Traveler's Rate

Back on the street I glance down at Rosa who had her head high as a little grin played at her lips. “You’re looking rather pleased with yourself.”

“And why shouldn’t I? I can still contribute.” She says. “I’m not just a pretty face.”

“Though having one sure doesn’t hurt.” I chuckle. “And no more of that thinking you aren’t contributing business. You are the only one thinking that way and it’s nonsense. Respectfully, my Lady.”

Rosa giggles. “Yes, Master.” Her eyes focus on the red rope as I hang it from Catalus’ harness. “I wonder what it does.”

“You can’t tell?” I say, running my thumb across the coils. The weave was smooth yet gripping enough to hold even the most intricate knots, the texture surprisingly soft on the flesh and the stiffness deceptively supple, but this was the way they made these ropes designed for bondage. For a man like me just feeling the texture was enough to send a thrill shooting through my soul, especially in the presence of his Lady.

“Not yet.” She says, keeping her voice low so as not to carry. “I’m getting hints but I’ll need time to play with it.” As I feel and study the rope I could see no sign of any magical enchantment or unusual craftsmanship, that was until Rosa touched it. As her slender fingers pass across the coil a barely perceptible golden sparkle twinkles with in the fiber, not unlike the reflection of the sun across a rippling pond. “I’ll dig into this mystery when we’ve got some time. And privacy.” She smirks. “And perhaps a willing volunteer.”

“Ohhh!” I sigh as my imagination comes alive to her playful comment. I shake my head. “Right! Later.”

***

It was the better part of an hour later when we find Cassie and Colly not far from where we’d split off from them. Colly sat on a low railing that ran along a section of the shore munching on figs while Cassie was on her feet scanning the street for us. The moment Cassie spots us she approaches to meet us halfway. Her eyes clock the rope in Rosa’s hands, the small bag in mine, before noting all the things that weren’t with us.

“Where’th Cat?” Colly calls from her spot.

“And everything else?” Cassie adds.

“You didn’t thell him, did you!?” Colly hops to her feet and hurries over.

“No, we didn’t sell him.” I say, pretending the thought hadn’t crossed my mind briefly. “He’s been stabled for the night where he’s convenient. It’s costing us a prince’s ransom to transport him though.”

“So you found a ship?” Cassie says as she shifts to stand on the other side of Rosa, looking curiously at the new rope in that signature color.

“We did, yeah. We met a captain who is just waiting for a favorable wind before heading out. Their ultimate destination is Piraeus, near Athens. I’ve secured us a spot.” I say. “Most of our stuff is already stowed there. It’s not much. We’ll be down among the amphorae, but we’ve got ourselves our own little corner. It’ll be…cozy.”

“Cozy we can do.” Cassie quips. “Better than most.”

“Indeed.” I smirk.

“You trust him with our gear?”

“Didn’t really have a choice. He was the only one heading our way and he said he didn’t want to be messing around when it was time to leave.” I say. “He gave me the location of an inn. Said to stay there and he’d send a man to find us when they are about to set sail. Said we should be ready to go at a moment’s notice.”

“Captain Nikias seemed trustworthy to me.” Rosa says. “A man of honor. I’m usually pretty good picking those types out.” Rosa’s tail strokes my leg through her dress.

“Are we able to work?” Cassie asks. “Help with the cost a bit?”

“We? No. He made it quite clear we are simply cargo.” I say, my eyes drifting to Rosa’s hooded form. “Our Lady however? Yes.”

“Just a song and a story here and there.” Rosa smiles. “The crew seemed to be music lovers.”

“Lovers of something alright.” I say. “When they found out I traveled with three beautiful women, well, let’s just say negotiations got a whole lot easier.”

“Quin!” Cassie laughs. “They probably think we all look like her!”

“I got that impression.” I chuckle. “But I’m not responsible for their assumptions.”

“Lucky for them then.” Colly pipes up, squeezing her own big green titties. “They got all different kindth of ladieth to appreciate.”

“Let’s just hope they don’t appreciate you too much.” I say more seriously. “They seemed like good men, but keep your heads on a swivel.”

“Awww, are you jealous Quin?” Cassie winks with a wicked glint in her eyes. “Worried your little harem might get into trouble?”

“Worried for them.” I banter right back. “The kraken’s got nothing on you three.”

“HA!”

Looking to the small lidless crate near where Colly had been sitting I say. “Shopping trip went well?”

“Better than well.” Cassie nods, then glances to the Vermilion coil again. “You did some shopping yourself I see. They have a temple of Venus here?”

