Slave Girl

Chapter 80

In our private darkness Rosa holds me, strokes me, soothes me, sings to me and even washes me. After her marathon sex session I don't know where she finds the reserves but my lover tends to me in the soft way that I needed after such a hard pounding. She praises my strength as she removes the remains of her broken belt from my wrists and assures me that I wasn't in trouble for the breakage. I already knew that in my mind but it made my subby heart feel better to hear it directly from her. In the hour after making love she was my caring Lady, loyal slave, and devoted partner all rolled into one. Somewhere along the way she gives me permission to sleep...and the next thing I knew I was rousing to an annoying rap at one of the shuddered windows.

With Rosa's toasty body curled up fully beneath the blankets and pressed to my side I crack my eyes and groggily peer over toward the source of the noise. Some fool bird must have flown straight into the wood shutter. As it shakes off a nasty headache for its careless flight I close my eyes and...

Thump.

I scowl. "What in Hades?" Carefully decoupling myself from Rosa I sit up and gather my bearings.

Thump."Quin!" Comes Cassie's call from beyond the window. "Get yer muscley ass movin ya great lummox!"

My eyes flare wide. Cassie? Was something wrong? It is only then I notice the very dim morning glow struggling to peek around the curtains. The curtains and the rug along the bottom of balcony door! They had kept the room dark enough to fool my farmer's knack of waking at just the right amount of light. On another morning my ingrained habit might have been enough to rouse me at the proper time but after last night my body had stolen every last second of slumber that it could get. I slip from the cover and hurry to the window. I swipe the curtains aside and throw open the shutters.

"Woah!" I hold my hands out as catch Cassie about twenty feet from the building justing winding up to throw another rock.

She smirks...looks at the stone...then throws it anyway.

"Hey!" I protest as I duck my head out of the way of the smooth stone just an instant before it careens off my skull.

"Just making sure you're awake." She chuckles yet seems a bit disappointed that her throw didn't land. Yep, this was definitely a woman accustomed to having brothers. "Rough night?"

"Gods" I grumble and rub my face. My ass was tender, my body stiff, my one wrist bruised along one side, and my balls still felt like shriveled husks of themselves. "You can't even know Cassie. Ohhhh."

"I hope to find out someday." She winks. "Now get going. You're going to be late."

"Right."

I push off the sill and only make it a step before I am summoned back again. "Hey!" Cassie calls. I return to look down. "Rosa's coming with you, right?"

"Rosa?"

"Yeah. She and Mom were going to talk this morning. Remember?"

"Talk?"

"About the little business idea. The Charm School." She pants her hands on her hips and cocks a brow. "Remember?"

"School. Oh...right. Yeah. Of course. We'll be down soon."

"Country boys." She scoffs. "It's all fightin and farmin and fuckin with you boys. Nothin else gets through."

"Good thing country girls like the fightin, farmin, and fuckin." I wink.

"Ha!" The thumbs rightward. "I'll meet ya at the door." As I watch her go she peers back at me over her shoulder and thrusts her ample behind in my direction in an obvious invitation to kiss it.

Unlike my refined yet playful Rosa, Cassie was a spirited lass that expected a bit of banter and push back from her men. I was only too happy to provide it. I could already tell she was going to be handful in whatever capacity she became involved with us.

I hurry back to the bed and carefully peel the covers down to reveal my sleeping Lady.

"Mmm." As the light rolls across her face her brow crinkles, her nose scrunches, her ears lower, and a big pouting bottom lip sticks out. "Mmm. Masterrr." She whines. "I wanna sleep."

"Sorry my love." I whisper. "I overslept. I have to go to work now. You still coming with me?"

"Hmmmm." She rolls to her back and wets her dry mouth. Stretching out her lithe, naked body, her pointed ears quivering with the stretch, she then opens her eyes and turns toward where she knew my face must be. She blinks a few times and reaches up to find my face. She feels my nose and lips and cheek then gives me a sweet and dozy, "Good morning lover."

My heart brimming over from her cuteness I beam right back. "Good morning my love." I lean down and kiss her tenderly. "We've got to go."

"Yes Master."

Thankfully Rosa's thoughtful cleaning of our sweaty and sticky bodies last night saves us precious minutes and we are able to get up and get dressed, each of us aiding the other in getting prepared for the day swiftly and efficiently. Before long we are at the front door where we find Cassie waiting at the edge of the pool that surrounded Mercury's feet. She looks from the god to us.

