Slave Girl Pt 02 Ch 48 57

Chapter 48

Being on my own with nothing but a handful of coin in my pouch and my sturdy walking stick in my hand the miles between home and town roll by swiftly. I meet other locals and travelers along the way but as distracted as I was for what I might be walking into I pause no longer than it took for a cordial nod and a kind greeting. In the fields I could see other farms already beginning their harvest, reminding me of the job I started tomorrow. Or hoped to start.

I wasn't thrilled in having to become embroiled in the local political schism. Especially as it was town politics. Had that incident with the thugs never happened I could have happily continued to live oblivious to it all. But it had happened. I could just bow my head, stay quiet, keep my distance, and hope it never touched me again but that just wasn't going to happen. But my submission belonged to Rosa and Rosa alone. This shit was bound to come up again and again in a thousand different ways and I figured I might as well stand up and be counted now. Better to let everybody know where I stand and that I was an ally to be counted on than end up alone the next time the trouble found me again. And besides, I fucking hated bullies.

Strangely, disturbingly, I found that some small part of me was actually hoping for some trouble. Not real danger or life altering consequences, just a bit of trouble to release some of the tension. Was Rosa right? Had other gods joined Ceres in guiding me?

At the south gate it is not difficult to spot the town guard Amadeus on duty. The Jinn's long golden hair, brassy skin, and unsettlingly large silvery eyes set him apart from the crowd nearly as much as his wings would have had he still had them. He spots me approaching and gives a friendly wave.

"A good day to you Quin." He says in his deep, rich tone as we take forearms and shake. "How are you and Rosa settling in?"

"Very well." I reply. "The villa's coming along. Rosa's adjusting like only she can. The neighbors are great. And I've even got some work."

"Excellent!"

"Although, I wish I was coming into town on better circumstances." I glance left and right at the other guards and passers by. "Can we talk?"

His expression hardens. With a nod he has me follow him back away from the bustling city entrance. "What's going on? Is this to do with the trouble before?"

"Yeah." I give Amadeus a rundown on what had already happened and what Aristocles was planning for that night.

"That sounds like a bad idea."

"Can you blame him? It's not like the law can be trusted." I say with spite, the bruise to my own ego still fresh. "Is he supposed to just grin and bear it? Is this a city of slaves?"

"Of course not! Did he report what happened?"

"I don't think so."

"Even if he did...might have been to the wrong people." Amadeus says gravely. "All this for a slave eating in the square. It is ridiculous."

"I think I hurt their pride." I say. "They can't let it go."

"More than that." He says. "The man who arrested you lost face in having to release you like he did. It surprised everybody when the wizard and her husband spoke in defense of you."

"There you go."

"Perhaps if he sold the slave on. To someone passing through or to a caravan."

I shake my head. "They've become close. I think they might even be in love."

"A human and a kobalos?" His whole demeanor brightens. "That's beautiful."

"If there's something you can do..."

He sighs and shakes his head. "Unless he actually reports something and unless he's got rock solid proof or reliable witnesses I am not sure what I can do Quin." He says. "Sure, I could haul the guys who set you up in and harass them, but that's something the other side does. Not us. Fulgentius says that the only way we'll make a difference is to be the difference."

"I respect that."

"Besides, if one of Fulgentius' personal cohorts shows up there tonight, off hours and far from my post, questions will be asked. It will stir things up best left undisturbed."

"Gods Amadeus. You're a guard!"

"A gate guard."

"You are supposed to protect this city. Aristocles is a law-abiding businessman. Can't you do anything?"

"I can pull some strings." He promises. "A lot of deference is given to the account of the first officer on the scene. They generally have control of the incident. I'll have someone honest in the area. Someone not on either side. It's the best I can do without becoming personally involved."

"I appreciate that Amadeus." I say. "All we want is a fair hearing if something does end up happening."

"On Trajan's name you can count on it."

"And Fulgentius can count this citizen to be on his side." I say. "He's got my vote."

"Hey!" He smiles. "I knew you'd come around. Rosa wouldn't suffer a fool of a master."

"She definitely wouldn't."

"Say. There's a meeting coming up..."

I hold up my hand. "I have no patience for politics Amadeus, nor any interest. But I know a son of bitch when I encounter one and this Regula is one nasty son of a bitch. The enemy of my enemy and all that."

"Fair enough." We shake again. "I should get back to work. Be careful tonight. And thanks for coming to me with this."

