Cillinas

"Fair enough, prepare my bath," With a final look at the clothes and jewelry presented before her, the princess ordered as she gracefully glided from her chambers and into her bath. Soon fragrant and steaming water filled half of the palace as women rushed to fill the tub with water upon her command. The cold yet dry wind blew from the open windows that look over the entire garden and lake that surrounded them.

A servant approached Jacqueline and bowed her head before she spoke, "M'lady, your water bath is ready. Do you wish to take your bath now?" But not a single word escaped her lips and instead she stood up, flung her robes off her slender body and walked naked towards the tub. Five other women waited on her, each one had a task of their own. Two of them helped her get immersed in the soothing waters while the other one un-pinned her hair as the other one gently leaned on to scrub her body as the remaining one gently poured warm milk on the princess' body.

"Have everything ready, the Crowned Prince and I will ride to wedding as soon as we are ready. Send two advance parties and make sure that the guards are enough to keep us safe," She closed her eyes as she got herself comfortable while she directed her orders towards the woman who stood.

"At once M'lady," The woman despite her old age, continued to bow her head as the conversation went on.

"And make sure that my nephew is getting ready as well," She added as she let her servants do their duties.

The wind once again blew, creating a prickly sensation on Jacqueline's skin and putting out a few candles. One of the servants quickly relit them, and in her haste to do so, she stumbled and slipped causing her head to have a shallow cut and it bleed. And as if it was no big deal the other servants quickly ordered her to hush as to not disturb her highness. She trembled and quickly stood up, not minding the pain and the blood that trickled down her cheeks. She continued to light the candles and went back to her pouring. And as she was about to pour some of the milk on the Princess' skin, Jacqueline's hand quickly slapped it away with the back of her hand.

"Are you stupid or what?! Do you want your blood to drip on my bath?!" Jacqueline's voice was perfectly still, cold and calm but the anger was evident in her eyes. Some of the servants quickly pushed the wounded one away, whispering for her to leave at once. She scrambled and did her best to leave and not create any mess that would further anger.

"Make sure that she leaves her duties and to be sent away, I don't wish to see her face come tomorrow or all of you will pay in her behalf. Robes!" The princess made herself clear, there is no place for wrong doer in the Kingdom. She rose from the bath with four arms guiding her as one of the servants wrapped her with a silk robe while the other one made sure to line her pathway with a fur carpet.

"What did I do wrong to deserve stupid servants like you?" She lazily asked as she walked. And of course, all of them are wise enough to shut their mouths.

~Cillinas~

Tanu stood on the crate day after day as his current owner called to the passing rich with little luck. No one wanted a male slave, the females were going like hotcakes. He had seen several being taken away by eager nobles. “Perhaps, a little taste of what I can do will bring more interest,” he said in his velvety voice a smile slipped over his lips.

His owner shrugged thinking it wouldn’t help in anyway, but it wouldn’t hurt either.

Tanu danced, his vibrant colored clothing swirled around him as his body flexed and moved in a beautiful arrangement. His waist long hair had several braids in it wrapped with deep colored cloth which stood out more against the dark coloring. It was plain to see the man loved his art and was eager to entertain, he took the time to tease a richly dressed woman with a smile or coming inches from them before he made his body seem like it was being pulled away. He was working the crowd and pleasing them as only he could.

He had most of those within sight enchanted as he spun, flipped and moved in ways most only dreamed about. His thin sandals kicked up dust as he worked his craft, not the easiest stuff to work on. The drum beat stopped and he froze in place, the noble that was his current owner clapped and started calling for bids. He bowed gracefully before pacing slowly to cool his muscles down properly.

The gates of Cillinas were alive with bids from males and females alike wanting the dancer. Tanu leaned against the crate threading his hand through the bracelets he had taken off before the dance. He was a little too relaxed for some of the more snobbish nobles that only saw trouble lingering in the slave who should be acting like a slave.

A young pale man stepped forward and offered the largest sum, his brown eyes rested on the prize as the pouch was handed to Tanu’s owner. The money was peeked at and the man nodded. “Long life, gentle sir.”

Tanu watched his former owner leave before his dark eyes rested upon the new, he was older than most and seemed not the type to want a dancer. His chin was captured and the noble turned his face this way and that, as most did. He stepped away and walked around Tanu taking in the dancers thin yet strong form that was draped with bright colored cloth in the manner of the latest fashions. “You will make an excellent gift for my Lady. Come, slave.”

Tanu gritted his teeth, he hated being owned by a woman. They used him until he was about to pass out than forget about him or want other favors from him. Both were tiresome, he would play the games until he was able to live comfortably in the home and find favors elsewhere when he was forgotten. He did what was necessary to survive, and he always found a way to do it.