Advertise/Affiliate Other Forum Main Page The World Before You Play

Untamed, Unbroken, Unbound [Rhi-Rhi]

Started by DragonSong, February 01, 2016, 03:12:50 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

DragonSong

By her third match of the day, Lani was convinced her newest master was trying to kill her.

She already knew he'd only bought her because the master before him had basically dared him to, implying that she'd be too much for him to handle. When that proved to be the case, he'd stopped sending her into fights that were a test of her skill and started tossing her into the arena just to watch her get clobbered.

If she died in the pits, he wouldn't have to admit defeat.

But she wasn't about to let him off that easy. If these people wanted a fight, damnit they were going to get a fight. Panting, bruised, and bleeding from wounds she'd received in earlier matches, Lani stood her ground.

Caged on the other side of the arena were two male lions- starved just enough to make them meaner- snarling and pacing as she stared them down.

She shifted her stance as two other slaves with long, hooked poles moved forward to open the cages. Her heart was pounding against her ribs, her mind frantically trying to figure out a way she could just survive this. It wasn't the fist time she'd fought animals in her time as a gladiator. It wasn't even the first time she'd fought a lion.

But it was the first time she'd do it with nothing but the clothes on her back.

Rhindeer

This wasn't Qismat's scene.

In fact, he would really rather be doing anything but this at this very moment, be anywhere but here. Watching scarabs rolls balls of dung across the sand would be preferable to being here, among these walls built on the backs of slaves and stained in blood and audience to a fight that would no doubt be a bloodbath. But Ahmira Faliq, talented seamstress with many talented workers beneath her, had insisted she was far too busy to meet with Qismat unless he agreed to meet with her in her down time.

This was apparently her down time.

It curdled even the acid in his stomach, but he had agreed.

Don't worry, she had said. Today's just the game hunts!

Qismat didn't like that, either, the pointless killing of chained animals in a fighting pit--hardly a hunt--but at least the slaves were armed. And so he'd endured it as background noise as he met with Ahmira and discussed a potential partnership, as he endured her flirtations and the hand that kept finding its way to his knee somehow, and had finally sealed the deal when the next fight was announced.

Qismat stood to leave, his job done, and spared the pit a final cursory glance--

And stopped cold.

Lions this time. Two of them, hungry, starved beasts that were already crazed from it, and driven even madder as they were poked and prodded through the bars to piss them off more. Yet as he dragged his eyes from them to the actual human in the ring...

Dear Hakeshna.

Was she...was she unarmed?

The announcer called out her name and her owner's name right as the slaves hooked their poles onto the cage doors and swung them open.

And the lions poured out.

Oh shit.

It's too late, common sense yelled at him, but the owner's name rang in his mind, and registered as familiar. Another merchant, which meant he would be near, as only the wealthy could afford the seats in this section. It might be too late by the time he found him, and yet Qismat couldn't stand to see some girl ripped apart if there was even a chance that it could be stopped.

He scanned the stands, heart thundering, knowing each second was precious and hoping the girl was clever--

And then he saw him, a man he'd done business with ages before, and he pushed through the crowd to reach him, grabbing him by the shoulder.

"How much for the girl?" he demanded, and the man gave him a dumbfounded look. "What?" he growled, and shook off his hand. "Who the hell are--"

"Qismat Nejem, we've done business before and I'd like to do more now. How much is the girl?"

"Are you out of your mind? The girl's gonna be dead here real soon."

"Then she's expendable and you won't mind if I buy her. Stop the fight now and I'll pay you."

The man stared at him, utterly confused. "Why the hell would you...?"

"It doesn't matter. You'll make more off her if she's alive than dead, now stop the fight and name your price!"

"You're one crazy sonnuva..." Shaking his head, the man signaled to the announcer. "Stop the match! We need the girl alive!"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DragonSong

The lions lunged forward, snarling, and Lani leaped to the side. She couldn't outrun them, she definitely couldn't best them with her bare hands- honestly she was just prolonging the inevitable, dodging claws and fangs to the best of her ability.

The only thing that saved her was that they were males, unused to hunting for their food at all, let alone working as a team to do so. And they were half starved and mad because of it, fighting each other as much as her.

