Slave Trade - Put to Work
Slave Trade - Put to Work
copyright 2010 comidacomida
It was still dark outside when Sidney awoke. Although most slaves were expected to rise with the sun, Sidney had been a bedroom slave, and bedroom slaves were always expected to be up before their masters, ready and waiting to service their every need. Although it had been many months since Sidney had been in service to Lord Bulhue there were certain habits that died hard, and the extreme importance of being awake with enough time to make oneself presentable before attending one's master had stuck with Sidney even into his new position as a-- the fox paused; he was no longer a house slave.
Glancing nervously to the stallion still asleep on the hay at the opposite side of the work shed, Sidney was relieved to see that he was still there; he had no idea what he would have done if the horse would have run off during the night. Based on horror stories he'd heard about Slave Masters failing in their task of securing their masters' slaves... it was almost too much for the fox to think about. He suddenly felt claustrophobic in the shed despite its ample size. Breathing heavily, the fox panted, going for the door.
Not daring to awaken the still-sleeping horse, Sidney opened the door with shaking paws, wincing at the creak as it moved in front of him, and then wincing again as he closed it behind him. The fox leaned back against the outer wall of the building gasping for breath, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. Sidney was not about to let his body get the better of him, however; he had been trained in far too many ways to let that happen. The fox took a deep breath, inhaling to a count of three, then exhaled it as a big blast all at once. He repeated the steps four or five times until he felt his pulse begin to normalize.
Sidney took a few moments to let himself recover from the draining anxiety attack; he'd had them before, but it was of utmost importance that he would be able to continue his duties-- there were no alternatives. As he stood there, leaning against the face of the work shed, Sidney looked to his right, gazing across the well-kept lawn to one of several out-buildings on his master's property. Unlike most of the out-buildings, the one that caught his attention was stone and not wood, and light was shining brightly out of each and every crack. The fox could also easily see Ulric at the door to the building, face lit by a sliver of light as he knelt there peering within.
Moving closer, Sidney made no attempt to hide his approach, but it was obvious that the lion was completely absorbed in whatever it was he was watching. The fox watched as Ulric's tail lashed back and forth on the grass behind him. The lion kept one paw against the door, steadying himself as he peered through a crack. Sidney came to a stop when he saw Ulric's tongue slip out of his muzzle, licking saliva that was forming on his lips, and the fox took a step back when he realized that the lion's second paw was moving vigorously beneath his loincloth; Sidney could smell the scent of self-induced-pleasure in the air.
All of Sidney's fur went up on end when he heard the loud crunch his paw made once he stepped back. Snails were not uncommon in the lawn in the pre-morning and the colder the morning was the louder they were of they were stepped on; it was a fairly cold morning. Ulric stood in less than a second, golden eyes gleaming with rage as they locked on to Sidney's. The fox froze in place, wanting so very much to run but knowing at the same time that it was entirely useless to try. The lion's right paw was curled in anger, claws unsheathed and obviously ready for use. Ulric stalked toward Sidney, who couldn't bring himself to even take so much as one step backward.
"You little grime streak..." Ulric seethed, fuming as he approached. The lion's left paw latched out around the fox's neck. In the back of his mind, Sidney acknowledged the smell of the leoine slave master's distinctively male scent, and knew that his first impression of what Ulric had been doing was correct... but in the forefront of his mind the fox could only focus on the claws of the lion's right paw glinting in the waning light of the pre-dawn stars. "I'm not a house slave, but I still know how to get rid of stains." Ulric sneered.
A strangled gasp from within the stone building made the lion pause, then stop. Ulric glanced from Sidney to the building, then back to Sidney. "No..." the slave master scowled, "You're going to have to deal with more than just me." a wide, evil grin spread across the lion's muzzle revealing his gleaming, pointed teeth. Sidney was beginning to wonder if he would have preferred the claws. Ulric kept hold on the fox's neck, picking him up by the throat. Sidney's feet dangled in the air and he could do nothing but grip the lion's wrist, trying valiantly to keep himself from being choked to death. Walking at a casual pace, seemingly unburdened by the fox's weight, Ulric moved to the door of the stone building and dropped Sidney in front of it, also pushing in as he did so.
Sidney's arms cartwheeled as he tried in vain to keep himself from falling backward. The sound of his back slamming into the door echoed in his ears louder than thunder. He yelped as his tail landed on the step leading up to the door, and he saw stars as a pain shot up his back. Part of him registered Ulric quickly fleeing and, for a moment, was relieved. The fox was resting halfway into the building, falling onto his back as the door opened inward.
When the world came into focus, however, that relief of seeing Ulric flee was completely gone. From his position on the ground, Sidney looked at Lord Hector who appeared upside down in his vision, standing over him as he was. The silver stag wore a deep royal red bathrobe... which was not tied about the waist. The fox was unable to see much of Lord Hector's face however, as the first thing that he could focus on was the stag's erect flesh, still dripping with seed. The stag quickly reached down and unclipped a metal ring that was attached at its base.
