17 From these details, Faelan made a desperate wish. Perhaps she would be a good mistress to him and his sister? She inspected the information on their placards and then called the slave dealer to her side with the movement of one finger. “Yes, Domina! How can I help you today?” said the slave dealer, rubbing his hands back and forth against each other. “You know I like to buy my slaves young,” said the woman. “It’s easier that way; they become more loyal. The price,” she gestured toward the children, “is that firm?” “Oh yes. I mean… unfortunately, I mean, yes, Domina. These children were from noble stock, from the Trinobantes! And they are unbroken by hard work.” Hiding his understanding of Latin behind a sullen facade, Faelan keenly followed every word. The slave dealer had given the woman the wrong name for their tribe; he didn’t know or care where they were from. “Noble-born anything from the Britons could just be trouble,” said the woman, “and unbroken means unused to work.” She looked the slave dealer directly in the eye, and without glancing behind her, raised her finger to summon an older slave girl to her side. The slave girl held the woman’s purse. “I will give you two hundred denarii now.” “For both?” The slave dealer was horrified. “No, you fool! For the girl. What would I want with a boy?” The slave dealer laughed, attempting to reassure the woman. “Yes, of course!” he said. “All the same, I cannot take less than four hundred denarii.” “I will give you three hundred.” “Three hundred it is! Three hundred for the strong, healthy girl. Thank you; thank you for your business, Domina!” The whole transaction took place in a few heartbeats: the slave girl handed over the purse, the denarii were produced,
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