Thread: Dreaming of a Place: Far From Home (Closed for Magi)

Riding a horse was such an exciting thing. Ryan did not often get the pleasure of doing it, so now that he had he was taking full advantage of it putting the horse through it's paces on his way to one of the many secret docking points of the Dawn Midst. He was on a duty by his master, the honorable Sir Gosling who had sent him in order to fetch two new maids and a skilled servant if any were available. The whispers going around the castle were that one of the two had become pregnant by Sir Gosling's young son, and the other had been cast off the fifty foot wall by the Lord himself while he was in a rage that his mead was not properly warmed for his morning breakfast that he liked to eat while taking in the vista that his beautifully rich castle afforded him. Ryan did not pay them much attention. He was one of five squires the Lord had retained on his service and one of the middle ones. Not the brightest, dumbest, strongest, or weakest. He was just smart enough and strong enough to go unnoticed and make very few mistakes, but neither did he ever stand out. It was because of this trait that he was most often sent on duty such as these errands though they were more a job for the head-servant Rolf. It mattered not to him, because of how much he enjoyed riding one of Sir Gosling's war horses like this. The horses enjoyed it too, for he was light and a sure rider, not the heavy behemoth of a man like their master. Because of his pacing Ryan arrived far too early sometime in the early afternoon. After buying a meat-pie and custard he took his Lord's horse and allowed him to graze in the forest just outside of the village itself. As he waited he spotted many men coming, and was in awe of most of them. Especially the rider in black. His armor was so new and so... Different, that he decided to follow the man into the square and down to the warehouse where the Dawn Midst would be selling from later on. After taking Sir Gosling's horse to the stables he darted back to the warehouse, and slipped inside. The way the man walked with such ease and intensity under the massive amounts of armor made Ryan swallow thickly. He was obviously a powerful man, ferocious warrior, and darkly contented one. Someone who could kill, laugh, eat, and fuck whenever he wanted. He acted like nobody could tell him what to do. As the man and the fat bastard walked into another room Ryan scrambled outside and tried to find a vantage point into the room. He finally managed to scramble up some boxes to an open window from where he could just hear and see what was going on. The naked girls had his eyes popping open widely, and he blushed furiously until he realized nobody was around to see him. Once calm. He took to listening. The man whose name Ryan still did not know asked one of the girls if she ever touched herself, and Ryan blushed again at the question. This man was sick! She answered quickly, No. The man turned back, and picked another girl who was trussed up like a pig, and slung carelessly onto his massive black warhorse. Ryan dropped back to the ground. Stunned. As he stumbled out into the opening he suddenly came face to face with the black armored rider. He quickly bowed, touching his knee to his forehead and whispering words of etiquette. When the man did not simply walk past him a sudden chill came to his blood and he felt time passing in tenths of a second or slower even. A quick peek during this fascinating time where the world seemed to stop revolving pushed his glance toward where the girls had come from. The dark-haired one that had been asked the question last was just then powerfully smacked across her cheek and thrown to the floor. Then a simple tunic was tossed at her feet. Ryan felt his jaw being touched by cold metal and before he realized it he was on his feet being held by the... Duke?! I am Duke Lamar de Cohen. Who are you, boy? R-Ryan... Ryan of Gosling, m'lord. The man twisted his head to the side, and his eye twitched. Ryan shivered. Do you like what you see in there boy? Y-yes'r. M'lord. With a smirk the Duke literally carried Ryan into the warehouse where the nymph of a girl was quickly pulling the shirt over her head. That did not stop Ryan from getting a peek at her privates causing them both to blush. This close and he realized just how much older he was then her. She was only a girl! Panicked, slightly he looked at the Duke's dark eyes and shivered again. This man was evil. Well, The Duke said, tossing him at the girl, Touch her. Like being struck by a whip the voice forced him to move, his hand shot out and he touched the girls side. She flinched, but then relaxed as she realized he was being as gentile as he possibly could. The duke lowered his massive helm between them and spoke directly to Ryan. When you understand what I mean. Come and work for me. Then he was gone. Later in the evening when it was his turn to purchase the slaves he saw that they were all dressed again in tiny shifts that hardly hid a thing. When the dark haired one appeared he suddenly wanted her badly. Just to ask her who that man was! The bid was over quickly she was too young to do anything useful and had not apparent skills. Ryan also found a skilled trade-servant and another maid who was more of a woman. Their wrists were bound, and the ropes were lashed loosely to his horses saddle. He had his sword and knife, and was obviously in much better shape then any of the slaves. Just as he was about to leave the fat bastard came puffing over to him. Young sir, this'ere belongs to yer girl, Oh indeed? Yesh, she's can sing suh, Thank you sir. He took the instrument, and tucked it into the saddlebag. Then flipped the man an extra copper. He led the horse this time, and as all of them walked he turned and tugged a little on the rope to the young girl, You. Come here. I want to know something. Who was the man from earlier? Dressed all in black? He asked you... About... Private matters? You remember him? Do you know who he was?