Silk and Sand – Chapter 5
Gaius Betto was the only one in the reception hall. He stood at a distance, his arms crossed, watching as they entered the room. Kahlan fought hard to keep the hate and rage out of her eyes, remembering what Alissia had told her. If she showed any more defiance towards the master, she might be fated to be a reward for an arena brute, instead of servicing one of the rich clients Betto had. As they walked out into the room, Kahlan shivered, feeling the man's dark eyes follow her. It almost seemed like he had more interest in her than any of the other girls.
Unsure what to do, Kahlan made a move to stand by Alissia, but Necor placed a hand on her arm and shook his head. He directed her over to the group of all the equally distressed looking women, whom Kahlan knew were the virgins. Apparently there were going to keep them in there respective groupings for this viewing.
Prior to leaving the sorting room, all the women had been dressed in silk nightgowns that were scantily and almost see-through. Kahlan felt more naked than clothed, and she did not like the leering looks that some of the other guards directed toward her and the other virgins. She was probably the most composed out of the group, which she figured was not wise, because it would make her stand out. So, in order to blend in more, Kahlan allowed some of her confessor's mask to slip, showing some of her fear.
Cameron entered the room and her green eyes quickly fell on Kahlan. She shuffled over to them and stood trembling next to her. They stood there in silence for a while, watching as the rest of the women were ushered into the hall. Kahlan noticed that Cameron was shaking. So, tentatively, she moved her hand out and grasped Cameron's, trying to give the poor girl some comfort. Cameron inhaled deeply and gave a nod of thanks, squeezing Kahlan's hand back in return.
Once all the women were settled into their respective groups and had quieted, Betto stepped forward, smiling at all of them, as if he was their best friend or personal savior. But he was none of those things. He was the monster who owned them and would be asking them to submit to his clients tonight.
"Some of you are new here, and this will be your first evening working, and others still, this will be your first time ever!" he let out a laugh and directed his gaze towards the group of virgins, but Kahlan thought his eyes were looking specifically at her. They glinted in a way that disturbed her, like he had something special planned for her.
The other women around her were trembling with fear. Cameron gasped out a soft whimper, and Kahlan squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her. However, Kahlan could not blame them, because she could feel her legs grow wobbly with fear as well. Kahlan had no idea how Alissia and the other veterans of this business had grown so complacent and even seemed to enjoy some of what they did.
"Tonight is a special night," Betto went on, parading before his wares. "We shall be entertaining some special clients, ones that are very influential and powerful. And, it appears, wickedly debauched as well!" When he laughed this time, it was not alone, because some of his men joined him. Necor was the only guard who remained stone-faced. "Our patrons tonight are Consul Aulus Vintell of Septor and his friends. They have requested some viewing entertainment before they sample you lovely ladies." His smile widen and Kahlan shuddered when his dark eyes darted across the room and locked on her.
"Because of his high office, and the money he possesses, I have granted his request," Betto elaborated. "Consul Vintell wishes to see a reenactment of the Creator and Keeper's consummation. From all accounts a passionate love affair, oh yes. And for this performance, Vintell has already selected the man to play the Keeper. Some of you may have heard of him… he is the greatest swordsman ever to grace the sands of the Pit… Rook!"
Some gasps went out amongst the women, and Kahlan looked over at Alissia, who was grinning widely. All the other women who, like Alissia, had long since adapted and accepted this life were wearing the same big smile. Some even appeared to be growing aroused by the mere mention of the man. Kahlan did not know why so many would welcome the idea of the arena champion having sex with them in front of an audience of some powerful politician and his rich friends. She found the whole thing disgusting that such people even existed in the Midlands. She resolved that if she ever got out of this and returned to her seat of power in Aydindril, she would make sure that the Midlands Council reasserted their influence over the Angress Valley.
As for Rook, all Kahlan could think of was that he might have been the man to kill her Richard—if the tale Jenn had told Alissia about the arena fighter who would not sleep with her was true. Because, by all accounts, that arena fighter had arrived around the same time Kahlan had, making it highly probable that he had been Richard. Though, she would hold off on grieving until it was confirmed. As far as she was concerned, Richard was alive and searching for her.
