The room at the inn was by any and all means more lush than the previous insula. The girl had fidgeted with the small card tucked in her sash and had not paid attention to the name of the establishment. She caught sight only of the thick carpets along the corridors at the base of the stairwells. Keeping count of her steps she numbered them as her feet flew along the risers to keep up with Shorl and Dolht.
Meals this eve would be taken in the room and the girl served them both well. She was given a mat in the far corner rather than spare the expense of coin to have her kenneled. At some point after retiring she overheard a heated argument among them though the baritone of both men left the topic a bit vague, though the jist of it was something about glana perhaps having more worth . It was only the oddly generous invitation of Shorl to find some wine and wenches that ended the dispute.
When the men left, exquise rose long enough to extinguish the lights and return to her mat. She had no idea the prophetic nature of her actions. Only one of the men returned that night. Shorl's pouch had a fullness to it that it did not have when he left though he reeked once more of paga, stale kajira perfume and something latently lingering beneath it all ... a whiff of acrid copper. She feigned sleep until she was assured of the snores coming from the remaining guardsman.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
extreme failing or pure genius
Flora only beginning to bud into a renewal of life swirled about the stone pathways of the gardens. The hubbub of the city almost stopped at its' gate and became a calm within. It was a world apart.
Those that strolled within the peaceful beauty had an elegance of their own. Freewomen bathed in signature fragrances were well hidden behind silvery masks and walked with diminutive steps at the side of their escorts. The men were adorned in brilliant colors that denoted the pride of their castes and signets of rank and position. The snap of booted heels along the walkways left a measured cadence echoing only to fade into silence once more as they passed.
Exquise sought a spot out of the way to rest. The journey thus far had not been exhausting in its rigors but rather in the stark unsureties. How long she had awaited the summons from Shorl she wasn't sure, but today she knew at least she been given more time. Without any real thought she had drifted into a quiet daze when she found herself engulfed in a broadening darkness. The sky had few clouds that would forewarn any storms so she lifted her rich gaze. Before her stood a man who had seen more than a few envars experience though he had a kindly disposition about him. It was instinctive for the girl to turn a genteel smile up for his pleasure. In a conversation heard only by the two, he questioned her of her attendance there and of her owner. With a tender guidance he lifted her to her feet and drew her into the cradle of his arm holding her against his side.
The more the man sought to know of the girl, the more it became apparent that whether it was an extreme failing on the part of her creator or a stroke of pure genius, exquise mind was empty of her own personal thoughts and opinion. It was a vast expanse only partially occupied by her training of the finer arts. She was bred to be pleasing without resistance, she was thoroughly complacent. Slowly this dawning came to the man as he gave in to the complexities of what her capabilities were. She could be the most wanton of sluts without hesitance to obey the least command or if in the hands of another she could be just as easily a cold blooded killer. Either way despite the perfections and effort of her creation ... she was completely expendable.
The realization of what he held in his arms was intriguing. In low growling whispers, he rationalized aloud whether owning such a piece was suitable to his own needs. Withdrawing the curl of warmth between the two, he spoke only that perhaps he may seek the guardsmen. Then he was gone.
Those that strolled within the peaceful beauty had an elegance of their own. Freewomen bathed in signature fragrances were well hidden behind silvery masks and walked with diminutive steps at the side of their escorts. The men were adorned in brilliant colors that denoted the pride of their castes and signets of rank and position. The snap of booted heels along the walkways left a measured cadence echoing only to fade into silence once more as they passed.
Exquise sought a spot out of the way to rest. The journey thus far had not been exhausting in its rigors but rather in the stark unsureties. How long she had awaited the summons from Shorl she wasn't sure, but today she knew at least she been given more time. Without any real thought she had drifted into a quiet daze when she found herself engulfed in a broadening darkness. The sky had few clouds that would forewarn any storms so she lifted her rich gaze. Before her stood a man who had seen more than a few envars experience though he had a kindly disposition about him. It was instinctive for the girl to turn a genteel smile up for his pleasure. In a conversation heard only by the two, he questioned her of her attendance there and of her owner. With a tender guidance he lifted her to her feet and drew her into the cradle of his arm holding her against his side.
