Slave Girl Pt. 02 Ch. 58-67

Chapter 58

Well and truly spent I help Rosa in cleaning up, both our bodies and our bed, then melt into her bosom. My ear against her chest I listen to the soothing beat of her heart as she strokes me and cuddles me and sends me off to sleep. The sleep might have only been a few hours long but it was the deepest, hardest slumber I'd enjoyed in awhile.

As the first of Sol's direct golden rays reach our windows once more I am surfacing again. A lifetime of farm work had instilled in me a sixth sense of when it was time to rise, especially come harvest season. As nice as this was I find myself champing at the bit to get out amongst the grain again. I take a deep breath and stretch the tightness from my bones. To my right is my Lady, my slave, my Rosa buried beneath a heap of covers with just lovely face showing. I smile. Slipping carefully from the blankets so as not to disturb her I carefully fold my half of the top cover over her so that her heat loving body could be that much warmer.

"I love you." I whisper.

I walk out to the center of our room and properly stretch out. The side the northman had thrown me down on was sore but I'd had much worse in my time. After a quick round of position practice I gather my clothes and pad silently from the room. From the bottom of the stairs I can hear the twin snores of our guests reverberating through the villa, Colly's high and nasally and her master's low and throaty. It was a miracle either of them could sleep given the volume of their dozing duet. I just smile and shake my head. Cupid had made a good match there.

Soon I am standing out back looking out over the glorious dawn lit countryside that was my new home. I am both lifted and humbled by the sight of it. I give a short prayer to my goddess for blessing me with this opportunity to work her bounty then head down to the river to give myself a proper scrub down before the sweaty toil ahead. As I bathe a yawning, squinting Danae wanders out of the wild as if to bid me farewell.

"I heard you had a late night too." I say to her as I work soap through my thick hair. "I hope the hunting was good."

Her only reply is to lick her snout then disappear back into the green again.

All cleaned up I dress and head back up. As I jog up the final few stairs to the columned terrace I am surprised to find Cassie standing there waiting for me. Unlike the sleepy Danae and the slumbering trio inside she was wide awake and well groomed, clearly she'd been up for some time already. Lit by the dawn's glow her voluptuous body looked damn fine even in her simple white peasant's dress.

"Oh!" I say. "Am I late?"

"Nah. The men are just getting up." She says as she approaches. In her right hand is a basket with the most delicious smells coming from it. My empty stomach growls loudly the moment the mouthwatering aroma reaches my nostrils. Cassie smirks and shakes her head. "Ah, ah. Not for you."

"You cruel tease!"

She laughs. "Breakfast is waiting for you at the farm." I could already picture the spread of steaming rib-sticking food that Cas had laid out for the men. As early as the working farmer rose, the working farmer's wife rose just that much earlier. I suspect that was true where ever men tilled the land. "She feeds everyone working our land and you're no exception. And Dad says it'd be better if you eat with them so you can settle in with the boys. I hope that works for you."

"I'm appreciative."

"Oh, and here." She reaches into the basket and pulls something out of it. Some leather is slapped into my hand. I look down to see a newly made pair of work gloves. "Thought ya might be needin these."

"Another gift?" I say as I look over the fine craftsmanship and feel the tough yet supple leather in my grip. "You are too kind Cassie."

"There are worse things to be." She smiles.

"I WILL return this generosity someday." I tell her. "You have me at a disadvantage right now."

She straightens up, both hands and the basket tucking behind her. "I look forward to that." There is this odd...moment as each of us were momentarily at a loss for words. Mercifully she breaks the silence before it gets awkward. "And don't worry. I'll keep a good eye on everything here. You have my word."

"Thank you...again!" I stand looking down at her at a loss as to how I could show my appreciation. After an awkward hesitation...I lean down and kiss her on the cheek, leaving us both blushing. "Ahem."

"Ahem." She fiddles at her skirt bashfully. "Um, anything I ought to know?"

"Yeah. We've got a couple of guests." I say. "Here from the city."

"I was wondering who was shakin the walls." She quips at their snores that she must have heard when she arrived at the front. "I didn't think that would be Rosa."

"Yeah, well, one of them is a kobalos."

"Oh!" Her brows shoot up in surprise. "A goblin? Here?"