For a reason the fox couldn't understand, he found his attention drawn to the ring. While Sidney was only able to catch a faint glimpse of the metal, he was almost certain he saw a faint glow within the gems that were inset around its outside. Once it slid into the pocket of Lord Hector's robe, however, Sidney realized he had a much more pressing problem to contend with; the stag's eyes were gazing straight down at him. It was impossible for him to misread his master's expression: disappointment. Sidney felt crushed.
The fox did not dare speak as Lord Hector led him wordlessly into the stone building, but he felt his fur stand up on end as the silver stag turned and closed the door, barring it behind them. Although many things around the room of indescribable interest perked Sidney's curiosity, he did not dare look at them, or so much as make an audible sound; he kept his eyes to the floor. To distract himself from his utter discomfort and sense of failure, Sidney focused solely on the stone floor. It was cold beneath his feet and appeared to be made of the same type of stone blocks as the walls-- it was as if the entire building were just one large, earthen box.
Lord Hector moved about the room and, though Sidney did not look up, he was easily able to track his master by sound alone. The stag stopped by a table, and Sidney could hear him cleaning himself off. The fox detected the unmistakable sound of a strap of cloth being drawn tight and tied. Finally, Sidney heard his master sigh, and the stag's firm, enchanting voice spoke up, sending a little shiver up the fox's spine from tail to neck as the first word out of the stag's muzzle was his name, "Sidney..."
Sidney dared not respond; he remained looking down at the floor, but he fell to his knees, lowering his head in supplication of the godlike stag that was his master. He managed to avoid crying, but only barely. He knew his master was upset-- he was able to read it in his movements without even needing to see him and he was able to read it in the tone of his voice.
"Sidney... stand up." the stag spoke. It was an order, Sidney could tell, and he dared not disobey. The fox was up in an instant, though his eyes remained looking at the ground. "Stand straight." his master directed him. Sidney did so without a moment's hesitation. "Now look at me." Lord Hector told him. The fox balked, but only for a moment... then did as was requested.
To Sidney, it was like looking at the sun. The handsome stag was everything that was good and right in the fox's world. Lord Hector's fur seemed almost to have a light of its own, reflecting the faint, dull glow prevalent throughout the building back as a nearly-pure white sheen. The stag's fur was gloriously thick, slightly wavy, and, to Sidney, it looked as though it were just the thing to be lost in for an entire night. His body began quivering as his mind started to draw up fantasies about feeling the stag's fur against his back, his master's strong arms gripping his hips as Sidney was bent over a dresser and--
"What are you thinking now, Sidney?" the stag inquired, the interruption of the daydream almost causing the fox to wet himself in surprise and embarrassment.
At first, Sidney thought to lie... it would be a simple enough thing to do-- he would save himself the shame and possibly a beating if he could just fabricate a simple falsehood. He realized before his muzzle even opened however that there was no way he would be able to speak anything but the truth to the adonis before him... his master. "About you, Master." The admission came hesitantly at first... but then it emerged freely in a rush.
"About how I want to feel your fur against me, Master..." Sidney lowered his head, unable to keep looking at Lord Hector as he admitted it, "and your flesh inside of me. To be able to serve you as I served Lord Bulhue..." he shuddered as the words were spoken aloud; he both regretted it and reveled in the admission, "only with you, I would relish my task every day and in every way. There would be nothing that you would have me do that I wouldn't feel was a blessing from the gods... that every time you must find release, you find it with me... that your seed never needs to hit the floor again... that the next time you have to clean yourself off.... it...." he felt his ears redden even further, "it will be with my tongue."
The room was silent for far longer than Sidney had the will to remain standing at attention and he slowly slunk back down to his paws and knees. He groveled before the stag to whom knew he had gone too far. The stag had asked him his thoughts, and received instead an admission that could, in all rights, get Sidney skinned alive. The fox quivered where he knelt, wondering if the first blow against him would be with a hoof, a fist, or a makeshift weapon. Although the fox had not had a chance to fully inspect the room he had seen that any number of poles, straps, and spikes were within easy reach of his master... and he knew that he deserved them all.
When he was finally touched, however, Sidney did not find it to be painful. Although he recoiled at first, the fox found himself drawn up to his feet without any harm being done to him. Lord Hector's paw gripped him around the bicep and pulled him up to a standing position, "Why do you grovel so, Sidney? I told you to stand."
"I'm sorry, Master." Sidney hung his head again, "I am weak, and fearful... I... I do not know how to stand when I am being punished..."
"Why would you be punished?" the stag inquired. It seemed like a punishment in itself, as it required Sidney to recount what he had done wrong, and the offenses he had levied against his master.