"Quin." She nods. "Lady Rosa." I noted that her tone was much more respectful now that my Mistress was present. I give her a silent look to which she just grins.

Rosa holds out her hands. "My dear."

Cassie hurries forward to take Rosa's hands in hers. "Mom is eager to speak Lady."

"As am I." Rosa says. "How do I look?"

Cassie shoots me a glance. "Like a man has groomed you."

"Oh."

"Gimme a moment." Removing the hair pin from Rosa's hair she lets it loose then after combing it and smoothing it with just her fingers, careful to go around the horns just so, she gathers it back up all over again and brings it back to an elegant bun and secures it with the pin once more. The difference was subtle to my eye but it was undeniably better. She comes around to Rosa's front and whispers for permission to touch her, which she quickly receives, then straightens Rosa's belt and makes a dozen little adjustments to her stola and blue palla. "There. You are a vision Lady Rosa."

"Thank you my dear." Rosa reaches forward and rewards Cassie with a kiss to the forehead.

Cassie blushes, clearly flustered. "Ahem. Um...if we hurry Quin might still be able to get some breakfast."

"Then lets hurry!" Rosa says. Finding my arm she clings to it to walk at my side.

Cassie comes around to my other side. "You heard your Lady, boy." She swats my butt. "Let's go!"

I shoot her another look to which she just grins even harder, daring me to do something in retaliation. So I do the worst thing I can think of to my horny neighbor. I raise my chin and stride forward without any reaction at all. Cassie hurries to catch up and walks along beside me. I keep my chin high as we walk and never turn my head, but every so often I steal peek her way to see her peeking back.

"How'd ya like my stew?" She asks. "Not bad, huh?"

"Mmm." I shrug. "It was alright."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Just alright?"

"Not like my Mom used to make though."

"Not like...!? You big son of a..." Cassie grumbles her insults.

Rosa titters and whisper across to her. "He darn near ate the whole pot."

"Oh yeah?" Cassie narrows her eyes at me. "Just alright huh?"

"It ate." I deadpan. "It was...acceptable."

"You like to live dangerously I see."

"Do I?"

"Uh huh." She says. "Say, walkin a little gingerly there Quin."

"Am I?"

"Uh huh."

"These hard days on the fields." I say as I correct my gait mid stride. "Takes a bit to work the kinks out."

"Is that right?"

"Uh huh." I say. Rosa giggles and I nudge her. "Shush you."

"Yes Master." She peeps.

"Hard days ya say?" Cassie probes. "I'm thinking it might be the hard nights."

I raise my chin higher. "A gentleman never tells."

"And girls are gonna gossip." She retorts. "I'll find out the lurid details soon enough big guy."

"A Lady never kisses and tells." Rosa says in my defense. "What happens in the villa..."

"...stays in the villa." Finishes Cassie with a sigh. "Damn!"

We all share a good humored chuckle and carry on toward the farm. Today was the first day in what I already knew was going to be a very challenging six weeks of work and training and stress. I was glad to start it in such fine company and such high spirits.

***

Chapter 81

Flanked by a pair of such beautiful ladies it is an understatement to say that we turn heads on our way through the working men to find Cas. Every last eye follows the three of us as we weave through the different crews toward the main villa. The vast majority of those eyes are glued to the elegant slave on my arm. And for good reason. I was one of them and Cassie, while a damn fine looking woman, was a familiar face around here and not that dissimilar to many of the other pretty country girls of the area. Rosa was something else entirely. Both in her exotic appearance and refined mannerisms it was clear at a glance that she was out of place. Like a single delicate orchid peeking out from among the weeds and grasses Rosa stood apart. She was different, and different breeds both fascination and fear. Not everybody is a lover of orchids.

The pervasive bigotry of the ignorant is palpable as we cut a path through the middle of them. That uncomfortable tension that could be found in nearly any group, rich or poor, when confronted by they perceived as an outsider silences the group. And yet, as we walk among them, I could also see hearts and minds being challenged and won over without a word needing to be spoken. This demon on my arm was no monster from myth. Seeing her in the flesh showed them that she was not scary or soulless. She was small and fragile and had a charming smile. She also carried herself with a effortless grace that was impossible not to admire and in her vulnerable blindness she evoked a natural instinct to care for and protect in anybody with a well tuned heart. It also helped that she was as gorgeous as Venus herself. Those not struck speechless from suspicion had their tongues held by lust and envy. More than a few times I catch looks my way as if to say, 'you lucky bastard'.

