Changed Circumstances Chapter 60 "Duplicity and Betrayal"
This is a story of erotic fiction meant to be read by adults over the age of eighteen years
Written by Jean-Christophe August, 2014 My stories are archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jean-Christophe_Stories
"The characters and ideas contained in this story are products of the writer's imagination and bear no resemblance to actual persons or events. Please respect the integrity of the story and don't do any rewrites, make alterations or add other artists' pictures"
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Chapter 60
Guy:
At last! There's been a dramatic development with my "grave matter" concerning Rafe and the solution is now just hours away. This time tomorrow, I will be well rid of both him and his companion, Norge.
Two days ago, after a long period of inactivity and silence - a period during which my impatience grew daily - I received word from Lionel Schuster that the matter would be resolved within forty-eight hours. His message didn't refer specifically to the two slaves; instead he'd cryptically said.
"You should have your shipment ready for export within the next forty-eight hours".
Enclosed was an account to cover shipping costs and other incidental expenses and there was also a sizeable amount payable to him personally for "services rendered".
At first, I'd been annoyed by the excessive amount he asked for. It seemed an exorbitant amount for "services rendered" and I knew that he was taking advantage of me. Of course, I hated the idea that the sly slave-dealer was using my problem with Rafe to extract more money than was necessary from me and, at first, I was angry. It wasn't that I couldn't afford to pay - far from it - but for me it was really a matter of principle. But then, I saw the irony in my reaction. What I proposed doing to Rafe and Norge is far from being noble or highly principled. At best it is questionable and at worst it would be considered illegal.
And I tempered my anger by admitting to myself that I am using Lionel Schuster no less than he is using me. In many ways, we are cut from the same cloth and after all, I'd made the initial approach to him for help in getting rid of Rafe. Who could blame him for extracting extra profit from what is in reality a business deal. And since assuming control of the Barrois enterprises I'd learned to turn every opportunity into a profit to fill my coffers.
Also, this is an illicit deal which carries some risks to the participants and so I suppose there is a premium to pay for that.
The slave-dealer suggested that I use my attorney, Simon Barrow as our go-between and Simon was more than happy to do so. Not wishing to sully my hands with the money for "services rendered", I gave Simon "carte blanche" and authorized him to make all the payments on my behalf.
And of course, I immediately sent word to Claymore Jackson that I wanted Rafe and Norge returned to the city the next day.
Had I known these events would unfold so soon after my grandmother's funeral, I wouldn't have agreed to Rafe and Norge being taken out to La Foret. Letting them go went against my better judgement - I preferred to have them close by under my scrutiny - but Simon's opinion that they would be out of the public's sight was valid and in the absence of any word from Lionel Schuster, I'd been persuaded to let Claymore Jackson take them back with him. It was important that things appeared as normal as possible and not raise the suspicions of the "save Rafe" malcontents.
As it turns out Rafe and Norge will have had only three days working on the waterwheel but in their absence I have been able to trial their replacements, the slaves Micah and Nathaniel. I have to say I am most pleased with their performance and I see them as admirably suitable replacement ponies for Rafe and Norge.
Younger by about two to three years, the twin brothers are nevertheless as impressive as Rafe and Norge. Of a similar height and build to them, they are what could be described as "head-turners". Already, I have received numerous compliments about them from passers-by in the streets and from other acquaintances. And I've received one or two serious offers to buy them which I naturally turned down.
And the comments are well justified. Both Micah and Nathaniel have impressive physiques with clearly defined musculatures. Their overall appearances are enhanced by their more than generous genitals which they proudly "display" whilst in harness. This is due to the intensive pony training they received from Claymore Jackson at La Forˆt. And of course their stint on the waterwheel had built on that and also given them the endurance needed for pulling my carriage. I recall Rafe's time on the waterwheel and how it had turned him from a sloppy slave into an ideal pony slave.
From my observations of the water-wheel, it does prepare a slave well for his pony duties. I guess relentlessly plodding in a never ending circle under an overseer's whip does prepare a slave for the mindless, repetitive work of carriage pulling.
Over these past few days, I have found the twin brothers are a delight to drive and I will in no way regret parting with Rafe and Norge. The sooner they disappear from my life the better it will be for my peace of mind.
And now this is to happen even sooner than I had expected.
This evening, Simon reported back to me that Lionel Schuster has organized for them to be collected tomorrow night from his premises where they will be spirited out of the country and sold to an unknown new owner and consigned to an uncertain fate.
Simon's news lifts my spirits and calls for a celebration. I send one of the house slaves down to my wine cellar to fetch an expensive Pauillac wine which Simon and I savour as we discuss the mechanics of making Rafe "disappear".
Rafe and Norge had arrived back from La Forˆt just a few hours ago and are securely chained in their stable stall. Of course, I took great pains to separate them from Nathaniel and Micah who are secured in the slave quarters and consequently neither Rafe nor Norge suspect anything is amiss. It is better they know nothing of my plans for them.
