Nameless Slave --( Chapter One )

Crossing between virtual Worlds and medical procedures. The story begins when John Starch finds himself standing on a dock a small ship is docking, It carries sails but is being rowed into its berth

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Chapter one

The Docks

 

 

John was suddenly aware, he heard creaking sounds and the splash of waves as he woke his eyes were blurred, everything seemed grey then his vision cleared as the grey mis-formed clouds vanished.

Shaking his head he looked around, to find himself standing on a dock, looking for the source of the creaking he saw a sailboat coming into the dock driven by oars but was more concerned with how he came to be there. He was aware he had just woken, but standing upright and why could he not recall.

The sun was bright and he felt the warmth on his bare arms and legs, odd he he thought looking down he saw he was wearing red tunic like garb with a green patch on the shoulder. He was wearing a wide brown belt at his waist and from it hung a small leather pouch, some keys and a dagger. Pinching himself "ouch", that hurt he realized he very muscular and his pinch on his bare skin had drawn blood.

I must be dreaming he thought, "That at least made sense" *he thought to himself, I'll go with that for now! Having decided he was dreaming he decided to enjoy the dream it seemed so real. Walking towards the water he saw the setting was quite medieval, workers scurried around moving goods. Looking at the ship he saw cargo stacked on the deck. Tied with ropes. Approaching the boat a dock hand called to him “Stay your distance, wait till we have docked, plenty of time to see our wares then”.

Stepping back he stumbled over somebody close behind, as he went to apologize he realized she was almost naked save for a piece of green cloth draped over her shoulders and tied at the waist. Then he noticed the chain fastened to a metal collar around her neck, the collar had a rivet hammered through it securely lock it around her neck a lock was fitted to hold the chain to it-at the other end the chain was attached by a similar lock to his belt. The girl was a beauty her hair was quite long and black, her body a little plump quite tall with long legs, her skin a olive complexion, she carried herself well and had a sparkle in her eyes.

Shaking his head. “Girl why are you so fastened to me? I seem unable to recall?”. My Master she giggled, “I am your girl the house has given me to you in order to guide you and help you to remember who you are”. You had it was told to me a terrible injury the physicians have tasked me with your care and learning now your body is healing, Today is your first day out, If I do well and you are pleased with me I am yours as long as you remain in this fine city . If you are not pleased with me then I will be beaten and another girl given to you. I am only a poor kajira Master I wish you to find me pleasing and able to help you.

Confused I stared at the girl, tell me girl what is your name? Please Master I have no name I am but a nameless slave, a beast you may use me how you wish save in the furs. No Name? * This seemed odd to me “how can you have no name”, I asked. Because she replied no Master has seen fit to give me one. Has this always been so I asked? Before I was a slave my name was Aquilah I was a free woman of the house off Sambae a trained helper to the houses physicians I was to be his free companion, then the night before our joining his slaves drugged me and carried me out unconscious into the night I have a memory of flying in a Tarns basket but was hooded and tied. 

A fellow brought me here and I was sold as white silk slave to the physicians and branded. They had been told of my coming and value my poor skills highly. I have so far been spared training as a kennel slave and given clothes. Now I am yours if you find me pleasing and choose to keep me. Please Master keep me for I do not want very much to be beaten.

I have attended to my sisters that have been beaten, they heal but are in dreadful pain while they heal and then live in dread of being displeasing again, I am in dread off displeasing you Master. Please Master girls will try her hardest to please you. Very well I said but can I really call you nameless slave when I know you have a name? As it pleases you master. Well I said it seems to me you need a name so I can address you so you know to whom I speak. I will name you Olive I said after your skin, it seems a good choice and better than nameless slave. She fell to my feet Master she cried “Thank you Master for giving this worthless beast a name. Please Master may I touch you? What an odd question I thought, Smiling you may I replied rather liking this girls attitude.

