Slave Girl 2: Chapter 48 (Patreon)

Being on my own with nothing but a handful of coin in my pouch and my sturdy walking stick in my hand the miles between home and town roll by swiftly.  I meet other locals and travelers along the way but as distracted as I was for what I might be walking into I pause no longer than it took for a cordial nod and a kind greeting.  In the fields I could see other farms already beginning their harvest, reminding me of the job I started tomorrow.  Or hoped to start.

I wasn’t thrilled in having to become embroiled in the local political schism.  Especially as it was town politics.  Had that incident with the thugs never happened I could have happily continued to live oblivious to it all.  But it had happened.  I could just bow my head, stay quiet, keep my distance, and hope it never touched me again but that just wasn’t going to happen.  But my submission belonged to Rosa and Rosa alone.  This shit was bound to come up again and again in a thousand different ways and I figured I might as well stand up and be counted now.  Better to let everybody know where I stand and that I was an ally to be counted on than end up alone the next time the trouble found me again.  And besides, I fucking hated bullies.

Strangely, disturbingly, I found that some small part of me was actually hoping for some trouble.  Not real danger or life altering consequences, just a bit of trouble to release some of the tension.  Was Rosa right?  Had other gods joined Ceres in guiding me?

At the south gate it is not difficult to spot the town guard Amadeus on duty.  The Jinn’s long golden hair, brassy skin, and unsettlingly large silvery eyes set him apart from the crowd nearly as much as his wings would have had he still had them.  He spots me approaching and gives a friendly wave.

“A good day to you Quin.”  He says in his deep, rich tone as we take forearms and shake.  “How are you and Rosa settling in?”

“Very well.”  I reply.  “The villa’s coming along.  Rosa’s adjusting like only she can.  The neighbors are great.  And I’ve even got some work.”

“Excellent!”

“Although, I wish I was coming into town on better circumstances.”  I glance left and right at the other guards and passers by.  “Can we talk?”

His expression hardens.  With a nod he has me follow him back away from the bustling city entrance.  “What’s going on?  Is this to do with the trouble before?”

“Yeah.”  I give Amadeus a rundown on what had already happened and what Aristocles was planning for that night.

“That sounds like a bad idea.”

“Can you blame him?  It’s not like the law can be trusted.”  I say with spite, the bruise to my own ego still fresh.  “Is he supposed to just grin and bear it?  Is this a city of slaves?”

“Of course not!  Did he report what happened?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Even if he did…might have been to the wrong people.”  Amadeus says gravely.  “All this for a slave eating in the square.  It is ridiculous.”

“I think I hurt their pride.”  I say.  “They can’t let it go.”

“More than that.”  He says.  “The man who arrested you lost face in having to release you like he did.  It surprised everybody when the wizard and her husband spoke in defense of you.”

“There you go.”

“Perhaps if he sold the slave on.  To someone passing through or to a caravan.”

I shake my head.  “They’ve become close.  I think they might even be in love.”

“A human and a kobalos?”  His whole demeanor brightens.  “That’s beautiful.”

“If there’s something you can do…”

He sighs and shakes his head.  “Unless he actually reports something and unless he’s got rock solid proof or reliable witnesses I am not sure what I can do Quin.”  He says.  “Sure, I could haul the guys who set you up in and harass them, but that’s something the other side does.  Not us.  Fulgentius says that the only way we’ll make a difference is to be the difference.”

“I respect that.”

“Besides, if one of Fulgentius’ personal cohorts shows up there tonight, off hours and far from my post, questions will be asked.  It will stir things up best left undisturbed.”

“Gods Amadeus.  You’re a guard!”

“A gate guard.”

“You are supposed to protect this city.  Aristocles is a law-abiding businessman.  Can’t you do anything?”

“I can pull some strings.”  He promises.  “A lot of deference is given to the account of the first officer on the scene.  They generally have control of the incident.  I’ll have someone honest in the area.  Someone not on either side.  It’s the best I can do without becoming personally involved.”

“I appreciate that Amadeus.”  I say.  “All we want is a fair hearing if something does end up happening.”