"She's a slave but she's also a friend." I say. "Her name is Collywaddle. Treat her with respect." Her blue eyes sparkle in the morning light as she peers up at me. "What?"

"Nothin. Just..." She grins. "...you are so different. You really do make your own rules around here."

"Ha! Tell that to my Lady."

She laughs. "Okay, goblin, got it. Anything else?"

"Uh, yeah." I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "Things are different here. Hey, if you happen to see anything, anything...unusual..."

"Unusual?"

"Yeah. I'd appreciate it if you kept it between us."

"What are you...?"

"Rosa's going to have a hard enough time settling in here." I say. "And I know how tall tales can catch and grow like grass fire amongst...us. I just don't want to be any harder than it has to be for her."

"Yeah." She nods, not quite catching my full meaning but getting enough of it. "Of course Quin."

"Good." I smile. Glancing out over the railing to the garden and river where I had just bathed below I ask. "So how long were you standing here?"

Another merry smirk brightens her face. "I just got here."

"Uh huh." I say dubiously.

"And the gazebo was in the way anyway."

We share a laugh.

"I'm going to get going. Don't want to be late on my first day."

"I think that's a good idea." She winks. "See you after work."

We stand once more unsure of exactly how to respond to one another until I spin and march off. I grab the shrubbery shears that I'd borrowed along the way and soon I am on the road. I had only gotten a half night's rest but there is a spring in my step and a lift to my shoulders as I stride between the waving amber fields. Though it cost me an hour of sleep some good lovin and cuddlin had rejuvenated my spirit far more than mere slumber. And running into Cassie this morning had buoyed me mood even more. Life was good!

My positive energy must have been obvious as I am greeted by only smiles and warm welcomes when I arrive at Horatius' farm. Even Cassie's overprotective brothers seemed pleased to see me.

"How ya doin big guy?" Felix calls.

"Great Felix."

It is only after a few minutes that I catch something was up. There weren't just smiles, there were some coy looks and covered laughs as well. As I met folks and shook hands I find that they weren't just happy, they were downright mirthful. There was an undercurrent of giddy humor that seemed focused on me though I hadn't a clue why. And the greetings seemed to be following a common theme.

"Hey big fella."

"Hi."

"Mornin to ya big man."

"Mornin."

"So that's the new neighbor. Larger than life!"

"Uh, yeah. Hello."

And so forth. It is not until Granny gets in on it that I realize what was happening.

"There's the young bull." Cackles Granny when she spots me join the grub line at the back of the house. My face turns warms as her eyes glance down to my groin for just an instant. I had almost forgotten about that trick Rosa played on me when I first met the Cassias. Granny hadn't forgotten it though. And the tall tale, or in this case long tale, had spread. When it was my turn at the table and she is passing me my plate heaped with porridge, eggs, cured pork and flat bread she asks boldly. "And how is our low hung neighbor this fine harvest morning?"

The innuendo broken wide open the gathered men explode with laughter. Some of them even slap my back as if to congratulate me on my blessing. My blush turns from pink to red.

"Mom!" Cas scolds. "Boys!"

"Nothin to be 'shamed of it is! He he he! Why if I was fifty years younger...WHOOO WHEEE!"

The men are roaring. Even the stern faced Horatius was chuckling. "Go get'im Granny!" Hoots one of them.

"MOM! I am so sorry Quin." Cas apologizes while valiantly trying to hold back her own giggles. She passes me a mug of watered down wine and gives a hard look to all of those around. "You stop that. NOW!"

The men's laughter turns to snickers and eventually settle to murmur. Cas was clearly not somebody to mess with. The mood was good though, the teasing not mean spirited. Just the regular give and take of working folk. But what a thing to be known for. I just hoped Cassie hadn't gotten her hopes up!

***

Chapter 59

"Ahem!" I clear my throat. "Yeah." Looking for something, anything, to change or at least escape the conversation I catch sight of Horatius chuckling along with the rest. Breakfast in hand I walk swiftly up to him. "Sir, could we talk a moment?"

"Of course." He says, his eyes twinkling just like I'd seen his daughter's do. He nods downward. "If it's to do with that I'm afraid I got no experience. I got an old stud stallion you might talk to though."

