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#Post#: 1550--------------------------------------------------
Safi's Story
By: safi Date: July 16, 2023, 6:42 am
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[size=12pt][font=arial]How did I end up here?
The story is a convoluted tale of betrayal, debt and cowardice
all taking place inside my own home.
I was born to the Free. I will not mention names, I have lost
the right to that name, through no fault of my own, and I am no
longer allowed my birth name, I refuse to speak it. I grew up in
Kassau with my Mother, Father and brother. We had some acres of
land and seemed to the outside to be a stable, happy, respected
members of the community.
My Father inherited His estate from His Father, who was granted
manumission and made a name for Himself. He was born into
slavery and refused to accept that was His fate. I suppose it is
easier for Men to do such things.
I remember when I was younger, we moved around a few times,
before settling in Kassau. I don't remember exactly where I was
born or when we arrived there. I suppose when my Grandfather
passed and my Father was summoned to take over His land. It
seems strange, now looking back, now that I am a little wiser
why we didn't live there in the first place. What I do remember
is, we only seemed to travel when my Uncle would come to stay.
This interrupted my education at times, and my Father found
little interest in ensuring I caught up. However, I proved to be
not so stupid that I can't string a sentence together. I suppose
He assumed that since it would be my brother who would one day
inherit the business and land, his education took president over
mine.
Uncle is a shady character, one of those types you see in the
dark alleyways at Markets conducting undercover business deals.
I am not certain He is even my biological Uncle, the details of
His lineage are hazy at best. I don't remember my Grandfather or
Mother ever talking about him from days way back when. He only
seemed to deal with my Father, and later when He was old enough,
my brother. As one day it was inevitable he would continue the
running of the home.
This particular story began only a few weeks ago. My Father,
Uncle and brother had a meeting, as they often did on Wednesday
evenings. Women were not invited at my Uncles persistence.
Except of the slaves who made sure the drink flowed, and they of
course were sworn to secrecy of the details. Uncle made it
punishable by death for even uttering a single word to Mother
and I. It wasn't our business He would say. My Uncle was not
FC'd and only saw women as objects regardless of status or
caste. I imagine if He could, He would have locked my Mother and
I in steel long ago. Especially after learning that we both had
bright red tresses, a rarity on Gor that could fetch Him a fair
few coin. Thankfully my Father refused to allow that to happen.
So far at least.
There were always people knocking at the door Uncles home,
demanding things, anything of value, mostly money from what I
can gather. Somewhere along the way my Uncle fell into the dark
world of money lenders. Always looking for His fortune, but
never wanting to work for it, He decided that is how He would
make a name for himself in respect and capital. However, you
need money to be able to lend it. So He borrowed it, and passed
it on. Unfortunately for Him, the Man he loaned the money to,
did not pay Him back, He didn't have the heavies or the
recourses to retrieve the money Himself. Deep down He was just
as cowardly as Father, and wouldn't have dreamt of getting His
hands dirty. So obviously the seasoned lender at the top of the
chain came after my Uncle. And He needed a plan to clear His
debt before His head was cleared from His neck.
In a panic He turned to my Father once again, who always bailed
Him out, only this time, He couldn't. Then on this particular
occasion my Father, Uncle and Brother met secretly every night
that week. Very unusual. After the first meeting, things seemed
different, attitudes towards me changed, mostly from my brother
and Uncle. Comments were made, and jokes at my expense, it all
makes sense now that I think about it. Actually, Uncle started
being a little kinder toward me in His tone and manner, like you
would when luring someone into your trap. But I knew better than
to trust Him, and He knew I wouldn't believe a word of it. This
is why He recruited Father into doing His bidding.
My Father was quiet around me, then would over compensate for
His behaviour, I see now that He was trying to appease His
guilt, so I thought nothing of it when He suggested we take a
tarn ride, like we used to when I was a child. Oh! How I loved
to be straddled over the tarns back, with Fathers arms wrapped
around my slender waist, holding me in while He took the reins
and would swoop in and out of the clouds. I happily accepted His
offer, not knowing that my entire world was about to collapse.
