Aftermath.
Moderators: Keowen, Dawn Shadowsbane, Anubis Karos
Aftermath.
As soon as she sat down in the carriage after being helped up by Kane, she was turning to the window and immediately dropped the cheery facade. Kane sighed slightly both in frustration and relief.
With this sullenness about her he could actually lean against the carriage wall and get a quick nap in and she wouldn't notice in the least and besides, it was going to be a very long night.
He watched her a few moments and then finally closed his eyes allowing the lull of the bumpy road to ease him into a half slumber.
Indeed the woman across from him did nothing but stew in her own anger as she looked out the window. She had years of practicing hiding her true feelings and had set aside the problems at home to be there for Dawn, her best friend. If she had noticed her slaves arrogance she didn't let on and kept emerald gaze transfixed to the darkened country side. A hand clenched and unclenched on the white whip she kept coiled at her side.
The Estates. Her home for nearly twenty mortal years now. It was huge with four big buildings in front and a smaller mid-sized house in the back. She'd make a check through all the buildings tomorrow when things had settled down and maybe see about rebuilding. She was getting bored with the way things were stagnant. Or was she? Living as long as she had she easily became bored with things but then was easily distracted by others.
So many questions had gone on about what or who Keowen exactly was and her lineage was definitely one of interest. It gave her her power as she was and kept her living as she had. It was also the reason her skin was a porcelain color tinged with purple and her ears were just ever so slightly pointed. There was Illithid in her generations, as well as elf. The coach hit a slightly larger bump that rocked her out of her reverie and she looked down at the white whip laced with golden barbs.
The Estates. Yes. The source of her aggravation and frustration for the night. She'd have Tanadam's head for this. Kane had "taken care of" the issue and let her know when he arrived, but it was this "issue" that had kept her very near shaking with anger all night.
She was a slaver by trade, family trade to be exact but it was more the breeding than the constant shipping and selling that really interested her. She loved putting two of her favorites together to see what came out and how things would work and would not work. She'd developed her fathers taste for mixing races of all sorts and tried creating unstoppable strengths in those she did. Sometimes it worked, others it didn't. This one.. had failed.
Tanadam and her had been working together for years. She trusted his shipments without even looking them over as they had an agreement. There were two bundles in every shipment. Some for breeding and a whole lot more for selling as it was easier to keep a steady income through selling breeding sometimes took too long. The former portion was always to be clean, well kempt and most importantly, trained. Pre-trained, pre-broken so that she didn't have to do much at all except train them to fit into her world.
This last one obviously wasn't. He'd been another elf, a dark one, and handsome to boot. Immediately she sensed his spirit but distracted by Dawn's asking of her to be her second she'd simply waved him in to start breeding. Tanadam had always come through for her before so she wasn't worried.
That had been her downfall. The drow had gone quietly and obeyed until he reached the breeding chambers and then all hell had broken loose. Two slaves dead before they could contain him and she'd been alerted but by the time she got there it was too late. She gathered up one of the females that was just barely holding on to life and tipped her finger to ease the girls pain. With the feeling of happiness and peace in her mind now she went quietly and Keowen's anger turned to the drow.
Luckily for him all she had time for was a flick of her finger that brought him sinking down to his knees and clutching his head. The guards let him drop as he would be struggling no more. Keowen's methods were more than affective and he was going to be lost in that pain for a while. With a curse she'd left Kane there to clean up and get the drow locked up for her to deal with later, she was going to be late meeting with Dawn.
Kane eased out of his nap as the coach started to slow down and watched from his window as the gates were opening and they went through. He straightened up unconsciously checking the white fluid pants for anything that would annoy her further then sat with his hands in his lap until the carriage stopped.
Keowen had finally tore her gaze away from the window to wait for the door to open. Kane relaxed as he saw who was there and gave the man a respectful nod. It was the only person in the estates other than his fellow slaves that he did not have to bow to. Instead he looked his son straight in the eyes searching for a status, the younger man nodded back a reprieve. He stood aside as Kane exited and then reached his hand in for his mother.
"Keowen." He nodded respectfully not looking into her eyes.
"Tristan." She replied formally but took his hand and allowed him to help her out.
He waited patiently after letting her hand go for her to get her bearings and for his father to get in his place. Once Kane settled to the back and right of Keowen, Tristan moved to the left side behind her and fell into pace with them as they headed towards the far right building. Once they settled into rhythm he ticked off what he knew she'd been waiting for.
"Everything has calmed down, the men and women were separated and fed and everyone is asleep currently. The two women were the only tolls of death and one other has a bruise across her cheek. The farmers will be awakened when you are ready for t--" He paused as her hand shot up.
"Thank you. We will not be needing their services tonight. This drow has earned extra.. entertainment."
Tristan's brow shot up much like his mother's did when she was trying to figure something out. She turned her sharp emerald gaze at him.
"Dawn's husband hasn't seen the clear room yet. When I get done with him tonight I'll make sure he has enough energy to provide enough entertainment when they come in two days."
The look on her face was enough to send him to shiver and the mention of the clear room settled it. He hid it professionally by nodding briskly and this was one of those rare times he was grateful to be her son. While there wasn't any motherly love nor special treatment given to him he was at least the furthest out on the line of whom she wished to hurt and didn't have to live in constant fear.
She scanned his face searching slightly straightening with pride as he stood there unwavering under her scrutiny. He looked to be about twenty in mortal years healthy and every bit as handsome as his father. His skin however was a lighter shade of black as it was mixed with her porcelain, purple mix. His eyes slanted ever so slightly from the Asian mix and was ever as piercing as hers even though he never looked her directly in the eye. The apples of her cheeks plumped just the slightest but if it was because of a grin it never surfaced.
"I also want the estate spotless," she continued turning in her ever forward stride to move through the door that Kane had silently opened, "so that Dawn is not embarrassed when she arrives with Anubis."
Her son nodded sharply ever vigilant in listening.
"And have a bath drawn for me the hottest they can get it within twenty minutes."
He bowed from his waist as was his privilege like his father and turned grateful to be released. He didn't have a taste for his mom's fury when she was in this state, people tended to .. die.
-
Guest
Keowen and Kane went through the first inner chamber to the second door and through where Kane held back at the door and just to the right of it. For a moment his own almond eyes tripped over the other slaves as they dipped their knees first to him and then knelt fully with a fist on the ground in front of them for Keowen.
Keowen expected full formalities no matter what the situation and the rank of slaves was no different to her. If you were lower, you bowed appropriately. The only time the slaves were as one and worked together was when she wasn't there or couldn't be around to see their little slip ups. Then they were too busy scrambling around keeping things perfect rather than showing disrespect. Some of her oldest slaves still kept the formalities no matter where their Mistress may be and were respected as equally.
The guards stared at him for a moment with many different thoughts. They were partially envious of Kane's status and treatments he recieved but none of them were stupid enough to want to be in his shoes. He was the favorite, but for how long? She had had many favorites in her life and they had all previously fallen out of favor. She usually carried two around with her but since she sent the second one off to death for tripping in front of a valued guest, he had been the only one. It was nice to be in his shoes for the most part but it was also the more dangerous place to be. Being the favorite meant he was always around and that meant more scrutiny and more chance of being noticed when one messed up. He felt like a rabbit allowed to sleep in the warmth of the lions den, but how long before the Lioness got hungry?
