Page 48 of Given to the Fae
The meal continues thus, and I eat and drink, pretending that degrading the female by making her eat and drink with us this way is normal and right...and not at all sickening.
When Warrior goes to the bar to get himself a dram, I take my chance, turning to Morgan and giving him a speaking look. I see Locke beyond him, clearly wondering the same as I am.
He sighs, and hands her a piece of bread.
‘The second night after she saw the healer, I tried to get her a bowl of stew in the tap room, and, instead, they gave me one large portion. I didn’t understand. She informed me it was so that she could be fed from my hand. Things are different heresince I left, though,’ he shrugs, ‘I never had much call to mix with the slaves, so perhaps it was always thus.’
‘Aye,’ Locke murmurs. ‘I never had a call to learn such rules either.’
Warrior returns and our conversation goes no further, but I’m annoyed that Morgan didn’t tell us what happened at the tavern before. This never came up in the research we did before we came here, and I wonder what other holes there might be in our education of slavery in the Dark Realms. Our ignorance of them might lead to questions that we don’t want being asked.
We leave soon after, thankfully. When Warrior asks why we aren’t taking a room in the same inn, Locke winks and says he knows of a much better place. We then follow him around the black-paved streets for just long enough that I begin to resent the cunt for not choosing an inn closer to the Gate, but we finally go under an archway and find ourselves in a small, lush courtyard.
‘You are welcome, friends,’ a young pixie female murmurs, entering the square via some intricately carved doors at the far end.
Locke dismounts and bows slightly. We follow suit. Even Warrior looks uncertain and does the same.
My friend goes off to speak with his fellow magick-user about our stay, and I glance around, impressed by the array of blooming plants and the fountain that cascades over the side of the building seemingly from nowhere. I keep Bryn close to me as I notice an array of black-clad orcs standing by the walls, silent and foreboding. They have no colors on their tunics, so they aren’t students of the academy. Servants of the inn, perhaps.
When four of them approach to take our horses, I see that I’m correct. A fifth comes to stand in front of me and bows low. ‘Shall I take your slave?’
‘Where?’
I have no intention of letting Bryn out of our sights, but I’m curious.
‘She’ll be taken to the slave paddock beside the stables. It’s freshly strawed, and heated. We also have several virile bulls she can be mated with should you wish to breed her while you’re with us.’
I feel Bryn stiffen beside me. She stares at the ground and gives nothing away, but her face is drawn and pale.
‘She is precious to us,’ Morgan answers the orc before I can. ‘She stays with one of us at all times.’
‘Of course, my lord. Slaves are welcome in the interior chambers, so long as they are clean and don’t cause any damage. She will be required to ingest a potion to rid her body of any vermin she carries, however.’
He produces a small vial, which Bryn takes from his hand and pours down her throat before we can stop her.
I hide my incredulity at her rash action, sharing a look with Morgan but saying nothing out here in the open with so many ears straining to listen. Her incredible foolishness will have to be explained to her later, where no one will hear and understand how naïve she is.
Morgan and I follow Locke and Warrior into the establishment, keeping Bryn between us.
‘Don’t touch anything,’ I murmur just as he whispers the same.
My large friend looks surprised...perhaps that I’d bother to warn her, and I snort.
We’re brought to a door by the proprietress, and she opens it with a flourishing conjure.
‘There are rooms for each of you, as well as all the amenities. If you need anything, anything at all, please ring the bell and you’ll be attended to.’
Locke nods and the female gives us a flirtatious smile before she turns and walks off down the long corridor.
We go inside. Where the outer walls are dark and close, these rooms are the exact opposite. The walls are crème and white with gold and silver filigree gilding all around. They’re bright and airy, and, as I peer through the window, we appear to be on the top-most floor, which should be impossible as we didn’t climb stairs to get here. I assume it’s a conjure, but when I get closer, I find doors that lead into a large balcony.
‘It’s not an illusion,’ I can’t help but exclaim as I open one of the doors and step outside into the cool air. ‘I can feel the wind, hear the street below.’
Locke doesn’t appear surprised and I want to ask him how he knows Dead City, but he’s kept the fact that he’s a mage a secret from Bere and his men, so I can’t just yet.
‘How do you know this place?’ Warrior asks, clearly a bit suspicious, but Locke only smirks.
‘I knew a witch...very well. She brought me to Dead City once to show me its wonders.’ He winks. ‘For instance, there’s a veryspecialbrothel two streets down. Caters to every taste. Can’t miss it. Golden roof.’
