"This place is very peaceful," he said at last. "How come you live in town and your sister in the country?"
Darya shrugged. "Choices, I guess. Having a farm is a lot of hard work."
"But the food tastes different here!" he enthused. "I mean, the bread – and the butter, they're different from what he have in Elaine!"
"It's fresher." Darya smiled. "And Aryana adds herbs to everything – it gives food a different taste."
Moreno nodded, thoughtful. "I'm glad the men don't wear the Modesty Cloth to work in the fields."
Darya chuckled. "It would be quite impractical! It's more a town habit, where there are more people and it's easier to have trouble."
"What do you mean?" he looked at her, puzzled.
"I mean, if you wandered half-naked in the streets of Elaine like you're doing here, you'd create a riot, my gorgeous Moreno," she leaned to whisper in his ear, her hand gliding on his bared chest.
He grinned. "What's wrong with city women, then?"
Darya pulled back with a sigh. "They do less manual work, get bored more easily and love to bicker over men. There's no Public House here, as you've seen – although there's a public room for whoever wants to have sex."
"So I've heard." He nodded. "But I haven't been there, the wound still itches and I'm a little worried of what will happen when I... um... will go back to work."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you're fully functional before we go back," she assured him, patting his thigh.
He took her hand and brushed her fingers with his lips. "Thank you, my lady. You spoil me."
"You're the best man of my House," she replied. "And I'm very fond of you. If I were younger, I'd probably claim you as Favorite. But I don't want to tie you to someone who could be your mother."
"You are not my mother and I'm very happy to work for you," he said. "If I could choose between you and your daughters, I'd rather take your wisdom and experience over their youth."
She chuckled. "If you're this smooth with all the customers, I'm not surprised they keep coming back! Let's go back to Aryana's, it's getting late..."
She patted his leg once more and rose. He obediently followed her out of the forest and into the farm. He felt very lucky.
***
Darya and Moreno were heading back to Elaine by a different route when someone crossed the forest road in front of them, soon followed by four mounted Huntresses in hot pursuit. Darya stopped the cart and Moreno pulled up his Modesty Cloth to listen to the sounds of the chase. It was obvious that the four female riders had caught up with the runaway man somewhere in the undergrowth to their left and Moreno stared worried at Darya.
"An Uncatchable bit the dust," she muttered, getting off the cart.
He followed her to a nearby clearing where the four women had dismounted and managed to restrain a struggling young man, who was still kicking as hard as he could to free himself.
"Be still!" The eldest Huntress hit him so hard, he fell back, dazed, so the women could finish tying him up.
"Help him, please!" Moreno begged in a low voice, standing very close to Darya with the Cloth over his body.
Darya sighed but nodded, stepping forward as the Huntresses congratulated each other for the catch. The prey was strikingly beautiful in his own way and looked like he hadn't been Uncatchable for long. Not a completely wild man, but probably a runaway slave from a nearby village.
"Greetings, ladies," Darya said. "You've caught a very fine specimen. I was wondering if you'd like to trade him?"
"And you are?" the eldest Huntress asked, staring with contempt at her long tunic. She looked like a woman who had never been feminine in her entire life. At least one of the other three was obviously her daughter and the other two might be her apprentices or maybe friends or relatives. They looked mildly interested in Darya's offer.
"I'm Darya Magali Zarina, I own a Public House in Elaine. You could have one of my men if you let me have this one."
"You mean we can have a man each if we let you keep this one?" a snarky brunette asked.
"For a night, or until you get pregnant, why not," Darya answered. "Unless you plan on sharing that single man until he gives you what you want."
"I only wanted to have fun." The elder shrugged. "I got him for my younger daughter, but if you can provide someone else..."
"Why don't we all go to Elaine?" Darya suggested with a smile. "You can see my men and make up your mind."
The four Huntresses exchanged glances and grunted their approval. Two grabbed the young man, who was now tied hands and feet, and put him on a saddle like a sack of potatoes.
