Year 541 N E, Eastern Senatorial, Culcatta magisterial…
"People of Culcatta" A voice called more like an accouchement, it belonged to a middle aged man wearing a tunica, grey white simple knee length and short sleeved shirt made of linen. As he spoke his word commanded attention, heads turned instantaneously bringing him to the center of attraction.
The man nodded before turning raising his legs, he stepped upon a high platform. Now towering above the crowd he swept his gaze across the populace his eyes were sharp, as the entire forum stilled, everyone held their breath.
Wondering who that is now had fallen into the eyes of this man, he was the city's enforcer, whenever he makes an appearance like this in the forum, it would usually means death to the unfortunate.
"Let this be an example to all who would fill thoughts with ill intentions in defiance against the republic" As he said this he snapped his fingers, what followed was the clattering of chains. As two men dressed in leather armor and boots dragged a battered man bounded on both arm with rusty metallic chains a trail of blood followed closely behind him.
The two man held the chained man by his armpits hands with their left while holding long spears on their right. People gasped at the sight, but for some reason none of them showed any piety. The men dragged the man to a shallow wall before hanging him to a hook that stretched his hands upwards. His eyes were closed, body covered in blood that was slowly amassing into a pool beneath him.
Entered a two in women carrying a basket filled with rocks, the woman placed the basket filled with rocks in front of the crowd. By this time the bounded man could no longer hide his fear.
"You stand accused of thievery and murder" the man said before stepping down from the isle. His sandals pinched the ground followed by his second step, he then walk to the stones, with calm eyes he bent and picked one of the stone.
"The republic has no place for the likes of you. This would be an example to all who would set out in your foot steppes" The city enforcer said before brandishing the stone on his hands, then he turned to face the crowd once more, his eyes swept across.
"He who passes the sentence should cast the first stone" saying this, the man hurled the stone at the bounded man, the stone cut through the air flying straight at the man bounded to the wall. Hitting his mark, right between the eyes, his face was torn off, as blood pained the stone as it fell to the ground.
And immediately more and more people followed suit, a multitudinous amount of stones was hurled at the man in chains…
…
As more and more stones were thrown at the man, a feminine figure quietly turned her back to the crowed leaving the angry mob who seemed to be enjoying the execution behind, another young woman slowly behind.
"How much further"
She asked seeing that they've walked quite a bit, the person she posed the question seems to be a young woman the same age as her.
"A little farther don't the forum, Domina"
She replied, pointing the narrow ally that stretched into the horizon. Unlike herself, Olivia had better navigation on the forum, it was almost like she knew every turn like the very palm of her hand.
The woman on the other hand didn't leave her state often after all, however with a gathering hosted by the magisterial villa coming in a few days this trip had to be made. Laeta thought a special jewelry necessary just for the occasion.
At that moment something halted her tracks, a street vendor was standing in front of her blocking her path, in his hand was a peculiar jet black fruit.
"Try some of my merchandise Domina, I guarantee a complete fulfillment of your day."
The vendor was an elderly man, in his hand was a jet black fruit held persistently close to her face, it smelled fresh, what really caught her attention was the fact the fruit bare a close resemblance with a certain fruit I know called apple albeit shaped different.
Curious, she took him up in his offer, the fruit had a slight velvet touch, and like she early thought it tasted like apple too. She took another bite for as if for confirmation.
"Olivia see the man to dinars." She commanded.
The girl reacted quickly, retrieving the appropriate amount in dinars from her pouch and handed it to the man. The silver and gold dinars was the standard currency of the republic. The silver was used for more grounded purchases, while gold was the standard for heavier commerce, most commoners wouldn't even be faced with a single gold dinars for the entirety of their lives.
Within Culcatta, almost anything of dinars worth could be traded, which included but not limited to slaves and murder for hire. Previously slaves were straight up executed upon caught on crime however now they would be sent to fight to the death for amusement of commoners and nobles alike.
…
As the sun gradually began to dip in the horizon, allowing the blanket of night to drape itself over Culcatta Polarity on the other hand was growing impatient.
She looked at the man in front of me in utter annoyance, despite going back and for an entire hour the man refused to budge. She looked at the piece of jewelry one more time.
Fuck!
She curses inwardly, the neckpiece was really beautiful, and it was made of brass, decorated with multiple emerald stones. Despite the man's overly priced mouth she was bent on seeing the neckpiece to purchase.
…
When he saw a rich woman coming to his stall, the vendor the vendor hadn't treated it as anything special at first. However that all changed when he noticed his newest customer was the niece of the city's minister, he had though he would be able to fetch a heavy sum from the bargain.
However he had no idea, the woman was a hustler.
"Fucking cunt,"
The vendor cursed inwardly at the woman's bargained offer, the price was unreasonable and he would gain nothing from her purchase. However he tried his best to mask his displeasure, his amiable smile never faded. The neck piece had been handcrafted by one of the finest jeweler in all of the eastern senatorial. Yet this bitch wanted it for cheap. Despite all of that, the vendor forced a smile.
This woman, despite being the last of her lineage, was still of higher station than the like of him. The city's minister was second only to the magisters and this woman was his niece, the man's only last living relative. The vendor smiled widely, exposing the entirety of his reddish white teeth
"Surly you jest lady Moirai"
Telmus uttered scratching his head, his smile was getting wider and wider by the second anymore he might actually end up hurting his face. However to his surprised, the woman actually pressed advantage seeing that he was giving her face.
"Surely such a piece calls to one of your standing, I would have a suitable price for it"
Telmus offered, lifting the neck piece.
"Thirty silver dinars and I suffer loss in kindness."
The vendor waited to see the woman's response. Actually thirty silver dinars was quite a hefty sum, that amount of money was enough to sustain a small family for few days.
..
The lady on the other hand frowned, as though she refused to believe her own hearing, 'hobo!! Old man,' she snort coldly. She then reach out taking the piece from his grasp.
"Thirty silver dinars. Do you think me drunk on my father's wealth?
She added coldly, while she didn't lack money at the moment the same couldn't be said for the nearest future, she couldn't afford to be wasteful.
Telmus could only force another laugh while the woman played with the neck piece between my fingers.
"Brass work seemed decent"
She murmured, "Yet the clasp is weak. I've seen stronger wrought by boys newly freed" said the woman. Trying a much as she could to sound as though she knew what she was saying.
Telmus was practically clawing at his own mind, but he remained calm.
"Then you have seen poorly domina, this is the finest craft…"
"Yet I stand unimpressed"
Olivia whose existence had been totally forgotten at this point, revealed shock. The domina was known to be extremely extravagant and wasteful, where on Idris had she acquire such skills.
The silence stretched, the very air itself seemed to hold its breaths as I observed the piece for a few more moments.
Domina lifted her head, her eyes meeting that of the vendor
"Fifteen dinars"
She said.
The man recoiled, as though struck. "Fifteen? You got me before crowd domina"
The lady tilted her head, as she feigned amusement, touching her lips.
"You yet draw breath. I would not be quick to name it death."
"Twenty five"
The vendor snapped. "And I curse my own hand for yielding this far."
To Olivia's surprise, the lady turned to leave, they had actually spent a better half of the day, traversing the city, only now did they find something that tickled her fancy, yet she just turned to leave.
"Then curse it, it would find no dinars in mine." She said turning to leave.
Wait…
She paused.
"Twenty" He said quitter now. After pausing for a bit the vendor continues, "Twenty is the best I can offer."
With that the deal was concluded...