Chapter 8 - The First Time

Title: The First Time

 

Ugh, it hurts! Why… why is this happening to me? Ason, I’m sorry, but this is the only way we’ll ever get away from here. Please hurry and finish…

“Ahhh… there ye be missy. Eh, wa’s this? Ye didn’t be tell’n me ye wa’a virg’n, lasse.” Why is he laughing at me. “’ell, ‘er’s an extra copper for ya. Aught ta’be worth that at least.”

“Thank you.” I mumble the words through lips wet from the rain and the pirate’s rancid kisses, but they are far from my heart. If I had the strength, I… would do nothing. Ason! I’m sorry. My tears are for us both. I lay here looking at the ground, perched on a crate in a back alley, embarrassed. He pulls his leathers up and I cannot raise my eyes to him as he turns to leave. The tears roll down my nose. I can feel them, and taste them as they touch my lips, even as the rain falls softly here, dowsing my clothes.

The rain feels good. I don’t care if I’m wet and dirty. I’m wet and dirty inside. It’s fitting, and I can lie here a moment. The extra copper will buy me a moment to collect myself. Chremy won’t be upset if I bring him a bit extra. Maybe I should keep it for food, but I’d rather be away from him a bit longer.

I don’t like him. He scares me. I told him that I was good at this. They asked me if I’d ever been with a man. I told them I had been to keep them from selling me away to the slavers. Virgins are usually sold to the elite in far away cities. I’d never see Ason again. I had to say that, even though it hurt Ason at the time. I promise, I’ll make it up to you brother, as soon as I get enough money to buy us passage. Why did I have to do it…

“No! Ginia, you cannot mean that! Who was he? Who was the bastard who did this to you!”

“Ason… please! Don’t ask me that!”

“Enough! I don’t care. She is spoiled. You! Boy. You will work below unloading the ships. The girl…”

“You better not hurt her…”

I watched quietly as the large pirate lord Desharik snapped his fingers and one of his lackeys clubbed Ason in the back of the knee. I cried as he fell to the ground, a gasp of pain echoing through the chamber.

“The girl will walk the streets for me. Chremy… you need anyone?”

“Eh, she’s cute enough. Yeah, I’ll take her.”

I promise, brother, I’ll make it up to you. Now where did I put my purse… oh no… where is it… I fumble through my clothes and finally find it. I’m still shaking from the moment. Cold. Scared. Shivers. Please, make them go away. Oh, Illmater, why does it still hurt? I didn’t know it would be like this.

The streets are dark, but I’ve got to find Chremy, or he’ll take his anger out on me. He might anyway, but I’ve got to find him. I move as quickly as I can down the street. Why did I lay there? I should have left right away. I’m going to be late, and he’s going to be mad, I know it… Illmater… please.

There he is. “Master…”

“Ah, there you be, wench. Wha’cha got f’me.”

“An extra copper, m’lord. The mark said he was very pleased with me.”

“Ahhh, very good. But you’re late. You been doing others on the side.” His eyes flare with anger, and he moves in on me. NO!

“NO! Please m’lord. I came as quick as I could… I was a bit… confused after it.” He grabs my hair and pulls my head back, his nose pressing in close to mine, his body dwarfing me.

“Yes. First time’s are a bit… disorienting. I should never have believed you. But at least you’ll work for me f’now on. And you’ll be pull’n double time, hear me. T’make up for what I lost on your freshness, got it.”

He kisses me and drives his tongue deep into my mouth, then draws back and laughs at me. “Now g’back out there, and ya better ‘av mor’n the others, or you’ll be going to the slavers. Got it!”

“Yes, m’lord. I’ll do my best.” I feel the tears roll once more from my face. For all the rain, it could not cleanse the stains that gave my deception away. Momma… Pappa… why?

I turn and head out into the night. What am I going to do now? I have no way of raising more money; this one was hard enough. And if he sells me… I’ll never see Ason again. My heart cries with the pain of a lost child. No one to comfort me. No one. Illmater, end my existence now! Please! I beg of you, and my eyes scan the streets once more, knowing that no answer, or ending, would be forthcoming. I would not accept it anyway. There must be an answer.

But another job, and another coin only lead to more despair and anguish. And still they come, each wanting their own pleasures fulfilled, their needs attended to. Pappa… why did you have to stand up to him! I hate you! WHY!!!!!

There’s a new group of people. I… I don’t recognize them. Must have come in on that last ship that arrived this afternoon. Six of them. The one on the side there, he’s a paladin, or at least dresses like the ones I’ve seen in books. Maybe…

“Sire, please… might I have a moment of your time.” I approach slowly. My hopes rise only for a moment as he looks down on me.

“Yes.”

“Arelius, she is but a child?” The woman who stands behind him, she is half-elven, but she stares at me with eyes of ice, looking me up and down, perceiving my disgrace. She whispers, but I hear her regardless. The others look a variety of sorts, but at least they seem to follow the paladin, Arelius, she called him. They won’t hurt me at least.

“I… I would ask only for a moment of your time, m’lord. I… must ask if you can spare any gold. I… I cannot return home tonight without a fair amount, and I… I would rather not earn it.” I look down in shame as the young elven woman standing in the rear comments.

“There are all kinds of ways to make money. You shouldn’t be afraid of earning a living.”

I shrink back scared that I’ve misjudged them as I notice the smaller halfling lady put her hand to the elf’s arm. “Do not assume too much, Aerie, I… I don’t think she means it the way you think.”

The paladin holds his hand up to stay his friends. “Why? What are you afraid of?”

“You… you would hear my story?” My hopes rise again.

“Go on child. What straights have this place put you in?”

