Late Morning, 78th of Fall, 497 AV
Sunberth
Sunberth
It was cold. Winter was close; Ben could feel it in his bones. Today was one of those days he would have loved to just curl up next to the hearth and hear one of his aunts tell a story. They weren’t really his aunts, but that’s what he called the other whores his mother worked with. It was a custom at Jaquo’s brothel. You called the whores that weren’t your mom aunt, and their children were cousins. All the kids had to call Jaquo ‘father,’ even though only a handful were actually his. He seemed to think it would make the children endear him, but Ben just hated him more. But he kept them fed, if somewhat sparsely, and clothed and housed, so what could a ten year old do? So he kept his mouth shut, and did what he was told.
If he couldn’t be next to a big, crackling fire, Ben was doing the next best thing. Running. It was good for his health for three reasons. First, it warmed him up and kept the cold from nipping at his extremities. Second, running got your heart pumping and your lungs working, and everyone knew that was good for you, even his stupid cousin Penelope. Lastly, men with knives were chasing him. He had stolen a cheap necklace from a booth at the Seaside Market, and the owners of the booth hadn’t taken too kindly to it. Two of them had screamed bloody murder, and pulled nasty looking knives out. Ben didn’t need to be told twice to run.
His little legs pumped away as he weaved through the stalls and carts of the market, and squeezed in between customers. He even saw a nice fat coin purse, but he was too rushed to make a go at it. So he ran. At one point he was on all fours, crawling underneath tables and through people’s legs. Angry voices yelled at him, but it was the mild anger of someone surprised, not the seething anger of a murderous merchant. Finally he burst clear, leaving the market behind him as he sprinted down the street. Just to make sure, he turned down one of the less seedy looking alleys, and took to one of the walls. Luckily, it was made of un-mortared stone, so he had plenty of holds for his fingers and toes. Ben scrambled up onto the wooden roof, and made his way along the width of it, picking up speed near the end so he could leap to the next roof. He continued this all the way down the length of the road, before climbing down in another alley.
Now he ran to ward off the cold, and because the sooner he brought the necklace to Jaquo, the sooner he could fill his empty belly. He passed the Pig’s Foot with a longing glance. He’d heard a lot of Jaquo’s customers talk about the place, but had never had the chance to see it for himself. Apparently he was too young. Maybe he’d sneak in some day, but not today. His feet pounded the dirt road as he hustled home. Several minutes later the shoddy two story building came into view. It was all wood with a warped porch and a balcony with half broken guardrails. Jaquo threw a man from that balcony once, when he couldn’t pay. The man’s friends had showed up later, demanding Jaquo’s blood for his crime. But Jaquo has simply said that he hadn’t killed the man, the ground had. Besides, what law said murder was a crime? That, coupled with four scowling guards with iron-shod cudgels, had dissuaded the men from pursuing the matter.
One of those guards was standing outside the brothel, watching the comings and goings of customers. He hardly gave Ben a second look as the boy made his way inside. As he stepped inside, the temperature difference was night and day. Three fires burned brightly from the fireplaces, one on each wall. Several of Ben’s aunts were entertaining patrons on couches near the fires, and at least half of them were naked. Unfazed, he made his way to the rickety stairs in the corner, where another man stood guard. This one, a fat but strong man named Larry, acknowledged him, and said, “Heya Ben, tha Boss be waitin’ for ya upin tha office.” Ben muttered thanks and proceeded up to the second story.
The first floor was entirely for the business. It had a common area where clients could mingle with the ladies, screened off cubbies that could be had for a few extra coins. As often as not, the customers opted to go at it right on one of the couches, since it was cheaper. But there were some that preferred privacy, so Jaquo made a small profit off their quirks. There was also a kitchen, more for those that lived in the brothel than the patrons, but a client could get a bite to eat if they had the coin. The second floor had the private rooms, as well as Jaquo’s office, and a large room where all his ‘Brood’ slept. The Brood was what Jaquo called Ben and his siblings and cousins, as if they were all of his seed. Ben was glad he had been fathered by someone else. Jaquo was bald, fat and ugly. That he was a clever business man was the only thing he had going for him. Two of his three bastards were all taking after him, with big bellies, weak chins, and beady eyes. Only his daughter, Penelope, had been graced with good looks. But she lacked her father’s wits, and was the dumbest of all the cousins. But in two years when she was fifteen, her father would likely put her to work, and make a good deal of coin off her looks.
