"Not slaves, human", Sniggit said to the man, "People come sell their flesh to Guild. We pay gold, take body when dead-dead. Their choice. Laborers not let into city. Laborers [i]from[/i] city."

She turned to the girl, who still looked confused. Sniggit felt obliged to help her understand; she didn't want people to fear or hate the Guild. The Guild was good for Karstberg, but strange to people because of the whole business with the corpses. She was surprised, however, to find that neither the girl or boy had heard of the Guild before. They had been in business for quite a while, after all.

"Use laborers for filthy or dangerous work. Bad for living to get hurt or sick. Dead-dead can't get hurt or sick. Cheap, safe and clean. Good for city. Here's coin for food."

The ratkin produced two gold and put them in the girls hand. "Keep change" she said and went over to a nearby bench, leading her two laborers with her.