“On Trajan’s name you can count on it.”

“And Fulgentius can count this citizen to be on his side.”  I say.  “He’s got my vote.”

“Hey!”  He smiles.  “I knew you’d come around.  Rosa wouldn’t suffer a fool of a master.”

“She definitely wouldn’t.”

“Say.  There’s a meeting coming up…”

I hold up my hand.  “I have no patience for politics Amadeus, nor any interest.  But I know a son of bitch when I encounter one and this Regula is one nasty son of a bitch.  The enemy of my enemy and all that.”

“Fair enough.”  We shake again.  “I should get back to work.  Be careful tonight.  And thanks for coming to me with this.”

“Law and order, that’s me.”  I say.  “We’ll speak again soon I am sure.”

“Until then.”  He says.  “Give Rosa my regards.”

As he makes his way back to the gates I take a look around to see if our conversation had garnered any unusual attention and the, seeing none, I weave through the busy streets toward Aristocles’ shop.  There I find the front bright from a fresh coat of white paint, though showing through the layer new paint the words ‘Goblin Fucker’ could be still just be seen.  Bastards.  I step through into the shop and close the door behind me.

“We’re just closing up.”  Aristocles says as he steps out from the backroom where he banged Colly on that first meeting.  “Oh!  Quin?”

“Hey.”  I walk across the shop to meet him.  “Colly told me what happened.  If you need another guy tonight, I’m here.”

“Huh.”  He says curiously.  “Collywaddle said that you’d come.  I didn’t believe her.”

“Well, it’s kind of my fault this is happening.”

“Kind of?”  He scoffs.  “Yeah, I’d say it is full stop you big goon.  I hadn’t even heard about what had happened until I’d already bought her.  You put trouble on my girl Quin, and now it’s on me.”

“Yeah.”  I sigh.  What could I say?  He wasn’t wrong.  “I didn’t mean to.”

He then waves his hands.  “Let’s not get hung up on blame.  I appreciate you being here when you didn’t have to be.”  He offers his hand.  “Maybe Colly is right about you.”

I take his arm and shake.  “She said there would be others?”

“Yeah.  They’re coming.”  He says.  “They’re not really fighters though.”

“Neither am I.”

“Uh huh.  Well, thank Mercury you showed up.”

“Mercury!?”

“God of traders and merchants.”

“And trickery.”  I grumble.

“Who better to watch over us then.”  He says.  “Who better to guide our prey into our trap?”

“So what’s the plan exactly?”

He shrugs.  “Hang out here until they show up then grab the bastards.”

“And if they don’t show?”

“They will.”  He says.  “There’s this kid, a real collector and one of my best customers, he overheard them talking at the bathhouse.  They’re coming alright.”

“Would he be willing to say that to the guards?”  I suggest.  “Maybe if you reported it and had a witness…”

“No way.”  He chuckles.  “This guy only buys the, erm, special pieces.”

“Special pieces?”

“Erotic pieces.  The nastier the better.  Pays top coin for them.”

“Oh geez.”

“And let’s just say he doesn’t want this collection to become common knowledge.”  He says.  “He’s a nervous sort, the quiet type.  There’s no chance he’ll stick his neck out more than he already has.”

“Aristocles.”  I say.  “You surprise me.  Peddling smut?”

“Ha!  Not just peddling them, making them.”  He says.  “It’s the only bit of joy I get out of this gods forsaken store.”  Then with a smirk he adds.  “My newest piece is of Collywaddle.”

“What?  Does she know this?”

“Of course she does.  She modeled for me.”

I shake my head.  “You dirty dog.”

“You don’t know the half of it kid.”  He laughs.  “Speaking of my precious green dumpling.”  A deviant grin begins to grow.  “Did you?”

“Did…I?”

“Did you…do her?”  He asks, keeping his voice low.  “Did you bang my girl Quin?  Did you fuck her?”

My cheeks warm with blush at the unexpected blunt query and I begin to sputter.  “Puh, uh, pfff, Aristocles!”

“Ahhhhh!”  He points.  “You did!  You dirty dog.”

Chapter 49