My Life On Gor

And along came a man…

I’d been fishing down on the docks, a swirl of people buzzing around. It’d had been some months since I’d arrived back in my beloved Port Kar. I was making peace with the woman I was becoming. The candy shop was (is) booming. I’d been asked to help out Ania with merchant duties. I’d set up my own contracts in addition to that. I was finding my own way in Gor. And earning a great deal of coin while I was at it.

As I moved back up the docks, cursing my misfortune, I’d literally bumped into him. A man I’d never seen before. Not that it surprised me; Port Kar is a huge city, booming with people. After apologizing for my foul language, I turned to head back into my shop. I felt someone following me.

Later in the day, the same man from the docks, bought candy from me. As I locked up the shop, I left the door unlocked as I made my way to my apartments upstairs. Securing those locks, I heard a voice “Lady Beth, your doors aren’t locked.” I smiled; it was the man from the docks. After reassuring him that Ben would be in to lock them, I changed out of my robes and into a nightgown, and crawled into bed for a peaceful slumber.

A few days later I would encounter this man again. I’d told Sa to keep an eye out for the thieving she-urts. Sa doesn’t listen to well. When I came down into my shop, I found myself hanging upside down, screaming for help. The only one to come to my aid was him. Dragging me out into the square he fought hard to claim me. But I won that battle.

A hand later, Ben went missing. I had so much work to do. As I came down from my apartment I’d found a bit of cake on a plate. I assumed Sa left it as a peace offering for almost getting me collared.  Enjoying it for breakfast, I found out later it might not have agreed with me. I went to the tavern for some peppermint tea with my clerk’s 6 year-old son. I couldn’t handle the smell of the food; instead I was throwing up over the side of the railing. My face and veil covered in the contents of my belly. Feeling a hand going around my shoulder, comforted by a soothing voice, it was him, again coming to my aid. He stayed with me while the physician looked me over. The next day I hired him to replace Ben.

He worked hard for me over the next few weeks as we prepared for a trading expedition in the North. Our stops were Skjern, Axe Fjord, and the Village of Piedmont. As we set sail out of Port Kar, Atheas and his slaves joining us, we caught a very large shark. It was fun working hard beside him. Skjern was profitable for us. Axe Fjord, not so much. The Village of Piedmont not at all.

Meeting a fellow Merchant along the way, Atheas decided to hit a few extra ports, while we headed home to Port Kar. Looking at the merchandise that still needed to be traded, some of the fruits rotting, we decided to try Tyros on the way. An enemy, I knew this was a risk. When they asked where I was from, I lied through my teeth, telling them Caffa.

But our lucked didn’t hold out. As trouble fell on us I heard him yell, “RUN! I will catch up with you at home.” I arrived back in Port Kar tired and worried. That was three hands ago.

He still hasn’t.

Every night, when the city goes calm, I nod to the guard at the gate and sit on the steps, watching the water for any sign of him. Waiting, aching for his return.