Worlds Apart Part 17
I had planned to do the entire shopping trip in one post but I forgot that Voral is talks a lot.
It is just a leather bracelet.
It is just a leather bracelet.
It is just a leather bracelet. Neisk chanted inside his head.
It is just a leather bracelet.....that connects to a leather collar around your best friend's neck and if you turn around you can see him following you like a dog on a leash! NO DO NOT TURN AROUND!
Despite his own mental warning he found his head turning to look over his shoulder. And there was Gorlyn attached to the leash that was looped around his wrist. Gorlyn wrists were manacled, keeping his arms in front of him. His ankles were also linked together with cuff and chain. There was enough slack on the chain between his ankles to allow him to walk almost normally but not enough for running.
Oddly Gorlyn didn't have his head bowed like he normally did, nor did he look cowed. Instead he walked with his head held high. He would have looked regal except for the plain tan work cloths and the fact his head kept moving around as he tried to see everything around him at once. His face was the perfect image of someone gawking.
Quickly Neisk forced himself to face straight ahead. Unfortunately avoiding the sight behind him meant dealing with the one in front of him. He had expected people to move aside as he walked down the street leaving giving him a wide berth. What he had not expected was for the low bows and curtsies. Not that he had ever gone shopping in the capitol. Not since his visit with Arnell. Do not go down that road! This time he obeyed his inner warnings. Keeping a casual look plastered to his face he made it through the line of deep bows and curtsies to Tailor Voral's shop.
“My lord! What a pleasant surprise. What brings you into my shop?” Tailor Voral gave him a modest bow and for the first time Neisk found it refreshing.
“I need some clothing.” Neisk answered.
“My lord I would have been more than willing to come out to your house like I always have. There was no need to trouble yourself by coming to me.” Voral responded smoothly.
“I was in town for a religious event. I thought it foolish to ride home and wait for you to come to me when I could just come here.” Neisk replied. Voral was silent for a moment and Neisk hid a grin. It was always fun to try and make Voral speechless. Now the man had two choices he could agree with Neisk thus insulting anyone who made him come to them instead of coming to his shop. Or he could disagree with Neisk and insult the man who was in his shop now.
“So what can I make for you, my lord?” The coward took the third choice. Change the subject.
“Not for me. For him.” Neisk responded turning around to remove leash and collar around Gorlyn's neck. “Come forward Gorlyn so Tailor Voral can measure you.” Gorlyn moved in front of him.
“Is that a dev'sleuv?” Voral asked as he moved closer to Gorlyn. The man's eyes were instantly drawn to Gorlyn's kaspern. “That is not the crest of the Ghuryni royal family... Nor is it the King General's....” He sounded as if he were speaking to himself.
“No it is my own personal crest.” Neisk supplied the information just in cast Voral was speaking to him.
“Your highness forgive me!” Voral exclaimed throwing himself to his knees and bowing from the waist. “I never knew you were royalty.”
“I am not royalty Voral.” Neisk held in a groan. “Please get back up.”
“But...but...then why.....you have....a dev'sleuv.” Voral stammered as he rose to his feet.
“The King General gave him to me. He has been giving them out to nobles who find favor with him.” Neisk explained.
“Oh....I....didn't know that.” Voral said softly.
“I assume the rest of the capitol is unaware as well?” Neisk asked. That would explain everyone's reactions outside. If they did not know about nobles receiving dev'sleuv then they would assume anyone they saw with one would be royalty and there he was parading Gorlyn around.
“There has been nothing from the Castle about this. I imagine it is not the concern of the people what the king does with his property.” Voral sounded as if he honestly believed it.
“Yes well I am in need of some clothing for mine. I have been told that it would offend my servants to put him in the same livery so I came to you to get some livery in a different style.” Neisk tried to bring the subject back to reason of his visit. The less he had to think of Gorlyn as being the property of anyone let alone the King General the better.
“Oh well. My lord I would of course like very much to make clothing for you but I am afraid I can not make anything for him.” Voral gave another bow some where in the middle of the deep bow for royalty and the one he normally gave Neisk.
“Why not?” Neisk asked.
