The Copper Horse #1 Fear (25 page)

"Told you!" Jack sped into the bathing room. "It's best to embrace whatever life throws at you."

"It's hard to embrace a cock up your ass, but whatever." Reuben shrugged, but his eyes searched Jack's face for a reaction. The boy, however, looked away, pretending to find the tap unusually interesting. He started the water.

"Well, all the other things then."

"I liked the cookies." Reuben squatted by the tub and put his hand inside, playing with the water. He wasn't even bothered by his own nudity anymore. The boy had seen him in more intimate situations than this.

"I'm sure. Our head chef is brilliant." Jack poured pink sand into the heating water.

"So what does the master do?" Reuben smiled and put his hand under the surface. He'd never had the opportunity to do things like that, never taken a bath this warm before coming to this house. The water felt very soft on his skin and smelled of fresh fruit, which made him wonder what the sand was.

Jack however, brought his attention back to Erik. "Well, his family is very influential here in Bylondon. They pretty much... control the town."

"But he does something, right? They don't just pay his way?" His gaze followed Jack's fingers. They resembled thin sausages: pink and plump, so unlike Erik's.

"He's very skilled with his hands, which is the only reason they let him live as he pleases."

"Yes, his brother didn't seem too fond of me." Reuben slowly stood up straight. He had never had the opportunity to bathe so often, but he could sure get used to such luxuries. His skin didn't itch, and lice were now a distant memory. Neither Erik nor the staff seemed to be infected with parasites either.

"Yes, but the master's skill at forging documents keeps him safe." Jack invited Reuben into the tub with a gesture.

"He does have dirty fingers all the time." He chuckled, stepping into the water, which was like heaven after the rough treatment he'd gotten today. Having his hands free meant he could finally enjoy the experience and relax. Before, he'd been scared like a little rabbit, especially during the shaving. Back in London, he'd never let anyone use a razor blade on him. People had been killed for less than his father paid their bakery helpers.

Jack' face became serious. "Copper." "Huh?" Reuben looked back at him, surprised by the tone.

The boy licked his lips, his eyes cast down to the floor. "We need to take good care of our master. Our lives depend on his well-being."

Reuben poured some water over himself, trying to understand what Jack meant. "Were you a 'horse' before?" Jack told him Erik had freed him, but who knew what had happened before that.

Jack drew in a breath, and then giggled. "God, no! I'm not to his taste."

"Not even for a pony, or a little foal?" Reuben reached out to stick a finger under his ribs.

"No!" Jack laughed even louder, looking at him with an amused twinkle in his eyes. "I am a mere servant."

"What about the rest of you?" Reuben held his breath and put his head under water, eager to wash all the sweat off.

"No. A stallion cannot remain in this house after he's dismissed." Jack reached out to shampoo Reuben's mane as soon as his head resurfaced.

Yesterday, with his arms brutally tied behind his back, Reuben had found the whole ordeal humiliating, but now, he accepted the wash without protest, fond of the luxurious experience. He could still feel the bruises on his buttocks and the dull ache in his jaw, but he'd had worse in his life. "Can he not stand the look of them anymore?" He winked at Jack.

The groom fell silent, before resuming the gentle massage of his scalp. "I think he feels disappointed."

Reuben frowned. "He seems to have high expectations."

"I don't know. In the end, I think, he is fed up with their sadness. And hate..." He trailed off, sliding his hands lower to work the knots in Reuben's shoulders.
God, he was in heaven.

Silence filled the room, as Reuben wasn't sure what to say. He didn't understand this too well. "His methods aren't exactly very nice..."

"Oh, they are, trust me on this." Jack practically cut into his sentence. "He wants the horses to enjoy themselves."

That reminded Reuben of the slick rubber nubs on the wooden horse. Their only purpose seemed to be the slave's pleasure. "He does actually do
some
nice things." He felt a flush rise to his face. Had he said too much?

"I think so, too." Jack filled a jug with water and spilled it over Reuben's head to wash out the shampoo. "He is a master, no reason to expect camaraderie from him."

"So what do other masters in Bylondon do?" Reuben let his eyes shut, enjoying the pleasant temperature of the water.

Jack started soaping up his back, his fingers digging into tense muscles. "Some let their slaves die at the Pit of the Dead, and it can't get worse than that."

"I was scared shitless, and I didn't even make it to the arena," admitted Reuben, giving into the massage. In this safe, warm place, he didn't even cringe at the memory.

"Master Erik offers us freedom to do as we please, he feeds us, he doesn't beat us. He is a good master."

"He beat
me
." Reuben pouted, but considering how important Erik's hands were for his survival. He could now understand the reason behind the punishment. Even if it had been one of the worst days of his life.

"You know it wasn't for no reason." Jack kept stroking his back, but petting was all it was.

"It was just... he offended me so deeply, and I was bound, and I couldn't do anything." Reuben swallowed hard, balling his hands into fists. He hated having all those mixed feelings about this place, about Erik, and yes, even Jack.

"It doesn't matter anymore, does it?"

Reuben rolled his eyes. "Maybe. As long as no one has to know what I do here. Apart from the other servants, of course."

Jack let one of his hands linger on Reuben's torso for a bit too long. "Just obey him."

Chapter 11

Throughout the next couple of days, Reuben was kept busy at all times with either Erik or Jack training him in the basics of being a horse. As it turned out, he wasn't even walking properly, and Jack spent at least an hour showing him what distance he should keep from his master, how high should he lift his knees, and so on. The boy even instructed him to misbehave from time to time and let Erik correct him. He was being taught how to stand properly when tied up in various places around the stable and trained to understand gestured commands. Reuben was having a great time, even if pretending to be an animal
was
ridiculous. What he liked most though, was the physical training. He always had strong legs, so he enjoyed learning the gaits, especially when carrying small sandbags in order to develop his muscle mass. Every day before his afternoon bath, he lifted metal weights in various ways just as he was instructed, and then and went to the sauna. With his body pleasantly tired, he was ready to service his master and often fell asleep within seconds after. And despite the fact that his work didn't produce anything, he felt useful, thanks to all the praise he got. It was good, and the things he didn't like were bearable.

