Breaking Chains (Closed)

[SinisterSpiders]

Niu had seen a lot of things in her life. Things that most people would never dream of seeing. That said, she had never met anyone quite like Alonzo. He had a passion and enthusiasm for things that shone though his every motion and word. As Nui watched and listened, she felt exhausted on his behalf. She thought that it must take a lot of energy to sustain that level of conviction.

Alonzo was also far kinder than most of his station were, even when teaching her to read. He seemed to have an endless patience for Niu's (faked) lack of understanding, and inability to decipher symbols that he lived and breathed. As he taught that casual, philosophical man turned all business, but Niu could sense that wholesomeness lurking just below the surface of him.

Niu had been dreading this assignment when the Emperor gave it to her. It was one thing to meddle with the politics of her own country, but messing with the work and lives of foreigners was a whole different issue. She would do anything the Emperor asked her to do, but when Alonzo let slip snippets of information the spy within her took note. He was far more honest with her than he really should be, and she found herself hoping that he was more careful with others. She would like to be the one to present any findings to the Emperor; anyone else would just gossip without checking their facts first. And Alonzo, well, he didn't deserve to be taken down for rumours alone. Which is something the Emperor might do if the Maestro continued to make a fuss about slaves.

Niu didn't allow herself to wonder whether he deserved to be taken down at all.

After spending a while working on the basics of reading there was a knock at the door. Niu and Alonzo sprung apart like gossiping slaves and a slave entered the room and announced dinner. Alonzo dismissed Niu when she offered to help him dress, so she left the room and disappeared into the halls of the Palace.

 

[silvertongue217]

"I hope you have been behaving"

Alonzo sighed turning and adjusting his dress robes as he watched the prince came up. They were garbed once more befiting their status with Kurigan in purple and gold and Alonzo in red and black. It was a point of pride for Alonzo to wear the red and black as it marked him as a teacher and advisor and he was the only one allowed to be garbed in such a fashion.

"I do not know what you mean" Alonzo said innocently even as his mind tossed and turned with the events of the evening.

And the girl he had been teaching

There was some thing.... Off about her some hidden piece of her puzzle he had yet to determine. She was smarter than she let on and seemed interested in what he had to say. If he had to hazard a guess he would say she was more than a simple servant and possibly a spy.

But why spy on him?

It could be that the Emperor had learned of his.... past it was after all common knowledge by now in their kingdom. Which meant word might have reached him. It could also just be that he was a cautious man one who wasnt as welcoming to foreigners as they had been led to believe.

Either way he would continue to play her game for now and see where it led. He would only be lying to himself if he pretended that he was not interested in her. She was as mystifying as she was alluring and the way she moved and talked only drew him in further.

"Your precoccupied" Kurigan stated as they moved to the dining hall

"Am I my king?" Alonzo said glancing over at him "Dont tell me your bored already"

"Visiting a foriegn place means actually seeing it Maestro"Kurigan responded not missing a beat "So far all I have seen is my room and the port"

Alonzo laughed shaking his head "I swear you would think I never taught you patience the way you go on!"

They both had a chuckle at that. This of course caused a few of the slaves to turn shocked at the ease of the two friends talking when they were by all accounts two people of lesser status. Before Alonzo could say any thing however they were ushered in to the main dining hall.

"Whoa"

"Some ones trying to impress" Alonzo murmured looking around. The place was decadent in nature dripping with gold and jewels and ornate carvings. It was huge as well designed in such a way that two standing armies could eat in there with no trouble.

"Come my friends!" The Emperor said rising up shrugging off the two woman attending to him.

"Come and eat!"

"Behave" Kurigan growled as he put on what Alonzo called his charming smile

"Dont I always?"

....................................

"What was that?!"

Kurigan burst into his room shutting the door behind him with enough force to slam it. Alonzo turned raising an eyebrow at his burst and glacning over at Niu.

"If you could give us some space please" Alonzo said glancing over at her and waiting for her to leave.

"Why do you never take my consul but expect me to!" Kurigan said not paying her any mind "I asked you.... no I begged you to practice discretion here! that this is not our land and that we cant pretend to no better"

"But we do no better!" Alonzo snapped "because of you and I because of what we did your damn right we know better! We have to-"

"Have to what?" Kurigan growled eyes narrowing "To impress this upon every one else? Do you know how many countries practice slavery?"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Niu had been watching the King's dinner through a secret passage in the dining room walls. It had been a painful experience, and she knew the king would be seething when he returned to his room. She had slipped out just before the end of it, not minding that she would miss the end of the awkwardness.

