Broker - CH4 - (Patreon)

((Reminder. This story, is a Darren story. It isn't for the faint hearted. There's a reason I made a separate pen name entirely. I can't stress this enough.))
 

“Good work, Douglas,” Alex said, looking over the thirty guardsmen Douglas had brought into the keep.

One and all, they were clearly veterans. Either having served in the guard, or the military, he couldn’t tell, but they had the look of people who knew their business.

“Douglas gave you all the details?” he asked loudly.

Every had nodded up and down.

“Great. First, I see you’ve all sworn to me in loyalty. That’ll remain,” Alex said. “Your next oath is to secrecy. That everything that happens here in your new job, and anything you find out with regards to me, will not be revealed to anyone. On pain of death, and loss of your soul.

“I call upon your loyalty oath now to leave, if you feel you cannot swear to that.”

To a man, they all remained still. All feeling that they could and would make the oath he’d just described.

“Wonderful, then approach me, swear to it, on Leah’s name, and pick up your first week of pay from the paykeeper behind me,” Alex said, waiting.

One by one, each and every guard made their allegiance and swore to the oath. Including Douglas.

When it was all done, Alex went back down to the dungeon.

Only to find his new guardsmen already performing their duties. Five of them stood outside the door, armed and armored in full gear.

Nodding at them, Alex stepped through the door when they opened it for him.

Pausing just on the inside, he fished out Leah’s crystal and glanced at it.

Murky shadows fluttered throughout.

It’s working already.

Grinning, he pocketed the crystal and opened the door to lady Griffon’s cell and entered it.

Lady Griffon looked up from her table, the tray of food untouched, except for the piece of fruit, and a half filled glass of water.

“Ah, Count Brit. I’m glad you returned,” Lady Griffon said.

“Oh?” he asked, walking up to her bars.

“Indeed.”

“Hoping I’ve come with a deal for you?”

“Of course, but I’ll not be so foolish as to reveal what I want,” Lady Griffon said with a smile for him.

It seemed she’d turned some corner in her psyche, and was now in the mood to play this game.

Alex was, too.

“Delightful. At least this will be entertaining. Let’s start with something basic,” Alex said. Pointing to her tray, he grinned. “Not to your liking, Lady Griffon?”

She glanced at the tray and sighed.

“Not in the least. And please, call me Sylvia.”

“Right. Sylvia. Shall we start with better food?”

“I think that’s where I’d start if I were you. I’ll make this easy as well. I want for a meal, whatever it is you’re eating that day,” Sylvia said, folding her hands in her lap.

That neatly removes me cheating her on what the definition of meal is, and puts it squarely on whatever I eat.

Alex couldn’t help but smile in appreciation of her choice.

“I can agree to that. Now, the price. My meals aren’t exactly cheap, you realize.”

Sylvia smiled at him, waiting, betraying nothing.

“We’ll start with the simple stuff. Your oath that you won’t try to escape, or harm me or anyone in my employ, while your case is in review.”

Sylvia blinked, her smile becoming false for a second.

She was expecting a heavier price. Good. Keep her off balance.

“I agree and do swear,” she said.

The deal settled into place.

“Wonderful,” Alex said.

Sylvia smiled at him, seemingly waiting.

She expects another deal? Well, we can’t have that, now can we? Need to keep her off balance.

“Have a good afternoon, Sylvia.”

“Wait, you’re leaving?”

“Indeed. I only feel like offering the one deal today. I’ll come back tomorrow with another.”

Smiling at her Alex walked away from her cell.

Without looking back, he opened the door to Riley’s cell, entered, and closed the door behind him.

Immediately he could feel a difference in the air temperature. The hearth that had been placed in the room had definitely increased the ambient room temp by a few degrees even with just coals.

“Ah? My lor-Master?” Riley asked.

She was seated on the bed, fiddling with her toes.

A beat later and she got up up from her bed. Before he could respond to her question, she pulled her tunic up over her head and set it down on the bed.