My Lady could not see the stares but she could sense them all the same. She walks at my side without a hint of fear to those watching but I could feel her anxiety in the way she shifted oh so subtly closer and gripped my arm tighter. I lightly stroke her hand to assure her that all was well.

"What's the matter?" Cassie sasses the gawkers to the break the tension. "Never seen a lady before?"

"Closest thing we've seen is you." Quips one of the men. "So no!"

A burst of laughter ripples through the group as a spirited Cassie tries to pick out who burned her with his comeback. "Gallus, you cur! Was that you? Say that to my face if you've got the guts." Gallus shrinks down among his crew in a futile attempt to hide.

As the men laugh Rosa lets out a lively giggle, her face aglow with a bright smile. In those that hear her laugh and see her grin are charmed as surely as if by an enchanter. Oeneus is the first to rise and approach. He gives a quick nod before turning to my slave.

"I am Oeneus, good lady." He says in that debonair flair of his. "You must be Rosa. Your master's description of you doesn't do you justice."

"Hello Oeneus." Rosa says sweetly. "That delicious accent? Hispania?"

"Well...yes good lady."

"Mmm. A land of fine wine and even finer men." She curtsies to her fellow slave. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Oeneus clutches his heart and staggers backward, hamming up an arrow through the heart by Cupid. The men laugh which makes Rosa giggle which sets the men to laughing more. Julian and Lucas nearly trip over each other to be the next in line to introduce themselves.

"I'm Quin's right hand man." Lucas brags. "I bet he's told you all about me."

"Oh yes. He speaks very highly of your initiative and passion Master Lucas." Lucas looks ready to pop with pride until Rosa adds. "From what Cassie says however..."

"Lies! Don't listen to a word my sister says!" He looks at Cassie. "What did you tell her!?"

Lucas is drowned out by a trio of men from another crew crowding in for a moment in Rosa's light. Soon we are surrounded by men eager to introduce themselves and take in her beauty up close. Everybody knew that she was 'just' a slave and yet a viewer from afar would have thought a famous gladiator had paid a visit to Horatius' estate. With class and cuteness my Lady greets each man in turn, making sure to say something particular about each of them. They walk away with smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts. In just a matter of minutes my slave had not only been accepted but embraced by the good hearted farmers. Sure there were a few sour faces still but they were the extreme minority.

Silently I stand at her side, tall and proud. Proud of my Lady and proud of my people. This could have gone very poorly, but it didn't. It was a lovely reminder that deep down most people were pretty darned good. As we continue through my crew act as our own Praetorian Guard, keeping us from being mobbed and moving men on who wanted to hog Rosa's precious attention too much. My crew with the exception of Toke that is. I spot the tall blond man sitting alone near the periphery of the gathering. I steer us that way so we might meet him.

I wanted Toke to meet Rosa. I wanted to see his reaction to her and how he interacted with her. He was the property of some very bad people with some very backwards attitudes toward non-humans and I wished to see if their opinions had brushed off on the northman. He had other ideas however. As we get near he rises to his feet and heads to the food table to return his mug and plate. His head and mine poking higher than the rest our eyes meet for a moment as he moves to avoid our path. I see no hatred or fear in his pale eyes. In fact I see nothing at all. I could not read either his heart or his mind. Was he moving so as not to meet a demon? Did he not wish a connection to somebody close to me since we were destined to battle? Was he avoiding the bustle? Or was it that he simply wished to return his dishes? I could not tell. And as the work bell rings my time to find out was up. Their meeting would have to wait.

As the crowd breaks and crews begin to gather and set out I say. "We've got to go. Where's Cas?"

"Mom's probably inside." Cassie says as she comes around to the other side of Rosa to take her other arm. "We'll find our way."

"Oh! But my Master never got his breakfast." She tilts her head up to face me. "You were too busy with me."

"It's okay." I say. "I'll survive.

"Is all the food gone?" She says, facing the men of my crew.

