Closed for Artemidorus
"Milord?"
Idris' shoulders hunched at the intrusion. "Yes, Daphne?"
"The new tributes are arriving, milord."
Idris frowned. "Is that today?"
"Is what today, milord?"
Idris sighed. "The arrival of the tributes, Daphne."
"Oh." Her youthful brow furrowed for a moment. "Yes, milord," she declared. "Today is when the tributes arrive."
Idris rolled his eyes. Daphne was a sweet-natured girl with barely the brains the gods saw fit to give a sheep. No wonder her parents shipped her off to him. "Thank you, Daphne. I'll be down shortly."
"Yes, milord." Daphne spun, sending her skirt well up her thighs as she turned and left the room.
Lord Idris shook his heavy-horned head. In his younger days, he'd probably have gored Daphne for her dim-wittedness months ago. But the gray in his beard bespoke the many years since that had passed since he could last claim to be "young". In that time, his temperament had mellowed considerably. While a minotaur of any age was always dangerous when enraged, Idris had learned patience and moderation as he matured.
Idris rose from his seat and headed downstairs. The castle's passageways were roomy by human standards, but the tallest man in the village barely reached the minotaur's chin. His broad shoulders filled much of the larger hallways and he often had to duck slightly to pass through doorways. His hooved feet echoed loudly through the stone halls as he headed towards the main hall.
Idris had lived and ruled the surrounding area for decades now. The line of human lords who had previously held sway had ended unexpectedly, leading to a fierce war of succession amongst rival factions. When Idris had arrived in the area, years of infighting had left the various contenders so drained that the minotaur had been able to conquer everything within a few short months. The local populace had gladly ceded Idris the castle and surrounding lands. After years of war, even being subject to a minotaur seemed a welcome respite.
In exchange for maintaining the peace, the various villages sent tribute to their new lord. Mostly this consisted of food, drink, and supplies. Additionally, a selection of young maidens was also delivered each year to serve the minotaur for a few years. They cooked his food, cleaned his castle, and generally ensured that his needs were provided.
Idris stepped into the main hall. A quartet of humans stood near the fireplace, warming their hands. While the castle interior was kept pleasantly warm, the wind flowing down from the mountains could be quite cold; each of the individuals was still wrapped in hooded cloaks from the chill.
One stepped away from the fire and pushed back her hood, revealing the long, blonde ponytail and hazel eyes of Elsa, one of his senior servants. Elsa smiled swiSeaGreenand announced, "Milord, I have just returned with this year's tribute. Would you care to meet them?"
Idris stepped within a few yards of the still-hooded trio. "I am Lord Idris," he declared. "You have been sent here to serve me. Do as you are told and you may well enjoy your time here." He raised a meaty hand and pointed at the nearest of them. "Remove your cloak so that I might see you and tell me your name."
"Milord?"
Idris' shoulders hunched at the intrusion. "Yes, Daphne?"
"The new tributes are arriving, milord."
Idris frowned. "Is that today?"
"Is what today, milord?"
Idris sighed. "The arrival of the tributes, Daphne."
"Oh." Her youthful brow furrowed for a moment. "Yes, milord," she declared. "Today is when the tributes arrive."
Idris rolled his eyes. Daphne was a sweet-natured girl with barely the brains the gods saw fit to give a sheep. No wonder her parents shipped her off to him. "Thank you, Daphne. I'll be down shortly."
"Yes, milord." Daphne spun, sending her skirt well up her thighs as she turned and left the room.
Lord Idris shook his heavy-horned head. In his younger days, he'd probably have gored Daphne for her dim-wittedness months ago. But the gray in his beard bespoke the many years since that had passed since he could last claim to be "young". In that time, his temperament had mellowed considerably. While a minotaur of any age was always dangerous when enraged, Idris had learned patience and moderation as he matured.
Idris rose from his seat and headed downstairs. The castle's passageways were roomy by human standards, but the tallest man in the village barely reached the minotaur's chin. His broad shoulders filled much of the larger hallways and he often had to duck slightly to pass through doorways. His hooved feet echoed loudly through the stone halls as he headed towards the main hall.
Idris had lived and ruled the surrounding area for decades now. The line of human lords who had previously held sway had ended unexpectedly, leading to a fierce war of succession amongst rival factions. When Idris had arrived in the area, years of infighting had left the various contenders so drained that the minotaur had been able to conquer everything within a few short months. The local populace had gladly ceded Idris the castle and surrounding lands. After years of war, even being subject to a minotaur seemed a welcome respite.
In exchange for maintaining the peace, the various villages sent tribute to their new lord. Mostly this consisted of food, drink, and supplies. Additionally, a selection of young maidens was also delivered each year to serve the minotaur for a few years. They cooked his food, cleaned his castle, and generally ensured that his needs were provided.
Idris stepped into the main hall. A quartet of humans stood near the fireplace, warming their hands. While the castle interior was kept pleasantly warm, the wind flowing down from the mountains could be quite cold; each of the individuals was still wrapped in hooded cloaks from the chill.
One stepped away from the fire and pushed back her hood, revealing the long, blonde ponytail and hazel eyes of Elsa, one of his senior servants. Elsa smiled swiSeaGreenand announced, "Milord, I have just returned with this year's tribute. Would you care to meet them?"
Idris stepped within a few yards of the still-hooded trio. "I am Lord Idris," he declared. "You have been sent here to serve me. Do as you are told and you may well enjoy your time here." He raised a meaty hand and pointed at the nearest of them. "Remove your cloak so that I might see you and tell me your name."