Disclaimers: Please see Part 1 for disclaimers.
Eighteen
Morning found Azrael and company gathered before Neito's villa, preparing to leave. All was ready, horses saddled and gear stowed, except Vincenza and Nils were absent. Beside the wagon two trunks and a leather satchel sat on the ground, Azrael having ordered her uncle's servants to remove them.
Ursula puzzled over them, knowing many of Vincenza's belongings were inside.
In fact, the satchel had been brought out by Ursula when they left the villa
moments ago. Chewing her upper lip, she was distracted by the men mounting their
horses. Amber eyes widened and she swallowed heavily as she looked at her horse.
She could almost feel her back end protest at the thought of climbing into the
saddle.
"Ah, there you are," Azrael exclaimed as her errant cousin and Vincenza
appeared at the door. ''I wondered if I needed to roust you myself to bid you
farewell."
Nils appeared frazzled and smug through the sleepy expression on his face. "Sorry,
coz," he grinned, looking anything but. "I was up rather late."
Azrael leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "I
trust Vincenza pleased you?"
Nils chuckled, running a hand through his thick hair. "Aye, she did, coz.
She's well worth her weight in gold."
Beside him, Vincenza dipped an eyelid in a wink and Azrael laughed. "She's
yours, cousin."
"What?" the young man blurted, eyes wide. "Are you serious?"
"Very," Azrael said. She pulled a parchment from where it was tucked
into her belt, offering it to Nils. "Here are her papers. Her clothing
and such are there by her horse."
Neito raised an eyebrow at the exchange but said nothing as his son looked over
the document in shock.
"I only ask one boon, cousin."
''Name it!" Nils exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
Azrael grinned at his excitement. "I've already given Vincenza permission
to attend her sister's wedding next summer in Raston. I would ask you to honor
that."
"Consider it done," Nils said, taking Azrael's arm in his.
Shaking on it, Azrael nodded and turned to Vincenza. "I know you'll treat
him well and he'll do the same for you," she said, brushing her knuckles
along the slave's cheek. "Be well, Vincenza."
Sniffling, Vincenza smiled. "Thank you, Milady. And you."
Azrael gave her a hug and kiss before stepping away and turning to her uncle.
Nils, still amazed at his luck, focused on Vincenza.
"Well, Uncle. I'm off to the lion's den,'' Azrael said, forcing a smile.
"Any last words of wisdom for me?"
Neito pulled her into an embrace. ''Be careful, Azrael. Do as Shonal asks. Swear
fealty and suffer at court until he's at ease with you and allows you home."
Azrael sighed. "Providing he'll ever allow me go," she muttered.
"It's a possibility, true enough," her uncle conceded as he held her
at arm's length. "Such is the way of it, however. Be glad Shonal bores
easily. You'll no doubt be home before spring."
Hardly a concession. Azrael nodded once, bowing to her uncle's wisdom. "I'll
see you at court on Solstice?"
"We'll be there.'' Neito glanced over her shoulder. "Your men are
ready."
Azrael gave him hug, interrupted Nils preoccupation with his new body slave
for another and forced herself to walk away. Ursula was still on her feet and
she waved the brunette up to her saddle.
Lifting her foot to stirrup was agony. Ursula could almost hear her hip creaking
at the abuse. Straightening was nearly impossible; it took all the strength
in her arms to haul herself upward. Sitting her saddle with a wince, she hissed
as tendrils of fire shot through her thighs. Ursula consoled herself with the
knowledge her rear would soon be numb.
Azrael watched with bemused sympathy until her slave was mounted. With a final
smile and wave to those gathered at the villa, she gave the order to move forward.
Several minutes passed before Ursula could see past her misery. Vincenza wasn't
riding beside her. Frowning, the brunette looked ahead, not locating her companion.
She grimaced in pain as she turned in the saddle, seeing Neito's villa fade
away behind the cavalry bringing up the rear.
Vincenza wasn't coming?
Ursula turned forward, staring at her mistress' back. Did Azrael leave the slave
behind temporarily or was this a permanent arrangement? And why? Midia had never
mentioned something like this. While it was always possible her mistress would
send her body slave to someone else for the night, would she just leave her
there? Would she do the same with Ursula?
Thoughts full and heavy, Ursula rode on, chewing her upper lip.
Suma broke off and dropped back to check the men. It was nearing midday, the sun hanging not so high overhead. Fall was coming and along with that, harvest. Azrael wasn't pleased she'd miss it again this year. The only thing more satisfying than swordwork was the physical labor used to bring crops in for the winter.
