Lets call it educational

Artorias listened to Absinthe detail Idalia's history, her circumstances for ending up in the slavers' possession, and her functions and abilities that made her so valuable as a commodity. The blue-furred heir hadn't missed how their host had placed emphasis on Idalia's pedigree and beauty. He could not deny that she was a gorgeous wolf, but it did make him wonder just what purpose they saw Idalia as filling—or what purposes she'd already fulfilled. He thought back to Iris, to how she had told him she'd been used as a sex toy to her previous owners, and though he hadn't seen any signs of physical harm or mistreatment on her, Artorias silently wondered if she had been subjected to a similar fate. He hoped she hadn't. But it had made his resolve to take her away all the stronger, to remove this beautiful, shy creature from a possible lifetime of torment and abuse. Artorias still didn't know what kind of leader or master he would be, but he knew one thing for certain: Idalia would be safe if she was his.

Absinthe was quiet once Artorias had made his offer, seeming to consider the trade's value. Artorias noticed the dark-furred man peer up and he followed their host's gaze up to the shadowy walls. Fiery eyes studied the cavern, spotting the shadowed silhouette of a wolf only moments later. For Absinthe to immediately default to this wolf's approval... this had to be the big boss. Artorias' gaze didn't linger long, just enough to identify the head of the slavers, then turned back down to Lia while the demure fae gazed up at him, smoldering eyes veiled behind long lashes. Absinthe countered his offer, requesting one additional bear pelt be added to the total. Artorias' lips pursed while he considered the price of the wolf before him. He held her gaze while she spoke, lyrics mellifluous and entrancing. She could service wolves in various circles in many different ways. The double entendre was lost on the young Artorias at the moment while he considered renegotiating. Was that what was expected of him? Would it come across as weak if he accepted the price?

Now it was Artorias who glanced away, looking back to their cart of tradable goods, then looking briefly to Sirius. He was shopping with the Warlord's wallet after all, and he didn't want to be too loose with his offers or too stingy and risk losing Idalia. Seer gave him a curt nod, little more than a dip of his chin, but that was all he needed. Artorias looked back to Idalia again, lifting a slow paw to carefully caress the soft fur on her cheek and tilt her head one way, then the other while he considered her. In actuality, he was taking in this moment: the moment where he possessed his first wolf. Was this rush of adrenaline speeding through his racing heart what Sirius felt every time he took another wolf into the Armada, when another wolf became his? This possessive protectiveness to keep her safe and his—his. His paw dropped, and the corner of Artorias' lip twitched upward into the ghost of a smile while he looked into her eyes. Idalia was his.

"Deal." He spoke without looking away from Idalia, not wanting to miss the look in the girl's eyes when she realized she was leaving this place. Artorias looked to Absinthe and gave a flick of his head toward Sirius' bear and the cart of goods. "Some of the items are a little heavy. I'd see about getting some wolves to help us unload the goods." Fiery amber eyes flicked back up to the nooks in the cave wall for a beat, then back down to Absinthe with an easy smile. "Do let your master know you've been a tremendous help, and thanks to you, if Idalia is as quality as you claim, he has a new repeat customer in me. Whenever your business is in Boreas or Auster, seek me and my pack out down south at the castle. I'd be happy to work with someone professional like yourself." Artorias glanced back down to Idalia. "Do you have any belongings you need to gather?" He didn't know if slaves were permitted to have personal items or not.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Corbin" | "Argent"