“Well you see my lord I am a respectable Tailor and I am trying to make a name for myself among the upper class. If word got out I was making clothing for slaves well.....” Voral threw his hands out from his side in a gesture of 'It's not my fault'.
“I see.” Neisk pushed back his rage so it did not come out in his voice. “Perhaps then one of your apprentices could make something. The new one you were complaining about. You said his stitching was sturdy but messy. Surely that would be acceptable.”
“Even the work my apprentices do carries my name....” Voral's eyes suddenly lit up. “But you have given me an idea.” He turned toward his back room. “Beln! Come out here!”
A few moments later a young lad of about fifteen came running into the main room. He stopped short when he noticed Neisk and Gorlyn. His face turned white and he ducked his head a bit. Slowly and obviously nervous he walked the rest of the way into the room. “You wanted me, Master Voral?” The boy asked nervously.
“Yes, those two sets of clothing you keep hidden under your bed. Bring them here.” Voral ordered.
“Please, don't burn them master! I haven't worn them not once! It don't hurt nothing for them to be under my bed!” the boy pleaded tears falling down his face. Voral grabbed the boy by the back of the neck and marched him through the back archway.
Curious Neisk floated, so they wouldn't hear his footsteps, over toward the archway so he could hear.
“That man out there is Ambassador Neisk. He is a very important man from Yndsie. The King General has given him a dev'sleuv as a reward for all the great things he has done for our country. Now he needs some good sturdy clothing for his dev'sleuv to work in. I was just telling him about how well your mother's work is and how the clothes you have of hers would be perfect for him. What do you say about giving them to him?” Voral asked Beln.
“Really? My mother's clothes are desired by a noble man?” You could hear the excitement and hope in the young man's voice.
“Yes, really.” Voral replied firmly. “Now he might turn them down because of your bad behavior and if he insists on seeing you punished I will be forced to beat you in front of him. I told you a hundred times not to talk back to me when we have customers.” Voral hissed the last sentence and Neisk was barely able to hear it.
“I understand Master Voral.” The boy sounded so solemn it made Neisk's heart ache. “Are you going to punish me when he's gone? For hiding the clothes?” The boy asked softly.
“No but you will have double the chores for the next week for your outburst if I don't have to beat you for it.” Voral answered. “Now go get those clothes while I smooth things over.
Grinning Neisk floated back to where he had been standing before Voral appeared. One look at Gorlyn and he instantly felt himself grow serious. It dawned on him that he not only had control of Gorlyn's life now but he could make merchants beat their servants if he was offended. For the briefest of moments he wondered if someone else could demand the same of him should Gorlyn step out of line and he quickly buried that thought and faked a smile as Voral returned.
“I'm sorry my lord the boy is usually better behaved.” Voral started to apologize and then went into one of his long winded explanations. “You see his parents are farmers on the out skirts and I think they don't have enough food for themselves and two boys. His mother said he was real good with a needle and begged me to take him on as an apprentice so I did. I gave him some decent clothing like I give all my apprentices and told him to get rid of his old ones. But he's attached to them says his mother made them for him. The woman does decent work it's just not the kind that would fit in the circles I sell to. I can't have my apprentice wearing that kind of work you know. How would that make me look? So I knew he was hiding them under his bed and I was just gonna let it go but then you came in and I thought they would work for your slave.”
“They sound perfect.” Neisk made a conscious effort to make his voice sound pleased. “I can not thank you enough for you solution.” He thought it best to ignore Voral apology for the Beln's behavior. Perhaps the man would assume he did not even notice or care enough to demand punishment. When the boy came into the room he smiled at him. “Master Voral tells me your mother made these clothes. I can understand why you would not want to part with them. I am most honored by your generosity.”
“Well what do you say to Lord Neisk, Beln?” Voral cued the boy.
The boy looked over at Gorlyn and then at Neisk and then back to Gorlyn. His face registered an internal struggle for a moment and then he turned and looked Neisk right in the eyes. “My mama always said clothes were no good if someone wasn't wearing them. So I guess if they would do you some good m'lord then they would be better with you then under my bed. Just um....could I ask a favor?”
“Of course Beln.” Neisk was amazed at the eye contact and forced himself to hold on to it.