“Unfortunately, no.” Rosa grins. “But the fisherman around here catch more than fish. Came with a free smile.”

“What?”

“It’s a story.” I say. “Come on, the inn is this way.”

Colly runs back to grab the box then together we begin to stroll along the cobble streets of Buxentum. In the waning light the shops and restaurants were now closed or in the process of closing as the town was tucking in for the night. Blocks away to the east, near the docks, the sound of merriment could be heard in the distance but all around us was quiet. The good kind of quiet as the chirr of crickets was a comforting confirmation that the hound had not yet found us.

“Any trouble?” Cassie asks after we pass another patrol of disinterested guardsmen.

“None.” I say. “At all. If Lydia put out the word it hasn’t reached here.”

“I’m still not sure it was Lydia who sent that thing after us.” Rosa says softly, her face in shadows beneath her hood.

“Who else? Who else could it possibly be?” I ask, not expecting an answer. “I know you said it didn’t ‘feel’ right but we really didn’t know her that well.”

“I never thaw her do any magic with thcary dogth.” Colly says, trying to be helpful. “But I wathn’t really welcome in her thtudy and lab for thome reathon.”

“Even if it wasn’t her I don’t want to meet the person who sent it.” I say. “Once we’re off I think it’s safe to assume we’ll have lost it for good.” My gaze looks out toward the nearing edge of town from where the song of crickets came from. “If we haven’t already.”

Just then Rosa kneels down. Grabbing Danae by the head she nuzzles between the fox’s ears and kisses her. “I love you.” When she lets her go Danae turns and dashes out past the buildings, quickly disappearing among the reeds of the river. “This trip is going to be hard on her.” Rosa says as she rises. After a breath she adds. “On all of us, but the animals most of all. It will be difficult for them to be beyond Sylvanus’ sight.”

Cassie and I look at each other then I lay a hand on Rosa’s back. “We’ll make offerings in the morning for a safe journey. The green lord won’t forget about us, or them.” Guiding Rosa forward I say. “We’re at the inn.”

Though two stories high it was a squat building with smoke rising out a vent on the side giving the whole thing the appearance of a big bread oven or furnace. We pass through a small garden over which hung lines of laundry drying in the evening air. The inn’s cracking white plaster was framed with an umber red and above the door was the faded painting of a leaping dolphin. As I open the heavy wooden door the sounds of voices and clinking pottery comes wafting out with the smells of savory cooking fish. Heads turn to take in our curious group, but as we’d experienced since arriving the attention was no more or less than would be expected. The main room was large yet felt claustrophobic thanks the over abundance of tables and chairs, the shelves of bowls and mugs and a ceiling so low that my hair was brushing across it as I walked.

A tall woman behind the counter waves us forward, her dark eyes darting about to gather every bit of information available that could gleaned from our appearances.

“I was told you had rooms here. A Captain Nikias recommended you.” I say amiably, noting how her posture subtly relaxed at the mention of the Captain’s name. “We’ll need a hot meal, directions to the bath, and a room for four please.”

She nods. “Stew, wine and bread for the lot of ya, 9 asses. Traveler’s rate.”

“Traveler’s rate?”

“Make it an even 10.”

“What?”

“Yer a big one, ain’t ya? Big man, big bowl.” She says. “Common room or private?”

“Uh, private.”

“Two to a room.” She says curtly. “7 asses each.”

“7 each! Let me guess, traveler’s rate?”

“Obviously.” She says then nods to Colly. “Any slaves out back.”

“Oh! We’d like the slaves to remain with us.”

“Very well.” She says. “Still two to a room. No more than one **** per room.”

“Oh, uh…we’d prefer to all stay together if that’s possible.”

“If it was possible I woulda told you. Rooms are small.” She answers back without missing a beat. “Two to a room for private rooms. No more than one **** per room. For two rooms, 15 asses.”

“But 7 and 7 doesn’t equal…”

“16 makes a silver. Let’s make it an even denarius, then. Nice and easy.” She gives a firm nod.

I decide to opt for the better part of valor and retreat from this negotiation. “I guess that’ll have to do.” I say, turning to the others. “We’ll have to split up.”

Cassie is about to say something, then pauses. She looks at the rope Rosa still held close to her body, then at Rosa, then at me, then back at the rope again and lets out a long disappointed sigh. “I’ll stay with the snoring goblin.” Then mumbles under her breath. “Even though it really should be my turn with the Lady.”