Bonney finds and takes Thea
Dust. Work. Sweat. Long days and longer nights, watching, training, evaluating, and improving. Turning raw iron ore into sharpened blades of stainless steel. You spent a month totally focused on work, the better to evade thoughts of a personal nature or see what lived and breathed around you. Drilling and exercising under the brilliant sun to physical exhaustion, then stalking twilight halls to test surveillance readiness until you could at last fall asleep for a few hours. Dreams of naked flesh and breezes scented with perfume and women, and the feeling of blazing skin touching yours until you watched the dawn and faced the cycle again.
You saw Saheem occasionally, at the edges of the drilling fields, or at the end of hallways, observing you as you observed the soldiers and guards. No conversation exchanged at this point, each intent on your respective jobs. But then you were summoned to his chambers, before the month was up. Clad like your men, in the black robes that distinguished them from the civilians in white or colors, you walked in, boot heels ringing on the tile floor. Passing the guards lining the walls of the room, you stopped before his desk.
"Chancellor." Staying neutral in tone, uncertain of the purpose behind the summons, and unwilling to come to heel for any man. Looking for a "tell" like any gambler worth his salt.
"Captain. I think the time has come to discuss the state of the guards. What is discovered or overlooked. How effective they are at saving us from spies and criminals in our midst."
Early though he was on the original deadline, you knew it was useless to protest, knew that there wouldn't be much more improvement. The guards were as ready as you could have them, you'd just been fine tuning lately anyway. You didn't let your blue eyes waver from his dark ones as you slowly nodded your assent. Lowering yourself into the chair before the desk, you paused only slightly as you heard the door behind you open and close, admitting what sounded like three or four people. Saheem smiled slightly as he said, "Bring the prisoner forward."
Maybe not a problem with the guards after all. You could distinguish bare feet among the booted ones and felt a chill. Only slaves went unshod here, another way of distinguishing them. Was the charade up? You waited until the shadows came within your peripheral field of vision before turning.
Two small bodies were flanked by black robed guards who impassively gripped their arms. Clad in rags, and barefoot, the slender figures were nevertheless definitely not female, barely even adult. Allowing the breath of a grin to show, you turned to Saheem.
"Not much of a catch to show off, I admit. I regret to report the failure of my men, sir."
Saheem's level stare slipped as he replied "Failure? These gutter thieves have been a thorn in my side for too long. This palace is supposed to be secure - and the men in it are used to having their own way. It has not gone well when they suffer from thieves. Catching these two is a start. It shows me they can be caught, and now we can show the others what the price is. Captain, I wanted to commend you for what you have accomplished."
Well then. "Thank you. The credit goes to my men. The capture was well done. However, they will be corrected for their failure - to report to me." You paused briefly.
"In light of their success, I would like to reward their work this month. Would it be possible to lend some support to a celebration in the barracks common room? Some serving help from the palace perhaps?"
Not a sound from behind you, but you could feel the air move with the anticipation. The wave of pressure built, wavering like a silk strand until Saheem nodded. "Yes. That can be done. A party will be sent at sundown, and more sent later after the main banquet is over."
Sundown. A blazing glow of orange, red, and gold, washing the land in a glaze of copper light that faded to violet dusk. You walked the gardens, avoiding for now the soldiers' revels, listening instead to the deep laughter in the main banquet hall that escaped through the high arched windows above you. Leaning back against a black barked tree, you gazed meditatively at the arched openings, letting your imagination color the music.
Coming from Polaris, you were used to a different style (a lot of country, a little bit rock & roll). The instruments here were basically wind or percussion, lending a harsher tone to most of the tunes. But the music was not created or heard for its own merit. Like much else, it was accompaniment ... to women - no, slaves. Slaves, dancing naked, gleaming in candlelight, twirling on marble floors as though guided by silken strands concealed in the melodies.
You had sat through banquets by now, and knew how seductive they were, wearing only their hair tracing patterns in the air and over their bodies. They were hypnotic, and you had found yourself hard at times, surrounded by women for the taking, seeing breasts with rock-hard nipples, thighs oiled and stretched tight, asses lifted for enjoyment... But you had yet to see the one you wanted.
Darkness. For how long you didn't know. Time to check on the celebration in the barracks. First to your room, changing to fresh clothes. The black robes hung lightly on your frame, weighted here and there by your weapons stash. For the evening you selected a lighter, softer pair of boots, the better to move quietly on the stone floors that pervaded the palace compound.
The common room could have rivaled Salter's or any bar in Polaris for activity. Your men were proving they could play as hard as they had worked for you. Sliding to one end of the bar, you received and nursed the local beverage that passed for beer.
