Lilbit O’ Larl wanders into the shop looking for the slave that was there the night before
Gaia swallowed hard and took a while before responding, “I suppose so, Mistress. The lease with my former owner, does it have an expiration?” she began to wring her hands and the agitation was brought about by the fact that she liked where she is now. No competition, no hollering and temperamental Taharian Master… and most of all, Kait belongs to the higher echelons. What other reasons could she have not to want what was so close yet so very elusive?
Kait waves a hand dismissively, “Such is not your concern. Come. I need to check some of the inventory in the shop.” Wandering down the stairs she expected the slave to follow
Lilbit O’ Larl waits patiently feeling that it is so important to tell the girl about the mistake she made
Gaia followed suit, watching the pink skirt billow before it disappeared down the stairs.
Kait steps into the shop noting the nude slave immediately. Arching a brow she asked the girl curiously, “Is your owner a customer I should be concerned to know?”
Lilbit O’ Larl rests her chin on the counter waiting, standing straighter when the lady appears. “I_I was looking for…her” she pointed to the slave that followed behind the physician, “There was a terrible mistake Mistress and I felt it important to tell the girl what happened…I can read but most cannot and well…” she stopped falling silent
Gaia forehead became marred with lines of confusion as she stared at the blonde slave, “Me? Mistake?” she turned to Kait and said, “I have no clue about what she’s talking about, Mistress”, she said in her defense. She tensed and was mentally trying to run through her head everything she did the previous ahn. “I saw you but I don’t …”, she squinted at the girl, “… I don’t recall even talking to you at all”.
Kait looked from one to the other wondering what this is all about, “So you can read you say and my slave here made a mistake? Do tell.” She begins to tap her foot in an agitated manner wondering what this was about. Snapping her fingers together she then motioned the slave around the counter.
Lilbit O’ Larl stepped back falling to a tower so that the lady can easily see her reverence…”There was a mistake Mistress…your slave gave a bottle off of a shelf to my new chain sister. ummm My chain sister saw her old Master…well…she…pointing to Gaia… brought him to her…at my new sister’s request…” she stopped confused now and then shaking her head got to the point. “Whatever was in the bottle, when the girl threw it at her old Master…well still her Master now…someone named …Darby?” It splattered all over…when Su threw it at the Master…and the cloth in the place started to …get holes and fray and it sizzled, so it could NOT have been what the girl thought it was….healing salve. So if you are letting her give out medicine Mistress…it was lucky that is all broke and spilled.” She stopped, not able to believe that she got all of that out in one breath
Gaia knew what she was talking about and was momentarily perplexed. Then her eyes turned to slits and her survival instinct kicked in. “Oh. Su”, she said. “Mistress and you.. “, she pointed to the kneeling slave girl and made her voice sound indignant. “Mistress, this girl is chain sister to a slave that was accused of stealing. Who gave a different name when found out and is now accusing me of dispensing the wrong medication to a slave girl without any coins”, her voice was neither soft nor loud, it simply rang with clarity. “And now she’s telling you”, she looked at Lil, “.. that I was the one responsible for the explosive bottle. How sure are you that she did not steal it from this shop?”.
Kait grew amazingly still wondering if the girl could be believed or not so she waited for a response from Gaia, “Healing salve? Broken bottle? Burned Clothing? All you say is a bit of a jumble but the gist seems to be my slave delivered the wrong medicine which would have been without my consent so we are talking about theft. Are you sure girl?” With the same finger used earlier to command the other slave she pointed it at Gaia and crooked it downward.