A slashing paw caught her shoulder and she cried out, knocked to the ground. Desperately she tried to roll away, just barely missing another swiping claw. She thought she heard the announcer saying something, but adrenaline and pure panic wouldn't let her focus on anything but run, dodge, duck, twist, fight!

One false move and the smaller lion was on her, paws on her shoulders as his weight pinned her to the ground. He snarled in her face and she clenched her eyes shut. Horse Lords, this was it. She was going to die.

At least she'd see her father and Nemiera again...

"That's it, pull him back."

...What?

Her eyes snapped open at the sudden weight being lifted from her. It took her a few moments to register what was happening, and when she did her jaw dropped open.

A group of muscled, armored slaves had been dispatched to drag the lions back into their cages. Someone else was approaching her, saying something about the fight being called to a halt, reaching out to grab her arm and pull her to her feet.

She recovered enough to smack the hand away, staggering to her feet and swaying. "What...why...?" she rasped, blinking as her vision started to fade at the edges. Damnit, probably the blood loss. The lions may not have killed her, but they'd torn her up pretty good.

The slave who'd apparently been sent to retrieve her shrugged, shaking her head mutely. Beckoning for Lani to follow, she led her out of the ring.

Dazed, Lani stumbled after her. What the hell just happened?

Rhindeer

By the time Lani was lead back through the portcullis, the crowd stunned into confused chatter, Qismat had already paid the merchant and made his way down to meet her. He could scarcely breathe, his hands balmy and shaky, because that had been close. So close. Right before his eyes, she had nearly been shredded. If he had hesitated one second longer, she would have been dead.

And yet, as he made his way down, the realization of what he'd done sank in as well and he could have laughed. He didn't need another slave. He had too many as it was! He couldn't not save her, though, but he just hoped...well...he just hoped she could be rehabilitated. That she could make it out in society. He had so many slaves these days because he tended to buy the ones that couldn't make it on their own, the undesirables, the vulnerable people, the ones who had nowhere else to go--or the ones that were too likely to fall back into bad habits and end up straight back in the hands of cruel masters. He regretted none of that, but...well...what was one more, he supposed.

The guards eyed him curiously as he approached, and he flashed them the papers her old master had given him. "I'm the slave's new owner," he said in a tone that suggested they not ask questions. And when the doors opened and the slave was brought out before him, it was an effort not to wince.

She'd been wounded. Badly, if all the blood meant anything.

He gave her a quick once over, putting on the cold act that was expected of him, and then looked to the guards and slapped a few coins and bills in their hands. "Have her treated and patched up, and then deliver her to my residence," he said. "The Nejem estate. I want her there by dusk. Don't keep me waiting."

With another hard look her way, he turned on his heel and left.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DragonSong

Ah. A new owner. She supposed that explained it.

Not well. But it explained something.

Lani gave her new "master" as cold a look as he gave her, refusing to bow her head even as she stood shaking and bleeding before him. Then he ordered her to be treated and left. Just like that. She was hustled away to be patched up, barely reacting to the poking and prodding and bandaging.

She had a collection of gashes on her shoulder where the lion's law had caught her, and a few more on her left ribs. She thought the brute might have broken some when he pinned her down, and she bore a collection of various other bruises and cuts from her earlier fights.

But once she was deemed "presentable", she was hustle away to be taken to whatever new hell was in store. It was just before dusk when the guard that had been ordered to escort her delivered her to the Nejem estate.

Right on time then, she thought wryly, too drained to really look around at her new "home". When the guard announced them with a brisk, "Delivery for the the master of the house."

Rhindeer

The slave and her "escorts" were greeted by Qismat's own guards, who took the girl from them and paid the escorts a nice sum for her safe delivery. Then she was swiftly ushered in through the gates and through the lush courtyard leading into Qismat's home.

Which was, indeed, fit for a prince.

There were flowers everywhere, and fountains, the air ripe with the scent of lotus blossoms. As they lead the girl indoors, it was surprisingly cool inside--and she would see that the floor was made of polished marble. There was a faint sound of trickling water, the source of the coolness being the indoor fountains and pools that could be found here and there, the marble floor veined with little channels to let the water run through the estate and back outdoors.

The furniture was plush and rich, the place clean and smelling of flowers and incense. The guards lead the girl into a foyer--where Qismat already was, reclined on a settee and smoking hookah.