Niu had been waiting in Alonzo's room for only a few minutes before he and the prince burst in, clearly in the middle of a heated disagreement. Alonzo managed to stall their argument for a moment to request that she leave, quite politely considering the mood he seemed to be in. So Niu had left and gone from the Maestro's room to the Emperor's using the secret passageways. She knocked on the back of the wooden panel, and waited until she heard the Emperor's voice from within, before sliding the thin wooden panel away and stepping out from behind the heavy tapestry.

"You were at dinner, I take it?" The Emperor snapped, wasting no time getting to the point.

"Yes Sire."

"H-how dare he!" The Emperor raged, throwing his arms up in the air. "He comes to my country, stays at my palace, allows himself to be served by my slaves, and he dares to question me?!" The Emperor rounded on Niu, eyes alight with rage. "What have you found?" He demanded.

Niu lowered her eyes.

"Nothing yet Sire, beyond what you have seen yourself," she lied. Part of her knew that she should report every comment that Alonzo had made to her owner, tell him of the whip marks, the reading, the blatant and verbal disregard for her culture's attitude towards slavery. But she didn't. She decided to play it close to her chest, knowing the King was just looking for excuses to destroy the Prince and his companion, and go to war with their country.

And, for once, Niu separated her own conscience from the Emperor's.

~*~

The following morning Niu arrived in Alonzo's suite bright and early. She slipped into the room and stood just beside the door in silence, as was the custom with slaves in the palace.

She had spent far too much of her night pondering her decision. Regardless of whether it was a mistake or not, she knew admitting it to the Emperor would lead, quite probably, to her own death.

 

[silvertongue217]

He was already awake

And he was not dressed

He was shirtless clad in only a pair of simple white pants. He was toweling off his wet hair his back to her. From this angle and with the list his scars were in full effect. They were pale and looked decades old yet it was clear that they would never go away.

"Ah your here" He said putting the towel down and turning to her. There were scars pocketing marketing his chest but nothing as jarring as the ones on his back. His chest was muscular and smooth free of hair and a deep rich tan.

"Shall we continue?" He said grabbing the book and bringing it over to hand her having not bothered to put on a shirt "I do not have any where to be this morning as it seems I have been confined to my room for now" Alonzo said his eyes tightening as he said that.

"So I can keep teaching you" He said smiling and going over to the table.

"Shall we?"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Niu's keen eyes raked over Alonzo's naked back, surprised at the cross crossed scars there. Whoever had wielded the whip had done so with a vengeance. As he turned around she averted her gaze, as appropriate for her station. She wasn't surprised
by his confinement, and she figured it was probably for the best after his behavior the previous night.

Niu looked up, pushing a blush, as she took in his fantastic chest.

"I came early to help you dress," she said, voice meek.

 

[silvertongue217]

"I told you I dont need help dressing" Alonzo said sighing and shaking his head as he reached for a clean white shirt.

"I would however like to continue teaching you" He said handing her the book and shrugging on the shirt "I would like that very much as a matter of fact" He said his tone and words clear that the events of last night were NOT to be recounted.

"So shall we?" He asked gesturing at the chair "I believe we had a lot of ground left to cover"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

"It's lucky I have been assigned as your personal slave. If I was just a chamber maid it would be suspicious for me to spend so much time with you... But, Sir? If anyone asks please be sure to tell them that you had work for me. Real work. Changing your sheets, helping you dress, fixing your food, drawing your bath and what not..." Niu said as she walked over to join him. She settled into her seat.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Well then lets make the most of our luck shall we?" Alonzo said with a smile and a gesture for her to sit down with him.

They began but this day was different, he had from the start been very fiery pumped to teach her but today seemed even more dedicated and interested. He approached teaching her with an eagerness at several times he even got up moving around her and talking excitedly as he did.

Then there were the touches

They were light at first brief touches of her hands. He would get up as well and touch her shoulders leaning over to check her work and to make comments about it as he went over her work and continued teaching her.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Alonzo was a good teacher. Or he would have been if Niu didn't already know what she was pretending to learn. He was very casual with her, not at all smarmy like the other tutors she had been subjected to. As he taught got up and did other things he needed to, always coming back, peering over her shoulder, guiding her hand with his own. She made sure to give in to it, just a bit. It wasn't a horrible thing to do either. He was an attractive sort, this Alonzo, and his kindness only made it better.

"You're a fine teacher, sir," Niu remarked, turning back and smiling at him over her shoulder as he corrected one of her mistakes.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Am I?" Alonzo asked rising and shaking his head "I always had a knack for it even as a boy I used to line our simple toys up and teach them then after a time the other kids would come and learn from me as well"

"Knowledge is the fruit of life my dear" Alonzo said noting the passing time "dont let every one tell you other wise or try to dumb you down" He told her reaching out to take her hand and giving it a squeeze.