Lilbit O’ Larl looked at the girl quickly then said softly,” My Master had said that perhaps I should tell you so that you would understand for…hmmm…what did he say…public safety?” she blinked up at the lady in pink a little confused having thought that all physicians wore green all of the time. “But my Master..he does not really own the girl she babbled having not been allowed to speak for quite some time, a long trip away from Ar and back again…the words tumbled out as if bottled under pressure. She literally laughed at Gaia, “the girl is not my chain sister at all…she belongs to the Master named Darby, and yes she is a thief. But I am not and my Master is getting FC’d at the moment and allowed me to stop to tell all of this on my way to kennel. As if on que, Sar yawned. My Master is the silversmith his name….is David Girilius, Mistress if you would like to ask him about it sometime”
Lilbit O’ Larl looked at Gaia, “Would you lie to a free!?: she said shocked
Gaia knelt gracefully and placed both hands over her lap primly. Once done, she raised her eyes to Kait and said in earnest, “Mistress, I beg your mercy for this girl’s temerity of even insinuating that you would allow a lowly beast such as myself to dispense of medication without knowing its full effect. Yesterday, her Master”, she points a finger towards Lil, “… came by looking for ointment to heal gashes and pain. As ordered, I double checked with the list of simple medication that could be purchased over the counter. I followed your instruction to the letter”. She then calmly turned to look at the other slave girl, “I apologize if we both seem to be victims of a scheming Pani who may or may not have stolen something from this shop.The only thing I ever gave her is my time when she requested that I bring her Master along. Something I would’ve done for anyone on their knees, I am not without compassion”, her gaze did not waver when she said, “I will never lie to a Free. But you may wish to interrogate the pani girl and maybe you’ll find the mistake with her. Not me”.
Kait glared at Gaia, “So tell me girl am I dealing with one slave who is a thief and a liar or am I dealing with another slave who appears to be doing something of a good turn yet is actually a liar? Either way it matters not”. Bending low to stare at the would-be confessor of ill deeds. “If a free who has not consulted with me directly dares to accept any medicine other than the most mundane from a slave then I suppose they deserve whatever they get. I certainly won’t be held liable for any damage. To be even more clear I don’t handle any form of healing salve in this shop since it is usually the work of those with an eye for profiting off the grand storytelling of those not of our caste. It is rare and certainly wouldn’t be available for easy disbursement.”
Lilbit O’ Larl looked over her blonde brain puzzled, before offering her own story, “I am sorry Mistress but no free was involved in the transaction…At the time Master Hax was offering a rock for the purchase of the girl and the slave slipped it into her hand before she returned and reappeared with the Master named Darby, I am sorry, I did not know that Su had hidden money somewhere on her naked body, that could be so, you never know with a thief,” she said nodding as if to confirm her own words… “Well then there is the proof Mistress of course you have the money the thief left to pay for the bottle and I am mistaken…but there is the question of the bottle not being what she thought…it was like bleach or acid, if it has touched skin…I do not know what would have happened, I almost fainted from the fumes, myself and the Master…Darby he ducked the blow….well to be honest he did not have to, her aim was awful!!” Yawning again Sar begs softly to be released to return to her kennel, oblivious of whatever repercussions may be in her wake.
Kait had already turned to address Gaia. “You may go. Tell your owner you have provided the information.”
Lilbit O’ Larl hopped off running home, “thank you Mistress!” not really dumb but rather like a puppy the girl obviously lived in the moment
Kait waits for the slave to disappear before she addresses her own, “Start talking…and slowly. I want to be sure I have your version of what happened and make no mistake I will have the truth one way or the other.”
Gaia’s shoulders sag once the girl was out of ear shot. “Mistress”, she began in a small voice and the bravado she previously displayed was gone. It was replaced by a pair of shaking hands and a dark color creeping up her cheeks. Her face alternated between deep red and blanching when the chemist asked her the side of her story. She swallowed and kept her gaze on the stone slabs. “Suyuan is a girl who once gave me a thick fur when I was left under the snow while being punished, Mistress. I never forget people like that and I would always return the deed, given the chance”, her voice was so low and sounded so petrified. “I saw that her body was covered in bruises, gashes and cuts”, her sweaty palms wiped themselves nervously over her thighs, “And so, I gave her the liniment that you gave to the old woman from the north”, she then felt tears. Tears of fear. For her life. “I am begging your mercy, Mistress. I never gave her anything explosive or anything that I … that would cause such a thing that the girl described!” her torso bent and she placed her lips on the hem of her gown in supplication.
Kait had been sure that the truth rested somewhere between the slaves original words and that of the other slave. Not giving any sign she cared in the least about the sentiment associated with the slaves actions she spoke carefully in a voice icy with menace, “Did you at least collect coin?” The girls gestures of submissive regret went unheeded as she took a step away from the slave to lessen the chance that she might kick her. Moving to the counter to perform a careful count of the inventory in stock comparing it to what had been present the day before. “It does seem that only liniment is missing yet I still have a thief on my hands so I wonder what I should do.”
