Elemmíre was barely containing the panic that was running through her as she scanned the crowd of bidders. Most were horrible creatures with leering faces full of malice and cruelty and she was disgusted by them. Then something caught her eye, a face unlike the others, it was soft and kind much like the human creatures she had studied in classes but he was different, she couldn’t see much from where she was held but there was a glint in his eyes, a gleam of an old one like herself.

Pulling at the chain that held her Elemmíre attempted to move forward to see more of him but he was quickly obscured by the other bidders as she strained to see him again. Suddenly there was a hand in her long silvery hair and her face was thrust upwards towards the crowd.

“Look at this folks see how eager she is to be bought! Come on now we have a bid of $200 000 000 credits but I know you can do better! Do I see $300, 000, 000?” Paddles raised all over the hall and Elemmíre whimpered as his hand did not raise. She thought she heard something, like a whisper in her ear but the noise in the room was too much and she was too frightened to listen.