Smiles for Free

“Magic!” I whisper.

“Very much so.” Rosa says. “It’s old. Dormant. But the magic still shines. Quin…get me that rope.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

Keeping Rosa tight to my flank and just behind me to avoid any errant steps off the side of the dock I walk out toward the small, single mast vessel. As we near it a wiry, squint-faced, bare-chested man a bit further down the dock notices us. He peels away from the other two sailors he was talking to come and intercept us.

“What’s yer business?” He snaps at us once in earshot. By his tone and his scowl I could see he was on his guard, suspicious about these two strangers that were strolling out onto what was clearly a working dock. Based on the smell coming out of the well of the ship and the carefully folded weighted nets stacked near the stern I knew this was a fishing vessel, like the other boats around us. Though I stop well back from his ship he nevertheless comes right up to me, interposing himself between us and the rest of the dock in such a way that left no doubt that we were not welcome here. He cranes his neck to look up at me, not in the slightest intimidated by my size. “Well? Speak up, youngster.”

I put on my I felt was my most charming grin and say. “Greetings. A good day to…”

“What’dya want?” He cuts me off.

“Right.” I say. “I was hoping I might purchase a rope from you.”

His squint becomes even more squinty as he looks at me as if I’d just asked for the moon. “Does this look like a general store?”

“No, of course not.” I chuckle, trying to keep things light. My laughter ends abruptly as I see by the deepening wrinkles in his tanned, leathery face that it was buying me no favor. In fact quite the opposite. “That particular rope there caught my eye. It would…um…match the, um…saddle that…”

“Match yer saddle? What saddle!?” He sneers, eyes darting toward the saddleless Catalus who was tied off on a post near the base of the quay. “And what’s it matter if it matches, long as it works. That there’s my lucky rope and ya can’t have it. Now shove off, youngster!”

I open my mouth to reply only for Rosa’s smooth voice to fill the tense silence. “You’re as crusty as an old barnacle.” She giggles as she steps out from behind me. He feels her way around my arm, calling attention to and even exaggerating her blindness like I’d never seen her do before. “Here I thought fisherman were more attentive than this. You’ve landed a prime catch and you’re just going to cut the line?” The old fellow’s scowl softens as his eye widen at the beautiful demon that had suddenly materialized before him. She smiles, tilts her head and bats her big magenta eyes. Reaching out with an unseeing hand she paws through the air until she finds his arm. Quickly her small and delicate hand slides down to take a hold of his. “My Master is a man of means and is willing to pay for your silly old rope. But it seems folks here don’t like money.”

“I…” He squirms and glances up at me, not quite sure what to make of Rosa’s mixture of sweet innocence and confident charisma. “I like money just fine. But this ain’t no rope shop.” His tone was suddenly more respectful. A face as beautiful as Rosa’s could soften even his cantankerous soul. “If you’ll excuse me.”

Ignoring his refusal Rosa continues, still holding his hand tight. “A rope as supple as that one would be kind on the hands of my Master’s other slaves. Rough rope cuts flesh, fine rope like that does not. He is merciful that way. A thoughtful master to his slaves. You would be doing them a kindness. I can feel your hands are strong and rough. The hard hands of a real man. No rope bothers you, does it?”

He clears his throat and I swear his tanned cheeks darken a shade. “No. Course not. Respectfully, you don’t look like you know a rope from a ribbon.”

Rosa smirks. “I can tie a knot or two when I need to. A rope as well cared for as this one is worth a coin or two to the right person. My Master is the right person.”

“Yeah, my boots is well cared for too. He gonna buy them too?”

“Are they red?” She titters. “He just might!”

His brows furrow. “Wait a sec! How you know it’s supple and well cared for? You can’t see a damn thing, can ya?”

“I would just assume a proud fisherman like you would look after his things. And my Master told me of its suppleness.”

“Your Master told you? How’d he know that from shore?”

