Besides, Mula knew something no one else did. The fancy braided lady had a sparkle stone. If she wanted to, she could burn the whole place down.

The silence grew long.

Finally the plump lady said, “Mula! How much did this man pay for you?”

The girl had no idea. The day she was sold to Orlín was one of the gaps in her memory. She thought hard. Did she imagine that she remembered the glint of copper as it clinked into the monster lady’s hand?

Just a few coppers, then. She was sure of it. Pride made her say, “Three . . . three silvers.”

The fancy lady turned to Orlín. “I’ll buy her from you.”

Mula gasped. Everyone in the common room began to murmur.

Carefully, the woman named Mara lowered her dagger. A slow smile spread across Orlín’s face.

He said, “I fed the mule, raised it, clothed it. I can’t let it go for less than eight silvers.”

The fancy lady frowned. “I need to do some trading to come up with that much coin. How about I give you three silvers now, to feed her and care for her tonight, and seven more when I fetch her in the morning?”

Ten silvers! It was an unheard-of price for a slave, even one who could be bled for a few coppers once in a while.

“Deal!” Orlín said.

They spat into their hands and shook on it.

The fancy lady crouched down and peered into the girl’s face. Even though the room was spinning, the girl saw gentleness in her eyes.

“You bought me,” Mula said, her voice full of wonder. “You bought me!”

“No! I didn’t buy . . . just . . . stay strong. I’ll be back for you in the morning.”

The fancy lady and her companions swept out of the common room, into the cold night. Mula stared after them. Light filled her soul. The vihuelas picked up where they left off, and it felt like they were singing just for her.

Finally she could bear it no longer, and she yelled to anyone who might listen, “Did you see that? A fine lady bought me! I’m going to be the slave of a fine lady!”

Mula did not sleep one bit that night. She gave up eventually, sat on her bedroll, brought her knees to her chest, and went over that moment again and again in her head. A pair of kind eyes looking deep inside her, really seeing her, telling her to stay strong. I’ll be back for you in the morning.

Orlín did not keep his word, refusing to feed her breakfast. Then he demanded that she remove the shift she was wearing. She didn’t care. As soon as it was light, she bounced naked out the door to wait on the stoop. She saw them in the distance, at the edge of the trading square. They were checking over the horses, strapping packs to their saddles, talking among themselves.