"I had wondered at that, but assumed it was simply a quick raid to garner riches from the nearby merchants, I also assumed these might possibly be one of their renegade units that are also out harassing the towns of the lower Delta such as ourselves and merchant caravans," responded Jack, a pensive look now adorning his face.
"Sir, we both know there is no such thing as a renegade Turnin guard unit, and that what they publicly claim is just that, simply fiction in an attempt to shift blame from themselves for their covert actions. We've both spent many a midnight hour pouring over the reports of our spies in that city, correlating their missives with those of our paid informants."
"I agree Griff, so again, what does that have to do with Ivy? I will be honest. I'm losing patience listening to the obvious." Said Jack, even gruffer than before as he leaned forward to stare at his subordinate.
"Just this, Sir. Each team, as I'm calling them, was to enter and abduct a girl that was previously identified by spies within the midst of each city, in our case, that girl was your Ivy. She was identified to the light force as a young girl of eighteen years, blonde haired and blue eyed, slight of build and with a small birthmark on her right temple in the shape of a clover. That fits Ivy's description. What is more telling is that they were originally informed she was currently a thief and now the collared property of the Commander of Ashton. This was why they were headed to your quarters when discovered." Now Griff sat back in his chair and simply stared at his commander as he waited while his superior thought about the ramifications of this revelation.
"Did they say why they were searching for such a girl?" asked Jack quietly, as he tapped his writing instrument against the desk in a thought-filled movement.
"Yes, Sir. This girl is evidently the daughter of the late Potentate. Sir Richards, the one assassinated fifteen years ago, along with his entire family. They believe only his youngest daughter escaped as her body was never recovered from the estate she was residing in under heavy guard. They had just arrived at the royal's summer property to remove her from the capitals political infighting. I know you remember this Sir as we were both simple guards at the time, well you were actually a captain while I was a Lieutenant but you get the idea. We lead men in a search for any survivors when requested yet found none." Griff paused as he waited for the Commander to catch up.
"I remember it well. Richard the Strong was a well loved man and not a single man among us would not have laid down his life for that one." Jack spoke slowly as his mind dwelled on past memories. "My father died a few years after that propelling me into the Commanders position."
"Yes sir, but now the political winds in Turnin have changed and once again, a Strong attempts to sit on the throne in command of their people, in a manner of speaking. He is a distant cousin that resided in another country far from here while involved in studies. He wishes to take the throne in trust and place the daughter on the chair if he can find her," responded Griff, as he drummed his fingertips on his knee while watching his commander closely. "It is also important to note that four of our allies were attacked and in all four cases a girl matching Ivy's description kidnapped. The other three did not attack. Evidently, their spies did not find a girl matching the description. Two of our allies were rather badly mauled."
"As I said, I remember it well and we found no one matching that of the missing girl. Then again, the estate had been burned to the ground and many of the bodies unrecognizable. I want you to send envoy's to all four that were attacked. Include as many physicians as we can spare for the two that were badly hurt. Let's get them patched up."
"Yes sir will do in a moment and correct Sir on the girl," said Griff simply, as he continued to stare at his commander who suddenly sat upright and placing two fingers between his lips, whistled sharply then shouted.
"Attend me mine."
Seconds later the girl Ivy entered and scurried to her masters side. As she made to kneel, he reached out grabbing her by the hair and pulled her into his lap. She rolled her eyes at her master and then wiggled when placed in his lap. Then started giggling but remained passive as he wet one finger in his mouth and rubbed it across the smudge over her right temple. The smudge did not disappear and Jack leaned forward to gaze at it closely. Sure enough, it was in the shape of a three-leaf clover. Griff had also stood up and was now standing beside Jack, examining it with his commander. Both men looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.
"Mine, what do you remember of your childhood?" asked Jack gently as he cuddled the girl. Beside him, Griff squatted on his heels and listened intently.