“When they wear out and your....dev'sleuv can't wear them any more.....would you promise to cut them up and use them as rags or something but not burn them?” Beln asked softly.
“I promise, Beln.” Neisk answered. The boy walked over and held out the pile of clothing. Neisk got his first good look at it. It was standard homespun in the same faded off white that the average farmer would wear. It was a good strong material that could take much abuse. He turned his attention to Voral.
“Since the clothing was not made by you then I suppose I do not have to pay you for them?” Neisk asked hiding a grin. That is for the telling me making cloths for Gorlyn would be beneath you. He thought to himself.
“Of course not my lord.” Voral's smile was now fake. “However if you wanted to leave some money I could see that his mother receives it.”
“Oh that is a splendid idea! I would very much like to thank her.” Neisk paused as if thinking. “You know I believe I should do so in person. May I borrow Beln tomorrow? He can show me the way to his farm I am sure.” While Voral had not been lying about the boy's family the way he worded himself did not lend to lie detection. It was true he could see that Beln's mother received the money but there was no way to tell if he would do it.
Voral just stared at him for a while and then surprisingly the smile turned real. “Of course my lord. If I may be so bold I would like to suggest that you consider commissioning her to make more. Those two sets there are really more for summer wear. Beln tells me she makes thicker clothing for winter.” Well that answered that question. Not only did Voral not try to talk him into leaving the money behind he suggested a way for the woman to make even more money.
That Voral would give up payment in favor of a poor farmer's wife made Neisk glad he had chosen to see the man. In all his previous dealings with Voral the man had appeared to be a greedy, whiny, pompous, pain in the ass. Now Neisk wondered which Voral was the real one. Also there was a slight sense that all along Voral had been trying to manipulate him into helping the family. Either way he thought it would be a good idea to reward the man for being a decent member of society.
“Tailor Voral are you free tomorrow morning?” Neisk asked.
“Why yes my lord I am.” Voral nodded.
“Good bring all your apprentices to my home after breakfast. I will have need of your services.” Neisk commanded. Before Voral could ask what he needed that would require all apprentices Neisk bowed his head, put Gorlyn's collar back on and stepped back out on to the crowded walkway.
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It is just a leather bracelet.
It is just a leather bracelet.
It is just a leather bracelet. Neisk chanted inside his head.
It is just a leather bracelet.....that connects to a leather collar around your best friend's neck and if you turn around you can see him following you like a dog on a leash! NO DO NOT TURN AROUND!
Despite his own mental warning he found his head turning to look over his shoulder. And there was Gorlyn attached to the leash that was looped around his wrist. Gorlyn wrists were manacled, keeping his arms in front of him. His ankles were also linked together with cuff and chain. There was enough slack on the chain between his ankles to allow him to walk almost normally but not enough for running.
Oddly Gorlyn didn't have his head bowed like he normally did, nor did he look cowed. Instead he walked with his head held high. He would have looked regal except for the plain tan work cloths and the fact his head kept moving around as he tried to see everything around him at once. His face was the perfect image of someone gawking.
Quickly Neisk forced himself to face straight ahead. Unfortunately avoiding the sight behind him meant dealing with the one in front of him. He had expected people to move aside as he walked down the street leaving giving him a wide berth. What he had not expected was for the low bows and curtsies. Not that he had ever gone shopping in the capitol. Not since his visit with Arnell. Do not go down that road! This time he obeyed his inner warnings. Keeping a casual look plastered to his face he made it through the line of deep bows and curtsies to Tailor Voral's shop.
“My lord! What a pleasant surprise. What brings you into my shop?” Tailor Voral gave him a modest bow and for the first time Neisk found it refreshing.
“I need some clothing.” Neisk answered.
“My lord I would have been more than willing to come out to your house like I always have. There was no need to trouble yourself by coming to me.” Voral responded smoothly.
“I was in town for a religious event. I thought it foolish to ride home and wait for you to come to me when I could just come here.” Neisk replied. Voral was silent for a moment and Neisk hid a grin. It was always fun to try and make Voral speechless. Now the man had two choices he could agree with Neisk thus insulting anyone who made him come to them instead of coming to his shop. Or he could disagree with Neisk and insult the man who was in his shop now.
