FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A modest crowd had gathered in front of the raised stage in the market square. Clusters of interested nobles, travelers, farmers, servants, scholars, and more stood in scattered groups, chatting among themselves about the day's wares that they were eyeing and appraising; they all watched a brawny bull--wearing only a leather cowl and leather kilt--tie his goods to the selling posts. He'd secured three individuals so far and was finishing the restraints for his fourth and final product. The bull's back glistened with sweat under the sun as he worked; the subtle sheen in his fur went dark for a moment as a large shadow passed overhead, and the crowd hurriedly scrambled to make room for an immense, hefty, quadrupedal dragon who gently touched down beside the assembly in the square.

"Should...should we have anything to be worried about while you're here, great dragon?" one of the nobles--a tiger--called tentatively.

"I'm merely passing through, and this market caught my interest," the dragon boomed in reply.

"Well, I'm pleased that my inventory has drawn such a crowd!" the bull called over the group--he'd just finished securing the ropes on his last captive and turned to face the assembled potential buyers. "It's a beautiful day to take one of these fine creatures home with you...for a price, of course."

The crowd's murmurings quieted down as the bull strolled across the stage and began his sales pitch, his voice ringing out over the market square while the background activity of the market continued. "We have just four slaves for purchase today, but each one comes with a colorful background and is yours to do with as you please!"

The bull stopped next to an anthropomorphic dragon with gold scales, gray horns, and a large, spadelike tail--the dragon's muzzle, wings, and wrists were all bound, he wore a simple burlap loincloth, and he stood forlornly in front of the post he was tied to.

"Our first available slave is Pilar, a fine, strong fellow who was once in service to the king," the bull announced. He roughly turned the dragon around and from side to side for the crowd to see how well-muscled he was. "I say 'once', as he deserted his post and tried going into hiding; it took me five days to track him down. He's a crafty one, well-suited to a domineering personality among you."

The crowd muttered among themselves while the bull slaver left the dragon alone and moved onto the next slave: A tall blue wolf who stood meekly before his post. Like the dragon, the wolf's snout and wrists were bound, and he wore a ragged and dirty wrap around his waist.

"Next we have a slave who happens to have some musical talent," the bull declared before he turned the wolf from side to side, displaying him for the crowd. "Known only as Wolf, he was a bard by trade, so you can be assured he has quite the vocal range and set of lungs on him. However, he embarrassed the Duke of Seldon and ended up with a price on his head, which is how he and I crossed paths. You'd be doing the Duke a great service by using this musician for only the most demeaning of tasks."

The nobles in the crowd laughed and sniggered, with some of them elbowing each other and goading one another to place their bids.

The bull's next slave was a horned rabbit with purple and pale gold fur. A gag had been stuffed into his mouth while his wrists were tied to the post he stood in front of, and a ripped wrap hung low on his hips.

"Our third slave for today is something of an oddity, my good people," the bull said, sounding somewhat abashed as he displayed the rabbit. "Cepheus here is an escaped slave who I managed to recapture. He's used to obediently servicing all your needs, which makes it curious why he would run away from his previous master. But the real intrigue about this specimen, my friends, is that while he is a male, he has the unique ability to modify his parts for breeding, should you want to use him that way! Otherwise, he has a strong back and plenty of stamina for menial labor."

A stir rippled through the crowd as they discussed their opinions about the rabbit--the slaver, meanwhile, came to a halt in front of the last slave: A gray and white wolf with pale teal markings in his fur above his wrists. He was bound and dressed like his compatriots, though his posture--his back straight, chest puffed out, and shoulders squared--communicated more defiance and pride than his fellow slaves.

"And finally, we have a thief who has the distinction of stealing the Star of Halea from Lady Odessen," the bull announced as he displayed the wolf. "Àzuen here had quite the career as a burglar, but I managed to capture him within a day, so he may not be the smartest thief. Now, a word of warning--he's feisty and determined, but with the right...motivation, I'm sure he can make for an excellent slave!"

The assembled potential buyers began chattering among themselves again, discussing the pros and cons of each slave, while the bull strode to the center of the auction stage.