"Law and order, that's me." I say. "We'll speak again soon I am sure."

"Until then." He says. "Give Rosa my regards."

As he makes his way back to the gates I take a look around to see if our conversation had garnered any unusual attention and the, seeing none, I weave through the busy streets toward Aristocles' shop. There I find the front bright from a fresh coat of white paint, though showing through the layer new paint the words 'Goblin Fucker' could be still just be seen. Bastards. I step through into the shop and close the door behind me.

"We're just closing up." Aristocles says as he steps out from the backroom where he banged Colly on that first meeting. "Oh! Quin?"

"Hey." I walk across the shop to meet him. "Colly told me what happened. If you need another guy tonight, I'm here."

"Huh." He says curiously. "Collywaddle said that you'd come. I didn't believe her."

"Well, it's kind of my fault this is happening."

"Kind of?" He scoffs. "Yeah, I'd say it is full stop you big goon. I hadn't even heard about what had happened until I'd already bought her. You put trouble on my girl Quin, and now it's on me."

"Yeah." I sigh. What could I say? He wasn't wrong. "I didn't mean to."

He then waves his hands. "Let's not get hung up on blame. I appreciate you being here when you didn't have to be." He offers his hand. "Maybe Colly is right about you."

I take his arm and shake. "She said there would be others?"

"Yeah. They're coming." He says. "They're not really fighters though."

"Neither am I."

"Uh huh. Well, thank Mercury you showed up."

"Mercury!?"

"God of traders and merchants."

"And trickery." I grumble.

"Who better to watch over us then." He says. "Who better to guide our prey into our trap?"

"So what's the plan exactly?"

He shrugs. "Hang out here until they show up then grab the bastards."

"And if they don't show?"

"They will." He says. "There's this kid, a real collector and one of my best customers, he overheard them talking at the bathhouse. They're coming alright."

"Would he be willing to say that to the guards?" I suggest. "Maybe if you reported it and had a witness..."

"No way." He chuckles. "This guy only buys the, erm, special pieces."

"Special pieces?"

"Erotic pieces. The nastier the better. Pays top coin for them."

"Oh geez."

"And let's just say he doesn't want this collection to become common knowledge." He says. "He's a nervous sort, the quiet type. There's no chance he'll stick his neck out more than he already has."

"Aristocles." I say. "You surprise me. Peddling smut?"

"Ha! Not just peddling them, making them." He says. "It's the only bit of joy I get out of this gods forsaken store." Then with a smirk he adds. "My newest piece is of Collywaddle."

"What? Does she know this?"

"Of course she does. She modeled for me."

I shake my head. "You dirty dog."

"You don't know the half of it kid." He laughs. "Speaking of my precious green dumpling." A deviant grin begins to grow. "Did you?"

"Did...I?"

"Did you...do her?" He asks, keeping his voice low. "Did you bang my girl Quin? Did you fuck her?"

My cheeks warm with blush at the unexpected blunt query and I begin to sputter. "Puh, uh, pfff, Aristocles!"

"Ahhhhh!" He points. "You did! You dirty dog."

***

Chapter 49

Aristocles hurries to the door of his shop. Poking his head out briefly he shuts door again and locks it tight. He turns to me again.

"So...how was she?" The merchants asks pointedly, a lewd twinkle in his eyes. "Tell me EVERYTHING."

"Um...good." I squirm. "Yeah, good."

"You liked her, huh?"

"Yes. I like Colly."

"Fuck her good did ya?"

"Er, yeah. Sure did. Ahem!"

"Big bastard like you, bet you pounded her raw. Huh?" He says. "I bet she came real good for you. She's kinda sweet on you you know."

"Oh geez. Yeah, it was great."

"Did she cum?"

"Yeah."

"The full geyser?"

"Yes."

"I love that she squirts." He looks me up and down. "Big guy like you. You're probably packing, eh? Big dick?"

"Gods!" I mutter. "Stop."

"Look at you. Are you blushing?" He chuckles. "A bashful bull!"

"I'm no farm animal."

"Aha ha ha! Adorable."

"Shut up!"

"Ha!" My discomfort was a great source of amusement for him.

He ducks back into the back room and returns with a couple of tall stools which he places near the counter. He goes back again and returns with a clay figurine, some fresh clay, and a handful of slender sculpting tools. He sits down and I sit across from him. After standing the figure in front of him he begins to work the clay in his hands as he stares at it. As I too focus on it from the other side I realize the curvaceous little thing had a very familiar ass. Now that I looked closer I could see the braids and pointed ears of my goblin friend.