Kane bowed his head back to them then looked to Keowen, she was oblivious to their kneeling and was instead staring at the clear box in the room. All six sides were solid clear plastic walls save for the top that had breathing holes drilled in. His gaze followed hers to see the drow laying on his side in the cube.
There were three guards that were by the cube and they had fallen further in their bow and were on both knees with their foreheads and forearms pressed to the ground, Kane could only guess how long they'd been that way.
Their Mistress finally snapped out of her thoughts to look towards the kneeling slaves.
"Rise." They did so gratefully and resumed their standing position, the three by the cube knew it wasn't time to move just yet and lay prone.
"There were two deaths and an injury tonight." Her voice was icy and tipped with a harshness that would not go unnoticed.
"We have failed you, Mistress. And we apologize." One spoke quickly but none of them moved.
"Yes. You did. You will pull jobs on the farm for three weeks. After such a time I'll see if you're fit to guard the breeding house once more. Perhaps next time you won't be so lax in your duties."
One of the other guards flinched at her sentence, he had just done farm work himself and it wasn't pretty, but he also knew that the three were getting off completely light. They all knew she was livid.
She flicked her finger at the three as if counting off and each one reacted immediately. Her mind had sought out theirs searching for the thread. Every being had two nerves no matter who or what they are or the amount of their intelligence. Every brain had two distinct veins. One for pleasure and one for pain. It was the pain one she stroked in each of the men just enough to cause their whole body to feel like it was on fire. She didn't need them to be carried off right now after all they had prevented a few other deaths.
With the three of them writhing on the ground and trying not to make any noise as they were lost in their own pain, she stepped towards the cube that was glowing from the overhead light and touched into the drow's mind.
The tiny little brush of her mind against his pain receptor was enough to jerk him out of his exhausted sleep and he absently pushed up to kneel on his knees with his rear on his heels. He had been somewhat trained she saw but it was no matter any longer.
"There were two, " she flicked her finger twice and his whole body was wracked with a spasm echoed on his face, "deaths tonight. Two of my best breeders."
With the last of the sentance she sliced her hand through the air and the drow immediately dropped forward to support himself on the palm of his hands before the pain was so great he heaved up whatever food he had gotten before the incident. Keowen's stony gaze just watched him shivering on the floor before she finally flicked her finger upwards. Just a tiny brush against the pleasure receptor to ease it enough so he could pay attention.
"So. Here's the deal. You cost me two lives." She spoke to the quivering form before her in the translucent cube.
"Therefore tomorrow you will be prepped." Her voice had dropped to a steady cadence, "And after that you will be taken to the clear room. If you pass and manage to live through that, you will endure more training until you come to realize I can be your best friend."
Another flick of that pleasure nerve with this one a bit more than the last to show him just how much other feelings she could bring other than pain. She watched him closely stroking that nerve with her own mind more and more until his whole body began to shake again in a different way then pulled out. She walked around the cube watching both the drow gather himself and the guard slaves she had punished struggle to move back as they knew she was coming. They scurried back still laying prostrate as she heard the drow finally croak out his question.
"Or?" It took her a moment to decipher what he'd said and then she was finishing her lazy stride with her fingers trailing along the clear plastic.
Rounding to the front she stood there until the drow had the strength to look up at her.
"Or." She began tilting her chin up.
Kane decidedly looked down now. A long time with his Mistress had given him access to know what was coming when.
"Or I could be your worst nightmare." With that a flick of her wrist the drow's face suddenly lit up in fear as he looked around him. His hands began pawing at the ground in some unseen horror and he was struggling to push himself to his feet.
In the drows mind the plastic was filling with water and quickly as he set to thrashing. Eyes wide and his mouth working he reached up to the top of the of the cube and he began to waver in his stance.
She was watching stoicly as he struggled for air that his body was getting but his mind couldn't compute. It was a few minutes later that his mind finally failed his body and it crumpled to the ground. Satisfied she spun on heel and headed out the door with Kane in tow.
Keowen stopped mid-tracks as she looked up from the close study of the floor. Something was wrong.
"Tristan?" He immediately bowed at the waist and turned to open the door.
"Your bath has been run and is ready however, there's one last matter to attend to. I did not want to distract you earlier." He stayed there as she went through with a slight sigh and then followed to take his place at her left.
"Main room." They stepped out into the cool night air and the men waited as Keowen paused to get a deep refreshing breath. She needed to cool down or the urge to say "off with his head!" so to speak would run rampant and she'd be running the estates by herself.
Off towards the back of the estates she strode at a quick pace with a swift look around the rest of the estates. Everything else at least seemed quiet but this night seemed like it was going to go on forever to the slaver. It wasn't long before they got to the new smaller building and she was watching as two slaves pulled open the double doors so that she could keep walking smoothly.
"Taweret." The use of the Goddess' name as a curse came out inadvertently as she saw Ashen and Quintus kneeling by the front marble archway.
"Speak quickly." Her hands were on her hips now as she didn't even allow them to rise as usual.
Quintus spoke first with his mellifluous voice. "A slave attempted escape but was quickly rounded by another."
"Whom?" She wasn't going to waste any time anymore as her temper was incredibly short.
Ashen kept on his knee but straightened his torso to first point to a rather disheveled and miserable looking slave being held by two large guards and then turned to point to a line of guards who were kneeling in a line by the front fountain.
"You." Ashen barked and the one he'd been pointing at stood briefly for her jade gaze to flicker across and then he kneeled once more.
A look creased porcelain features a moment before she turned back to her two head security slaves. Something about the one that stood up, what was it? She concentrated on Quintus' dragon tattoo for a few moments before flicking her hand carelessly to the side.
"Rise." Ashen and Quintus did gratefully but kept their eyes downcast. Her hand moved to unclasp her whip and flicked it out to uncoil it. Without looking she knew that every body was tensed in the room now but she was still considering. Twitching the whip like a cats tail she finally placed the face that she had been so puzzled over.
"You." She moved between the men then flicked the whip at the slave Ashen had pointed out and watched as he paled but scrambled forward and then reset into a kneel.
"Mistress." He said ever so quietly and she tried not to revel in his fear.
"Quintus!" The man turned immediately to her and she flicked the whip towards the attempted escapee.
"Mistress?"
"Take him to the front archway and tie him up. Ashen." The second man turned towards her just as quick.
"You have other slaves that have been lagging about lately?" He nodded promptly.
"I'll speak with the head man of each quarter and find out if we have any other antsy or lazy slaves."
"Good. Round them up, what time is wake up call?" She cocked a hip as she listened to him.
"5:30 am, Mistress."
"Good, wake them at 4 am. At 3:30 am cut this mans ankles off and then his knees and leave them where they lay. When the others come out, release the tigers."
It had to have been a newer slave that gasped because the others by now would have been used to her ... methods.
"He'll be a mere appetizer, anyone care to become dessert?" She turned her gaze to try and see who it was that had gasped but everyone had remained perfectly still. She finally turned back to the now quivering and extremely pale slave and smirked satisfied as she knelt.
"And while they're eating you alive maybe you'll remember how good you once had it." Her voice was low and deadly as she stared him straight in the eye and soaked in his fear. "I have no use for deserters."
She stood up to walk to the other slave who Ashen had pointed out. "You."
He bowed his head to the marble a moment trying his hardest not to appear nervous.
"You left your post." Her brow was quirked as she twitched the whip again.
"Yes Mistress, I apologize." Both brows raised now and she turned to look at him hard.
"Rise." She was a little thrown off guard at his admittance as most tried to explain their way or deny about what exactly had happened. He rose carefully, tucked his hands behind his back and looked down at the ground as was proper protocol.
