Chapter 6: Ways of Royals
Walking through the large cobblestone threshold of Scourge's bedroom door Amy was able to look at her surroundings a bit more. She noticed around the corner on the ends of each section of the hallways there was wooden tables with the polished cedar with large bright blue colored vases on them. Some with flowers others with curled stick arrangements.
"This area is the wide area that only leads to my room, my throne room, dining room, and dance hall." Scourge pointed to a few doors that was at the end of the cut off section of the red floored hallway.
Amy watched as she saw a few slaves instantly dropped to their knees,who was cleaning up the walkway that lead from one of the doors Scourge pointed towards, "That leads outside to the Court Yard and Garden. Most of the cleaning slaves are females, their collars are black."
"Color coded?" Amy quietly asked.
"Yes, you catch on quick." Scourge slowly nodded as he ordered the slaves to get back to work, which they complied right away, "Red is Cooking Slave, Green bath slaves-"
"Bath Slaves?"
The green hedgehog smiled for a moment, "For the few Royal guest that arrive, they help bring towels, oils and soaps to them. Plus they also give a good back scrub from time to time to the Chosen."
Amy's ears flatted, he was talking about her.
"Not to worry for now, you'll get used to it all, its yet another privilege of mine." Scourge pulled Amy along with his hand, "Come. Keep walking with me, and I'll tell you more."
The pink hedgehog nodded, "Are the bath slaves?" She paused for a moment before he answered.
"They are female too, so don't worry. The only male in your life will be me." Scourge smirked, "And don't worry, none of the bath slaves won't try getting in relationships with you either. Though, its not not commonly known for Royals in my kingdom..."He paused for a second, "Its not banned in my kingdom, but at the castle I try to keep thing, as less awkward as possible. So you can keep your head clean with that one."
Less awkward? Amy raged inside, she arrived here naked and had to be dressed and undressed by this this creep, and he thought that the homosexuality in his castle would be AWKWARD?! He really needed to get his prioritizes straight. Amy knew she didn't mind who was in love with who, she just knew she would not tilt in that direction, it was too much out of her comfort zone. Hell this whole castle was anyways.
"Anyway continuing on." Stated Scourge as he lead her down a set of steps and another set of double doors, guarded by a couple guards who bowed instantly before letting them through, "The pink and dark blue collars mean servant slaves. When I call for something when I'm in my throne room or at a gathering they are there waiting hand and foot for me, bringing water, food, and any other small needs I ask for."
Scourge then showed Amy the court yard. In the center was a huge sandstone fountain that had water that towered over large sections that then lead to a large basin at the bottom. Around a cobble stone path there was flower beds with roses and an arrangement of babies breath flowers. Quite beautiful in Amy's eyes.
"This is usually where I walk to clear my thoughts," stated the green hedgehog pulling Amy along the path that went around the outer perameters of the inner building of the castle, "I'm really fond of how well my garden slaves keep this up."
"I don't see any where are they?" Amy asked, she had figured out, if she asked questions that were about his kingdom instead of throwing insults about it, he didn't seem angry with her, only intrigued.
"Well," started Scourge, "Their hours are really early morning, before sunrise, they've been back to their housing and rooms for a few hours now."
"So they have places to stay?"
"Yes, its a large castle. Through the back area there is a whole section of the castle made for my slaves. They may seem to be miserable, but being castle slaves they get to live a better than a Royal Slave."
"What's the difference?"
"The Royals, or the citizens of my kingdom are the upholders of my kingdom, each make weekly pay to keep their Royal status. They make the money they keep the economy running 'round." Scourge sat on a lone stone bench and told Amy to sit next to him, " Their slaves are treated less well than mine. Where I have different slaves for different tasks, some of the Royals only have one or two slaves, and they are usually used for all the things. Cooking, Cleaning, and of course being pleasured."
Amy cringed at the word "pleasured." That was not a thought she wanted to cross her mind.
"Well most of them here in my castle have different jobs, unlike you, you are like a Royal Slave, but with more perks, and you only have to serve me and not a whole house hold."
Amy only eyed him, trying to change the subject, "What about the guards and your right hand?"
"Well the guards have special privileges too, since they protect the place, they get to live free, but can choose if they want slaves or not, and they don't have to worry about paying weekly taxes for living in Perarchy City."
Amy nodded, pretending she was intrigued, but she inside was actually sickened.
"What about children? I haven't seen any since I've been here."
"Unless if they are born royal." Scourge stared blankly at the wall a crossed the path, his ears flattened, "They...They... can't be..." Scourge stood, "There's no need to talk about children. They are all sent to a city far from here."
He offered his hand once more, "Any more questions to ask?" he asked slowly.
Amy shook her head, she could see he was hiding something, but she was not going to push the issue any further than what it was. Taking his hand she stood as they started walking slowly down the path, turning the corner Shadow, Scourge's right hand hedgehog stood there and bowed, "Sire. I've got the reports from the death of Geoffrey St. John."
"Read them." Shadow walked next to Scourge and opened a sealed Scroll, "At 1200 hours the Royal of the North Side of Perarchy city was beheaded. The executioners blade was dull and his head wasn't cut clean, but bled out. He was pronounced dead at 1215 hours."
Amy's ears flatted, that was disturbing.
"Good, he deserved it." Scourge nodded toward Shadow, "Maybe the other Royals will take this as a message to not skip pay."
"Precisely your highness." stated the black hedgehog, "Might I suggest something to you sire?"
Still walking Scourge nodded, "Yes, go on."
"Might I suggest you make it a law, that if no one pays, instant death."
"Yes, I agree, we will handle business matters tomorrow Shadow, for right now I'm showing my new chosen around the castle for today."
"Was she as disobedient at Commander Knuckles stated?"
Scourge eyed her, again her ears fell flat.
"Oh yes, quite disobedient, but that was nothing that a little corporal punishment couldn't fix." He smirked looking back at Shadow stopping in his path. "Is that it for now?"
"Well I wished I could say that, but you have a visitor right now Sire." Shadow's own ears flattened as he looked in the other direction.
Scourge let out a heavy sigh, "Oh please do not tell me."
"Yes sire. I am sorry say so, but it is."
Scourge shook his head, "Come Rose, I guess I can let you meet one of the Royals."
Shadow stepped in front of Scourge, "Sire do think that's a good Idea, I mean with Amy being new and all? You know how she treated your last Chosen slave."
"I know Shadow." stated Scourge, "But I'm the King and if she steps out of line I'll have her taken care of."
Shadow stood off to the side, "Yes sire, I trust your word, but be careful."
"I know." Scourge, Shadow and Amy walked down a path that lead into the main castle building and walked toward his throne room. Scourge slowly ascended the small set of steps next to his throne and told Amy to sit with her legs curled around her to the left of his throne while Shadow stood next to the right.
Scourge sighed as he watch the Slave of his guest step in the door, bright green quills that had multiple bangs and had a brown outfit on, that was buttoned up in the front.
"I am the Slave of the House of Rascal, Manic. I'm here to announce my master is here." the bright green hedgehog stepped to the side as both Scourge's and Amy's eyes narrowed.
Walking in, in a bright gem sudden dress and feathered hat Amy watched as a near twin version of herself walked through the threshold of the throne room, heels clicking against the hard floor and thin carpet.
Scourge stood, sighing again, "Welcome to the Castle, Rosy."