However, the issue is how to deliver them to Lionel Schuster's premises without arousing their suspicions and having them protest.
After much discussion, Simon slyly suggests that I resort to subterfuge and tomorrow morning to pretend I am taking the twins to the slave-dealer to sell them. Rafe and Norge would be in harness with the twins running behind them and that he would accompany me. Casually, we would talk about selling the twins as the reason for our visit to Lionel Schuster's - no doubt they'll be distressed by the news - but our lie should allay any suspicions that either Rafe or Norge might harbour.
Simon reasons once we arrive at the slave-yard, it will be a simple matter to place both Rafe and Norge in chains and put them in a holding cell until they are collected by the international slave-dealer later that same evening. Then, I need only place Micah and Nathaniel between the shafts for the return drive home forever free of the troublesome Rafe.
Simon promises me he'll be present with Lionel Schuster to protect my interests when the international slave-trader collects Rafe and Norge and he will ensure that both slaves are spirited away and taken out of my life forever.
Simon's plan is so simple that it cannot fail. For the first time in a very long time I feel a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders and my gratitude to Simon for his support in ridding me of Rafe is boundless. I will ensure that he is handsomely rewarded for his friendship and efforts on my behalf.
Simon and I enjoyed a few more glasses of wine before he takes his leave. As we embrace, he promises he'll return early next morning to help me put our plan into action. After Simon's departure, I retire to bed and sleep soundly until my body slave brings me my usual early morning coffee and the newspapers.
As I read the news of the day, the sun shines through my windows bathing the room in a golden glow that suggests all is well with my world. Within hours, Rafe will be out of my life forever. Both he and Norge will be chained in a holding pen at Lionel Schuster's slave emporium waiting for nightfall when they will be spirited away to some unknown destination. Once there he won't be a threat to either me or my son, Etienne.
Suddenly, my world is looking much, much brighter!
Rafe: The following morning.
Why am I feeling apprehensive? And my fears are also shared by Norge. Obviously something is afoot that we know nothing about.
We'd woken early this morning and, as was our usual practise, I hungrily serviced Norge's cock with my mouth until he masterfully positioned my ass and fucked me. As he thrust deep within me, I was at peace with the world. My old life is but a passing memory and I now live with the stark reality of my life as a slave. I seldom think of my time as a free man and the life of wealth and privilege I'd once lived. Norge has encouraged me to not dwell in the past and to live just for the moment. As he has told me on so many occasions, I can't return to the past and the future isn't mine to influence. As slaves we are at the whim and mercy of our Master, Guy Maratier and what becomes of us is for him to decide.
Sagely, Norge has taught me to take each day as it comes and to live every precious moment of it as though it is our last. Always at the back of our minds is the unspoken fear that at some stage we'll be separated if our Master decides to sell us. But we never speak about that horrible possibility.
Nevertheless, recent events have made me apprehensive. Acting on his suggestion, Claymore Jackson had driven Norge and me straight from Charlotte Maratier's funeral out to La Forˆt and we'd been replaced by the twin brothers, Micah and Nathaniel. The reason given for this unexpected turn of events was that we needed a spell on the waterwheel to maintain our level of fitness and endurance for our pony duties.
Then, inexplicably, after only three days, we'd been brought back to the city. That was yesterday and last evening Norge and I talked about this. I could tell from the tone of Norge's voice that he was worried but, most likely out of his concern for me, he made light of our sudden recall. He told me - not very convincingly - that I shouldn't read anything sinister into this. And as though to take my mind away from my troubling thoughts, Norge made love to me. And in the peaceful afterglow of our lovemaking, I slept soundly still locked in Norge's strong embrace.
Soon after we'd greeted the new day, our grooms fed and watered us and then they led us to the ablutions area to groom us for the day. Already waiting there were Micah and Nathaniel who'd spent the night in the slave quarters attached to the house. Nothing untoward happened; all four of us were given time to attend to our bodily functions before being hosed down and body shaved. Then the grooms dried us and coated our bodies with display oil. I have come to enjoy this part of our morning preparations. The feel of a groom's oily hands sensuously slithering over my body always arouses me. And part of that enjoyment is looking at Norge's beautiful cock as it too stands out tall and proud.
After we'd been groomed, Norge and I were harnessed and placed between the shafts of our Master's cart and then tethered in a shady corner of the courtyard to await his pleasure. And I was surprised when the grooms chained the twin brothers to the rear of the conveyance. Obviously, they are to accompany our Master for some as yet unknown reason.
Plainly they too are puzzled by this; for the previous three days they'd been used to pull Guy Maratier's cart and they no doubt wonder why they've been replaced by Norge and me. Micah and Nathaniel speak softly to one another and although I don't hear their conversation, they are plainly concerned. I suppose, they could be excused for wondering if they are being returned to their former duties at their late Mistress's home.
