun with the legion of very bored, but physically-fit house guards..." Easy paused to savour the fantasy she frequently entertained with a room full of men to please her. "...but the first time I got flirty with one, he got flogged. So I've been living in frustration and Elsa knew it. She put two and two together when I walked in on you and gave me to you."
"So you want to work out that sexual frustration by working for me?" Liddy asked.
"I have a better question," Mari interrupted while trying to sit upright, but laid back down when she realised her bum wasn't ready yet. "With all the taboos and such. Have you ever actually had sex?"
Everyone stared at Easy in surprise awaiting an answer. "No. Not with anyone besides myself and a few helpful objects," Easy answered. The women stared at Easy in stunned silence for a minute. "So I would really, really, really, love to get paid to have sex... like a lot."
Liddy laughed. "Paid a lot or have sex a lot?"
"Well, I meant sex, but I am happy with both if that's how it works," Easy replied returning a giggle.
"Fine, if it's what you want. Nobody to gossip to other than us, so your 'talking' shouldn't be an issue with finding clients who want a little taboo fun. Though no talking about clients until all clients are off the ship. That's really a rule for everyone. Now, Hannah, take her out for some clothing. Keep the collar and leash on, so nobody makes a fuss about a free Emberborn. Once she is ready, we can cut that thing off." Liddy gestured for the papers so she could sign ownership onto Easy and free her. "Go with them, Mari, since the walk will keep you off your ass," Liddy said as she grinned.
"My ass can use a walk as well," Ving added in.
The four of them left Liddy to her books and ledgers to find some new clothing for their little fairy. Ving knew the city well enough to point them in the right direction. While passing over the main street on a walkway, they were surprised to see marching troops passing under them.
"There must be thousands of them," Mari observed.
"City Guard, Militia, House-guard, pretty much everyone who carries a weapon," Ving added.
"Looks like a parade rather than an operation. Suppose they are going off to do something and making a show of it," Hannah reasoned.
"While working, I noticed a lot fewer guards on the grounds," Easy explained. "Then everyone else complaining that their best bodyguards were conscripted. I guess this is where they ended up."
"Any idea where they are going?" asked Hannah.
"Well, every city has some kind of Embermine. I think there are about six locally, so probably off to guard them," Ving guessed.
They watched the troops marching for a while longer. Most carried rifles, while others held larger weapons with mounting stands. Behind the men were massive horse-drawn guns, each of which were larger than a carriage.
"Those must be the new auto-guns," Hannah pointed. "They supposedly keep shooting if you keep the trigger pulled like this." Hannah tapped the railing in a rapid steady rhythm.