"Forgive me master, this slave does not know her place, I did not mean to look you in the eye," she pleaded now burying her face into the ground.
I felt sudden guilt at the lust filled thoughts going through my mind at the sight of such a beautiful woman kneeling before me.
"Hey, there's no need to do that," I tried to say in a soothing way as I made my way further into the room and approached her. "I took no offense and there is no need to prostrate yourself before me."
"This slave deserves whatever punishment you permit," she stated as if reciting from a script.
"I want no such thing, why don't you tell me who you are and how you ended up in my chamber?" I responded. "Are you one of my father's new acquisitions?"
She glanced up again and met my eyes before squeezing them shut and dropping her forehead to the floor again, "Please forgive me Master, I am very nervous, I don't want to get anything wrong," she said in a sweet innocent tone.
"Firstly, my name is not Master it is Harry," I responded.
"Please forgive me Master Harry," she replied.
I decided to take a different tack by turning to the closest wardrobe and finding my clothes neatly unpacked inside. I grabbed a plain white shirt and walked back over to the young woman.
"Here you are, please take this," at this point she looked up, avoiding my gaze, saw the shirt and took it from me.
"What would you like me to do with it Master?" she asked somewhat bemused.
"Wear it of course," I said chuckling slightly.
She looked downcast all of a sudden, "Do I not please you like this Master?"
"You are lovely, but I don't think anyone should be forced to be naked against their will. You should probably head back to my father, I want nothing to do with his pleasure slaves."
"But Master, I am your slave."
"No, you are not, I don't have any slaves, nor do I need one," I rebuked a bit too harshly.
"That's not true anymore Master," she rushed out looking a little concerned, "I am gift to you, I am to be your slave, you own me now."
This was a first, my father had never actually tried to give me a slave.
"I understand perfectly well, I have principles and my father knows this. He cannot simply force me to accept a slave. I'll simply have to return you to where you came from," I said in a matter-of-fact manner.
At this I saw tears begin to form in her eyes as she became hysterical "No, no, no, you have to take me. The nice man...he said that I could be your slave...I am yours now. Please don't send me back. I am yours," as she burst out crying and dropped down wrapping her arms around my ankle with her head pressed against by leg.
I was taken aback in shock by her reaction and stood silently unsure what to do as she continued to sob into my leg.
"Please stop that now," I gently asked as I bent down and shook her bare shoulder but it seemed to have little effect.
"I order you to stop that now," I followed up a little more forcefully than I'd intended. This finally seemed to have an effect as she came back up to her kneeling position as she quietly knelt staring at the floor with tears still rolling down her cheeks.
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut at the innocence and sincerity of her expression. "Why don't you put on that shirt while I go and sort things out," I gently ordered her.
She looked dejected as she complied and proceeded to pull the shirt on and do up the buttons hiding her stunning figure. As I turned to leave, I heard a small voice mumble behind me, "Please...please don't send me back."
I shut the door behind me as I walked out into the corridor and lent back against the door to take stock. In what seemed like a matter of minutes I had met two of the most beautiful women I had ever seen, including one that it seemed had been gifted to me as a pleasure slave. It was a lot to take in.
As I closed my eyes and took in a few deep breaths I heard loud whistles ring through the ship before the ship shuddered and began to move. I was marveling at how such a giant ship could float as I heard footsteps approaching from my side.
"Sir, can I help you with anything?" a man's voice asked.
I looked up and responded, "Sorry, yes please, could you direct me to my father's room...Duke Carrara."
"Of course, my Lord, follow me, he is staying in the captain's quarters," the liveried servant responded.
I probably should have worked that one out, he would never accept anyone, except perhaps the King, having a better room than himself.
My father's rooms ended up not being all that far away and the servant left me at the door. I rasped on the dark wood which was quickly opened by a familiar face.
"Henry my boy," my father's seneschal greeted me warmly.
"Jasper," I exclaimed, "I didn't know you were joining us."
"I came via a different route, I had to pick up that little gift for you," He said with a wry smile on his face.
Jasper was one of the kindest yet most conniving men I had ever met and as my father's key man had in many ways helped to raise me. I couldn't understand why he thought giving me a slave was a good idea.
"That's why I'm here," I started.
"I figured as much," he replied. "Your father is a tad busy so let's go chat in the living room," as he directed me towards one of the many doors that led off the antechamber, I'd followed him into. At this point a surge of magic tingled across my skin as I heard a muffled scream from one of the other rooms. The sensation was a sign of my burgeoning Sorcerer's gifts but it sickened me when I realised just why my father was busy.
Jasper looked a little flustered by the noise as well but he quickly directed me to sit in one of the many armchairs in the lavishly decorated room.
"First thing you need to know is that the whole thing was my idea," he started. "But you need to understand that I had more reasons than just you in mind."
"What do you mean? You know full well how I feel about keeping slaves."
"First thing, you are a very important figure within the Kingdom, however much you'd like to ignore it, and your objections to owning slaves is going to ruffle far too many feathers once you get to the capital," He lectured me. "You need to consider finding a way to make a difference without stepping on so many toes. Secondly, I didn't just do this for you I did it for her," he said as he looked me in the eye. I gave him a questioning look but stayed silent awaiting his explanation.