"Now, as we start our auction, remember that all sales are final, your payment will be required at the end of the auction, and there are no refunds!" the bull told the crowd. "Bidding for each slave starts at 10 Gilden, and we'll begin with our friend the deserter," he continued, pointing at Pilar. "Do I hear 10 Gilden?"

A mongoose noble raised his hand.

"We have 10 Gilden, do we have 11?" the bull called.

"14!" a leopard farmer responded.

"14 Gilden, do we have 15?"

"19!" the mongoose yelled excitedly.

"19 Gilden, do we have 20?"

"A ruby from my own horde worth at least 50 Gilden," the great blue feral dragon announced calmly.

The crowd turned their heads in unison, staring agog at the dragon who had placed his bid. The bull paused for a moment, then said, "50 Gilden is the price to beat. Going once..."

Nobody made a sound.

"Twice...sold to the dragon with the 50-Gilden ruby!" the bull declared, gesturing at the blue dragon. The large quadruped nodded his assent in silence.

"Next up, the bard!" the bull announced, pointing at Wolf. "10 Gilden?"

"15!" the mongoose called.

"Our friend is determined to get a slave today, 15 Gilden!" the bull quipped, drawing chuckles from the crowd. "Do we have 16?"

A bear in scholar's robes raised his hand.

"We have 16, do we have 17?"

"20!" the mongoose piped up.

"20 Gilden, 21?"

"23!" a badger blacksmith called.

"23 Gilden, do we have 24?"

"25!" the mongoose shouted.

"25 Gilden, do we have 26?" prompted the bull.

"35!" a black wolf noble yelled.

"35 Gilden, do we have 36?" The bull waited, but there were no takers, just a few soft mutterings from the crowd and a defeated sigh from the mongoose. "Going once...twice...sold for 35 Gilden to the noble in red!"

The black wolf waved appreciatively.

"Now for our slave with the peculiar anatomy," the bull continued, gesturing at the Cepheus. "Starting at 10 Gilden, do we have 10?"

"A bushel of onions worth 18 Gilden!" a boar farmer called from the side of the crowd.

The bull paused, considering the offer, then shrugged. "Alright, 18 Gilden, do we have 19?"

"25," the mongoose noble said sullenly.

The bull chuckled. "25 Gilden, do we have 26?"

"I'll throw in a pint of honey, worth another 20 Gilden!" the boar replied.

"So that's 38 Gilden," the bull calculated. He chortled as he addressed the mongoose, "I think you've been priced out, my friend! Do we have 39 Gilden?"

The crowd remained silent. "Going once...twice..." the bull prompted. "A bushel of onions and a pint of honey from our friend the farmer! And now for our last auction, the thief!"

"25 Gilden!" the mongoose shouted immediately.

The crowd laughed at the nobleman's immediate high bid.

"25 Gilden from our persistent friend," the bull called dramatically. "Is someone going to be cruel enough to deprive him of his last chance for a slave today?"

"A bar of gold worth 45 Gilden!" a voice rang out.

The crowd turned, looking for the newcomer: He was a tall ram in alchemist robes, and he held his lustrous gold ingot aloft for all to see.

"45 Gilden, do we have 46?" the bull asked. "Going once...twice...sold to the alchemist for 45 Gilden in gold!"

The mongoose angrily kicked at the dirt and stalked away, grumbling to himself. The rest of the crowd began to disperse while the dragon, wolf noble, boar farmer, and ram alchemist approached the bull on the stage. The slaver had produced four parchment certificates from the pocket in his kilt, and a white marten notary had also joined him on the platform. One by one, the buyers handed over their goods and money to the slaver, who in turn untied each slave from their post and led them to their new owners. The notary then signed the certificates of ownership and payment receipts, which he would take back to the mayor's office--he simply needed the owners to sign for their new slaves. The dragon tapped a claw to his form and the name Akino appeared in black ink, the wolf's looping signature denoted him as Noven, the boar scrawled the name Paleer, and the ram stamped a purple-inked sigil for Galos the Obscure.

"Thank you all for your business," the bull said, satisfied, as he received his payment and the marten tucked the ownership certificates into his satchel. "I can assure you that these are all very worthy purchases."