"Now do you have some where you need to go?" Alonzo asked her nodding at the door "Is some one going to come looking for you?"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

"Not really," Niu said, following Alonzo's gaze and shrugging. "Unless you would like me to fetch you some food, run an errand for you or change your sheets..."

Niu stood up, bowing her head but stretching her limbs. They were in need of a good stretch after sitting and learning to read for so long.

"I am a personal slave... No one would thing it odd if you requested me to stay for-" Niu stopped, a blush rising on her cheeks as she averted her gaze, "well, if you had me stay for a while. But if you wish me to leave..."

 

[silvertongue217]

"I wish you to stay" Alonzo said catching her meeting and blushing as well "However I have some thing to show you"

He moved to the curtains that opened to the balcony over the city. He paused for a moment his nose flaring as he breathed in the air of the sea and its port before he closed the doors. He closed it and within seconds the heavy blinds were closed and casting the room in darkness.

"Now I have a feeling your going to enjoy this" Alonzo said going to his bag and pulling out a strange ball and a matching stand. He put the ball down for a second and lighted the candle at the top of the pedestal. Once it was lit he placed the ball in and then gave it a spin.

At once the ceiling was filled with a rotating spectacle of stars. Alonzo stepped back admiring it for a second before turning to her.

"Our constellations" He explained waving his hand "They give me clarity and help me think"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Niu was truly amazed. She stepped closer to the device, fingers reaching out and sweeping through the lights as they were cast around. A gurgle of unexpected laughter burst from her lips, as her fingertips shone with the pinpricks of light.

"This is incredible!" She said in a reverent whisper, looking up at the stars on the roof, and then at the mysterious maestro. Once more, her mind rebelled at the thought of turning this intelligent, kind man over to the Emperor.

"A man with imagination in the stars and mind in the books. A dangerous combination," Niu said, shaking her head and smiling. "That is the only way that dreams will come real!"

 

[silvertongue217]

"I have been told that time and time again" Alonzo said laughing and watching her with a shake of his head.

"I would love to say it isnt true.... but then I would be lying" He told her unable to stop himself from coming over and bumping her shoulders "All I can say is that I am for the side of good or at least the side of right and wrong" He told her looking up at the stars and constellations.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

"And who determines what is right and what is wrong?" Niu asked.

It was something she made a point not to contemplate. For her there was no right or wrong; there was simply following orders or dying. She had gotten to the age of eighteen, worked up through the treacherous world of the Emperor's assassin training, and she had no intention to give up her life just yet. Though, during a very rare maudlin moment, she did find herself wondering just what life she had to live for. She had always just existed; following the Emperor's orders and scraping by from day to day. She made plenty of money, and lived comfortably despite setting herself up to appear like a servant, but what did any of it mean?

Niu didn't know what her purpose was, but she looked at Alonzo beside her and realised that he - without doubt- seemed to know his. She could see the passion in his eyes even now, and it made that tiny sesame seed of emptiness within her grow.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Now THAT is a question" Alonzo said smiling in pleasure impressed with what she asked "I would say a king or in your case an emperor but well they havent always been correct in my experience"

"Thats not to say that there always wrong either" Alonzo said catching her look "Its just... We all have to have some thing we draw the line at.... Some thing we personally believe in a moral stance if you will and that can be tough to determine especially when you have been told and taught all your life that it is not wrong but it does not make it any less important"

"Compromise when you can for the things you cant plant your feet firmly and say no I will not budge" He told her glancing back up at the stars.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Alonzo spoke the words of an idealist. If Niu hadn't known about his past, the sacrifices he had made to teach others, she might have scoffed at him. But this confidence, despite his previous endeavours, was interesting. He had a strength and conviction about him that she found hard to ignore.

"And what if your line breaks. What if you compromise on something you shouldn't but because you had no other choice?" Niu asks, still gazing at the flickering stars overhead.

 

[silvertongue217]

"I have never been in that position before" Alonzo said shaking his head and glancing at her "So I do not know I would like to say I would stick to my ideals refuse to budge no matter what even if it meant being cut down but who is to say?"

Alonzo glanced once more up at the spinning stars and smiled "I speak from experience if you wish to change the world and or some thing you believe in all you need is the drive to do so and the ability to take nothing else as an answer that got me to where I am today" He told her reaching out and patting her leg rubbing her thigh.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Bui's natural reaction to that touch,the rubbing other thigh,was to seize up. Luckily her training had taught her that a lot of instinctive reactions could be surprised. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the touch, she certainly did, but she had hoped to be in a little more control of the situation.

So Niu allowed her leg to tense just a touch, her breathing hitched as she looked towards the Maestro through her lashes.