They all walked back to the cart where Darya suggested they put the prey, covered with a linen sheet since she had no spare Modesty Cloth.
"Moreno sits near me," she assured them. "He won't touch your prey."
So the women put the prisoner in the back of the cart and they continued the journey to Elaine, stopping on the way in a road inn, since the detour had made the return trip longer. But Darya had visited a friend who embroidered beautifully, hence the need to stop at an inn for the night before reaching the city.
Inside the inn, Moreno took off his Modesty Cloth and two Huntresses out of four whistled their admiration.
"Is he also one of your men?" the brunette asked with a giggle.
"Yes, but he's still recovering from an accident," Darya answered.
"I'm fine, my lady, I can..." he whispered.
"Not outside of the house, no," she snapped, reminding him his place.
He bowed his head and stared at his feet.
"Well, since you travel with a slave, have him feed our prey," the Huntresses' leader said, a little sarcastic. "But don't he dare try to free our prisoner."
"He won't," Darya guaranteed.
Moreno quickly ate his part of stew and vegetables, then sat next to the other young man to feed him.
"Don't worry, my mistress is a good woman." He tried to reassure the other who stared at him but didn't speak. He did eat, though, and then they both lay on the floor to get some sleep.
Moreno wanted to ask him many questions, but refrained. There would be time in Elaine. He hoped the young man would be able to sleep, all tied up as he was, and noticed a bruise was showing up where the eldest woman had hit his face.
Then sleep won him and he dreamed of Tigrotto attacking him again. Then he was in the forest with the Huntresses on his heels. And finally the young man helped him and they ran away together to hide in Darya's house.
***
When they reached Elaine, the Uncatchable was taken inside the Public House and untied. Moreno helped him to the bath chamber as he slowly recovered the use of his limbs.
The young man brightened at the sight of the pool and quickly took off his rags to dive and swim under Moreno's puzzled eyes. None of the men of the house who normally bathed in the pool could swim, so Moreno stared fascinated at the Uncatchable who went back and forth for the whole length three or four times before he stopped, breathless but obviously happy.
"All right, you can swim." Moreno offered him the soap. "If you finish washing, I'll shave you."
"I can shave myself," the young man said bluntly, grabbing the soap.
"Sorry, can't give you a blade, you've just arrived," Moreno apologized.
The young man glared at him, then turned to finish washing. Next, Moreno shaved his stubble, careful not to touch the bruise on his cheek, and gave him a clean tunic.
"Come, it's time to eat and then I'll take you to the mistress's room for the initiation," Moreno said.
"I'm not a virgin," the other grumbled.
"No, but you're an Uncatchable, she'll have to name you," Moreno replied.
The young man shrugged and averted his eyes.
They joined the other men – four were missing, probably entertaining the Huntresses – and sat on the floor with them around a low square table. Moreno introduced the others, but the newcomer didn't look interested in remembering their names.
He ate with his eyes on his plate, then sighed, waiting for what was to come, not bothering to join in the conversation.
As light faded and the sun went down, Moreno elbowed the Uncatchable and they went to Darya's room. Candles were lit all around the room, showing the canopied bed in a flickering light. Darya was reading when the two young men entered and she smiled at the sight of them.
"I knew that clean and well groomed you'd be be a good addition to my house," she said, smiling at the Uncatchable who had stopped two steps inside the room and was looking around warily. Moreno nudged him forward as Darya rose and put away her book.
"Stay, Moreno," she ordered, sauntering towards them. "It might help him relax."
And makes you feel safer, since I can protect you if he tries to hurt you. He nodded with a half smile.
He saw the young man stiffen when she touched him, but that was it. He was obviously reluctant, but didn't try anything.
Moreno just watched as Darya undressed her new slave and started exploring his body. Once or twice the young man glanced panicky at Moreno, but he let Darya have what she wanted.
"Still a little thorny," she said, satisfied. "I shall call you Biancospino, at least until you earn yourself a sweeter name."
The newly-named young man frowned but didn't comment.
