Page 10 of Brighter Than Gold

“Palace is having a bit of a rough time. Why the fuck are you all the way out here?”

I remained silent.

“Wait…” he said excitedly, leaning forward in his chair. “You defected! You ran off to marry your sweetheart! That’s it!” He began clapping his hands excitedly, then he rested his chin on his fist as he stared from me, to Reyah. “I see it, I like you two,” he said smiling. “Where did you meet?”

“At an inn. Reyah worked in the kitchens.”

“Gods, could the story get any better? Rags to riches, the lowly kitchen wench catches the eye of the dashing palace guard, they fall deeply in love and run away to be married. A fucking fairy tale!” he yelled, and tossed his empty cup into the fire.

I placed a hand calmy over Reyah’s as she began to tremble again. She tried in vain to relax her muscles.

“Do you see that, sweet girl?” Lazio said to Aurelia. “That could be us, this could be the beginning of our own fairy tale. In fact…” he said, searching through a breast pocket. He tugged out a small black drawstring bag. “Hold out your hands, darling,” he ordered her.

Lazio shook the bag upside down and out tumbled seven or eight beautiful jewelled rings.

“Do you fancy any of these, love? Try on the emerald one.” The ring was far too large for her. Lazio tried a few different rings on the girl’s slight fingers before one of them fit.

“There, beautiful.”

A dazzling ruby sat surrounded by dozens of tiny diamonds.

“Red is the perfect colour for tonight,” Lazio whispered into her ear.

At that, Aurelia’s father slammed a fist down on the table. “Enough!” he yelled. “If that man can barter for his wife’s honour, then I can offer you the same for my daughter. I will work for you, I’ll do whatever you want.”

Lazio was silent for a long moment before breaking into a piteous chuckle.

“Sweet, silly old man. What use would I have with you?”

“There must be something I can offer,” he said desperately.

Lazio blinked several times, his lips curled up to one side. “You must know I don’t make very nice bargains…”

“I’ll do anything,” the old man said courageously. My face heated, knowing this was only going to end badly for him.

“You have to understand, daddy, that Ireallywant to fuck your daughter.” Lazio palmed the girl’s thigh, inching his hand between her legs. “But…” he said, rising and sauntering over to the man’s table. “But I could be persuaded to change my mind.” He walked behind the man’s two sons, perhaps twelve and ten years old.

“You see, some of my men enjoy a… wider variety of guests in the bedroom.”

Lazio placed a hands on either of the boy’s necks, tucking them beneath their tunics and slowly running his palms down their chests. Both boys were crying silently, their mother unable to bring herself to open her eyes.

“Oh, they’re strong, daddy,” Lazio whispered. “I wouldn’t have any use for you, but I would take the boys with me.”

Reyah looked over at the old man, forced to choose between his sons or daughter. She gripped my hand and I squeezed back tightly.

“What will it be daddy? My cock is twitching, and I can’t wait all night.”

The man sputtered, crying.

“Tick tock…” Lazio taunted, now elbow deep in the young men’s tunics. Still the man couldn’t speak.

“ANSWER ME NOW!” Lazio raged.

“Please,” he choked out, “leave my sons.”

Their mother let out a horrified cry from behind her hands.

“Very well,” he said coolly, pulling his hands from the boy’s chests. He lingered a moment, his hand stroking the chin of the younger one.

---