Slave Girl 2: Chapter 81 (Patreon)

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