She was standing naked, her hands held in front of herself. They fluttered in front of her privates and then drew away, seemingly wanting to cover herself, but unsure if it would violate the deal.

“Hello, Riley. I wanted to check in on you and see how you’re doing. Are you warmer now?” Alex asked. Reaching down he picked up a small log and contemplated dropping it into the hearth.

“Much, Master,” Riley said, her eyes slowly traveling up towards his own.

When they finally did meet his own, he waited for a few seconds to see if she’d look away.

She didn’t.

Still has some spine left. Good. If she’d broken already, she’d be worthless to trade with.

Having kept his eyes on her face until this moment, he deliberately scanned her from head to toe, his eyes lingering on her well endowed chest, hips, and nethers.

Her hands flexed, as if she wanted to immediately cover herself, before she mastered it and put her hands behind her back.

Filthy as hell.

“How would you like a chance to clean yourself off, a new set of clothes, and a new set of linens, since you’ve already stained those,” Alex said, gesturing at the bed.

“I… yes, I’d like that, Master. Quite a bit. Though I worry for the price…?” Riley said.

“Mm. For the bath, I want to watch you bathe. For the clothes being replaced, I pick out what you wear and get to dictate when you wear it. As for the new linens… a new pet name for you just for you,” Alex said, nodding his head. “And that pet name is… One.”

Need to keep working at breaking down her self worth and personality.

“One?” Riley asked.

“One.”

The first of many we hope, but no longer a name.

“Watch me bathe, pick out what I wear, and you’ll call me One,” Riley said, repeating each clause.

“That’s right.”

“Before I agree… when do you plan on starting with the charges that are against me?” Riley asked, then belatedly remembered her oath. “Master.”

“Tomorrow. Your first meeting will be in the morning shortly after breakfast. We’ll be discussing each charge, the circumstances, and a plan on how to proceed.”

“Ok… and if I say no?”

“Nothing happens.”

“Then… I’ll pass on the bath, but accept the new clothes and linens, Master,” Riley said. “I swear on our oath for the clean bedding and clothes, as you listed the arrangement.”

The deal was struck.

She’s going to use the water pitcher to scrub herself up behind the privacy curtain, isn’t she? Whatever.

“As you wish. You may use the old bed linens to scrub yourself and sop up the water that spills, One. Do try to manage your cell appropriately. No one else will clean it for you.

“I’ll have the items for our deal taken care of tonight, by dinner. Just pile up the discards in the corner. I’ll have them removed tomorrow morning,” Alex said.

Riley’s eyes were glued to him. Clearly wondering what would happen having said no to him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, One,” Alex said, waving a hand at her.

Part of me wonders if it’s good or bad to walk through the other cells to get back out… but that might just play into the psychology of it.

I wonder if Sylvia will speak or call out to me as I pass.

“Goodnight, Master,” Riley said, immediately snatching at her tunic and holding it in both hands.

Entering Sylvia’s cell he glanced over to her.

She was watching him without disguising it. Her eyes curious as to what he was doing, but she said nothing.

Not acknowledging her, Alex left the dungeon.

He’d be back tomorrow morning after he made the arrangements for Riley.

***

Douglas and two guards followed Alex into the dungeons.

“My lord, I don’t think this is wise,” Douglas said.

“Don’t worry about it. Just put the trays down on her table, leave the box next to the door to Riley’s cell, and close up the main door while I entertain my guests,” Alex said for perhaps the third time.

Sylvia was already up and moving by the time he cleared the doorway and entered her cell.

“Ah? My lord what…” she paused when she noticed the second dome covered tray.

“I thought you wouldn’t mind having a breakfast companion, lady Griffon. We can discuss a few things before I start my day,” Alex said with a smile.

“Of course not, my lord. Please, join me, I would be pleased to have company,” Sylvia said, gesturing a manicured hand at a table.

Except Alex noticed one of her nails was chipped.