Gaia felt faint. The displeased tone of the woman was even worse than a swift kick to her gut. She knew the pleasant days gone past was like the calm before the storm. And true enough, the storm is just about to rage. She saw the possibility of moving up the pathetic ranks of slaves dissolve. If … if she is not able to turn things around. She then remembered the coins left by the young man, the one who broke the jars and she schooled her features into a credible facade. “Yes, Mistress. She left 3 copper tarsks. The girl is quite a schemer, and it was only because I wanted to repay my debt with her that I decided to help her”, she held her breath and closed her eyes while she prayed to Odin.
Kait continued n in the same tone, “Do you imagine that a soft hearted thief is any less the thief? You collecting the coin from her does change things a bit.” Her hand went to her waist even though she knew the whip wasn’t present. It calmed her a bit just the very action. “Make no mistake Gaia, the wealth I have amassed comes from keeping careful books. The tube you offered the slave was only worth a few copper but those coppers add up quickly to silver and in turn gold. If you ever take anything from these shelves again I can assure you that the brand of a thief will be the least of your worries. Your large frame will be covered with lash marks delivered by a firmer hand than mine if anything like this happens again. Where is my money?”
Gaia: Anadil has already given her the payment. 5 copper tarks to be exact and she would just need time to make sure she replaces the 3 coins she’s going to take from it. It was a good thing, too, that Kait wasn’t aware the temperamental man has already paid up what he owed for the broken jars. She heaved a massive sigh of relief for the brief respite. She knew she had to think of something that would allow her to earn the coins she’s using to pay for the liniment she gave to Suyuan but that will be dealt with later. She rose eagerly and said in a meek voice, “Yes, Mistress. I will get the coins”, she kept it in a little satchel, by the edge of the long counter and she quickly went to retrieve 3 coins while Kait wasn’t looking. The rest, she buried underneath a pile of paperworks that never seem to be given any attention. She will move the coins later at a more secure hiding place until she could complete the amount Anadil gave her. “Here, Mistress. And know I will never make the same mistake again”, she went back to tower and assumed a submissive posture while offering the money with her head bowed. “Please forgive me, Mistress”.
Kait reached down and took the coin and with speed of a striking ost she moved to slap the slave as hard as she could. “If you ever take from me again to service the need of some beast you have a soft spot for you can expect to not simply worry if I will purchase you but worry for your very existence. I will ensure it is a miserable one.” She straightened slowly suddenly feeling much better. Her voice indicated just that in its sudden calm warmth as if speaking to a reluctant patient. “So tell me what else occurred in the shop while I was away in the lab?”
Gaia: The force of the hand to her cheek was deceptively stronger than what one would expect from a woman of her physical stature. Gaia isn’t frail yet the impact sent her head jerking to the side violently. The message has been relayed; this one is not to be fucked with. The sting was ignored, she didn’t even lay a hand to her cheek to inspect the warm imprint of Kait’s hand. She took the slap with nary a word. The hair that clung to her moist lips after the forceful hit was removed by a tapered finger before she answered the question. And her tone was almost so soft that it would be hard to hear, “The Owner of the blonde slave girl who was just here purchased the liniment and has to be billed for it, Mistress”.
Kait listens to the girl and pauses, “Any outstanding bills give them to Karjuk. He usually has more luck collecting than the house bookkeeper oddly enough.”
Gaia: “Yes, Mistress. As you wish”, she responded quickly.
Kait was sure it had everything to do with the hulking menace he presented when demanding payment, “We also need to go over the inventory as I intend for you to be more useful other than just sweeping up spilled messes. You did say you were literate?” Frowning she remembered the mess the day before, “I don’t suppose that odd man left payment for the mess he created?”
Gaia: Kait wouldn’t see her eyes roving from left to right when asked about the man who wreaked some minor havoc in the shop. She chose to answer the first question, “Yes, Mistress. Learned in numbers and in letters”. That much, was the truth. “I will make sure that the man’s payment be turned over to you as soon as I have them, Mistress”, and she quickly added, “I would be more than happy to help with the inventory, if it pleases you”. Karjuk’s menacing bulk isn’t always visible but she knew the man lurks. Always somewhere but almost never seen until Kait calls for the man. She could only hope that Kait didn’t mean to imply it was her guard that would execute her whipping if there was ever a need for it. The man’s hand, in a nutshell, is as big as Gor.
