Tama

  "That's gonna cost ya though. I hope you have the gold to pay, or you are going to be the merchandise," the goblin said.

  I had no words. Instead I just stared dumbly at him as he continued. "That potion was around ten gold pieces, but I'm a sweetheartI'll give ya a discount if you get one of my lovelies as well."

  I nodded, unsure how to respond to the creepy regenerating goblin. I knew my water magic could repair limbs, but that potion, whatever it was, had done it instantly. Ten gold wasn't that much, was it? I still had lots of shiny round things in my bag from that gryphon quest I did.

  He turned and began walking towards a large tent. I paused for a moment before following, making sure to watch my surroundings closely. These goblins were as weak as I thought, and I was starting to feel something a ninja should never feel... fear.

  We made our way into the tent and I immediately noticed something was wrong. There were cages everywhere. Big ones and small ones. Some had animals and little beasts in them. But others had humans, nekojin like me, and there were even a few Foxkin. But none of them looked like Saki. There were those people with the pointy earsI believe they were called elves, and other goblins too. They all stood in cages quietly. I looked at all of them with round eyes.

  What was going on here? Why were all these people in cages? A horrible thought hit me. Were... were these his "lovelies"? I froze at that and my hand reached for Serenity, only to realize I couldn't pull her from her sheath!

  I panicked but the goblin spoke. "Ah, I see you have noticed my enchantments around the building. There is no combat in here, little kitty, only business. If you wish to fight however, you can try." His voice made me want to punch him. So I didI slammed my fist hard into his face.

  Or at least, I tried to. But some kind of barrier almost like the Lich had appeared around him and one of the slaves nearby screamed in agony and fell over unconscious. I stepped back horrified.

  "You like my enchantments? Every time you attack me, you hurt one of my little lovelies. A shame really, That's another twenty gold for the wasted merchandise. But hey, have at it! Kill as many as you like. I could use a new ring!" he said as he kissed one of his rings, his eyes still full of greed. That was definitely what that wasI could see it clearly now.

  I paused as I realized I didn't know how much that was. I opened my mouth to ask when a memory from Tera stopped me. "No, Tama, if you ask them or show how much you have they will rip you off!" I learned after "rip off" that it was not like a band-aid, but them taking more gold. At the time I didn't care, but this creep was getting as little as possible from me.

  Instead I asked, "So, what do you have to sell other than your 'lovelies'?" Though I tried to sound more charming like Saki, my rage bled through and my voice came through more as a hiss. I was no good at thisI was a ninja, I killed bad guys! This was... I didn't know and I hated it.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Sadly, most of my merchandise is these lovely toys you see before you. Each one begging for a new master to serve." As he spoke he walked over to a cage with a little girl in it and tapped the cage with a stick he picked up. The little girl sobbed quietly and took a step back. I gritted my teeth, my fist was at his face. But it didn't make contact. I knew if I hit him that little girl would die.

  Tears streamed down my cheeks and I slowly brought my fist down and took a few steps back. "Tama will find a way to kill you!" I screamed angrily, throwing any sense of charm out the window. It wasn't me.

  The goblin laughed at me! He laughed and I felt rage like I had never felt before. Impudent rage, unholy rage. I tried to grab Serenity, but she would not leave the sheath! Even if I did get her out, she wouldn't help, only hurt these people...

  "Now now, little nekojin. Let's play nice. Buy one of my lovelies, pay off your debt and you're free to go. That is, if you can afford it." His voice grated on every nerve I had. I clenched my teeth.

  I quickly began counting my shiny round things. I counted to twenty, then I counted to ten. I put them together and held them out. "There! Tama pays back debt money!" I snapped as my tail lashed angrily.

  The goblin looked at the coins and I saw the greed in his eyes shine even brighter. "Ah, it seems you do have something to trade. I am a fair businessman, pick your pet, I will add them to the total cost and you are free to take the unconscious girl up there, and your newest pet and go."

  I wanted to scream. Instead I looked at all the sad scared people. I couldn't pick. They all looked malnourished and like they were about to die. I couldn't save them... I couldn't save any of them.

  I looked at the little girl in the cage and pointed at her. "That one!" I said angrily, my tail snapping as I imagined all the ways I would rip this piece of goblin garbage into pieces.

  "An excellent choice, a recent addition in fact. Her parents sadly didn't last very long down here. You know how dangerous this place can be, am I right?" he said in his disgusting way of speaking.

  It took everything I had not to punch him again, knowing what would happen if I did. But the urge was so strong I could taste it.

  "That will be five gold coins, bringing you to a total of forty gold coins!" I paused at that. I wasn't able to count past twenty, but I was almost positive that it was supposed to be thirty-five. I honestly didn't care, he said five gold coins. I counted out five more shiny round things and handed him all... forty? Shiny round things.

  He quickly counted them in front of me, a gleeful expression crossing his face. Without a word, he turned to the cage with the little girl and pulled out a key ring. He went through it for an agonizing eternity before he opened the cage door and let her out.

  I considered grabbing the keys from him but he spoke up. "You can take these keys if you want, but if I am not the one to open the cage, the cage kills the one inside," he said happily.

  The little girl tried to back up but the goblin grabbed her and pulled her to him. "Now a drop of blood from you to seal our deal then, hmm?" the goblin said, looking at me. He held out a small pinprick sharp point.

  I considered stabbing him with it, then the memory of the scream went through my mind and I stabbed myself gently with the blade. It drew a small amount of blood. He grabbed my hand again and I let him. He put it over the girl's strange leather collar. It had runes on it, and when my blood made contact they all lit up.

  "There we go, she is all yours. I hope you enjoy her," the horrible evil goblin said before putting the gold I gave him into a pouch and pushing the little girl to me. He then turned and walked away over to the other cage. He did the same thing a second time and soon I was carrying an unconscious elf.

  After that, he walked away as I glared at him. I would be back, and this place would burn to the ground with him in it. As soon as I found Saki, she would know what to do!