Across the table, without looking up, Aristocles smirks. "What do you think? You've seen her body. Pretty close?"

I take the figure and turn it to inspect the work. I had to admit that the resemblance was uncanny, the attention to detail uncanny. From her plump nipples to her cherubic cheeks and right down to her pudgy toes there was no mistaking the likeness.

"You do good work." I say as I set it back down. "I thought Colly didn't like figures."

"She doesn't. She thinks they're spooky, it's a goblin thing. But she does like money well enough." He says as he begins to shape the fresh piece of clay. "Once she found out about my special pieces she was only too happy to model for me, for a small cut of each piece sold." The shape of a torso begins to reveal itself in his sure fingers. "And she's absolutely tickled about the idea of a bunch of human guys pleasuring themselves to her body. I'm going to make a whole series of her. This one will be her bent over spreading her ass. Pretty hot, huh?"

"Er, sure." I say. "You think there will be a market for goblin...um...pieces."

"Oh yes." He says. "And if not I'll enjoy making them."

"And she's fine with this?"

"Yep." He nods. "She's even talking about giving a super-sloppy with each sale."

"Pah!" I guffaw. "That sounds like Colly alright. You two were made for each other."

"Made for each other?" He glances up at me then returns his attention to his work. "You're a romantic."

"Mmm."

"She's tight, huh?" He says. "Ever feel a cunt that tight and wet before? Be honest."

"Aristocles..."

"Bet you stretched her out pretty good." He says. "You fuck her ass too?"

"Gods!"

He chuckles. "Don't like talking about sex, huh?"

"I was raised to believe that that kind of thing is private talk."

"So you'll fuck my dumpling but you won't talk about it? You're a hypocrite."

"And you're a creep! Gods. If you can't drop this I am out of here."

"Fine. You country rubes really have to lighten up. You know that? So uptight!" He says. Using the figurines head as a guide he shapes a small ball of clay into similar dimensions. "Don't bog everything down in ethics and morality. It's just sex."

"And you city snobs could use some bogging down in basic decency."

"Boring." With a pinch he creates the basis of what would be Colly's nose then takes up one of the fine tools to begin to carve details. "Say Quin, ever heard of the Cyrenaics?"

I think a minute. "No."

"They believe that all we can really know is what we experience."

"Skeptics?"

"Of a sort. And when you think about it, are they wrong?" He says. "Reality, knowledge, truth, time, ethics, beauty, the divine. There are more theories about what these things are as there are philosophers in Athens. Who can really say for sure the nature of things?" He raises a finger. "But suffering, ecstasy, hunger, orgasm, the sweet taste of honey...these things cannot be denied. They impress directly upon us. There might be deeper truths behind our sensations but we can never know for sure what those are. That makes sensation the realest thing, the only thing, that we can ever truly know."

"Is this going somewhere?"

"I'm trying to enlighten you big dolt!"

I roll my eyes. "Go on."

"The point is that all we know for sure is this." He suddenly jabs my arm with the clay sculpting tool in his hand.

"Ow!" I rub where he poked me. "Watch it Aristocles."

"You could doubt the gods and the stars and this shop that surrounds you and even me and this tool." He nods to my arm. "But you can't deny that sting. No matter how hard you try. That is real."

"What's the point?"

"The point is if sensation is the only thing that we can be sure is real doesn't it make sense that that should be our guiding principle." He says as he continues to shave tiny slivers from the soft clay. "Good? Evil? Fantasies. Pleasure and pain is what it's all about. The rest of it is stories we tell ourselves."

"My father warned me about skeptics." I say. "Told me they could have you thinking backwards and upside-down if you listened too long."

Aristocles shrugs. "Just trying to broaden your horizons."

"All about pleasure huh?" I say. "You must have known my uncle."

"Paullus? I met him a few times. I'm not much of a party guy, he very much was. I didn't know the man well."

"I didn't know him at all."

"He commissioned a piece from me once."

"Oh?"

"The old drunk never came back for it. Thankfully I was able to sell the piece on to someone else." He says. "Seems your family is destined to be a pain in my ass. Ha!"

Looking at the clay Collywaddle's bare ass pointed at me I quip. "I shudder to think what he had you make."