"That's enough for tonight," Darya continued. "Moreno, take Spino to his new room."
"Tigrotto's?" Moreno asked.
She nodded and shooed them out.
"Who's Tigrotto?" Spino dared to ask as they walked through the darkened corridors.
"He was resold." Moreno shrugged, opening Tigrotto's door. "I'm over here," he said, pointing at his own door in front of it.
He entered the room to lit an oil lamp for Spino who was still unfamiliar with the surroundings.
"Why was he resold?" Spino asked. "Was he too old?"
"No." Moreno sighed and took off his tunic. "He attacked me."
He showed the scar at the faint light of the oil lamp. Spino looked rightfully shocked.
Moreno smiled ruefully. "Good-night, Spino. And welcome to Darya's house."
***
Biancospino – more often than not shortened to Spino – was a brooding beau who never smiled. He did his duty when requested, but spent the rest of his time on his own, staring outside of his window with longing. Moreno felt he should try to befriend him, since he'd begged Darya to save him from the Huntresses, but it wasn't easy at first.
Moreno told him about his life in the city, from the Boys' House to the Public House and how he'd heard men of the other Public House were treated worse by their owner. In spite of the fight with Tigrotto, he felt blessed Darya owned him, and Spino should be grateful she had rescued him from the Huntresses who would have probably hurt and used him before selling him off.
Spino listened quietly and sighed.
"Where were you raised?" Moreno asked, unable to keep his curiosity at bay any longer.
Spino munched his lower lip before answering, "In a farm near where they captured me."
"And how long have you spent in the forest on your own?"
Spino pondered and counted on his fingers. "About ten months. I ran away from the farm when I understood I had no chances."
"No chances of what?" Moreno was puzzled.
Spino sighed again and lowered his eyes. "I fell in love with the mistress's daughter," he whispered. "But the lady decided I wasn't worthy enough for her daughter and she sent me away – except I ran as soon as I could. I never reached the village where she wanted to sell me."
"Oh. So you became an Uncatchable."
Spino nodded, thoughtful. "I'm fairly good with hunting, so I managed to survive in the forest for those months. But then the Huntresses came..."
The bruise on his face was gone, and he had stopped struggling, but he wasn't happy with his new life. He was still the only one swimming in the pool, to the surprise of the other men. And he often worked out to keep himself busy – or too tired to think.
The customers who had tried him thought he was good, albeit so unsmiling it was sometimes off-putting. But they couldn't force a smile on his lips and as long as he could deliver, they kept coming back.
Two months after his arrival, Aryana came to town for the Spring Festival and the great open air market that lasted five days. She brought her vegetables and herbs and jams and olive oil to sell and her two daughters were with her. Moreno remembered their faces, but had to be introduced again, since he'd forgotten their names.
Darya told him and Spino to take care of her nieces – Jasmine and Roxanne – while they were in town. Florina highly recommended them to her cousins, and Moreno noticed Spino was paler and more serious than ever.
The country girls exchanged a glance, then Jasmine went to Moreno and Roxanne smiled boldly at Spino, who averted his eyes with a gulp. That night there was a feast at the Governess's palace, though, so the two young men were left at home. They'd have to keep the girls warm the following night, so they retired both after dinner.
Moreno noticed that Spino was upset, so he followed him into his room, where Spino started pacing restlessly, muttering to himself.
"Spino, are you all right?" Moreno asked, worried.
"No!" Spino almost screamed. Then he clenched his fists to calm down. "I want to run away," he grumbled through gritted teeth. "I can't stay here..."
"What? But why?" Moreno protested.
Spino moaned and stopped pacing. "My name was Allegro," he said, staring desperately at Moreno. "I was Aryana's slave. I'm in love with Jasmine, who pretended not to recognize me and chose you instead..." He put his hands in his hair, snorting in frustration. "Why running away, I should just end my stupid life, that's what I should do!"
"No!" Moreno grabbed his arms and shook him. "Stay calm. Did Aryana recognize you?"
"Probably not, or she'd have told her sister she doesn't want me near her daughters..."
