Paga Diaries (25) by Arizona Wanderer

 

25.  Paga Flows

I woke to the sound of a low toned bell that rang twice, and then twice again after a moment.  I was in one of the tents on the lawn, set up for Mirus’s party.  Lina had slept with me in the furs and she woke up hearing the bells too. 
“Good morning Master,” she said smiling.  It was good to see her smile. “The bells call and all slaves must report,” she said.  “Master, thank you for letting me stay with you last night.” She kissed my bare thigh briefly before rising from the furs and exiting the tent.  I watched the blond German woman’s backside as she left, wanting to own her now more than ever. 
Last night was amazing, but this morning I was tired, hungry, and a little hungover.  But I was very comfortable lying in the tent.  I could have easily slept for several more ahn, but I needed to get up and relieve myself.  I waited a bit and then put my clothes back on before leaving the tent.  The sun was bright, too bright for my condition and I wished that I had sunglasses.  I relieved myself and thought I might sleep a little longer in the tent, before getting up for the day. 
I noticed six slaves standing in a single file, one behind another, on the grass lawn.  They were wearing short, brief, slave tunics.  Four of them had been placed in a coffle chain, each one attached by a shackle on their right wrist. There was a man attaching the next slave in line to the coffle.  Mirus and Tereus were there speaking with him.  It was Lenious.  The three of them looked at me, and I approached.
“Tal,” I said.
“Tal,” Mirus and Tereus replied.  Lenious was silent.
“Great party Mirus, thank you for invite me,” I said.
“This barbarian is a friend of yours?” Lenious asked Mirus.
“Yes, his name is Rykart,” Mirus replied.
“Does he work for you too?” Lenious asked.
“No, perhaps soon?” he replied, looking at me.
“Perhaps,” I said.
“He is the one I told you about who offered ten silver tarsks for slut Five,” Lenious said.
“Five?” Mirus asked.
“Tina, I forgot, her name was Five,” Lenious said.
“Tina, yes, she is a fine slave and last night’s contest winner.  She has many talents, but I don’t think Rykart fully understands the value of our money, being new to Argentum,” Mirus said.
I didn’t want to contradict and possibly anger Mirus, his enormous generosity meant much to me, but I did disagree with his assessment of my understanding of Gorean money.
“I am new with money, I understand ten silver is great, a year pay for many.  The offer for Five still stands, she is worth the silver to me,” I said, looking over at her as I said it.  She was looking at me as I spoke, her face expressionless, and then she looked down.  She was standing in the middle of the coffle, her wrist shackled to the chain.  I thought I had gotten over any attachment I had for her, but seeing her now, I knew I still wanted my collar on her.  I wondered if Lenious was going to honor the prize Mirus had given her, a day off from work.
“She is not for sale,” Lenious replied angrily. 
“Rykart, if you like, it would be my pleasure to take you to the Dautium Square and visit some of the finer slaving houses to help you find a perfect first slave for you. You appear to be ready and able for ownership of your own kajira,” Mirus said, diffusing the awkwardness.
“Thank you, Sir, I would like that,” I replied. “And thank you again for party, it was amazing. I wish you well.”
“Before you go, would you care for a swim and some breakfast?  It is a great way to start the day,” Mirus said.  The pool sounded appealing but the type of swimming that Mirus liked was more of a race than a casual swim, and not something I cared to do at the moment.
“Thank you, no, not this morning,” I replied.
“I wish you well Rykart.”
 
 
 
I settled into a routine the weeks following the party.  Each week I had three main activities that I focused on.  I would start my week with the first day that began with mornings at the city guard station where I would train and receive sword lessons with Atticus’s guardsmen.  In the afternoon I would go to the tarnkeep to develop tarn skills with Trem and Jesop.  The next day I would go to the wood shop and work as a sawyer for Dimos.  At the end of my working days, my late afternoons and evenings often varied.  Normally, I would walk home, frequently taking different routes looking for a bathhouse to bathe in.  After an ahn or so in the bath, I usually visited a tavern, for dinner, paga, and the serving slut who was part of the deal, unless I had put the bath girl to use earlier.  Sometimes I would stop by the Feasting Tarn and have drinks with Trem and a game of kaissa with Arlonis; my game was definitely improving.  When I got home, I played the kalika; my fingertips had developed calloused pads from the strings.  I felt I had established a very Gorean routine, and I was enjoying it. 
I entertained myself by sampling the large variety of different taverns and inns.  I found that after visiting many paga taverns, from the crudest hovels to the luxurious ones in Dautium Square, the passion of slave girls varied.  A slave with burning heat, who writhed well in the furs, could be found at any one establishment and at any time.  The same slave also differed from day to day, something I discovered with repeat business.
 
