The portly captain waddled his way down the corridor, ushering the regal woman dressed in fine robes into his office.  ”Course, course,” the man bellowed, spitting and scratching the whole time; he might have been covered in fleas, judging by his demeanor.  ”But betcha ya ain’t be knowin dis type o’stuff neither.  Lawks, bettin ya nae ever haggle before o’er price in yer life.”

Allison winced, still unaccustomed to the harsh language of this captain.  She had several weeks to get used to it, but it still sounded like fingernails raking across a chalkboard to her.  ”As a matter of fact, I have,” she answered brusquely, giving the man an evil stare.  ”I used to deal in the slave trade not too long ago.  But given the nature of this note…”  She waved the piece of parchment in her hand at the uncouth ship captain, now digging a grubby little finger into his ear.  ”…Well, I don’t have the luxury of time.”

The captain belched, displaying his yellowing, stained teeth.  He tilted his head back to give a hearty laugh.  ”Course, course,” the man grinned.  ”Dat’s why I be offerin some ta ya fer cheap.  Fuck, ain’t be no skin off me nose to give ya one or tree of dese blokes.  To tell ya da trut, I’z gonna be tossin a some o’dem at the next dock nohow.  Jus bein dat time, yeah?  Ah, here dey is.”

Three slaves shuffled into the room, bound in chains.  They looked puzzled; none had ever been in the captain’s office before.  In fact, this might have been the first time any of them had been topside.  But here they were; they knew enough to kneel, stare at the ground and wait until called for.

“Lessee, dey all good ones, Ma’am.  Ain’t nothing wrong wit any of em.  Jus…well, ya can’t keep em fer too long down in the ships, yeah?  Got a keep em fresh.  But dey all strong as bosks and look…”  The captain limped over to one of the kneeling slaves; though standing, he was barely taller than all of them.  Allison had to turn away for a moment to prevent from laughing at the sight of the short, overweight sweaty man lording over these hulking beasts.  It was too comical.  The captain did not seem to notice; he just slapped the nearest slave across the top of the head.  The slave, true to form, did not move nor make a sound.

“Haha, fuckin stupid dey is, right?  Dey ain’t cause no trouble.  Just big, dumb and stupid.  Dat’s what ya be needin and I help ya out, Lady.  Like I be sayin, was gonna get rid of em anyway so ya can have em fer cheep.  Say…I charge you 2 coppa a head or ya take all 3 for 5.  Dat be a deal, right?”

Allison crinkled her nose, unsure of what to think.  Although the captain treated the men with complete indifference, she couldn’t help but notice all of them were hulking beasts.  Could she really trust they would always be this obedient?  Rather hesitantly, she took a step forward to inspect the slaves.  What exactly what was she looking for?  She had been a slaver, but never had been in the business of working with this type of slave.  What made a good one?  She paced back and forth, several steps beyond the reach of these hulking beasts.  Maybe the ship captain wasn’t afraid of them, but it was always prudent to proceed with caution.

“I’m not sure….” she said slowly, gathering herself to adopt the harsh and critical tone she was known for.  ”Do I really need all three?  That doesn’t sound like you’re helping me out, Sir.  When I travel to Thentis, then I might need all three.  But in Caffa, I think I’ll only need one.  It sounds like you’re trying to profit off my inexperience and I won’t have that.  I will take your finest for 3 copper tarsks bits.  After all, you were going to get rid of them anyway.  3 bits should be more than enough to pay for the duty at the harbor for these damaged goods. That’s more than reasonable.”

The captain wiped the black gunk he had extracted from his ear onto this filthy discolored and ill-fitting tunic.  He wheezed with laughter before being enveloped in a hacking cough.  ”Ahhhh, right ya is, Ma’am.  I iz gonna get rid of em.  But ya be twisting me nuts if I sell em for 3 bits.  Ain’t worth my time, see?  Tell ya what- ya can take da one with grey in his hair fer 6 tarsk bits or I give ya dis one, da young one, fer 1 coppa tarsk.  Dat be a deal.”

Allison looked over all three of her choices.  None of them seemed better than any of the others.   It was becoming abudantly clear that her experience at a slaver would not guide her decision making this time around; Allison, after all, would tend to avoid any slaves at the best of times.  So it was time to analyze this decision in the style of her new profession: what was this man hiding?

“I’ll take the third one for 7 copper tarsk bits.  That is my final offer, Sir.  Otherwise, I will just make other arrangements once I am in Caffa.”

The captain hemmed and hawed for a moment, but it was obvious he was just putting on a show.  Finally he nodded in assent and had the two other slaves removed back below deck. “Well, ya drive a ard bargain, ya does Ma’am.  Prolly be losin money on dis deal, yeah, but it be alright if’n I help out a fancy magistrate like yerself.  Mebbe da next time I iz in court, ya look out fer me, neh?”  The captain flashed his sickeningly disgusting teeth at her and laughed loudly.  Then he slapped the slave over the back of the head.   “Oi, ya fuckin boy.  Be movin o’er ta yer new owner, yeah?  Ya do whatever she say.”

The slave did not move immediately and was promptly greeted with a slap to the face.  Needing no further prompting, he shuffled over to the woman dressed in blue robes and genuflected by her feet.

Allison frowned, looking at the slave.  She was still uncomfortable at the prospect of handling someone stronger and more athletic.  She did not quite trust him nor the promises of this captain.  It was quite the dilemma.  And more importantly, she would need a better, stronger whip.

“You there!” she barked taking a step closer towards the slave.  ”What is your name?”

Reflexively, the slave turned to look at the ship captain, confused; the captain doubled over, crying with laughter when looking at the new owner and her purchase.  Allison frowned, placing her hands on her hips.

“Sir,” she asked angrily.  ”Did you just sell me a mute?  Remember, I have not paid you yet.”

The captain wiped the tears from his eyes, thoroughly amused.  ”Nah, nah, nah.  Nuffin like dat.  Jus…ne’er eard no one be talking to da boys ‘fore.  Dey dumb as stumps, yeah?  Just tell em what ta do, and dat all dey good fer.  Ain’t no sense tryin ta have em talk.”  He walked over and rapped his knuckles on the top of the slave’s head.  ”Got mush fer brains.  Got ta handle em right, yeah?”  The portly captain whacked the slave over the head and bellowed, “Answer her, ya dumb fuck.  What be yer name?”

The slave chewed on his lip for a moment and finally opened his mouth.  Nothing came out.  The slave coughed uncomfortably and tried once more.  He couldn’t even remember the last time someone had asked him to speak.  Days?  Months?  Years.  Probably years.  It took him a few moments to remember how to form words properly. “Number nine.”

The scowl on Allison’s face deepened.  ”Number nine?  What does that mean?”

The captain grinned, scratching his copious belly.  ”Dat be his number, yeah?  Dey work in groups o’ ten.  Ten on da left, ten on da right, yeah?  He mus be Numbah Nine.”

Allison looked at the captain, slightly astonished.  She shook her head in disbelief; a mute slave without a name.  How could this get any worse?  Nevertheless, she had mad the purchase and there was nothing she could do about it.  ”Fine then,” she waved her hand dismissively and pointed at the slave.  ”Come with me…Number Nine.  I have to pack and collect my things.”  Allison reached into her coin purse and very carefully laid the copper tarsk bits on the grimy table in the captain’s office.  There was no way she was touching his hand, even though she wore  gloves.

“Our transaction is over, Captain.  You will see that I have paid in full.  Please kindly give me his papers and the key to his collar and I shall be on my way.”

Now it was the captain’s turn to stare at Allison in disbelief.  He scratched his hair vigorously- something fell out of it.  ”Well, dat’s da ting, see- I ain’t deal in no papahs, yeah?  I jus pick em up, put a band o’ steel round da neck and…dat’s it.  Papah jus complicate tings, yeah?  And as fer keys…he work below da ship, yeah?  Why I waste a key collah on ‘im?  Jus be a band o’ steel round his neck.  Dat it.  Ain’t comin off if dat’s what ya be thinkin.  Prolly melted to his skin by now, I be thinkin.”

With each passing second, her purchase seemed worse and worse.  No papers?  No keys?  This was turning out to be one of the dumbest decisions of her life, and it could only go downhill from here.  What else could possibly do wrong?  At her limits, Allison flew into a rage at the man.

“Sir, YOU may have the luxary of not keeping papers- but I will remind you of who I am.  I am a MAGISTRATE, who works within the boundaries of the LAW.  And the LAW says I must have PAPERS for this slave and I don’t CARE if you have to rip up your finest tunic and bleed words all over it but I PROMISE you that, by the time I leave this ship, you will GIVE me slave papers for this slave.  And if you don’t…”

If looks could kill, the captain would surely be decapitated.  There was no need to finish her threat.  The color on the captain’s face drained, and for the first time all evening, he stopped scratching himself.  He just stared at Allison, completely slack jawed and humbled to silence.  ”Y…y…yes, Ma’am,” the captain stuttered.  ”Full papahs fer da slave.  Ya shall have ‘em by da end of da ahn when we pull up ta da docks.  And I see if’n I can find a lock n’ key collah fer ya.  My word on dat.”

Allison smoothed her blue robes and briskly walked out of the captain’s office.  ”Thank you, Sir,” she snapped without breaking stride.  ”I’m glad that you were able to consider my point of view.”  As soon as she made it back to her cabin, she immediately locked the door and tossed her gloves to the far corner of the room.  Though the man had never touched her, she had never felt so dirty in her life.  She needed to take a bath.  It was only then it dawned on her that her own personal slave was waiting on the other side of the locked door.  She had bought a slave; the enormity of the decision and her future slowly began to sink in.

Caffa was going to be interesting.

The storm had destroyed his shed. His caste would not help him with repairs, Mateo had moved on and the builders would not see him. He had no business, he had no family, and now, no recourse. He sought the advice of the few high ranking people within the city, but they could give him no answers either. Perhaps these omens were telling him it was time to leave.

He had offers to leave with various families, escaping to port cities to meet loved ones or contacts. Even Crassus’ own sons reached out to Esau to restart the business in the safer confines of a larger city. Even more surprising, he was offered sanctuary inside the city, able to hide behind the cloak of protection offered by the city warriors.

But he was tired. Tired of running, tired of trying to fit, tired of trying to do what must be done to appease the powers that be. All he wanted to do was live, so that is what he would do. It took him a few days to construct a home out of the rotten wood and rubble that used to be his shed. And he lived there for as long as he would be allowed.

More people left the city while the warriors prepared for the inevitable. Esau was blissfully unaware of the exact preparations or information. No one bothered to tell him and he didn’t bother to ask. He assumed it would be the pirates that kept creeping up closer and closer to the city, creating havoc and mayhem along the way. After all, Salernum had a history with pirates- it just made sense.

So when the day came, it came as a total shock. A cry came out from the walls for all the villagers to seek refuge inside the city. Just as before, the gates swung open and the warriors of Salernum marched to their positions in phalanx formation. They fanned out in regimented fashion, ready to take on their opponents. And just as before, Esau did not run. But this time, he did not hide. He grabbed a loose wooden board and stood ready to defend his home.

Fuck this. If this is how it was going to go down, he was not going to run.

The enemy soon demonstrated what a poor decision that would be. Instead of a sea of red, a dark black cloud descended from the sky and consumed the farmland like a swarming plague. The red caste lines didn’t even hold for a moment. The invading force was systematic and unyielding. When they finally reached Esau’s position, he finally got a glimpse of his maker.

A shaggy thing, taller than a house. Impossibly strong, it shucked off a warrior dangling from his back, valiantly trying to stop its progress by jabbing a sword into its side. It was not human, that was for sure. Just a big, scraggly thing wielding an axe, thirsting for blood. Esau shifted his weight, now seriously reconsidering his decision to stand and fight. It was becoming clear it was a monumentally fucking stupid idea.

The quick movement caught the kur’s eye. He changed his direction and set his sights on the small tanner. Dinner. Meanwhile, a group of red caste who were moving towards the gates, saw the intentions of the kur and came to rescue the tanner.

They were too late. Esau brandished his club but he never saw the blow coming. The kur was too quick, too fast, too strong. With one swipe of the axe, the kur knocked Esau against the wall of the shed.

He touched his fingers to his chest. Blood everywhere. Though his vision was blurry, what he felt was unmistakeable: his entrails were oozing from the gaping wound. And just as Esau managed to crawl into a sitting position to assess what could happen, it was over. The kur descended upon him and sunk his long fangs into his neck. One crunch, and he broke straight through.

No more head, no more Esau.

Syeira Requiem widens her eyes “Uhhh…I…what?” she whispers, and rushes over. She had just been passing through, but she went over anyway, because she knew how some free men could be “Yes…Master, sorry.” she says, hands drawing over her chest as she looks around at the ruins.

Esau Serupta slumps his shoulders forward. He’s been going all day with hardly a break in sight. The fatigue is getting to him. The strain is evident in his voice. “Check the furs,” he snaps. “See dem things on da ground? Start checkin ta see if they still good. Mark em off one by one, yeah? If’n they good, put them over here…” He gestures to the large crate, the only thing still standing from the wake of the storm. “And if’n it stinks like shit, then toss em with the rest of the garbage.” He moves inside the shed and leans against the wall, appraising what else the slave might do in the future. “Gonna have a word with Bug, neh? Why the fuck you so late anyway? Been killing myself for no reason. Outta whip the shit outta you. Maybe later…”

Syeira Requiem quickly runs over to the furs and crouches down, smelling them “augh…” she makes a face. They smell disgusting, so she tosses them in the garbage and moves to the Master, “Oh…girl is sorry…she was held back.” she had no idea what he was talking about…or who Bug was, but she figured if she argued…she WOULD be whipped.

Esau Serupta rakes his finger over the warped and curved wooden walls. Mold. Definitely mold. He sighs in frustration one more time. The builders were right; everything would have to come. They’d have to start over from scratch. No time to think about it now. Just find things that haven’t been ruined. “The vats,” he thinks aloud. “Maybe they is still good.” The relatively clean air lets him know that he should not optimistic. But he needs to check, so he starts to move. “What the fuck?” he asks in bewilderment, nearly tripping over the slave as he turns around. “You fucking done already?” Immediately, he casts a glance at the garbage pile. All the furs are there. His eyes begin to flicker with anger. There’s no way all of them can be spoiled. No way. He can’t be completely ruined. “What the fuck?” he growls, grabbing for her hair. “Ya check every one? EVERY SINGLE FUCKING ONE? They ALL bad? How the fuck you know so quick? Ya even run yer fingers through em? What the FUCK??!!”

Persephone Penucca stepped lightly as she made her way outside the gate. She wasn’t as leery as one may have thought. Salernum was a pretty wuiet city, even outside the walls. Or so she heard. As she approached the tanner’s shed, she headed toward the back, hoping to catch Mateo. Standing between the back doorway of the trashed shed, she sighs empathetically. A hand stretches up to the door sill and rests there as she stares out toward Esau and his slave, curiously.

Syeira Requiem yelps, and rushes back to the garbage, doing as he told her. She wasn’t used to this sort of work, but she did her best, trying not to get in even more trouble. She then runs her fingers through the furs, smelling each one, gagging at the smell of mold. “Disgusting…” she whispers to herself, and looks through the next one.

Aradon Psaltery comes to a stop near the building, nodding to the man from the other night “Tal”

Esau Serupta folds his arms over his chest, staring through the slave. This is going to slow him down even more if he has to supervise her. “King help me,” he murmurs to himself while he watches. Then a voice distracts him. “Eh?” he asks, rather confused. Ah, the foreign warrior. “Tal there, boss” he says, rather distractedly. “We almost done, can ya believe it? Builders be here in da mornin ta start their work. But…” He points over at the slave combing her fingers through the mottled furs. “..ain’t much left as ya can seeing. Ruined. Totally fucking ruined, I is. All I got to show for it is dis one dumbass slave….” He sighs to himself and rubs his eyes. “Pardoning my tongue there, boss. Ya know how it be…”

Kiana Kuhr comes to a rather screeching halt at ehr Master’s boot as she wrinkles her nose in response to the fragrant , or lack there of, stinks. She glances around and then offers demurely, “Tal, Master, slave.”

Persephone Penucca tiptoed through the shop. Not because she was at all wanting to sneak up on the duo, but for hygiene reasons. A bloodied skin here, a gut there, fur. A mess. As Shiny makes her way closer to Esau, her face drops from one of disgust to sympathy as she uttered her hello. “Tal, Masters.” Plural, noticing Aradon. SHe hadn’t seen him for all the way back there.

Syeira Requiem doesn’t even notice the others, but continues going through the furs “Oh…this one’s not so bad” she lifts it and brings it back, smelling it again, a little gross…but okay. She then moves back to the other furs, finding one other that will do, but the rest ruined with the stench of mold.

Aradon Psaltery taking a few steps closer lets out a deep laugh “Yes, I can see your predicament here” looking over the two slaves before him, eyeing them up and down allowing my gaze to linger in certain areas sizing them up “Seems one is a bit skinny to be doing hard labor, the other seems to be good and strong though “pointing to the slave in red. Looking back to the man “Where is your friend this evening?”

Kiana Kuhr inches closer, peeking into the shed. She was trying to keep from gagging on the smells alone. This little shed surely was not a place she truly wanted to be near, but as she was at her Master’s heel she had little choice. She noted Persephone and cast a weak smile at her, though her face was effectively green. She just didn’t have the stomach for the stench!

Persephone Penucca smirked. It seemed everyone and then some was searching for Mateo. Shiny would wait, of course, until the men were done doing their business to ask on the woodsman again. She settled to her knees beside the post and wrapped an arm around it, coughing as the redheaded slave began to shake out the furs.

Esau Serupta turns his head and sees Shiny. Now he’s confused. Where did she come from? Why is she here? And just as he’s about to launch into an inquiry, he shrugs his shoulders. Maybe this is the only olive branch the Kings will offer him. “Fuck it,” he mutters. “See that broom over there?” he asks Shiny. “Start sweeping up that mud, yeah? Builders gonna be ripping up da floor but I ain’t want them thinking I is no deadbeat dat ain’t give a fuck.” He rifles his fingers through his hair and exhales loudly, turning to Aradon. “Oh, da Torvie? Probably out cutting logs, neh? He be da woodcutter and dem builders gonna need all the fucking timber they can get their hands on…” He sniffs and catches a movement out of the corner of his eye. Syeira seems to have identified a fur that still might be good. Hope. He leaps forward to stand next to her and see for himself. The smell of mildew is overwhelming, even for him. “What ya got there,” he asks. “Tabuk fur, eh? Yeah, may be good. Maybe ya isn’t a lost cause, neh? Maybe ya do something right…”

Syeira Requiem groans, rising up and moving to Esau “How may I be of further service?” she asks, of course he had more work for her to do. She then hears his words and smiles before looking to the other Master. Skinny? of course, she had been travelling for days with little to eat, but she doesn’t speak of it and only smiles, waiting for further orders.