The more the man sought to know of the girl, the more it became apparent that whether it was an extreme failing on the part of her creator or a stroke of pure genius, exquise mind was empty of her own personal thoughts and opinion. It was a vast expanse only partially occupied by her training of the finer arts. She was bred to be pleasing without resistance, she was thoroughly complacent. Slowly this dawning came to the man as he gave in to the complexities of what her capabilities were. She could be the most wanton of sluts without hesitance to obey the least command or if in the hands of another she could be just as easily a cold blooded killer. Either way despite the perfections and effort of her creation ... she was completely expendable.
The realization of what he held in his arms was intriguing. In low growling whispers, he rationalized aloud whether owning such a piece was suitable to his own needs. Withdrawing the curl of warmth between the two, he spoke only that perhaps he may seek the guardsmen. Then he was gone.
amidst the masses
The hovels of the district became consumed by the shadows of the high cylinders. Decadence and depravity seemed to scurry into the recesses beneath the splendor of the glass and steel towers. The streets took on a noisy vitality as citizens pushed and vied for the best choice of path between carts and mounted tharlarian.
The grasp at her arm had lessened in its severity over the past few days but amidst the masses, it held firm. She found herself grateful for that minute amount of security even from Shorl. It was with a wide eyed wonder she noticed, there seemed to be a rhthym that came natural to those whom reside in this portion of the city proper. Almost an unspoken courtesy not to speak or acknowledge those around them. Traffic along the lanes divided into two directions and even at intersections, there was a silent understanding of which group had priority to cross where.
The guardsmen sought out an Inn where they could base their pursuit of profit and begin canvassing the city for a particular merchant they believed had some wealth and an appetite for an innocent though unique slave girl. This days' regime of exercise would find the girl taken to a quiet public garden.
The grasp at her arm had lessened in its severity over the past few days but amidst the masses, it held firm. She found herself grateful for that minute amount of security even from Shorl. It was with a wide eyed wonder she noticed, there seemed to be a rhthym that came natural to those whom reside in this portion of the city proper. Almost an unspoken courtesy not to speak or acknowledge those around them. Traffic along the lanes divided into two directions and even at intersections, there was a silent understanding of which group had priority to cross where.
The guardsmen sought out an Inn where they could base their pursuit of profit and begin canvassing the city for a particular merchant they believed had some wealth and an appetite for an innocent though unique slave girl. This days' regime of exercise would find the girl taken to a quiet public garden.
The card
It was almost midday when the men woke the next day. Despite the aftermath of the paga, they began to formulate a plan for the visit to the high cylinders. It took only a bit of persuasion by the girl to convince them a good meal, blackwine and decent baths would be necessary first.
While Shorl and Dohlt saw to making themselves more presentable to a higher standing of patronage than they had encountered in this district, exquise was sent down the alleyway to the little cafe for food and the steaming hot drink.
The shop was well occupied with a variety of people although it could not be said to be very busy. Most were simply milling about, bantering a bit among themselves. After having told the proprietress of her needs, the girl slipped into the shadows of the cafe to watch while the order was being prepared. All eyes turned to the entrance as an unseemly looking couple arrived. The man of average height was quite impressionable. His nose was long and sharply pointy in a way that reminded one of a herlit. His eyes so closely set and small and beady seemed as if they were merely bits of coal balanced on top. He was dressed in a dapperly fashion as escorted a woman at his arm in among those gathered. For all of the notability of the man, it was the woman who made the most impression. She was an assault to the senses in a myriad of hues, textures and scents. Many ahlils of light bright green satin had long ago faded in streaks into an almost golden color. Lace of what was once a cream color seemed to be wound around her in an endless supply, but it was the coloring of her hair and face that could not be blinked away. Beneath the coiling tendrils of almost copper tress was a complexion that had been powdered white. Her cheeks obviously blushed an unnatural cherry red and lines of aquamarine had been painted on the overabundant eyelids. To make the whole appearance quite complete, her mouth had been drawn with a dark ramberry to make the thinning lips look fuller.