He looked up at the sound of footsteps and lowered his pipe, sitting up.

"Sir, the slave, delivered as you wished."

Qismat blew out a slow stream of smoke and stood, nodding to the guards that they could take their leave. He wasn't afraid of this girl, and besides, she looked too beat to hurt more than a fly.

"Come on in," he said, motioning. "Come sit. You look like you could use the rest." And then, lifting the pipe, he raised an eyebrow. "Hookah?"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DragonSong

Even in her battered state, Lani somehow still had the mind space to be awed by the splendor around her. She didn't have a lot of time to stop and gawk though, as she was ushered quickly to meet her new master.

She simply stood and glared at him as he dismissed the guards, arms folded over her chest and stance tense. She didn't move when he offered her a seat- though she was sure her surprise showed on her face. Giving comfort to a slave? What the hell was his angle?

Then he offered her the pipe, and despite all her best efforts she found herself gaping at him. "Hoo-what?"

Sure, she'd seen people smoke similar pipes before, but honestly she didn't even know that's what the stuff was called, much less what it actually was.

Rhindeer

"Hookah," Qismat repeated with an amused smile, and took a drag off the pipe to demonstrate before blowing the smoke out in tiny little rings. "It's a water pipe. It's okay, you don't have to if you don't smoke, but considering the amount of pain I imagine you're in..."

He looked her up and down, at the freshly cleaned and bandaged wounds. "It might ease your discomfort. The offer's there." For he preferred his hookah with cannabis, rather than tobacco.

He set the pipe down, fighting to hide his amusement at all her gaping. "Please, sit down at least. You can't be comfortable. What's your name?"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DragonSong

Glowering, she reluctantly took a seat. Mostly because her legs were starting to shake and she didn't want him to notice. Her eyes flicked to the pipe. She wasn't quite desperate enough to accept his offer yet- she was sure taking his "hospitality" would come back to bit her in the ass later- but it was awfully tempting.

She hurt.

"Lanoula," she replied gruffly, eyeing him warily. "Lani." Most Essyrni couldn't seem to get their mouths around pronunciation of her full name.

Rhindeer

"Lan...oo...ah. Lani it is, then!" Qismat said with a sheepish smile, deciding it best to admit defeat before he totally slaughtered her name. He rubbed the back of his neck, awkward now that he finally had her. Even though he'd been through this process before, it was different every time, different because every slave and situation was different. Because of that, it never got easier--he never knew how each person would respond.

And buying another human being was awkward in and of itself. He couldn't even begin to think of what she might be feeling right now--or what intentions she might think he had. Considering why most men bought women, though, he had a few ideas.

He shifted in his seat. "Well, Lani, I'm Qismat. Just Qismat. Don't bother calling me 'master' or any such nonsense, because I'm not interested in that. I'm not even interested in owning you." Leaning forward a little, he met her eyes. "I just couldn't stand by and let you die, you understand?"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DragonSong

He...wasn't interested in owning her.

What the hell?

She blinked at him in silence for a moment. "You bought me...to save me?" she clarified, skepticism heavy in her voice. She wasn't buying it. But- well, she'd had over a dozen masters at this point, and none of them had been as civil to her as this one had been in five minutes. That didn't mean she was letting her guard down, but she had to admit she was intrigued.

Unless of course he didn't want her as a fighter but rather for...other purposes. Though she found that a little hard to believe. What man looked at her, all muscle and scars and flinty eyes, and thought she'd make a good bedmate?

So she was reserving judgement. For now.

Rhindeer

She wasn't buying it. He could hear the doubt in her voice. But why should she believe him?

Qismat sighed and ran his fingers through his many tiny braids. "Ah...yes. I don't expect you to believe me just because I'm telling you this. I know how it must sound. But I hope my actions will speak for themselves, in time," he said, and spared her another once-over: scarred, muscular, wounded, and no doubt exhausted and needing time to process things.

And no doubt, this was a lot to take in already.

"Just know that while you're here, you're a guest, and subject to the same hospitality I'd offer such a guest. You have full reign of my home and its grounds, with the exception of my own private chambers. My servants are yours; they'll see to all your needs. There's more to discuss, of course, but I'll save that for when you're feeling better. For now...are you hungry? Thirsty? And how are your wounds? I can send for a healer, if needed."
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DragonSong

She was a guest? For how long? And what did he mean, more to discuss?