Persephone Penucca: Yes, much coughing was happening. A fisted hand raised to her mouth to cover the spew, dropping her flute. A raised and annoyed stare thrust toward Syeira. With Esau’s words, Shiny pushes to the balls of her feet, just making eye contact with Kiana then. Her lips twist curiously. There’s a head tilt as if questioning the other woman. Then she’s to task again, grabbing the broom in the corner of the shop to at least attempt to look like she was sweeping.

Aradon Psaltery nodding to the man “it appears you are busy.. ” looking out to the river “I will just entertain my thoughts while looking out to the landscape ” smiling as I turn my attetnion out

Esau Serupta takes the fur from Syeira’s hand and gives a closer examination. He expert eye scans the fibers while his fingers follow the natural grain of the hide. Salvageable, definitely. “Just be needin a soak,” he says matter-of-factly. “What can ya do?” he asks blankly, staring at Syeira. “What can ya do?” He shakes his head and mutters. “There…and…there..and…there…” He keeps pointing in numerous directions. And then he thinks better. “But boss be saying ya look too skinny. Reckon he be right. Ya ain’t look like ya can carry anything heavy. And I gotta return ya to Bug in one piece. So maybe ya run into da house and see if dere anything left ta eat. Maybe da boss be hungry, neh? Just go inside and see what I be having.” He turns and looks to the foreign warrior. “Appreciated, boss. Ain’t mean no disrespect. It’s just…” His voice trails off. “Be appreciating da understanding.” He sniffs and spits, looking back into the shed. With Shiny sweeping the floors, maybe he can pull this off. It seems possible now, anyway. He hefts the nearly ruined pelt in his hand and moves towards the vats. “Just gotta give this a good soak and it be right as rain…”

Kiana Kuhr continues to watch the various furs and rubble strewn about. It was amazing to her the level of damage that was done by water. She focused in on one bunched up fur and then wrinkled her nose when she got that mildewy odor that Esau had smelled prior. She tilts her head and blurts out, “How do you stay around this place all day, Master. It stinks!” She waves a hand across her face delicately as her brows furrow in an honest curiosity.

Persephone Penucca: It seemed the Shiny one wasn’t at all bothered by the stink. Perhaps she was getting sick. The only thing that caused her the slightest twitch was the shaking of furs, and it seemed the redheaded slave was done with that for now. Shiny’d made her way through 1/2 of the shop. Three piles of debris and clutter in the open room. Left side, middle and right side. She’d contemplated telling the red to pick the piles up, but eh she seemed busy or spaced out at the least. “Don’t you have some sort of… dustpan, Master?” Did they have dustpans on Gor? And furthermore. Why in the hell was she helping to clean his shop. Community, and all that jazz.

Syeira Requiem looks around, so much to clean, so much to throw away. She then looks down at herself “Yes Master…but…I am not Bug’s” she says, shaking her head so her hair falls over her collarless neck, her hand covering her unbranded thigh as well. She then smiles, and rushes off to fetch herself some food from the kitchen.

Esau Serupta turns his head to look at Adira, and gives a half smirk. “Maybe ya loan me yer slave there, boss,” he calls out to Aradon. “Be thinkin she forget who she is.” He begins beating the fur against the side of the shed. The vats are low; he’ll need to refill them, although he’s not sure of how to accomplish this task. “Piss pots, piss pots, piss pots…” he murmurs, scanning about the area for his trademarked filthy items. They must’ve been washed away by the storm. “Eh, just gotta make do,” he mutters, tossing the fur into the vat. Then he comes back to look at Shiny’s progress. “Ain’t got ta be perfect like dem robe ninnies always be wanting up da hill, yeah?” he advises. Needless advice at that. “Just…ya know. I ain’t want the builders ta say nothing. Just neat like. Ain’t no need ta be eating off dem floors.” He sniffs and spits on the grass. “Shit, what the fuck is a dustpan?” He scratches his head and thinks for a moment. “Oh, ya mean da thing that ya scoop up….the…crap? Eh.” He shrugs his shoulders. “Just push it out back er something. Be easy enough. Ain’t need ta be perfect.”
Esau Serupta scratches his head once more and looks at Syeira walking away. Not Bug’s? Maybe Cowper’s? He has to think back on who he asked to help him out. “Well,” he yells out to Syeira. “Ya still late as shit. Ain’t think I forget that!”

Syeira Requiem sighs softly and rushes to the kitchen, picking up a few pieces of cooked but cold bosk and eating them quickly, “Mmmmm” she moans, in almost a sexual way, the bosk tasting as good as an orgasm feels to her. She then picks up a sul, raw and eats it. It was disgusting, but she didn’t care, it was food. She finishes that quickly and rushes back to the Masters, wiping her face of any leftover food.

Aradon Psaltery comes out of his thoughts at the mention of my name looking over to the man and then down to urt “She does seem to forget who she is and who her owner is” looking back upto the man “I have prior plans for her tonight but would you need some help tomorrow eve?”

Persephone Penucca: Either way. There were HUGE piles of crap in the center of the room. Not so little as to just “push it back out”. But , Shiny raises her shoulders to him, not bothering to turn back in her sweeping. Regardless of not wanting things to be perfect, she’d managed to sweep up most of the debris that the storm had brought. Or at least, she;d hoped that was what it was. *This* was harder than she’d worked in who knows how long, but oddly, there was a smile glued on her lips and a chirpy little tune to be whistled.

Kiana Kuhr grunts as she hears Esau’s words. She glances up to her Master with that pitiful begging look as she murmurs, “No, my Master. Please don’t have me work here. Please!” She was a rather prissy girl when it came to manual labor of any sort and the stench here was enough to make her lose her gruel. She pressed against her Master in an attempt to placate him as she offered, “But, but who will do the chores at your house, Master? The cooking, the cleaning…the tumbles in t he furs!” She then glanced towards Esau, her eyes wide as she shakes her head frantically.

Aradon Psaltery looks down to the girl in thought for a few ehn, then I speak in a calm voice “tass will do those chores and she will make sure my furs are well taken care of”

Suyuan Quan had certainly come prepared this time. She was representative of dinas – a makeshift belt encircling her iron belt and an entire pack on her backside. She was prepared to make Esau look and smell pretty even though it would probably be botany suicide. The exotic’s gentle footfalls announced her presence and she assembled into the grass casually. There was a mischievous grin amongst the stems she was clunching in her teeth as she greeted everyone and extended two dina towards Esau, “Tal Masters. Oh and Master…” She snickered as she waved the flowes towards Esau.

Aradon Psaltery looking back upto the man with a grin “I shall be back tomorrow eve with urt in tow… perhaps tas with me also to keep me warm and entertained as urt does her chores. For now I must bid my leave.” nodding to the man “Safe paths” looking to the girls nodding .

Esau Serupta’s eyes twinkle after hearing Aradon; what a perfect thing to say. “Well,” he says slowly, “I be around but I ain’t be thinking da builders be done. Ain’t much fer her or me ta do, neh? Or maybe…” He taps a finger against his cheek and muses out loud. “My vats be low and I be needin ta make a run on the piss pots. Maybe ya loan me yer beast to fill up all the pots and fill the vats? Be thinkin she LOVe da smell of that.” He chuckles at the thought; more than chuckles. He’s grinning from ear to ear. “She smell like honest work then. Good smell it be.” He sees Syeira return and beckons her forward. He hadn’t realized how long it’s been since he ate. “Give me whatever ya got,” he barks at Syeira. “Den give da boss whatever’s left, yeah?”

Esau Serupta sniffs and spits on the ground, looking at Shiny placing the finishing touches on the shed. “Lookin like ya be right,” he admits to Aradon. “Dat one in da red work fast as shit. Fuck, ain’t be knowin there a slave out there that do something besides bitch and moan. Be thinkin that one be alright.” And on cue, Suyuan arrives. “See? Dere only be one like that.”

Esau Serupta nods at Aradon. “Alright then boss. Ya leave here with me and I make her smell real good. A smell ya can be proud of, no doubt.”

Kiana Kuhr scrunches up her face and swallows back a definite gag. She couldn’t even fathom the type of work she was about to subject to and with that she rises, hesitantly, and shakes her head, following closely behind her Master. “No, my Master. Please! I’ll do anything! Just not the work here!”

Aradon Psaltery turns to leave and walks towards the gates as he commands “heel” to the slave. “I shall be back tomorrow eve” he says to the man over his shoulder as he leaves.

Syeira Requiem had grabbed a handful of bosk meat on her way out. She looks down at it, and then at Esau, holding it to him. She never used to do any serving, she was always too stupid or too filthy. She was a work slave, uneducated and ran around with the kajirus to do all the heavy work. She was tall, and strong, and never complained…but she wasn’t very smart. She continues to hold the bosk meat to him, knowing that he will probably not find it very pleasing, but what else could she do?

Persephone Penucca: And she reached the back corner of the room with a huff of finality and triumph. So what if she was sweating. The lazy beast was quite proud of herself as she set the broom down, stepped over each enormous pile of junk and dirt, hopping almost, to make her way to the grass. She was just in time to hear Kiana’s protests, which indeed, brought a sadistic little smile to the stinky Shiny’s face. Oh. That was quick. Her nose crinkled as she turned to Esau, uncerimoniously peeling the sweat ladened camisk from her body. “Better, Master.”

Esau Serupta absentmindedly grabs at some of the pieces of bosk meat offered to him. And just as it’s hovering over his lips, he thinks twice. “Did ya fuckin wash yer hands?” he asks skeptically, staring at the piece of meat. “He holds it up to the moonlight and shakes his head. “Are you fucking kidding me?!” He shakes his head and chucks the meat directly at Syeira’s head. “Ya trying to kill me or something? Where the fuck did Bu…err, Cowper…find ya? Under a rock? Dis be some joke? Cowper put ya up ta this, didn’t he? He be sayin ta fuck everything up. Spit it out already, ya thing. Who put ya up ta thi….” He stops mid-sentence. Seeing Shiny’s naked body makes him easily distracted. “Well,” he scratches his head. “Huh…” He turns his attention towards the shed, though his eyes always gravitate back towards Shiny’s body. “Ya…yeah. Ain’t do half bad,” he says, with his words trailing off occasionally. “Boss be right about ya. Only slave I ever seen dat give a shit.” He raises his voice so he can be heard clearly by those around him. “Something ta be said about that. Ta take pride in yer work.”

Syeira Requiem covers her head to block the flying bosk meat “I…Sorry!” she calls “Nonono I’m not Cowpers…” she tells him “I’m not trying to kill you…I didn’t think…” she tries to explain, all she needed was to be accused of trying to kill a free man…she was a run away…a thief, AND trying to kill the free? No…she didn’t need that at all “Please forgive me…I’ll…wash, and get more…on ap late” she says an runs back to the kitchen.

Esau Serupta shakes his head and just chuckles to himself as he watches her run like the wind. “Fucking slaves,” he mutters to himself. “Nervous as fuck, ain’t they?” Just as he’s about to say something to get her to stop, he sees she’s out of earshot. “Well,” he twiddles his thumbs. “Least she ran. Can’t say nothing bad about that…”

Syeira Requiem hurries to the kitchen and washes her hand, scrubbing them clean of dirt and grime of her long travels. She then pulls out a plate and plops some more bosk meat on the plate, rushing back to him and holds it to him. She pants a bit, not that she wasn’t used to running, but her current state had her quite a bit out of shape “Here you are Master…” she says, looking at him closely and finally catching a whif of his overall stench. She turns away, trying not to cough and gag.

Persephone Penucca did take pride in that! She was a spoilt, haughty, bitch of a shy thing if there ever was one. But the need to help the man… perhaps that was it? Community? He seemed in need of it, anyway, and a needy face was always something that Shiny fell for. She decided to skip the mentioning owing her owner coin as she steped closer, pulling her head back at the flying meat and coming to a lazy rest against the post. The camisk in her hand is whipped to Esau’s feet with a grin. “Better, Master?”

Esau Serupta idly chews on the pieces of meat offered to him by Syeira. However, his eyes are focused on Shiny and the show she’s giving to him. He hadn’t realized how hard he had worked all day until that very moment. It all comes crashing down like a pile of bricks. “Better,” he murmurs, stooping to pick up the camisk and wrap it around his wrist. Is that a hint of slave perfume still on it? He’ll save this. “Better,” he repeats more loudly, now chewing on the cold bosk meat. He begins the stagger towards his own house to sleep. “Ain’t gonna complain if someone suck me off fer the night’s over,” he says without turning his head. “Just sayin.”

Syeira Requiem rubs her forehead a bit, “Am I done? Can I go now?” she asks him, a breeze picking up and it runs through her hair, her collarless neck showing. She was glad he hadn’t turned to see her, what would one like him do with a runaway slave? Sell hr probably.

Persephone Penucca’s grinned turned to a soft smile as he picked up her clothes, wrapping it around his hand. Just as soon as she’d stepped forward, he’d stepped away and back. It was deja-vu all over again. She shook her head distraught. Perhaps it was her smell. There was a turn, a curious pivot back to him, then a brow raised. She looked at Syeria. “That mean…you?”

Efferus Parx yawns loudly as he wandered over. His eyes looking at the two girls and then the man who seemed to be walking away. Perhaps something entertaining was going on. It was quite boring at his farm. He paused a small distance away and watched for the moment, his nails running over the thick scar on his chest absently-

Syeira Requiem frowns “I..don’t know…he does have your camisk…should we both follow?” she asks her, peering a bit at Esau as her reddish brown hair settles at her shoulders again, and she shifts it to cover up her neck.

Esau Serupta shrugs his shoulders at Syeira’s comment, nearly at the door. “If ya done, ya done. If ya ain’t, ya finish up.” He stops at the door, listening to the pattering of feet. He can’t hear anything. But he can’t turn his head either to see what’s going on. Shrugging his shoulders, he slips inside. Either they’d come or they wouldn’t. All he knows is that he’ll be sleeping soon.

Syeira Requiem shrugs, and rushes after him, he smelled, yes, but it was a lot better than sleeping outside once more, perhaps he’d allow her to stay there for the night if she exchanged a favour. “Wait, Master” she called, panting and catching up to him.

Persephone Penucca raised her shoulder and leaned forward from her pole gripping to glance more intently to Esau. Just then did she hear the footfall in the distance, and she turned back that way, almost alarmed. nAN arm shot over her breast, blushing, as if it were the first time she’d been naked. “Are you.. you’re his?” Asking Sy as she peeked and lowered her head to Efferus. “Oh well… there’s my answer.” She whispered to herself.

Esau Serupta doesn’t break pace. He opens the door and trudges up the stairs to his furs

Syeira Requiem follows inside, her arms covering her chest as she follows the strange Master.

Esau Serupta gets to the top and realizes. “Oh right,” he says. “Ain’t got nothing.” He unwraps the camisk and balls it up. A pillow maybe. Stripping off his clothes, he lies down for the first time all day. Now, to wait…

Persephone Penucca turned her head up to raise a brow to the strange man. The pole was hugged tighter then, unsure of him. “Useful, Master?” A quick sweep of her soot covered body and she peered back at him. “Are you in need of service?”

Syeira Requiem stands there uncomfortably “Master…I must confess something…” she tells him as she slowly drops to her knees, as she had been on her feet all day as well, but if she was to ask him if she can stay, she would most likely have to do what he wanted. “I have nowhere to go..” she shows him her bare neck, free of iron.

Persephone Penucca: Both of her brows raised then, shocked and embarressed. A hand raised to her own heated cheek then down to her hip, slidign across her belly to grip the pole with both hands, as if it would save her. “I am, I am so dirty Master… I..” SHe slipped away then and approached timidly, smiling weakly as she reached his feet. “What may I do for you, Master.”

Esau Serupta rolls onto his side and stares at her. “Less yapping, more sucking. Or if’n ya ain’t going to do that, get the fuck out of here.”

Syeira Requiem: “Master…that is what I am asking…may I stay here…for the night?” she looks at him, shifting closer and sighs. She bites her lip and leans in, getting down to work.

Esau Serupta walks back from the stream to find his partner at the shed. Of course Mateo would be there now. Esau wipes his brow and continues to move towards the shed to keep clearing things out. “Hey cuz. Everything’s ruined,” he says simply. Nothing else to add. “Builder says the whole thing gotta come down. It all be junk.” He grimaces, picking up a rotted piece of wood and hucks it onto the growing pile of garbage. The amount of loss is staggering. “Ain’t know what there is to do. Everything be gone.”

Mateo Ariantho nods his head,walking over,helping him rip pieces of wood,looking for any that can be salvaged “Aye,all our hard work,washed away like dir in a bath” he cusses udner his breath,looking to Esau “spoke with a friend and that greedy builder…despite our savin’s we gotte had to choose ‘tween either new buildin’ and no supplies,or new supplies and a buildin’ that gonne fall on our heads” he looked to Esau “but I do got better news,well,ain’t much better but it’ll work” he says to the man,as he picks up a mold encrusted crate,tossing it out onto the garbage pile

Esau Serupta does his normal grunting and cursing while performing his manual labor. A regular ritual. He listens with interest, getting his hopes up that Mateo does indeed have a plan. “That so? Ya got a plan?” he asks, trying to sound as bored and indifferent as he can, though the tinge of optimism in his voice remains. “Better’n me, no doubt. All I got ta my name is a crate of handbags I sent up ta Lady Eve before da storms hit. Dat’s all I got. Maybe like worth a silver. Two if’n I’m lucky. So, dat’s all I got. I is fucked all the way up da river. No doubt.”

Mateo Ariantho shakes his head “nah cousin,ye ain’t fucked t’at’all” he says,hauling a large piece of wood from the back used as a makeshift table out onto the pile “Ye remember way back,when we first made agreements to make this business?” he looked to him,finishing the statement “well if ye do,I saids if anythin’ happened where the business was under, I’d take care of ye to make sure ye back where ye was before the business opened” he would chuck another piece of floorboard before turning to face Esau “Had enough that yer gonne get a new set o’vats,a new farmhome and shed like the one ye had before,and new leatherworker tools” he said to Esau “The Builder’s is set to fix the place right tomorrow,everythin; brand new and ready to live in by evenin’” he would add,before turning back and helping his friend haul mroe of the broken,swollen and weakened wood frames and boards,the pile rising as each one of them chucked the hunks,each one cussing,brothers from others mothers some would say

Esau Serupta slowly stops collecting pieces of water logged wood while everything sinks in. New vats, new shed, new racks, new everything. The whole speech is overwhelming. In fact, he has a compelling desire to sit down and bury his hands in his face. “Oi,” he says slowly, not knowing what to say. “Oi…fuck me.” He continues staring at the ground, rubbing his temples, thinking of the enormity of the situation. All that building, all that work- that’s a small fortune. He looks up quizically at his business partner and asks with a quivering lip, “How…how…how…how…how? How ya…How is…how?”

