86th Spring, 515AV
"Havzi, bolt lock the door behind me will you please?" Shakune threw the request over her left shoulder as she walked out the door of her small home. Her resident slave would abide by the order, she knew without a doubt. The girl probably didn't even need asking, but reminders couldn't hurt. It was better if Shakune was regarded as nagging than it would be to return to Havzi having been terrified by the Sunset Quarter terrors.
As she stalked away from the house, Shakune considered how the relationship with her slave was forming. She'd never entertained the idea of having a slave before - to own another person was immoral in her mind. But then Havzi had been given to her, and out of fear for the girl's wellbeing, Shakune had accepted the gift. To begin with, the courier had felt so awkward around the younger girl that they'd barely said a word to each other. Both were cautious of each other. Havzi expected her new owner to be as brutal as her previous claimants. She'd leant early on that a good slave did not speak until spoken to. And so the silence between them had extended. For Shakune, the prospect of owning a person made her feel unbelievably guilty and uncomfortable.
But slowly, those one-off comments developed into timid conversations. Shakune learnt just how long Havzi had been in slavery. The girl had no memories of a free life, though she did seem to recall living with a faceless mother and distant father in Ravok. She also had an eye for business. That became evident early on when Shakune initially explained Havzi's new role within No Questions Couriers. She hoped the girl would become the face of her business, serving the customers each day whilst Shakune ran about the city delivering parcels and letters. Havzi had happily agreed to this, stating that she had previously worked in a similar row. She'd vowed her dedication to Shakune and the business.
Another promise had been made that day, as well. Havzi would not die a slave, not if Shakune could help. She planned on paying Havzi a wage at the turn of each season, as she would any other employee. If the girl was smart with her money - as Shakune expected her to be - and business was good enough, Havzi would be able to afford her freedom within the year. She could, of course, reside with Shakune as long as she needed. After all, the girl was an asset to the business. There was a potential benefit to be made by all parties if Havzi remained in Sunberth for at least a short while.
She brushed her thoughts aside, deciding instead to focus on the task on hand. Ever since the season change from winter to spring, Shakune had been somewhat obsessed with her fitness levels. Before her close encounter with a slaver, the courier had allowed herself to get complacent. She'd spent her nights drinking, gambling and screwing. The mornings, therefore, were spent hung-over and making awkward conversation with whichever male or female had shared her bed. But no longer. Now Shakune appreciated the simple ability to walk the city as a free woman. She would not allow her attitude or body to soften again.
So she trained. She trained with her khopesh, but also running and jumping to ensure that if she was chased by slavers again, the half-breed would be able to actually escape her assailants.
Today, her focus was on of the former. As usual, Shakune began her exercise with a stretch; she reached her arms out forwards, bent down to touch the urine-stained cobbles. After wiping her hands on her trousers, the courier stretched out her legs and neck.
And then she started jogging.
She was slow at first, pacing herself and keeping her breathing regular until Shakune was cleared out of the Sunset Quarters. She built up her speed, eyebrows knotted together as she concentrated on keeping her breathes as slow as possible. In... out... She clenched her abdominal muscles to blow out a lungful of air, counting her steps before she inhaled again deeply.
Sweat began to break out on her hairline, but the courier pushed onwards. The city began to pass her; the taverns, the empty shacks that no doubt concealed all kinds of secrets. She turned left down an alleyway, prancing on the flat surfaces of the cobblestones to avoid the uneven footing and the risk of falling flat. The backstreet was littered with slacks of wood and piles of rubbish. Usually, Shakune would slow to a walk at this stage, but today she fancied a challenge. She built up her speed, black eyes focused on a small chuck of questionable material that lay in front of her.
For a brief tick, Shakune looked like a puppet or rag doll thrown in the air. Her arms exploded outwards, her legs splayed unnaturally underneath her. She was wholly uncoordinated, and had anyone been watching, they'd no doubt explode into laughter. But nevertheless, she managed to clear the rubble pile and land the other side -- even without falling down, though she did have to cling onto the wall for balance.
As she stalked away from the house, Shakune considered how the relationship with her slave was forming. She'd never entertained the idea of having a slave before - to own another person was immoral in her mind. But then Havzi had been given to her, and out of fear for the girl's wellbeing, Shakune had accepted the gift. To begin with, the courier had felt so awkward around the younger girl that they'd barely said a word to each other. Both were cautious of each other. Havzi expected her new owner to be as brutal as her previous claimants. She'd leant early on that a good slave did not speak until spoken to. And so the silence between them had extended. For Shakune, the prospect of owning a person made her feel unbelievably guilty and uncomfortable.
But slowly, those one-off comments developed into timid conversations. Shakune learnt just how long Havzi had been in slavery. The girl had no memories of a free life, though she did seem to recall living with a faceless mother and distant father in Ravok. She also had an eye for business. That became evident early on when Shakune initially explained Havzi's new role within No Questions Couriers. She hoped the girl would become the face of her business, serving the customers each day whilst Shakune ran about the city delivering parcels and letters. Havzi had happily agreed to this, stating that she had previously worked in a similar row. She'd vowed her dedication to Shakune and the business.
Another promise had been made that day, as well. Havzi would not die a slave, not if Shakune could help. She planned on paying Havzi a wage at the turn of each season, as she would any other employee. If the girl was smart with her money - as Shakune expected her to be - and business was good enough, Havzi would be able to afford her freedom within the year. She could, of course, reside with Shakune as long as she needed. After all, the girl was an asset to the business. There was a potential benefit to be made by all parties if Havzi remained in Sunberth for at least a short while.
She brushed her thoughts aside, deciding instead to focus on the task on hand. Ever since the season change from winter to spring, Shakune had been somewhat obsessed with her fitness levels. Before her close encounter with a slaver, the courier had allowed herself to get complacent. She'd spent her nights drinking, gambling and screwing. The mornings, therefore, were spent hung-over and making awkward conversation with whichever male or female had shared her bed. But no longer. Now Shakune appreciated the simple ability to walk the city as a free woman. She would not allow her attitude or body to soften again.
So she trained. She trained with her khopesh, but also running and jumping to ensure that if she was chased by slavers again, the half-breed would be able to actually escape her assailants.
Today, her focus was on of the former. As usual, Shakune began her exercise with a stretch; she reached her arms out forwards, bent down to touch the urine-stained cobbles. After wiping her hands on her trousers, the courier stretched out her legs and neck.
And then she started jogging.
She was slow at first, pacing herself and keeping her breathing regular until Shakune was cleared out of the Sunset Quarters. She built up her speed, eyebrows knotted together as she concentrated on keeping her breathes as slow as possible. In... out... She clenched her abdominal muscles to blow out a lungful of air, counting her steps before she inhaled again deeply.
Sweat began to break out on her hairline, but the courier pushed onwards. The city began to pass her; the taverns, the empty shacks that no doubt concealed all kinds of secrets. She turned left down an alleyway, prancing on the flat surfaces of the cobblestones to avoid the uneven footing and the risk of falling flat. The backstreet was littered with slacks of wood and piles of rubbish. Usually, Shakune would slow to a walk at this stage, but today she fancied a challenge. She built up her speed, black eyes focused on a small chuck of questionable material that lay in front of her.
For a brief tick, Shakune looked like a puppet or rag doll thrown in the air. Her arms exploded outwards, her legs splayed unnaturally underneath her. She was wholly uncoordinated, and had anyone been watching, they'd no doubt explode into laughter. But nevertheless, she managed to clear the rubble pile and land the other side -- even without falling down, though she did have to cling onto the wall for balance.