"Sir?" She asked. Shy, coy,but undoubtedly flirtatious.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Uh that is" Alonzo said having finally noted where he put his hand and glancing up to notice the look she was giving him.

The look of lust

He would have been lying if he said he didn't feel it to. He had since he first set eyes on her. There was just some thing about her, some thing that drew her in. It was not just her secret the one he had yet to figure out but also her intelligence and her abilities......

Before he knew it he was leaning in meeting her lips with his own. He kissed her deeply his hands sliding down to the small of her back and pulling her against him. He kissed her for several minutes before he broke away panting.

"I..... I am sorry" He said his eyes brimming with lust "That was... very forward of me"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Despite his hand on her knee, Alonzo's kiss was still a shock to Niu. She fell into far faster and harder than she should have.

In her life, Niu had been part of a decent number of sexual encounters. Those which she wanted for herself, rather than her job, could be counted on one hand with fingers to spare.

When Alonzo pulled away from Niu her mind was spinning. It was so unusual for someone like herself who was normally so calm and collected. That was when she realised that this may just be the first time she truly mixed business with pleasure.

Then, with a deep shuddering breath that was entirely genuine, she spoke.

"Not at all," Niu said with a shy smile. "Compared to many guests I've been assigned to you are acting the perfect gentleman."

 

[silvertongue217]

"When you are as beautiful as that I have no doubt men cant truly contain it" Alonzo said eyeing her up and down and biting his lip.

Before he could say any thing more on the matter the doors leading into his room pushed open. Alonzo quickly moved to the ball grabbing it and stopping the constellations from spinning as he turned to face whoever was coming in.

Prince Kurigan walked in and Alonzo said in relief putting the ball down on the bed and walking over to open the curtains.

"Did you have a good time Prince?" Alonzo asked struggling to keep his voice neutral.

"I come in peace" Kurigan said raising his hands "I know your sore about having to stay but I think I managed to patch things over! I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to tour the gardens I heard a rumor theres at least three species of plants we dont have back home"

"Three?" Alonzo said snorting and turning "Theres five" He said moving over to Kurigan before stoping and glancing at her.

"Can we continue this later?" He asked her raising an eyebrow.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Niu watched the exchange between the Prince and the Maestro with disguised interest. She lowered her eyes, but she watched everything through her lashes. It was interesting, that Alonzo would be this brave with his liege, so honest. Niu could hardly imagine anyone acting like that with the Emperor without risking their neck.

"Just ring for me when you are ready and I will return," Niu said with a submissive nod as she slipped from the room.

~*~

Niu's contacts worked fast. They managed to recover some information about Kurigan and Alonzo's plans in the city. They gave her the schedule of their visit including all planned engagements, and Niu chewed her lip as she read it. There were a few concerning things there, meeting in the homes of those known to be working against the emperor, people who were itching for revolution. Though there was nothing horribly damning, she knew she would need to keep an eye on the situation.

Niu made her daily report to the emperor. He was still in a terrible mood from dinner (and Prince Kurigan's attempts to excuse and apologise for Alonzo's behaviour), and he was rather rough in his release with her. As she walked away from the Emperor's chamber, she found herself turning Alonzo's words and philosophies over in her mind. And that, was a very dangerous thing to do.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Now was that so bad?" Kurigan asked opening the door to Alonzos room as they both walked in.

"Sure" Alonzo said his tone short as he walked into the room and shrugged off his traveling cloak "I found it very.... interesting"

"Oh come on" Kurigan said sighing and throwing up his hands "Were only going to be here a few more days why cant you leave it alone?"

"Leave it alone?" Alonzo hissed turning and glaring at him "And tell me where would I be at if I had "left it alone" Alonzo reminded him crossing his arms.

"You had a dashing prince who was willing to listen" Kurigan reminded him unable to stop himself from grinning "And a country that wanted the change! Two things you do not have here"

"A empire doesnt change in a day" Alonzo murmured sighing and flopping on his bed "I am trying to exercise restraint I am but...... Well you know how I feel about this"

"I understand" Kurigan said sighing his eyes softening as he moved to the door "Only two more days my friend then we can put this behind us" He said closing the door.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

When she was done seing to the emperor, Niu moved towards the servants hall. The network of cables that attached to the chain-pulls in the noble's suites all led here. She stood formally, in line with the other slaves, her nether regions aching from the emperor's harsh efforts, ans she waited for Alonzo to call.

In the time that passed she considered the conflicting amount of information she had seen in the past few days. As she did she saw the slave coordinator ushering one poor sobbing young woman into her small office. Niu didn't know what had happened to her, but given the range of uses and abuses that were part of a slave's every day life, she didn't want to guess. She gritted her teeth, never caring about these things before. Survive, she told herself, just survive.