Going about your work...

The next day finds you sooner than you'd like. The sun peaking through some window or crack, and landing right on your face. You groan in frustration.

"Up Up Up!" A swift smack on the rear accompanies the call, eliciting a yelp from your lips. You roll over, and drop one foot off the side of the bed, meaning to catch yourself and sit up... Only the bed's so much higher off the ground, your feet find no purchase, and you fall from the bed landing painfully on your tailbone.

"Ughhh." You groan as you reach around to rub the soreness from your body. You hadn't really forgotten about your contract and new body, but it certainly wasn't fun to be reminded of your new body so suddenly. You have half a mind to crawl back into bed, but a tittering laughter distracts you from your thoughts.

"I hope you slept well, Tulia."

You crack your eyes open and glare up at her through the sand still blurring your vision. The first thing you see is Nero curled up asleep on a rug... Lucky dog. Behind the pooch you see a small stove burning fresh twigs. A kettle hangs from a hook above it, gurgling and steaming. Aefleda stands before you, hands on her hips. Wait, her? You blink a few times, as last nights dream flashes through your mind. You glance to Aefleda's crotch, then back to her. She raises an eyebrow then helps lift you to your feet and passes you a drink. The scent of spices erupts in your nose, and for a moment you've forgotten about your concerns. A quick sip does wonders to clear both your eyes and mind, as the chai like tea warms your belly.

She interrupts your enjoyment, then states matter of factly,"We don't open until the fifth hour." (Roughly 11 o clock, you recall) "But that doesn't mean we don't have work to do!" She bustles back over to the stove, unties a burlap sack, and begins scooping its contents out into two bowls. She continues. "The stoves and furnaces have to be fired, Forgotten dishes cleaned, and the whole restaurant swept." She pours water from the kettle, and I have to make a trip to the grocer to buy supplies.

You think out loud. "I thought you were a ****..."

She stops and screws up her mouth, then snaps, "And?"

"I... " You suddenly feel under the microscope of her gaze. "Sorry, I just thought slaves couldn't go out and about."

She rolls here eyes."A **** does whatever her mistress wishes. She's free as long as her mistress is satisfied."

You shrug. "I, guess that makes sense." She passes the bowl of soggy oats to you. "I guess I just thought of it differently." The pair of you eat in silence, and you allow your thoughts to roam. You suddenly speak up. "Why don't you just run away then?" You feel a tension fall upon the room. Even Nero looks up in concern.

"I know... that you were free only yesterday." Aefleda begins. "But a good **** shouldn't even think such thoughts, much less voice them." She snatches the bowl from your hands before you were done.

"Hey!" you protest. She holds the bowl behind her, and glares at you.

"You live at the pleasure of mistress, and if your service does not bring her pleasure, then she will find something else that will..." Her voice is careful and deliberate, and a bit fearful.

"But I'm only a **** for two weeks..."

"That's true." Ubruptly she sets the bowl on the floor where Nero greedily gobbles up what remained. You grunt your disapproval. "But until then, you are still a ****."

You cross your arms. "That was uncalled for."

She just smirks, snuffs out the fire, and turns to you imperiously. "I have to go shopping, have the main hall swept by the time I return!" She clasps a stola over her shoulders, then departs. Leaving you alone with Nero. He looks to you, you look to him.