The first part of the week was a little confusing, but Bob's instructions and slow speech helped the foreign man a lot when it came to taking care of the large animals.
"Now you don't want to go spookin' them," The tall black man told Ivan. "They be really sweet, but if you spook 'em, you better get out of the way."
That did not make Ivan feel any better about this situation. However, half way through the week what Bob was showing him was becoming more routine, and easy to do. Clean the stable, take the horse out for a while, groom the horse, make sure it was well fed, and check the supplies and building to make sure nothing was in need of repair. It was tiring work, but it wasn't hard. Bob left Ivan to the horses after the fourth day, and would come back and run through the list with the new comer the next two.
"Tomorrow Mister Jones is gonna come and see how you're doin' back here… I'd say pretty well though." Bob was giving Ivan an encouraging nod. "Must be tellin' 'em somethin' in that language of yours to make them like you too." Bob paused as Ivan thanked him. "Do they understand what you tell them?" He asked.
Ivan chuckled. "Do not know." He admitted. "At least they know what I am meaning." He was rubbing Tanya's head. "Thank you for help past week."
"It was nothin'. Now you be good." Bob headed out.
Ivan turned back to the horse and spoke to her in his native tongue. "It is strange, Tanya. I could just steal you and leave right now." He petted her head, and shook his own. "But would not get very far on foot." He laughed gently. Ivan could not ride, he didn't know how. "I do not know where I would go then either," He mused, telling his worries to the horse. Tanya nudged his head as he did this, giving the man licks and kisses. In the end, Ivan was chuckling and pushing the horse off of his head. "Thank you, Tanya," He murmured. This one would never tell his worries to anyone else. He patted her nose. "I will head to bed now. Good night." He petted each horse in turn, telling them each good night and sweet dreams.
When he got back to his sleeping quarters he heard giggles, and as soon as he opened the door, the giggles stopped. Ivan closed the door after him, and said in a low voice, "I feel eyes on me. Could they be goblins?"
Snickers.
Ivan paused. "Could they be gnomes?"
More snickers.
"Or could they be little mice that are chewing holes in socks?"
"We ain't no mice!" Jackie retorted from his hiding spot.
Ivan snatched up the little boy. "Ah! Is no mouse after all! Is Jackie!"
Jackie squirmed as he heard a laugh from under his cot. He leaned down, and reached under it, turning Jackie upside down while hooked in his other arm. "Ahhhh! I'm getting dizzy!" Jackie whined as Ivan fished out Sasha.
"And other is little Sasha, is not?" He asked, Jackie now right side up and both of them held up off the ground.
Sasha pouted. "You weren' s'oppsed to find us!"
"At least you were supposed to find her first!" Jackie claimed, pointing to his sister.
"Nu-uh."
"Yeah he was."
Ivan rolled his eyes. "You two have come for another story?" He asked.
The two kids bounced up and down, excited. "Yeah!"
"What kind do you want to hear?"
"An adventure!" Jackie claimed.
"One with a princess!" Sasha chirped.
Ivan chuckled. "Okay, okay." He sat down and set the kids on either side of him on the cot. "Let me tell you story about brave princess…" He started.
Ivan's tale wound around, the princess being a lone hero at first, traveling to the rival kingdom's walls. Along the way she had gained followers, including marksman, hunters, and sorcerers. The ruler of the other land had come out and demanded that if the princess wanted to keep her country safe that he would marry him. The princess refused, because the king was much too old, and much to corrupt. When the king sent soldiers to the princess and her army, they retreated into the woods. The soldiers were quickly picked off.
After three days there were no more soldiers, and only the king's guards. The princess took one of the hunter's knives, and disguised herself as a young nobleman. She entered the palace with her charm and wit, and when she was close enough, she ended the ruler's life.
The prince of the land saw this happen, and could not bring himself to hate the woman, as she defended her country.
After many years, and many letters of the prince to the princess, running to her kingdom and her to his, they decided to get married. They became a single land with an understanding king, and a queen ready to defend them, and passed this legacy onto their children.
By the end of the story, the two had fallen asleep.
Big Mama had been listening from the door way. "Those two really do like ya now, honey."