In fact, when he put his attention to her, he noticed her hair was slightly matted and tousled. It had a somewhat oily sheen to it.
Her clothes were wrinkled and she looked as if she’d slept rough.

Keeping her in this cell is doing wonders on her psyche. Let’s avoid moving her if we can.

Douglas and his people filed out quickly, the door shutting behind them.

“And what are we having for breakfast?” Sylvia asked, tapping a nail to the silvered dome over her plate.

“Sausage, eggs, bacon, more than likely an apple, and a hash,” Alex said, pulling the dome off his plate, and then doing the same for her. “Or so my chef told me. Seems he was right.

“You tuck in, I’d like to propose my deal for the day.”

Sylvia frowned at that, her lip on the verge of becoming a pout.

She wanted to dictate what the deal would be? Hah.

“I’d like to offer you the ability to take a bath every day. Maybe even use the tub to wash your clothes if you saw fit.

“To clarify on a few details before you ask. A hot bath, privately, right here in the cell. The water would be given each time for nothing, at the same time each day. The tub would be put behind yon privacy screen and remain here,” Alex said.

“That’s… generous of you. And what would your price be for such benevolence?” Sylvia asked, eating her meal as quickly as she could while preserving her image at a minimum.

“It’s certainly significant. I’m afraid I’ve fallen prey to my baser instincts this time around.

“For this to be a worthwhile deal to me, I’d like to be able to see you in you after every bath, if I so choose. The beautiful Sylvia fresh and clean, hair wet, in nothing but her underwear, for at least twenty minutes,” Alex said, meeting her eyes directly.

He didn’t for one second believe she’d agree, but it would help set the stage for future deals. He also didn’t have the same type of leverage over her that he did with Riley.

Sylvia could technically end up paying massive fines, and escape all prison time for her charges.

For her part, Sylvia managed to somehow keep eating, despite her eyes widening and looking like a deer that wanted to bolt.

“As a reminder, you can always decline. Nothing would change, go wrong for you, or be altered in any way for doing so. I’d simply rescind the offer.”

“Nothing but my underwear? For twenty minutes? Just you?” Sylvia asked.

“That’d be the arrangement. I’m a terrible man, and would love to see more of your skin. I do hope you forgive me, but how often will I have the opportunity to wrangle something like this?” Alex said, smiling at her.

“The water would be hot? Very hot?”

“Hot enough to boil a lobster if that’s what you prefer.”

“Then I agree to the deal,” Sylvia said.

It was surprising. He hadn’t expected that.

“You thought I’d say no,” she said, catching his reaction.

“I did.”

“Maybe I want to be seen? How often do I get the opportunity to explore in a safe environment, where you yourself are as sworn to secrecy as I am,” Sylvia said, finishing her food off and setting the dome back down on the plate.

In her hands was the apple that she seemed like she was going to save for later.

Pity for you, my soul is already lost. I can break any agreement so long as I don’t swear my life.

“Done then. I look forward to seeing you this evening. Would you like to bathe before or after your hearing?”

“After.”

Nodding his head once, Alex picked up his apple, and stood up.

“Feel free to finish my plate off if you like. I’ll have a guard come clean this all up in a second.”

“Going to go check on the other guest?” she asked, her nails scraping along the skin of the apple.

Alex only smiled at her, and didn’t respond.

Instead, he exited her cell, and shut the barred door. The lock clicked into place, imprisoning Sylvia once again.

Picking up the large box that’d been set in the viewing area, he left Sylvia’s cell, and entered Riley’s.

Who was sprawled out nude in her bed, the sheets tangled around her legs.

Glancing into the hearth, he found that the coals were cool to the touch. It’d have to be restarted by whoever brought her breakfast.

Still, the cell was comfortably warm from the fire the previous night.

Definitely keeps the heat in.

Walking quietly up to the bars, Alex viewed Riley in her full glory.

She really was put together in a fantastic way. He imagined she probably had a number of men at her disposal back in the city.

Clean and scrubbed, her skin was clear and without blemishes. Her hair still looked rather dull and lifeless, but one could only do so much with only a pitcher of water.