"What happened?" She crossed her arms over her chest and waited patiently.
"Mistress." He began with a nod, "I thought I saw something creeping in the bushes and asked two of my fellow slaves," in the back unprompted two separate slaves dipped their heads to the marble then settled again, "to cover my post and went looking. I found him creeping along and trying to get to the front gate."
Emerald eyes had caught the motion of the two that were adding weight to his story and then turned back to the condemned. He didn't make any move to denounce what the other was saying. So, it was true. Keowen's finger flicked and sent the slave downward to his knees which caused another to cringe.
"You have over the last seven years managed to catch three escape attempts." Hence the reason her brain kept racking itself to recall his familiar face. He wasn't on his knees because of pain but rather the opposite.
"Don't think your efforts have gone over looked." She flicked her finger again causing him to gasp again. "What's your name, Slave?"
This caused many a jaw drop including his own. It was quite an honor in this household to receive a name as when it was known that's what you were called.
"Tai-jay, Mistress." His voice was shaking now as badly as his body was.
"Very well, Tai-jay," She flicked her finger down once more causing him to collapse to the ground. "Tomorrow you start working in the tubs for two weeks."
Kane's brows shot up in surprise as the tubs were a huge privilege. Either Keowen was in a better mood or feeling really gracious now and he couldn't help the chuckle as the Tai-jay fell. He'd been on that end of it too and knew how powerful those sensations could be.
"When you can move again, you may retire to your room for the night."
Tai-jay nodded abruptly still trying to keep himself from completely laying on the marble.
"Yes... .. Mistress. Thank.. you." He was having trouble getting the words out through the breathing but she was already moving off with Kane and a smirking Tristan at her back.
The problem had been averted and she had a bath to attend to. Turning through a few hallways Keowen handed the belt that she had reslung the whip on and that held the collars out towards Kane who took them immediately and began unbuttoning her jacket.
"Dinner is in two and a half turns." Tristan spoke quietly as he was handed her jacket and gloves.
"And Seyondra will be there?" Keowen spoke while expertly undoing the front of her body suit.
"With Alayne and Azhure." The nonchalant way he mentioned them made her purse her lips.
"I'll be there." He nodded and averted his eyes as she peeled the body suit off.
"I bid you farewell then, Keowen." He said as they arrived to her room and placed her jacket on the chair by the door.
"Tristan." She said and tilted her chin backward to nod at him. She was busy with her boots as the bath was so near she could smell it and feel the warmth radiating. The slaves had kept it plenty hot for her.
"Everyone out." She waved everyone off as she sunk into the hot water.
"Tristan?" He immediately bowed at the waist and turned to open the door.
"Your bath has been run and is ready however, there's one last matter to attend to. I did not want to distract you earlier." He stayed there as she went through with a slight sigh and then followed to take his place at her left.
"Main room." They stepped out into the cool night air and the men waited as Keowen paused to get a deep refreshing breath. She needed to cool down or the urge to say "off with his head!" so to speak would run rampant and she'd be running the estates by herself.
Off towards the back of the estates she strode at a quick pace with a swift look around the rest of the estates. Everything else at least seemed quiet but this night seemed like it was going to go on forever to the slaver. It wasn't long before they got to the new smaller building and she was watching as two slaves pulled open the double doors so that she could keep walking smoothly.
"Taweret." The use of the Goddess' name as a curse came out inadvertently as she saw Ashen and Quintus kneeling by the front marble archway.
"Speak quickly." Her hands were on her hips now as she didn't even allow them to rise as usual.
Quintus spoke first with his mellifluous voice. "A slave attempted escape but was quickly rounded by another."
"Whom?" She wasn't going to waste any time anymore as her temper was incredibly short.
Ashen kept on his knee but straightened his torso to first point to a rather disheveled and miserable looking slave being held by two large guards and then turned to point to a line of guards who were kneeling in a line by the front fountain.
"You." Ashen barked and the one he'd been pointing at stood briefly for her jade gaze to flicker across and then he kneeled once more.
A look creased porcelain features a moment before she turned back to her two head security slaves. Something about the one that stood up, what was it? She concentrated on Quintus' dragon tattoo for a few moments before flicking her hand carelessly to the side.
"Rise." Ashen and Quintus did gratefully but kept their eyes downcast. Her hand moved to unclasp her whip and flicked it out to uncoil it. Without looking she knew that every body was tensed in the room now but she was still considering. Twitching the whip like a cats tail she finally placed the face that she had been so puzzled over.
"You." She moved between the men then flicked the whip at the slave Ashen had pointed out and watched as he paled but scrambled forward and then reset into a kneel.
"Mistress." He said ever so quietly and she tried not to revel in his fear.
"Quintus!" The man turned immediately to her and she flicked the whip towards the attempted escapee.
"Mistress?"
"Take him to the front archway and tie him up. Ashen." The second man turned towards her just as quick.
"You have other slaves that have been lagging about lately?" He nodded promptly.
"I'll speak with the head man of each quarter and find out if we have any other antsy or lazy slaves."
"Good. Round them up, what time is wake up call?" She cocked a hip as she listened to him.
"5:30 am, Mistress."
"Good, wake them at 4 am. At 3:30 am cut this mans ankles off and then his knees and leave them where they lay. When the others come out, release the tigers."
It had to have been a newer slave that gasped because the others by now would have been used to her ... methods.
"He'll be a mere appetizer, anyone care to become dessert?" She turned her gaze to try and see who it was that had gasped but everyone had remained perfectly still. She finally turned back to the now quivering and extremely pale slave and smirked satisfied as she knelt.
"And while they're eating you alive maybe you'll remember how good you once had it." Her voice was low and deadly as she stared him straight in the eye and soaked in his fear. "I have no use for deserters."
She stood up to walk to the other slave who Ashen had pointed out. "You."
He bowed his head to the marble a moment trying his hardest not to appear nervous.
"You left your post." Her brow was quirked as she twitched the whip again.
"Yes Mistress, I apologize." Both brows raised now and she turned to look at him hard.
"Rise." She was a little thrown off guard at his admittance as most tried to explain their way or deny about what exactly had happened. He rose carefully, tucked his hands behind his back and looked down at the ground as was proper protocol.
"What happened?" She crossed her arms over her chest and waited patiently.
"Mistress." He began with a nod, "I thought I saw something creeping in the bushes and asked two of my fellow slaves," in the back unprompted two separate slaves dipped their heads to the marble then settled again, "to cover my post and went looking. I found him creeping along and trying to get to the front gate."
Emerald eyes had caught the motion of the two that were adding weight to his story and then turned back to the condemned. He didn't make any move to denounce what the other was saying. So, it was true. Keowen's finger flicked and sent the slave downward to his knees which caused another to cringe.
"You have over the last seven years managed to catch three escape attempts." Hence the reason her brain kept racking itself to recall his familiar face. He wasn't on his knees because of pain but rather the opposite.
"Don't think your efforts have gone over looked." She flicked her finger again causing him to gasp again. "What's your name, Slave?"
This caused many a jaw drop including his own. It was quite an honor in this household to receive a name as when it was known that's what you were called.
"Tai-jay, Mistress." His voice was shaking now as badly as his body was.
"Very well, Tai-jay," She flicked her finger down once more causing him to collapse to the ground. "Tomorrow you start working in the tubs for two weeks."