Everything I was brought up to believe, know and trust would be
ripped away from me all because of the actions of a one Man.
As we ascended into the skies, the clear blue horizon stretched
before us. Usually we would only fly around the town or local
area, this time was different. My Father veered off and led the
tarn over lands and waters I didn't know. I was also aware of a
follower upon another tarn, I knew they were there, despite them
hanging back trying to be discreet. I could hear the tarn
screeching and he had a distinct screech. Different from the
others. It bothered me some, but I knew that as I was with my
Father, I would be safe.
After some time we landed on a small island I had never visited,
it seemed quaint and I thought nothing of it. My Father assisted
me down from the tarn and we started chatting, as though waiting
for something, I asked where we were, He simply patted my head
and told me not to worry, then Uncle landed next to us, I looked
from Him to my Father with a look of confusion. My Uncle smiled
at me with the most peculiar grin, like He knew the punch line
to a secret joke that no one was allowed to know. My Father then
turned to me and told me, that they had some business here, and
I should wait here and tend to the tarns, as they'd had a long
ride. They would be back shortly.
It was very odd I thought that I was here and not my brother, I
was never usually involved in business deals, but my Father
assured me there was nothing to worry about, and there was no
need for my Brother to be here. I wasn't comfortable in the
slightest, his behaviour was off and everytime he was in the
presence of Uncle, he acted like a thrall, doing His bidding,
following behind like He was some slave.
They disappeared off a small path, so far into the distance I
could barely make out their silhouettes anymore, so as I was
instructed I turned my attention to the tarns, letting them have
a drink and some food which they happily lapped up. It wasn't
long when Uncle returned, striding back down the path toward me,
the strange smile still plastered across His smug sinister face.
It had occurred to me while they were gone that perhaps we were
here to sell a tarn, and that is why He had to come, so there
was a spare to ride home in. I groaned at the thought, I didn't
fancy riding in the basket like some common slave.
Uncle snatched the reins from me and told me that Father wished
to speak to me, and to go find Him down the path, He would be
waiting for me near the Lady's home. I wasn't so sure of His
explanation of trying to get rid of me, but He knew I would not
go willingly with Him, but also I didn't desire to be in His
company alone for long periods of time, I was never sure if He
had steel tucked away in His satchel and didn't put it past Him
to lock it around my bare neck. And so I wandered away, there
was something off about this whole trip, and though I was
pleased to be looking for Father, a constant haven of security
throughout my life. I couldn't help but feel apprehension.
I stopped near to the home I was expected to find, my Father was
no where to be seen. The Lady in the doorway stared through me,
assessing me with Her glare, I said nothing, and nor did She at
first. When I came to the conclusion this had been some sort of
ruse, my heart sank and I turned to walk away. Stopping in my
tracks when She finally spoke, with a demand to know where I was
going.
After explaining that I was looking for Father, She simply shook
Her head, telling me that She had only seen one man, and He
didn't fit that description. Alarm bells rang harshly in the pit
of my stomach, I could feel the colour in my face drain. My
cowardly Father had set me up, turning again taking a few steps
away from the Lady, I was soon stopped in my tracks as the sound
of flapping wings whooshed over my head. Both tarns had taken
off in flight carrying my Uncle and Father away with them.
It all became clear in that moment while watching the tarns
become smaller and smaller as they flew away.
They had used me to clear the debt. The life of privilege I had
known had gone in a flash. Uncle had finally succeeded in making
sure I was where He felt all women should be. Everything I knew,
and loved and trusted and owned and been cruelly ripped away
from me. My lungs deflated as even the air from inside me was
taken while trying to get my head around my new situation. I was
stranded and knew that the deal had been made, I had no say or
way out of this. Turning back to the Lady, while I knew
ultimately It wasn't Her doing, I seethed looking toward Her. My
anger displaced and would be for some time. She watched closely,
refusing to speak to Her she simply raised a single brow, then
while looking directly at me, Ordering me to come closer, using
a name I had never heard before.
[center]"safi, come"
[/center]
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