Krista turned her eyes away and stared straight ahead seeing her fate sealed. The woman came closer to inspect the scared girls.
"My what a pretty bunch of girls we have here and unspoiled yet at that! You'll bring a good price. Congratulations gentlemen on restraining your beastly natures!" She said with a raucous laugh, which was echoed by the men who had come in with her.
"We know how you like them Esmerelda!"
"Excuse me?" Elise said speaking up.
The bunch by the door turned back to the girls amused at the query. Elise spoke again pointing to the two noblemen's daughters, who appeared to want no part of what she was about to say.
"Excuse me Madame, but there's been a mistake! I and these two girls here are daughters of wealthy men. We would be worth far more to you, if you ransomed us back to our families than being sold as slaves. Ransoming us back would still leave you with four girls to do with as you pleased too."
The madam studied Elise for a moment with an amused sly look on her face. Turning back to the headman she held out a heavy purse, which she dropped into his hand.
"I'll take them all Ran except for that one." She said indicating Elise. "She can keep your men company, while you plan to ransom her back to her dead family."
The men all laughed and one reached forward to grab Elise and drag her out the door, as she loudly protested against such treatment.
"Have them ready to go in the morning. I want to get back to Tantarkus as soon as possible." Esmerelda said making her way out of the shack.
The door slammed shut, but it didn't shut out Elise's screams or the raucous jeers and laughter taking place outside the door in the camp beyond.
The girls started crying and moaning upon hearing the despicable acts taking place outside, as each of them imagined themselves in Elise's place. Krista sunk down with her back to the wall. The milkman's daughter beside her was trying to hold back sobs of fear, but failed miserably as the sounds from outside penetrated through the thin walls of the shack they were locked up in. Krista reached over and pulled the girl close to her and held her.
The girl collapsed against her chest and sobbed openly in Krista's arms. At some point, after the screams had finally stopped and the noise had died down the girls mercifully fell asleep.
They all had a fearful start to awakeness just a few hours later when the door crashed open and they were dragged out into the early morning light and herded back onto the cart.