Hello my loves! Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful Friday :) Just think, the next time I post we will officially be in the year 2021. How crazy is that?! Remember when we thought the world was going to end in 2012? Ah, the good old days! Lol Anyhow, welcome to chapter 9! Please enjoy and let me know what you think!

The girl was thankful to have solid ground beneath her once more but was extremely aware of how vulnerable she was. She had no idea where she was or where the mandalorian had gone. Had he left her alone? Would he be coming back? She knew it wouldn't be worth it to run but if he took long enough perhaps she could shift herself so she wasn't sitting on her knees. And what was that rhythmic clanging sound? She wasn't sure, but it sounded like a hammer striking metal. Were they in another smithy? The sound abruptly stopped and then there was silence in the room. Making her even more nervous.

"These were gathered in the Great Purge."

The girl jerked in surprise when she heard the accented feminine voice. Cool, calm, collected. Was this woman speaking to her? She knew nothing of this Purge.

"It is good it is back with the Tribe." The woman continued.

"Yes."

The girl was filled with relief when her Mandalorian spoke. He was still there. He hadn't left her alone in this place.

"You have brought a stranger into our midst." The woman observed. There was a question hidden within her statement.

"Yes." Mando answered, "She needs your expertise. I would not have brought her if the situation weren't dire."

"Hmm...A pauldron would be in order. Has your signet been revealed?"

The girl couldn't even pretend to follow their conversation. Pauldron? Signet? Were they still talking about her? It didn't seem like it.

"Not yet."

"Soon."

There was more silence then, broken only by a soft whooshing noise she couldn't place in her head. As she knelt there, waiting, she became aware that she was being watched. Not from where Mando's voice came from but from behind her. Could it be the "Tribe" the woman had spoken of?

More clanging broke the silence. It seemed to last forever, broken only by an occasional sharp, hissing noise. After a long while, long enough for her to be very aware of her aching knees, there was the harsh sound of hot metal hitting water. Then the sound of quiet footsteps approaching.

"May I help you?" The woman spoke again from in front of her. The girl wasn't sure who her question was directed to until a masculine voice spoke behind her.

"Who is this? What is she doing here?"

"I have yet to ascertain that myself." The woman answered calmly.

"You have brought a complete stranger into our midst?!" The male had drawn even with her now and sounded enraged, "You've endangered us all!"

"She's not a danger." Mando answered the man calmly. From the sound of his voice she could tell he had drawn closer to her as well, until she was kneeling between the two men. For her part, she held absolutely was no saying what would happen if she dared move a muscle.

"Not a danger! She knows where we are! How is that not a danger?! You have betrayed us!"

"I blindfolded her. She can't see a thing."

"Can't see, huh?"

The soft shriing of metal was the only warning she had before there was a soft, prickling sensation under her jaw. The man had pulled a blade and was holding it to her throat. She counted her breaths, sure that each one would be her last.

"Enough." The woman ordered sternly, "I have welcomed this child into my place of dwelling. She is my guest. Would you face the consequences of murdering a guest?"

The girl bristled slightly at being referred to as a child but now was neither the time or place to be offended, what with the blade still at her throat.

After a long, tense moment the prickling sensation ceased and there was the sound of retreating footsteps. A gloved hand grasped her elbow and gently pulled her to her feet. She wobbled slightly as the blood rushed back into her feet, creating unpleasant pins and needles.

Mando held the girl upright as she swayed. He was impressed by her grit. She was either extraordinarily brave or completely unaware of how much danger she had been in. She hadn't even flinched when Paz had swung his vibro-blade down to her throat. Even blindfolded, she should have heard it coming but her expression didn't even change beyond a slight tensing of her jawline. What had this girl experienced in life to be completely unphased in the face of imminent death? Unfortunately, even if he asked, he knew better than to expect an answer.

"Now, how may I assist this child?" The Armorer asked, stepping closer as Mando released his hold on her arm.

"She is a slave. She was sold to me as a bribe without my knowledge. I wish to free her." Mando explained briefly.

"Hmm…" The Armorer reached out and gently, but firmly, tipped the girl's chin up so she could get a better look at the collar glinting at her throat, "Why not take her to Blarg?"

"I did. He said the collar could not be removed without killing her."

"Unfortunately, he is correct." The Armorer confirmed, releasing her hold on the girl, "You will need to locate a master programmer. Until then you must keep her as yours."

"Mandalorians don't condone slavery." Mando stated flatly.

"Then do not treat her as one." The Armorer returned sharply, "She will remain with you as a member of your clan until you see fit to release her."

"In what capacity? She is too old to be considered a foundling."

The Armorer ignored him, turning back to the girl, "Do you have a name, child?"

"If she does, she cannot tell us. She cannot speak." Mando filled the girl's following silence.

"She does not appear to be injured." The Armorer observed.

Mando shrugged, "Nevertheless, she cannot speak. Nor can she write."

"How many years have you seen, child?" The Armorer addressed the girl again. After a moment's hesitation, the girl lifted her fingers. Two. Five.

Twenty-five. The girl had seen twenty-five years of life and, more than likely, all of them as a slave. No wonder she was so conditioned to complete and total obedience. No wonder she didn't flinch away from the threat of death.

"Of a marriageable age then." The Armorer observed casually.

"No." Mando retaliated sternly, even as the girl shook her head emphatically. If a helmet could smirk, the Armorer's would have been in that moment. She tilted her head in a manner that asked Mando to explain his reasoning.

"That is not an option." He stated firmly, leaving no room for argument.

"I never said it was." The Armorer answered calmly, but Mando knew her well enough to know when she was laughing at him, "I was simply making an observation. Nevertheless, she will remain in your care as your clan-mate. This is the way."

"This is the way." Mando echoed.

The Armorer was both difficult but fun to write. She's so dry and yet there is the tiniest hint of humor to be found in that dry wryness of her's. I love her simple complexity! If that makes sense...lol