Kane's brows shot up in surprise as the tubs were a huge privilege. Either Keowen was in a better mood or feeling really gracious now and he couldn't help the chuckle as the Tai-jay fell. He'd been on that end of it too and knew how powerful those sensations could be.
"When you can move again, you may retire to your room for the night."
Tai-jay nodded abruptly still trying to keep himself from completely laying on the marble.
"Yes... .. Mistress. Thank.. you." He was having trouble getting the words out through the breathing but she was already moving off with Kane and a smirking Tristan at her back.
The problem had been averted and she had a bath to attend to. Turning through a few hallways Keowen handed the belt that she had reslung the whip on and that held the collars out towards Kane who took them immediately and began unbuttoning her jacket.
"Dinner is in two and a half turns." Tristan spoke quietly as he was handed her jacket and gloves.
"And Seyondra will be there?" Keowen spoke while expertly undoing the front of her body suit.
"With Alayne and Azhure." The nonchalant way he mentioned them made her purse her lips.
"I'll be there." He nodded and averted his eyes as she peeled the body suit off.
"I bid you farewell then, Keowen." He said as they arrived to her room and placed her jacket on the chair by the door.
"Tristan." She said and tilted her chin backward to nod at him. She was busy with her boots as the bath was so near she could smell it and feel the warmth radiating. The slaves had kept it plenty hot for her.
"Everyone out." She waved everyone off as she sunk into the hot water.
There was a sound like a cat sneezing that turned her head and Keowen's eyes crinkled a little as her gaze set upon her mute time keeper. Keowen was very strict about the way the hour glasses were taken care of as she always wanted them perfect and on time so they were never left alone even for a second. The only room that didn't have such a time bearer was the library, if she needed to know the time she would have someone come and get her otherwise she wanted to be left alone to relax.
With the reminder that she wouldn't be alone in this room she sunk further into the bath and closed her eyes to turn her mind elsewhere. No time for getting emotional yet, not in front of even a mute person.
Dinner would be soon, another three-fourths of the hour glass and she would be needing to face her children. As her mind turned to them she couldn't help the way it wandered.
Tristan. He was .. a surprise.
When Keowen had first started out with her mission to gain an heir to her estates she took Kane has her mate. Blinded by her want of him as she had bred him specifically for herself (as a Christmas present to herself) she had taken him and been pleased when she was pregnant.
The baby came, only it was a boy. First thought was frustration as she looked to the crying form and then she relented realizing she was going to need a financial advisor for her daughter. Coren was named and handed off to be raised as normal.
Not to be discouraged she took Kane again and was furious when another boy was born to her. Angrily she had killed the boy and spent the next year brooding but full of determination. Again Kane's seed was given and the following birth was yet another son.. but there was something about him that caught her eye. Something.. different and out of sheer resignment she simply let them take him away. Tristan would later prove that -something- that she had seen.
When Coren had turned ten, Tristan was five. Coren had turned of age to prove himself and earn his place in life. Keowen had taken five other eight year old boys and her two and stuffed them into the clear room.
The whole point of course was to see Coren get to the top and without guilt dispose of Tristan.
The whole thing had gone horribly wrong by the end of the third day when Coren failed and died grotesquely on some spikes. Angry Keowen had turned away and headed out on her ship to visit a slave trade on an Island far from the Estates. She had expected when she returned to hear nothing else, however when she arrived thirty-one days later, Quintus had come running up to her.
"You need to see this Mistress." He had looked so enthusiastic that she had wearily followed him. Emerald eyes stared in surprise at what she was looking at.
Her little five year old was curled near the top as he was unable to actually reach the last shelf that would elevate him to freedom. He had survived the month by a very disturbing manner that she made all the guards immediately strike from their records. The top was open and the near emaciated boy had been lifted out and taken to the nurses. Keowen had checked on him a few times until he seemed healthier and then left him to grow up.
Shortly after she got back from her trip where she was swollen with child she received a visit from her long time best friend Seya. Seya was another slaver who had been as fascinated with breeding as Keowen had and they had grown up together which attributed to their closeness.
When Keowen's newest baby turned out to be yet another boy Seya stopped her before she could kill it.
"Let me have it." Keowen had blinked at her then confused and still trying to recover from the pain of the childbirth she'd just performed.
"Seya?" The heat of the moment had allowed her confusion to show through and Seya picked up the boy.
"I can't explain Keowen. Just please. Allow me this child, and let me propose something to you." She continued as Keowen didn't argue, "You need a girl, and forgive me if you're going to keep with our traditions, you need someone with power in order to give you your heir."
Keowen with the help of some other slaves had managed to get to laying back and was getting her face wiped off with cool towels. She continued listening.
"I have such.." Keowen later found out that she had brought him on purpose just in case and had been right. "..a man that can provide you with a child, and one of no little power."
"A thorough bred?" Seya had nodded at that and given the child over to be cleaned.
"He's a kinetic that I had bred from elven with a touch of illithid from our heritage." She was trying to keep it short as she knew Keowen was more than worn out.
"Kane is nice, but he has little powers and obviously only males to offer." She added gently and the icy hair of her companion nodded a weary consent.
Keowen had later had the paperwork brought up giving the son she had born over to Seya. It had still bothered her but she hadn't pressed much when Seya's only comment had been "It's insurance."
Part of the reason they had grown apart was because like herself, Seya had been single for the longest time and found pleasure in her slaves. But over the last few years she had found and married a man whom Keowen wasn't pleased with but as it wasn't her decision she had wished the best. Everything seemed to be going well but every time Seya birthed a child it would die mysteriously a bit later and her marriage started going downhill.
Keowen had figured it to be Seya's way of ensuring in case more failed she would eventually give up and just claim the child back from Keowen. Over the next few years as the child remained on her estates she saw less and less of Seya and grew more and more worried when the woman did come.
Keowen herself had had a rough couple of years following as well as she had kept the slave Seya had offered to breed with but had stubbornly tried three more times with Kane to birth a girl. When those failed and with those babies destroyed, she had finally relented and taken the kinetic to bed with her. Nine months later Keowen had her heir and named her Seyondra in tribute to her best friend Seya and set up a plan to visit her.
What she found had disturbed her so greatly that the joy from finally providing an heir to her Estates couldn't even pick her back up. Things had changed drastically since her last visit and it looked to Keowen like her husband had taken over everything and most of her power.
What made matters worse was that when Keowen was set to leave Seya had simply looked deep into her eyes and spoken quite mysteriously.
"Remember. Technically, he's still your son."
She had thought Seya was referring to Tristan however the truth came as she received death notice of Seya of "mysterious circumstances." Enraged Keowen had gone back to her friends estates to find Seya's husband looking rather distraught but she had misjudged what he was truly upset about.
One of Seya's slaves that had been completely loyal had come forth and handed her some papers. Seyondra was eight now which meant that Obsidian, Seya's adopted son was sixteen in mortal years. Seya's husband's grief came into being as she read the paper that had been handed to her. In their tradition, meaning Keowen and Seya's, the girls were the benefactors with brothers or fathers who ran the financial aspect of things, not that they couldn't but they had more to worry about. In Seya's husbands traditions the boys took over and became heirs, hence the reason he had had every baby killed that Seya produced cause then in both of their traditions only he would be entitled to everything.