Fortunately they aren't left to wonder for too long. We are joined by our Master, Guy Maratier and his lawyer, Simon Barrow. Simon ignores me and focuses his attention on the twins. The confidence of the man - or is it his conceit - knows no boundaries. Without asking for Guy's permission, he examines them and speaks glowingly of them.
"Guy, these two make an excellent pair of ponies. I'm sure they will sell well!"
Selfishly, I feel great relief at hearing his statement; it appears the twins are to be sold. The twins take him at his word and begin to plead with Guy Maratier not to sell them. He of course ignores their pleas as he and Simon climb into the cart.
As a groom untethers us, Guy invites Simon to take the reins and drive us. Taking the reins from the groom, Simon slaps them against our shoulders and orders us to.
"Walk on!"
And we barely make it out onto the street before he applies the whip to our asses to speed us along. A few more strokes of the whip and Simon has us running at full speed.
Already the morning is warm and soon both Norge and I are sweating profusely. And the same is true of Micah and Nathaniel who are forced to run at the same pace as Norge and me.
As we run, I think about the twins and their impending sale and my sympathies are with them. I have been a slave long enough to know all slaves dread the prospect of being sold. There is great fear and uncertainty in knowing that you are to be "sold on" to an unknown, new owner. The break with all that is familiar to the slave can be very traumatic. And no doubt, the brothers also fret that they could be sold separately and permanently parted from one another. And I can understand their concern; the thought of being separated from Norge is too awful for me to even contemplate.
And yet, despite my sympathies for their predicament, I'm relieved to know they are the ones chosen by Guy to be sold.
Simon wastes little time in driving us to our destination. As we turn into the street which is now dominated by the tasteless fa‡ade of Schuster's new slave emporium, I feel the sudden drag as Micah and Nathaniel pull back in a vain attempt to delay our arrival. Simon, also sensing their resistance, savagely applies his whip to our asses and quickly follows it up with another. Norge and I lunge forward into our harness and we now have to contend with the dead-weight of the two reluctant ponies added to that of the cart.
Simon drives through the gateway dominated by a white sign with bold, black lettering which reads.
"Quality Slaves Bought and Sold. Obligation Free Evaluations Our Specialty"
The words chill me! All too clearly, I remember my own evaluation just days after my enslavement. I recall the presence of three of my former school-friends, Miles Fortescue, Jack Stanford and Daniel Carew who'd witnessed my humiliation at the hands of the vile slave-trader, Lionel Schuster. Fleetingly, I wonder about my former friends and I wonder how they now live their lives as free men. Are they prospering? Do they still live in the city or have they moved on? I haven't seen them since that day so long ago and no doubt they no longer give me second thought. I have of course seen another of my former friends, Francois Fournier when I'd been driven to his quarry for to collect loads of gravel for La Forˆt. He'd not acknowledged my presence - understandable given that I was a slave - and I doubt if he'd recognized me among the miserable team of draft slaves harnessed to the dray.
As we pass under the sign, I wonder how many other wretched slaves have passed through this gateway to be evaluated and placed on the auction-block. Once more, my heart goes out to the twin brothers. I, more than any other, know of the ordeal that awaits them as Lionel Schuster inspects them and places a price upon their young bodies.
As Simon Barrow pulls us to a halt, an elderly, whip-scarred slave hurries forward to take the reins from him and tether us to a stout, iron ring solidly imbedded into the stone wall. Another younger slave greets our Master and Simon Barrow and escorts them to Lionel Schuster's office. Before he does so, the slave instructs the elderly groom to give us water and to assist us to urinate. All four of us appreciate both the water and the chance to piss.
As we wait, the twins begin to weep. Their fear of being sold is palpable and who can blame them. I know how I would feel if it was Norge and I who were to be sold. I have no words of comfort to offer them. Indeed, there are none.
The time drags slowly as we wait for our Master's return. Briefly, the brothers manage to regain some composure; perhaps they have accepted the inevitability of their fate. But when we see Guy Maratier, Simon Barrow and the odious Lionel Schuster approaching from the main building, their weeping begins again.
Trailing behind the three men are two burly slaves carrying two sets of heavy leg irons, wrist shackles and gags. Lionel Schuster is the first to speak.
"Gag them! And then shackle them!"
His command is brief and as the two slaves approach the cart, both Micah and Nathaniel begin to plead.
"Master.... please don't sell us. Please don't part us. Master keep us together and we'll serve you faithfully. PLeaseee..... Master!"
Their pleas are ignored as the two slaves walk past them and approach Norge and me. Taken by surprise, one slave roughly removes the bit from my mouth and replaces it with a gag making me speechless. At the same time Norge is treated in a like manner. It took just seconds to render both of us mute.