Mateo Ariantho walks over to the large bury crate near the door,probably the only object the two of them had that was large enough to still be stable after the flood,he took his sea pack off of it and opened it up,taking out a small cask ,tossing it near him “remember that?” he asked Esau “right after we made all that coin over the long snow,when business was real boomin’…remember? we made nearly two gold ‘tween the uppidy rich folk and the Ubara’s special order” he looks to Esau “well I stored ‘em in that…and kept ‘em in that lockbox on the bottom shelf,seems the box made it through the flood” he says,continuing the work despite Esau having stopped “pretty much every tarsk bit went into makin’ sure ye landed on yer feet from this,as I promised” he would then turns,wiping his hands on his kilt,before leaning gently against a support beam,fearing too much pressure and the loft would fall on him

Esau Serupta turns his body around and turns to look at the plethora of items. Mateo keeps pulling out one item after another. Esau just sits there, jaw on the floor as all the inventory is seemingly replaced. He had underestimated the Torvie. Severely. “I ain’t….I ain’t…” he says hesitantly before getting up to assist Mateo to secure the stability of the wooden beam. “I ain’t no what to say,” he finally stammers out. “Just, fuck me- I ain’t know what ta say. Be thanking ya.”

Mateo Ariantho clasps the man on the shoulder “Ye’s like kin Esau,I never ferget the kindness ye showed me when I first came here” he stated before backing up saying “But I ain’t gonne be around,ain’t have enough coin left fer my own supplies,but I had enough fer a plot of land enar where the Vinter’s house used to be,ye know,near Geib’s old farm…Geib even left me some salvaged furniture” before turing to see the Potter woman,he would say “Tal Lady”

slave Maladay walks through the grass, her head staring hard at the grass below, she wanders out of the city and up to the one place where she doesn’t really have to talk much. Raising her bloodshot eyes she nods to Mateo and Esau. Hearing his rough gorean spoken, she raise her hand in greeting then turn and look out to the field. Yes, her being here was odd, but she always came out here whether the foul mouthed northerners were around or not.

Esau Serupta nods slowly and clasps Mateo on the shoulder back. “And I ain’t never forget this. Bet yer life on this.” At the news there is more company, he turns to look. The potter woman. Quickly, he moves to retrieve the top half of his tunic and pulls it over his body. “Tal there boss,” he says slowly. Eyeing the pile of garbage in front of him and Mateo, he says rather quietly, “Ain’t be minding the mess. Storm done ruined everything here, yeah? Just be doing a bit of cleaning it. Ain’t be thinkin no woman be coming round these parts right about now…”

Mateo Ariantho would nod in concurence with Esau as he gathered more bits of wood,tossing them onto the pile,giving the woman soem mind but mostly helping Esau best he can with some of the work before he set out to move into the old farm

slave Maladay murnurs in a heartbroken sad voice, her barbarian accent coming out semi-slurring her Gorean, “Don’t mind the mess, Sir… it doesn’t matter… I’ve seen worse… can you pretend I’m not here.. but please let me stay?” her voice would break at the end, catching slightly as tears would sting her eyes and she’s move over to stand close to the building to lean on the wall.

Esau Serupta frowns, looking at Mateo. He had the history with this woman; is this something that would…? He shrugs his shoulders and begins scratching his head. “Well, I…why would…uh…eh, fuck it.” He spits on the ground and hucks a balled up soiled pelt into the large pile of garbage. “If’n the Torvie sayin it alright, be alright with me. Just be knowin dat, well- down here ain’t be like it be up on the hill, neh? If’n ya ain’t mind that, I ain’t got a problem wit it. Torvie?”

slave Maladay settles in and sits down on the grass between the big storage box and the building, pulling her knees under her tightly, making herself small as she can and out of the way. She could barely understand Esau as he spoke, the pattern and tone would almost lull her to relax even more, she stared down and the matted grass below and tried to clear her mind, and just be for a little while.

Mateo Ariantho would look to Esau for recognition,it was his building again,the woodsman just continuing to stockpile the broken pieces onto the pile,he would live the rotted gut table tossing it onto the pile “don’t mind me none” he says,reaching beneath his matted hair,pulling tighter at the rag of a headband he wore,before contiuing his talk with Esau “But Aye,once I is back on my feet,instead of partners in a business,we be exchangin’ our goods “he would look to Esau “I go huntin’ bring back game,I gut ‘em,send the pelts to you,ya tan ‘em and clean ‘em up good,while i smoke and salt the prime cuts o’meat…and we trade, I give ye food ye can cook, ye give me furs so i don’t freeze my ass off in the eve” he chuckles “and in between we seel to ‘em city folk” he says “It’s like you always been sayin’ back when we first joined up, ye work under the Leatherworker Caste codes, no problem, and I be workin’ under my own,since I the only woodcutter caste member in the city,and all the while we live as we wish,neh?” He would smirk “and like old times,we break out the paga,roar a fire,play some dice,and talk who the better brawler,the better hunter,the one ‘em slave girls go on about and the like neh?” he chuckled,with each piece he picked up it felt like he was tossing away a memory,he would look to Esau,enjoying the work in his company,talking and joking and cussing as they always did

Esau Serupta peels off his soaked tunic top and begins the work. Stooping low, he begins to peel the grime and muck attached to the wall so he can get a good look at the stability of the structure. Everything seems to be curved. Not a good sign. He grits his teeth at Mateo’s explanation of things are going to be. Tough to stomach at this hour. “That be best,” he says quietly. “Ya always was da better hunter, no doubt. Anybody who be coming this way lookin fer a scout, I be sending them your way, neh?” He spits on the ground and begins collecting his now rusted through tools from his workbench. “Be smarter, I be thinkin,” he says slowly, “of dis plan. I just be holdin ya back. Ya got the brains, no doubt. Ya be running this place in no time. Me? Shit man, time fer me ta set down the spear and work on my dice throw. Ain’t never won a game in the last three hands. Cuz yer fuckin using loaded dice. Don’t give me that shit that you ain’t.” He shakes his head and chuckles to himself. “Maybe be fer the best. Ya need a place of yer own so ya got shit to be giving to me when I win it all from you. No doubt.”

slave Maladay rises slowly moving out of the way and sensing trouble is near…
slave Maladay looks up to Mateo and she’d nod, even though he probably didn’t see her. Leaving the two men she’d walk out to see the slave girl standing out by the stream.

Mateo Ariantho would watch the Potter woman leave before looking to Esau “Oi I’d appreciate that,if ye sent ‘em my way fer a tracker,just like anyone I know who want a specialty on their pelts I’ll send yer way,ye always was good at keepin’ the fur on the hdie when ye tanned ‘em” he would chuckle again “I ain’t use no loaded dice!” as he chucked another crate onto the junk pile “ye just ain’t got Odin’s blessin’s like I do,and ye was never holdin’ me back Esau,yes was the backbone,If I had to tan and make packs and leathers in the like you did this place would’ve went under,ain’t my kind of craftmenship” he said,grabbing the old gut bucket,empty of it’s contents and tossed it onto the junk pile

Esau Serupta rolls his eyes and half heartedly flings some mud in Mateo’s direction. “Fuck you it’s all luck. If you is that lucky, then I be the Ubar of Treve. Fuck you, no one’s that lucky lessin yer name be Tarl.” He shakes his head with a laugh and tips over the table. Time into the open. “And look it ya- now with the silver tongue. Throwing me praise so my head get all big. I know what yer doing there, Torvie. Yer mind games ain’t gonna work on me. Can’t get into my head that way, neh? If’n you’re going to beat me, you beat me straight up. Callin me da backbone? Feh.” He spits on the ground and blusters about. “Ain’t gonna get me that easy, I be saying. No way, no how…

Mateo Ariantho would chuckle looking at Esau “too proud fer even a little bit of truthful praise,either ye real humble or real thick” and then he would go on to roll with Esau’s joke “oi! Hail Ubar! Welcome to mine and the Tanner’s shop,or what was a shop…”he would continue “allow me te gift ye with this board “he pulls up the floorboard “worth every bit of a gold it is,Esau spat on this board, blessed by the Gods it is” before laughing a bit,chucking it out onto the pile “Aye,we’ll see who can muster luck next time we roll the die” he says,the conversation in the distance low,but some aprts audible,but he continues the work of cleaning up

Esau Serupta stares at Mateo, unable to hide his amused expression. “Yah, yah,” he chuckles, waving off the impression. “Yah got me, ya fucker. Maybe I should…” He quickly looks around on how to imitate Mateo’s mannerisms. Should he…no. Maybe that. He yanks on his hair and assumes a high pitched voice. “I’m da Torvie always doing what’s right and…and…and…FUCK.” He gives up on his terrible impression and skulks into a corner. “Just be sayin…” He sighs and gives. “Ya win, ya fucker. But mark my words, I get back at ya. No doubt about that. I’ll beat ya bad.”

Kali Kita whispers “Greetings Masters…” then falls very silent

Aradon Psaltery slows his approach as he nears the men, looking over seeing the lady from the city and noticing the slave at the feet of the one he discovered is called Mateo earlier today I give my greeting “Tal Mateo”

Mateo Ariantho would chuckle to Esau,turning to see Kali he would say “Tal girl” as he chucked the ruined wood onto the pile,before turning to see the warrior from Ko Ro Ba “Aradon” he would say in greeting

Kali Kita: Greetings Master ::she murmurs to the newly arrived man::

Aradon Psaltery nodding down to the girl in greeting

Esau Serupta stops for a moment to take a small break. “Tal,” he says uneasily, eyeing the small congregation around his dilipidated shed. “Be thinkin that slave want to move some of that garbage, neh?” He nods towards the rather large pile of junk that has been tossed in front of the shed. Relaxing slightly that most have come to see Mateo, he continues on his adventure to completely clear the inside of his shed so the builders can start with the repairs as quickly as possible.

Aradon Psaltery looking back up to the man “You had left before we could really introduce ourselves earlier” looking over the building as I speak now “Is this your establishment?”
Aradon Psaltery looks to the other man nodding “Tal”

Kali Kita: Oh yes Master would you like me to help? Please I will help if it pleases you? ::she begs eagerly to the surly Master in the shed

Mateo Ariantho would nod his head to Esau,nudging Kali “pick up some of them wood pieces and move ‘em to the pile” he told her,before looking to Aradon “well as ye can see I had business to move this” he looks at the ruined building “Aye…was mine and his” nodding to Esau “flood damaged it right good” he said,bending over to take one of the large wood pieces and toss it into the pile

Aradon Psaltery looking to the stream then over the ground leading to the building “It is good the rains have stopped and the water has receeded”

Esau Serupta chuckles and shakes his head, looking down at the seemingly eager slave. “Must be something in the water up there,” he murmurs to himself before clapping his hands together. “Ya ya,” he barks at the slave. “Be minding the Torvie’s words- just be making sure ya only take the rotting planks. If it still be good, I need it. Sell it back ta the builders er some shit.” He sniffs and spits on the floor. “Just get it done quick, yeah? Lot more shit to be going through still…”

Kali Kita eagerly crawled over and picked up a piece of wood into her arms, then another to stack on top of it, tyrying to carry as much as possible
Kali Kita rose up and carefully tiptoed out of the way… she paused “where does this go Master?” ::she flinches::

Kiana Kuhr hurries to her Master’s feet. She had been eyeing a few of the guards at the gates and ended up a but behind. She dropped to her knees, quietly, glancing around at the building and the remnants of various tanning and leatherworking items. She then glanced up at the men, remembering Esau from the few occasions she had seen him around the city.

Kali Kita quickly slipped back into a kneel as she awaits the Masters to tell her where the wood goes.

Esau Serupta rubs his face, now streaked with mud and sweat. This slave might slow him down. He grumbles and steps forward to look at the wood she’s holding. “Eh, might as well chuck it onto the pile. If’n there ain’t more space, throw it in the clearing and we burn the whole fucking lot at the end.”

Kali Kita rises and moves without hesitation “Oooooh! Yes, Master!”

Mateo Ariantho looks to Kali and points to the big pile of ruined wood and furniture “there” before picking up more wood and tossing it back onto the pile,looking at Aradon,then at Esau “Aye, a controled burn,we set the valley down we’ll be in right some right deep shite” he says

Aradon Psaltery looks around the valley as far as his sight will take him, then looking back to Mateo “How much of this do you own?”

Suyuan Quan was exhausted from the journey and the warrior who escorted her sauntered past to perform his duties but not before he brushed his callused fingers lingered through her thick, sleek locks. He bid her a farewell and left her there as she discarded the pack from her back side and extended her arms above her head in a simple gesticulation, stretching the muscles and bones until she heard some cracking. She perused the scene with heavy-lidded eyes: Mateo and Esau of course along with Aradon and a few slave girls. Esau, she wondered if she had the time to pick some flowers for him. He looked like he was in a need of a dina. But she was simply too tired and grass crunched under her weight as she ambled closer with a casual, lily gait and slid to her knees though slowly, “Tal Masters.”

Mateo Ariantho pointed from the large oak treel on one side of the building “from there” then he points to where the wagonw as set up with the bosk “to there…hope that bastard move’s soon” he’d comment

Esau Serupta chuckles and blows onto his hands. His fingernails are chipped and his hands feel knotted. The warmth might do some good. “Yah yah,” he brushes off Mateo’s warning dismissively. “Just cuz yer a woodcutter ain’t mean that you know everything about fires. We do it real easy like. No doubt about that. Just got ta be making sure we do it in one go. Ain’t no sense letting it burn fer hand upon hand, neh? Dem fuckers up da hill think we doing magic er some shit, calling down spirits from da heaven.” He chuckles and looks back to see Kali zipping about in her attempt to ease the work burden. “Fuck me, maybe this piece of shit ain’t half bad, neh?” He nods towards Kali. “Fucker can actually move. Ain’t half bad at all.”

Aradon Psaltery turns as he hears the foot steps too light for a mans and seeing the slave approach I merely nod to her
Aradon Psaltery looks back to where Mateo was pointing and then to the wagon “You do not like your neighbor?”

Mateo Ariantho shrugs “the man’s alright,but his bosk shite everywhere…and ‘em city folk complain about that smell and the smell the vats give off” he would say before going back to work moving the ruined debris

Aradon Psaltery nods to him as he turns to get back to his work “You could put up a fence to keep the bosk from your land. I also hear bosk taste pretty good in soup..” chuckling lightly
Aradon Psaltery turns to the lady near the fence as I start to stroll in her direction. Hearing the stream rush past as my mind wanders to various topics

Kiana Kuhr glances at the rather stinky and dirty men. She had a preference for the more refined high caste men, but of course, her preference oftenmeant little. The wrinkling to her nose and flare of her nostrils likely gave away the thoughts running through herhead as she looked about the lands around her.

Esau Serupta notices the amount of people. Perhaps this is a good stopping point for now. He kicks the pile a little bit before finding the remainder of his clothing. Walking over to the fire, he sits by the large crate to rest a spell. Perhaps it’s time to turn over a new leaf. Or at least try. “Yah,” he agrees with Aradon. “Err fucking eat them bosk. Got too many of ‘em, I be thinking.” He spits on the ground and rubs his stomach. “Lawks Torvie, got any of that sausage left? Maybe we cook up something before I start clearing out the junk, neh?”

Aradon Psaltery coming to a stop a respectable distance from the lady, my eyes search her face “Tal lady”

Kiana Kuhr quickly rises as she sees her Master saunter off. She didn’t want to be stuck near this men who seemed to think that slaves should carry around rotten. She glanced over her shoulder at Esaua nd then Mateo as she trekked behind her Owner.

slave Maladay looks up and nods “Tal, Sir. Good to see you and yours again.”

Aradon Psaltery nods down to his than looking back up to Malady “It is good day today” looking upto the sky

Mateo Ariantho looks to Esau “Aye,lemme check the loft” he would walk over to the ladder,testing it a moment before climbing up,sure enough,half way up one of the steps would snap and the ladder buckles and snaps in two,bringing the large man to land on his side,he would groan and turn to lay on his back,griping his arm “Oi lawks…the fuck didn’t we send you up ye skinny bastard” looking to Esau,wincing a bit before he would move to find his feet,he would cuss saying “fuckin’ flood, fuckin’ rottin’ wood..” he would stretch a moment,rubbing his arm,checking for any gashes and the like

Suyuan Quan notced Esau sitting a bit of a distance away. As much as the scents of the tannery overwhelmed her senses, she found it amusing to at least pay a visit to the surly one every now and then. She sauntered over towards Esau on her hands and kneels, crawling slowly until she essentially settled near him, “And Tal to you, Master!”

slave Maladay would lean in murmuring quietly to him “It’s a good day these Torvies cleaned out ther shed, sir.”

Aradon Psaltery looks back to the building then answering “It appears they have been working long at it”

Kiana Kuhr eyes Suyuan, watching the rather reserved exotic girl crawl across the mucky ground on hands and knees. She find it somewhat amusing as she dug her toes into the soft soil beneath her feet a moment and turned her attention back to the the free woman before her Master. Her eyes flashed of her curiosity, why a woman would be wandering out here alone, though she remained silent, sucking her lips in between her teeth to prevent any unwarranted outbursts.

Esau Serupta hears the loud crash back in the shed and yells out, “Yah yah fat ass. Maybe it be best ya skip a meal or two. Ain’t no thing- Kings be saying ya need a diet.” He sniffs and pulls over the top of his tunic when he notices…a slave. At his side. He rolls his eyes and spits off to the side. “Ain’t buying what ya got to sell,” he says reflexively. “Storm’s cleaned me out, yeah? Can’t be affordin da snatch these days. No matter how good ya say ya fuck, I ain’t interested…”

slave Maladay hears what Esau says and it sounds like a schpiel like he’s has to say it over and over on a daily basis… she would grin and lower her head shaking it as she giggles.

Suyuan Quan chuckled softly and shook her head from the usual demurity she displayed. Ah, now she remembered and she reached into her belt where she occasionally kept her flowers – one left thankfully. She extended it towards him, the petals brushing softly against his lips, “No. I’m restricted, Master. I just thought you could use something sweet-smelling. Dina?”

Mateo Ariantho would walk out of the shed looking to Esau “we can’t all eat like vulos like ye ya tunic full of bones” he would roll his neck,cracking it lightly,giving the pile of wood a good kick before walking over to lean against the crate

slave Maladay noted that this was the second time today a slave has offered the man a flower too… Mala would be nearly beside herself grinning, she’d pull herself together before attracting undue attention., making a mental note to bring the ripe smelling tanner a flower as well.