"All right, so you're safe. As for your beloved... I'll talk to her. Maybe she pretended to fool her mother!"
"Oh." Spino pondered and then relaxed. "You might be right... All right, I'll wait until tomorrow..."
"Good." Moreno squeezed his arms before letting them go. "Now get some sleep. And don't do anything stupid, all right?"
Spino nodded repeatedly, frowning with worry.
"Can I leave you?" Moreno asked again at the door.
"Yes." Spino stared at him, determined. "I'll wait for you to tell me what Jasmine said."
"All right." Moreno smiled. "Good-night."
***
"You have fully recovered from your wound, even if you have a scar," Jasmine said, thoughtful, caressing Moreno's belly. They were naked and in her bed after a quiet intercourse.
"Yes. I'm sorry I wasn't really available when I came to your mother's, but her ointments and potions really helped," he replied, wondering how he could bring up the subject of Spino-Allegro.
"Florina speaks highly of you."
"She also spoke highly of the men you made her meet."
"Yes, well, the best is gone," Jasmine muttered, frowning.
"Would that be Allegro?" he asked.
She stared at him, surprised.
"He told you how we called him?"
"I have requested Darya to save him from the Huntresses who had captured him, but he didn't tell me anything until you showed up here."
She sighed and nestled against him. "It's been a year... I thought he was dead... but he is more gorgeous than ever!"
"Living in the forest strengthened him – but he still has a very weak spot." Moreno smiled, looking her in the eyes. "You."
She smiled back against her will. "He's my weak spot too," she admitted.
"So you returned his love?"
"Of course. We grew up together, I gave him my virginity, but when I tried to claim him as a Favorite, my mother refused. She said I should aim higher than a field worker. That's why she brought me here – to choose a more proper man among my aunt's."
"Did she recognize the runaway?"
"I think so, but that's why I immediately asked for you instead. To fool my mother into thinking I didn't care anymore."
"But you do care."
"Yes."
Both pondered. There didn't seem to be a way out. Or was there?
"Didn't you say your mother brought you here to choose a more proper man?" he asked.
She nodded, puzzled.
"And since Allegro is now called Spino and has been trained to be a Public Man and has had many returning customers in the two months he spent here, do you think your mother might approve of him now?"
"Oh!" She thought about it. "Maybe! But then, Roxanne might claim him, and she's the elder..."
"Does she even like him?"
She sighed. "I don't know. They're together now. I'll ask her tonight. Maybe Florina can help me get Allegro – I mean Spino now that he is more proper. Although I have no idea of what my mother had in mind about it."
"A town boy, probably. We'll see if he's refined enough now, after spending two months with us. He wasn't a savage when he first came here anyway, so I'm sure he'll please your mother and she'll allow you to have him."
She smiled at him, relieved. "I hope you're right... She's very fond of you, she might listen to you."
"She'd never consult me," he reminded her. "I'm only a man after all... She healed me, but I'm her sister's property."
She snorted. "Why are things so complicated? I wish I were a Merchantess's daughter! I'd be able to travel and would know where to hide with my beloved... As is, I barely know where Maadre is!"
"Trust a ship captain to take you to a friendly country," he replied. "I have a customer, she says the Lekisha Kingdom is matriarchal, and even though they speak a different dialect, it's easy for the daughters of Amazonia to move there."
"Is she a Merchantess?"
"No, she's a ship captain. She transports goods and sometimes passengers on behalf of Merchantesses or Aristocrats who wish to travel abroad."
"Is she going to show up this week?"
"Probably... She's always in Elaine for the Spring Festival..."
***
The days of the festival were quite busy for everyone. The Public House got plenty of visits from country women who had come to the city for the occasion, and all the men worked full time. Roxanne had claimed Spino as companion for her stay and Jasmine had chosen Moreno, but when Captain Maeve showed up at the Public House, she gracefully gave a few hours of freedom to her man, so he could please a long-time customer.
Tales of the Queendom of Maadre Page 10
