A cool breeze blew from north to south along Taighan City's main road. Actus of Vol looked over his shoulder back down the street and down the hill towards the distant city walls, and the agricultural hinterland surrounding the city.
Taighan was built on a hill next to the river Vanis, the lower orders thronged on the hill sides in densely packed neighbourhoods of mud brick houses built in haphazard and winding streets. In contrast, the upper slopes and summit of the hill held the elaborate marble palaces and villas of Taighan's ruling families, the senate house, the grand academy of Taighan and the temple complexes for the gods.
As Actus climbed further up the hill a pair of urban prefects watched him pass. The prefects rested their hands on the hilt of their swords as they watched him pass. Actus returned their gaze with his own stoney glare, but thought better to start any trouble. After all, Actus had just been paid today, and now was the time to celebrate, not start a fight.
The prefects let him pass without issue when it became clear that Actus did not intend to climb high into the prestigious areas of Taighan, instead he diverted down a narrow street lit by pink paper lanterns.
Lily Lane was the name of this place and it was one of the few places where the very rich and the very poor of Taighan would ever meet. It was a road lined with slave brothels, wine shops, gambling dens, and fighting pits. It is where every wayward adventurer with an excess of gold went to lose it as quickly as possible. As Actus walked on, he eyed the barkers outside their various establishments as he passed them by. They dressed in yellow and orange, were generally well fed and fat and happy. Taighan sat at an important nexus of the known world's trade routes, so the city was always awash with gold. To take advantage of that fact every vice was catered for.
"Best dice in the city, you'll win twice your bets, warrior." One of the barkers stepped off his pedestal outside his shop and approached Actus.
Actus eyed the barker, then placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. The barker, sensing the hostility, raised his hands apologetically, then turned away to harang another, less threatening, passer by.
Actus focused his attention on the women as he walked by. He sized up the slaves on display outside each of the brothels as he passed them.
"Blessings upon you, warrior. You like what you see?" Another barker called out to Actus as he gestured to a pleasure slave standing next to him with her wrists chained together. The woman was performing the Taighan chain dance in order to entice potential customers into her establishment. Actus stopped for a moment and regarded the woman. She regarded him back with an alluring expression and licked her lips.
"No," Actus replied and kept walking.
The barker called something out to Actus as he left, but it was drowned out by the low roar of the afternoon's commerce. A few minutes later Actus found himself in front of a nicely built store front. Compared to the other shops on this street, this one seemed muted, almost restrained. Actus knew he had found the right place.
Actus smiled and stepped inside, he parted the bead curtain and strode into the reception room. Two towering guards, slightly bigger than him, took a step forward as they registered his presence. Actus turned his palms to face them and kept his hands low to communicate that he had no violent intent.
"Excuse me," a demure woman's voice called from a nearby nook.
Actus turned to face the voice and saw a tall, graceful woman dressed in a revealing purple dress. The woman was on the cusp of middle age and her black hair was shot through with a few strands of grey. Actus gave her a respectful bow.
"Greetings, are you the domina of this house?" Actus asked.
The woman smiled, then put the quill that she was writing with on its stand then stood up. The domina returned the bow and spoke.
"I am. Greetings to you as well, warrior. Welcome to the Golden Heart, my name is Naresh. Before we let you proceed. I want you to understand that this is an expensive establishment for upmarket clientele..."
Actus smiled at the domina, reached into his satchel and produced one of his purses of gold. Naresh went quiet for a moment as Actus slowly loosed the draw strings on the purse and let her see the pile of gold coins contained within.
"My name is Actus of Vol and I have recently been paid. Will this be enough?" Actus said, then gave Naresh a broad smile.
Naresh smiled and clasped her hands together.
"Of course, a thousand apologies. Please follow me." Naresh said, and gestured for Actus to accompany her.
Naresh led him through another curtain into the next room. Actus looked around and caught his breath as he surveyed what lay before him. The room was filled with women, all beautiful and perfect, and a few pretty men. All were in various stages of dress and all were lounging on thick cushions. They all had their ankles and wrists bound with golden slave fetters, and each one wore a collar of gold with the crest of their owner engraved on it. Unlike the low trade that Actus saw on the way in, this was the quality that he sought.
"I have trained all of my slaves to the highest standards in discipline, respect, and lovemaking. I'm sure that any one, or multiple, can satisfy your needs, Actus."
Actus murmured in agreement and started a slow circuit around the room. He approached each slave in turn and regarded each one with a discerning eye. They all looked at him with expressions of carnal desire, a far cry from the creatures that worked in the other brothels on Lily Lane.
"Have you got private chambers with a pool as well?" Actus asked.
"Of course, shall I have the slave you pick bathe you as well?"