There are more laughs at my expense. I laugh along with them. This was going to be a thing now until it wasn't. Trying to buck it would only make it worse.

"No sir." I say. "Afraid it's a bit more serious."

He waves me to follow. "Come on young fella."

We step around the building and away from the gathered men. He leads me on to the wood pile and motions for me to sit down on the chopping block, which I do. Standing back from me he finds another decently sized log and sets it upright to sit on himself. Crossing his arms he says. "What's on your mind Quintus?"

"Well..." I raise the plate of food and mug. "...first off, thanks for hospitality and...just everything."

"Sure." He quickly swats away my attempt at small talk by cutting right back to the issue. "You wanted to talk?"

"Yeah." I set the dish on my leg. "Before you hear it from someone else I, uh, I just wanted to let you know I saw a bit of trouble last night."

His face hardens, his eyes narrow. "Oh?"

"That trouble we talked about before." I say. "Those two loose ends that needed tying off."

"Quintus..."

"I didn't go looking for a fight Sir but they were messing with my friends." I interject to explain the situation before he started judging. "Folks that only got caught up in it because they were friends of mine. Good people. I couldn't stand by."

"Mmm." His stern eyes look me up and down. "And?"

"And as far as I know it's finished." I say. "Rasmus and Pero are in prison this morning. Officer Amphion swore they'd see a praetor."

He cocks a brow. I couldn't tell if he was impressed or surprised. "I see."

"I'm a law abiding man sir. I didn't want you getting any other ideas." I say. "All I want is to work hard and look after my...um..."

"Slave?"

"Family."

His gaze staring hard into mine he searches for falsehood or weakness. I stare right back into his eyes to await my judgment. "Fair enough." He says, his stony expression softening. "Appreciate you letting me know." He stands and I stand too. Continuing to look up at me he gives a slow nod. "I wished I coulda met your Pa."

"You would have liked him."

"I think I would." He says. "Get on with ya. Go eat with your men."

"My men?"

"I told ya you were supervising a team." He says. "You'll be heading up the team with Lucas. Find him and you'll find them. He'll tell ya your section."

"Oh?"

"Don't worry. He knows whose in charge." He slaps my shoulder. "Hoping you might show him a thing or two. He's...err..."

"Stubborn?"

He smirks. "Stubborn, sure."

My conscience clean I head off to eat with my fellow laborers. When I return I notice that the larger gathering was loosely separated into smaller groups of five and six. I don't even have to look for Lucas as he was already waving me his way as I rounded the corner. I weave through the other teams, a few friendly hellos along the way, and come to sit in the grass with the five others that I'd be supervising. Besides Lucas and I there were two other freemen, a native Italian and a wiry African who had the darkest skin I had ever seen, and two slaves who were both from Hispania if their heavy, lisping accents were anything to judge by. All of them were young, right around my own age with Lucas being the eldest of us.

"Morning." I say as I sit down among them. Setting down my food and drink I reach around to give each of them a shake of the arm. Each in turn greets me except for Lucas who tries to set out how things are right away.

"So I hear you're an old hand." Lucas says, as if in charge. "I thought I'd get you to..." As his sister had done I knuckle Lucas on one of the sore knots on his dome. "OW!"

"I already talked to your Dad numb skull." I say in a tone that told that I'd have none of his bullshit.

Grumbling he sinks down and rubs his head. He might have taken a pop at me but he already knew from our first go round how that ended. The other four were all smiles.

Munching down my hearty breakfast I talk with each worker to assess their skills and experience. To my complete surprise the local freeman and both slaves were total novices to farm work. They'd never even held a sickle before! And the African only had a couple of harvests under his belt. Normally these large groups of seasonal labor were old hands at this. Not only did I have the youngest crew, they were also the greenest by far. In the grizzled group beside ours there was more experience in any one of those men than our whole gang put together. More and more I was getting the sense that there was a method to old Horatius' decisions. A test for the new neighbor looking to woo his daughter perhaps? Or maybe he wanted to humble his hot-headed son Lucas by putting him among the greenhorns to force him to step up. Or it could have been simply that we were the dregs. I had shown up a complete stranger without references at the very last minute after all. Whatever the thinking was I would see to it that our crew held our own.

"Alright." I say as I finish off my meal. "We'll work in pairs. One cuts, one stacks and bundles. When the cutter tires we switch."

