Sirena's Eberron Part 1
It was a sickening feeling. It almost made her wretch. The slimy feel of cold wet flesh between her toes, under heels, all the way up to her ankles reminded her of tiny eyes being crushed under her weight. She dug her nails into the wooden edge of the tub because if she fell, she knew she’d vomit and then her punishment would be worse.
Are you humiliated? He only asked once. He never asked anything twice.
Still, his question echoed in her heard with ever stomp of the plump grapes on the tub floor. She didn’t look down into the tub, she didn’t look up at him, or the snickers of whatever jealous woman or girl she had inevitably slighted in some near past, instead she stared intently at the pale dirt and ignored the sickening sucking wet sounds her feet were making.
This was lewd. This was debasing. Giving an desperate rich boy the night of his life in exchange for gifts her father couldn’t afford was just smart.
Are you humiliated? She could scream. She chanced a look at him, to see if he was pleased.
((title) General?) Jarkeld never smiled.
She looked back down. Digging her nails deeper into the wood, she let her anger bubble up and it poured out in the form of tears. She slipped but her grip kept her from falling and she let out a sob which did turn into a scream.
“YES!” She hugged the edge of the tub. “YES! I’m humiliated!” She glared at him. He stared calmly back, waiting for the tantrum to run it course. “You have reduced me to the most unsightly you could have. I look horrible, I feel horrible. My enemies are laughing at me and all of Aundair will know of my embarrassment by the time the last garnish is put on their dinner plates tonight and, oh, won’t they have much to speak of.” She waited for him to respond. He didn’t move. “I’m sorry, father, I’ve sinned but it’s a sin not half so bad as sleeping with a devil then creating a child half as sinful as the act-“
He inclined his head. Her eyes were fire red, her hair was hot copper, but [first name] Jarkeld was ice. And he froze her with eyes and silence. He was death on the battlefield and justice in the home. This was his justice and defy him as she might Sirena Malla Jarkeld would not melt him.
“People,” he began softly, “are not a means to an end. People are the why and the because of every just action. People are why we choose to fight, to love, to die, and to live. When you forget that and treat people as merchandise, currency, or pawns in a … machination, you yourself aren’t worth very much.”
“I’ll be sure to tell that to our sweet queen who insists on sending my father and his men to their deaths. I’ll smile sweetly when she presents me with your sword and extols how bravely you fought for our people and then I’ll ask her where her sweet hand was she moved your knight’s piece into a Thranish sword.”
He didn’t respond but she didn’t soften her gaze either. “Keep stomping. And stop crying, salt has no place in wine and I won’t have your ruining an otherwise superb vintage.”
“I am your most superb vintage,” she barked back.
“Which is why I take pains not to spoil you, my dear.”
She stomped in silence, for a moment, wiping her eyes. For as little as he talked, her father’s tongue was quick. “Wine is the simple spoiling of grape juice and only a fool does not like a fine spoiled grape juice,” she offered sweetly.
“Grapes are round sweet. Shall I fatten you?”
“Would you punish a fat, sweet daughter, daddy?” She smiled at him and gave him a look the melted most men.
“Yes.” She scowled. “She’s stomped grapes faster though.”
“I have a dancer’s feet.”
“Then foxtrot faster, the sun’s going down. I’m going inside.” He left her to the remainder of her punishment. Sirena rested her head on her arms and tried hard to think of other things beside her discomfort. The night had begun to settle in by the time she was done. The remainder of summer's fireflies lingered and intermittently brighten the dark shadows of the distant vineyard.
A servant was waiting for her. Mirelle was her name. She was sweet and meek. Sirena liked that about her- she didn't have the nerve to be good at deception.
…….tbc