Tattoos

Gabriel shook his “birthday gift” awake. The Sari slave girl must have been having a terrible dream. She was crying in her sleep. She awoke at Gabriel’s touch.

“Hmm?” she moaned.

 “Vivian. Are you ok?”

“Yes. Disturbing dreams. I’m ok now.” She wiped the tears off her face.

 “About what?”

 “I don’t remember. It’s faded now.” Gabriel didn’t quite believe her, but let it go.

“It’s time to get up. You’ll have to wear one of my old traveling outfits, but as soon as we get to Haven Falls, my estate in the capitol, I’ll have some clothes made for you. Does that sound ok?” Vivian nodded. Gabriel watched as she changed into a pair of breeches and a shirt that he had grown out of. He felt a little guilty, but she didn’t seem to notice. Her leg muscles were lean and sinewy. He imagined them wrapped around him. She pulled the nightgown over her head and exposed her flat stomach and her small, perfect breasts. He wanted so much to take them in his hands and his mouth. She was perfect in every way and the men’s clothes she wore showed it. The indigo fabric contrasted beautifully about her creamy-white skin and the red-dust colored tattoos. Her icy eyes sparkled. Gabriel had never wanted anything as much as he wanted to remove her clothes and carry her to his bed. But he knew she would want to choose her own partner and it wouldn’t be the one who owned her.

 “Master?” Vivian asked. Gabriel turned around. She had always called him “Milord,” never “Master.”

“You don’t need to call me that, Vivian.”

“I choose to call you my Master. I am glad that someone as kind as you holds my bond. I’m glad I was taken out of the Motherland, for the Masters there are as harsh and cold as the weather. But I have a question.”

“What?”

 “Is there not something cooler I could wear? Where I am from, there is only ice and snow, so we must wear heavy furs to keep us warm. But here, by the great Southern Sea, it is unbearably hot, and these clothes are better suited for cooler weather, I think.”

 “Yes, they are. But they’re all I have to offer you.”

 “Perhaps I could remove the jacket and waistcoat, and just wear the shirt and breeches? And some of those silk shoes I saw some of the women wearing, instead of these sweltering boots?”

 “I don’t have any slippers for you. When we get in the carriage, you can remove any excess clothing you desire.” He felt his face heat up, and hoped that Vivian attributed to the warmth of the day, though he didn’t find it particularly hot. 

After his few belongings had been stowed in the baggage wagon, Gabriel helped Vivian up into the carriage and then closed the door behind her.

 “I’ll be back in a moment. I need to say goodbye to my stepmother.” He stepped down and went over to Cynthia, who was waiting in the shade of a gazebo. “Mother, I’m to be off in a moment. I’ve come to say farewell.” Cynthia offered him her hand’ he took it and kissed the sapphire ring on her finger.

 “Why is that Sari girl riding in your carriage with you, and not in the wagon, with your other belongings?” she asked, taking her hand away and polishing the ring on her skirts.

“In hopes that I can… further appreciate my gift, Mother.”

“I see. I suppose, then, that is all right. I have a gift for you, my son.” She took the gold chain from around her neck and lifted it over her head. It was looped through the great Seal of the Lord Glenwood: a great tree with a serpent entwined in its branches. On a banner, it would be a white tree and a green serpent on a field of deep red. He took the ring in his hand. “If I were you, I’d wait until you got to Haven Falls to put it on.”

Gabriel gave a small bow. “Thank you, Mother. Farewell.” He turned and headed back to the carriage.

“What did she give you?” Vivian asked when Gabriel got into the carriage. She had already removed her jacket, waistcoat, boots, and stockings and had unbuttoned her shirt so that it exposed the tops of her breasts.

“Nothing that didn’t already belong to me. Are you more comfortable now?” Vivian nodded.

“I’m still a little warm, though. But there aren’t many more clothes to remove.”

And that’s the beauty part of it, Gabriel thought. Aloud he said: “I’m sorry. If you like, I’ll stop in the next city and order a few summer dresses for you.”

“I’d like that. How far?”

Gabriel consulted with the driver. “About half a day’s drive, maybe more. In the meantime, you should drink plenty of water. It’s lucky your hair is so short.” As he spoke, he took a cloth and wet it with the canteen. He handed it over to the girl, who stared at it. Gabriel leaned over and dabbed at her neck with it. Her eyes sparkled with understanding and –maybe?- pleasure? Vivian took the cloth from him and began dabbing and rubbing it over her neck shoulders and chest. Gabriel crossed his legs so that the bulge in the crotch of his pants would be less noticeable. By the time they had gotten to the city, Vivian had emptied two canteens between drinking and cooling herself and Gabriel had needed to stop twice. When he was asked why, he simply replied that he had needed to relieve himself.