"That's not how we do it here." Lucas protests.

"It's how we're doing it today." I shoot back. "At least until we all have a handle on things." I pair each novice up with a more experienced worker, the African and I matching with the two slaves and Lucas with the local. "Watch and learn. Tell me if you tire. Speak when you need to. Ask if you don't know." I give them an encouraging look. "This ain't difficult, just hard."

Given such firm and decisive directions I sense a palpable feeling of relief settle into my team. There was nothing so calming as the kindly confidence of a more experienced leader, a lesson I had learned well from my Lady.

After breakfast the whole group gathers to witness the sacrifice to Ceres and give prayers that she watch over a bountiful harvest. Giving proper prayer to my goddess out here among her fields felt so darn good and right to this old farm boy. I gather my team and we collect our sickles before Lucas leads us out to the section that we'd be responsible for. I had hoped we would be near the cool shadow of my forest but that area is reserved for the grayer heads. Ours was at the completely opposite end of Horatius' land on the crown of rolling hill, not a lick of shade in sight. I didn't care though. Being here with the soil beneath my sandals and the wheat brushing my calves was all I needed.

After a quick primer on cutting and tying to those that needed it we walk to the very edge of the field and set to work.

It is tough going at first. The two slaves end up cutting as many weeds as grains until they are shown how to use their sickle to be more discerning in directing their cuts. But with patience and perseverance I actually manage to get them working at a respectable rate. Like an older brother I guide them, praise them, and correct them as best as I can. Again with Rosa as my ideal I never belittle them or tear them down, I only build them up. And the returns are impressive. By the time the lunch wagon rolls around we had done probably two-thirds of what the teams to either side of us had done, which I felt was pretty damn good considering. It is actually the most experienced of the team that proves to be the biggest challenge.

Lucas, son of the owner, not only felt that this common work was beneath him but he was also terrible at it. He cut without a care in the world and his piss-poor binding left his bundles laying in loose piles. It definitely didn't help that he felt insulted by having to take direction from me too. When he wasn't complaining about the work he was bitching about my every decision. Once more I keep my demon Mistress close to mind. Every chance I get I try to build bridges with him as best I can. Every time he pushes too far I push back harder, wait a few minutes, then reach out again. With the help of the other men I slowly gain at least some bit of camaraderie with him. It isn't until later in the day though that I truly unlock his potential.

Remembering his interest in fighting I bring up the scuffle I'd had the night before and introduce the subject of pankration. The man's eyes light up like the sun. With passion in his belly he asks me question after question, and as he does so I notice his cutting arm pulling quicker and quicker. If I couldn't get him working better at least I could get him working faster. It was something. While he'd never officially trained I find Lucas to be quite a wealth of knowledge on the martial disciplines. For the remainder of the day the group of us talk battles, soldiery, combat, heroic myths and share stories of the various tussles we'd each been in. The stories turn into a bit of competitive oneupmanship and before long some of the tales go from unlikely to downright ridiculous. We could all hear the fibs from the real ones though and a good laugh is had by all.

As the sun lowers in the West and the end of work bell rings from the distant house we stand together dirty, tired, and truly feeling like a unit. We hadn't done as much as the others but we'd done good. Damn good. And we would only get better. It was a weird thing for me to think about men my own age but...I was proud of them.

***

Chapter 60

Following the lead of the other crews my men and I collect the sheafs we had bundled into one area to make it easy for when the collection cart rolled through. Our workday done we walk as a group back toward the farm.

As we go I could tell that Lucas had something on his mind. It doesn't take long to find out what it is. "You say that Northerner's a slave in town?"

"Yeah." I say. "He's a slave for some real bad guys."

"That's not his fault." He says. "You should see if they're hiring him out."

"What?"

"Dad was complaining that he's a crew short this year. We're definitely still looking for help."

"Why in Hades would we do that?"

"Think Quin." He smiles and clenches his fists excitedly. "He knows how to fight! Like the real stuff. Life and death stuff. He could train us. All of us."

"Train us!?"

"Yeah!" He nods. "Think about it. He'd be WAY cheaper than a pankration instructor AND we could get Dad to pay for him. Ha!" He laughs and throws a few jabs in front of him.