Thread: Ancient Rome (blushing-rose and casketslinger)

The market was filling up quickly, thronging with men and women alike. Karin kept her head down as commanded, but her eyes darted up as frequently as she dared, trying to take in the scene. The large open square in front of her was surely filled with common folk, dressed drably and chattering loudly. She noticed more than one finger pointing in her direction and she ducked her head down again, avoiding eye contact. When she was brave enough to look again, this time she inspected the balcony that ringed the square. Elevated above the dirt and the stench of the streets, this must be the elite of Rome. It wasnt hard to tell. With fine quality clothing and extravagant jewellery, these were people with money to spare. Interspersed among them were the naked torsos of collared slaves holding palm branches or refreshments or simply standing alongside their masters with their eyes on the ground. Karin shuddered at the thought of such subservience. At home, with a mother too mild and no real father to tame her, she had run wild, paying little heed to the rules which did not suit her. Her thoughts strayed to her home. She would often wake early to check the snares that she had laid Celts werent above stealing from each other after all, then would swim in the lake before the sun had fully risen. The memories made her heart ache, and the chains around her wrists and ankle suddenly felt heavier than before. The sound of sniffling brought her back to the present. She glanced to the girl next to her. Raiya was the youngest of the girls who had been saved for todays market, just old enough to be a woman and not a child. Red hair framed a thin pointed face with pale skin and wide blue eyes. She was thinner than Karin and much less bruised, having submitted to her captors with only tears as protest. Her sobs had been Karins constant companion on their journey across Europe and she tried hard now to keep her patience. She sidled as close to the girl beside her as her shackles would allow. Raiya. Come on now, dry your eyes. She spoke in a whisper, her eyes on the back of the slavers head. She had no desire to be caught and punished again today. You must, otherwise nobody will buy you and you will be left for the priests to use as a virginal sacrifice to their foreign deities. Her words were short, but not said unkindly. It was true, anyhow. Karins abhorrence of slavery might be unremitting but her tendency to self-preservation overruled any other thought. She must be bought today. With this in mind, when the Quaestor stepped onto the stage she stood quietly and obediently, her gaze trained on her toes. His speech was dramatic, and as eloquent as it was absurd. It was these people that were the savages. She did however hold onto his words. She was a warrior and she would not be defeated by these people who sought to shame her. When she felt hands pull away her clothing therefore she didnt cringe back like Raiya beside her who had already started to cry again. She stood straight-backed and proud, although her eyes were fiery and unforgiving. The bidding started, and almost immediately Karin heard a bid placed to claim all of them. She was not familiar with the Roman currency but she could tell from the gasps in the crowd that the price was excessive. Her heart jumped. Of all possible outcomes, this was surely the best one that she could hope for. There was safety in numbers, and she would be able to keep at least some connection to her home. While the trader was distracted, she sneaked a brief reassuring glance at Raiya. She would be able to protect her for a while longer after all. The moment was short lived. Another voice from the crowd and another, more exorbitant, sum declared. And yet this time the bidding was directed at her alone. She couldnt stop herself from looking up, startled. She scanned the crowd for the man whose voice she had heard. She found him as he spoke again. He looked rich, but no more so than those around him. What would possess him to bid so rashly? And why her? The mans words had started some sort of verbal spar, it seemed. She did not understand it all, but it was enough to tell her that this was a competition of egos, with her as some sort of trophy for the victor. As the other man subsided, it was apparent that the winner was the muscled man in olive green. She glanced at his face again before she was hustled off the stage, making note of his contemplative glance. Back in the barn the slaver came over to her, removing the chains from her leg, only to attach a collar around her neck. He leered at her naked body. Seems youre going to be a rich mans slut then he taunted. Karin didnt respond. The man had been holding a special torch of revenge against her ever since he had tried to feel her up in Gallia and she had fought back. The two deep scratches she had left on his cheek were still visible although they had faded from angry red to a dull purple. She could tell that he didnt dare try again, not when her new owner could round the corner at any moment, therefore she ignored his lusty gaze, turning her nose up in dismissal. She didnt have long to wait until she was claimed, although when the man rounded the corner it was not the bearded Magistrate she had been expecting. This man was younger and more slight. She eyed him doubtfully. You arent the man from the auction. The question left her lips before she could stop it, and she immediately regretted her free tongue.