"No!" Oeneus swiftly replies. "They're still putting it away."

"If it's not too much trouble." She bats her big magenta eyes. "Could you...?"

"On it!" Quique barks as he darts toward the food table.

"Hey! She was asking me!" Oeneus takes off after him swearing at his countryman in their native tongue.

Lucas looks back and forth...then starts off at a sprint himself. Gyasi and Julian roll their eyes and chuckle as my slave beams, rather pleased with herself for getting her master fed.

I lean down and kiss her head. "You were amazing." I whisper. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too Master." She says. "Have a wonderful day."

"And you." I then turn to Cassie and hesitate...before giving her a peck to the cheek. "I'll see you after work?"

"Count on it." She smiles.

Gyasi and Julian share a glance at my outward show of affection to the boss's buxom daughter. I knew exactly what they were thinking, and they were right.

I step away, allowing my Lady to pass from my arm to Cassie's. "I hope your meeting with Cas goes well."

"Ha!" Cassie smiles. "Did you see that reaction? Wait until the ladies hear how the gents took to her. We'll be turning folks away!"

"Well good luck with all that." Looking around I realize that my crew was the last to leave. "Gotta go!"

Gyasi, Julian and I reunite with Lucas and the two Hispanians, who had so kindly brought me my breakfast, then hurry to meet up with Toke who was standing stone faced in the distance waiting for us. Quique and Oeneus tease each other about fawning over Rosa. Lucas is already going on about our first session of training that would happen after work. I peer back over my shoulder to watch Cassie and Rosa talking and laughing like old friends as they disappear into the house. I once again get that sense of finding a groove along our path. Wheels were turning and things were moving, I just prayed in the right direction.

***

Chapter 82

I find Toke to be a quiet and efficient worker who followed instruction to the letter and without complaint. As the rest of us talked and squabbled as young men do he just worked and watched and listened. He seemed neither amused nor annoyed at our antics though I could see he was very much enjoying the hours spent in the field, and enjoyment I believed he probably would have felt just as keenly whether we'd been there or not. I had never met a man so unconcerned by the company he kept. He nearly drove Lucas mad with his refusal to speak of their training. Eventually Lucas gave up and returned to talking about it in the hypothetical as he had in previous days despite the fact that our instructor was right there among us.

The good food, fresh air and the night's rest had done wonders for the northman's health. Though was surely still in some amount of pain from the beating he'd received for that night in the city he moved with that same same ease and efficiency that I had seen in him the first time. If not for his time worn features and graying hair one would have thought him half his age. His skill with sickle and wheat was more rusty than rustic but it did not take long to hone them back into working order and by midday he was a huge boon to our team.

Despite my best efforts I make no inroads on getting closer to the man, and it wasn't simply due to his stoic silence. No matter how many times I ask that he not do it, when he addressed me he would invariably call me 'Master Quintus'. It was neither a term used out of respect or malice, simply a constant reminder of the difference between he and I. With Queque and Oeneus we could almost forget about their enslavement and my citizenship as we chatted and joked around guy to guy, but Toke never allowed me that comfortable illusion. He was not going to make anything about our relationship easy for me just to get along. With that barrier between us it made genuine warmth, to say nothing of friendship, impossible.

The one bit of openness I do receive from him came when I least expected it.

I continued to worry about Toke's attitude toward those not like him. Toward non-human's specifically. He'd avoided Rosa that morning so my concern was higher than ever. If I was going to invite this man into my land, so close to my home and my beloved demon Lady, I needed to know where he stood on this. And so, when I see him spread off by himself as we cut, I headed his direction to have quiet conversation apart from the others.

I come along side of him, each of us hunched over as we grabbed bundles of stalks, cut them with our sickles and lay them behind us. He glances over at me in acknowledgment of my presence.

"A word?"

"Of course Master Quintus." He answers as he continues to cut.

"This may be bold of me."

"Go ahead."

"I was speaking about you to my slave last night."

"Mmm." He pauses and kneels down to stretch his back and take a break. "If you are hoping to garner sympathy and change my mind, it won't work."

"No." I say. "No. She thinks I should fight you."

"Wise woman."

"You have no idea." I say as I stop and kneel as well. "We were talking about your time with us out here." As I talk I watch him very closely for cues or ticks. "About making your time here a pleasant one."