Ivan chuckled. "It is just fine." He said quietly. He pulled the long, kinked hair out of Sasha's face. "Would mind bringing blankets?" He asked Big Mama
She waved a hand 'Of course' and trotted off to get them. Ivan took the kids, and lay them down on the cot. When Big Mama came back, he covered them with their blankets. He took his own, and fell asleep on the floor.
Ivan had woken up, and there stuck to his sides that morning were Sasha and Jackie. He groaned as he moved around, trying not to wake them up. He somehow managed to do that, and headed out to the stable.
Alfred had come a few hours after the day began. "You seem to be doing pretty well with them," The young man conceded. "For someone with no experience before, you're really good." He smiled at Ivan, and the big man felt his face flush a bit. His sunburn still lingered a bit from the week's previous work, but it was now peeling.
"…Nice," He said, remembering only that English words, and wasn't sure if he meant the horses were nice, if Bob was nice, or if Alfred was nice. All three were true.
Alfred grinned. "Yeah, they are." He went over and took a couple of reigns. "Now that you feel comfortable with them, it's time for your riding lesson." He held out a set of reigns to Ivan.
Ivan was dumbfounded. "Riding lesson?"
Alfred nodded. "Yeah. I like to have most of my slaves to know how to ride so I can send them into town to get things."
Ivan blinked several times and shook his head. "No thank you."
Alfred gave Ivan a blank stare. "You are going to learn."
Ivan shook his head. "Is okay, do not need to know how."
"Yes you do." Alfred had the reigns for Wildfire wrapped around his hand. "I'll need you in case I need to send you into town for something big."
Ivan tried to think quickly. "Bob is big. He could—"
"Bob is someone I could send, but I want to be able to send you too."
Ivan shook his head again, more exasperated this time. It was not as if he didn't want to ride, he just didn't think he could. He was really big… And he would break a horse's back if he tried to. He didn't want to hurt the horses. "I cannot."
Alfred became stern. "Ivan, I'm your master, and I'm telling you, you are going to learn how to ride."
Ivan hesitated. "What if I break horse's back?"
Alfred laughed. It was loud, obnoxious, and kind of annoying. Ivan's ears turned red. "They're not going to get hurt that easily!" He dismissed Ivan's worry.
He mumbled something in Russian.
Alfred looked over. "What was that?"
"Nothing," Ivan responded.
Alfred waited a while longer, but then shrugged. He took Wildfire and told Ivan, "Bring Tanya or Wally, whichever you'd think could hold you up." The American teased him. Ivan was flushing badly as he took the stallion after Alfred.
Outside Alfred showed Ivan how to equip a horse for riding. "Now the first step, is getting on. Watch how I do it." He put one foot in the stirrup, a hand grabbing a chunk of Wildfire's mane, and pulled himself up. "Now you do it."
Ivan furrowed his brow. Alfred made it seem so simple. He hesitated before trying. He put a hand to gently grip Wally's main, put his foot in the stirrup, pushed up off the ground—And Ivan mentally freaked out. He fell backwards, stumbling on his feet, and Wally nickered as he trotted a few steps forward.
Alfred hurried Wildfire over to catch Wally's reigns before he went off somewhere. "Lean forward when you do it next time." He grinned at Ivan.
Ivan took a few breaths to calm him down, and tried once again. He felt like a clumsy monkey as he got onto Wally. His suspicion of such an image was confirmed when he heard Alfred snickering under his breath.
"Not bad," Alfred said. Now let's start with the riding."
After an hour, Ivan was exhausted. He had fallen off his horse twice. Only once did Alfred get off to help him up. He now had a sore back from landing on it. He could still walk though, without a problem.
"Why don't you go lay down for a few hours? I'll have Bob come and help out while you rest." Alfred offered as Ivan took the horses back to the stall.
Ivan shook his head. He didn't want to really make Bob take over his work. "Has helped much already," He said. "If need to, will ask later." Ivan looked towards the stable door as it burst open.
In the doorway was the same bad man that knocked down Big Mama. "You, slave, you're comin' with me."
"What for?" Alfred jumped in before Ivan could speak.
"Gotta have a hand to discipline those other slaves. Can't have a white man lowered completely." Smith sneered.