Aradon Psaltery raises my eyebrow at the words from the slave “Do you wear an iron belt slave?”

Esau Serupta stares at Suyuan, puzzled. “Did someone kick ya in the head?” he asks, somewhat annoyed. “Ain’t ya know what they call this place?” He tugs at his tunic and gives it a whiff. “Ain’t be thinking no flower solv…..ohhhhhh.” His eyes alight with realization and he sighs heavily. “Ya the fucking one, ain’t ya? Well, if ya think that’s what I be needin, why ain’t ya shove it up yr arse and give it ta the Torvie. Make him smell like one of them waddle wagons from up the hill, yeah? Be a real good smell for him. Improve it fer sure.” He turns to look at Mateo, “What ya be thinkin, Torvie? And nah, ya can’t eat it, ya fat fuck. Just be a flower, see?”

Suyuan Quan’s gaze shifted towards Aradon and nodded before gradually traversing the green landscape back to Esau. She attempted to tickle his nose with the petals and chittered at his reply, “I don’t do that anymore. But you won’t accept a humble flower from this worthless slave?” She accidently thrust a petal into one of his nostrils, “I offer simple greenery for the tannery.”

Mateo Ariantho shakes his head ,looking to Esau “call me a fat fuck one more time and she can plant flowers over the dirt I use to bury ye in a shallow ditch” he’d snicker,giving Esau a nudge with his boot “let her put it in yer hair,maybe then one of the ladies around the city will find ye worth talkin’ to” he’d chuckle knowing Esau had a problem with the city women,and was thinking maybe he could strike a nerve for the fat comment

slave Maladay chuckles hard listening to the two

Aradon Psaltery makes a mental note on the … nodding slave for a future time when she is not busy with other men. Turning back to the lady behind him.

slave Maladay had heard earlier so she brings it up “You’re a mighty long way off form Ko-ro-ba, sir. Any news from the city? Does it still exist?

Esau Serupta nearly sneezes when the flower petal tickles his nose. Instinctually, he bats Suyuan’s hand away and draws his head back. After Mateo jibes him, he can only laugh. “Ya ass. In my fucking hair? My hair?” He rolls his eyes and starts laughing. “Fuck me, I broke as a joke. Maybe it work, neh? Put some of dis crap in my hair, pour a jar of oil down my tunic like dem fat fucks up da hill and maybe some rich scribe be taking a shine to me, yeah?” He looks over to Suyuan and leans forward. “Yah maybe ya do that, neh? Make me look like one of dem rich fucks. I need me a broad with a big fucking dowry. Make me look all namby pamby.”

Aradon Psaltery chuckles lightly at the words “It stands strong. I am a long way from my Home but I travel quite a bit, my sword takes me wher it needed the most”

Mateo Ariantho would chuckle slinging the sea pack over his shoulder “I’m gonne hit the furs,got a set up by the Tavern,see ye in the mornin” he would say to Esau,clasping him on the shoulder “safe pathes cousin” before nodding to the rest “be well” and he departed

Aradon Psaltery turning around nodding to the man “Safe paths”

slave Maladay would reach up and pinch the bridge of her nose hard to keep from laughing, she peers up at catches Aradon’s eye momentarily and tosses a look behind him at the Tanner and just chuckles. then she attends to his words “Ah, good then, it’s been years since I’ve seen the place… ” her smile would fade off lost in a sad memory only for a moment then she’d look back up to him “Enjoy your day, sir.”

Suyuan Quan couldn’t help but burst out laughing at Mateo’s comment and she slapped her thigh in merriment. With how the denizens avoided them, she found the company of these two, especially together quite fun, especially when they displayed their “bromance”. Her hand was swatted away but she persisted with the delicate flower which had already lost a petal, “I can, Master. I can help you find the most eligible and wealthy woman in Salernum under my Mistress. But ah… if you wish me to help you… you’re going to need more than flowers, Master.”

Kiana Kuhr listens to the various voices around her, trying to focus in on one but it was icnreasingly difficult. She sits perched atop her heels as arches her head tot he free woman before her Master. She had caught the forlorn fading of her smile through the unique looking veil the woman wore and Adira’s eyes flashed up to see if they might exchange a brief glance.

slave Maladay looks to the beautiful girl and acknowledges her with a nod then she looks back to her Master

Esau Serupta becomes worried when Mateo suddenly leaves. That guy- he did it purposefully. He glances around, trying to make sure no one is looking. He doesn’t want any of the locals to get the wrong idea that this was something he wanted to do. “Right,” he says uneasily, shaking out his hair just in case there were any errant petals within it. “Just need ta trick em is all. Once the contract is signed, fuck what they think, neh? I seen how dem robe ninnies work. Slap on some oils, smell like wet feet- dat’s what dem robe ninnys always be smelling like- muss up the hair like some dude just cum in it, and then wear clothes that too tight and show off my gut. And I see how dem waddle wagons be be crawling over dat fat fuck scribe. Just got to trick em is all, see? Make ‘em think I be a big shot in da caste and then they be begging ta suck my cock.” He flicks a finger against Suyuan’s earlobe and scolds. “I know how it work, see. Tanner ain’t fucking stupid.”

slave Maladay stnad in earshot of the tanner and remains unscathed by his language, someting about living in to Port towns has built up quite a tolerance for more colorful language… besides it didn’t quite sounds as vulgar perhaps as it would in her native tongue… she ponders looking off momentarily seeing if she could still recall any of that language.

Suyuan Quan nodded towards Mateo as he retired for the evening, even bidding him goodnight and focused back upon the “ripe” tanner. Albeit, he was reeking of his occupation, she coughed and just wondered if it was at all possible that Gor made it’s own version of Old Spice… or Febreeze. Yes, febreeze would do. She mustered a smile and the only relief which was the fragant dina in her fingertips as she spoke to him a softened tone, reserved for him, “Well, Master. I know you are smart but may I speak plainly?”

Kiana Kuhr glances up, her eyes following the free woman’s gaze. She was always curious about free women. They seemed like an entirely foreign world to her with the way they hid themselves from men, but often didn’t seem that they truly wanted to. She tilted her head and then managed to blurt out, in her utterly unrepenting way, “Mistress, do you travel out here alone much? Do you not worry for your freedom?”

Esau Serupta smirks at the request and answers cooly. “Ain’t they train ya to always speak like that? Might as well speak now that ya asked.”

slave Maladay looks across the way seeing the men of her caste she does business with all the time, she looks up to the walls and sees the guards walking, she’d glance over her shoulder knowing the man sleeping int he home behind who planted the Sa-tarna that grew, then she’d look down at the diminutive girl and smile. “Your property concerned for my worries. It’s adorable, Sir.”

Aradon Psaltery looking down to her “Perhaps she was just wishing for a sister” looking back to the lady “But she does make a good point.” looking towards the wall “The guards may not respond in time if they see it.. or care to risk their lives outside of the city even.” looks behind the lady to the house with the sleeping man “Sleeping man offer little protection..” turning to nod at the man with the slave that sticking flowers over him “And while I am sure the man are well hardened, are they of the warrior training?” looking back to the lady “It is a risk, a measured risk, but if one truely wished for your neck I can see at least three ways it can be done with minimal risk on the captore”

Suyuan Quan chuckled as she extended the flower towards him again, perhaps as a sign of peace or friendship. Or rather that she meant well in what she was about to state, “Yes, Master. I am trained. Trained to be beautiful and pleasing to how my Mistress wants. For you… ah, let’s see. I wouldn’t call it training but if you want to catch yourself the best free woman available, you would have to… well. You would have to work on your speech first…” She leaned in as if what she was relating to be classified information, “Women of any caste want a companion that provide for and protect them. You will have to learn to socialize, say the right words. Women like to be wooed, no matter if they are slave or Free. For Free women, you have to display that you’re virile and not just in body, but in occupation. What were you aiming for? The daughter of a scribe? Learn to read and write, lure her with words. What about the daughter of an Ubar? I can tell that they are accustomed to protocol, so you would have to be prepped for whatever she throws at you. First thing is – put something out on the table that even their fathers will approve of. Learn to read women’s body language, her gestures, the tone of her voice.”

slave Maladay chuckles softly, she’d shrug. “Such a fine slave would command what she wants so swiftly, ‘a sister’, snap she gets what she wishes. I’m impressed.” She nods and walks over towards Esau after having bid this warrior a good evening a while ago, she peers up to the sky to see the time and turns towards her home.

Tara Pearl held a stick in her right hand, and there was a fishnet wrapped between her left arm and her side. She stumbles a slightly through the blades of grass and without an glance back or forth she heads for the side of the river and chrouches down, dropping the net to her side and poked the stick into the water, not really quite sure why she had done that. She then lifted her chin lightly and peered to the side when she heard a voice who remembered her of the dangers outside the gates, but she shrugged it off just as easily- it was an rather easy choice to be made, to be eaten alive by that Chombo/Sally creature or.. give it a shot here to fish around for sorp. She turned her attention back to the ripples in the water and tapped her chin softly, it has been a while- afteral

slave Maladay stops at Esau “Good day to you , sir.”

Aradon Psaltery chuckles at the lady “It is appearant lady you do not understand words, I simply stated it seems she wished for a sister. I did not say I would provide her one or that it would be you that I would provide if I did. It would be wise for you to listen if you speak to a man”

Kiana Kuhr glances up to her Master and seems a bit confused. She wasn’t really skiled at deciphering free women’s moods, but then again she had never much been around them. She glances back over her shoulder and shrugs, “Perhaps she actually di feel that it wasn’t safe out here then Master. She left rather quickly.”

Aradon Psaltery nodding to the man “Safe paths” as I walk past him. Taking a bina from my pouch I toss it at the slave near the stream.

Tara Pearl started to knot the corners of the net onto the stick and chewed on her bottomlip in some sort of seriousness. At the moment she felt something bounce against her head she jumps up lightly, and her hands fly up towards her hair, finding a bina within her locks. She studies it closely and then a grin appears while she stares over her shoulder, ” Tal Master! And thank you! Would that be the first bina for your necklace?”

Esau Serupta’s eyes twinkle with amusement at Suyuan’s advice. “Maybe they be training ya in how ta act, but they sure isn’t training ya in brains there, ya thing. Only way a dumb fuck like me get a scribe’s daughter is if the fucker lost his head. Ain’t no how no way no high caste be companioning off his daughter to some fucking tanner less da dar kosis be killing every other man in Gor. Shit, he’d send her off ta like Thentis er some shit before he go ta the tanner.” He shakes his head and laughs. “Got ta use yer brain there, neh? Ya can put me in a dress, make me talk all proper tally ho and soft paths and honor and wind and all that crap- ain’t make no difference. It is what it is. Just be needing some scratch is all. Be nice ta have some rich fucker pay fer a new shop, yeah? Dat all it be. Nothing more den dat.”

Aradon Psaltery chuckles to the slave “Perhaps, that will be upto you girl” I continue my stroll off to the gates.

Tara Pearl smiles when they depart and she places the bina next to her upon the rock, setting it steady in a light hole. She nodded and sends a soft smile into the direction of the voices she heard from the shop, but too shifted around again to face the water and the task at hand, she continued to tie the net to the stick and when she thought she was set an had made a fishingrod device, look-a-like thing she plunged the stick into the water and waved it forth and back, pushing deeper down to rake over the bottom.

Suyuan Quan frowned at his proverbial insult and she regarded him warily, “I’m trying, Master.” She explained and she was silent for a few moments as she accumulated her thoughts, “Perhaps you could petition to Sabriel for a new shop… explain to him…” She gestured towards the interior and the blood-splattered mess, “The conditions are less than savory. I believe that that could only be done if you convince him that… wait, no that couldn’t work. But the scent… no… that couldn’t work either. Gah, first I suggest working on your mannerisms, your speech. So far, all that I can think of is saving the woman’s life. Arrange to have it where it would seem like her life is in danger and you rescue her. Instead of enslavement, free companion her. I’m certain a father will be more than happy than even a lowly tanner rescued his daughter.”

Esau Serupta raises his eyebrows at the comment and shakes his head. Laughing to himself, he murmurs a few words to himself. “Ya funny,” he chuckles. “I give ya that. Ya ain’t never been free, have ya?”

Suyuan Quan nodded, “I was… but you would never believe my story. You’re basically asking me to help you find a Free Companion. First, you need a -makeover-.”

Tara Pearl lifted the net up from the waters and her eyes squint lightly to check it’s contents, mud, more mud, some weed and strangely enough – something wich could be considered as the remains of a sandal. Her both brows furrowed and she goes for another round, dumping the remains back in the stream and waves forth and back again, leaning forth this time peer as deep as possible into the shadows of the water. Not very likely she would find those sorp here, but it was at least worth a shot.

Esau Serupta covers his mouth with his hand. “Ya think I be that desperate, neh? I just easy as ya please get a slave to find me a companion?” He wipes the smirk off his face and tries to stay composed. And fails. “Alright then. Makeover first. I can do that, no problem. Ain’t no thing. Then what? What be the plan?”

Veronica Treves: Tal girl, is this the way to the city?
Veronica Treves shrugs and continues on hoping she is on the right path.

Tara Pearl hardly lifted her chin when she heard a woman’s voice, she was rather busy with her fishing for sorp mission. She lifted the device again from the water and swings the stick then over her shoulder while she turns on the balls of her feet to face her ” well, alright then.. help yourself

Suyuan Quan adjusted her position slightly and sighed while she gave him a long appraisal, “Well, first of all… are you opposed to bathing regularly… as in daily? Even after you work your trade? Scented soaps… a musky kind could work for you. You might need new clothes too.” She wrinkled her nose, “In fact, forgive me, but when was the last time you bathed?”

Esau Serupta tries to hold the laughter in. It suddenly turns to indignation at her appraisal. “Oi,” he barks out, tugging on his tunic. “What the…fuck that. What be the point? I work in shit. SHIT. S. H. I. T. Ain’t matter how many clothes ya buy, how many baths ya take. Ya work in shit, ya smell like shit. How it work, neh? I be cleaning myself every once in a while. Ain’t want no diseases, yeah? Every once in a while, I scrub it up good. Just how it is.”

Tara Pearl chrouched down again to retrieve the bina and held it tightly into the palm of her hand, she stood there for a moment- following the woman dart into the direction of the gates and then once more faces the both people near the well, remains of the shop. With small paces and the fishing rod slinged over her shoulders she approaches halfway, then blurts out after hearing only bits and buts of the conversation during her fishing. ” You shouldn’t wish to change a man, Sika. Besides what does a woman’s maid know about these things anyhows?” she straightens up and rolls her shoulders back, glancing at him.. ” Tal, Master”

Suyuan Quan raised her hands towards to him, flexing them slightly as she cooed in a soft tone. She had been trying to work on her Cosian accent since the new flux of warriors arriving displayed their contempt for the Isle, “Calm yourself, Master. Please. I know you do, just that you’ll have an easier time attracting the opposite sex if you smelled better.” She heard Tass’ remark and rolled her eyes and made an irritated retort, “I’m not trying to change him. I’m trying to help him. Shouldn’t you be finding yourself in the University again half-dead from a beating, Tass?”

Esau Serupta rolls his eyes when he sees another slave approach. “Another fucking mouth,” he mumbles to himself. “Maybe it be a sign not to rebuild.” He buries his hands in his face. “Maybe they isn’t here.” He peers through the slats between his fingers. They are most certainly there. He spits on the ground and blusters. “Fuck me. Only type of slave that be a good slave is a fucking mute. You…” He wags his finger at Tara. “You’re a fucking piece of shit. A nothing. Ain’t no one give a shit what a slave think, what a slave try. She a fucking slave, neh? Couldn’t change my shorts unless I wanted it ta happen, neh? And you…” The finger wags at Suyuan. “Ain’t know where ya come from. Maybe ya is born yesterday, maybe ya fall from the sky. Companionship ain’t bout no love. It’s about living, neh? Ain’t no caste elder gonna approve no contract between me and no scribe, no warrior woman, no builder, no needle sticker. Ya can dress me up, change my hair, clothes- don’t fucking matter. I’m a tanner, dat’s what I be, dat’s how I be seen. Tanner. Just ain’t happening. It be da way of da world. If’n I want a companion, I go see da elder and he set me up with Bug’s sister no doubt. Just plain ol peasant. It’s how it be.” He begins to tug at his hair. “Motherfuckin slaves,” he mumbles to himself. “Ain’t understand no jokes. Gotta fuckin kill em all.”

Tara Pearl heard her words and they went in one ear, out the other, just as simple and the simplest of smiles was casted into her direction. When she then heard him speak she softly chuckles and prepares to head on her way to Gosman’s, she murmered in reaction; ” Bug’s sister, she surely has more to offer then one of those simple useless slaves, granted.” and with that she strolls off.

Esau Serupta sighs in relief. One, now both are gone. He slowly rises to his feet, stretching. Time to continue the salvage operation and think of a new plan on how to rebuild the shed. And to keep his mouth shut.

Esau Serupta looks up from the fire. He squints and spits into the fire. “Store’s closed,” he says gruffly. “Everything’s gone, neh? Storm took it all.”

Muzic Ames scans the building with his oddly colored eyes. “Shame. Must’ve been a strong storm. Building looks like it WAS big and strong. Sorry for your loss.”
Muzic Ames: “Though I did not come here for trade. I came here to visit. I am new to this area.”
Muzic Ames nods his head in respect. “I am a simple traveler who wanders from place to place. My travels have taken me here. Where might I be?”

Esau Serupta shrugs his shoulders. “Is what it is,” he agrees with the man. “But ain’t nothing ta see here, yeah? Just a bunch of shit and rotted wood.” He stops suddenly and appraises the man with an odd smirk. “Dat be right?” he asks with a twinge of humor in his voice. “Den dat mean ya got ta pay da newcomer tax. Be charging all da new people round dis way a tax, see?”
Esau Serupta chuckles. “Ya in Salernum there, boss. What we call this place, anyhow.”

Persephone Penucca: A slow dragging of heels took her to the tanner’s. The trip wasn’t one she’d been thrilled in making. Just walking past the city gates made her nervous sometimes, and it was evident in her posture as she crept toward the house. Lips curled when she saw Esau, and despite the wry smile, she was cringing inside. “Tal, Master.” spoken from a distance. Yes. Slavus interuptus. She nodded to the other man as well.

Muzic Ames raises an eyebrow. “A tax you say? Well since a storm seems to have recent, a tax would probably help rebuild.”
Muzic Ames shifts his eyes and glances at the female. His eyes turn back to the male, not paying much attention to the woman who appears to be a slave girl. “Tal.”

