Chapter 5: Traveling
The next morning, I awoke a little later than I normally did. Opening my eyes, I was greeted with the peaceful sleeping face of my Master. The fierceness of his beauty was dulled by sleep, and I blinked, confused. Why had he not dismissed me after we had sex?
Sitting up, I blinked at the arm around my waist. We were both still nude, yet even in the cold of winter's morning, I was still quite warm. I moved to free myself, wincing at the pain in my rear. It was not going to be pleasant to walk today.
I was in the midst of freeing myself before my arm was gripped in an iron hold. I froze, steeling myself for a blow. When it didn't come, I opened my eyes and looked down to see my Master awake and staring at me. His eyes had a grayish blue tint in them, in the chilled air.
"Where are you going?" he asked. I blinked in surprise; it took a moment before I could bring myself to speak.
"I was headed back to slave quarters and the kitchens to inform the servants to prepare your morning meal, Master." I said. Was he angry with me?
My Master's brow knit, and he lifted his head from the pillow, his hand ghosting across my stomach for a moment. I gasped a little, as the warmth from his hand was cooled by the air.
"You are unusually fit for a pleasure slave, Ztener must have let you practice combat, although…these don't look like sword fighting muscles," he said.
I bit my lip. "I-I was a stagehand before my Mas—he—took interest in me and changed my station." I said, stumbling over my words.
"Hmmm…maybe I should've had Ztener show me his stables instead of his pleasure slaves on my previous visits…" my Master mused. I felt a quick surge of…something…as he leveled that silver blue gaze on me.
My Master sat up suddenly, and got off of the bed. I watched him as he made his way back over to his clothes. He pulled on his pants and a house cloak, before looking at me again. "Get something on, we are going to bathe."
I blinked. We?
Scooting to the edge of the bed, I awkwardly and slowly pulled on my pants. It hurt to bend over, so I sat down while I did it, pulling on my shirt and then slowly—very slowly standing up to pull up the pants. I didn't even bother trying to tie them. My Master looked at me oddly. "What is wrong with you?" he asked.
I shook my head, standing slowly while closing my eyes and controlling my features so I wouldn't wince. Gods, this hurt like hell. Suddenly I was being lifted into a pair of strong arms. My eyes flew open as I stared into the face of my Master. He smirked, and headed towards the door.
"M-Master? I am capable of walking..." I said fearfully. Only brides were carried this way in Talbia, and I was a slave. It was beneath his station to hold me in such a way.
"Silence," my Master admonished and I quickly held my tongue. He carried me past two unfamiliar guards and into the bathing chambers. I sighed in relief as he let me down and I walked stiffly to the bathing pool. I pulled off my pants and stepped into the water.
My Master soon joined me and as I washed his broad back and hair in companionable silence, I took the chance to wonder just who I was dealing with.
He obviously held some power, in order to make my master quiver. He wore the king's insignia, so was he close to the royal family? A high captain of the royal guard? Maybe an advisor?
One could never know, so I should exercise the upmost caution when dealing with him. Turning back to my duties, I washed my Master's broad back, focusing on my task. Absentmindedly, I hummed a small tune that Zera had taught me, as I rinsed the cloth and washed the expanse of tanned skin.
I submerged myself to clean his rear and privates, as well as his legs, remerging after the job was done. I placed down the cloth, looking at my master with slight apprehension. He was staring at me, his hands going back to my wet hair.
"Wash yourself," he ordered, and I immediately did as told, trying to ignore the feeling of those steely eyes on me.
Once I was finished, we got out of the springs, and I held my Master dress before drying and dressing myself. My hair was a wet mess, falling in damp ringlets over my face and back. I waited for my next order, unsure of what I was to do.
"Come," he said simply, and I followed him slowly, my legs still a bit sore. We walked all the way back to his rooms and I saw the guards from last night moving trunks and things out of the room.
My Master barked out some orders in rapid Talbian, before leading me to the front of my previous master's stronghold. I had never been passed the large, iron and wood gates, and I could feel my body tremble as I was lead through them and to a carriage waiting outside.
The vehicle was intimidating, and I didn't know what to do, having only seen one in passing
from the fields.
"Get in," my Master ordered, and I approached the carriage with trepidation, hesitantly climbing inside. The Master followed, getting inside as a servant closed the door after him. We waited inside for a few moments, until the carriage suddenly jolted into action, jerking forwards.
I gripped the smooth wood trim, unused to the movement. I could feel myself turning a little green, it was jarring, and I was beginning to feel nauseous.
After a moment, my stomach calmed, and I looked over to my master who seemed to be amused about something. I simply bowed my head, my hair shielding my face. The man was kind to me (for reasons I have yet to guess), and yet he unnerved me.
Why did he make me so nervous? He had made no move towards me that seemed particularly vicious or untoward…yet he didn't treat me much like a pleasure slave—more like a bride. My eyes widened. A bride? Surely he couldn't be thinking of me as—I shook my head of the ridiculous thought. It was impossible; such things were unheard of in Talbia.
The silence between us stretched long, until a particularly violent jolt propelled me out of the deep reverie I had spiraled into. I was flung out of my seat and onto the carriage floor, cursing under my breath as I drew myself up.
The driver was at our window in a second. "The mare, Master, she's given out." He said, twisting his cap in his hands. The Master frowned, before stepping out of the carriage, going out of my sight. I took the opportunity to look outside; we were in a heavily wooded forest, on a small trail.
I heard the Master and the driver talking, but I could only catch snatches of conversation.
"Kill her then," came my Master's deep bellow.
I shot forth from the carriage at those words. "Master!" I called, stumbling as I gained my legs.
The Talbian's eyes turned towards me sharply. "Amer, I gave you no orders to leave the carriage." He said, his deep voice angry.
I shivered, unsure of what I was about to do. "If I may just look her over, I can determine—" I began, stumbling over my words. "I can help," I said, looking at the beautiful grey bare mare.
The Master observed me with cool steel eyes before speaking. "Fine." He said. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Standing and walking over to the mare, I gave her a moment to familiarize herself with my scent and manner, to let her know that I will not harm her. I then knelt, whispering words to calm her as I surveyed her body. I looked at her legs and saw one in particular which she favored.
I surveyed her hoof and sighed, a smile on my face. "You are fine, Beauty." I smiled, rooting around before looking about, grabbing a sharp stick and scraping a particularly hard and jagged pebble from her shoe.
"If I may have a bit of water and a small bit of metal?" I asked. The Master nodded, and a servant came forth after some time with the requested items. I poured the water over her hoof, to check for infection or bleeding and found none. I pressed the bit of metal in the gap in her shoe, sliding it in horizontally. When I was finished, I stood, patting the mare's head and coaxed her to her feet. She patted the ground experimentally, and when she didn't falter in step, I smiled.
"Good girl," I nodded, patting her muzzle. I picked up the rock, hesitantly walking back towards my Master. "It was but a pebble…" I said, showing him the rock.
The Master observed me, before nodding. "Get in," he said, moving back to the carriage.
I breathed shakily, walking towards the carriage. I got in, gingerly settling myself far enough away from the man that if he should strike me, I could move and evade at least the first blow.
The Master looked at me. I cringed as his hand moved towards me. "You have done well," he said, as his hand rested on my hair, his strong fingers running through it gently.
"Perhaps you will be as invaluable to me as I first believed." The male smirked. I fear that I did not believe that that was such a good thing….