Then, the awful truth hits home! It's not the brothers who are being sold. It's Norge and me.
I am frozen in horror at the realization that Norge and I have been cruelly deceived by our Master. I stand shaking with fear and anger as the heavy irons are fitted to my wrists and ankles and through my trembling, I watch as Norge is likewise shackled. Norge and I are powerless and at the mercy of Lionel Schuster's slaves.
Now it is Guy Maratier's turn to speak.
"Mr Schuster, could I ask that your slaves unharness the two ponies and replace them with the other pair?"
"It would be my pleasure, Mr Maratier." Lionel replies and instructs his slaves. "You heard Mr Maratier. Do it! And be quick about it or you'll feel the whip on your lazy backs."
Both slaves hasten to obey the slaver's command and as they remove us from between the shafts, I see that their backs are still bloodied from an earlier whipping received just this morning. I wonder what offence they committed that warranted such harsh punishment. Then I remember that Lionel Schuster has a short temper and doesn't need an excuse to punish his slaves. But isn't this true of all slave- owners?
Still dazed by the rapidly unfolding events, I submit as my harness is removed and fitted to Nathaniel. At the same time, Lionel Schuster's other slave removes Norge's harness and fits it to Micah. Then both brothers take our place between the shafts.
I see the brothers' relief as they exchange smiles. They too were deceived by Simon Barrow's lie and it's plainly obvious that all four of us were cruelly tricked into thinking it was Micah and Nathaniel who were to be sold.
In a way, I can understand their relief. Until a few moments ago, they must have felt the despair I now feel. My fear is of an unknown future which awaits us. And uppermost among those fears is the one that I will be separated from Norge.
The brothers are obviously happy with the turn of events and, no doubt, they will strive to prove their future worth to Guy Maratier by being docile, loyal, obedient and hardworking slaves.
But what about Norge and me? What are our futures and what fates await us?
However, we aren't left to wonder for too long. Simon Barrow opens a conversation with Lionel Schuster which tells us what is in store for us.
"What time will these two be collected, Lionel? I promised Guy, I'd be here to see them leave."
"Simon, you're most welcome to be present as they are collected. I've arranged for them to be picked up at 11.00 PM tonight. All should be quiet and the streets deserted so they'll be very little chance of anyone seeing them taken away."
"So in a little over...... ," Guy looks at his watch; the one that had once belonged to me and which he removed from me in the courtroom so long ago, "... thirteen hours from now, Rafe will be out of my life for good?"
"Indeed he will, Mr Maratier! Indeed he will and you need have no fears that he will ever return to cause you further grief. More importantly, he'll be out of sight and out of mind of those who are agitating to set him free. Their futile efforts will have been in vain."
"I am deeply indebted to you, Mr Schuster. And I have asked Simon to show my gratitude to you in a more tangible way. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."
"Thank you, Mr Maratier. I am happy to have been of assistance to you."
"Tell me, Mr Schuster. Do you have any idea of Rafe's final destination?"
"None whatsoever, Mr Maratier. I decided it's in your best interests if you aren't aware of where Rafe and the other slave end up. All I can say is that the dealer who is taking them off your hands trades mainly in the developing countries. He supplies able-bodied slaves to the coffee, cocoa and sugarcane growers in those areas. Rafe will probably end his days working on a plantation as a field-slave. Does that concern you at all, Mr Maratier?"
"No not at all Mr Schuster. What becomes of him after tonight is of no interest to me. I just want to be well-rid of him and his stable mate."
"And so you shall be, Mr Maratier. This time tomorrow Rafe will be out of the country bound for an unknown destination. But now, I think it's time to place the two slaves in an isolated holding-pen I have prepared for them so that they can rest up for tonight's journey."
"And we must be on our way too. We have a lot still to do. Once again Mr Schuster, I can't thank you enough for your help in resolving this vexing problem for me."
Norge and I have listened to the conversation with mounting horror at the fate that now awaits us. I look at Norge and for the first time I see a look of utter despair and hopelessness reflected in his eyes and they are mirrored in my own eyes. His air of optimism that has sustained me through the dark days of my slavery has disappeared and my heart breaks to see such apprehension on his handsome, boyish face.
In a way, I can understand Guy Maratier's desire to be rid of me. After all, my presence must be a constant reminder to him of his hated Barrois family connection and so in that sense I am "guilty". Norge, on the other hand, is innocent and his only crime was in befriending me. My own misery is compounded by the fact that indirectly I have dragged Norge down with me. I begin to weep not so much for myself but for Norge who deserves better - much better!
Guy turns and leaves without a word to me. As I watch him drive Micah and Nathaniel out of the courtyard, I realize this will be the last time we'll see each other. He has banished me from his life and condemned me to rot in some unknown hellhole.
My descent into total, abject slavery is complete!