“So what can I make for you, my lord?” The coward took the third choice. Change the subject.
“Not for me. For him.” Neisk responded turning around to remove leash and collar around Gorlyn's neck. “Come forward Gorlyn so Tailor Voral can measure you.” Gorlyn moved in front of him.
“Is that a dev'sleuv?” Voral asked as he moved closer to Gorlyn. The man's eyes were instantly drawn to Gorlyn's kaspern. “That is not the crest of the Ghuryni royal family... Nor is it the King General's....” He sounded as if he were speaking to himself.
“No it is my own personal crest.” Neisk supplied the information just in cast Voral was speaking to him.
“Your highness forgive me!” Voral exclaimed throwing himself to his knees and bowing from the waist. “I never knew you were royalty.”
“I am not royalty Voral.” Neisk held in a groan. “Please get back up.”
“But...but...then why.....you have....a dev'sleuv.” Voral stammered as he rose to his feet.
“The King General gave him to me. He has been giving them out to nobles who find favor with him.” Neisk explained.
“Oh....I....didn't know that.” Voral said softly.
“I assume the rest of the capitol is unaware as well?” Neisk asked. That would explain everyone's reactions outside. If they did not know about nobles receiving dev'sleuv then they would assume anyone they saw with one would be royalty and there he was parading Gorlyn around.
“There has been nothing from the Castle about this. I imagine it is not the concern of the people what the king does with his property.” Voral sounded as if he honestly believed it.
“Yes well I am in need of some clothing for mine. I have been told that it would offend my servants to put him in the same livery so I came to you to get some livery in a different style.” Neisk tried to bring the subject back to reason of his visit. The less he had to think of Gorlyn as being the property of anyone let alone the King General the better.
“Oh well. My lord I would of course like very much to make clothing for you but I am afraid I can not make anything for him.” Voral gave another bow some where in the middle of the deep bow for royalty and the one he normally gave Neisk.
“Why not?” Neisk asked.
“Well you see my lord I am a respectable Tailor and I am trying to make a name for myself among the upper class. If word got out I was making clothing for slaves well.....” Voral threw his hands out from his side in a gesture of 'It's not my fault'.
“I see.” Neisk pushed back his rage so it did not come out in his voice. “Perhaps then one of your apprentices could make something. The new one you were complaining about. You said his stitching was sturdy but messy. Surely that would be acceptable.”
“Even the work my apprentices do carries my name....” Voral's eyes suddenly lit up. “But you have given me an idea.” He turned toward his back room. “Beln! Come out here!”
A few moments later a young lad of about fifteen came running into the main room. He stopped short when he noticed Neisk and Gorlyn. His face turned white and he ducked his head a bit. Slowly and obviously nervous he walked the rest of the way into the room. “You wanted me, Master Voral?” The boy asked nervously.
“Yes, those two sets of clothing you keep hidden under your bed. Bring them here.” Voral ordered.
“Please, don't burn them master! I haven't worn them not once! It don't hurt nothing for them to be under my bed!” the boy pleaded tears falling down his face. Voral grabbed the boy by the back of the neck and marched him through the back archway.
Curious Neisk floated, so they wouldn't hear his footsteps, over toward the archway so he could hear.
“That man out there is Ambassador Neisk. He is a very important man from Yndsie. The King General has given him a dev'sleuv as a reward for all the great things he has done for our country. Now he needs some good sturdy clothing for his dev'sleuv to work in. I was just telling him about how well your mother's work is and how the clothes you have of hers would be perfect for him. What do you say about giving them to him?” Voral asked Beln.
“Really? My mother's clothes are desired by a noble man?” You could hear the excitement and hope in the young man's voice.
“Yes, really.” Voral replied firmly. “Now he might turn them down because of your bad behavior and if he insists on seeing you punished I will be forced to beat you in front of him. I told you a hundred times not to talk back to me when we have customers.” Voral hissed the last sentence and Neisk was barely able to hear it.
“I understand Master Voral.” The boy sounded so solemn it made Neisk's heart ache. “Are you going to punish me when he's gone? For hiding the clothes?” The boy asked softly.