It was too much to take in at once, at least in her current state of exhaustion. She did manage to latch on to his offer of food. Shaking her head slowly, she muttered, "I'm fine, I don't need a healer..." She hesitated, then decided if she was going to pay for it later anyway she may as well enjoy what comforts she could now.

"I am hungry," Lani admitted, glancing up at him warily. "But...water. I'd...really like some water." She couldn't remember the last time she'd had more than a mouthful from a tin cup.

Rhindeer

"And you shall have it!" Qismat said, and motioned to a servant that was lingering just outside the door.

The woman, a former slave who had later decided to stay on as a servant--a paid servant, free to leave whenever she wished--stepped inside with a bow.

"Fetch us a pitcher of water, if you will--and while you're at it, see how dinner's coming along," Qismat said, and the servant scurried from the room without pause. While she was gone, Qismat once again turned his attention to Lani, looking her over curiously.

"You're not Essyrni," he said, scratching at some stubble on his chin. "Where are you from?"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DragonSong

Lani watched the servant come and go with narrowed eyes, though she had to admit she was a little surprise not to see a slave's veil- or any other mark of bondage- on the woman.

Her wary look snapped to Qismat at his question and she debated for a moment before answering. "The plains," she said simply, hunching her shoulder a bit. "I was born on the Serha Plains."

Rhindeer

"The plains?" Qismat repeated, reclining against the cushions and taking another drag from the hookah pipe. "You're a long way from home, then. How did you end up in the Colosseum here?"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DragonSong

Her expression twisted into a snarl. "I don't see how that's any of your business," she hissed, eyes narrowed. Even as she spat the words she tensed, expecting him to hit her. Or, more likely, call someone else to "discipline" her for him.

Rhindeer

Let me just jam my foot down my throat here.

Qismat winced visibly and held up his hands, palms facing her, regretting the question as soon as it left his mouth. Shit. Of all the people that should have bloody well known better...

"Ah, you're right, you're right, I apologize. That's not my business," he said with a grimace. "I'm just trying to make conversation."

Fortunately, the servant returned then, saving him from having to think of a way to salvage the moment. She balanced a tray in her hands, bearing a pitcher of cool water and two cups, with a plate of sliced lemons on the side. Stooping, she set the tray on the table before them, announced that dinner would be ready in five, and took her leave once more.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Qismat motioned to the water. "Help yourself."
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DragonSong

Lani's snarl softened to a look of surprise for a moment before she schooled her features back to expressionless. Far from punishing her for her disrespect, he was backtracking- apologizing.

This guy was not what she was used to.

She almost felt a little guilty with the way he was fumbling. She put the thought from her mind though when the servant reappeared, barely waiting to be given permission before she snatched a cup and filled it with water.

Guzzling the first cup in a matter of seconds, she downed a second and half of a third before she paused to breathe. "Horse Lords," she whispered. She hadn't realized just how thirsty she was.

"She isn't a slave," Lani commented bluntly when she'd slowed down a bit, nodding in the direction the serving woman had gone. It was a statement, but she thought the question behind it was pretty clear. If you're buying slaves, why do you have paid servants?

Rhindeer

...Erk!

Maaaybe he shouldn't have given her full reign to serve herself just yet, Qismat realized as she guzzled down glass after glass with surprising speed. If she'd been starved for water, she might just make herself sick and end up throwing it all back up; he'd heard of dehydrated people finally getting water only to get violently ill when they sucked it down too fast. And with her, from the looks of it, her biggest risk might be the fact that she didn't even pause to breathe!

He made to reach for her, stopped short, and then just watched her worriedly instead. No, with the way she'd snarled at him before, she might just take off his arm if he tried to slow her down. So instead, he let her drink, waited a few beats after she was done, and when she didn't sick up all over the floor, hoped that was a sign she'd be fine.

He was still sliiiightly stressing over that when her question jolted him back to the present, and he blinked at her before it registered. "Hm? Oh, you mean Mirah?" he said, and looked over toward the servant and then back to Lani.

"No, she's not. Not anymore."
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Tags: