Marion gazed down at her darkened, muddy toes. Standing in front of so many men in her with her shift about her hips made her want to run and hide. Instead she hung her head and cried, letting her tears fall and land on the heavy iron shackles that anchored her to the platform. The auctioneer's loud rant rang heavy in her ears. For many of the mountain girls his droning sounded like a death call. They needed fresh air and crisp weather to keep them in good health, with out it they would pine away until they wasted into nothing. As a Lady of the court she had lived her life in comfort and happiness, never lifting a finger unless she wanted to. She let another tear fall as she reminisced about her past life, thoughts of her father causing a sob to build in her throat.
She knew that she woul