"Well, my Master. My former stepfather, as he called himself, found me after a fire burned through our home when I was five. I was with him eleven years, eleven unpleasant years, until I was able to run away at sixteen. I came here to Ashton a short time later and have been here ever since and am now collared by a master I can call mine and one whom I love." Ivy responded with first a dark then bright expression covering her face.
Three wounds had barely slowed Jack down in his attentions towards his girl and he had fucked her twice a day over the last two days, much to her delight, and he bore the scratches from her savage passion to prove it. She was everything he had ever needed and he used her thoroughly as a slave was meant to be used. His quarters had also changed in the last two days and now contained a large copper tub that Ivy used to bath him every night after his patrols and office work. He realized he would soon have to give up his small private office to enlarge his living quarters for an interior bathing room. He was not looking forward to that as already the men were ribbing him non-stop. However, it was only in jest as they all loved his Ivy and there was not a one that would not lay down his life for her. What she did during the battle was amazing. He knew that if he ever tried to get rid of her his men would revolt.
"Tell me about your earliest memories girl," demanded Jack, as he lightly stroked her thigh to put her at ease as she recounted them.
"Well, as I said, my Master. All I really remember is a bright fire, the smell of smoke and people screaming. My mother and father, dressed in purple robes forced me into an underground tunnel, the one below our kitchen. A servant was guiding me when the roof started to collapse and I was hit by several rocks and must have fallen unconscious because it was pitch dark when I awoke and the servant behind me dead. Only his hand, outstretched, protruded from a huge pile of rocks directly behind where I lay. The torch he held in his hand had long since died out and I had to feel my way to the entrance in darkness. I wandered for three days near our home when the woodcutter found me and took me in. That was rather unpleasant to say the least my Master, and I'm glad I ran away." Ivy responded, as she purred at his stroking.
"What about this woodcutter, is he still alive?" asked Griff, his attention riveted on the girl's story. Both men had looked at each other twice during the short narrative, first at the mention of purple robes, and then again at the comment about the hidden tunnel emanating from the kitchen.
"I do not know. I have not seen him in over two years. When i was able to slip the chain he secured to my ankle, I stole enough food to last a week and ran as fast and as far as I could. So far, I've not seen him in Ashton and now that I am eighteen he has no hold over me or would not even if I were free, which I'm not." The last was said with a happy smile to her Master.
"Why did you run from him and better yet, why did he keep you chained?" asked Jack.
"Because morning, noon and night he would make me use my mouth on him. He never used me in any other way, but by mouth...yes." the last said in a tiny whisper and downward gaze as a stormy expression clouded the young girls face.
"I never knew mine or I would not have let you do that to me twice now in the last two days," said Jack, as he watched her closely.
"Oh my Master, I enjoy doing it for someone I love. Actually you are the first since I left him," said the girl impishly with a sly wink in her Masters direction before leaning against him, an action Jack allowed. It was true
. Twice now since he was under recovery from his wounds she had administered to him. Sucking his cock dry each time while under the furs. During such ministrations he was amazed at her talent, but now knew it came from eleven years of being forced to perform such tasks daily. The though left him angry with this...stepfather.
"Griff, how old does the girl look to you? Does she look eighteen?" Jack asked.
"Yes Sir, she looks to be seventeen or eighteen at the most. Definitely not any older," the man replied, as he examined the girl closely.
"But master, I am eighteen. The woodcutter said he knew my parents and that I was five. He was adamant about that and when neighbors asked about my small size he simply told them that both of my parents were short in stature. I've heard that scores of times," cried the girl in a plaintive voice and one Jack ignored as he turned again to his second.
"Griff, gather up a two full squads of a dozen each and ride like the wind to the old estate. Find that woodcutter and make him talk even if you have to roast him over a slow fire," stated Jack bluntly, to the nod of his man. "Take an extra mount each and if you ride hard, you can be there by nightfall. Enjoy evenings repast in Glenhall, and then begin the search in the morning. When you find him, get the story out of him and then end him," finished Jack emphatically, and then added. Before you leave, make it known to send envoys to all our allies. I want to convene a conclave at the soonest.
