A pair of guards were waiting outside the room. The burly men fell in step behind Hilda as she was lead through the ziggurat, and out into the villa. As they came to the wall surrounding the grounds, Hera attached a leash to Hilda's collar and lead her through the gate out into the city proper. The city was just as busy as it had been the last time Hilda had seen it. Everywhere she looked histarans were going about their daily lives, with slaves in tow. In fact, the number of slaves among the populace seemed to have increased slightly since the last time she was out in public. As they walked, Hilda started to recognize some of the streets they were passing, and before she knew it they were back at the market district.
Very little had changed about the market. Stalls were still set up all along the street, businesses were open and accepting customers, and to Hilda's sorrow, there were new people being sold on the auction stage. But, before she had time to lament the poor souls who were about to join her in her new life, Hera called to her. "We're here."
Looking up, Hilda saw that they had stopped in front of a small but opulent building, painted in vibrant blues and greens, and sporting a sign that depicted several jewels, as well as words that she could not read. As they entered, the smell of incense filled Hilda's nose with a pleasing spicy aroma. The inside of the shop looked like a cross between a jewelry store, and a well appointed sitting room. Plush couches and chairs lined two of the walls, while glass cases containing everything from rings and necklaces, to bracers and circlets all made of precious metals and covered in jewels, lined the opposite walls. Two more well built histaran men in matching leather armor were standing at opposite ends of the cases, but to Hilda's surprise there was a human woman standing behind the counter. The woman looked to be in her early thirties, with brown eyes and long brown hair tied back in a ponytail. Despite the fact that she wore the typical collar of a slave, she was dressed in well made and fairly colorful clothes.
As the door closed behind Hilda, the woman called out to them with a smile, "Greetings, welcome to Macoro's fine jewelry... Er, excuse me. Sepecar, valow ki Macoro's jehvar."
Hera let out a chuckle as the woman repeated the greeting in the histaran language. "You may speak in your native tongue," she said with a smile.
"Thank you, very much, madam. Is there anything we can help you with today?" the woman asked.
"As a matter of fact there is," replied Hera, pulling Hilda forward. "I'd like to buy my slave here some piercings."