The girl tried to fade farther into the shadow only to have the woman loose her escort's arm and stride directly to her. exquise had been displayed before but this encounter left her with the feeling of being so much meat in a butcher shop. Gloved fingertips rose to clinch the delicate jaw line and turn her face one direction then the other before lifting her chin high to read the inscription on the steel about her throat. The woman's voice came in a low spoken thick accent as she withdrew her touch and fumbled within a small lace pouch to retrieve a card. Shoving it into exquise hand roughly she spoke where all within the cafe could hear. "When you have no where else to go ... come to me. You will be Marlenus' Talena." Then with a garish aplomb, the woman turned away with a wave of her hand to all within the small diner and blew kisses nonchalantly. If any of this had truly affected the girl, what happened next had cinched it. Everyone within the establishment rose, men and women alike stood and offered thunderous applause. The hook nosed little man lifted his arm to the woman and the two seemed to glide away before the accolades ceased.
As if an torrent wind had blown through, everyone grew uncannily silent after the departure. For several ihn one could almost hear the dust settle. While exquise tucked the card into the sash at her waist, the din of the cafe once more filled the emptiness. The proprietress brought out baskets lined with waxed rence paper containing stewed meat and fried sul wages. With fattened hands dimpled at the knuckles she curled her fingers about the girl's refusing payment for the meals. She simply told her in a quiet monotone, "One day you will return."
Whether it was an omen of the future or an attempt to find hope amid such a dreary life, exquise gave it all no further thought than to wonder how the little cafe could survive without revenues.
While Shorl and Dohlt saw to making themselves more presentable to a higher standing of patronage than they had encountered in this district, exquise was sent down the alleyway to the little cafe for food and the steaming hot drink.
The shop was well occupied with a variety of people although it could not be said to be very busy. Most were simply milling about, bantering a bit among themselves. After having told the proprietress of her needs, the girl slipped into the shadows of the cafe to watch while the order was being prepared. All eyes turned to the entrance as an unseemly looking couple arrived. The man of average height was quite impressionable. His nose was long and sharply pointy in a way that reminded one of a herlit. His eyes so closely set and small and beady seemed as if they were merely bits of coal balanced on top. He was dressed in a dapperly fashion as escorted a woman at his arm in among those gathered. For all of the notability of the man, it was the woman who made the most impression. She was an assault to the senses in a myriad of hues, textures and scents. Many ahlils of light bright green satin had long ago faded in streaks into an almost golden color. Lace of what was once a cream color seemed to be wound around her in an endless supply, but it was the coloring of her hair and face that could not be blinked away. Beneath the coiling tendrils of almost copper tress was a complexion that had been powdered white. Her cheeks obviously blushed an unnatural cherry red and lines of aquamarine had been painted on the overabundant eyelids. To make the whole appearance quite complete, her mouth had been drawn with a dark ramberry to make the thinning lips look fuller.
The girl tried to fade farther into the shadow only to have the woman loose her escort's arm and stride directly to her. exquise had been displayed before but this encounter left her with the feeling of being so much meat in a butcher shop. Gloved fingertips rose to clinch the delicate jaw line and turn her face one direction then the other before lifting her chin high to read the inscription on the steel about her throat. The woman's voice came in a low spoken thick accent as she withdrew her touch and fumbled within a small lace pouch to retrieve a card. Shoving it into exquise hand roughly she spoke where all within the cafe could hear. "When you have no where else to go ... come to me. You will be Marlenus' Talena." Then with a garish aplomb, the woman turned away with a wave of her hand to all within the small diner and blew kisses nonchalantly. If any of this had truly affected the girl, what happened next had cinched it. Everyone within the establishment rose, men and women alike stood and offered thunderous applause. The hook nosed little man lifted his arm to the woman and the two seemed to glide away before the accolades ceased.
As if an torrent wind had blown through, everyone grew uncannily silent after the departure. For several ihn one could almost hear the dust settle. While exquise tucked the card into the sash at her waist, the din of the cafe once more filled the emptiness. The proprietress brought out baskets lined with waxed rence paper containing stewed meat and fried sul wages. With fattened hands dimpled at the knuckles she curled her fingers about the girl's refusing payment for the meals. She simply told her in a quiet monotone, "One day you will return."
Whether it was an omen of the future or an attempt to find hope amid such a dreary life, exquise gave it all no further thought than to wonder how the little cafe could survive without revenues.
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