This day though, the established routine changed, and Jack dressed him in more tack than before. Apart from the cuffs on his thighs and wrists, he now wore a harness of dark leather straps and heavy, copper rings. There were also thick armbands fastened above his elbows, with metal rings that suggested he would be strapped to something. That didn't scare him anymore, since it never ended with a beating.

Erik was leading him by the reins. As usual, Reuben wasn't given any trousers and had to walk amongst the house servants naked, with a leather-wrapped bit in his mouth. This time though, instead of having the tail stuck into his anus, one was attached by a set of revealing straps that went beneath his buttocks and connected at the front to a wide belt Reuben wore around his waist. The magnificent tail was pointed upwards at an angle, and fastened at the tailbone, like the real thing. In comparison to the ones that Reuben had to hold between his buttocks, this one was thicker and heavier. Its long hairs teased his ass with every move, swiping the sensitive skin.

The servants pretended to see right through him, which made him uncomfortable, and the only consolation was that most of them were as perverted as their master. Well, maybe not
that
perverted, but it would be hard for anyone to reach Erik's level of madness. The worst of them was Hans. He would always follow them, sometimes staying in the room, sometimes outside, without saying a single word. As much as Reuben enjoyed the fucking, he didn't want to be watched. If Hans ever said anything, it was to offer Erik assistance in brutalizing his slave. It made Reuben do his best to keep his master happy, even if they did have a few disagreements. It seemed to him that Erik did everything in his power to spend as much time with him as possible, despite a tight schedule.

To show his obedience, and with Hans' silent presence behind them, he followed the rules Erik had taught him and marched about a foot behind his master, raising his knees up to his waist.

It was early in the morning, and based on what Reuben understood from a brief conversation he overheard, Erik would be out of the house for most of the day. He was wearing a full-body outfit made of squishy new brown leather, each separate garment attached to the others with thin straps and buckles, creating the illusion of a full body suit. Reuben could feel his face redden at the sight of his master's perfect backside tensing under skin-tight trousers with every step he took. If he hadn't had the bit in his mouth, he would have asked Erik why he wore so much protection. There was no doubt Bylondon was a dirty place, but there was much less dust and soot in the air than in the city. Reuben was certain he could do with just a small mask and a pair of goggles. His gaze darted to Erik's ass once more. He could actually see the rounded shape of his balls between those lean thighs. He wouldn't mind sucking on them, even if only through the leather.

They passed a young man brushing a side table with a feather duster as they went through corridors Reuben had never seen before. They weren't as magnificent as the ones he knew, but every piece of furniture or appliance was an item of high quality. This house was even more massive than Reuben imagined.

At some point, they went into a dark passage, and Erik led him straight to a double-sided door at its end. Jack, who had been walking a few steps behind them, now sped up and opened it for them.

Reuben had to squeeze his eyes shut from the blinding sunlight, and suddenly it hit him that he hadn't seen it since he'd come to this house. Not that he'd been seeing much of it in the past. Sunshine was a luxury not that easy obtainable for those who lived in the London slums. Tall buildings, smoke and steam left people in constant shade and darkness. The summer warmth reminded Reuben of when he was a child and things were different, less rigid. After the Plague started, the world might have become chaotic and hostile, but sometimes, when his father was too drunk to notice, he would climb into the tallest tree in the park and just lay on one of the branches like a cat on a hot summer day, taking in the fresh air and sunshine. Soon after, the park was demolished to make room for new, modern buildings that weren't even accessible to people of his class. Most of those beautiful, tall houses were built to accommodate the needs of gentry, who were now forced to move to the cities.

When Reuben's eyes finally adjusted to the light, he was faced with the image of a magnificent garden. It was surrounded by high walls, which made Reuben feel like he'd just entered a large, roofless and windowless church. Ivy spread all over the grey walls, but there was plenty of greenery beyond that: some trees, a thick carpet of grass and lots of flowers grown in small beds all over the place. In the back of the garden, there was even a water fountain and a bench. To the left, he saw a small animal pen, which he presumed was meant for him, and next to it there was a large machine. Round and very tall, it had four thick, wooden logs sticking out of the metal body at chest height and a copper unicorn statue on top of the whole thing.

He looked around, so amazed that he broke the array and walked off to the grass on his own, as far as the reins would allow him. Erik's sharp tug reminded him of his place, though.

Reuben looked him in the eyes and tried to imitate an equine snort, knowing how much his master appreciated such efforts. With his mouth sealed by the bit, that was the least he could do. The place looked like heaven, better than any park he'd been to.

"You like it?" Erik gently patted his neck with a gloved hand. "Did you have a garden back at home?" He had to be clueless about the living conditions in London's worse districts.

Reuben slowly shook his head and leaned in to rub his cheek against Erik's. His master pulled him close for a shallow kiss. "Come, feel the grass. It's still wet." He smiled, leading Reuben down the stairs and into the garden.

This time Reuben remembered the walking lesson and kept a bit of distance. This also gave him a chance to glimpse at Erik's ass every now and then, but the garden itself was drawing him in with its colors and smells. This place seemed to have a life of its own, separated from the dirt outside of those tall walls. A movement caught Reuben's attention and he stopped, finding himself staring at a white peacock strutting on the grass without paying them any mind. Erik stroked his fingers through Reuben's well-combed mane. "You want to smell the flowers?"