"I... I..." Sidney spoke, eyes going back to his feet, "I have not done as well as I should do in serving you... and you found me outside of this place when you obviously wanted time to..." the fox hesitated before finding a word he could feel comfortable saying, "time to yourself."
"Did you disturb me on purpose?" Lord Hector inquired.
"No, master... I would never do such a thing." Sidney answered without hesitation.
"Not even if it were for the purpose of saving my life?" the stag asked.
Sidney was caught off guard by the question and hesitated, "I... if... I" and he whined faintly, "Master?"
Lord Hector chuckled softly, the sound having a strangely calming effect on Sidney despite his inability to answer his Master, "Calm yourself, Sidney." the stag chuckled, and let go of his arm. Sidney was both relieved and morose that his Master no longer held him, "The correct thing to say is that if you were trying to save my life, then you would not be disturbing me-- you would be saving me."
"If I were interrupting you, Master, then it would be to save your life, not to disturb you." Sidney spoke up immediately. The comment made Lord Hector laugh all the harder. Despite the incredible discomfort, fear, and confusion Sidney felt, he could not seem to get his tail to stop swaying back and forth at the sound of his Master's laughter... he wanted to hear more of it... always and forever. He longed to be the source of the sound and bring his Master joy at every opportunity.
"Sidney." Lord Hector's laughter died away, and the slave's voice was spoken in a serious tone; the fox was immediately at attention once again, "You were not spying on me, were you?"
"No, Master!" Sidney was quick to speak up with as much emphatic denial as he dared.
"And you would never lie to me, would you, Sidney?" Lord Hector continued, moving to stand in front of the fox. Sidney's downcast eyes led his gaze to the knot of cloth tied around Lord Hector's waist and he fought hard to ignore his memories of what he saw lay beneath.
"May my tail be taken from me and may I be forced to eat my own ears while they still drip blood from having been removed by a wood saw, Master, I would never lie to you." Sidney answered, and he was surprised at how poetic it sounded even to his own ears... and he meant every word of it.
"Tell that to me when you look me in the eyes, Sidney." the stag demanded.
Sidney's eyes slowly traveled upward, rolling across his Master's body as he took in every inch visible. It was a gift he never knew he would receive as Lord Hector waited patiently while the fox battled for control of his eyes, emotions mixing fear, courage, lust, and eagerness to obey into fuel for his slow-moving eyes. By the time he locked gazes with the soul-seeing deep blue of his Master's gaze, Sidney knew that he could say it with complete conviction, "I would never lie to you, Master... my body would rather refuse to live than to speak anything but the truth to you... I am yours forever."
"And apparently your skills with words are being wasted... you'd make a fine page, Sidney." the stag spoke casually.
"By your inspiration alone, Master." Sidney responded, unable to look away from the deep blue orbs that held his eyes. He wanted to shirk away... to collapse into supplication once again... to return his gaze to the floor... anything so that he could free himself from the indomitable will that held him where he stood, stiff as a statute... and in more than just posture.
"Tell me, Sidney... was someone else outside of this building before you came?" Lord Hector questioned.
"Yes, Master." the fox answered without hesitation.
"It was Ulric?"
"Yes, Master." Sidney felt his eyes tearing, realizing that he would quite likely not live another week after having given up the lion's spying.
"You are afraid of Ulric, aren't you?" the stag questioned.
"I am, Master." the fox admitted, not even needing a second to decide on the true answer.
"And you are worried there will be retaliation because you said something?"
"I am, Master." Sidney confirmed.
"Would it bring you comfort if I told you that you have nothing to worry about from him?" Lord Hector questioned. At that point Sidney finally hesitated, and slowly slid back to his knees. The stag reached down to pull him to his feet, "Stand, Sidney." and the fox complied. "Now..." Lord Hector spoke in a louder, more commanding tone, "Would you be more at ease if I gave you my word that Ulric will not harm you?"
"Yes, Master." Sidney answered, unable to hesitate when addressed in such a way by the stag that he could as well have worshiped as a god.
"Very well, Sidney... you have my word that Ulric will both have no need to harm you, and will also be incapable of such a thing." Lord Hector decreed.
"Thank you, Master." the fox bowed his head. He was confused at how his Master would accomplish such a thing, but he was unwilling to disbelieve the claim; Lord Hector's word was law.
"Get a mop, Sidney... since you are here, I want you to clean this room before it is needed again."
"Yes, Master." and the fox quickly ran to a door clearly labeled with the picture of a broom and dust-pan; he recognized the symbols readily. Sidney obtained the items he knew he would need, having once also been required to clean up messes left by his prior Master, Lord Bulhue... and the hippo had been plenty messy in that regard. He wasted no time tracking down the 'mess' to which Lord Hector referred and he began quickly cleaning the floor. Sidney was quite skilled at the task and made quick work of the floor; he then turned his attention to the strange metal-and-stone device from where the streams appeared to have originated.
