Chapter 5
“You look like shit, David,” Liss grouses from across the table.
“Elisabeth!” Corrine manages to look offended on my behalf.
“What? He does.” She shrugs.
“Good to see you too, Liss.” It’s Astraday morning, and I am back at the labor camp for visiting day.
I almost didn’t make it. After our late night out with Ragnar and Nylan, Khazak and I nearly overslept and forgot about it.
He was the one who remembered while we were still groggy and lying in bed, leading to us very quickly throwing our clothes on and rushing down here so I wasn’t late. Which is why I look like shit.
“You alright?” she asks, actual concern in her voice.
“Yeah, just worked late. That’s all,” I lie.
“You working this festival thing, too?” Aaaand now I feel bad for lying.
“They’ve had me and Adam setting things up the last few days.
Mostly stuff like booths and stages, but yesterday?
We set up a bunch of bed pallets in a park.
Big ones.” She pauses, leaning closer to me over the table.
“You hear what this festival is supposed to be celebrating?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty crazy stuff.” Of which I am an active participant. “That’s uh, why I was working so late.”
“You know, when I left home with you guys two months ago, it was to prove I was more capable than my brothers, not to be the first to end up in jail.” Liss sighs. “At least they have no idea what’s happening.”
“Trust me, you aren’t the only one happy their family is clueless right now.
” Liss and I share a knowing look, but out of the corner of my eye, I see Corrine looking down a little awkwardly, and I realize I’ve never actually heard her talk about her family before.
“Sorry, Cor, what about your family? Do you want to write them a letter or something? It might take a while to get there, but I can make sure it’s sent out.
” I checked with Khazak about how sending out mail from here might work, mostly out of morbid curiosity.
While there’s no spell-o-gram office in the city for obvious reasons, they’ve got a system for sending both regular mail and messenger pigeons from here.
“Actually, I’m an orphan.” Liss’s and my eyes go wide. “No, no! It’s okay. I was raised by the church. I’m not even sure if I really am an orphan or not.” She tries to give us both a cheerful smile.
“I am so sorry, Corrine. I had no idea.” I feel like such an asshole right now. “Is there anyone else you wanna contact? Someone from the church?”
“Oh gosh, no. I can only imagine what Father Mitchell would say about this.” She shakes her head quickly. “Thank you, though.”
“How else are you doing?” Out of everyone in here, Corrine is probably who I’m most worried about. “Nate said they have you transcribing books?”
“Yes! It can be a little monotonous, but some of the books they have us working on are very informative. A lot about the history of the city or local customs. It’s really interesting!
Not that Nate thinks so.” I recall his complaints.
“I also joined this really nice Bible-study group with some of the other...prisoners.” She hesitates on the last word.
“There’s people who follow the same religion as you in there?” Khazak did mention that before.
“A couple! It’s not a ‘Bible-study’ exactly—it’s open to everyone,” she starts recounting happily.
“We all get together and recount stories and fables from our faiths, and then we compare to similar tales in others. There are so many parallels in scriptures from all over the world. It’s fascinating! ”
“That’s great, Cor.” I smile as I listen to my friend tell me about one of the few bright spots in her life, wishing I could somehow make it brighter.
“I’m a horrible friend,” I croak as I leave the labor camp with Khazak.
“Why do you say that?” He follows after me, sounding concerned.
“Because I’m out here partying while they sit in jail.” I almost wish I had woken up hungover, then I’d at least feel as bad physically as I do mentally. “I almost missed seeing them today because I was up all night drinking and dancing at a bar and on a dancefloor my friends set up!”
Things are silent for a moment. “I understand why you feel guilty, David, but this is beyond your control.” The logical side of me knows that’s true, but the rest of me wants to yell at that side to shut up.
“Even though I know it does not feel this way, their predicament is not your fault, nor can you help the way your own has worked out. Even as misguided your attempts have been, you have done your best to help them.”
“It just feels wrong to be having fun while they toil away in there,” I grumble, stuffing my hands in my pockets.
A hand rubbing my back tries to offer me some comfort as we return home.