The double doors behind Betto parted and a man dressed in nothing but a loincloth, with a hideous iron mask covering his face, emerged. The mask was supposed to symbolize the Keeper and it was awful to look at. Kahlan wanted to look away, but like the rest of the women, she could not help but drink in the sight of the man's chiseled chest and strong muscular arms. She did not know what his face was like, but the rest of him was definitely pleasing to the eye. Kahlan could understand why Alissia and the others were all gushing over the prospect of playing the Creator in this little debauched play. However, though she found the man physically attractive, she had no wish to play the Creator, especially if the other fighter he had killed had been Richard.
All the women with Alissia batted their eyelashes at Rook and tried showing off their assets to him, but he just ignored them, his gaze centered dead ahead on nothing in particular. Because of her years of training to read body language, Kahlan could tell by the stiffness in his shoulders that Rook was tense and was clearly not looking forward to performing this sick fanciful entertainment for Consul Vintell. But by his other mannerisms, Kahlan knew that Rook had resigned himself to the fact that he had no choice but to comply.
Cameron leaned over. "He's not what I expected," she murmured. "From the way I overheard some of the guards describe his movements in the sand, I would have expected a demon."
Kahlan nodded. "He may not be a brute, but that mask certainly adds to the personification of a demon."
Cameron shivered and looked away. The snarling iron face was grotesque. It resembled the face of the Keeper from many of the paintings and statues Kahlan had seen throughout the Midlands, though most of those had depicted him in supplication to the Creator, with her flowing dress and long hair hovering around her like the rays of the sun. Though, the Keeper's body was usually depicted as being cadaverous and deformed, whereas Rook was the ideal specimen of manhood, with a toned body and muscular features. Kahlan bit her lower lip, chiding herself for feeling the tingles of arousal at the sight of his near-naked body. The only man she ever wanted to excite her in that regard was Richard… and the man she was looking at right now might have killed him. Even if he had no choice, such a thing was something Kahlan could never forgive.
She watched as Betto leaned over and whispered something to Rook. The arena fighter gave a nod and turned, exiting through the same doorway he had entered. The doors closed and all of the women, except for Kahlan and the virgins, let out a sigh of longing. Betto clapped his hands, smiling devilishly.
"Now that you've all had a chance to see Rook, let us find out which of you lucky ladies he'll ravish tonight!" Betto turned and nodded towards Necor. Kahlan watched as the kind-hearted guard, who had once been a slave, walked over to a side door on the other side of the room.
Once the door was opened, a man with balding grey hair and a large nose walked into the room. He wore a rich crimson red doublet and matching trousers. A gold chain of office was resting across his shoulders and he appeared to be a man of authority. For a moment, Kahlan pondered announcing herself to him, believing that a government official would surely help her, the Mother Confessor. But before she could make a decision, she noticed the lecherous look in his eyes and she slumped her shoulders in defeat. Besides, he was patronizing a high-class brothel, so he obviously was not the sort of government official Kahlan was used to dealing with, at least she hoped so. She would be appalled to learn if any of the officials in the Midlands Council she counted as friends turned out to frequent the brothels and whorehouses in Aydindril.
"Our patron!" Betto announced with a wide grin.
Consul Vintell inclined his head in acknowledgement and shook hands with the Master of the House. "I see you've made some new purchases, Gaius."
"Yes, yes," Betto nodded, directing Vintell over to the newer women. Kahlan let out a sigh of relief, seeing that they were going towards Alissia and the veterans.
"Lovely things, yes," Vintell nodded, his eyes scanning the women. "But not what I have in mind, old friend." He turned his eyes towards Kahlan and the cluster of virgins. "The Creator was a virgin when the Keeper first took her, was she not?"
Kahlan watched as Betto made a face. "Surely you understand that we cannot waste one of these precious few on Rook, even if he is the champion of the Pit."
Vintell waved his hand. "I am paying a considerable sum for this party, Gaius," he said, using a friendly yet firm tone with Betto. "I promised my friends and colleagues quite a show. They will be expecting to see virgin's blood from the whore playing the Creator. And if you must sacrifice one of those lovelies, then why not? I can pay extra, if you like."
Betto frowned for a moment, considering. "All right," he agreed with a nod. "Hundred thousand more gold pieces and you have yourself a deal."
"A hundred thousand?" scoffed Vintell, shaking his head. "What do you take me for? A fool!" His beady eyes looked over at Kahlan and the other virgins. "Sure you may have one or two that could rate that high, but that would be the price I'd pay for myself, not for Rook to deflower her for my entertainment."
