Shiress couldnt wipe the goofy, excited grin from her face, in fact, it was all she could do to refrain from clapping her hands together while dancing a little jig; she had been given a little taste of freedom -albeit while escorted by an armed guard with orders to subdue the Lark Slave by any means possible, in the event she tried something stupid- even still, it felt like a morsel of freedom to her.
Since bonding with Rook, the Slave had become docile to her slaver out of fear of inadvertently hurting her companion, and obeying the wish of her bondmate, though, truth-be-told, Shiress could feel Radcliffe Lark's crafted compulsion take control of her will; one couldn't endure the mental torture and takeover of a hypnotist for season upon season and not be able to pick up on such things. Shiress prided herself with thinking she 'allowed' the hypnosis, however, instead of obsessing on the fact that she couldn't have fought it if she had tried.
It had paid off.
The Slave's path between The Floating Garden and the Lark Estate had not veered. Days, and some nights, were spent tending the garden, while other, rarer days, were spent aiding the healer at the estate. Shiress enjoyed the latter days, though none were really appealing while in the Lark custady. This day was a latter day.
A sickness, virus most likely, had spread like wildfire throughout the Lark House, sending all it inflicted to their chamberpots and sick buckets. Luckily, Shiress was not among the more unlucky slaves put to task of emptying those chamberpots and sick buckets. Instead, she had been by the side of the healer, tipping water cups, ladling soup to weak lips, and wiping fevered brows, while forcing medicines between bouts of sickness. It was the healer who had pulled the slave from her tasks and ordered her to the city proper for supplies. Shiress could have kissed the ancient healer right on her wrinkled lips.
By the time Shiress and Kylar, her armed and ever-present reminder that she was still a slave, stepped off the ravosala it was nearly mid day. Shiress and guard headed straight for Merchant Circle and a little herbal shop tucked into its corner. Shiress moved through the small store, reading from a note held in her hand, selecting, replacing, then selecting again a colorful, and vaguely fragrant variety of herbal remedies, before piling her basket full. Kylar, at his two paces behind, contented himself with scrutinizing a small, prickly bush while the slave paid for the basket of selected herbs and roots. Shiress grinned at the guard presently sucking the end of a pricked finger as they vacated the shop. The guard hissed at her. Shiress grinned more.
Just as the pair stepped out onto the dock a nearby scream nearly caused Shiress to jump from her skin. Stepping around to the front, Kylar drew his sword and took a step forward, looking back at the slave meaningfully. "I'm not going anywhere." Shiress sighed, leaning against the wall, close to the door they just came through.
Two guards ran up to Kylar and began speaking and gesturing wildly as they explained their situation. From the corner of her eye Shiress caught site of movement. Stepping slightly off the wall, she bent forward and spotted a young, dark haired girl, her round face framed with fear, hiding beneath a table, maybe ten paces from where the guards stood talking. Shiress gasped when the girls eyes flashed, catching the tilted sunlight, as they met with her own. "Dhani.." she whispered, eyes widening as what was happening suddenly fell into place.
The slave stood contemplating for several chimes, gaze flicking back and forth between the girl and the guards. If she was to do something, it would need to be very soon and when the girl mouthed 'help me please' the decision was made. Shiress slid from the wall, bent awkwardly, and motioned for the young Dhani to follow her. Once close, she took the girls arm and slung her around and pushed her into an alleyway, shoving her behind a toppled table. "Stay here." she ordered. "I know a house you can hide." she motioned for the girl to stay, hoping she understood. "I'll send them in the wrong direction and try to get back to you.." Shiress straightened, starting back toward her perch against the wall. "just dont..."
Pain cracked across the back of Shiress skull, just before her world went black.
Since bonding with Rook, the Slave had become docile to her slaver out of fear of inadvertently hurting her companion, and obeying the wish of her bondmate, though, truth-be-told, Shiress could feel Radcliffe Lark's crafted compulsion take control of her will; one couldn't endure the mental torture and takeover of a hypnotist for season upon season and not be able to pick up on such things. Shiress prided herself with thinking she 'allowed' the hypnosis, however, instead of obsessing on the fact that she couldn't have fought it if she had tried.
It had paid off.
The Slave's path between The Floating Garden and the Lark Estate had not veered. Days, and some nights, were spent tending the garden, while other, rarer days, were spent aiding the healer at the estate. Shiress enjoyed the latter days, though none were really appealing while in the Lark custady. This day was a latter day.
A sickness, virus most likely, had spread like wildfire throughout the Lark House, sending all it inflicted to their chamberpots and sick buckets. Luckily, Shiress was not among the more unlucky slaves put to task of emptying those chamberpots and sick buckets. Instead, she had been by the side of the healer, tipping water cups, ladling soup to weak lips, and wiping fevered brows, while forcing medicines between bouts of sickness. It was the healer who had pulled the slave from her tasks and ordered her to the city proper for supplies. Shiress could have kissed the ancient healer right on her wrinkled lips.
By the time Shiress and Kylar, her armed and ever-present reminder that she was still a slave, stepped off the ravosala it was nearly mid day. Shiress and guard headed straight for Merchant Circle and a little herbal shop tucked into its corner. Shiress moved through the small store, reading from a note held in her hand, selecting, replacing, then selecting again a colorful, and vaguely fragrant variety of herbal remedies, before piling her basket full. Kylar, at his two paces behind, contented himself with scrutinizing a small, prickly bush while the slave paid for the basket of selected herbs and roots. Shiress grinned at the guard presently sucking the end of a pricked finger as they vacated the shop. The guard hissed at her. Shiress grinned more.
Just as the pair stepped out onto the dock a nearby scream nearly caused Shiress to jump from her skin. Stepping around to the front, Kylar drew his sword and took a step forward, looking back at the slave meaningfully. "I'm not going anywhere." Shiress sighed, leaning against the wall, close to the door they just came through.
Two guards ran up to Kylar and began speaking and gesturing wildly as they explained their situation. From the corner of her eye Shiress caught site of movement. Stepping slightly off the wall, she bent forward and spotted a young, dark haired girl, her round face framed with fear, hiding beneath a table, maybe ten paces from where the guards stood talking. Shiress gasped when the girls eyes flashed, catching the tilted sunlight, as they met with her own. "Dhani.." she whispered, eyes widening as what was happening suddenly fell into place.
The slave stood contemplating for several chimes, gaze flicking back and forth between the girl and the guards. If she was to do something, it would need to be very soon and when the girl mouthed 'help me please' the decision was made. Shiress slid from the wall, bent awkwardly, and motioned for the young Dhani to follow her. Once close, she took the girls arm and slung her around and pushed her into an alleyway, shoving her behind a toppled table. "Stay here." she ordered. "I know a house you can hide." she motioned for the girl to stay, hoping she understood. "I'll send them in the wrong direction and try to get back to you.." Shiress straightened, starting back toward her perch against the wall. "just dont..."
Pain cracked across the back of Shiress skull, just before her world went black.