Glancing over her shoulder, she looked at her slave, finding the pensive expression
amusing. "Ursula."
The brunette blinked before kicking her horse to catch up to Azrael. Her amber
eyes registered shock at the sudden stab of fire up her spine. It didn't last
long, fortunately, subsiding to a dull throb. "Yes, Milady."
"How are your legs and back?" Azrael asked, reaching across to caress
Ursula's hair.
Mindful of her mistress' insistence on truth, Ursula bowed her head. "Tolerable,
Milady. It helps that I can't feel anything."
"Truer words have never been spoken." Azrael chuckled. "When
we retire for the night, I'll give you another massage."
"Thank you, Milady." Ursula worried her lip. "Milady?" she
finally said. "May I ask a question?"
"Certainly, Ursula."
"Why has Vincenza been left behind? Has she displeased you?"
Azrael smiled. "No, Vincenza hasn't displeased me, Ursula. I gave her to
my cousin." They rode in silence, the dark woman waiting for Ursula's next
inquiries.
The slave's mind whirled. Vincenza no longer belonged to Azrael? But, why? Was
it her jealous behavior? Or had she grown tired of the courtesan? Ursula mentally
scoffed at the thought. Vincenza certainly had the skills and training to keep
her owner interested for longer than a year!
A horrifying possibility occurred to the slave. Will Azrael be tired of her
in a year?
The minutes stretched on and Azrael eyed the puzzled profile. Ursula seemed
to be at a loss, uncertain of what to say. No small wonder. She was new and
didn't completely know what to expect from her owner. "Ursula, do you have
more questions?"
Startled from her musings, Ursula said, "I... Yes... perhaps." She
blushed, dropping her eyes. "I'm sorry, Milady. I wasn't expecting your
answer."
"It was a fairly recent decision," Azrael admitted. "I spoke
with Vincenza about it the day before we left."
Ursula opened her mouth and then closed it. No wonder Vincenza had been acting
different. She'd already known her fate.
"Ursula?"
The slave dragged her attention back to the woman beside her. "Why, Milady?"
she asked, not expecting an answer. Azrael treated her slaves with caring and
dignity, but she was still their owner. Certain things were not discussed with
your property.
The anticipated question left Azrael with no answer. She knew it was inevitable
and had rehearsed a handful of responses, but she was momentarily at a loss.
Taking Ursula's hand in hers, she said, "As you well know, Vincenza is
a pleasure slave. All of her abilities are focused on that one aspect. To put
it simply, I have no more use for her in that capacity. Nils will no doubt have
much to learn from her."
No more use for a pleasure slave? Ursula knew she was the only one spending
her nights between Azrael's sheets. She certainly wasn't as experienced as Vincenza.
Surely her mistress didn't mean... "Will you be giving the rest of us away,
Milady?" she asked, amber eyes wide.
Azrael smiled and squeezed the brunette's hand. "No, Ursula. Midia and
Felicia have made a home with me and I will not disrupt that. And I hope you
will make a home with me, as well."
There was something within Azrael's eyes and Ursula furrowed her brow, trying
to place the expression. Suma's return interrupted both her musings and her
mistress' attention. She eased her horse back as the two soldiers discussed
the state of their troops.
With so much to think on, Ursula forgot her bruised bottom as they continued
their journey.
The sun was waning as they arrived in Shonal's city. Ursula had thought many of the towns they'd been to were huge. The city was vast in comparison and she found herself gawking at all the sights.
Upon their arrival at a vast gate, the city guard halted them. One look at Azrael's
standard and the insignia on the breasts of her men was all the gate captain
needed. Bowing and saluting by turns, he waved them through, pausing long enough
to send a runner ahead to the palace.
It was nearing the supper hour yet the streets still teemed with life. The sun
was low enough to cause drifting shadows from the taller buildings. Ursula was
amazed to see that some had three stories! Pedestrians and carts clogged the
narrow streets, forcing Suma to have the men clear a path. The cursing from
people pushed unceremoniously aside by the breast of a warhorse was nearly as
colorful as the people themselves.
They passed several inns and taverns, businesses set up for the weary traveler
just arriving. The brunette heard Azrael's name called and looked up at a building
with a balcony. Several scantily clad women posed there, calling to her mistress
and men offers of company for the evening. One had the audacity to bare her
breasts, blowing a kiss to Azrael.
A brothel! She'd heard tales of these places but had never thought to see one.
Gaping, Ursula glanced at her mistress. Azrael bowed from her saddle and winked
at the tart! The women all cackled and leered in response. Ursula's blush was
so strong, it was a wonder she didn't set fire to her collar. A dim throb pulsed
behind her eyes and the ever present jealousy surged forth.
Thankfully, they soon passed the flourishing hospitality business around the
gate. The buildings became more sedate, though dirty and unkempt. Quite a few
people bustled to and fro though it wasn't as crowded as before.
They turned off onto a wider street with better houses. Here some attention
had been given to repairs and cleanliness. Bedsheets and rugs hung from upper
windows, smoke rose from chimneys and the air smelled of cooking food.
Again the street widened. It also became noisier. Ursula saw they were entering
a market square that was still doing business. Once more, pedestrians were forced
aside as they navigated the crowds.
The square itself could have housed Ursula's old village of Theara with room
to spare. From her vantage point on horseback, she could see at least three
city wells and a number of statuary. Hawkers called for their attention, offering
goods at a reasonable price. Others were deep in the throes of haggling with
potential customers.
Unlike the markets of smaller towns, here there were fenced courtyards where
entertainers plied their trade for coin. They passed one such impromptu stage
and Ursula watched with wonder as a small circus performed for a decent sized
audience. She gasped as a tall woman, dressed all in black, tunic and breeches,
held up a torch and blew flame four feet into the air. The people clapped and
tossed coins as the entertainer bowed, not a single unruly blonde hair singed.
She stepped aside, introducing two muscular men who looked to be twins.
Ursula was disappointed when they moved out of sight, wondering what other interesting
things the performers would do. As they left the market square, she avowed to
seek permission to return.
Again the buildings took a turn for the better. It seemed the further into the
city they traveled, the nicer the accommodations. The houses grew wider, as
well, no longer tenements with numerous occupants. Instead they were small mansions,
some with walled courtyards spilling over with potted plants. Fewer people were
on the streets, most obviously servants or slaves intent on errands.
Another square, this one not as large or robust as the market they'd passed
through. Ursula's eyes widened as she recognized a temple by the statue of Sif
standing before it. Scanning the buildings, she noted several other temples,
sedate businesses sprinkled among them. She eyed armed men at one door, wondering
who or what they were guarding.
It seemed to Ursula that they had been riding inside the city forever. Certainly
the sun had lowered quite a bit, the buildings now casting gloomy shadows. In
some places, torches were already being lit by workmen, a string of orange flames
illuminating thc road. The mansions here were fewer and farther between, providing
privacy for their owners. Ursula thought the people residing here were rich
indeed.
As if to prove her point, the travelers slowed, the forerunners guiding their
mounts into a courtyard. A young boy jumped up from his seat on the step and
ran inside. In moments, several servants poured out of the mansion.
Ursula, taking her cue from the soldiers, winced as she eased out of her saddle.
Rather than try to bend her leg, she prepared to slip her foot from the stirrup
and hop down, preferring a sudden jolt to long burning agony. She gasped as
hands gripped her waist, easing her to the ground.
"No more riding for a few days," Azrael promised, brushing a kiss
on Ursula's ear.
Ursula, too busy remembering how to stand and walk without assistance, only
nodded.
"Lord Azrael," Suma said, approaching. "All is ready. I'll have
the men deal with the horses. Will you be going to the palace tonight?"
"Yes, Suma, I will. You saw the dispatch at the gate. I daresay Shonal
will be horribly put out it I don't make an immediate appearance." Azrael
checked on Ursula. "I'll take four men as escort. See to Ursula; I believe
she's in need of a long, hot soak."
Suma saluted and turned away, issuing orders to the men and servants.
"Milady?" the brunette asked.
Azrael smiled, draping an arm over Ursula's shoulders. "I must appear before
the king. No doubt it will be a few hours before my return. In the meantime,
enjoy the hospitality of my house."
Ursula quirked an eyebrow at the phrase but nodded. "Yes, Milady."
Kissing the slave, Azrael hugged her close for a moment. Then she waved a servant
forward, ordering a bath to be drawn.
Ursula stumbled at first but soon was able to hobble up the steps, the servant
escorting her. She turned to see Azrael, Suma and three soldiers remount and
clatter out of the courtyard.
"Milady?"
Startled, Ursula turned to the servant beside her. Before she had sense enough
to correct his address, he urged her inside the mansion.