"Actually." He pauses. "It wasn't like that. It was just a figure of a woman standing with her hands crossed over her heart. One of his penates he said."

"A household god?"

"Mmm. His guide and his guardian, something about a pure heart." He nods. "Just a common woman in simple garb. He went into quite specific detail. Stood over my shoulder when I carved the face. It was really important to him that it looked right."

"Huh. Too bad you sold it. I would have been curious to see it."

"I've still got the cast somewhere. And the original clay."

"You do?"

"I can dig it out for you." He sets down his work. "Give me a minute. If there's a knock on the door just make sure it Maximilian and Calogerus and let them in."

With that he heads back into the backroom. A moment later I hear the creak of wood and a bit after that I could hear him scuffling about beneath the floorboards. I never would have guessed from the outside that this place had a crawlspace beneath it. It was probably where he kept his 'special' collection. As I sit I take up the Colly figurine and admire it some more. Though just three inches tall it really did capture not just the physical features of the buxom slave but her happy-go-lucky personality as well. It even had the gap in her teeth. The craftsmanship really was extraordinary. Aristocles might be a perv, but he was a talented one.

A few minutes later her reemerges a lot dustier than when he'd left. He sets down two items. The first is a plaster mold about six inches tall and half that much in depth and width. The two halves of it were held together by twine with a tag attached that read 'Paullus, Idol'. The other item is a small clay figure much like the Collywaddle one, though tall and slimmer. Curiously I take the clay figurine and study it.

"Oh!"

"Oh?" Aristocles says as he settles back to continue his work.

"By Ceres!" I squint and bring the figure closer to the closest lamp. As described it was a simple commoner woman with long hair in a loose braid draped over one shoulder. She wore a peasant dress and sandals, a basic rope belt around her waist. Her hands are folded over her breast and on her face is an expression of gentle warmth. There was something in the nose and the eyes, something in the brow and jaw, something in that welcoming smile, that made the figure familiar. "I'm not sure but...I think it's my mom!"

"Your mom?"

"Yeah. His sister."

Aristocles looks at it a second. "Huh." Just then comes a knock at the front door. "That should be Max and Cal." He gets up and goes to the door to see who it is.

As I hear the men greet each other my focus is stuck to the tiny clay figurine in my hand.

***

Chapter 50

The two men enter the shop and Aristocles quickly shuts and locks the door behind them followed by shuttering the front window.

"Max, Cal, this here is Quin." He says. "He's the wanna be hero who got me into this mess."

Setting down the figurine of my mother I turn and raise to greet them. To my surprise they greet me with honest hearty handshakes and warm smiles.

"I was a few tables away when you kicked those guys asses." Maximilian says as he pats my shoulder. "About damn time somebody put those two in their place."

"Past time." Cal adds. "Good to meet you Quin."

"Yeah." I say. "Likewise."

I look the pair of mismatched men up and down, both of whom looked to be in their mid to late twenties, and see that Aristocles' statement that they were 'not really fighters' looked to be accurate. Maximilian was, as my mom used to put it, well fed. Though average in height the portly, ruddy-faced man easily outweighed me by 70 pounds or more. I felt by the callouses on his thick hands and I could see by the dense muscle of his forearms that he did some sort of honest work for a living but his sheer excess mass would slow him down in a fight and cause him to tire quickly. Calogerus, on the other hand, couldn't have been more different. He was tall. Very tall. One of the few men I'd met in awhile that could look me eye to eye. But for all that height he was as spindly as a stalk of wheat. And judging by his permanent squint I don't think he saw that well.

"My neighbor's a leather worker." Max says. "He had this happen to him. Was forced to pay them off eventually. It's donkey shit."

"Everybody's so damned scared to rile up Regula's supporters that they're getting their way by default." Cal says. "Nobody ever worries about riling us up."

"Things are changing under Trajan." Aristocles says as he returns to his seat to continue his work.

"Not fast enough." Grumbles Max. "Hey!" His eyes light up as he sees what was on the counter. Snatching up the goblin figurine he studies it closely. "It's Collywaddle! Ha!"

"Like her?" Aristocles asks.

"Oh my God. So hot." He says. "I want one of these."

"I'm making a set."

"I'll take'em all. And who is this babe looking all innocent?" He says as he takes up the other figure in his other hand. "Let me guess. Another series. Vestal virgin turned wanton harlot. I hope she's got a nice hairy cunt. Ha ha ha!"

I take the object from his hand. "That's my Mom!"