Esau Serupta spits on the ground and turns to look at the slave. Shouldn’t he know that face? He probably should. Seems familiar enough. A customer’s slave? Maybe Mateo’s new plaything? He chews on his lower lip while thinking. “Over here, ya fucking thing,” he blurts out. “Can’t see ya if ya hiding.” He shakes his head and looks at Muzic. “Fuckin crap, dese collar ninnies. Ain’t know how ta act right. Be thinking they brains ooze out dem ears when they lie on their back…”

Muzic Ames: “Aye, I never bothered keeping a slave for very long. Too much of a hassle. And often they get too comfortable with me and slack on their duties.”

Persephone Penucca raises an eyebrow at the eyebrow raise from the one she didn’t know. A knowing and amused haze traveled back to Esau, Shiny-slave all wrapped around the wooden beam. So she trots with the command, cuz trotting is what she did these days, and knelt at his feet. The smile twitched into a grin but she didn;t say anything else, just waited there for the time being.

Esau Serupta rocks back and forth on the stump, nodding with Muzic’s assessment. “They lazy,” he agrees, pinching Persephone on the arm. “Men up the hill don’t make em work, yeah? Too busy doing fuck knows what…” He turns his head to finally get a good look at the slave. Definitely familiar though he still can’t place the face. No matter. “Spit it out then, ya piece of shit,” he barks at the slave. “What bet ya lose ta make ya come down this way?”

Muzic Ames glances around at the area. Still being involved and focused in the current conversation with the male and female. Keeping the cloth over his mouth, but still speaking clearly for others to understand him.

Persephone Penucca was listening quite contently, just happy to be in the presence of someone who was not passing her or trying to persuade her into buying something. COuldn’t they see she had a collar? That means no coin. Or did it? Shiny pulls the somewhat meaty arm that Esau pinches, back and scowls slightly into the grass, not much liking his tone. She remembered it clearly now, given the reminder. “Oh, I eh.” Her palm folds out on her thigh revealing a group of seeds. “The other one, is he here Master?”

Esau Serupta glances down to look at the scattering of seeds. He frowns slightly; he hates being out of the loop, but it wouldn’t be prudent to say anything. Not now, not in front of the slave. “Eh,” he grunts back at her, shrugging his shoulders. “If’n he ain’t out back, he must be in da woods, neh? See dis piece o’ crap behind me?” He reaches back and knocks his fist against the soft remains of the wall. “Gotta be knocked down soon. Torvie be needin ta get da new lumber fer it. Dat’s all I be knowin.” He sniffs and spits on the ground, turning his face away so the slave will not see the scowl. What business is going on now? No matter, can’t say anything, must try not to show anything either. “Oi there, boss,” he says turning his attention back to Muzic. “Where’n ya get dat bow, neh? Be lookin pretty good? How much distance ya get with it?”

Muzic Ames adjusts the bow on his back. making sure it is strapped to him tightly. “Thank you. It was given to me by a Panther girl. The distance I am not too sure. Never been a numbers man. But its gone far enough for me.”

Persephone Penucca turns her gaze to where he does, each time. The seeds, the house, the grass spitting. Shiny frowns softly as well, her palm closing back up with a sharp and most telling disappointed inhale. “Hmm.” She remains fixated on her palm and its contents, furrowing a brow in deep contemplation. That is, before Muzic spoke. Panther? Wowie. The slave shifts her frame that way, interest definitely piqued.

Esau Serupta frowns at Muzic’s answer. “No shit?” he asks rather skeptically. “Dat be a joke, neh? Ya using a woman’s bow?” He shakes his head and wags a finger at Muzic. “Had me going there fer an ihn, boss. Be a good joke right there.” He chuckles, shaking his head once more. “Fuck me, a grown ass man using a panther bow. Shit, almost fell fer that one…” He laughs and looks up at Muzic. “Any good on the hunt? Ain’t look big enough ta take down a tabuk.” He glances out of the corner of his eye to look at the slave and those seeds. Still no new information. He tries not to frown or let the sight bother him. Poorly. He reaches out to pinch Persephone by the arm again. “Oi there,” he growls. “I be saying da Torvie may be out back…”

Muzic Ames nods at the girl. “Aye panthers. And this one was not very kind to the males. It was a wonder that I stayed in her company for so long.” He extends his arm and gives the girl a beckoning hand gesture. Wanting her to approach him as he is curious about something.
Muzic Ames responds to the male’s comments in neutrality and speaks calmly. “She was a skilled Archer. But this bow did not belong to her. It was something she picked up from a merchant she knew. A maker of fine bows. She insisted I take it for my travels.”
Muzic Ames quickly turns around in paranoia, hearing the foot steps of another step through the grassy ground that sounds closer and closer to his back.

Persephone Penucca was entranced in the story, her eyes sparkling and widening like a kid in a candy shop. Panthers. Yes, panthers were a curious subject. Only once did she swing her eyes back to Esau, and while she was smiling at the other man’s story. That smile was -not- meant for him! It seemed the tanner was paying attention to the slave then too. She jumped with the arm pinch and knitted her brows together. “You be saying.. huh?” Clearly not understanding. Just as well as Muzic called her over. Or at least, she thought it was her. As she arrived at his feet, she knelt fluidly and peeked up. “Tal, again.”

Muzic Ames notices the outfit of the female. He steps to the side so he may view both her and the other two
Muzic Ames looks down at the grounded girl and nods. “What is it you have in your hands Girl? Seeds was it?”

Esau Serupta leans back until his back rests against the soft wood of the wall. “Right right,” he grins at the man’s story, while scratching his chest. He peers at the duo- man and slave- through half closed eyes. “It be lookin neat enough there, boss. Dat’s all I be meaning.”

Persephone Penucca smiled up to the stranger, much more pleasant than the tanner and opened her palm up again. “Yes, Master. Are you some sort of gardener?”

Agwang Tyran having fallen asleep out in the field she awoken sore and stiff…and in a bad mood…not paying attention to the people…until she felt eyes upon her..she stopped and turned violet eyes that was unusual rare colour to the Man dressed all in dark brown…seeing a slave goto His feet..she stepped closer to the fence….

Muzic Ames turns his head back to the relaxed man. “Aye, as long as it gets the job done, then that is all that it matters. But thank you again Sir for the compliment. It is much appreciated.” Hides a small smile behind the cloth over his face. He turns his head and lowers it down back to see the Girl. Glancing slightly over to the other girl and firmly saying. “Well dont just sneak behind people, stand there, and say nothing. Greet us and speak.”
Muzic Ames shakes his head and has his eyes closed while doing so. His eyes open again, revealing the odd color. “Nay I am no gardener. Just wondering what a…simple…slave girl would be doing with seeds.”

Agwang Tyran she stopped as His words…flush to her cheeks..as she spoke in low voice..knowing without doubt as most others, her accent would make her stand out…” Tal Masters…and kajirae…eh!!!

Muzic Ames nods in appreciation at the second girl. “Much better. Tal to you too girl. “

Persephone Penucca closed her palm up again, frowning. Was that all that’d taken her form the warmth of the fire? The petite yet curvy slave lifted a brow then nodded quite ferociously. “Ah. Well Master, seeds are all over the place, really. They aren’t difficult to come by. You would know that if you gardened. ” She nodded once and sharply almost scolding.

Esau Serupta continues to wear the grin on his face, while he lounges in his seat. “Eh,” he grunts back to the new slave. “Liked her better when she was a mute.” He laughs at his own joke, continuing to lean against the wall.

Muzic Ames eyes widen as he glances over to the second girl’s body. Noticing all the tatoos on her body. Being surprised as he had not seen another marked on so much of their body. “Interesting markings girl. Its work that I have not seen in a long time.”

Muzic Ames looks back down at the first girl and questions her, ignoring her scolding comment that would have been dangerous for her to say to others. “You seemed to have been interested in my story of Panthers. Have you never met one?”

Agwang Tyran agwang looked to the Master in shocked surprised..at His words…before she knew it she bursted out with…” oh wow You from earth also Master…” she then frowned how can one be free if from earth…she was told that cant ever happen

Persephone Penucca turned back over her shoulder to smile at Esau. That smile, that brilliant smile was her hope that he’d call her back toward the fire. Probably should have lowered her top. Her head whipped around quickly as Muzic spoke and she nodded. “Met, Master? I’ve seen a few, brought in from Slaver’s raids of the forests. Met? Just the one.” Or… that she knew of.

Muzic Ames glares at the second girl’s comment. Angered that she said such a thing out loud. “Brat I am not from Earth! Do not say out loud such things!” His nostrils flare, taking in deep breaths to calm himself.

Agwang Tyran she jerked back as if she was slapped…she had not way meant to anger Him…” oh am sorry Master, did not mean anything…just Your said you knew my marks…which I got back home some years before found myself kidnapped from my own Home…” she lowered pale violet orbs and went silent

Muzic Ames notices the girl slughtly shivering and rubbing her body for warmth. “I see. You may go back to the fire Girl. Dont want you getting sick and becoming unable to serve properly.”

Esau Serupta’s eyes widen slightly. Something to take note of from the very affable man. He pushes off the wall and grabs his tunic on his thigh, ready to stand up. “What that be?” he asks, slightly disoriented. Not a good time to zone out. “There be a problem?”

Muzic Ames does not bother to look at the when he speaks to her. “Dont think your the only Earth girl with full body markings. And in my travels, Gorean women have had their bodies marked as well. Was not a much approved thing. I’ve traveled a lot but only seen so few girls bear so much markings.”

Persephone Penucca’s lip twitched amusedly at the scene in front of her. She smiled widely to Agwang, seeing she was not, after all, stolen. Shiny retreats to the fire then, throwing Muzic a gracious smile. As she settles back beside Esau, her shoulders lift and she cocks her head away from him while she speaks. “You say he’s out back, Master.” Lord, he was twitchy wasn’t he.

Muzic Ames looks back at the male and replies calmly and non-threatening. “Nay no problem. Just a slight mis understanding. No real harm done, just an annoyance.”

Esau Serupta relaxes slightly. The issue seems to be diffused. Or not important at least. He resumes lazing against the wall, listening to everything with half interest. It takes a moment, but he gets the sense there are a pair of eyes staring at him. Turning his head, he sees Shiny. Of course it’s that slave. “Ya deaf or something?” he growls at Shiny. “Best ya check if’n ya want ta see him. And if ya ain’t….” He shrugs his shoulders and covers his head with his arm. “Maybe ya clean up some of da shit in there, yeah? Lots of slimy shit gotta be removed, neh?”

Agwang Tyran she frowned…looking down, she barely had much to what she had seen back Home….” am sorry Master, never meant to seem rude…knows other like me are here and have tattoos….mine are to do with my family back Home…thou least were im from it is comman thing to see women with tattoos and peircings just as same with men

Persephone Penucca dropped her head slightly, just because the accent and the language from his mout was so crude on her refined ears. Oh yes. “Well I was all the way over…” she points and twists her face. He must be drunk. “Forgive me, Master.” Then she pulls up on her knees, in search of Mateo her demeanor changing drastically. “I will check Master, and I will clean, when you rent me out to clean.” Dipping her head back to smirk as she passed him.

Muzic Ames approaches the tatoo’d girl to study the markings. Wondering if he could find a message or meaning in them. He enjoys reading such things for they sometimes are like a fun puzzle to him.
Muzic Ames hides a smile behind the fabric over his mouth. “Wild markings as usual Girl. And your outfit is very pleasing. Purple is a good color on you, as is transparent clothing.”

Esau Serupta lifts his head up and stares into the sky. He exhales loudly through his mouth, a mixture of release of frustration and humor. “Yah yah,” he jabs back to Shiny. “Rent ya out so ya sit like a statue and complain all the time. Might as well shove them copper tarsk bits right up me arse. Be about the same.” He shakes his head and mumbles to himself. “Fucking useless, the lot of them. Only be likin da cunt. Dat’s about it. Tits on her ain’t bad though…”

Agwang Tyran she wanted to jump and run as he moved closer to her..wondering what He was up too…lifting her head, so violet orbs looked to Him…shyly a flush covers her cheeks more…at His words..” thank You Master..it is something i made other day….

Muzic Ames: Oh really? Quite a good talent to have. And purple eyes as well. The color has blessed you with a lot of beauty.

Persephone Penucca had passed by him and ran off to the back of the shed to search for Mateo. Nope, not back there. After a few ehn of tossing her head and staring at the seeds, she made her way through Esau’s shop again, shaking her head sadly at the damage. Once again, she wa at his feet, this time on her feet. She frowned down and wiggled a toe between the tanner’s spread legs, nudging him. “Master. Perhaps.” Her palm opened once again. “Do you know what these are?”

Muzic Ames kneels down on one knee and points at his eyes. Quickly getting back up again, speaking as he regains his standing posture. “My eyes are of a rarer color as well. Though I’m sure yours are a more natural and birth color for you.”

Esau Serupta grunts and feigns annoyance when he is aroused from his fake sleep. “What is it now?” he blusters at Shiny. The seeds again. “Da fuck I know what that is, eh?” he asks. The annoyance in his voice increases. “I look like some farmer ta you?” He sniffs and pushes her hand away. “Ain’t my thing ta know. Just be knowin animals and how ta gut ‘em, neh? Dat’s all I be needin to know. Nothing more than that.” He then rolls his body to the side, throwing his hand over his head again like he’s pulling some imaginary covers over his body. “Just some fucking seeds. Ain’t nothing special about them. Eat em er some shit. Ain’t no one fucking cares.”

Agwang Tyran she looked to Him, somewhat shocked, He never said anything bad about her skin colour..then seen His eyes blue trimmed with purplie colour…she spoke softly…” not so much Master all in my family are mostly dark eyed shades of brown….i got mine from a great great great grandfather….which we only find out few years ago…..

Muzic Ames: Ah well I like them. Do you have an owner that also likes them?

Agwang Tyran she shakes her head….” I belong to a Slaver’s House..Master….

Persephone Penucca is most amused, as always, by the tanner. “Oh, no?” As his annoyance increases, her level of slave on a mission to calm increases, and she melts to her knees in front of him, tilting her chin up so their’s were *almost* level. Seeds, for now are warpped with the cloth tucked on her hip and replaced back there. A hand pat ensuring the good were tucked away. “Some people care, Master.” Suddenly, the cautious and shy beast was slinking between his legs, resting a hand against his cheek. “You don’t remember me, Master?” she purred. Seeds, what seeds?

Muzic Ames: “I see.” he glances over to see the other two going on about the same stuff as when he first found them. His head turns back to the girl in front of him. “Was that house or building also wrecked from the recent storm?”

Agwang Tyran she peeked around Him to see what others was doing, giggling as shiny was being shy…then heard His question..” oh no Master the Slaver’s House is ok….did not get damaged by the storm

Esau Serupta peers through the small openings between his fingers. “What, you da Ubara or something?” he asks as flippantly as he can. “Ain’t remember ya,” he lies. “Just another face with another collar. Just another piece of shit dat wanders on by and ain’t let me be.” He sniffs and shifts his weight around, but not shrinking from the touch.

Muzic Ames: That is good. Would not want good looking property ruined. You’ve got a lovely dark skin to protect.

Agwang Tyran she gasped…to His words…” You dont think is to dark..then Master.” she asked softly….she wondered just how much good a slave not trained to well…who had been left alone on her own for kinda to long….so that what she was trained kinda went out then window so to speak

Persephone Penucca pulled back quickly, her feelings hurt. Her feeling were easily hurt… oh no, gor quote. The hand that was on his cheek pressed back down to the grass to place her on all fours now. For a long moment, and what seems an eternity to her, she blinks into his face debating on whether to slink away like she would have when she’d first met him or.. Or. She melts forward and buries her head in his neck, mewling. “You had me once, Master.” Then her tongue crept out to lick the salt from his neck. Very uncharacteristic, this behavior!

Muzic Ames shakes his head and wears a smile that stretches past his cloth. “I’ve actually preffered the darker females. Though I am not picky, but still have preferences of course.” chuckles softly back behind the face cloth.

Agwang Tyran violet eyes dart to the Man…looking past the cloth wrapped around her face..she wondered about that….thou seen His smile, she had to asked anyways…” why You got that cloth around Your lower face master…” she had the sound of curious in her voice….” I been told not many are dark as i am…is that so…” since He said he traveled…he would know this she figured

Esau Serupta freezes instinctively with the withdrawl and then sudden invasion of his space. It takes some effort to supress his urge to attack the source. After a while, his forced relaxation takes hold. Of course, that’s how he knew her. Unsure of what to do, he finally strokes her hair. “I got good taste…” is all he can muster. He frowns and then shifts his body once more so he’s back into a standard seated position. Gently nudge the slave’s head towards his chest. “Maybe I made ya scream good, yeah?”

Muzic Ames fiddles with the face cloth. “I’m more comfortable with it on. I try not to give off any kind of vibes other than mystery or curiosity. I am a traveler so I do not want others to get a sense of judgement on me. It makes traveling harder if they do.”
Muzic Ames: “And yes I have seen other girls in my travels with a more darker skin tone. Darker than yours as well. Cant say they’re a lot out there, but I’ve seen them enough to be familiar with them.”

Persephone Penucca pulled back with the tensing. Slave’s bodies weren’t the only one’s that could be so easily read. Confused, her head dips, but there’s his hand stroking her again. She groans, mmms really, indulgently. Lead her to water and she’ll drink. Or in this case his chest, where she nuzzles and nips, pulling stray hairs back from his breast. “The walls virbated, Master.” And whoosh, any ill feeling she had for the ill mannered tanner were forgotten, at least presently, as she let her eyes crawl up from a lowered face.

Agwang Tyran she listened to things she never heard of before…not sure she understood it all but then since she dont travel would not be something she would do herself…she nodded….’ my Father is darker then i am…but my Mother was Native Indian.

Muzic Ames raises an eyebrow. “Never heard of Indian. But for a traveler such as I, even there are still things that I do not know of.”
Muzic Ames: “Have you been in this area for a long time and not seen much of the world?”

Agwang Tyran: oh but remember…my family is not from this world, but earth Master…i have only been here few months….taken from my own backyard….woke up here in Your world

Muzic Ames: Ah shame. But at least you have a home and have something to work for.

Esau Serupta is more comfortable in this setup. But still, he’s leery. This transformation, it must be a setup. Kick a man while he’s down. But still, with her body so close- he can smell the perfume. It always does something to him. But he can’t take the bait. Gently, he pries her head off his body and slowly starts to rise. “With a body like that, ya better be a fucking screamer,” he says matter-of-factly. “Dem robe fuckers must use ya all the time, but ya still remember having a throw with the tanner.” He chuckles to himself and lazily stretches out his body. “Ain’t bad myself, ya know…” he chuckles and moves towards the remnants of his shop. “Guys outside the walls know how to throw down, neh?”