Knocking on Jaquo’s door, Ben waited patiently, knowing not to enter until told to do so. It was a good ten minutes before the door opened. His aunt, Kayla, walked out of the office, adjusting her bosom back into the flimsy dress she wore. She smiled at Ben, “E’ll see ya noo, Benny-boy,” she said before heading down the stairs. Ben entered the room, closing the door behind him. The office was cluttered with all sorts of random things. It was covered in piles of cheap jewelry, paintings, weapons, books, and just about anything else that could be sold to a fence. In the back was a large wooden desk with a big leather chair. Behind the chair Jaquo stood, lacing up his breeches. He looked up and smiled. “That Kayla sure knows what a man likes,” he said as he finished with the laces. Jaquo was a minority in Sunberth, in as he was from Zeltiva, and didn’t speak Cant’ because of it. Not that he couldn’t, he just always spouted about how he garnered more respect if he spoke like an educated man as opposed to some Sunberth gutter rat. Ben liked to scowl behind Jaquo’s back during such speeches, since he himself was such a gutter rat.
“In a couple years, you should have her,” said Jaquo as he plopped his heavyset butt into the chair. “My treat, it will change your life.” Ben wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that. He knew men liked to be with women, but he had never seen the appeal to it. On a few occasions lately, though, he had found himself staring at the naked chest of several of his aunts, and even one of his older cousins. “Anyway, what do you have for me today, Benalder?” Every day Jaquo sent Ben out on one errand or another. Usually he delivered messages, or took a pouch of coins to make payments to certain individuals. But at least once a week Jaquo sent him out to steal something, usually jewelry.
“I gots me a necklace, father. Out fra unda da sniffs of leven petching eyes.” He stepped forward and set the copper chain onto the desk. Jaquo picked it up with fat fingers and looked at it closely. “Poor craftsmanship, but it will still fetch a few coppers. Good work son. You are getting older though, so I will be expecting better findings in the future, understand?” Ben nodded. “Outstanding. Run on down to the kitchen and have Helga give a roll, and some chicken and broth.” Ben smiled. He only got chicken when Jaquo was pleased, and he loved it. He turned to go, but Jaquo spoke up again. “Eleven eyes you said?”
Ben turned back to the pimp and nodded. “Twas a bull of a shop, wit six minders. Only one of ‘em was shy a looker!” Jaquo laughed. “I am glad you are paying attention to such things.” He gave an ugly smile. “It will serve you well in the years to come.” The fat pimp waved a hand in dismissal and looked down at something on his desk, Ben forgotten.
The young boy took his cue and left the room, taking care to close to door softly. As soon as he heard the latch click he was off and running. He slid down the railing of the staircase, but lost control and flew off into Larry. “Muh bad Lare!” he yelled, already running again. Ben burst through the kitchen door and nearly bowled into a patron, who cursed at him loudly. He pretended to mumble an apology and skirted past the man to take a seat at the large table dominating the center of the room. Several of his cousins were there, eating and talking. He sat down next to one of his younger half-brothers, and Olga was quick to set a bowl of broth in front of him, with a roll already soaking up the warm liquid.
“Father sed fo ya to give me som o dat chicken!” announced Ben, intent on making his cousins jealous. Olga gave him a sharp look, as if she was trying to read his mind. “Didee now?” she asked. “You best hopes ‘ee did, or I’ll be tannin’ dat hide o’ yers.” She grabbed a small chicken leg and plopped it in to the broth. With a smug look Ben tore into the meal, content as could be.