"Yes, I would like that." Actus said, then came to stop in front of a dark skinned, dusky eyed slave that wore a wrap of transparent silk around her waist.
Actus gazed into the eyes of the slave and felt something stir in his loins. She looked up at him with her big, beautiful eyes and her lips twisted into a demure smile. Her hair was long and black, and framed a perfect face without a single blemish. She was the total opposite of Actus, whose unremarkable face had been battered and scarred by a lifetime of fighting and travelling. The slave had large, soft breasts, wide thighs, and large buttocks. All of those features were accentuated with a decorative chain harness of gold that she wore under the silken wrap. She was a beautiful creature, kept in captivity, her body preserved from the harsh world outside, ready to be bought and enjoyed by those who had the coin to do so.
"Slave, stand up and present yourself." Naresh commanded.
The slave rose to standing, her golden fetters clinked as she did. She stood with her feet together and her hands by her side, as far as the length of chain that connected her wrist fetters allowed her to do so. She smiled serenely at Actus and gently rolled her hips from side to side as Actus inspected her.
"Hrmm, yes. This one." Actus said.
"An exotic choice, this is one of our most valuable slaves. She was educated at the Temple of Vereni as well. I promise you, she will be everything you desire."
"Excellent, have her prepared, and get me a jar of your best wine. Will this be enough?" Actus asked as he offered the purse of coins to Naresh.
Naresh took the purse, opened it up and checked the contents, then smiled.
"Of course, please follow me."
Naresh led Actus deeper into the brothel, along a corridor with multiple doorways covered by hanging rugs. Naresh took Actus to the room at the end hallway, held open the rugs for him, then offered Actus a key.
"This will unlock the slave's restraints if you desire to do so. Please disrobe and make yourself comfortable. The slave will be prepared and presented to you in a moment." Naresh said.
Actus murmured his thanks, then stepped inside. The rug fell closed behind him, and Actus found himself in an elegantly appointed room. In one corner of the room a low pool had been cut into the floor, and was filled with clear water. In another corner there was a large bed, richly stuffed and made up with expensive linen. In the centre of the room there was a low table and sitting cushions. Mounted on one wall was a rack of equipment designed for sexual torture, whips, crops, floggers, ropes, clamps, pegs, and more restraints. Actus smiled then shucked off his pack and satchel and laid them against a bare corner of the room. He then undid his sword belt and stacked his sword and shield next to the pack. After that he carefully undid the straps and buckles of his armour. He was about half way done when he heard a faint rustle at the doorway. He looked up to see the slave he hired standing in the doorway and holding a jar of wine.
"Good afternoon, Master. How may I serve you?" the slave asked.
Actus paused for a moment and regarded her. She was missing the transparent silken wrap, but was otherwise dressed as she had been a moment ago, the gold harness glittered in a dull lamp light of the room.
Actus gestured to the low table in the middle of the room.
"Put that down then come over here and help me take my armour off." Actus commanded.
"Of course, master." The slave replied and did as instructed.
Actus stood with his feet apart and held his arms out on either side. The slave began undoing the straps with slow but practised motions that suggested that this wasn't the first time she had helped strip a warrior of their armour.
"Slave, what is your name?" Actus asked.
"Rami, master. May I ask your name?" She asked as she paused for a moment to look into his eyes.
"Actus of Vol, perhaps you may have heard of me." Actus replied with a wry smile.
"I have, master. The greatest swordsman in the world, so I hear people say." Rami replied as she undid the final straps for his breastplate and gently placed it next to the rest of Actus's belongings.
Rami then ran a hand down Actus's belly and she came to rest on her knees in front of him, her chains clinked softly as she settled into position. Actus looked down at her and smiled.
"Tell me, Rami. What else have you heard about me?" Actus asked.
"You're a warrior, a poet, and a slaver."
Actus shrugged and laughed.
"That is right. I just returned from the breaking of the Macinia tribe. Only the best of their warriors refused to yield and died with a sword in their hand. The rest... they were not warriors. It turns out all the Taighan city fathers needed to do was hire a band of champions of sufficient prowess to deal with them. The Macinia will be scattered to the four corners of the world in bondage now. What I've paid for you is a fraction of my share of the profits from that enterprise. I could buy you outright if I wanted to, Rami. Would you like that?" Actus asked.
"Master, what I like doesn't matter. I am chattel, destined to serve at my master's pleasure. Such as my fate, and the will of the gods." Rami replied, then reached up for his crotch.
"May I touch you, master?" she asked.
Actus gave her a slight nod.
Rami smiled and undid the drawstring on Actus's leather trousers and let them fall to the floor. She unwrapped his loincloth and his hardening cock flopped in front of her.
"The gods were kind to you, master. You are impressive." Rami said as she took his cock and began to massage it to full erection.