“You see, Brynnlaw was not always like this. I was once… we were once a happy family, me, my brother Ason and my mother and father. Momma died a long time ago from disease, but we stayed together, strong in our beliefs of one another. Then Desharik came, beaten in a war with a rival pirate lord, or so the rumors go. He fled here and destroyed the city, ransacked all our homes. He killed the mayor and threw his body in the ocean. Anyone who stood up to him was beaten in the street, their bodies quartered and thrown into the ocean. We have lived under his reign of terror for many months now. We cannot fight him.

“My father tried to. Desharik killed him a day or so ago, I can hardly remember now, or tell how long it’s been. Everything fell apart when Desharik came. He gave me to his lieutenant Chremy to be his slave. Chremy has made me a… a… a whore.” My voice trails off as the words leave my mouth for the first time, the realization of what I have become slapping me hard in the face. I never wanted my first time to be like this. I put my hands to my face as I feel the arms of the warrior lady around me.

“There, there, child. It is alright. Arelius?” She looks to him and his face is soft with concern. I pull gently away from the comfort of her arms and feel a new strength as I realize for the first time since Pappa’s death, and Ason’s seperation, I have an ally.

“What can we do to help you?”

“My name is Ginia. Desharik says that he’ll kill my brother if we don’t do as we’re told. Ason is working in the docks. Please, we know of a way off the island, but we cannot afford payment.”

“How much?”

“A couple hundred or so, it changes each time I ask. But there is a… a trader who can get us both on a ship away from here.”

“Then on that ship you shall be. Of this, you have my promise. What is this traders name?”

“His name is Calahan, and you can find him down near the docks. Thank you, sire.”

“And where might we have a word or two with this Chremy?”

“Last I saw him was but a short while ago near the tavern. He’s probably still near there. He doesn’t like to be away from ale for very long.”

“Yoshimo. Valygar. Jaheira.”

The one he addressed as Valygar begins, “We’re way ahead of you.”

“Stay here with her, Mazzy, Aerie. Give her what she needs. We’ll take care of this.” They turn and soon disappear from sight. Their footstep echoes remain in the air, but they too, soon fade. The ladies take seating around me.

“Are they going to be ok?”

“I’m sure they will be fine. My names Aerie, by the way.”

“My name is Mazzy Fenten, warrior of Avoreen.”

“When I first met up with them,” Aerie continues. “I’d have sworn they wouldn’t be able to do what they ended up doing. Just you wait. Pretty soon, they’ll be back, and you’ll be on that boat, you’re brother at your side. I’m sure of it.”

“I’m… I’m not. What if something goes wrong? What if there’s more than they can handle? Oh gods, what have I done?”

“Relax child. Besides, if they need us, I am sure they will come running this way.” The elf chuckles at that and they exchange glances, but I’m still shaking. What have I done? If word gets back to Desharik that someone is trying to help me… it’ll be as bad for me as it is for that woman who tried to leave the brothel. Oh god. They’ll kill Ason!

I stand.

“No… I’ve got to stop them!” I start to run, but a strong arm pulls me back and seats me back on the crate.

“You have not to fear, Ginia. As Avoreen is my guide and witness, you and your brother shall not come to harm. Our party shall not fail on this.”

My heart rises and sinks as often as the waves that crash on the shore in the distance. For on into the hour, we sit and talk of idle happenings, and the two do their best to comfort me. My senses tingle with every sound that feels out of place as I anxiously await their return. Soon, the echoing footsteps are heard once more, and the long shadows of four figures stretch out before me as they round the corner, a smile on the face of the one who made his promise to me.

“Pack your bags, little one, your brother is waiting for you on The Wandering Maiden. It’s down in the harbor now. You’ve nothing to fear from Chremy either.”

“I…” but I cannot finish, the tears welling up in my throat and forcing me to stop. I leap from the box and into his arms. Strange, the armor does not feel as bad as I had once imagined. But perhaps it is because I don’t care! I am free! Free again! I run from person to person embracing them to show my thanks.

“I have nothing to give you for your efforts. But I shall always remember you, and carry words of your deeds to all who will listen.”

“Tis more than enough. Now… Yoshimo, you want to sneak her on board?”

“Yes. That would be wise. No one here shall know of our arrangement. I so swear.” I cannot help but notice Arelius glance his way and nod. It seemed somewhat… forced. But again… I DON’T CARE!!! I’M FREE!!! And my heart sings those words to the chorus of the hopes that I’ll soon be with Ason, and far away from here.

 

The ship bobs and weaves in the rough ocean seas, and I’m not feeling too good at this moment. My world was never one of the water, but the land held my foot fast to its shores. Now, even though I’m feeling sick as a dog, I’m elated with joy and find it hard to believe that it’s all over.

Pappa. I miss you. If only we could have gotten away before… before you lost your temper. But it was our home, and I suppose you did what you had to. As I sit here on this riser looking out through the porthole, you are in my thoughts.

I turn away from the view for a moment to look at Ason swabbing the floor behind us. I’ve never noticed it before, but he looks a lot like Pappa. Ason has chosen to work for our Captain, or at least one of his Lieutenants. Ason always wanted to be in the navy, and he has made a deal to continue on with the ship after we reach Ulgoth’s Beard. You would be proud Pappa. He has behaved admirably in this. He will be a fine officer one day.

I’ll miss him, but not like before. This time, our separation will be for the right reasons, and when I am old enough, he says he’ll come for me and take me to Baldur’s Gate. We’ll see. This new town sounds beautiful. We will be staying with a person called Therella. I don’t know much about her, but perhaps she will teach me a trade, and I can make you proud of me too, Pappa. For the first time since before you left, Pappa, I feel like I’m going to something, instead of running from it.

 

The story feels a bit rushed to me, but as a side story to Arelius’ main story line, seems about right.