The Silver Muse
Super-Earth
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2009
- Location
- PST
One day to the next was just like any other if one didnât have an ear to catch the little differences. Even in a time of war. People still worked with the tension that riddled them, wondering when the great change would come around like a bang. And then they'd keep working again. What did it matter whether it was an old king or a new one or something in between? The taxes could be as high or low as they wished and people would love and hate them all the same.
That particular afternoon, where the sun had once again lost its light behind the thick gray clouds, she hardly had to strain hard to hear the ever raucous bark of the men change in their pitch. Lap dogs to a primitive and unruly society, they were. It didn't matter where they were from. Just the other evening they had taken a good portion of her earnings on another claim of their âtaxesâ. It wasnât the fact that she didnât pay them whenever she could avoid them, but rather, why should she pay at all? She earned her keep just like any other decent worker, and all they did was bully whatever susceptible townsfolk couldnât fight back. They probably weren't even from their city, but another.
Considering her own profession, she had an image to uphold. One that was not only a woman, but a lovely example of one. It wouldnât do to have those rich dark red waves of silk hair pulled out like a dollâs, or a black ring around her twinkling emerald eyes. Big, ugly, black and green and yellow bruises on a lucid tapestry of cream colored skin were ugly, too. It had happened before and she was more than careful that it wouldnât again. Not with those brutes at least. The last alley that she had made a sharp turn upon in the snow brought her in front of a notorious tavern, one whispered to be good for certain businesses. Her own was included. Without another thought she burst in, spotting the first person who could impress her that could hold their own, and who seemed a complete stranger. What did it matter if he was just another soldier?
âOy Duncan!â Her voice was out of breath but her tone was rich. âTwo golden meads for me an' the gentleman?â The bartender cast her a wary eye but turned to fetch the order after she slapped two bronzes on the countertop. The woman brought in as much business as she did trouble ofttimes.
She propped herself up to sit upon the same surface to follow, right on top of that bar counter, her thin wisp of a cloak falling to her elbows as she crossed one leg over another beneath her crimson skirt, bare feet on the stool beside the man where her sandals stayed on the floor. âCold day out, isnât it, stranger?â she asked easily enough.
That particular afternoon, where the sun had once again lost its light behind the thick gray clouds, she hardly had to strain hard to hear the ever raucous bark of the men change in their pitch. Lap dogs to a primitive and unruly society, they were. It didn't matter where they were from. Just the other evening they had taken a good portion of her earnings on another claim of their âtaxesâ. It wasnât the fact that she didnât pay them whenever she could avoid them, but rather, why should she pay at all? She earned her keep just like any other decent worker, and all they did was bully whatever susceptible townsfolk couldnât fight back. They probably weren't even from their city, but another.
Considering her own profession, she had an image to uphold. One that was not only a woman, but a lovely example of one. It wouldnât do to have those rich dark red waves of silk hair pulled out like a dollâs, or a black ring around her twinkling emerald eyes. Big, ugly, black and green and yellow bruises on a lucid tapestry of cream colored skin were ugly, too. It had happened before and she was more than careful that it wouldnât again. Not with those brutes at least. The last alley that she had made a sharp turn upon in the snow brought her in front of a notorious tavern, one whispered to be good for certain businesses. Her own was included. Without another thought she burst in, spotting the first person who could impress her that could hold their own, and who seemed a complete stranger. What did it matter if he was just another soldier?
âOy Duncan!â Her voice was out of breath but her tone was rich. âTwo golden meads for me an' the gentleman?â The bartender cast her a wary eye but turned to fetch the order after she slapped two bronzes on the countertop. The woman brought in as much business as she did trouble ofttimes.
She propped herself up to sit upon the same surface to follow, right on top of that bar counter, her thin wisp of a cloak falling to her elbows as she crossed one leg over another beneath her crimson skirt, bare feet on the stool beside the man where her sandals stayed on the floor. âCold day out, isnât it, stranger?â she asked easily enough.