Ivan shook his head. "Will not do." He said firmly. They were nice people.
Smith raised his eyebrows. "Are you denying a direct order, slave?" The last word was pure venom on his lips.
Alfred stepped in between Ivan and the approaching Smith. "Wait, stop! Smith, what's happening?"
Smith glared at Alfred, but the boss didn't flinch. "What I say before?"
Alfred scowled. "You don't have the best record when it comes to telling the truth."
Ivan tilted his head, and smiled, "That is because is Asses' ass."
Alfred wound up laughing at what Ivan said, completely caught off-guard. Smith's face burned.
"AIN'T NO SLAVE, BLACK OR WHITE, THAT WILL BE DISRESPECTIN' ME!" Smith yowled, grabbing a whip from his belt.
Alfred tried to stop him, quickly saying, "No, wait, Smith, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have laughed-!"
Ivan put up an arm as the braided leather came at him, lashing at his arms as he hunkered down.
"STOP IT SMITH!" Alfred shouted, and jumped in front of Ivan to receive the lashings. The first one cracked across Alfred's face. He stood a few more lashing. Ivan felt a shiver go up his spine. "Mister Jones!" He scooped his master up in his arms, and turned his back to Smith. Lash after lash tore across his back, clothes ripped and his skin started to bleed raw. He bit his lip, wishing for Alfred to be okay. He could stand Smith's lashings—He could, and he would!
"Turn around you damned—"
The words cut short. Ivan looked back as he heard the thud. Bob was standing behind Smith, with a piece of wood in his hand. In one look at Alfred and Ivan, he said, "Go, now."
And Ivan left. He carried Alfred along in his arms. The smaller man was pressed against his chest, and still breathing.
Ivan ignored the pain in his back long enough to get to the house, which he pushed the door open with his shoulder and entered, calling, "HELP! MISTER JONES IS NEEDING HELP!"
Nadeen was the first to arrive. She hurried over to Ivan, and second was Amelia, who ran up and tried to get to Alfred. She gasped, hand clamped over her mouth when she saw what had happened to his face. Ivan shielded him from her.
Nadeen quickly spoke, " , clear off the table immediately." Amelia went to go do as the slave told her as the black woman hurried elsewhere to get a young slave girl to help, carrying bandages and towels.
Ivan set Alfred down on the table once it was cleared off. Nadeen put a towel on Alfred's face. "This is gonna hurt, ," She warned, and pressed down. There was a pained moan that came from Alfred as the towel was pressed down on his face.
Amelia was told to hold that towel. Ivan noticed that her arms were shaking, and that her eyes were watering. She wasn't crying though. A strong woman, he decided.
A few more towels were placed to Alfred's chest, where some blood seeped. Nadeen turned to Ivan. "Are you hurt as well?"
Ivan shook his head. "No," He lied.
And Nadeen knew he was. "Look at the floor."
Ivan looked around him. Blood was behind him. He had forgotten the pain, but now it was all coming back. The small slave girl took his arm and led him to a chair. Ivan took off his shirt, and the young girl started to tend to his wounds.
"What happened?" Amelia asked, eyes still on her husband.
Alfred smiled a bit at her. "Ivan saved me," He said, happily yet slowly.
Ivan shook his head. "Did nothing." He grumbled.
Amelia gently bit her lip. She looked over to Ivan. "Thank you." She said.
Ivan shook his head. "Did nothing," He repeated.
Alfred groaned. "Smith came… Attacked Ivan and me." He didn't go into details, as Amelia shushed him.
When the bleeding stopped, Amelia went to Ivan. "Again, thank you for saving Alfred." She went outside as Nadeen sat the master up. Amelia came back with a few slaves. Two to help carry Alfred upstairs, and another one for Ivan to lean on for the way back to the Slaves' quarters.
I'm trying this thing. Writing an hour a day on this.
It doesn't take long for this since it was planned out by RP.
Anyway- We never really played up the fact that Ivan was a WHITE slave in the RP. However, I thought that story wise, it should be the cause for a few problems. *EHEH* And thanks to the two who reviewed. ^~^ I'm not really known on here, but I'm glad I'm doing well to entertain regardless!
Sit back, relax, and enjoy.