“He once had another rope just like that one.” She answers without missing a beat. “It is quite a distinctive color and weave. Hard to miss those ropes.” She leans closer and whispers with a lilting and disarming laugh. “And he is quite taken with that shade of red.”

His keen eyes flit up to the living collar around my neck then back to Rosa. “I can see that.” Looking down at Rosa’s fine-boned hand holding his brows twitch, though he makes no move to pull away. “Ya see, little miss, that there’s my lucky rope…”

She giggles. “Perhaps I might trade you my lucky charm. Luck for luck. Fortuna would surely approve.”

“I don’t need no charms. I need my rope.”

“As do we.” Ever so subtly she shifts closer to him. “My Master can be quite particular about these things. You would bring him a smile if you could see your way to parting with it.” She grins. “And that would make me smile. You could provide smiles or frowns.” She lays her other hand on his chest as she pouts. “You don’t want to be the man to make me frown, do you?”

“Erm. I mean…what do I care if you…erm…” As he tries to reach for his usual crankiness Rosa big, blind eyes continue to stare up through him as she nibbles her plump bottom lip. “I mean…erm…”

“What’s going on over here?” Says a strapping man in his 30’s with long black hair who moved with a nimble gait. “I haven’t seen old Tully this flustered since…well, ever.” His voice warms, his smile widens, as he takes in Rosa. “And I can see why. I didn’t know Helen of Troy had come back as a demoness.” With a lively laugh and a curtsie Rosa accepts the compliment. The man stands a bit taller and slaps Tully on the shoulder. “What’s this curmudgeon saying to you?”

“They wanna buy my lucky rope.” He says. “I told’em it ain’t for sale.”

The other man looks at the pile of ropes where the Vermilion coil lay. His blue eyes dart back to Rosa and then up to me, his gaze lingering just for just an instant on my collar. In them I see…a glint. “This rope? You want to buy this red rope here?”

Rosa lifts her chin to hold her head with regal poise then nods. “We wish to buy that rope.”

The man smiles and pats Tully’s back. “Sell it to them you stubborn old carp. What’s another rope to you? Besides, based on your hauls lately I’d say luck abandoned that rope years ago.”

“Watch yer mouth.” Tully snaps. He licks his lips and looks down again at Rosa’s hand. “You…erm…said you’d be willing to pay?”

“How does one shiny denarius sound to you?” Rosa says.

“A whole piece of silver!?” Tully sputters, before quickly collecting himself. “Is she serious?”

“My Master gives me the freedom to negotiate such things.” Rosa replies in my stead. “And yes. One denarius seems a fair bargain for a good luck rope and a happy Master.”

“Just sell’em the damned thing.” The other man chuckles. “I suspect these two will put it to better use than you ever will anyway.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

Tully looks around at the three of us as he scratches his chin. Letting go of Rosa’s hand he bends down and picks up the coil of rope. He runs it through his calloused hands, rubbing his thumbs across it as if trying to discern why the rope was of special value to us. “Mmm, it is a damn good rope.” He says at last. “Two. Two denarii. Not one ass less.”

“Come now, old barnacle.” Rosa croons. “You’re going to take advantage of us like that?” She sighs. “Very well. If it brings a smile to your face as well I suppose it’s worth it.”

Tully puffs his chest up, feeling he’d gotten the best of the deal. He says to the other man. “This one’s all about the smiles.”

“Oh, I bet she is.” He replies with a jealous glance my way.

I pull out two denarii and hand it to the man who reluctantly parts with his rope. Putting it over my shoulder I shake his hand. “Much obliged.”

He rolls his eyes and scowls. “A fool and his money, as they say.” That sour looks quickly evaporates as Rosa finds his shoulder then leans in to kiss his stubbly cheek. Her left hand cups his other cheek just in time to feel a smile crack his near permanent scowl.

Rosa giggles and pats his cheek then steps back again. Looking in the general direction of the other man she says. “A pleasure meeting you stranger.”

“The pleasure was all mine.” He bows his head. “Good Lady.”