Now? Everything that Seya owned, all of her slaves, all of her estate - everything, now belonged to Obsidian; so named for her husbands hatred of the stone and the main basis for her buildings much as Keowens was marble. Obsidian was of age to take over as he only needed to be fourteen in the mortal world to obtain rights. Seya had been clever in hiding the fact that she had a son and had hid her will. Destroyed and with nothing left, Keowen had killed Seya's husband on the spot after he confessed. Seya had known all along her husband was planning to take over completely and most likely kill her and now Keowen knew as well.
"He's still technically your son." Seya had effectively destroyed the one who had destroyed her at the same time as leaving Keowen, her best friend, more to enrich her estates.
Coren, Tristan, Obsidian, Seyondra and four slaughtered children. Eight total and only three lived now. Keowen felt old and sighed lightly.
The mute looked over to her Mistress and pointed to the door in a question. Keowen only nodded wearily consumed by the loss of her best friend and half sister.
Kane came in quickly and knelt a respect that made Keowen tense slightly as she watched him. When he got up and headed to her closet she realized he wasn't bearing any bad news, only that he already knew that she had been doing some deep thinking and could feel her heavy mood. Calmed and grateful he could read her she stood and allowed him to gently towel her off and dress her.
Not a word was spoken between the two, and the silence kept the woman soothed and ready to face dinner as being with her children always made her a little uncomfortable. When he got her hair pulled back and out of her face he kissed where her neck met her shoulders and then stepped back to send her off.
It was when she hit the door that she finally paused and looked back.
"You might as well go take care of Azhure and Alayne. I know that's why my daughter brought them."
He didn't miss the bitterness in her voice so he kept quiet save for a nod of his head. Seyondra was spoiled to the point of when she wanted something, she usually got it. In this case, Seyondra had trapped Keowen into allowing her to try and breed her two slaves with Kane. With a sigh, she headed off to the dining hall.
With the reminder that she wouldn't be alone in this room she sunk further into the bath and closed her eyes to turn her mind elsewhere. No time for getting emotional yet, not in front of even a mute person.
Dinner would be soon, another three-fourths of the hour glass and she would be needing to face her children. As her mind turned to them she couldn't help the way it wandered.
Tristan. He was .. a surprise.
When Keowen had first started out with her mission to gain an heir to her estates she took Kane has her mate. Blinded by her want of him as she had bred him specifically for herself (as a Christmas present to herself) she had taken him and been pleased when she was pregnant.
The baby came, only it was a boy. First thought was frustration as she looked to the crying form and then she relented realizing she was going to need a financial advisor for her daughter. Coren was named and handed off to be raised as normal.
Not to be discouraged she took Kane again and was furious when another boy was born to her. Angrily she had killed the boy and spent the next year brooding but full of determination. Again Kane's seed was given and the following birth was yet another son.. but there was something about him that caught her eye. Something.. different and out of sheer resignment she simply let them take him away. Tristan would later prove that -something- that she had seen.
When Coren had turned ten, Tristan was five. Coren had turned of age to prove himself and earn his place in life. Keowen had taken five other eight year old boys and her two and stuffed them into the clear room.
The whole point of course was to see Coren get to the top and without guilt dispose of Tristan.
The whole thing had gone horribly wrong by the end of the third day when Coren failed and died grotesquely on some spikes. Angry Keowen had turned away and headed out on her ship to visit a slave trade on an Island far from the Estates. She had expected when she returned to hear nothing else, however when she arrived thirty-one days later, Quintus had come running up to her.
"You need to see this Mistress." He had looked so enthusiastic that she had wearily followed him. Emerald eyes stared in surprise at what she was looking at.
Her little five year old was curled near the top as he was unable to actually reach the last shelf that would elevate him to freedom. He had survived the month by a very disturbing manner that she made all the guards immediately strike from their records. The top was open and the near emaciated boy had been lifted out and taken to the nurses. Keowen had checked on him a few times until he seemed healthier and then left him to grow up.
Shortly after she got back from her trip where she was swollen with child she received a visit from her long time best friend Seya. Seya was another slaver who had been as fascinated with breeding as Keowen had and they had grown up together which attributed to their closeness.
When Keowen's newest baby turned out to be yet another boy Seya stopped her before she could kill it.
"Let me have it." Keowen had blinked at her then confused and still trying to recover from the pain of the childbirth she'd just performed.
"Seya?" The heat of the moment had allowed her confusion to show through and Seya picked up the boy.
"I can't explain Keowen. Just please. Allow me this child, and let me propose something to you." She continued as Keowen didn't argue, "You need a girl, and forgive me if you're going to keep with our traditions, you need someone with power in order to give you your heir."
Keowen with the help of some other slaves had managed to get to laying back and was getting her face wiped off with cool towels. She continued listening.
"I have such.." Keowen later found out that she had brought him on purpose just in case and had been right. "..a man that can provide you with a child, and one of no little power."
"A thorough bred?" Seya had nodded at that and given the child over to be cleaned.
"He's a kinetic that I had bred from elven with a touch of illithid from our heritage." She was trying to keep it short as she knew Keowen was more than worn out.
"Kane is nice, but he has little powers and obviously only males to offer." She added gently and the icy hair of her companion nodded a weary consent.
Keowen had later had the paperwork brought up giving the son she had born over to Seya. It had still bothered her but she hadn't pressed much when Seya's only comment had been "It's insurance."
Part of the reason they had grown apart was because like herself, Seya had been single for the longest time and found pleasure in her slaves. But over the last few years she had found and married a man whom Keowen wasn't pleased with but as it wasn't her decision she had wished the best. Everything seemed to be going well but every time Seya birthed a child it would die mysteriously a bit later and her marriage started going downhill.
Keowen had figured it to be Seya's way of ensuring in case more failed she would eventually give up and just claim the child back from Keowen. Over the next few years as the child remained on her estates she saw less and less of Seya and grew more and more worried when the woman did come.
Keowen herself had had a rough couple of years following as well as she had kept the slave Seya had offered to breed with but had stubbornly tried three more times with Kane to birth a girl. When those failed and with those babies destroyed, she had finally relented and taken the kinetic to bed with her. Nine months later Keowen had her heir and named her Seyondra in tribute to her best friend Seya and set up a plan to visit her.
What she found had disturbed her so greatly that the joy from finally providing an heir to her Estates couldn't even pick her back up. Things had changed drastically since her last visit and it looked to Keowen like her husband had taken over everything and most of her power.
What made matters worse was that when Keowen was set to leave Seya had simply looked deep into her eyes and spoken quite mysteriously.
"Remember. Technically, he's still your son."
She had thought Seya was referring to Tristan however the truth came as she received death notice of Seya of "mysterious circumstances." Enraged Keowen had gone back to her friends estates to find Seya's husband looking rather distraught but she had misjudged what he was truly upset about.
One of Seya's slaves that had been completely loyal had come forth and handed her some papers. Seyondra was eight now which meant that Obsidian, Seya's adopted son was sixteen in mortal years. Seya's husband's grief came into being as she read the paper that had been handed to her. In their tradition, meaning Keowen and Seya's, the girls were the benefactors with brothers or fathers who ran the financial aspect of things, not that they couldn't but they had more to worry about. In Seya's husbands traditions the boys took over and became heirs, hence the reason he had had every baby killed that Seya produced cause then in both of their traditions only he would be entitled to everything.
Now? Everything that Seya owned, all of her slaves, all of her estate - everything, now belonged to Obsidian; so named for her husbands hatred of the stone and the main basis for her buildings much as Keowens was marble. Obsidian was of age to take over as he only needed to be fourteen in the mortal world to obtain rights. Seya had been clever in hiding the fact that she had a son and had hid her will. Destroyed and with nothing left, Keowen had killed Seya's husband on the spot after he confessed. Seya had known all along her husband was planning to take over completely and most likely kill her and now Keowen knew as well.