The wood shop was good for me, helping me to interact with other Gorean men and learn the language faster than I thought.  I learned some Gorean carpentry techniques, the words for tools, fasteners and materials, even though as a sawyer, my time was mostly spent as a laborer working a saw on wood that had predetermined cut marks.  The work was hard, long, and repetitious, but it was building muscles on my renewed, age regressed body.  The shop seemed to be only building two things, ladders and scaffold components, that, when done, where stacked tight and neat in a large warehouse by the river.  Once in a while Mirus and Tereus would come and have lunch with Dimos at the shop; sometimes I would get invited to join them.    
I wanted to find a better place to live, somewhere safer, nicer and closer to the center of town.  Mirus had offered to help me find a place, close to his neighborhood, which would be a significant improvement over my primitive apartment, one that was very spartan.  I was a formerly spoiled American and had come to assume that any acceptable standard of living should include running water.  We had looked at a couple small homes and nice apartments to rent and I was on the waiting list for one of them.  He said that we didn’t have to wait if we kept looking for something else.  I know he is a very busy man, involved in numerous business affairs, so I did not want to burden him with helping me find a new place.  When I found something I liked, he agreed to review any legal details before I made a commitment.
I was satisfied with the pace of my Gorean learning, but I still wanted to learn how to read and write.  It wasn’t an urgent need and my three main activities kept me as busy as I wanted to be.  I usually stopped at a bathhouse on my way home each evening, trying out different ones as much as I could.  Sometimes I took a bath in the small bathing area at the guardhouse. 
 
 
 
On one early evening after a long day at the woodshop, I left the bathhouse hungry, and entered a tavern that was cooking something savory I had smelled in the street.  The Slurring Master was a bit rundown, but the paga here was decent, the food was good, and the variety of six, eager to please, paga sluts was delightful.  I had been here several times as this tavern was close to home.  Along with the decent  house paga, this tavern offered a paga imported from Torcadino.  It was very good and cost a little more, but the price was worth it to me.  It had a slightly smoky flavor and I was growing fond of it.
 The mood this evening was sour as everyone seemed to be talking about the latest rumors about the war.  It seemed that multiple unofficial sources were claiming that a large Argentum force had been beaten badly and forced to retreat, leaving a large gap of unprotected front line.  This gap was being exploited by the enemy who had advanced and captured some small towns that were allied with Argentum.  Those towns were now under the control of Corcyrus.  The Free Women of these towns were now being presented to the citizens of Corcyrus, bound in public pleasure racks, displayed for the amusements of any passerby.  These Free Women would surely soon be wearing collars placed on their necks by new Corcyrusian masters.  Many in the tavern argued that there was no way that these rumors could be true, because Argentum was winning the war and victory was near.  
 
 
 
