The next morning everyone crammed into Ruth’s office, with Scott scrutinizing Kitten’s myriad brands; frowning. There were 20 distinct brands.

“There’s no reasonable spot to put it, both arms are filled up to her shoulders, and as you can see, her neck is all but overlapped with brands. Sorry to say, but I think it will have to be on her face. I’m honestly surprised no one has done so already.” Scott said with a sigh.

“Looks that way. You sure you want to keep her?” Cid asked Nita.

“Yup. I’ll make a profit off Rebeca, so we will leave her in the collar till I can talk to your dad, you used his money after all. Kit is all mine. Speaking of which, here are your 3 chits.” Nita said.

“Shouldn’t it be 4?” Cid shot back.

“Uh, don’t tell your father? Please? I mean it was only one night, you can cut me some slack. Right?” Nita reasoned with a mock pout. “Fucking merchant lords.” She muttered under her breath.

“So, right, left or forehead?” Nita asked turning back to Kit.

“Don’t forget the chin or nose.” Scott added.

“Uh, no.” Nita scowled at him.

“Can’t you split it onto both cheeks? It would be really pretty.” Lilly suggested.

“I like that idea.” Kit said. “Make it harder to sell me in the future.” She murmured to herself.

“Sure, no problem. It’s more about essence than location after all. It will also let me hide more of her scars too. Placement is only a legal consideration.” Scott said.

“You are going to have to keep her, not much room for new owners if you do that.” Cid pointed out. “Though, if you figure out what she’s good for, you could maybe rent her out.”

Nita frowned at him.

“Just make a choice and get it done. Daylight is burning, and we need to get on the road.” Cid urged.

“Split it on both cheeks. I like that idea.” Nita decided.

Scott got to work.

“I’m going to go pay our bill. Can I have the bill for this brand before I find that Aide?” Cid asked Ruth, getting up.

“Sure.” She said handing him a document.

“You can give me the coin for this later.” He said waving the paper at Nita.

“Lilly come give me a hand: we will grab the bags and pick up the horses to save time.” Cid said heading out with a come-on wave.

“So, what kind of training and or skills do you two have? I know Lilly isn’t a bad fighter for all that she is only 13.”

“13, Really? She’s huge!” Rebeca said indignant.

“I’m mostly a Sailor, spent most of my youth on imperial ships after being sold between breeders till I was 8, my fur and coloring are rare, so I was sold a lot. I was taken by pirates when I was 11, then I was owned by the first mate for 4 years before they fell to imperial privateers. Learnt to fight and sail properly with both pirate crews. Then the imperial’s sold me to a brothel, I was 19 at that point, and good looking... before” Kit said with a frown. “Thank the Goddess, for the imperial brothel laws.” She murmured more to herself than the others.

“A catkin sailor, really? I thought you Cat’s hated swimming. How does a sailor end up here? We’ve got to be 100 miles from the closest sea.

“I love to swim; my fur is designed for it. My first captain said something about it being natural oils in my fur. Makes it so my fur doesn’t hold much water.” Kit argued. “I was sold to a mercenary band after the brothels. They slowly made their way inland. Ended up here after getting the lash for refusing the attentions of a soldier. The Commander got new orders and sold me to the house for a couple bits, before leaving; the Bastards.” She said, answering Nita; grimacing at the work Scott was doing on her face.

“Ok, no more talking or moving.” Scott scolded Kit, concentrating on his work.

“What about you?” Nita asked turning to Rebeca.

“I was raised by a pleasure house in the capital, the Ladies Luck. Do you know it? Me and a few of my sisters were sold as, ‘Not ideal’, once we turned 18 a couple months ago this is the 3rd guild we have been moved too. They were trying to sell us off to the mercenary companies, at least that’s where my two sisters ended up.” Rebeca said.

“Sure, I’ve heard of the Ladies Luck. Cid’s dad says that Madam Heart is one of the biggest information brokers in the capital. So, I assume you’re trained in getting John’s to talk in all of its various permutations.” Nita said with a knowing wink.

“Yes.” Rebeca said with a demure look.

“Well, I’m sure Count Galloway will know exactly what to do with you. Those skills are always useful. Got any maid training?” Nita said.

“Of course. The Madam trained the young ones to maintain the house, untill we reached working age.” Rebeca clarified.

“You know, I could activate all these old brands and connect them to you.” Scott said thoughtfully, breaking into the conversation, as he finished up Kit’s brands. “But it would be more like a marriage, or familiar bond. It’s a lot of essence to connect, and it would have to be used for something. Maybe an Enchanter would have some better ideas.” He continued, tapping his chin.

“Uh, no. I’m not being someone’s familiar! I do not need someone else in my head.” Kit protested with a shudder.

“One can dream. It would be beautiful if they were all living. You’ve had some seriously good artists do most of these brands.” Scott said looking at Kit’s brands appreciatively. “It was just a thought. Not many slaves have more than 4 or 5 brands. 20 is insane. Could do a lot with that much magic. Even deactivated they retain a considerable amount from the old bonds.”

“Thank fuck! I hate how that thing makes me chatty.” Kit trumpeted as the collar finally came off. “I feel like myself again, collars suck.” She groused.

“Glad to know you feel so strongly about it.” Nita said. “So, want me to fix your scars?” She asked

“No! My scars are me.” Kit shot back with a glare.

“Can’t blame a girl for trying.” Nita smiled. “Ah well, they are starting to grow on me. They make you look fierce. And now that I know you were a pirate it fits.”

“Wasn’t a pirate. I was a pirate’s slave, there is a difference, I didn’t have a choice.” Kit groused.

“Wait, you’re embarrassed about being a pirate and a privateer? But that’s so cool!” Nita protested, thinking about movies she saw as a child.

“We hurt a lot of people that were just making a living, trading.” Kit said, frowning at her new owner. “I’m not a fan of hurting people for no reason.” She continued. “I still have the dreams.” She muttered.

“Fine, you’re right I guess.” Nita pouted at her. “But I bet you learnt a lot of cool skills!”

“Please can we leave her be, isn’t the young lord waiting for us?” Rebeca asked.

“Yup! Let’s go we need to make the next hamlet before nightfall or Cid will be a sourpuss.” Nita said getting up turning to Ruth and Scott. “Thank you both for everything.” She said.

Outside Lilly and Cid greeted them with everything set for the days travel.

“The brand looks good on you Kit. The orange matches your eyes and makes you look even more fierce.” Lilly said greeting her, as everyone but Kit mounted up.

“You sure you can keep up with the horses?” Cid questioned Kit.

“As long as you’re not going at a galop, I can manage all day.” She replied curtly.

“Alright, we should have enough gear and food for everyone with some to spare. Lilly’s group was well equipped, for bandits. Let’s get out of this cesspit.” Cid continued, turning to head out in the lead.

“So, Kit told me she’s a Pirate, and Rebeca is one of Madam Heart’s castoffs.” Nita filled Cid in.

“A pirate really? Here?” Cid replied with a raised eyebrow, glancing around at the open prairie as they made their way onto the road. “And you believed her?”

“Of course, she was still wearing the collar.” Nita said

“Ok, not sure what to do with a pirate, but I know father will probably want Rebeca for himself. So, think about what you want out of the deal, before we get home.” Cid replied. “Now, don’t you have a job to do?”

“We are still close to town! Fine.” Nita said giving him a look. Then turning, she started scanning their surroundings doing her job.

“Wait, Lilly and Kit keep an eye out for trouble! Tell us if you see anything” Nita yelled to the girls with a smirk at Cid.

“You still have to watch too.” He glared at her.

“Poor sport.” She groused.