"He's still technically your son." Seya had effectively destroyed the one who had destroyed her at the same time as leaving Keowen, her best friend, more to enrich her estates.
Coren, Tristan, Obsidian, Seyondra and four slaughtered children. Eight total and only three lived now. Keowen felt old and sighed lightly.
The mute looked over to her Mistress and pointed to the door in a question. Keowen only nodded wearily consumed by the loss of her best friend and half sister.
Kane came in quickly and knelt a respect that made Keowen tense slightly as she watched him. When he got up and headed to her closet she realized he wasn't bearing any bad news, only that he already knew that she had been doing some deep thinking and could feel her heavy mood. Calmed and grateful he could read her she stood and allowed him to gently towel her off and dress her.
Not a word was spoken between the two, and the silence kept the woman soothed and ready to face dinner as being with her children always made her a little uncomfortable. When he got her hair pulled back and out of her face he kissed where her neck met her shoulders and then stepped back to send her off.
It was when she hit the door that she finally paused and looked back.
"You might as well go take care of Azhure and Alayne. I know that's why my daughter brought them."
He didn't miss the bitterness in her voice so he kept quiet save for a nod of his head. Seyondra was spoiled to the point of when she wanted something, she usually got it. In this case, Seyondra had trapped Keowen into allowing her to try and breed her two slaves with Kane. With a sigh, she headed off to the dining hall.
She had just settled into her spot at the table when the door opened and emerald gaze found her son in his normal pensive mood and her daughter coming in like a teeny bopper from the eighties. With a heavy sigh she nodded to her son and set to looking about for a knife.
"Tristan, Seyondra."
"Keowen."
"Mother." The last from her daughter always made her skin crawl which is probably why the girl did it. Tristan knew it as well and covered it up quite nicely.
"Heard anything from Obsidian?" As they sat down and scooted their chairs up.
Keowen relaxed a little and nodded to a slave that had found her knife and was scooting up the bread for her as she set down another plate of food.
"He's doing well, of course with the differences there he's having troubles mating and bringing an heir forth."
"Speaking of which," Seyondra interrupted, "Thank you for sending Kane in early, the girls were pleased and they were having quite the fun time when I left!" Her perky tone belied the real reason she kept sticking jibes at her mother. It was like her life's goal to get away with as much as possible.
Keowen tensed again and clenched her teeth. Everyone knew at the table that Seyondra had caught Keowen in front of a group of her friends and managed to get her to agree to give Kane over to mate with her two favorite slaves. With that, Keowen couldn't back out or look like a fool. Tristan once again intervened.
"I do hope that Obsidian finds an easier time in the future, should I send him anything on the next shipment?"
Again Keowen shot her son a grateful look and buttered her bread.
"I think it would be nice to send him some of those mandarins, he can't grow them there and he does like them."
"So, think you'll have your estates back in order by the time Dawn and Anubis get here? I mean, everything seems to be falling apart." Again Seyondra prodded while shoving some food in her mouth.
There was a venomous look shot to the girl now from Keowen.
"You know, the rules of the land Obsidian lives in don't seem that funny sometimes." Beside him his sister stiffened up and worked on her food and Tristan himself was a little floored. Even though they all knew she would never go against her traditions, his mother had never outright used a threat like that.
With Seyondra now quiet the rest of the meal dissolved into quiet small chit-chat between mother and son.
It was when the door was thrown open that everyones gaze shot to the harried slave that ran in.
"Mistress!" She started without being asked to talk but Keowen was standing looking more alarmed than angry. Before the slave could finish her sentance the door was thrown open again and the slave knelt in apology immediately. Keowen could tell by the erratic breathing that the slave had indeed tried her best.
"Erienne?" Keowen looked back up to her fellow slaver as she threw open the door.
"Keowen! It's awful." She looked awful to be exact, her hair was a mess and her clothes were wrinkled and stained with something. Normally Keowen wouldn't be so alarmed however Erienne had made a show of always looking perfect and immaculate and nothing short of an emergency would allow her to show up like this.
"Well your style has gotten a little unorthodoxed, yes." Trying to lighten things up as she assesed the situation. Erienne looked down and waved her hand to dismiss that.
"Your slaves spilled some oil on the marble, I just came in too fast. But the important part is that I have to tell you there's been fires and rumors that they're going to keep happening!! There was a brewery that's been burned down and trashed, and some baronial manor that was gone in seconds, this maniac has no restraint no matter how far up on the ladder you are!!" She honestly looked annoyed that this arsonist didn't seem to discriminate against upper and lower class.
Erienne was a bit on the.. annoying side sometimes but she was great for news and information as no one was up on the gossip more than she, even if the information was a little off and exaggerated. The downfall was that she -was- up on the gossip and often helped spread it, which meant the oil slip wouldn't go unnoticed for long and Keowen would be shamed that another slaver had been allowed to get hurt in her Estates. This night just kept getting worse and worse. However Erienne was right, the fires were more important a subject as it broached a serious threat on both of their lively hoods.
"Thank you for the warning." She was suddenly distracted, how was she to protect the Estates?
"Oh baby, I brought more than a warning." Erienne said slyly now as if she could read her mind. Keowen looked up. "I brought my two mages. They've already cast protection from fire on my estate, I've brought them here for you!"
Great, now not only was Keowen in debt for her getting hurt on her property, she was also indebted for the protection.
"Erienne, I owe you much." She bowed politely and her kids followed suit. The slaver merely blew her a kiss.
"Think nothing of it darling, now, I must get home and divide my sod up into different areas." Sod was their term for savings pretty much and Keowen followed her quickly to help her out.
Tristan stood up looking smug and headed out leaving his sister to finish eating. Why he had any urge to annoy her when the love between him and his mother was all but nothing he could never figure it out, but there was a fierce protection there. The best way to annoy his sister? Interrupt his father, of course.
----------
While the others were having their dinner, Tristans father was just beginning to relax.
Kane yawned slightly as he stretched and more out of habit than anything began to pet the woman lying on his left side against his chest. All his years with Keowen had instilled that as she wanted to be pleased and then petted lightly to sleep. Alayne purred beside him at the touch and pressed her cheek to his chest as she wrapped her arms tighter around his waist.
It was her wistful sigh that pulled his gaze downward and he brushed her dark hair from her face.
"What?" He asked keeping his voice low as Azhure had been worn out so well she was asleep on his right side.
She looked up at him with her golden eyes and smiled slightly, reaching up to run a finger along his plush lips. Finally getting her thoughts into place she resnuggled her cheek against his defined chest and sighed once more.
"Don't you wish you were her?" There was a low chuckle from the dark man that resonated from that chest.
"Tawaret?" He was referencing the statue of the Goddess that had been erected on the stone pillar in front of their bed. "No, we're much better looking than that."
She laughed softly and shook her head.
"No, her. Mistress Keowen. Or.. " she paused drawing little circles across his tight abs, "or.. free." She whispered the last word as if saying it any louder would get her instantly killed.
Both of his brows raised as she finished her sentence and he stopped in the petting. This was a serious discussion and one that he felt passionately about.
"No." She looked up at him sharply with the fear echoing in her golden eyes as she had felt the tensing of his body. Was he going to tell on her now and get her killed? He was the Mistresses favorite and she was foolish to tempt the charmed snake.
