It felt almost surreal, having an owner after over a month of being on the block. She watched him walk in front of her, his thick robes shifting as he moved and his hood covering him completely in the hot sunlight. She wondered what kind of man he was. She had not seen him because of all his coverings, but she imagined he was old because of the way he dressed, and the purse he carried over his shoulder, she thought only an old man could carry a purse like that.
She wondered why he had purchased her. He had taken at her at a low price, and no one had even bid against him. Either way, she was glad to be off the block. She had not been treated entirely poorly, but not well either because she had been so long in the slaverâs care. She had been lucky enough to have a slaver that felt sorry for her, she had lost her family in a fire and bandits had taken her within the following week when she had wandered from her careless village alone, they sold her to the slaver, and he had been good enough to make sure she went to an owner he felt wouldnât do harm to her. It was unlike a slaver, she thought, but he had said it was something about her mild nature and the way her blue eyes could seem so innocent. Anyways, it didnât matter anymore; her fate had shifted to her new owner.
She wasnât as young as she looked. She had always had a small frame, and she was certain she wasnât much to look at, but her new owner must have seen something in her under her mangled brownish hair tangled up in its small tie, and the tattered rags she wore. Even her skin was blotchy from dust, but still, he had purchased her. She decided he would likely have her doing chores, and she would be more than willing to comply if it meant she would have a place to sleep and a meal at least once a day, that was all she had received from the trader, one meal a day, and if they werenât traveling he had let her sleep on a bail of hey. She wondered what she would be doing now, what she would eat and where she would sleep, and she wondered where they were going as she followed him down the thin dirt road and took notice of the unfamiliar forest surrounding them.
She noticed her new owner as he turned his head; she quickly lowered her eyes, believing it was a rule now that she was property.
âKeep up girl.â He called in his smooth voice.
She quickly stepped up her pace, not wanting to disobey him in any way, and soon they had reached the end of the road and her eyes fell on a small cottage tucked within the trees. She followed him to the home and watched as he moved up the three well-built stairs and opened the door, leaving it open for her as he entered.
The man glanced back at his property and noticed she was still outside the door.
âCome in here.â He ordered, and she quickly obeyed, looking around as he took the time to close the door behind her.
The cottage was not what she had expected, there was a wide room and a kitchen, and five stairs leading to a banister surrounded study, and almost every wall was covered in shelves of books. The place seemed warm and welcoming to her after being on the block for so long, and she was staring at a bookshelf as her new owner went to pour himself a cup of coffee from and old pot. It was likely cold, but he drank it down anyways and then noticed his property again.
âCan you read girl?â He asked.
She turned towards him but quickly lowered her eyes again.
âNo sir.â She admitted.
âWell you will learn.â He stated, âWhat can you do? Chores, cook?â
âYes sir.â
âWell at least itâs something.â He sighed, almost as if he were impatient with her already, âBut you will go nowhere near the kitchen like that, when was the last time you had a bath?â
She blushed, but the red in her cheeks could not be seen through all the dust.
âIt has been a while sir.â She admitted.
âMy name is Gabriel.â He told her, âYou may call me that, and what about you girl, have you a name?â
âClara sir, I mean Gabriel.â She replied.
She couldnât see his face between her lowered eyes and his uplifted hood, and it made her nervous that she couldnât read his expression.
âClara it is.â He sighed. âCome Clara, you are in need of a bath, I have no clothing for you as of yet, but we will find something other than those rags, now wonât we?â
She obediently followed him up the stairs and through the study. He opened a hidden door and as they entered she realized the cottage was even larger, and the room they came to had a bed and more furniture, and yet another door leading to a bathing area.
Clara stopped in the doorway, unsure of how to proceed. He looked back as he reached the bathing area and called out again.
âCome along.â He stated, disappearing behind the door.
She went to meet him quickly again, and her eyes fell over the sight of the emery colored tub and her blue-circled pupils widened suddenly as he pulled a handle and water poured from a faucet. She had never before seen running water and when he glanced over his shoulder again she made an attempt at not looking too surprised.
âDonât just stand there.â He said, âTake those rags off, I wonât have an unkempt girl wandering about.
She was suddenly very uneasy, waiting for him to leave her in private, but he just stood there with his back to her. She knew he was waiting, but so was she, she was waiting for him to leave, and as her nerves rattled she clenched her loose fitting shirt, wondering what she could do. She stayed like that until the tub was full, filled with soapy bubbles. The man turned to glance at his property again and saw she was still dressed.
âDamn girl are you always so slow at everything?â He asked, âI said off with those rags, I meant it.â
Claraâs eyes were low now; she couldnât even bring herself to look up from the floor.
âBut sirâŠâ she started.
She heard him curse and then he was in front of her, the tops of his robes brushing against the top of her bare feet.
âNow I wonât be patient forever.â He stated, firmly gripping at the bottom of her shirt while she desperately held it down.
Gabriel suddenly gave the rag a good pull and it was being lifted, and with nothing more to do about it Clara slipped her arms out of the sleeves and quickly crossed her arms over the perky round breasts on her chest. She stood there stupidly with her frail figure trebling before him and she couldnât help but jump when he poked at her visible ribs, the skin of his hands feeling soft.
âWeâll have to put a few pounds on you.â He remarked before quickly pulling down her pants, they had been just as raggedy as her shirt and cut to fit her length.
Clara was clenching her thighs together now, as he looked over her shapely legs and to the light curls above her vagina. She was nearly horrified when he placed his fingers there, testing the softness of the curls and a yelp escaped her, a sound that obviously did not please her owner, who then removed his hand and pulled her shoulder.
âYou will learn yet.â He said, âThere is no room for shyness here.â
She kept her arms crossed tight over her chest as he urged her towards the tub, and with a shaky leg she stepped into the water while he took a good look at the curve of her fixed ass.
âClean up now.â He stated, âIâll see if I can find you something to eat.â
Eat? Clara thought as she watched him lift her rags from the floor and leave, but what would she wear? She decided he certainly wouldnât forget that, so she thought to do as he said and she began to reach into the water, splashing it over her body. She had never bathed in a tub such as this before, and she wouldnât have known that she wasnât doing it correctly if he hadnât appeared in the doorway again, bringing her to cross her arms and gasp again while he looked over the water she had spilled onto the floor.