by John Booth
Daniel's Return
Daniel's city was fair bustling with trade
Carts, wagons and donkeys struggling for space
Ceaselessly carrying their cargos in and out
Like ants in an anthill having a race
Daniel still wasn't talking to Jalia
But he didn't mind that she walked at his side
Through the bustling streets into market places
Until, finally his brother he spied
Yousef was a tall man with black messy beard
Who walked with a stoop and a fancy padded silk pad
This was needed every time he had to sit down
To cushion the injury he had had.
Yousef had been a very troubled man
He relied on Daniel's income for his lodging and food
It made him feel week not to survive without help
It made him embittered and angry and crude
Then he was made an offer that made him take stock
So good, so tempting, so cruel
He knew Daniel's dagger could also be sold for a lot
He was not the brightest at buying and selling
But no one would call him a fool.
So he had made the deal and was waiting for Daniel
For him, it was going to be a shock
But over time he would realize it was a good thing
Though Yousef knew it would not raise Yousef's stock.
But Daniel was late and his customer was anxious
Having paid out a large amount of gold
So when Daniel shouted out from the depth of the market
Yousef's relief was genuine, but cold
Yousef carefully stood and picked up his silk pad
It was the only thing that kept him sane
Else sitting down was like a thousand bee stings
His life would be nothing but pain
He slowly hobbled out of the market
With Daniel and Jalia and the donkeys in tow
He didn't even notice Jalia
Intent on his plan and how it would go
His house was only a short way away
He had bought it with the coin recently paid
It was so important this went without a hitch
Else this could be a disaster in spades
They went into the yard, Jalia stayed back
Daniel went to his brother and said
"I have made much money, this trip has been good
This should keep you housed and fed"
His brother took the coin purse without a word
He could feel from its weight that his brother told true
"Daniel can I borrow your dagger for a minute?
I promise to give it back to you"
Jalia moved further back in the yard
She sensed that something was wrong
But Daniel trusted his brother with his life
And gave him dagger, sheath and thong
Yousef handed the dagger to the servant stood near
Who quickly bustled it away
Yousef clapped his hands and some large men appeared
Who grabbed Daniel so he had no choice than to stay
"Daniel my brother as your guardian my child
I have sold you to Toxeth and his clan
They will take you and put the slave mark on your head
I am sure you can see the sense to this plan"
Jalia waited in the shadows
As Daniel was hustled away
She sneaked after Yousef as he entered the house
She intended to make this man pay.
The dagger had been left in the biggest room
Yousef looked at the blade, put it down, and sighed
That dagger had cost him a life without pain
Selling it would recover some of his pride
He went to the bedroom and using his silk pad
Settled down for siesta upon his bed
Then fell fast asleep from this exhausting day
And the things that he had done and said
Jalia retrieved the dagger taking all the money she found
Looked around for more in a dither
Then headed away to seek out Daniel
Taking the donkeys with her
Finding the Toxeth clan was easy
They owned the biggest manor in town
Jalia bound all she met with the magic ring
Heard shouting in the stables so went down
Daniel was being held by the big burly men
As a brand was being raised to his face
Then the brand flew away like a bird on the wing
And the two men flew apart at some pace
As they leapt up again whips suddenly appeared
And beat them back and hovered over each head
Jalia's voice came majestic from the door of the stable
"Touch my property once more and you are dead"
From the side door a massive man walked in
"This boy is my property bought fair"
"Not really, I bought him a year ago
I bought him out of Yousef's care"
"I have a deed of ownership" the fat man said
Obviously someone important in the Toxeth clan
"I have the means to whip you while I go to tea
If you want to argue it, my little man"
A whip appeared and Jalia made out to go
But the man gestured her back with a sigh
"I suppose can get my money back from Yousef
Arguing with you might make me die"
"I will take that deed" said Jalia very firmly
"Come with me now boy, don't be slow
"I'll release your men when we leave place
I would strongly suggest they don't follow"
Jalia led Daniel straight out of the manor
Grabbed the donkeys and they walked to the gate
Of this town that Jalia was thoroughly sick of
And to get out of, she just couldn't wait.
Way out of town, Daniel sat on a rock
Jalia handed him his dagger and brothers purse
Then, with a grin, she handed him his brother's silk pad
Which Daniel took with an oath and a curse
He put the silk pad down over his knees
Pulled Jalia down, tummy first, on the top
Started to spank her as she started to yell
"What's this for, now you just STOP!"
"So I'm taken and about to be branded as a slave
And all you can think of, is to acquire more loot
You even steal my brother's one item of comfort
About me and my fate, you just didn't give a hoot!"
"Oh, I did Daniel, I truly, really did
But the dagger is too important to just leave
And I wanted to punish that brother of yours
I wanted to make him curse and to grieve"
"How did he get that injury any way?
You never told me how it came to pass"
"I explained how I saved him with my magic sword
And he said 'Magic thing my ass!'"
Both Daniel and Jalia convulsed with laughter
Jalia now sitting on Daniel's lap, you see
It was some time later before Jalia got her spanking
It was not very hard and she took it with glee.
The End
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Booth is happily married with fully grown up children. It’s always wonderful when your kids manage things you didn’t.
He has written many stories about Daniel and Jalia; this is the first to make it into print.
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