 
One afternoon after leaving a bathhouse, and a very talented dark skinned bath girl, I decided to visit the Talendar Blossom, the teahouse where I had met Lady Filomena and Lady Cosima.  I smelled the baking of the delicious honey cakes before I saw the entrance to the building.  I entered and the thin slave girl with brown hair and rather plain looking face, greeted me.  She was wearing a knee length, loose fitting, yellow tunic and knelt before me in tower, keeping her knees together modestly. 
“Tal, Master, welcome to the Talendar Blossom, my name is Petal, how may I serve you?”
“I am not sure.  Do you know if a woman is here, a Lady Filomena?” I asked.
“I do not know Master, is she meeting you here?”
“No,” I said.  How is one expected to find any Free Woman at any time when they all look the same in their veils and cumbersome robes of concealment?  I wondered how the two ladies I met before would recognize each other if they decided to meet at this teahouse.  Perhaps they used the hostess to coordinate meetings?
“I want a table, honey cake and paga,” I said. 
“I am sorry Master, we don’t have paga.  “Would you like a table inside or outside in the back courtyard?”
“Courtyard and red ka-la-na,” I said.
“Yes Master, this way,” she said as I followed her to the courtyard.  It was beautiful, shaded by large trees and accented by numerous flowers growing in bushes and in beds along the perimeter.  There were several tables occupied by women, I did not see any men.
I sat at a table and enjoyed my cake and wine, no one in the courtyard paying any attention to me.  I decided not to stay long after figuring out that trying to find Lady Filomena was impossible.  At one of the adjacent tables I noticed that from time to time a veiled woman would briefly glance at me.  I ordered a second wine, not because I wanted to stay, but because it was delicious.  I was ready to go home.
The woman at the other table kept stealing glances at me and then it seemed as if another woman at her table began to look too. I did not think much about it and continued to enjoy my wine.  The two women got up gracefully and approached my table.  I thought I was being quiet, inconspicuous, and not bothering anyone like I had the last time I had come here.  I was definitely curious now that the women came over.
“Tal Sir, pardon my forwardness, but you look familiar,” said one of the women.
“Tal, my name is Rykart,” I said, not knowing what else to say.
“Rykart, yes, I am Lady Cosima Polamka and this is Lady Claudia Frinsal.  I met you once before with a friend of mine.  We were amused that you came in here and tried to order paga.  Do you remember?”
“I remember, Lady Filomena asked many questions. Is Lady Filomena here?” I asked.
“You remember her name! Unfortunately, Lady Filomena has not been able to meet here for a while; she is much occupied with her business.”
“I hoping she be here. She offer help with tutoring. I want learn read, write Gorean,” I said.
“Yes, I remember she offered to help find someone for you. I could let her know that you asked about her.”
“How she would answer, contact me?” I asked.
“I suggest meeting here the day after tomorrow at the tenth ahn?”
 
The next morning I went to the city guard station for some sword training.  I normally trained with whoever Sergeant Breg assigned to spar with me, Atticus occasionally supervising and suggesting the introduction of an advanced move.  Atticus was there this time and was in a good mood.  After several hours of training some of us went to the small communal bath area in the guard house.  When we left the bath, I faintly heard a woman screaming, over and over. 
Atticus muttered, “She is acting up again.”
“Who?” I asked.
“We had to arrest a Free Woman last night and she is being very resistant to confinement rules. I better go see what is going on before she gets injured. Do you want to come?”
“Yes,” I said.
I followed Atticus as he went downstairs into a large basement which was a jail, with at least two wings of corridors that had a dozen or so individual, metal barred cells in each one.  These corridors were not very well lit.  I heard screaming again, this time much louder and a male voice yelling.
We passed a couple of cells, most of them empty but a few with male prisoners inside.  We passed a corner and the cells now had women prisoners.  At one of these cells, a guard standing outside a cell in the corridor, held a whip in one hand and keys in the other. 
Seeing us, the guard said, “Captain Atticus, this woman refuses to follow the rules. She will not kneel facing the back wall so that I may open the door and collect the bucket.” 
Inside the cell were two women.  One of them wore a modest tunic and was kneeling in tower, her hands behind her back and her forehead leaning against the back wall.  She had long brown hair, but we could not see her face.  She was barefoot.  The other woman wore a long white gown, trimmed with lace, that fell to her ankles, her feet covered in plush slippers.  She had auburn hair that was trussed up in an intricate pattern, high on her head.  There were two or three strands of hair that had come out of the tresses in disarray.  Her face was red and streaked with tears, she was very distraught.
“Captain, Sir, I am a Free Woman. Though accused, I have not been convicted, and will not tolerate being treated this way! When I was arrested, my robes and veil were taken from me to be searched. I am no threat, I have no weapons. I demand the return of my robes and veils!  It is not right for men to see me this way! And why do I have to kneel when the door is opened?  I am not a slave and I kneel before no man!”

