"Um, what exactly does slave registration involve?" Damien asked.
"Slaves are required to have an indelible mark placed on their right ankle as proof of their status. Slave registration involves applying this mark and officially registering the owner with the authorities."
Oh, right, the branding. Sebas had mentioned that. The permanence was troubling, but it wasn't something Damien could change.
"And, uh, how is the mark applied?" he asked cautiously.
"It is quite simple. The owner's crest and the slave's designation are burned into the skin using a branding iron."
A branding iron… Damien winced at the thought.
"However!" the trader interjected dramatically. "If you register through our agency, we can apply the mark using a magical process that is far less painful for the slaves!"
"Please do that!" Damien exclaimed immediately.
"Thank you for your patronage!" the trader replied with a smile.
