My father couldn't legally sell me until I turned 18, but he didn't wait a single day longer than he had to. When I opened my eyes, his servants were gathered around my bed waiting to prepare me. They stripped off my nightclothes and led me to an icy tub. Therethey scrubbed my lush young body and washed my long blonde hair. They dried me, powdered and perfumed me, and dressed me in a dress that was bought for the occasion. I was not allowed undergarments, and the blue silk clung to my curves. The cleavage it revealed was scandalous.
When they were done, my father was summoned to inspect me.
His eyes widened when he saw me. Was it love I saw there,? I flushed.
"You will fetch a fine price, Kayla," he said.
Not love then. Rather greed. I was crush. I was broken. I was led away.
I was displayed for over three hours before the auction. Every man in the town seemed to come by to view me. Many came more than once. There was a buzz in the air. Apparently, I was something to behold.
When the time came the bidding was surprisingly short. Three modest bids were made, but before any real give-and-take could be established, a voice from the back called out a figure that was so immense that the thought of it nearly made me faint.
There was silence.
There was silence.
I was sold.
I was taken to meet my new master. It took all my restraint to not burst into helpless tears. He was a horrible old man, fat and wrinkled and ugly.
He was the Baron of Worston. The third richest man in the Kingdom. The richest who was not a priest.
He led me to his cart. We rode away in silence. The trip took almost five hours. Not a word was said during the entire journey. He did not look at me the entire journey. He did not touch me. I suppose I should have been grateful. Instead, I was terrified at the inevitable.
At journey's end we reached his palatial estate. Without hesitation, he led me inside. We went directly to his bedchamber, the largest, most luxurious room I had ever seen.
So this was it, I thought. My sad destiny. There was no reason to hold back.
"How may I serve you, Master," I said, kneeling submissively before him.
"You will never serve me, child," he said. I looked up, utterly confused. He smiled at me with crooked teeth. The expression on his face was almost kindly.
"I didn't buy you for myself," he said. "I have no interest in those of your gender. Not for many years. I actually bought you for my daughter."
He pointed, and for the first time I saw girl standing by the raging fireplace. She couldn't have been much older than I was.
I didn't understand. What need did a woman have for a woman? I turned back for an explanation, but the Baron had left both the room and the story.
I smelled sweet perfume, and felt a soft hand on my shoulder....
When they were done, my father was summoned to inspect me.
His eyes widened when he saw me. Was it love I saw there,? I flushed.
"You will fetch a fine price, Kayla," he said.
Not love then. Rather greed. I was crush. I was broken. I was led away.
I was displayed for over three hours before the auction. Every man in the town seemed to come by to view me. Many came more than once. There was a buzz in the air. Apparently, I was something to behold.
When the time came the bidding was surprisingly short. Three modest bids were made, but before any real give-and-take could be established, a voice from the back called out a figure that was so immense that the thought of it nearly made me faint.
There was silence.
There was silence.
I was sold.
I was taken to meet my new master. It took all my restraint to not burst into helpless tears. He was a horrible old man, fat and wrinkled and ugly.
He was the Baron of Worston. The third richest man in the Kingdom. The richest who was not a priest.
He led me to his cart. We rode away in silence. The trip took almost five hours. Not a word was said during the entire journey. He did not look at me the entire journey. He did not touch me. I suppose I should have been grateful. Instead, I was terrified at the inevitable.
At journey's end we reached his palatial estate. Without hesitation, he led me inside. We went directly to his bedchamber, the largest, most luxurious room I had ever seen.
So this was it, I thought. My sad destiny. There was no reason to hold back.
"How may I serve you, Master," I said, kneeling submissively before him.
"You will never serve me, child," he said. I looked up, utterly confused. He smiled at me with crooked teeth. The expression on his face was almost kindly.
"I didn't buy you for myself," he said. "I have no interest in those of your gender. Not for many years. I actually bought you for my daughter."
He pointed, and for the first time I saw girl standing by the raging fireplace. She couldn't have been much older than I was.
I didn't understand. What need did a woman have for a woman? I turned back for an explanation, but the Baron had left both the room and the story.
I smelled sweet perfume, and felt a soft hand on my shoulder....