The fox moved to the object, which resembled a large, stone table jammed into the floor at a 15 degree angle, leaving it mostly vertical, but tilted slightly back. There were metal clasps on it, not unlike the manacles he'd seen slaves carried away in, though instead of chains connecting them together, the metal bands emerged directly out of the stone slab. There were 15 in total, spaced in a slightly irregular circle around the stone.
"I see you've taken an interest in the 'Sardassi'." Lord Hector's voice spoke up from behind him and to the right; Sidney almost jumped out of his fur.
"I-- I'm s-sorry, Master, I was just--"
"It's alright, Sidney... it's alright." the elk noted, moving up a little closer. Sidney felt his fur begin to stand on end at the proximity of his Master; he could feel the stag's body heat. The fox shivered slightly when his Master's hand rested on his shoulder, and, as he half-glanced back to the stag, he saw that Lord Hector was reaching into his pocket, and drew out the ring he had seen earlier wrapped around the base of the elk's most private of places. "Take this for a moment, Sidney." and it was placed into the fox's paw.
Sidney's head swam with the male scent given off by the ring. It felt slightly slick in his paw, a mixture of sweat and ejaculate. He felt as if he were dreaming, but knew that the excitement was far too real for his mind to have possibly been able to make up. "You look curious now, Sidney." he heard his Master's bemused voice speak up. Slowly turning to regard the stag, Sidney was shocked and surprised to find him naked again, robe folded neatly and resting on a chair off to the side. Sidney's voice failed to function.
"You have questions, I am sure, Sidney... by all means, speak them." the stag spoke, standing there completely naked as if he didn't even realize the effect it was having on Sidney, though the fox was certain that the stag knew.
"I... when..." the fox couldn't coordinate a cohesive thought as his eyes remained locked on the flawless, godlike body of his master. His eyes traveled every curve and drank in each feature until, before he knew it, a set of words managed to slip out of his muzzle, "Master... why are you naked?"
Lord Hector laughed and motioned for Sidney to come to him. The fox eagerly complied, but he had trouble walking due to the constraining nature of his loincloth. He looked down to it once, taking a few steps to his Master, then looked back up; Lord Hector was fully clothed once again, his robe secure around his body, "How did--?" Sidney looked to the stag then to the chair then to the stag again... there was almost 10' distance... was his Master that fast?
"Tenvierian machinery." Lord Hector explained.
"ma... sheen..." Sidney pronounced slowly.
"-ery... yes. Machinery." the stag acknowledged, "The Tenverians are masters at constructing devices of all kinds, combining magic with physical objects... it is an ancient secret among their most skilled engineers called 'Artificing'.
"But... what..." Sidney glanced between the device and his Master.
"Go to it again... place your paw on it." Hector directed him. It did not sound like an order, but Sidney wasted no time in obeying. He took two steps to the slab of stone and rested his paw against one of the metal bands.
"Do you notice anything different?" his Master inquired. Looking back to the stag, Sidney almost lost his footing as his knees grew weeks. Lord Hector was once again completely naked, and the flesh between his legs stood as it had when Sidney had first seen him at the doorway. The elk's velvety sac hung full from his legs, and Sidney could just imagine the feel of-- "Ah... and now you can see how it works," his Master interrupted the daydream, "or, I suppose, you can FEEL how it works."
Sidney hesitantly drew his paw back from the metal band and looked to his Master, who had come closer, but was once again fully clothed, "I... I don't understand, Master." Sidney whimpered slightly. It was a strange game the stag was playing... one that the fox both loved and hated at the same time; he was so incredibly confused.
"There are many uses for this device, Sidney... not many of my servants know of its existence, and now you are but one of four slaves out of my entire estate that know it is here." Lord Hector explained.
"I am honored, Master." Sidney spoke.
"You are going to be one of two allowed to understand it, and operate it." the stag noted, and held out his hand, "The ring, if you please." The fox obediently dropped the metal ring he had been holding back into his Master's hand.
"Take off your loincloth, Sidney." Lord Hector directed.
The fox swallowed, but did not hesitate in following his master's command, "Yes, Master." he wheezed through his tightened chest. He held the loincloth balled up in one paw, standing uncertainly before his Master, his erect flesh at attention, dribbling, and he was helpless to control it, the images of Lord Hector's body so fresh in his mind... so real... he was surprised that he hadn't already exploded.
"Very good, Sidney... now hold out your paw." the stag ordered, and the fox quickly complied. Sidney received the metal ring again; he saw that the gems around the edge were glowing once more. He looked to his Master for direction, "Before you can use the 'Sardassi' you will first have to know how it works... and you're going to learn, by using it yourself..." the elk smiled slyly, "Now... put it on, Sidney," the elk ordered, "and we'll get started."