Talk of a Feast

originally posted April 14, 2006

There will be a feast tomorrow night, I am told. Apparently, Vesutto and Clark have formed some sort of trade agreement that will benefit both Houses, enriching the famously rich all the more famously. The Vennan Merchant seemed rather elated by the whole affair as we spoke in one of the sun rooms that overlooks the northern slopes of the Thentis Mountains this morning. Grove after grove of black wine trees line those slopes, planted in orderly rows. The soil is dark, nutrient rich and aromatic. It is a beautiful, panoramic view that I won't soon forget. Not foreboding and somewhat taunting as are the black Sardar, nor wickedly sharp and larl ridden as are the red Voltai, the Thentis Mountains are, if pressed for a single word of description, majestic.
"There will be Merchants from the world over," Vesutto informed me. "It was decided during the conference I attended at the Sardar Fair. We agreed to reconvene here, at the House of Clark."
"Yes, you mentioned something about it during the trek here," I answered him.
"If we are to feast, I take it business went well then, " he smiled.
Indeed, he stood to become first Merchant in the city of Venna when he returned home. The fortunes of Vesutto have been much augmented by this trip to fair, as have my own.
"There is someone I would like you to meet," he added.
"Oh, do tell, friend," I answered.
"A free woman, well put in the city of Thentis. I have arranged an introduction," he said. "She is of the Vintners. A good match for you, I think."
"I feel at a loss my friend. Terribly rude, really. I am, as you already know, contracted to a woman," I told him. "Surely you remember the noble Jenny, a Lady of Ar?"
"Ah, yes, the noble Lady Jenny," he responded as if having forgotten something, nodding, "but she has gone missing, hasn't she?"
"I am afraid so, yes," I said. "I have not seen the Lady Jenny since before we visited Jort's Ferry. You don't suspect something nefarious, do you?"
"Let us hope not, Poet, friend," he responded. "Yet, should you not think pragmatically? The Vintners is a fine Caste for a Poet to be associated with. Her family, low caste though they are, are quite wealthy. And your companionship with the Lady Jenny will soon be at an end."
"That is true," I said to him, thinking pragmatically, "And the Vintners is a fine Caste for a Poet to be associated with."
"I have heard that, yes," Vesutto mentioned, smiling. "You will permit an introduction then, my friend?"
"Certainly," I said to him."It is agreed then. Let us see about another kettle of black wine," he smiled.
A feast then. I will see that the girls Portia, Emily, Nirah, Samantha and Six are offered to serve the Merchants of Gor and Clark's other guests. Too, though their service will be somewhat limited by the color of their garmenture, I will offer the service of Elise and She. Perhaps She will be gagged. I think gagging She is prudent. Men enjoy the sight of a gagged girl.