“Lady Filomena, this jail has security procedures that must be followed to maintain order, provide safety to the staff and the inmates. You will follow the rules while you are here. I know you are not a slave, but as a prisoner, you will kneel when the guard orders it.  If waiting for you to kneel becomes too burdensome for us, you will be shackled to the ring on the back wall and remain there until removed from this cell.  Do you understand what I am saying?” Atticus said.
“Yes, Sir, what about my robes?  It is not right for men to see me this way.”
“My men are doing their duties. You were arrested last night and your robes have not been thoroughly searched yet. When they are, you will be permitted to wear them,” Atticus said.
“Why is he holding a whip?” Lady Filomena asked, looking at the guard.
“The whip is used on prisoners who do not comply with orders. That includes you,” Atticus replied.
Filomena gasped loudly before saying, “This is all a big misunderstanding. My Free Companion will explain everything.”
“Your Free Companion is missing and will be arrested for questioning when found,” Atticus said.
“This is a misunderstanding; we are not criminals. I demand to see the Magistrate!” she exclaimed.
“The Magistrate is a very busy man. You will be brought before him when a hearing is scheduled,” Atticus said.
“Am I allowed visitors once my robes are returned to me?”
“Yes, on visitation days, you will be permitted access to visitors. Are you ready to cooperate and comply with the orders of city guardsmen?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. Turn around and kneel, place your forehead against the back wall of the cell and put your hands behind your back,” Atticus ordered.
Lady Filomena slowly complied. With her forehead touching the wall, she began to sob.
“Thank you, Sir,” the guard said to Atticus and we left the corridor.
When we got to the top of the stairs, leaving the jail, I asked Atticus what the charge was against the woman.
“Something about defrauding the government, I don’t know the details. We think her Free Companion is in hiding or has fled,” he said.
“What will happen to her?”
“That is up to the Magistrate. My guess is she will be executed or enslaved if her Companion does not resolve the complaint,” he replied.  
I left the guard station and couldn’t help but wonder if the woman in the jail, Lady Filomena, was the same Lady Filomena who I had met in the teahouse and was supposed to meet again tomorrow to arrange tutoring.  In the teahouse, I had only seen the eyes of Filomena, behind her veil.  Both women had blue eyes.  The women in the teahouse had pale white skin, from what little of it I could see.  The woman in the cell had red hair, or strawberry blond on Earth, and most women with hair like that are very fair complected. Today it was hard to tell how fair her complexion was, as her face had been bright red from her distressed state.  In the teahouse we had talked long enough that I think I could recognize her voice, but when the woman in the cell spoke, her voice was too distraught for me compare.  The skin and eyes seemed to match; was Filomena a common Gorean name?
 
 
Inside the Talendar Blossom the next day, I had arrived early to watch the arrival of Ladies Filomena and Cosima, even though I would not recognize them.  I had eaten a spiced honey cake and was on my second glass of ka-la-na, when two women arrived, and approached my table.  They wore robes of concealment and what looked to be layers of veils covering their faces.  I could only see eyes.
“Tal Rykart, I am Lady Cosima Polamka and this is Lady Claudia Frinsal from the other day.”
“Yes, I remember. Join me?” I asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Where is Lady Filomena?” I asked.
“She sends her apologies, urgent business keeps her away. I will arrange your tutoring. A silver tarsk is required as a deposit on future lessons.”
“When will lessons begin?”
“This time next week.”
“Who is teacher? Lady Filomena?” I asked.
“Lady Claudia and I will begin your instruction and then Lady Filomena and an escort will continue when her business concludes.”
“Escort?” I asked, not understanding a word new to me.
“Yes, it is inappropriate for a Free Woman to fraternize alone with a man, especially a barbarian.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, fraternize being a second word today that I had not heard before.
“She cannot be alone with you. It is our custom.”
“I understand. You teach read and write Gorean?” I asked.
“Yes.”
 “I agree, start next week, then meet every day?” I asked.
“We will meet twice a week, two days in a row.”
“Meet here, or?” I asked.
“Yes, we will start here, I will wear a light blue striped veil for you to recognize me. Do you have the silver tarsk?”
“No, not today,” I lied.  “I bring when we meet,” I said.  I was not about to give this stranger a silver tarsk and trust that she would return next week to start tutoring me.  A silver tarsk seemed like an excessive amount to secure lessons.  I had serious doubts about this arrangement.  I was beginning to believe that Lady Filomena was the same Filomena that I had seen in the city jail, and her prospects of “concluding” her business did not look very promising.  
“So, we agree to meet here next week to start your lessons and you will bring a silver tarsk for a deposit?” 
“Yes,” I said.
“I wish you well.” Lady Cosima said.  Lady Claudia had not said one word.  They left the teahouse and I left shortly afterwards.