Slave of a Lovely Death *On Hold*

Kissing a Slave

My carriage rumbled and shook as it rolled through the narrow brick roads of Siena. The hot Tuscan sun warmed the carriage, yet it was still a bit chill inside, just as it was meant to be. My carriage kept humping through the streets and I peeked out through one of the small stain glass windows.

It was many people out in the streets. Men from all kind of different classes rushed by, making their way towards the marked. Small boys where playing in the street, running around like small boys do. Young girls where chaperoned by their maids. Older women stressed by, but stopped up to talk to one another as they met someone they knew, only to say goodbye and rush by some more. The streets where buzzing with playing children, laughing girls and chatting women.

My carriage came to an abrupt stop, and I huffed in annoyance. I needed to remind my coachman to drive a little more carefully. My annoyance kept growing as he took his time to get around to my side and open the door for me. He reached out his hand for me to take, and I stepped out and down on the overheated bricks that made out the streets of Siena. A hot wave of air hit my face and I looked around the piazza that I now stood in.

The normally empty piazza was now crowded with people and tents. It was usually open, spacious, plain and gray, but now it had exploded in exciting colors. People where rushing back and forth the tents, making deals with the salesmen.

A small group of young girls stood by a bigger tent where a tailor was located. Their maids stood close by, chatting with each other and keeping a close eye on them. None of them seemed to notice anything besides the materials that where held up in front of them. Cotton cloth in shades of red, brown and yellow, and occasionally some white linen where held up for the girls to see and touch. They pointed at what they wanted before they turned to each other again, ignoring the tailor, and kept on chatting cheerfully.

I started to walk into the crowd, heading directly to my regular tailor's tent. People now started to notice me and walked out of my way as I kept a steady pace. And if they didn't notice me by sight, the steady clicking of my heels on the brick alarmed them. As I walked by some elderly women, I noticed them looking at me with resentment in their eyes and thin, straight lines for smiles. Some others where whispering furiously between them. I lifted my chin and kept on walking.

"Miss Donatello" The man in front of me greeted me, bowing slightly. He was a high man, about 6 foot tall, broad and masculine built.

"Hello Mr. Lombardi." I greeted him with a cold tone, ignoring him and keeping my eyes on the fabrics in front of me. He have laid them out, folded nicely so everything is showing. My eyes immediately goes to a beautiful silk material in ruby red, embroidered with black swirls and small pearls.

"I want this Mr. Lombardi. You know the rest." I pointed to the fabric, making sure he knew exactly which one I meant before I turned away. I didn't want to stay here longer than I needed to.

I started to make my way through the crowd again, getting back to my carriage. People backed away again, knowing to keep out of my way. I barely notice them and keep walking. I first don't see the boy that comes running in front of me. I don't see how he rushes up against me, and he can't have seen me either. That is before he collides into me with a huge smack that sends him right down onto the bricks. I reeled a bit from the impact, but managed to stay up. The boy quickly got back up on his feet and was about to rush past me when I grabbed his wrist and turned him around to me.

My eyes met a pair of shining blue eyes. He quickly turned his gaze down, refusing to look me in the eyes. I looked over him, frowning at what I saw. His clothes where of simple uncolored cotton, rimmed with dirt and dust, barely hanging on on his tall and lanky body, yet muscular body. In his hand, the one that I was holding, he held an apple.