“No but you will have double the chores for the next week for your outburst if I don't have to beat you for it.” Voral answered. “Now go get those clothes while I smooth things over.
Grinning Neisk floated back to where he had been standing before Voral appeared. One look at Gorlyn and he instantly felt himself grow serious. It dawned on him that he not only had control of Gorlyn's life now but he could make merchants beat their servants if he was offended. For the briefest of moments he wondered if someone else could demand the same of him should Gorlyn step out of line and he quickly buried that thought and faked a smile as Voral returned.
“I'm sorry my lord the boy is usually better behaved.” Voral started to apologize and then went into one of his long winded explanations. “You see his parents are farmers on the out skirts and I think they don't have enough food for themselves and two boys. His mother said he was real good with a needle and begged me to take him on as an apprentice so I did. I gave him some decent clothing like I give all my apprentices and told him to get rid of his old ones. But he's attached to them says his mother made them for him. The woman does decent work it's just not the kind that would fit in the circles I sell to. I can't have my apprentice wearing that kind of work you know. How would that make me look? So I knew he was hiding them under his bed and I was just gonna let it go but then you came in and I thought they would work for your slave.”
“They sound perfect.” Neisk made a conscious effort to make his voice sound pleased. “I can not thank you enough for you solution.” He thought it best to ignore Voral apology for the Beln's behavior. Perhaps the man would assume he did not even notice or care enough to demand punishment. When the boy came into the room he smiled at him. “Master Voral tells me your mother made these clothes. I can understand why you would not want to part with them. I am most honored by your generosity.”
“Well what do you say to Lord Neisk, Beln?” Voral cued the boy.
The boy looked over at Gorlyn and then at Neisk and then back to Gorlyn. His face registered an internal struggle for a moment and then he turned and looked Neisk right in the eyes. “My mama always said clothes were no good if someone wasn't wearing them. So I guess if they would do you some good m'lord then they would be better with you then under my bed. Just um....could I ask a favor?”
“Of course Beln.” Neisk was amazed at the eye contact and forced himself to hold on to it.
“When they wear out and your....dev'sleuv can't wear them any more.....would you promise to cut them up and use them as rags or something but not burn them?” Beln asked softly.
“I promise, Beln.” Neisk answered. The boy walked over and held out the pile of clothing. Neisk got his first good look at it. It was standard homespun in the same faded off white that the average farmer would wear. It was a good strong material that could take much abuse. He turned his attention to Voral.
“Since the clothing was not made by you then I suppose I do not have to pay you for them?” Neisk asked hiding a grin. That is for the telling me making cloths for Gorlyn would be beneath you. He thought to himself.
“Of course not my lord.” Voral's smile was now fake. “However if you wanted to leave some money I could see that his mother receives it.”
“Oh that is a splendid idea! I would very much like to thank her.” Neisk paused as if thinking. “You know I believe I should do so in person. May I borrow Beln tomorrow? He can show me the way to his farm I am sure.” While Voral had not been lying about the boy's family the way he worded himself did not lend to lie detection. It was true he could see that Beln's mother received the money but there was no way to tell if he would do it.
Voral just stared at him for a while and then surprisingly the smile turned real. “Of course my lord. If I may be so bold I would like to suggest that you consider commissioning her to make more. Those two sets there are really more for summer wear. Beln tells me she makes thicker clothing for winter.” Well that answered that question. Not only did Voral not try to talk him into leaving the money behind he suggested a way for the woman to make even more money.
That Voral would give up payment in favor of a poor farmer's wife made Neisk glad he had chosen to see the man. In all his previous dealings with Voral the man had appeared to be a greedy, whiny, pompous, pain in the ass. Now Neisk wondered which Voral was the real one. Also there was a slight sense that all along Voral had been trying to manipulate him into helping the family. Either way he thought it would be a good idea to reward the man for being a decent member of society.
“Tailor Voral are you free tomorrow morning?” Neisk asked.
“Why yes my lord I am.” Voral nodded.
“Good bring all your apprentices to my home after breakfast. I will have need of your services.” Neisk commanded. Before Voral could ask what he needed that would require all apprentices Neisk bowed his head, put Gorlyn's collar back on and stepped back out on to the crowded walkway.
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