Betto sighed. "Fifty thousand?" he offered.
"Deal," Vintell grinned, then pushed his way past Betto to walk over to the virgins, eager to select the one who shall perform in his sick little fantasy.
Kahlan stiffened and quickly put on her confessor's mask. She closed her eyes and silently prayed to the good spirits that she would not be chosen. It was bad enough that she was going to be raped and her virtue taken from her, but to have it happen in front of others and for their amusement would be too much.
"Very nice… very nice," she heard the consul say, his voice close.
Opening her eyes, he saw him looking at a redhead at the end of the line. She fidgeted and looked away. Vintell raised a hand and reached out for her, but stopped midway. He looked back at Betto.
"May I?" he asked permission to touch the master's property.
Betto folded his arms across his chest and gave a nod of consent, letting the consul grope and fondle the girl. Kahlan clenched her jaw tight, feeling for the whimpering girl as the man ran his hands over her breasts and down her body, shoving his ring-encrusted fingers between her legs. Vintell frowned.
"Not that tight, this one," he said. "Are you sure she's a virgin? You haven't been letting your guards play around with them, have you?"
"Every single one is guaranteed to be untouched, Consul," Betto said with a curt nodded. "Necor here can vouched for that."
The Consul looked over at the fair-haired head guard. Necor nodded. "My master speaks the truth, sir," he said. "They have been kept separate from the rest, except for meals and bathing. And only I and Master Betto have the keep to their floor."
Vintell gave a wave of his hand, satisfied. He turned back and looked over the redhead, and then shook his head. "She's nice, but not quite the Creator."
Kahlan sucked in a breath, feeling her heart pound beneath her chest, afraid of what might come next. The man stepped back and looked over them. His eyes skimmed past her and stopped on Cameron. He narrowed his eyes, and Kahlan felt Cameron squeeze her hand as she trembled in fright. But then Vintell shifted his gaze and Kahlan suddenly found him staring directly at her. For a moment, she glared at him with hatred, but then remembered herself and looked away. But it was too late... he had noticed her.
"This one! Now, she's a beauty worthy of being the Creator!" Vintell grinned.
Kahlan fought the instinct to run, knowing it would be futile, as he came over to her. He looked back at Betto for permission, which the man gave, and then his hands were on her. He grabbed her breasts and grinned, then ran his fingers down her side, and pushed his hand past the cut in her skirt and felt her between her legs. Kahlan shivered and looked away when his fingers felt her folds and pushed slightly up into her.
"Oh… she's tight," he grinned. "I like this one. And she has spirit… a fire in her that will make an excellent Creator. I bet she's a fighter at heart. She's sure to give us an excellent display before your man Rook breaks her into submission."
"A wise choice, Consul," Betto said with a nod, a wicked smile forming on his lips. His eyes locked with Kahlan's for a moment, and he winked, as if telling her that he had been planning this ever since she had given him that defiant glare on that first day.
Vintell ran his fingers along her jaw. "Will you resist the Keeper?" he asked. "Please do, we shall like to see a struggle for dominance!" He snorted and laughed.
Kahlan trembled slightly and watched as the Consul and Betto walked away talking about the spectacle to come. "Oh, Kaya," Cameron whimpered. Kahlan closed her eyes and set her jaw, refusing to show any emotion. When she opened her eyes, Necor and Esser were standing before her. Necor, as gentle as he had been before, placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I… I'm so sorry, Kaya," he said softly, so that only she could hear. "I did not mean for this to happen. But I'm afraid I put the idea into the Master's head." He paused and sucked in a breath. "You'll be needing some help preparing… would you like Cameron to accompany you?"
Looking up at him, Kahlan gave a nod, trying to hold it together. Necor signaled to Esser, and the other man gestured for Cameron to come with him. Kahlan let out a shuddering breath when Necor wrapped his fingers tenderly around her arm and began to lead her out of the reception hall. All her dreams and hopes for the future were about to be smashed and ripped from her. She took some comfort knowing that she might be saving Cameron from the night's debauchery by asking for her to be her attendant. She figured Rook was probably in the same position, having been captured and made to fight in the arena sands, but still, she knew she would end up hating him for taking that which she had always wanted to give to Richard.
Sobbing softly, Kahlan allowed Necor to guide her through a curtained door and into the preparation room.