"Yes, my Commander, and I will leave instructions for your third to put the prisoners to the pike so I can leave immediately," stated the grizzled veteran, slapping his chest in salute before leaving abruptly to Jack's nod.
"Are you okay, my Master?" asked Ivy, as she nuzzled against him and Jack found himself stroking her hair lightly.
"Yes mine. Don't' worry about it as we have something else to attend to this morning," smiled Jack as he pushed her off his lap before grabbing the cane that leaned against the far side of his desk. Although the healing poultices of the physicians worked wonders on wounds, he was still recovering, and used a cane to assist in his walking which took a considerable amount of stress off his already savaged leg.
"Yes, my Master. You indicated you had a surprise for me. I can't wait," giggled the girl with glee. Jack simply smiled for he suspected the surprise was not one she would have anticipated.
*****
Chapter 13:
Limping from his offices in the Warriors hall and with Ivy following close beside him, Jack made his way down the street, occasionally greeting others of high guild and even nodding at the familiar face of a merchant or baker or two. Soon they were at the end of the avenue near the docks, where another tavern resided along with a blacksmith's shop. It was to the metalworker's business that Jack preceded, calling out a friendly greeting to the man within who was wearing a heavy leather apron and to the two obvious apprentices that stood beside him. All three men where short and heavily muscled, something Jack was glad to see as he would need their strength in a moment.
"Greetings Mojern, lads, did you get my items ready?" inquired Jack in a deceptively innocent voice and a small grin on his face as he made the inquiry of the apprentices.
"Greetings Masters," called out Ivy a second after Jack had his greeting out. The three men waved at them both and then the artisan spoke to Jack, a bright smile upon his face.
"Yes Sir, they're right here. Take a lookee sir." Jack followed the man as he walked over to the side hearth and pulled out a brand. This, he held near Jack but not close enough to touch him with the orange red iron. Jack nodded in approval at what he saw and then accepted a woodcutting with the brand burned into it. Crisp and sharp, it contained the shape of a flower with a large S within it. Jack tilted his head for the man to put the brand back in the fire, to keep it hot and then turned to the smiths apprentices.
"Lads, would you be so kind as to grab a hold of my girls arms for me and strip her. But be careful, those silks cost a fortune," smirked Jack, as the two young men nodded in gleefully agreement and had a confused Ivy in their grasp only a moment later. Methodically they stripped her of her silks, being careful to unclasp them and set them to the side on a nearby clean bench.
"My Master, what's going on? What have I done?" Ivy cried out, not trying to resist but obviously scared.
"You have pleased me mine and because of that, I told you that I had a present waiting for you." Jack replied then turned to the two men holding her. "Fasten the girl to the branding rack and make sure the ropes are tight and she's properly stretched."
"No, my Master, nooo," she wailed. "I thought you were going to present me with sweets or perhaps more meat with my meal, not a branding!"
"Nope, and it's a bit more than a branding, girl. Much more in fact. The whole branding process has meaning. But I also have an additional treat for you." Jack smirked again as he turned back to the blacksmith. "Do you have the second item ready?" he asked.
"Yes Sir, here you go," the man said with a wide grin and handed Jack a thick silver ring with vines engraved upon it and tapered at one end where it separated. Jack saw that it could be pinched back together easily with a standard pair of metalworker's pliers and nodded in approval, then pocketed it before heading over to Ivy who was now stripped and bound tightly to the smooth wooden planks that tilted upright at a forty-five degree angle while being supported in the back by a stand. The planks formed an X and he nodded again in approval as the apprentices had clamped both thighs to the hard surface of the wood and then her upper body, securing her immobile in place. As Jack walked away and seeing the girl was secured, the smith directed his lads to operate the bellows forcing fresh air into the hot coals of the hearth and heating the iron up even more.