He saw her fear and shook his head leaning down to kiss her forehead.
"Allow me to explain." He tried to relax his muscles again and went back to petting her lightly so she would relax too.
It took him awhile to figure out how to say it without sounding harsh. Kane had been raised in this lifestyle and had strong beliefs but knew it always came across as training instead of his own thoughts. He finally reached down to tug her hand upwards as he began.
"The life of a slave is simple. We get up, we do our duties, we have other friends that we can talk to. There's a roof over our heads and guards to keep us safe at night. The house is warm, the food is excellent and comes consistently." He left out the part of "as long as they obeyed" and continued, "We have clothes depending on the weather which are nice and keep us comfortable."
She was listening carefully as Kane didn't speak so much usually which meant every word was important to him.
"Now, let's pretend we were free." He shifted the topic easily and flipped her hand over as if emphasizing the point.
"We would get up, go to a job in worse conditions than this most likely. Struggle every day to earn our wages so that we could get the best food we could. We would have to try and find adequate shelter which probably wouldn't be in the best parts of town depending on our wages. There would be no security, clothing would be what we could get and hopefully enough to keep us warm in the winter. The struggle to survive would wear what spirits we have down and the misery isn't worth it."
She was absolutely quiet as she digested that thought. She always knew Kane was deep but never thought of the power behind the man's thoughts. She shivered involuntarily and pulled the covers up around them.
"As for Keowen? Remember last month when you were running through the house and hit your shin?"
The ebony curls nodded against his chest slowly.
"You cried and we were all there to help you and comfort you. When Erowayne called you ugly and fat and you were so livid when you came back, we were there to comfort you and soothe your nerves. You don't have to make any decisions, you don't have to worry about the food, if there's going to be enough, or is security enough to protect your investments.. Now, picture Mistress Keowen. She cannot show any emotion. She cannot cry and be comforted. She cannot show her full anger or any form of losing control."
He was watching her reactions as he talked and began petting through her hair. At least she was realizing he was being serious. He hated expressing himself and people blowing it off as if it were not his own feelings.
"There's constant worry about the crops and if she's going to feed us and if something goes wrong, can she support all of us through her funds that she has saved up. Is security tight enough? How can she protect all of us, especially in situations like the two breeders the other night."
He felt her shiver against his side and just used his arm to hold her.
"Well she should have her hands like.. something.. so she doesn't do that finger thing!!" She was serious still but he was just laughing heartily now.
"Ah, that. That's just a mind game of hers." Once again Alayne looked up to him confused.
"Imagine this.. you're standing in line with a bunch of other slaves in the training hall. You've been told how you need to act, the simple rules and what's expected. You will always have one or more in the bunch that are still defiant or just stubborn. Then -she- comes in. An act of defiance is shown and you see her finger notch downward and the slave down the line suddenly drop and scream. That produces a powerful effect. Now imagine seeing both of her hands drop and the whole of your group including you go down in pain. Suddenly you want nothing but to obey to avoid having her finger point towards you. Obedience is your first priority. She doesn't need to use her hands at all, it's more out of habit and years of doing so. It's also a way of warning others, you disobey, this is what you'll find. At the same time, it's letting others know when she's rewarding as well."
"What's that like?" Her voice filled with wonder now, she'd heard of the pleasure Keowen gave.
His whole body shivered a moment beneath her and her brows shot up.
"Remember how you felt earlier? The release, the sensation?" Ebony curls rubbed against his chest in a nod.
"Try ten times that powerful, even with just the slightest touch of her mind to yours. It takes over your whole body so much that you almost want to cry. It's amazing and more than you can ever get with me or anyone else."
"She still seems overly cruel and horrible." She pondered what he'd said for a moment as they both got quiet.
"Did you know she walks the fields?" She looked up at him to see if he was serious about that.
"On Mondays," he began into her schedule if nothing else but to broaden Alayne's knowledge past her own little circle, "she visits the farm and the fields. She makes sure no worker has more than they can handle. Twice a week because of the heavy lifting, they are sent to the massage rooms. Tuesdays, she visits the breeding house. She makes sure every new mother is getting plenty of water and fruits and that the babies are being well taken care of. Wednesdays, she visits the common room and makes sure the houses are well taken care of, that there's no leaks and that it's kept clean. Thursdays through Sundays are her own for business and whatnot, but even though she won't show us that she cares - she does."
"She has a ton of things to worry and stress over. She is a woman who's worked her way to the top and still gets scorn from her fellow male slavers who feel that she doesn't deserve her position."
"But she was born into it! She's so spoiled!" The raven haired one finally interrupted him and he laughed.
"Yes, she was born into it, yes, she's spoiled beyond belief and is a pain in the rear sometimes. However she still has to struggle. She still has to earn the respect of her colleagues who feel she can't cut it. And never would I want to be her or in her position. I prefer to be a spoiled slave who has nothing better to worry about than if my clothes are perfect and how best to please the one who protects me."
She sighed and lay there against him for a long time taking into consideration everything he had said. She knew he had a point and for now the need for flight was satiated and she would spend longer moments pondering that.
"Kane?"
"Hmm?" She loved the way he sounded like he was purring when he did that.
"Still my thoughts again?" She also loved the sly little grin he wore sometimes.
"Yes, Mistress." He said playfully and turned his body to atop of hers but paused as the door opened.
"Kane?" The voice that filtered over the quietness was his son's and he sat up to look over.
"Tristan?" The bright light of the hall had momentarily blinded him and he tried to adjust his eyes.
"There's trouble and mother is angry." It was the only time he really used that term for her but it produced the desired effect as the man stood and pulled on his white pants quickly leaving Alayne there to follow his son.
Other than to annoy his sister Tristan really did have good intentions with interrupting Kane. The night had been pretty annoying for him and much more frustrating to his mother. Heads -would- roll now he was certain and Kane would be a soothing presence for her.
Seyondra came around the corner and her eyes narrowed as she saw the two.
"How dare you!" She was absolutely livid but since Keowen wasn't around Tristan just smirked at her.
"Keep it up Sey, I'll get mother a breeder for Christmas and maybe she'll sire a.. nicer heir." Since Keowen wasn't around technically Tristan was the higher entity and so Kane had followed behind and to the right of his son and was therefor stopped as the siblings squabbled.
Seyondra was shaking with rage now as that had been twice she'd been sufficiently knocked off her high horse. While Keowen's threat really didn't pose one, Tristan's threat very well could happen. She spun on heel and stormed off to her room with only a snapped reply over her shoulder.
"I do not wish to be disturbed the rest of the evening." With that, she slammed the door Kane and Tristan had just exited leaving her brother smirking in amusement.
"I hope she grows out of it." Kane said quietly as they made their way towards the front of the house.
"I hope you bear another child with Keowen and that it's another boy and I get my heir." He said bitterly.
Kane snickered slightly. "You know that she would set you up with your own Estate." Tristan's head nodded and realized that's probably where his deep loyalty came into play save for his innate loyalty that his father passed down to him. Keowen -would- take care of him as long as he was within traditions. He certainly didn't want to end up as Seyondra's accountant, not with the way she acted. If Keowen had another girl he would act for her otherwise he'd make his own heir and be her support.
That train of thought was stopped as they arrived at the front door to find Keowen and two other slaves. With the latter cleaning up Tristan arrived at his mother's side and Kane stepped into his place.
"Why are there only two maids here to help you, Keowen?" Her son asked and looked around increduously quite aware now with his proximity that she was extremely tense with anger.