Muzic Ames looks up at the sky and tries to tell the time. Not being good at such readings, he figures its time for his travels to begin again.

Agwang Tyran she cocked her head..’ something to work for Master?

Muzic Ames looks back down to the girl to give his final words and leave. “Aye, a slave always has work. I myself have no work to do, no goals. Just the habit of going to place the place, not even knowing why. But speaking of traveling, it is time I resume that. I must head out before it gets too late.”

Agwang Tyran: I wish you well Master..nice meeting you

Muzic Ames looks over his shoulder to see the relaxed and intimate male and female. he raises his hand in a goodbye waving manner. “Safe Paths you two. Hope the store gets rebuilt.”
Muzic Ames: “Safe paths to you too Girl. Was a pleasure meeting and conversing with you.”

Esau Serupta nods towards Muzic. “Be seein ya around, boss.”

Muzic Ames runs off into the distance, slowly bluring and disapearing

Persephone Penucca whimpered miserably as he pries her away, half-shocked as the gentleness of it all. She’s utterly confused by the calmness of the man as he steps away. No, “no slave” or “da fuck ya doin shit head?” Utterly, utterly confused. SHiny rocks back to he heels as he some to his full height and looks up to him pathetically, her hips circling and lifting upward toward him. Though her body is speaking what for her, her voice is a show of strength seemingly collected. “Oh, I.. you, Master. They say no one fucks like the poor.” Oy. It just fell from her lips, really.

Esau Serupta turns his head back, looking slightly amused at the slave’s demeanor. “They say? Be thinking you say that. Now ya know what ya missing staying up da hill like that.” He chuckles, raps his knuckles against the rotten wood of the door and slips inside the house to sleep off the night so he can begin the salvage work in the morning.

Persephone Penucca: And The cheese stands alone. After a full 10 ehns of contemplating knocking on the door and begging use, then backing away, then almost knocking, the Shiny one runs home. Very curious now, if indeed the hill was the more promising place to live, vagina happy wise.

Eve Cartier takes in a light breath, filling her sense with the scent of the tobacco. It conjured up memories form the past that brought a shiver to her spine. “Well I don’t want to keep you..” She glances back, looking none too excited to step out into the rain once more, “Did you need the girl? Shall I leave her with you?”

Suyuan Quan again was in a position where the tawny-skinned Amazonian woman was looming over her and it was darker with her shadow consuming the dainty girl. She reached a single hand up to rub at the back of her neck and rolled it accordingly as she looked up at her owner with anticipation.

Mateo Ariantho shook his head “No, if you need her,take her” he stated,looking out into the falling rain seeing a form by the small fire,he’d whsitle loudly “That you Esau?” he called

Esau Serupta stands back a few paces, soaking in the rain. He dare not take another step. Company. It looks like company. He hates company. It’s better to be drenched by the rain. But his name has been called. There’s nowhere to hide. “Eh,” he tries to grunt, hoping the rushing water and splatter of the rain on the ground will drown out his mumbling nonsense. “Murza burza wuzza hurrr.”

Eve Cartier cringes gently as Mateo calls out to his partner in crime. She knew if the tanner was around her ears were going to be bleeding by the time she got home. She lowers her hand, unwinding the thin chain from her belt and tapping sika’s chin for her to lift it, she clips the chain in place before looking back to the mumbling man

Mateo Ariantho would smirk at the grumbling “aye that him” he mutters,unslinging the woodpack and sliding it toward the crate in the corner,stretching a moment before looking to Eve “safe pathes Lady” looking to his partner,remembering they had much to talk about recent events

Suyuan Quan listened to the clinking of the chain that snapped around the “O” ring and the heavy pounding of footfalls in the rain and crude mumbling – must be Esau. She should offer him more flowers. She raised herself to her feet and made ready to follow Eve.

Eve Cartier nods and gives the leash a short tug, “Walk fast girl, we’ll already make it home drenched” She tips her head to the pair, “I wish you well”

Suyuan Quan nodded towards her and she extended her farewells too, “I wish you Masters well.”

Esau Serupta grumbles a few more moments, contemplating what to do. There’s no reason to stand out in the rain. It’s not even worth trying to play with the fire. He takes a few steps to allow Eve a wide berth from him and moves towards the shed. He doesn’t even know why he’s acting like this. He shakes his head and starts wiping his face once he gets shelter. “You’ve been prospering,” he says quietly, looking at all the skins on the wall. “Place be doin alright…”

Mateo Ariantho takes off the arm bracer and slides his axes off onto the crate as well,walking out into the rain,feeling the water as a relief against his body,before stepping back in,picking up a rag and wiping the water to clear away some of dirt “Tal cousin” he stated to the Tanner “good to see you as always” he ruffled his matted dreadlocks a moment before looking to him “how are you?” he asked

Mateo Ariantho adds “You mean We have been proserpin’, you’ve been doin’ yer work” he stated “This is the fruit of both our labors,I bear not this business’ success on my shoudlers alone” adds again “and do not forget without your blessin’ this would’ve never happened” he smirked

Esau Serupta squelchs around in his wet clothing and sandals. Go out for a spell and nothing seems the same. “Another day, another copper,” he says simply. “Had to do…” He shrugs and nods towards the hill. “The part ya be likin. Hate it more than anything. Ain’t know how ya deal with those people, yeah?” He sniffs and bats away the compliments with a wave of his hand. “Shit, I ain’t build up this place. I just make crap. Ya is the brains, and everyone around town be knowing. Way it’s supposed ta be, neh? That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

Mateo Ariantho raises a brow “on who’s hill?” he asked,lookin’ up to the castle “don’t trust ‘em as far as I can throw ‘em” before looking back to Esau “bosk shite, this a two man deal,we both pull weight,we both make decisions, ain’t supposed to be nothin’ but a business,and that what it is,and a damned good one, them city folk needs furs to keep ‘em warm, meat to cook and feed ‘em, and wood to keep the fires burnin’, we is the best of our castemen,don’t undermind that” he tells him “but has ye heard?” he asked,wiping his face with the rag before tossing it aside ” Them GETA folk is back” he stated

Esau Serupta chuckles at the comment. “Ah, ain’t no need ta be saying that shit round here, yeah? We both know it. Ain’t no need to pussyfoot around it. Ya is got the nose for business. I ain’t a talker like you is. Lawks, I talk enough and ain’t no one come round here no more. Nah, man. You is the face, I is the ass that do the dirty deeds, yeah?” He chuckles once more and shrugs his shoulders at the GETA comment. “GETA comes, it goes. Ain’t make no difference. They ain’t do shit about that sleen. Just talk a big game, yeah? Don’t matter nohow. We got protection this time, see? All the way from the top.” He taps his temple and nods towards the hill. “Admin be looking out fer us. Ain’t no need to worry about fucking GETA. I scratch their ass, they look out for me. How the world works, yeah?”

Mateo Ariantho would hmmm and shake his head a bit “Since when ye take they words to heart,you,who used to warm me of ‘em folk,how they was out to get us,and now ye tellin’ me have no fear that the Administrator and his type got our backs, ye daft?” he looked to him “No, we gotte look out fer us,need to set some kind of guard down here” he stated,adding “I got a friend up North got a bid ole snow sleen,good guard animal,anyone who ain’t us tryna get near the shed gonne have a big problem” he smirked “then again after the last sleen problem this valley sleen I’d hate to have to pay fer one if some idiot guard injured or killed it” he’d shift,looking to Esau,thinking maybe he had an idea

Esau Serupta frowns suddenly. He hadn’t thought of that. Is he getting soft? That can’t be. The frown turns into anger into confusion. He has no idea anymore. “Well…” He immediately adopts a spiteful dismissive tone. Habits are hard to break. “I ain’t mean dat I trust them with…what I mean to be saying is…well, look- this time, it different, yeah? They invested too much into us ta let some numbnuts run they mouths about animals this and animals that. Just be saying that it don’t make no sense for them to be taking GETA’s side.” He sniffs and cringes at the thought of the sleen. Even the word gives him chills. But he tries to recover as quickly as he can and wear an indifferent look on his face. Like he doesn’t care. “If’n ya think a sleen is what we need, then so be it.” Pause. Then drop the dagger. “Ain’t figure ya to be no scared namby pamby though. Afraid of a few fat robe fuckers now, is ya?” He turns away, willing himself to stare at the wall instead of catching the reaction on Mateo’s face. Let it land first.

Mateo Ariantho would look at Esau become angered and would listen as the man tries to explain himself,that made sense,the Administrator and his Companion were two of their biggest customers,no way they’d allow the GETA to get at their business,before he began to think again,thinking the sleen might be a bad idea,before hearing Esau and watching him turn,he’d scoff loudly “If I had things my way I’d gut ‘em like a stuck sow tarsk” he turned, picking up the small hatchet and thudding it down onto the crate,before turning around “But like ye always been tellin’ me “We ain’t in the North Mat, ye can’t act like that,it’ll bring heat on us from the up’” he’d look to Esau “so then tell me wiseman,what’da we do? wake up one mornin’ to find our stocks all messed,all that hard work tannin’,huntin’,skinin’ to be wasted? just cause some folk want us to be farmers instead?” he’d hack and spit out to the ground beyond the shed “that ain’t me,and I’ll be damned to let anyone take what we built here, we’s tryin’ to make a livin’ thought you’d have the same heart to defned whats yers”

Esau Serupta scratches his head at the comment and looks perturbed. That didn’t land as he had expected it. No, it backfired. He turns back to look at Mateo and chews on his lip. The perfect opportunity to bring Mateo to his way of thinking…and he didn’t have a fucking clue. But Mateo doesn’t need to know that. “Glad ya came ta yer senses there.” He begins smiling slowly, though his eyes rush from side to side, frantically trying to think of something. “Ya do it our way then, yeah? Got to go through the chain of command. Talk ta the people ya trust, suck someone’s cock- so ta speak- of course, and then they take of yer problem.” He taps a finger against his temple, now thinking aloud. “Now, ya be sayin dat we can’t trust no one up da hill. You be right on dat. But we need someone up there, yeah?” He gets a good look at Mateo and tries hare brained scheme #1. “Ever thought how ya be lookin in a robe? What it be like ta be a big man of the show?”

slave Maladay rushes in shaking the raindrops off her, giggling softly… “Ah you have to love this weather, eh, Men? Tal!”

Mateo Ariantho looks to himself then to Esau,and outright laughs,loudly,and slaps his knee,chuckling “What in Odin’s name you be on thinkin’ me in a robe?” he shakes his head,looking about “Oi Shite, picture me in one of ‘em flowin’ things,lookin’ like somethin’ else,I ain’t one fer a robe now you!” he points to Esau “You are a born Sourtherner,yer short,ye ain’t covered in hair like me,ye gotte better chance in a robe then I” he shifts a moment “then again I gots a clean tunic,look kindof proper in it,get some compliments from the Lady types” he chuckles before looking to Esau “or maybe we set–” he turns at the feminine voice,seeing a parasol and a robe before seeing it was the Potter woman “Ah..Tal Lady” he says

Esau Serupta is about to launch into a profanity laced tirade when…more company. Instantly he cringes. “Ya fuc…err. Right then.” He bites his lower lip and fidgets. Time to instantly chase gears. “Weather be a bitc…err, ain’t be good, I be thinkin. But just how it be, I guess.” He shrugs, sliding his body away from the woman. “Probably be gone by the end of the hand. Ain’t never rained this much before, I be thinkin…”

slave Maladay enters the odoriferous room and smiles behind her veil, which was drooping quite sadly from all the humidity. “I’ve come for more business, I need 15 more of those waterproof skins… if you could sir, in about say… two weeks?

slave Maladay would hear their language and just grin. Having been a resident in the Port town and in the port towns she’s lived in before, language was the last thing she would blush over anymore.

Mateo Ariantho listen to Mala and say “I’ll see what I can do Lady,have to dig about and if we have none…the weather would be a slow down,but ye’ll have word in the mornin’ to be sure” he stated shifting his feet a bit

Esau Serupta chuckles at the order and gives Mateo that annoying half-smirk. Had he done business with her before? He throws up his hands and symbolically backs away from the request, placing it all on Mateo’s shoulder. He’s laughing the whole time, amusement tinged in his voie. “Dis be all you boss. Like ya be sayin, I be lookin good in a robe. Robe ninn…Err, men like dat ain’t be taking no water proof skin orders. Ain’t worth our time, yeah?” He nods to the woman and adds, “Yeah, ya come back real soon and ol Torvie set you up good. Right as rain.” Another smirk. This should be good.

slave Maladay nods them peers outside and shakes off her parasol and waves as she rushes back off into the delightful rain, skipping in her steps. Calling back out to the Men, “Enjoy the night…”

Esau Serupta shakes his head, watching the woman disappear from sight. He turns to look at Mateo, asking with a bit of humor. “Who da fuck is that?”

Mateo Ariantho would lean over and deliver a striahgt punch into Esau’s shoudler,a payful yet forceful one “Well I’m gonne need yer robed arse to tan the sea sleen hide if I gotte go out and hunt one fer this order” he stated before adding “Potter woman,she makes pottery and the like,she likes shippin’ her orders in soft hdies that repel water,only creature I know that does that is a sea sleen,she pays good,cause it ain’t an easy pelt to come by” he shifted on his feet “she’s got a mouth just like you,with a lil’ less cussin’” he’d smirk a moment,folding his arms

Esau Serupta laughs at the comment about the woman’s mouth and squints into the distance. No, she’s definitely gone. “Fuck me, maybe she drink like one of us too then, neh?” He laughs some more and then points at the poring rain. “Ya going to be huntin in this weather? Ya know something I ain’t? How in da fuck is ya goin ta find anything? All the scent be washed out. Might as well cum all over some rags and call them waterproof. Bitch like that ain’t know the difference…”

Mateo Ariantho looks to him “sea sleen stay in the sea…ya damned genius” he scoffed into a snicker,adding “Alright, say we botch her order,and somehow she find out,she goes about sayin’ how our goods ain’t what they is,and we lose a customer who pays high coin” but he shrugs “then again,let’s say we take normal tabuk hides”he looks to Esau “you got anythin’ in ‘em vats that can make the hide roll off water instead of absorb it?” he asked

Esau Serupta throws up his hands his hands at first. “Do I got anything in the vats that can absorb water? Ya really want ta know the answer to that question or just take what I give ya?”

Mateo Ariantho would shrug his shoulders “Ye know more about tannin’ and makin’ leathers than I,do yer magic, I’ll take what ye give me” he stated,scratching at his abdomen

Esau Serupta grins. Perhaps Mateo was getting it now. “Good answer. Ya is learning quick.” But one more question gnaws him. “She really dat rich ta be buying 15 fancy furs just like that? And how many she buy before? Dese pots made of gold or something? She ain’t look like no merchant or nothing…”

Mateo Ariantho would nod his head “last time she had twenty five clay pots,nothin’ special,just pots…fer some fancy type in the Tahari,ye know ‘em desert people” he stated,adding “she wanted ‘em in the kind of wraps as I told ye, I made ‘em outte sea sleen,and charged her two silver total…she paid like it was nothin’ outte pocket,the woman might be low caste,but she’s got money hiddin’ somewhere” he’d nod

Esau Serupta whistles upon hearing the price. “No joke? Two silver?” He shakes his head and laughs. “Guess I ain’t be knowing them desert people. If’n they pay more than a copper a pot, maybe I should go there. Bet they got silver growing on trees er some shit.” He laughs and thinks about it more. “She want to water proof pots that be going out to the desert? What kind of fucked up…” He stops himself and waves his hand dismissively. “Fuck, I ain’t want to know. Maybe it be better dat she crazy, neh?” He shakes his head and thinks about the enormity of it all. “Well, ya tell me what to do and I do it. No problem.”

Mateo Ariantho nods “I send word to her that We can help her, she’ll send around one of ‘em pots,so ye know how to cut the pelts to wrap around ‘em,like a measure and such” he’d ruffle his dreadlocks “I think i’m gonne hit the furs, will talk to ye in the monrin’”

Esau Serupta scratches his head, looking completely lost. “Eh?” he asks. “Who is you?”

Rainbow Mizin: im the slave who washed your clothing Master

Esau Serupta scowls slightly, giving the streets another look. “Right, right,” he says absentmindedly, paying little attention to what is being said. “And ya did a good job, neh?” He squints in the direction of the steps and mumbles some more. “Nice and clean, yeah?”

Rainbow Mizin smiles “yes Master they are clean, and scented like you asked Master”

Esau Serupta nods slightly, still staring at the steps. He walks forward towards them, tapping a finger to his cheek. “Right, right. I be asking fer that, innit?” He sniffs and nods his head, certain of his course of action. “What they smell like then?”

Idunn Sabra opened silent doors and listens what her slave talking to this mean dude… She has seen him from window and send Soap to him but couldnt stay upstairs worring if he will not damage her slave girl …

Rainbow Mizin sniff them “like what all clean clothign smell like Master”

Idunn Sabra hisses “verminium.. they smell verminion ” with hipe her slave will repeat this to man

Esau Serupta nods again, taking a few more paces towards the steps. “Mmhmm, I did be asking they smell like larmas, didn’t I? I like da smell of larmas, see? Good smell…”

Rainbow Mizin looks at them “yes Master”

Esau Serupta takes hold of the bannister and continues babbling. “See, da thing about larmas is dat ya got ta pick em before they come ripe, yeah? Just give em a squeeze and if’n they soft in da middle, ya know when ta pick em. Good shit, those larmas are.” He sniffs and spits out of the corner of his mouth. “So is they fresh, these larmas? Be tastin good?”

Rainbow Mizin: yes Master, make sense

Idunn Sabra peeps from behind corner and hisses again “go ask him bath.. you lazy arse!”

Esau Serupta nods. “Ya making larma sense, then? Ain’t never heard of that ‘fore. Is it some type of tart er something? Maybe a pudding? Sounds good. I’ll have one of those…”

Rainbow Mizin looks confussed as to why her Mistress his hideing but does at ordered

Rainbow Mizin looks over her shoulder, “Master would you like a bath?”

Idunn Sabra frowns and mutters to herself ‘even I would be able to do it more sensual and tempting… i will sell her.. for Odin’s sake i will do!”

Esau Serupta frowns. For the first time, he turns around to look at the slave girl. “Is that what dis be? Shit, I thought it be….” He hesitates, unable to come up with a plausible lie. “Well…” He shrugs his shoulders and spits on the ground. “Well, if’n I here, I might as well see what all this shit be about. Baths, hmm?”

Rainbow Mizin: yes Master

Rainbow Mizin fronws a bit looking over her shoulder wondering why he rMsitress is acting so strange

Esau Serupta shrugs his shoulders. “Fuck it, since I be here, might as well…which way I is supposed ta be goin?”