It’s still pretty early, and we don’t have anywhere to be just yet, so after a small breakfast, Khazak coaxes me back into bed for a nap.
I’m still tired from the morning, so it doesn’t take much before I’m drifting off next to him.
“Feeling any better?” Khazak asks when he feels me wake a few hours later.
“A little.” There’s still some guilt, but I guess it’s settled. “Still wish there was something I could do to help them.”
“You have done and tried to do a lot for them, David. Including several illegal things you were nearly rearrested for yourself.” Oh hey, there’s some more guilt. “You have done all you can. The rest is out of your hands.”
“Yes, Sir.” I sigh.
“Come. We have a busy day ahead of us.” He leads the way to the bathroom. “I am going to show you a few cleaning techniques to prepare for our ‘demonstration’ at Brull’s.”
“Can’t I just use the charm?” That thing is unbelievably handy.
“Normally yes, but we will be getting dinner right after, and we will want to save it for our plans in the evening.” That sounds a little ominous but also like it will probably be fun.
“Yes, Sir.” I’m not supposed to use the charm more than once a day, but my butt also doesn’t usually get this much attention in a single day.
After showing me what to do, I take a shower that is far more thorough than any shower I have ever taken before.
Never had to flush myself out before. Definitely prefer using the charm for that sort of thing.
After taking a shower himself, Khazak dresses us in outfits similar to yesterday’s, though this time with a shirt to wear over my harness, at least temporarily.
After reattaching my leash, we leave for Brull’s.
Things seem even busier than they did yesterday, and the afternoon is just getting started.
There’s less dancing and partying given the hour, but just as much drinking as none of the bars look empty.
When we reach the shop, there’s a crowd gathered outside, milling around a small wooden stage that’s been set up in front of the building.
Brull is on the stage, adjusting equipment.
There’s a small table with some items on it, a familiar looking padded bench, and a frame made of thick wooden beams, larger than a doorway, with a set of small metal hooks along the inside.
Brull himself is decked out in his own gear, wearing a harness similar to Sir’s, the bottom resting against his big green belly.
He’s got a pair of black leather pants on, but the only other things he’s wearing on his upper body are a thick black armband on his left arm and a pair of gloves.
I don’t think there’s a single thing on him that isn’t leather. Not a bad look, honestly.
“Khazak!” Brull calls when he notices us. “Glad you could make it.”
“Would not miss this for the world, friend.” Sir steps up to the side of the stage.
“All done setting up out here. Let’s go in the back so we can go over everything.” Brull turns to the crowd. “Show starts in five minutes, everyone!”
The crowd shouts happily in response as the three of us move into the shop. There are a few customers, but most people are outside waiting for the show to start. The people I saw working behind the counter yesterday are still here, and we step past them into the back of the shop where we are alone.
“So, you decide on a game plan?” Brull turns to ask Khazak.
“Yeah, and were you going to let me in on it at any point?” Both orcs look at me, eyebrows quirked up. “Sir.”
“I thought we would start with stripping him and putting in the new tail,” Sir responds to Brull but makes eye contact with me as he talks. “Then we could tie and edge him in a few different positions and try a little flogging before the finale.”
“Sounds good to me.” Brull replies, both orcs eyeing me like a piece of meat.
“What do you think, David?” Khazak turns to me.
“I... I don’t even know half of what you just said.” Despite that, I’m still turned on.
“Do you trust me?” He walks forward into my space.
“...Yes?” Brull bellows a laugh at my response.
“Are you sure?” Khazak jokingly asks. “I promise you will enjoy this, pup. None of this is a punishment. It is meant to be a fun and enjoyable experience, one I trust Brull to be a part of. But if at any point it feels like it is becoming too much, I want you to say the word ‘jailbreak,’ and everything will stop.”
“I trust you, Sir.” I nod before pondering his word choice. “...Jailbreak, really?”
“I wanted something I would be sure you would not forget.” He grins cheekily. “Shall we greet our audience?”
The three of us walk back outside to a burst of applause that grows as we climb onto the stage. Brull moves forward to address the crowd, and I look over at Khazak as he unbuttons his shirt, pulling it off dramatically when he’s finished. I get why we overdressed now.