The bruise and swelling on her face was going away, and he realized she was prettier than he first thought.

Staring at her like this did nothing for his libido.

Really need to get laid tonight. Especially if I end up getting some time to watch Sylvia.

Maybe Marta the whore…? Or someone else.

Breaking his thoughts free he turned with his back to Riley, and noisily began opening the box he’d brought with him.

“Unnnn? Wha…? My lor-Master?” Riley asked, her voice going from sleepy to frantic in seconds.

“Brought your new clothes. I appreciate you sleeping nude so you’d conform to our deal.”

“I…ah… yes, Master.”

Pulling out the outfit, Alex felt pleased with himself. Walking to the bars he held it out to her.

She was sitting on the edge of her bed, naked and looking a bit angry.

“Come on, One. Put this on. Your breakfast won’t come in until I leave anyways so delaying only delays your meal.”

Riley got up and came over to him.

Making sure to wait for her eyes to meet his, he immediately gave her a head to toe inspection.

“You clean up very well, One.”

She grunted, taking the clothes from his arms.

Gotta keep pushing.

“I didn’t hear your response.”

“I said… thank you.”

“Thank you what.

“Thank you, Master.”

“You’re welcome, One.”

Moving to the bed she started to lay out the clothes.

Alex already knew what it was.

He’d picked it out specifically for his own tastes for her to wear.

A white blouse that was tight around her midsection and chest, but loosely at the top. It deliberately exposed her neck, shoulders, cleavage, and a generous portion of her chest.

A black silk choker with a silver name tag dangling from it with her name, One, engraved on it.

And a short black dress that barely reached her knees but hugged her hips and rear end.

There was no underwear for any of it.

The other item in the box was a simple peasants tunic that would come down to her shins.

“What…?” Riley asked, picking through it.

“You’ll wear the choker at all times, the top and bottoms you’ll wear if I’ve already visited you twice that day. The peasants tunic is until I’ve made my two visits,” Alex explained.

“This isn’t… these aren’t clothes…”

“They most certainly are, One. And that’s what you’ll be wearing by your own agreement.

“Now, what do you say?”

Riley clenched her fists, her face going a deep dark red.

“Thank you, Master,” she growled out between gritted teeth.

“You’re very welcome, One. I also already have a new deal for you while you get dressed.”

“I think I’ve had enough deals, Master.”

“Hush hush. This really isn’t that different than what was happening previously. The only change is now you have to wear something fun if I visit you more than twice.

“Now, do you want to hear the new deal, or not?”

“Fine. Tell me.”

“I’ll provide you with the means to have wash your hair. Soaps, scissors, even some brushes,” Alex said. “Providing you also swear to never harm, or attempt to harm, myself, or any of my people.”

Riley frowned and touched her wild, knotted, and dirty red hair.

“And your price?”

“I get to dictate how you wear your hair, and will have a professional cut it for you. I promise it won’t go any shorter than a pixie cut if I ever decide to have it cut,” Alex said.

For a moment he wondered how “pixie cut” would translate before he said it. But since she didn’t seem confused, he imagined it translated just fine.

“And I can wash my hair every day?”

“Indeed. You can even use the hot water to sponge bath yourself if you like, instead of that cold pitcher of water,” Alex said, offering a bit more to the deal.

Riley picked up the black choker with her name tag on it, and belted it around her throat.

Then she let her head hang down.

“I agree to the deal on our ongoing oath,” Riley muttered. “Master.”

That takes care of her name, her clothes, and her hair. Next is her food, and beliefs. We’ll need to give her some easier deals for a time. Build some trust back up.

“Great. The deal is struck then.

“Now, let me see you with your collar on, One.”

Riley turned to face him, and lifted her chin up. Her eyes were defiant, but there was also a sense of defeat there.

The choker looked great on her, the silver tag resting on her collar bone.

“Very good, One. Very good,” Alex said appreciatively, making sure she knew he enjoyed the view.