Apart from Dimitri and Sorayah, who were both dressed modestly in cheap fabrics, the other buyers stood out in their fine garments embroidered with gold threads, flowing cloaks, and polished boots that gleamed in the dim light. It was clear they belonged to noble households. Most of them stood in small groups, engaged in conversation with burly attendants who catered to their every whim, speaking casually about slave prices as if they were discussing livestock.
The large muscular man who had escorted Dimitri and Sorayah gave a silent gesture to the nearby guards. The guards, stationed in front of the cages, seemed to understand immediately. One of them stepped forward and unlocked a particular cage with a loud clank, then dragged out a woman.