"This is a special occasion, is it not, Sir?" The smith had spoken again as he regarded the girl on the rack. Then a moment later went over to a bucket of clean water nearby and pulling out a dripping cloth which he used to quickly scrub down the girls left outer thigh.
"This is indeed a special occasion, Mojern. I have taken a slave whom I cherish and thus will mark her as mine for all to see," Jack responded then leaned over to kiss his girl softly on the lips for a brief second before rising and after smoothing the hair off her forehead he spoke."Mine, why is a slave branded? Or better yet, why does a master personally brand his slave. What does that mean to you?" he inquired, as he continued to stroke her hair, gently.
"My Master. I don't know, I suppose it's to mark me forever, more so than a collar, so I can more easily be found if I run away." Ivy replied.
"No, if that were the case I would simply have the smith do the branding. I'm quite sure he's done hundreds if not thousands," replied Jack as spoke in a strong clear and carrying voice, while continuing to caress her. To his side the smith nodded emphatically and mouthed the words, thousands.
"Then I don't know my master, nothing is coming to mind," now a sob broke forth from Ivy as she stared at her master with wide eyes filled with fright.
"To be personally branded by your master, using his special brand means something special. For a regular brand, every time your hand slides over it or you see it in a mirror and when looking downward, you are reminded that you are a slave, property, and a reminder that you are a slave forever. There is no going back. However, a special master's brand, that adds much more. To give you my personal brand, means I love you and that I am not afraid to let the world see that love I hold for my slave. However, it is more than that. It is a special moment between a master and his girl, signifying devotion to your wellbeing as long as you obey and I live. It also means I intend to keep you forever and that you have found a home at last, a home you are not only welcome in but also cherished. Now, each time your hand slides over your brand, you will remember this moment and your master's love for you and how dear to his heart he holds you, mine. It is a constant reminder of that love." Jack finally finished and stepped back.
As he finished speaking, Jack noticed that quite a crowd had gathered outside and were crowding around the open stall design of
the smithy. Their numbers appeared equally divided between the free and other slaves, both male and female and they must have numbered at least forty with more arriving by the second. He ignored them as he set his cane down and limped over to the hearth to inspect the special brand he'd had designed. It was in the shape of a rare flower that grew only on the rocky outcroppings of the nearby Stony Mountains. It was also the coat of arms of his house going back dozens of generations. Within that outer shape was a stylized S. The iron instrument now glowed white-hot and he limped back to Ivy and then upon reaching her side he straightened while placing his left hand upon her thigh over the lower thigh straps which were set slightly above her knees, his eyes met hers for a brief moment.
"Please my Master, not a branding, I beg you to reconsider," Ivy started to say but her words turned into an agonized scream as he expertly straightened the metal rod and drove its end into the silky, smooth flesh of her thigh, hard, and held fast while holding the brand in place. In just a few seconds, it burned completely through the outer skin layer, then deep into the fat and muscle underneath. The air, filled with a sizzling sound and smoke, wafted up from her burnt flesh as Jack's nostrils were assaulted by the smell of scorched meat. He counted slowly to three then in a quick movement pulled the brand from her body. There before him, on her thigh, was the mark of her master. Its lines were clear and finely formed and would be a constant reminder to his girl to whom she belonged. He nodded in satisfaction and then turned to hobble over to the bucket beside the hearth and dropped the iron into it.
Ivy's screams quickly subsided into uncontrollable sobs as the searing agony of the initial branding subsided while around them and outside, the quite large crowd cheered the special ceremony. Merchant hawkers were already selling skins of mead, whisky, fruit juices and wine for the free men and women present, and sweet rolls filled with various meats. The crowd was having a good time yet none left for the word had spread that this event would be more than a master branding his slave, but something else, unique, and never seen up here in the delta before.
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