Circe walked tiredly back to her room, all off her muscles screaming in anguish. For the past few days she had been assigned the duty of collecting food from the fields. Not very good food, either. Slave food. Cheap fruits and vegetables that were rotting in the sun. Sighing deeply, she walked in the room, only to be greeted by the smile of an old woman. Over the past few days, Circe had come to learn of her fellow roommates, and they her. Rain was the name of the old woman; a fitting name, too, for her voice was as gentle as a midsummer rain. The blond haired woman was named Toki, and to be perfectly honest, rather annoying. Her endless chatter drove the rest of them to an icy edge of hostility. The brown haired woman had a warm personality, though she rarely showed it. She was rather quiet, which suited Circe just fine. Her name was Dragona.
"Sit down, girl," Rain said smiling, and handing her a clay cup of water.
Accepting the glass, Circe drank it all in one gulp, before slowing sitting down. "Thanks, Rain. I ache all over; those bastards drive us too hard."
"Watch your mouth, Circe." Rain looked over at her from her sewing job she had once again resumed. Rain was a skilled slave, and therefore cost more. She knew how to make clothes, blankets, you name it; a skill she supposedly acquired from her grandmother. Rain was a real lady; no swearing, no gambling, and no uncivilized discussions. She knew how to keep her mouth shut.
Too tired and sore to argue, Circe crawled over to the bed-if a bed is what you'd call it. The bed still consisted of a mere two blankets, but Rain promised to make them another one soon. Rolling on her left side, her back to Rain, Circe closed her eyes with slight pain. She had such little sleep that the bruises under her eyes were even beginning to hurt. Instantly, her mind filled with an image of Altecus. Snapping her eyes open, Circe sat up quickly, letting out a small whimper of pain in the process. She didn't want to think about him. Every time she closed her eyes she saw him, and when she dreamed it was only of him. He had left an impression on her. One of hope. Having tried to trample hope her whole life, convinced that it only made you hurt in the end, she had to shut out those who inspired it.
She hadn't seen him for days. She didn't know anything about him, but he comforted her in some way. A way she hadn't known since she left home.
Magnus, meanwhile, sat in a wine colored leather arm chair in his Queen's parlor, his grey eyes staring into the fireplace and its flickering flames. The past few days had been hell, and yet his Queen, Veronica, insisted that he take no breaks from his duty. She subtly hinted that the consequences would be fatal, to say the least. Just then, however, the grand lady herself entered from her bedroom where a jaded pleasure slave stood getting dressed. Ironically, she stood dressed in virginal white, her purple dusk jewels hanging on a golden chain above her breasts. Her long red hair curled by her waist, and her green eyes, flickering with annoyance, held Magnus.
"How did our little breeding idea come along?" She asked very casually, looking away from him as she grabbed an apple from a silver fruit bowl on a nearby oak table.
"Fairly well, but I'm not satisfied. I'd feel happier if we tried one more time." Magnus stood quickly, cursing himself for forgetting to stand when she entered.
Veronica raised her thin left eyebrow at him. "I sent you to that auction to acquire females that would breed easily. How then, Magnus, could it possibly go wrong?"
Magnus cleared his throat, preparing to give her the speech he had hoped would explain things fairly well. "Rumors have been circulating that not all of the men slept with their women, for they found it, a bit, um, indecent......." Magnus trailed off. The speech was obviously doing the opposite of what he had hoped, or so it seemed as Veronica's face grew red.
"They're animals, Magnus," she practically shrieked, throwing the apple at him. "You speak as if they actually knew compassion! Slaves aren't part of civilized court life; don't presume such."
"My apologies, Lady," Magnus said quietly, biting his tongue, as he quickly bowed and turned to leave.
"Magnus-" that brittle voice rang out, sharp like rocks.
"Yes, my Lady," he said dryly, turning around to face her.
"Did I dismiss you?" Her voice had gone rather soft, yet held undercurrents of boiling wrath.
"No, my Lady," he said, trying to keep his temper in check, and Veronica knew it. Growing angry, she flicked her hand at him, a motion of disgust and dismissal.
"You always were a disappointment…" he heard her mutter as he turned to leave once more.
Deciding not to give her the pleasure of his anger, he drew his wrath inward and left the room. Left the mansion. Prowling across the estate with the hunter's stride, he called upon his second in command, Lansing. Cocking his finger at him, Magnus motioned Lansing over with that dangerous flame in his grey eyes.
"Gather the slaves, Lansing. I want a word with them, in the Lady's name."
"But, Sir-" Lansing began, his eyes growing wide as he prepared to decline the Master of the guard's request honorably.
"Do as I say!" Magnus hissed, narrowing his gaze at his right hand man. Apparently, disappointments were everywhere today. Nodding his head, Lansing pursed his lips together as he went off to fulfill his orders. He saw the slaves dragged out of their compartments, and fields. Work areas and homes. Muttering to the soldiers that had formed around him, Magnus had the soldiers assemble the slaves into two rows, each facing inward. Walking down the row of slaves, males on his right, females on his left, Magnus kept his tone sharp and eyes cold as he lectured them.
"As I'm sure you've all come to know, the partnering of males and females together a few days ago was a breeding exercise. I have come to learn that not all of you did your duty in this. We're going to do this again, slaves, and if I hear any other half ass job rumors circulating around, I'll chain you to the wall and leave you there to rot." Frightful whispers broke out suddenly, particularly from the female slaves. Throwing a glaring look at them, the women stopped suddenly as they lowered their fearful gazes to the earth.
Dismissing them, Magnus walked over to his captain, speaking quietly as the slaves slowly departed. "Tonight."
Circe found herself walking away from the lecture frowning. If she didn't do her duty, she'd be found out and punished harshly. If she did, and became barren, she would be cast aside as useless. Or worse, if she did and proved fertile, she may bring another slave into this world.
Walking back to the fields, she quietly resumed her work, focusing her energy on her work rather than the lecture. Manual work produced its own kind of relief, much to Circe's thankfulness. After a few more hours of that liberating torture, Circe found her way back to her room, only to find Toki and Dragona sitting together, quietly talking. Ignoring them, Circe walked over to the clay water jug on the floor and took a swing from it, utterly exhausted. Just then, the guards once again stormed in, like they had but a few nights ago. Quickly placing the water jug down, she quietly went with them, mildly happy to see Altecus soon.
Toki came up beside her then, disrupting her thoughts. "I hope we get new men this time," she said quietly.
A new fear struck Circe and her step faltered. She may not see him again. Hell, she may get someone worse…