The men got quiet and all eyes were fixed on Alina, waiting for her to finish.
She turned to face Cotiso and continued so shyly one would think she was afraid. “I mean, Mistress Maria and Mistress Corina told me that,” Corina rolled her eyes, “you, Master Cotiso, bought me from the guards. Does that mean you’re my Master now?”
Cotiso brushed through his short beard and confessed, “We’ll see about that. If we can find your original Master then the answer is probably no. It’s much too early to tell, so let’s just say that I’m your Master for the time being until we see what will happen next.”
“I see. Thank you,” was all that she said before dropping her face again.
“How did you become a slave?” Corina shot out and then warned right away, “And don’t you say Mistress this time.”
Alina nodded. “I was born one.”
“Well, that explains a lot.” She raised her head off Tati’s lap and sat straight up again, asking, “And your last Master? Was he your first buyer?”
Alina nodded again.
“Okay, there, you see? Now we’re getting somewhere. So, what happened next?”
Alina remained quiet this time.
Corina pushed on as everyone let her take the lead. “You don’t know his name, fine! Where is he from? Where was he taking you? What do you know about him? You have to tell Mister Cotiso everything, he’s your owner now, you know.”