The moans of pleasure were just a little louder than the whimpers of pain, and that’s how Dvini liked it. He stalked down the hallway, putting the sounds of debauchery behind him. A pair of squat, square-faced Dwarf guards nodded at him as he passed. They spun their cudgels which they kept just in case a slave broke loose. It didn’t happen often, but it was better to be safe.
Dvini hated losing a profit.
The cool air of the slave dungeons gave way to the muggy heat of the southern jungle as Dvini stepped outside. Short, shabby wooden buildings rose around him in lopsided tiers. The sounds of commerce and coin pricked his ears. Seagulls cawed overhead. Somewhere, far off, he heard the bell ringing, declaring that a large ship was entering port.
He had a meeting and shouldered his way into the crowd. Being a Licani, he stood out because of his extreme height. People craned their necks to look at him. The Dwarves and half-breeds didn’t even bother.