Petra looks quite embarrassed at the turn the conversation has taken and says quickly, "I assure you, my servitude was an economic decision made freely. I, well, I wanted my younger sister to attend a mage academy, as she had some raw talent and very little discipline, and I would have had to work many years to build up enough money for the entrance fees, by which time she probably would have burned down our mother's house.... er, in any case, I indentured myself for a course of 10 years. I have the right to buy my freedom sooner if I so chose, and I'm sure my father would help me come up with the money if I wanted to do that."
She chews one of her braids absently as she reevaluates what the group needs to be informed of. "Slaves in Earling come from either voluntary indenturing, punishment for a crime, prisoners of war or rarely imported slaves. We have a set of rights, including the right to buy our freedom, and protection from abuses. Its been that way for almost a century, since the elf lord took over from the old ruling family. I should tell you now, by tradition, only slaves fight in the Arena. I've set up a contract for those who wish to take the job to indenture themselves for the price of 1000 gold each. If you find and stop the people responsible for the killings, you will be able to buy your freedom for one copper piece. Or you may repurchase yourselves at any time for the 1000 gold."
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