Mina goes to market

"You look uncomfortable, pretty Mina," I said

"Master knows well how to beat a girl," she answered, tugging the single oar through the murky water with a decided lack of grace.

I shrugged, indicating she should do her best to navigate into a side canal on her right. She was speaking with proper deference to me today, but her tone still had an edge of insolence. I found it charming, provided she did not push it too far. She was rowing in the stern of my small, green boat. I was in the bow, relaxing and enjoying the view. That view, by the way, was enhanced by the fact that Mina found it difficult to keep her curvy backside still on the bench. She squirmed and attempted to sit on one side of it, then the other. Two days ago, I whipped her. Partly for her attitude, but mostly to satisfy my curiosity. I was beginning to think Mina was not entirely without interest. Staring at a nice ass can be enough to accomplish some days, and consider oneself productive. Not every day, but now and again. Still, I thought it prudent to offer the girl constructive criticism.

"You are not very good at navigating a small boat," I offered. Alright, it was not entirely constructive.

"I am not meant for this sort of thing!" she answered as she dunked the oar and it yanked her sideways. She nearly fell backward off of the bench, but I was feeling charitable, and thoughtfully lifted my sandaled foot between her shoulders.

"In the future, if you would prefer, I can leave you back at the Tavern to empty piss pots and wash dishes," I offered. You see. Charitable.

"No!" she said quickly, and then composed herself. She even tried to smile a bit.

"Your rowing will have to improve, of course," I amended. "Have I mentioned that you are not very good?"

"Yes, Master," she nodded, bringing the oar from the left side of the boat to the right, doing her best to push us through the water.

"If we are not at the market soon," I mentioned, "the best peaches will have been sold."