She hugged my leg pressing her face against it, I felt a dampness and looking down i saw she was crying, Why are you crying girl I asked “Master I am so happy you have given me a name I am no longer a nameless slave”. Please Master how can I further serve you? I find myself at a loss here girl, what can you tell me to make me understand better? If it please you master may we go to the house and I will get you Drink and food, this is the first day you have been up I hope you will rest so as to not excerpt yourself overly while I try to explain. Very well girl you had better lead the way, Yes Master please keep a tight grip on my collar least I get to far ahead, its this way. She turned and looked at me, indicating where we should go I started to walk away from the docks and she led the way, still puzzled by my lack off memory.

As we left the the wooden walkways of the docks behind, we crossed a wide but short bridge and I saw the docks where we had stood were floating as was one end off the bridge so as to allow the boats to be tight firmly to the docks to help load and unload their cargo's. On the wide cobbled Quayside stood two large wooden cranes and one was in operation lifting a cage from a larger boat. It was being lowered to the ground. Livestock I supposed, but on looking at the contents I saw not livestock but naked and disheveled girls. These girls despite their condition all seemed very beautiful to me. fascinated I wandered towards them forgetting the girl chained to my waist and making her stumble as I had caught her off guard, a large burly man stepped forward to block my path to the girls, raising his arm he showed me his palm, “Tal” He said, not recalling how to even greet I feeling foolish responded in the same manner, “Tal” This seemed to satisfy him he continued “These girls are not for sale yet, they are to go to the house off Master Dreyuss to be trained and made fit to serve If you seek more slaves you should go there. Do you need instructions as to how to get there? I shook my head, No they just caught my eye, Well if there is one in particular that has caught your eye then visit Master Dreyuss I have heard he will allow an expression off interest on a girl though off course it adds much to her price.

I looked at the girl asking do you know off this place i asked? Yes my Master she replied, many are beaten there and I have to attend them. Turning back I thanked him, Tal he spoke and stood back to allow me to pass, I felt the conversation was ended and indicated to the girl we should continue. Walking away we passed small shops with tiny windows and a tavern from which music came interested by the sound I moved towards it. Master may I beg to speak the girl said quietly I looked at her, she was silent it dawned on me I was supposed to reply, Speak Olive I said. Master I collected you from the dock when you arrived if you tarry I shall be beaten, I beg you to save me from that, let us proceed to go to your home where the head physician will be waiting to see you and explain how you recovery may be assisted by her guild.

The walk was short to the house, there were several houses set inside a high wall with a guard at the gate, a monster of a man standing there he looked about 7 ft tall and had long red hair, dressed in a red tunic with leather bindings on his arms and wearing a short sword on his belt. He rose as we approached Raising his arm to me in the same way the man at the dock had Tal Free he said but smiled at the girl while not speaking to her. Instead he addressed me, State your business here he said. I am being brought her to meet a physician I replied. He looked at the girl is this he whom you were sent to collect he demanded off her, She looked at me, girls begs permission to answer she said softly. I looked at her, Just answer when you asked something I said, shaking my head why did she keep asking me for permission to speak? I wondered. Yes Master she said to the guard then enter and welcome friend he said to me. To the girl hurry girl, he has been there a while waiting its best you beg forgiveness when you arrive there for your lateness.

May we go Master she asked off me, I gestured her forward walking inside the wall there were formal gardens surrounding each of the tiny houses, almost huts I thought so small were they. The walls seemed to be off wood and the roofs had a thatching off straw a barrel was placed by each hut to catch rainwater from large gutters and small pipes ran out into the garden to water the plants which I noticed contained not flowers but herblike plants with small bushes resplendent with small red flowers that smelt like lavenders. This way if it please you My master she spoke, may we hurry ? Lead on Olive I said.

We soon arrived at what was to be my house I supposed much like the others but over the door I saw a strange symbol like a green snake wrapped around a staff, What is that symbol I asked off her. It is the mark off Aesculapius, she said Master may we enter ? I gestured for her to do so but she opened the door and stood aside for me to enter so I did.

Author's Note

Chapter one, a rough draft.