Sympathy

"I wish they'd make slavery illegal, but I can't see that happening any time soon," Nadia says. "There's far too much money in it."

"If that man tells Maris where I am, will he have any legal claim on me?" I ask Zal.

"No - at least not once I get a certificate issued by the authorities showing that you are employed by me. I'll do that first thing in the morning. As a foreigner here without a visa you could have been enslaved, but not if a citizen is employing you and you have a certificate to prove it."

"What if they managed to capture me, took the certificate from me and destroyed it?"

"Then at the slave market you would tell the auctioneer what had happened. He should then check with the authorities to see if they had issued a certificate for you."

I'm still not totally happy. What if the auctioneer is corrupt? What if Maris was to sell me privately (and therefore presumably illegally), without going through the auction house? Would Zal be able to track me down and get me freed? Or what if Maris mounted a raid on the inn tonight, and snatched me before Zal could get me a certificate? But I don't see any point in mentioning my concerns. It's clear that Zal is doing his best for me, and I wouldn't want to seem ungrateful for his kindness.

1. Shortly afterwards we all go to bed.
2. The door bursts open with a smash. Several men enter, swords drawn. I immediately recognize the hated Maris and his sneering associate. "I told you you would regret crossing us!" he cackles.

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