Rainbow Mizin: this way Master

Esau Serupta taps the huge sign on the wall and frowns. “I ain’t be likin this sign, neh? What it be saying?”

Rainbow Mizin pushes open the door, knocking the dirt from her sandels to keep the floor clean she hold it open for the master playfully montionin ghim in saying “see only the Master and i in here you are safe”
Rainbow Mizin drop to her knees wrinkleing her nose a bit smelling the Masters shoes “may i remove your shoes Master?”

Esau Serupta shakes his head and grimaces when he sees the water. “Be lookin deep, it is…” he says hesitantly. He sniffs and dips a sandaled toe into the waters. “Ain’t too warm neither,” he grumbles. “Ya sure dis a good idea, yeah? Just…wash here? Dat what I do?” He stares at the slave girl for a moment and then relents. “Might as well, yeah. Since I’m here, might as well, remove my sandals, I be thinkin…”

Rainbow Mizin closes, the door carefully, undoing the straps she pulls of one of his sandles, seting it asdie, she removes the other sandle setting it down, geting on her knees, she tugs playfully at this belt finaly geting it lose she stand up tuging on his robe, carefully pulling it over his head “if Master would lay on the table, i will start the bath”

Esau Serupta frowns at the whole procedure. He makes no protest to the disrobing, but shakes his head. “No, no, I ain’t lying anywhere, see?” He looks around for a moment before reaching into the belt pouch of his tunic, resting off the arm of the slave. Picking up a copper tarsk bit, he flings it into the far end of the pool. “No, no- now you see here. Swim yer arse over to get that coin and bring it back, see? Den maybe I lie my ass down on that table…”

Rainbow Mizin looks at the coin in the water, diveing in she comes to the surface, shakeing her wet hair, she swims over to the coin in the conners she spots the coin at the bottem, putting her butt up in the air, she dives down picking up the copper trask in her teeth swimign quickly she drops it on the edge of the bath coughing a bit as she coughs of up water from picking up the trask under water, picking it back up she climbs otu of the pool shakeing her hair offering the trask back to the Master in her teeth

Esau Serupta watches the slave intently; looking over her form, he mimics the motion silently from his standing position. His jaw twitches slightly as he tries to commit it all to memory. When she comes back, he waits a moment to catch her breath. Once was good. Twice will be better he decides. He pulls the copper tarsk bit from between her teeth and…throws it back into the far end of the pool. “Wasn’t fast enough,” he lies, raising his voice to make himself appear more angry. “Faster, faster ya piece of shit!! And ya got to swim, see? Really BIG strokes, wit yer hands like THIS.” He makes an exaggerated swimming motion and barks once more. “Go git it!”

Rainbow Mizin hears his order jumping back in, wondering why he’s playign fetch instread of getting a bath, givien gup any idea of tryign to look sedusive she jus tswims over as fast as she can, diveing back down to get it, comeing back up with it in her teeth, she hold it while she spits out the water, swmign back over as fast as she can she climbs back out shakeing her hair dry again she offer him the coin wonderin gwhy he is doing this

Esau Serupta bites his lower lip, trying to frantically study every motion the slave makes during her swim. There are some parts, though, that he cannot understand. It simply doesn’t makes sense. “Ya dumb beast,” he growls, snatching the coin from her mouth. “Ya ain’t doin it right, see?” He sucks in a deep breath and starts to descend down the steps into the pool. The shock of the temperature makes him wince and jerk back slightly; but his sheer arrogance prevents him from leaping out of the pool. Determined, he takes a few more steps into the pool, until he’s all the way inside. “Now then,” he says through clenched teeth, trying to adjust to the coolness. “Get yer ass in here and show me how ya doin it, cuz ya ain’t doing it right. Show me yer technique. It’s all fucked up, see? But I need to see it closelike. Get yer ass in here already!”

Rainbow Mizin looks at the Master confussed for a second wondering if he is all right, diveing in she surfaces next to him shakeing her main dry wondering if she should try to start bathing him or just keep swiming trying to hide the confusion on her face, thinkign to her self this is th eoddest bath she’s given,

Esau Serupta nods to himself, studying her body. “Right then,” he barks. “So like- swim from that end to that end, see? I need ta be seein yer technique. I ain’t think ya be movin yer arms proper. That’s what I be thinkin, anyway.” He begins to crouch in the water slightly, to submerge more of his body. The coolness of the water makes his skin crawl, but he’s getting used to it. “I need ta see you, neh? Make sure ya show me yer technique real good.”

Rainbow Mizin looks confussed at the Master, but pushes off the eges of the pool swiming slowly swiming she tryign to think if she should be trying to bath him or this to confussed to beg for his touch she just keeps swming her head hurting from all thing thinking,nearly hiting the edge of the pool from not paying attention she touches it pushing back off and swiming the other way back resting at the edge she looks at the Masters”was that ok MAster?”

Esau Serupta bites his lower lip as he watches carefully. He can do that, no problem. It’s just a matter of moving the arm this way, kicking that way. No problem. “Was that ok, Master?” he intones somewhat derisively. “Why ain’t you tell me, slave. Look, I be holding on ta the edge here and I be swimming like ya just did. Den you tell me what I is doing wrong and then you know if it be ok or not. So, look close and tell me what’s wrong.” With that, he firmly grips the edge of the pool and begins to thrash his legs widely. He’s trying his best to concentrate and mimic the motion, but the abject fear of drowning makes his technique sloppy. Water is splashing everywhere. His heart pounds in his chest until his legs get tired and sink to the floor. Gasping, he turns around and looks at the slave, asking, “So then? How good that be, hmm? What ya be thinking?”

Rainbow Mizin looks on confussed at the Master “is the Master asking me to teach him hwo to swim?’ cunfussion and no idea what is happenign runnign wild thought her head, she sits on the endge in sid ethe water avoidng a spalsh he makes still looking like a bosk caugh in head lights she waits for the AMsters answer

Esau Serupta balks at the answer as he stands straight. “Is ya crazy?!” he tries to act as incredulous as possible. “Me, getting taught by a slave? Lawks, ya be crazy I be thinking. Here I be, trying ta be nice and give ya some lessons and what ya do? Ya fuck it up, dat’s what ya do.” He growls and postures at the slave aggressively. “Now ya do what I fuckin tell ya, neh? Tell me what be wrong with this technique. Cuz it bein your technique…”

Rainbow Mizin jus tlooks confussed “it is ok if Master does not know how i wont tell any one” rubing her head thinking her brians going to explode form all this odd stuff she just look at him “would Mastre rather i just give him a bath?”

Esau Serupta sighs heavily and stands to his feet. “Is ya deaf?” He raises his voice louder. “IS YA DEAF?” He sniffs and shakes his fist at her. “Ya ain’t needin to be telling anyone nothing because it ain’t be true. I know how to swim easy enough. Fuck me, last time I ever be tryin ta help ya ever again. So do I want a bath? Not from a crazy beast like you, neh?” He narrows his eyes and reflexively winces. How will he practice now? He sniffs and moves towards the slave; his fist is still raised high in the air. “Ain’t want no bath. Ya just fetch me my clothes and I be payin yer mistress fer her time. Lawks be, me getting lessons from slaves. What this world comin to…”

Rainbow Mizin rubs her hea again utterly confused climbing out of the pools she shake her self off looking fo rher shoulder “well if the Master wishes to teach me more im sure i coudl come swim fo rhim in the river when my chorus are done”wondering if thi sworder will gethim to see what shes trying to say, picking up his clothing she hold it wating fo rhim to step out fo the water

Esau Serupta thinks about the offer for a moment and shrugs his shoulders. “Maybe I be teachin ya a thing or two. But not in the river, neh? If’n I teach you by the river, that current might sweep ya away and that ain’t be no good. Nah, I teach you here, I be thinkin. Easier ta be teachin ya here. That way, ain’t nobody knowing that a bath girl don’t know how to swim proper. That be highly embarrassing, see?” He sniffs and sees the girl standing by the edge of the pool. “No, no,” he waves her off. “My clothes. My clean clothes. Go fetch those, yeah? I’ll wait here a spell.”

Rainbow Mizin: yes Master, *goes out the door to get the clothing*

Esau Serupta waits until the coast is clear. When he’s sure no one is looking, he begins to slowly practice the moves he saw the slave do. It’s tough, and much more complicated than he thought. But slowly, he thinks he’s beginning to make progress. Of course, throughout this whole process, he keeps one eye trained on the door to ensure that no one will find him in a compromising position if and when they enter.

Rainbow Mizin walks over to the clothes line picking up one of his outfits, hearing hap hazard spalshing form the open door, she smiles knowing what he’s tryign to do wakling back she walk quitely in to the romo “i have your clean clothign Master”

Esau Serupta quickly scrambles to his feet and charges up the steps of the bath. “Is that right?” he asks quickly, dripping water all over the tiles. “Oh,” he breathes a sigh of relief, seeing the bag of clothes. “Well then, ain’t so bad is it?” He touches his shoulders and chest. “Lookin like all da dirt gone, yeah? Be smart ta wear clean clothes outta here, I be thinkin.” He sniffs and spits on the floor. “Ain’t shrink, did it? Still gonna fit me good?”

Rainbow Mizin: will fit jus tfien Master, i am good with clothing amonst other things

Esau Serupta grumbles to himself and rifles through the clothes in the sack. Did she see anything? No couldn’t be. No, he was careful. She saw nothing. He pulls out one of the clean tunics, giving it an instinctive whiff. Not larmas, but it does smell like flowers. He crinkles his nose, ready to yell and scream. But he stops himself; he doesn’t know why. Better just to wear the clean garment over his soaking skin. “Well,” he starts as he pulls the fabric over his head. “Ain’t that be meaning ya got chores to do, then?”

Rainbow Mizin: yes Master i will see what my Mistress need me to do

Something was tickling his nose. Grunting, he rolled over and…hit a rock. The pain immediately shot up his side and he snapped out of his lazy slumber. That fucking hurt.

Esau slowly pulled himself up to a seating position. He looked down: bandages around his waist. And they were red. Oh right. The knife wound. The new white scratches that marked his chest and belly also brought back more memories. The sore wrists, the clammy skin, the pain in his back. It was all slowly coming back.

But when he looked around, he was alone. Everything else was exactly as he remembered it: his hunting pack, the sleen knife, the remains of the binding fibers that had once held him, drops of blood peppering the leaves of that bush over there, the last of the glowing embers that once made a fire. Everything was exactly as it seemed…except one thing. Where was she. He winced and slowly rose to his feet. It was an important question, but nature had him focused on another, more pressing need.

When he assumed his position behind the tree trunk, another bit of information revealed himself. He had to quickly withdraw his foot. Why was peeing…? Oh right. It had seemed like a dream, but no- it was very much a reality. He smiled to himself as he finished and returned to the campsite.

Still no sign of her. He considered his options carefully. Perhaps she was doing the same thing he was and she’d return. Perhaps she was close by. Perhaps he should go looking for her. Perhaps perhaps perhaps. In the end, there was only one thing to do.

He searched for his clothing- or what was left of it. The panthers from the night before had reduced most of it to shreds. He still had his loincloth. That was something. Gathering his other supplies was easy enough. He chewed on his inner cheek for a moment. What to do, what to do, what to do? In the end, there was no choice. He’d come here to hunt. Hunting is what he’d do.

* * *

He returned to the hunting grounds which he’d made. Ironically, he could see the tracks of the tarsk. They must have made their way back to the spot at night. So that was how it worked…He shook his head and laughed. All that work, all those accusations and in the end, he was the one that was wrong. The animals only came at night.

He sat perched in his familiar observation post, bow resting on his lap, staring into the lagoon. With this new information, he had several options. The obvious one was to dress his wounds, make a proper camp and rest for the night. That was the smartest move.

It started well enough. Mercifully, no one had taken any of his supplies. It was a simple matter of washing the wound, cleaning it with the last of his paga, and then redressing it. That would hold. But when it came time to build camp, eat a proper meal, his mind began to wander. He could finish anything. Something prevented him from moving to the next step. It went like this for hours. Start raising a tent, building a fire and then…stop and stare. Finally, he’d had enough.

The last of the provisions would be safe wedged into the crevice of the cliff face. He’d return for them eventually. Eventually. For now, he grabbed his bow, quiver and knife and receded into the woods. He had some unfinished business to attend to.

* * *

Response Notecard

They laid there for the longest time and with every passing mintute, his weight on top of her seemed to increase. As if it wasn’t hard enough to catch her breath, he was now crushing her chest the more he relaxed. Her recent euphoric state was now subsiding enough that it allowed her to think straight. She had to get away, that was plainly obvious unless it was a collar she wanted around her neck and there was no way in hell she was going to let that happen.

Allison waited a little longer until the hunters breathing had become deep and slow, an obvious sign that he was sleeping and then ever so slowly, an inch at a time she began to wriggle her way from under him. As her injured thigh slid out the shooting pain caused her to jump and almost scream. She bit her lower lip hard, closed her eyes tight willing the pain to ease. Finally she managed to clear him and struggle to her feet never taking her eyes from him. He’d not moved at all and it was then that she grinned. “Sleeping like a baby and yet that was tame” she thought to herself as she stared down at his naked, unmoving body. Damn he looked good but now was not the time for such thoughts. She had to get out of there and fast.

One step was taken when again, a shot of pain ran the entire length of her leg. She stopped and looked down to noticed the wound had opened up, the blood soaked bandages made that clear. With careful footsteps she limped her way to his pack and took hold of another bandage. She was sure he’d not notice them missing, would assume they were used on either him or her previously.

With that done she quickly gathered up what was left of her clothing, slung her bow over her shoulder then with one last look at him, another smile, she crept back into the forest.

The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon giving her enough light to find her way through the dense forest. The cave that she’d set up her camp was no longer viable. There were too few caves and it wouldn’t take long for him to discover it. That and the fact that it was just too close to his camp. She knew she had to act quickly for she doubted he would sleep for long but fuck, that pain in her thigh was so fierce! “Take care of that first” she muttered to herself. With her dagger she cut through the blood soaked bandages and discarded them then quickly wrapped the clean ones around her leg as tight as she could bare then tied it off. The pressure should stop the flow, she hoped. Whilst there she dressed in the ragged leather strips and continued on her way.

After what seemed an eternity, finally she reached the cave and gathered up what few items she’d accumulated. Days before she’d found a secluded place nestled in behind a large hill and far away from his camp. The dense forest trees between them was the perfect cover. She began the long trek, her knowledge of the land now much improved. She was learning fast and was confident now that she would indeed survive this new life she’d chosen. Even her bow skills had improved significantly.

By the time she arrived the sun had done a full arc across the sky and was now disappearing behind the mountains. She was tired, cold, hungry and her entire body was aching but she knew her priorities. With a practiced skill she quickly set up the small tent hoping the canopy of trees would keep it hidden well enough. She then lit a small fire. Sitting down, her injured leg extended out before her, she began to think. Would he come after her or would he just go about his daily hunting and forget? She was no prize catch, she was nothing special so surely the latter is what he would choose. Her thoughts drifted back and she began to visualize what had occured the previous night. Their frenzied fucking, the hatred for him being overcome by raw lust. She wanted to hurt him so badly, she wanted to kick out, scratch and hit but those feelings only accentuated the insatiable need she had “Enough!” she said out loud, the sound of her voice actually caused her to jump. Sleep is what she needed, she would hunt later that night.

* * *

Esau Serupta scratches his head. “Eh there, ya thing. What the fuck you doing down this way?”

Rainbow Mizin leans her head agaisnt his leg “to seduce MAster into getting a bath ofcross Master”

Esau Serupta blanches at the sight, but only offers a half-hearted chuckle. “Ya is thick in the head if’n you came all this way ta get me a bath. Fuck me, do I look like someone who just shit out coins easy as ya please? Baths? Pah…” He sniffs and spits out of the corner of his mouth. Shaking his leg, he grumbles, “Titties ain’t bad though. Give ya that much.”

Rainbow Mizin leans back a bi tletting her breast bounce befor she brushes some hair out of her face “if they please master mabey hse shoudl come see them wet in the baths?

Esau Serupta nods his head in the direction of the stream. “What wrong with that over there, neh? Something wrong wit that water I ain’t know about?”

Rainbow Mizin looks around for steam seeing none “well Master the frist bath is free, adn i come with that”

Esau Serupta shrugs his shoulders and spits once again. “Fuck me, but that mean I got to go all the way up the hill and past all dem city fuckers. Too much work, too much work.” He sniffs one mor time. “Water out here ain’t so bad. Does me just right. And is free too. And I come with da river water, so maybe dat a better deal, neh?”

Rainbow Mizin rubs her help “well i could bat Master in the river i belive that the service would be free”

Esau Serupta shrugs his shoulders. “Nah, I ain’t need a bath. But if’n you want a bath so bad, I give you one fer a copper tarsk bit. It be a good price, I say dat much. Water out here pretty clean. Pretty clean, anyway…”

Rainbow Mizin scouts over to th eMaster foot seting her heat on it “are you sure you don’t want a bath Master, i sure there are certain, things you could need washed” gently tugging on his robe with her teeth

Esau Serupta folds his arms over his chest and looks down at the slave. A smile plays over his lips, seeing the seeming desperation in her movements. “Oh, ya is doing laundry then too? How much ya charge fer my tunics? Dey is soiled as shit. Stink worse than a bosk’s arse too. Maybe I use ya fer that, no doubt…”

Rainbow Mizin frowns “you would have to ask my mistress, i do not worry my self with price as it is not my place Master”
Rainbow Mizin tetivly reach up and playfully runs a finger over the Master crouch softly cooing, still keepign her heat on his feet “is master suuuure? he does not want a free bath with me?’ smileing seducitly as she does

Esau Serupta scratches his chin and chews on the side of his cheek while looking at the slave. His body reflexively moves with her touch. He smiles slightly and reaches down to grab her by the wrist. “Ya is new, ain’t ya? New ta the game, yeah? I can be tellin this sorta thing cuz I be down at the Kettle all the time. Got an eye for this thing, see?”

Idunn Sabra looks at her slave with angry, have sent this girl for lure man to baths not for blabling stuff. She looks then at man and almost faints seeing his dirty clothes.. for any licks her finger and lifts up checking from where blows wind for stand in good side and doesnt try how man can … smell. She coughs softly and waits at man reaction or at least reaction of her slave.

