Staive Cintes consisted of squat, block shaped structures, the raw yellow of sand or washed in glaring white. Here and there, domes or squat towers rose above the other buildings, copper green or a brilliant pale blue, while tall palms sprouted from what were presumably gardens.
The harbour was a wide blue pool behind what at first seemed to be a line of dunes but as they came around it was revealed as a great breakwater against the outside of which the sand had piled. There were other ships, more than Iriel could ever recall seeing in the harbour at Aegerion; trading carracks like the Gull of Cintes, green hulled warships with the black mouths of bombards extending from each side in lines, what seemed to be fishing vessels, and highly decorated craft with no obvious purpose at all.
Iriel watched in fascination as they drew close to the quay. As at Aegerion, a broad area of flagstones ran the length of the waterfront, with warehouses behind, piles of nets and cargo, and the stalls of merchants and the vendors of seafood set here and there. There the resemblance ended. The small stature and yellow-brown skin of the Oreteans she had grown used to, but while the clothing of all but the high-ranking seamen was plain and functional, that of the citizens was not. Even the longshoremen who warped the Gull of Cintes ashore wore brilliantly coloured turbans; orange, purple, viridian green. The clothes of the stall holders were more vivid still, loose trousers of silk tied with sashes and ankles knots, split vests that left the belly and chest showing, even on the women. These, although tiny, with little rounded bottoms and breasts never larger than a fair sized apple, still looked indecent, and Iriel wondered why there were not simply ravished on the ground. On most, delicate catches of filigree joined the two sides of their vests, but many among the poorer and the younger had no such safeguard, so that with the movement of their bodies and the shore breasts slices of rounded flesh and even pert nipples were frequently exposed.
All five girls had come to the rail, and descended the gangplank as soon as it was in place, to gather on the quay with the seamen, several of whom bent to kiss the rough yellow stones at their feet. Aeisla and Cianna came together, the others remaining with the men they had serviced, no two among them having any particular attachments. Luides joined Iriel, his round, fleshy face beaming.
âAdvise me,â she asked him. âWhat should I do to secure a position in trade?â
âSimply visit the appropriate shops and ask,â he said. âThere are clothiers, and if they have no openings, sail making might prove a choice, or the sewing of sacks, net making even. Not that you wish to take employment yet, surely? We are newly ashore, full paid!â
âI have no pay, nor anywhere to sleep, unless I am allowed on the ship.â
âNo pay? Not so, Captain Baltrank distributes the purses once he has been to the purser at House Eriedes. You have worked the galley, have you not?â
âYes, butâ¦â
âThen you will be paid. Me, I am for a brief visit to my family, a draught of good black beer, then the House of Cunt.â
He smacked his lips in anticipation, then went on.
âYou should go there, were you not so proud. I would introduce you to Madame Hivies, who would be glad to have a girl of your strange beauty working for her, either piecework or in house.â
âI do not understand, this what you call a brothel?â
âYes, and most popular in Staive Cintes, if not truly the best. Most girls bring their men there for half what is paid, which is piecework, while others live in, thus gaining board and shelter, but less money and the occasional application of Madame Hiviesâ dog switch to their backsides. You would earn well, ten times what an apprentice seamstress could hope for.â
âIt is impossible, strange too. Why would a man pay for
The harbour was a wide blue pool behind what at first seemed to be a line of dunes but as they came around it was revealed as a great breakwater against the outside of which the sand had piled. There were other ships, more than Iriel could ever recall seeing in the harbour at Aegerion; trading carracks like the Gull of Cintes, green hulled warships with the black mouths of bombards extending from each side in lines, what seemed to be fishing vessels, and highly decorated craft with no obvious purpose at all.
Iriel watched in fascination as they drew close to the quay. As at Aegerion, a broad area of flagstones ran the length of the waterfront, with warehouses behind, piles of nets and cargo, and the stalls of merchants and the vendors of seafood set here and there. There the resemblance ended. The small stature and yellow-brown skin of the Oreteans she had grown used to, but while the clothing of all but the high-ranking seamen was plain and functional, that of the citizens was not. Even the longshoremen who warped the Gull of Cintes ashore wore brilliantly coloured turbans; orange, purple, viridian green. The clothes of the stall holders were more vivid still, loose trousers of silk tied with sashes and ankles knots, split vests that left the belly and chest showing, even on the women. These, although tiny, with little rounded bottoms and breasts never larger than a fair sized apple, still looked indecent, and Iriel wondered why there were not simply ravished on the ground. On most, delicate catches of filigree joined the two sides of their vests, but many among the poorer and the younger had no such safeguard, so that with the movement of their bodies and the shore breasts slices of rounded flesh and even pert nipples were frequently exposed.
All five girls had come to the rail, and descended the gangplank as soon as it was in place, to gather on the quay with the seamen, several of whom bent to kiss the rough yellow stones at their feet. Aeisla and Cianna came together, the others remaining with the men they had serviced, no two among them having any particular attachments. Luides joined Iriel, his round, fleshy face beaming.
âAdvise me,â she asked him. âWhat should I do to secure a position in trade?â
âSimply visit the appropriate shops and ask,â he said. âThere are clothiers, and if they have no openings, sail making might prove a choice, or the sewing of sacks, net making even. Not that you wish to take employment yet, surely? We are newly ashore, full paid!â
âI have no pay, nor anywhere to sleep, unless I am allowed on the ship.â
âNo pay? Not so, Captain Baltrank distributes the purses once he has been to the purser at House Eriedes. You have worked the galley, have you not?â
âYes, butâ¦â
âThen you will be paid. Me, I am for a brief visit to my family, a draught of good black beer, then the House of Cunt.â
He smacked his lips in anticipation, then went on.
âYou should go there, were you not so proud. I would introduce you to Madame Hivies, who would be glad to have a girl of your strange beauty working for her, either piecework or in house.â
âI do not understand, this what you call a brothel?â
âYes, and most popular in Staive Cintes, if not truly the best. Most girls bring their men there for half what is paid, which is piecework, while others live in, thus gaining board and shelter, but less money and the occasional application of Madame Hiviesâ dog switch to their backsides. You would earn well, ten times what an apprentice seamstress could hope for.â
âIt is impossible, strange too. Why would a man pay for
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