Post by Vitani Edarin on Nov 4, 2005 17:46:19 GMT -5
Vitani rode along the coast of the island until she reached the entrance to her plantation: two palm trees formed into an arc over a dirt pathway. Beyond the entrance she could see her home, whitewashed like Artemis's, but only one story; she did not have a large family.
Vitani rode down the path and dismounted from her horse. Essence trotted off into the hayfield and began munching on the long grass. Vitani smiled and walked around the house to the back, where she could see her workers in the fields. There they were, working diligently, as always. The midafternoon sun burned their backs, but they kept at it. Vitani let out a whistle and the nearest worker came over to her. "M'lady, it is a pleasure seeing you again."
"Thank you. Tell all the workers that they can have a 2 hour break, but I want them out here for an extra hour this evening. It's far too hot for them to be productive at the moment."
"Yes, Miss Edarin."
She watched for a moment as he rushed out to the fields to tell everyone. A small smile played across her face as she saw them all sigh happily. Vitani turned around and walked over to her house.
She pushed the large, ornate front door open and entered the main foyer. It was clean and stately, just like most of the house. She wandered along the halls, passing servants along the way. They greeted her as always, not knowing of her secret life. Her father didn't know, either. Right now, he was off on some trip, trading goods in the Mediterranean coastal nations, like North Africa and Italy. She, being 18, was left in charge of the household. Vitani has a younger sister, but she is attending a boarding school in Britain, and is too young to run a home, anyways; she is but 10 years old. Their mother died long ago of smallpox--luckily, neither Vitani nor her sister had caught it.
Vitani finally found her bedroom. In the back left corner of the house, with windows big enough to be doors facing the fields. The slaves were continuing to leave the field, relief written all over their faces. Whenever she ran the house, Vitani gave the slaves breaks such as these. She didn't believe in slavery, but did not voice her opinions--doing so could land her in deep trouble with her father. The slaves and servants know better than to report her--if they did, that would mean no more rests in the hottest part of the day. They may not be white, but they weren't stupid.
Vitani collapsed onto her bed. Her face met the mountain of soft feather pillows and she smiled. She turned over so that she was lying on her back, staring up at the white ceiling. She simply stayed like that, savoring the relaxation. Later, she would have to go outside and bribe the overseer; a little extra gold was all it took to keep him quiet. And this guy was an idiot--he was too stupid to demand more. Vitani almost felt like she was sinking into her comfortable bed, and began slipping in and out of a lazy doze-like state, dreaming of the open ocean and handsome pirates...
Vitani rode down the path and dismounted from her horse. Essence trotted off into the hayfield and began munching on the long grass. Vitani smiled and walked around the house to the back, where she could see her workers in the fields. There they were, working diligently, as always. The midafternoon sun burned their backs, but they kept at it. Vitani let out a whistle and the nearest worker came over to her. "M'lady, it is a pleasure seeing you again."
"Thank you. Tell all the workers that they can have a 2 hour break, but I want them out here for an extra hour this evening. It's far too hot for them to be productive at the moment."
"Yes, Miss Edarin."
She watched for a moment as he rushed out to the fields to tell everyone. A small smile played across her face as she saw them all sigh happily. Vitani turned around and walked over to her house.
She pushed the large, ornate front door open and entered the main foyer. It was clean and stately, just like most of the house. She wandered along the halls, passing servants along the way. They greeted her as always, not knowing of her secret life. Her father didn't know, either. Right now, he was off on some trip, trading goods in the Mediterranean coastal nations, like North Africa and Italy. She, being 18, was left in charge of the household. Vitani has a younger sister, but she is attending a boarding school in Britain, and is too young to run a home, anyways; she is but 10 years old. Their mother died long ago of smallpox--luckily, neither Vitani nor her sister had caught it.
Vitani finally found her bedroom. In the back left corner of the house, with windows big enough to be doors facing the fields. The slaves were continuing to leave the field, relief written all over their faces. Whenever she ran the house, Vitani gave the slaves breaks such as these. She didn't believe in slavery, but did not voice her opinions--doing so could land her in deep trouble with her father. The slaves and servants know better than to report her--if they did, that would mean no more rests in the hottest part of the day. They may not be white, but they weren't stupid.
Vitani collapsed onto her bed. Her face met the mountain of soft feather pillows and she smiled. She turned over so that she was lying on her back, staring up at the white ceiling. She simply stayed like that, savoring the relaxation. Later, she would have to go outside and bribe the overseer; a little extra gold was all it took to keep him quiet. And this guy was an idiot--he was too stupid to demand more. Vitani almost felt like she was sinking into her comfortable bed, and began slipping in and out of a lazy doze-like state, dreaming of the open ocean and handsome pirates...
