This slave: About the City and Out of the Walls

So, the last few days have been interesting. Of all my Masters, Master Vasteel is by far the nicest and most trusting. After my chores are done, I am allowed to roam the city with considerable freedom. It is weird, and I must admit, I don't know what to do a lot of the times. I think I will find a library to frequent or a scribe to bother. I have always been a bit of a trouble-maker, at least in my own eyes, for I do things that do not follow with an exact plan laid before me by Masters. I always find a way out of my cage, I read, I dance and sing...but only away from the eyes of others. I love dancing nearly as much as I love reading...Not that I'd let anyone know. If...Master knew, he'd probably make me perform. He has this weird thing about showing me off, making me be social and such. It is strange and unfamiliar, but...whatever pleases Master pleases me, I guess.

The other day I had finished my chores and went to find Master. Usually Master is at the City Square, so I went there and found Mister Raunik instead. He was sitting under the Tree and we talked for a while. It was a little awkward, because I had heard him speaking with Master about buying me. I admitted I had heard him and he wasn't upset...he was just surprised I could understand Tyen. I thought that was quite silly...I live with Tyeni, why should I not understand them? So, Mister Raunik was very impressed with my intelligence. and we moved our conversation to a garden on the North Wall...to find a copper-haired woman lying in the grass. It was the woman who had assisted Mister Raunik with Master's injury a few nights before, and he was very broken up. I didn't know the woman and...I have never dealt with death. I did not know what to think. People do not die, they get sold or I get sold and we never see one another again...this was odd, but I wished to comfort Mister Raunik. I did not know how! I was very confused and he was very upset...He took me back to the Square and from there, I went home...I could not sleep.

On a lighter note, to veer away from unpleasant subjects, I spent the morning with Jake yesterday. He is an amazing little man! I hope Master does not find out that we left the city walls, though...I do not think he would would approve. However, Jake and I sat in the forest for quite a while, simply talking. It was very nice...And there are "rabbit's" out there that are not rabbits! Rabbits do not have claws like that!

To Jake, I mentioned that I do not have a name I like, and he "named" me Mint. Mint...It's a sweet name, I believe. I rather like it. It felt very silly to be called Mint, but Jake said he wanted something to call me "that doesn't make you cringe every time I say it." So, to Jake, I am Mint, and only he may call me that.

We talked for a great while, about my veil, about Tyeni ways, about Mistress, of whom he is fond. We began to speak of lovers...well, that was my fault, really. Jake said he'd shared Mistress' bed twice, and he'd been honest and kind every time I met him, this day especially and...I told him of Guy. I felt very stupid afterwards, and I actually referred to myself as a person while speaking of it...I was very frightened of what Jake may say, but I have never told anyone anything about myself...Masters are never interested in what a slave thinks, they just wish they would do their duties and be done with it. Master Vasteel is hardly an exception, even though he is an amazing man...but Jake wants to know what I think...It is odd.

But before that, we spoke of how perhaps my Gods are finally blessing me. I unwillingly served Elbahn for so very long that I began to think of him as my patron God, but Melchior has always been close to my heart, for he stands for what I am, save for a pleasure slave, but in my mind, I am as free as I need to be. I have a great Master who cares about me, a beautiful Mistress who does not wish me dead and I think...a friend.

I am happy.
What a frightening concept.