Rainbow Mizin looks up wiht a poty look licking her lips “nay Master i just want to give you a bath, mabye a massage, you work hard you should enjoy a warm slave in some nice bath waters, tis free”

Esau Serupta shrugs his shoulders. “Ain’t knowing what ta tell ya there, beast. Sound like something them flabby free women do. What they call it? Manicure? Some shit like dat anyway. Fuck me, ain’t no time for that namby pamby crap. I got shit to kill and skin, neh? Got my arms elbow deep in shit, see? Maybe ya run along to that Mistress of yers and see how much she be charging fer laundry. Now THAT, I can use. Fuckin massage? Lawks be? What’s next? Ya gonna style my hair too?” He sniffs and spits…before catching the sight of a woman out of the corner of his eye. “Evenin,” he says casually. “Lookin fer a bath? This slave got soap and needs ta use it bad. Sell her ta ya fer a copper tarsk bit. Real cheap. Real cheap.”

Rainbow Mizin look over at her Mistress fearfully

Idunn Sabra is glad her clenched in agry teeth are covered by veil. She aproaches girl and slap her head not so hard , more for make impression it was hurfull “you wench! i am looking for you all city and you sit here? lazy ass!” she lies. Looks up at man “Sir, forgive that slave, does she harass you? ” she blinks inocent above her veil “if you want punish her i would suggest you give her your clothes to laundry”

Rainbow Mizin rubes her head looking at the ground

Esau Serupta grumbles to himself. So that was her owner. He waves his hand dismissively. “Aye, she be bit fucked in the head. No doubt about that. Dis slave ya got here?” He smiles and looks down at the beast. “Shit, maybe you right. She need a lot of fucking work. Said she be wantin ta seduce, but she making my balls itch. And dat be da truth.” He laughs at his joke and nods at the woman. “Aye, maybe she do my laundry. Give you a copper tarsk bit for each tunic. But fer that price, they better smell like larmas, yeah? Shit, if’n I’m going to pay coin, they better smell real nice. Either that, er she be giving a good jerk. Not like no regular jerk. A real good one, see? That’s what I be thinkin anyway.” He sniffs and spits on the ground, crossing his arms over his chest- smirking the whole time.

Idunn Sabra stays gagged by his words, without clue why she still stands not faints after all these names “SIr.. im not sure what is jerk, not good jerk.. not even regular jerk” she kicks Rain “you know what is that? you know how to do it?” she hisses at slave and then strights back doesnt wait at slave answer , lifts chin and says with proud “Our Baths, Sir, offer best soaps and oils.. and for copper tarsk she will parfume your tunics by verminium parfumes…” she grins behind her veil still not sure about this jerk stuff “just please let her take these your dirty tunics ” she looks at his hair in mess and not so clean skin , praying that wind will not change direction “Sir.. i understand you apreciate your .. erm.. so called state.. but maybe one nice bath… tottaly for free… in warm water…” she changes her tone in her best nice voice for customers

Rainbow Mizin yelps in pain “aye i can wash his tunic Mistress, wash them well “

Esau Serupta scratches his head and chews on his lower lip. “Yeah, yeah,” he murmurs to himself. He waves his hand to the door and instructs the slave. “Go inside and look fer a sack behind da counter, yeah? Dat be my soiled clothes. And…” He grins, still staring at the space in front of him. “…I’d be pinchin yer nose when ya pick it up. Ain’t pretty.” He spits and then focuses his attention on Idunn. “Baths? What da fuck a guy like me need with a bath, neh?” He spits on the floor, before an idea occurs to him. Trying to act casually, he shrugs his shoulders. “Don’t want to be rubbing cocks with all them city boys, yeah? I be gettin cock rot er something jammed up me arse if’n I go. I know how dem robe fuckers be. Nah, ain’t be thinkin I need no baths…”

Rainbow Mizin gets to her feet going into the house to sreach for the bag, happy to get away from the grouchy man

Idunn Sabra swallows hard , swallowing also her pride “I understand” she manage to hise finally through her closed tight teeth. “we will not bother you longer… Sir. my slave will bring your parfumed tunics tomorow” she turns red like her dress , trying to avoid man’s gaze “not me, not my slave wanted…. force you to do something what is cleary against yoru nature” she smooths nervouse her skirt and looks desperately at doors of cottage worring if her slave will survive meeting with inner side of man’s whereabouts

Rainbow Mizin wrinkles her nose smelling the musk finding the sack she shudders a bit batting some flys away from it shudder ing a bit she lean over picking it up she grunts pulling it towards the door, pushing the door open wiht her back she drags the bag out the door with a gron she fianly gets it over her should and begins to maek her way to the city gate hear her Mistress words and not wishing to be around the smelly place any mor ethen needed

Esau Serupta scratches his head. He hadn’t prepared for that. Perhaps he’ll press the point a bit farther. “So dat mean it be true, den? When I go ta the baths, some man be trying to stick his cock up me arse?”

Idunn Sabra looks horrified at him realising finally what he wanted to say “Sir… i have one kajirus to bathing women .. but not men.. for men there are just slave girls, trained and skiled .. ” she turns pale and red and pale again “i would never sugest any man he should be bathed by kajiru!” she criess finally and looks at dude with offended innocence

Esau Serupta nods and rubs his chin, pressing the point farther. “So like…ain’t be no other men in the room then? Just be me and the slave? Fucking her cunt er whatever it is I supposed to be doin? Ain’t no man or nothing trying to get with me, yeah?”

Rainbow Mizin sets downt eh bag wipeing her forhead wondering if she misheard the man wondering if his idea of the bath house is a bit skewd hearing her Msitress cry out she shrinks back a bit not wishing to b ethe object of her wrath

Idunn Sabra knew before one day she will have to face customer like this man.. that she will have to face that pretending she has no clue what is going on behind doors of baths .. She places hand at her forehead, other at her chest “Sir.. not my busines…” she yelps through sob, ashamed “not my bussines what man does with slave … and no, if you will be use baths no one will be there” she wipes her wet cheeks be her sleeve , shocked she still talk with this dude

Rainbow Mizin shrinks back a bit mroe behind the smell bag and the log, not sure if she should comfort her Mistress or keep quite

Esau Serupta chews on his inner cheek a little bit more. A private pool with no one watching? This might prove useful. He sniffs and tries to act nonchalant. “Well…” he says rather hesitantly. “I ain’t sure about dis baths business, but maybe I need ta be checkin it out on my own.” he sniffs and spits. “Maybe I come by and see what all dis business is about…”

Idunn Sabra peeps at Rain feels first time in her life pity for slave girl special for this one who will have to bath this man. She bows politely and says with still trembling voice “thank you SIr.. any time, be my guest… ” she takes turns at her heels and moves closer to her slave then turns at man “you may bring your slave or companion.. i belive they will enjoy this baths too!” she rolleyes can not imagining any woman, not mather free or slave who would deal with such man

Rainbow Mizin sees her Msitress glance at her adn quickly looks at the ground no tlooking forward to srucbing down bosk man

Esau Serupta chuckles at the comment. He nods. “Aye, and maybe I tell da people round here about how it be. Den you maybe ya get more like me round yer parts. Be good fer business no doubt…”

Idunn Sabra bows head at man hoping he will tell about baths AFTER taking one.. not before..”i wish you well, my slaves will wait ” she sends puzzled gaze at Rain “anybody who you will ask at city will tell you where baths are… ” she wanted add something but just waves at man with big tembtation runaway from him and sip her herbs

Esau Serupta nods stoically and waits for the woman and her slave to turn the corner before he turns to sit back on his stump. “Maybe I check it out. Late at night,” he says quietly to himself. “Shit, if’n I need ta learn ta swim, better it be done there. Ain’t no one there ta see me. Maybe dis all work out ok.” He sniffs and spits on the ground, resting a spell.

Idunn Sabra looks at man trying to find what man is mumbling to himself. Shrugs arms and snaps fingers at Rain “take this laudry and run to baths… ” and adds with low tone…”first rinse it in thasa .. some sharks will not survive this night” and runs fast with her skirt swirl wanting forget fast this man

Eve Cartier turns her gaze to the familiar face, “Ah, Tal again.. did you get the bosk home? Yes, this is the west dock”

Esau Serupta face darkens slightly at the mention of the bosk. He waves his hand dismissively. “Ain’t nothing. Just…well, ain’t no big deal. Bosk be home and I’ll eat dat fucker fer dinner if he be pullin shit like that again. And dat be the truth.” He brings the paper up to his eyes and stares intently at the squiggles before turning to the left and right. “Alright, dis be da west dock. Now, any idea where da House of Hand be? I is supposed to have been going there…shit, a few ahn ago. I is supposed ta be seein da Lady Merchant, see? Just ain’t be knowin da way, neh? Every fuckin street lookin da same ta me. Fucker back there said she be workin by the west dock…”
Esau Serupta rubs the back of his neck and mumbles, “Pardoning my tongue, of course…”

Eve Cartier quirks a grin and nods, “Of course.” She presses her hand to the rock wall, sitting there swinging her heels likely wasn’t the best presentation of herself. Standing she runs a gloved hand over her veils in a nervous habit as her shoulders square, “I am Eve.”

Esau Serupta’s jaw drops slightly. “Oh…” is all he can muster while recovering. “Right…” He fidgets from foot to foor, unsure of what to do. She wasn’t supposed to hear that. Abruptly, he begins smoothing out his tunic and his hair. “Where be my manners, neh? So you da Lady Merchant Eve, eh? Well, I is supposin ta give you this…” He holds out out the scroll for her to take. “Been given dis by my Caste Elder, neh? Says dat you would know what it be all about and all that.”

Eve Cartier extends her hand and takes it. She unrolls the scroll and looks it over for a bit as her brow arches curiously. She flicks a gaze back to him, “Did you read this ahead of time?”

Esau Serupta scratches his nose and stares at his feet slightly. “Well, erm, well, see- I ain’t able ta read, see? I know why I is here. I ain’t know if dat da only reason I be here. You know how it is, yeah? Ain’t nobody tell ya nothing until yer knee high in bosk shi….err, what I be meaning ta say dat I ain’t important enough ta be knowing da business of da Elder and you. Forgivin my tongue again, please.”

Eve Cartier slowly rolls the paper back up and quirks a grin. She turns, tapping it on the edge of the stone wall as she turns to look out to sea, “Over a hand ago a body was pulled from the waters. He’d been floating for a very long time out there. I’m not sure anyone has identified him yet. But what they have discovered is that the wear and tear on his body was more than sharks… the bite marks… huge.” She points to the water with the scroll, “It seems your caste leader thinks you and Mateo might be right for trying to figure out what was out there… perhaps catching it”

Esau Serupta scratches his head, looking confused. He’d heard about the dead body. In fact, he’d more than heard about the dead bodies. Kids were still joking about the bits of clothing that washed up on the banks of Filthy Gulch and saying that Esau had used some of the body to fill his vats. He rubs the back of his neck and answers somewhat hesitantly. “No disrespect ta my Elder, yeah? But…maybe he ain’t know dat I can’t swim. Thinkin he a bit off if want me ta go into da waters. But lawks, dat what it really say? I ain’t think it be anything like that. Lawks be…” He whistles in amazement and then frowns again. “Pardoning me, Lady Merchant- but if’n he want me ta hunt, why is I supposed ta find you, neh? I know why I come ta see you, but dat ain’t make no sense ta me. Is…is I in trouble? I fuckin knew it. Dis be meaning I in trouble…”

Eve Cartier gives a shrug and hands him back the scroll as she snaps it out, pointing to the seal and the signature, as though it would mean anything to him. “I don’t know. Often the heads of the castes often vie for the Administrator’s attentions. My guess is he knows I have his ear and he’s attempting to set you on the path of this creature so, when caught, his caste will look better for it. As for why you?” She pauses, eyeing him up and down “I have.. no.. idea”

Esau Serupta looks somewhat skeptically at Eve. He hestitantly reaches for the scroll and holds it like a stick of dynamite- far away from his body. “Is alright, Lady Merchant. I can take it. I may be slow, but I ain’t no ninny, neh? If’n I’m in trouble, I can take it. Just give to me straight. I can take it. What be da problem? Is it about Bug? I swear, he ran into my fist. Accident is what it was. Bug ain’t, what they call it? Cordizated. Ain’t knowing how to move his legs properlike. I just ask ya give it ta me straight. What I do wrong?”

Eve Cartier folds her arms back over her chest and quirks her head. Half of what he said tended to go over her head, “Bug?… no, nevermind, don’t want to know. No Sir, you are not in trouble. In fact this is a great opportunity for you! Just imagine your name will be sung as the great hero when you rid our city of this ..thing. Oh certainly you can’t swim, but that’s what a boat is for right? And I am sure that Gosman the fisherman will happily lend you his to begin the hunt for this.. thing”

Esau Serupta’s ears perk up at the thought of being a hero. Perhaps here was his chance for redemption. With two strikes under his belt, this might be his last opportunity. “Well….” he says slowly. “I guessin I ain’t got a choice, neh? If’n dat’s what dey ask, dat’s what I suppose ta be doin. Fuc…err, pardon my tongue there. What I mean ta be sayin is dat…I ain’t like no boats, neh? Make my head loopy, see? Gettin like I’m drunk without bein drunk. But, I guess I ain’t got a choice…” He taps a finger against his chin and tries to ponder it more. “Just be wonderin why dey choose me. And why I be here. Shit, I thought dis was all business. Lady Merchant fer my lady wears. Dat’s what I thought. Lawks be, dis Elder shit ain’t no joke, I say that much.”

Eve Cartier turns and rests her hands on the edge of the wall, looking out over the calm seas. “No.. but finding someone bitten nearly in half is no joke either. If this thing is still here we need to know it.” She turns her head, “I’m guesing it’s you because there is no one else. Gosman is just too old a man to be out hunting this thing. And the warriors are fine attacking other warriors. But this is a creature we’re talking about and that falls in your realm”

Esau Serupta turns his head from side to side to see if there’s anyone looking about. When he sees the coast is clear, he leans forward and starts to whisper in Eve’s ear. “Den, if I be the only person dat can do this, we fucked. Shit, I went huntin fer zedars once and nearly drowned in dat fuckin canal. Shit, fer you and me both, I be hopin someone else come along ta save the day…”

Eve Cartier lowers her head as he leans near, her lips quirking in a slow grin as she listens and for a moment is glad for her veils that cut the stench down to half. She flicks her gaze up and speaks low and very matter of factly, “There is no other…”

Esau Serupta takes a step back and looks nervous. “Well then,” he says rather awkwardly, looking in any direction but Eve’s face. “If dat what da paper say, den dat’s what I do. Fuck me.” His tone drifts off, completely unaware of his word choices. “Shit, dat mean I be having ta get a spear or some shit, and like…fuck me, I ain’t know any of this shit. I guess I need ta be givin dat Gosman fellow a handjob er three if’n he going to help me out wit dis. Fuckkkkkk….” He lets out a deep sigh and looks rather forlornly at Eve, holding out the paper. “Ya sure dis ain’t a offer ta be selling my goods? Like give it another look, maybe? Maybe da Elder be playin a joke or something. Please???”

Eve Cartier gives a short shrug, “You’d have to talk to him about it, but that dead body is no joke.” She glances down the walkway toward the fishmarket, “As for Gosman. He’s been known to give someone free fish if they can give him a song…” She pulls her eyes back with a quirked grin, “How’s your singing?”

Esau Serupta raises his eyebrows and points at his face. “No disrespect, but I ain’t think anyone givin a mug like dis some free fish. Shit, I ain’t even want free fish. Maybe dem doctor dumbasses know how ta make him younger again? Shit…” He sighs heavily again and looks slightly defeated. The reality and enormity of the task is beginning to set in. And more importantly, the cost of all the equipment is adding up in his head. He allows himself a momentary happy thought. “Dis mean I comin ta you fer a loan then? Like, fer da spear and all dat fancy fishin equipment. Seein as I ain’t got none and all…”

Deltroy Umino glances at the free as he passes, but thinks better of interrupting their conversation. He leads Persphone along to the inn, the leash entirely unecessary as she follows so close, merely a symbol of his mastery over her.

Eve Cartier rests her hands on her hips and in true beurocratic form flicks a hand, “Just buy what you need and send an itemized list. I wouldn’t go buying much until you know what it is. I would think with all the carcasses you have at the atannery you have plenty to chum the waters with”

Esau Serupta’s eyes light up at the possibility of billing the city for expenses. What could he get away with? Of course, trying not to tip his hand too much, he coughs rather loudly and starts smoothing out his tunic. “Course, course,” he answers rather absentmindedly. “Tannery’s full of blood and rotting meat, yeah?” He sniffs and can’t help but spit over the ledge into the river. He might as well go for broke in his wishful thinking. “And maybe if’n ya buy my goods at, say maybe double price, I ain’t havin ta send a list. See, my figures ain’t so good, so mebbe I ain’t get it right…”

Eve Cartier arches a brow sharply, “We’ll pay the appropriate costs. Anything above and beyond that, will come from your own pocket. Don’t forget, the Adminsitrator and his Companion are both of the merchant caste as well. We’re not going to let coin slip from our fingers for no good reason”

Esau Serupta scratches his head, squinting as he thinks hard. He’s not going to give up this opportunity so easily. How can he squeeze out another concession? “Maybe I just givin you a list of what I need and you buy it then, neh? Seein as ya merchants, maybe ya get it at my cost. Fuck me, when I go ta market, I be on my knees sucking some fatty’s cock ta get a fair price.” He rubs the back of his neck and bites his bottom lip. “Pardoning my tongue, Lady Merchant. Pardoning my tongue.”

Eve Cartier lifts her chin sharply, “I have better things to do than to be shopping for spears and hooks or whatever it is you’ll need…. Besides, you are a merchant as well, I am sure you know how to bargain. And if that means.. getting down on your knees as you so elequently put it, I’d suggest you pucker up Sir. it would be a shame to spend more than you need to”

Esau Serupta sighs loudly once more. “Guessin I better feed em some larmas beforehand den. Taste sweeter dat…” His mouth drops when he realizes what’s he said. He bites his bottom lip and stares at the ground. This is not how it’s supposed to do. Counting the number of cracks in the cobblestones, he nods slowly. “Yes, Lady Merchant. It be my pleasure ta be helpin out da city. Maybe ya forgive me one of dese days and agree ta sell my goods. I ain’t cut out ta be no merchant, neh? Seein as, well…” He stammers, shifting from foot to foot. “well, maybe it be better dat way, neh?”

Eve Cartier nods slowly, “Yes, I imagine you tend to have a hard time selling to the public. Perhaps if this all works out we can sit and talk about such possibilities. “

Esau Serupta tucks the scroll back into his belt and tries to raise his head. He can’t so, instead he just turns his body away to move off. “Well then, Lady Merchant. Um, you know like dey say- honor in breaking wind. Be seein ya soon enough.”

Eve Cartier tips her head as her hands come to rest on her hips, “I wish you well Sir… and best of luck in your hunt”