There are two formal steps. First a freewoman is discalced. This is a ritual in which she agrees to become an odalisque. She has her shoes removed and is then stripped. It is a ritual stripping. By this ritual stripping the freewoman becomes an odalisque. She confesses to cockworship and to serve “under the sword”. She makes her Vow of Devotion.
Then, she is purchased by a Slavekeeper. She is purchased and becomes the property of a Slaveowner.
Note that she is (a) discalced and (b) purchased. So there is a time when she is an odalisque but is not purchased. This is an “unbonded” slave. When she is purchased a slave is “bonded” to a Master/Keeper/Owner.
Usually, the purchase of the slave follows immediately from the discalcing, but not necessarily. A woman can become an odalisque and be “unbonded” until she finds a suitable Master. Becoming an odalisque (by being discalced) and being purchased by a Slaveowner are two different steps.
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