"The others have been sent out to be executed." Kane flinched a bit, this was definitely not a good night.
"They spilled a whole barrel and a half of the olive oil." It was Tristans turn to flinch now as he did the calculations. There was no way to get that back so they would end up short this year and without some of their favorite dinners and without proper food for the parties Keowen generally threw.
Emeralds turned to look at him not unkindly before she sighed heavily. Tristan had however, noticed that she looked a little happier when she saw that Kane was with him and the satisfaction came flooding back in. Two points Tristan, Seyondra none.
"I'm going to retire to my room and eat and then turn in for the night." She leaned forward and kissed her son's cheek which caused him to blink. She rarely ever did that and the second surprise was that his annoyance and anger which had built up during dinner just sort of dissolved. He gave her a deeper bow than protocol called for.
"I'll make sure this gets cleaned up, sleep well dear Keowen."
She nodded her head back and headed to her room with Kane in tow.
"Tristan, Seyondra."
"Keowen."
"Mother." The last from her daughter always made her skin crawl which is probably why the girl did it. Tristan knew it as well and covered it up quite nicely.
"Heard anything from Obsidian?" As they sat down and scooted their chairs up.
Keowen relaxed a little and nodded to a slave that had found her knife and was scooting up the bread for her as she set down another plate of food.
"He's doing well, of course with the differences there he's having troubles mating and bringing an heir forth."
"Speaking of which," Seyondra interrupted, "Thank you for sending Kane in early, the girls were pleased and they were having quite the fun time when I left!" Her perky tone belied the real reason she kept sticking jibes at her mother. It was like her life's goal to get away with as much as possible.
Keowen tensed again and clenched her teeth. Everyone knew at the table that Seyondra had caught Keowen in front of a group of her friends and managed to get her to agree to give Kane over to mate with her two favorite slaves. With that, Keowen couldn't back out or look like a fool. Tristan once again intervened.
"I do hope that Obsidian finds an easier time in the future, should I send him anything on the next shipment?"
Again Keowen shot her son a grateful look and buttered her bread.
"I think it would be nice to send him some of those mandarins, he can't grow them there and he does like them."
"So, think you'll have your estates back in order by the time Dawn and Anubis get here? I mean, everything seems to be falling apart." Again Seyondra prodded while shoving some food in her mouth.
There was a venomous look shot to the girl now from Keowen.
"You know, the rules of the land Obsidian lives in don't seem that funny sometimes." Beside him his sister stiffened up and worked on her food and Tristan himself was a little floored. Even though they all knew she would never go against her traditions, his mother had never outright used a threat like that.
With Seyondra now quiet the rest of the meal dissolved into quiet small chit-chat between mother and son.
It was when the door was thrown open that everyones gaze shot to the harried slave that ran in.
"Mistress!" She started without being asked to talk but Keowen was standing looking more alarmed than angry. Before the slave could finish her sentance the door was thrown open again and the slave knelt in apology immediately. Keowen could tell by the erratic breathing that the slave had indeed tried her best.
"Erienne?" Keowen looked back up to her fellow slaver as she threw open the door.
"Keowen! It's awful." She looked awful to be exact, her hair was a mess and her clothes were wrinkled and stained with something. Normally Keowen wouldn't be so alarmed however Erienne had made a show of always looking perfect and immaculate and nothing short of an emergency would allow her to show up like this.
"Well your style has gotten a little unorthodoxed, yes." Trying to lighten things up as she assesed the situation. Erienne looked down and waved her hand to dismiss that.
"Your slaves spilled some oil on the marble, I just came in too fast. But the important part is that I have to tell you there's been fires and rumors that they're going to keep happening!! There was a brewery that's been burned down and trashed, and some baronial manor that was gone in seconds, this maniac has no restraint no matter how far up on the ladder you are!!" She honestly looked annoyed that this arsonist didn't seem to discriminate against upper and lower class.
Erienne was a bit on the.. annoying side sometimes but she was great for news and information as no one was up on the gossip more than she, even if the information was a little off and exaggerated. The downfall was that she -was- up on the gossip and often helped spread it, which meant the oil slip wouldn't go unnoticed for long and Keowen would be shamed that another slaver had been allowed to get hurt in her Estates. This night just kept getting worse and worse. However Erienne was right, the fires were more important a subject as it broached a serious threat on both of their lively hoods.
"Thank you for the warning." She was suddenly distracted, how was she to protect the Estates?
"Oh baby, I brought more than a warning." Erienne said slyly now as if she could read her mind. Keowen looked up. "I brought my two mages. They've already cast protection from fire on my estate, I've brought them here for you!"
Great, now not only was Keowen in debt for her getting hurt on her property, she was also indebted for the protection.
"Erienne, I owe you much." She bowed politely and her kids followed suit. The slaver merely blew her a kiss.
"Think nothing of it darling, now, I must get home and divide my sod up into different areas." Sod was their term for savings pretty much and Keowen followed her quickly to help her out.
Tristan stood up looking smug and headed out leaving his sister to finish eating. Why he had any urge to annoy her when the love between him and his mother was all but nothing he could never figure it out, but there was a fierce protection there. The best way to annoy his sister? Interrupt his father, of course.
----------
While the others were having their dinner, Tristans father was just beginning to relax.
Kane yawned slightly as he stretched and more out of habit than anything began to pet the woman lying on his left side against his chest. All his years with Keowen had instilled that as she wanted to be pleased and then petted lightly to sleep. Alayne purred beside him at the touch and pressed her cheek to his chest as she wrapped her arms tighter around his waist.
It was her wistful sigh that pulled his gaze downward and he brushed her dark hair from her face.
"What?" He asked keeping his voice low as Azhure had been worn out so well she was asleep on his right side.
She looked up at him with her golden eyes and smiled slightly, reaching up to run a finger along his plush lips. Finally getting her thoughts into place she resnuggled her cheek against his defined chest and sighed once more.
"Don't you wish you were her?" There was a low chuckle from the dark man that resonated from that chest.
"Tawaret?" He was referencing the statue of the Goddess that had been erected on the stone pillar in front of their bed. "No, we're much better looking than that."
She laughed softly and shook her head.
"No, her. Mistress Keowen. Or.. " she paused drawing little circles across his tight abs, "or.. free." She whispered the last word as if saying it any louder would get her instantly killed.
Both of his brows raised as she finished her sentence and he stopped in the petting. This was a serious discussion and one that he felt passionately about.
"No." She looked up at him sharply with the fear echoing in her golden eyes as she had felt the tensing of his body. Was he going to tell on her now and get her killed? He was the Mistresses favorite and she was foolish to tempt the charmed snake.
He saw her fear and shook his head leaning down to kiss her forehead.
"Allow me to explain." He tried to relax his muscles again and went back to petting her lightly so she would relax too.
It took him awhile to figure out how to say it without sounding harsh. Kane had been raised in this lifestyle and had strong beliefs but knew it always came across as training instead of his own thoughts. He finally reached down to tug her hand upwards as he began.
"The life of a slave is simple. We get up, we do our duties, we have other friends that we can talk to. There's a roof over our heads and guards to keep us safe at night. The house is warm, the food is excellent and comes consistently." He left out the part of "as long as they obeyed" and continued, "We have clothes depending on the weather which are nice and keep us comfortable."
She was listening carefully as Kane didn't speak so much usually which meant every word was important to him.
"Now, let's pretend we were free." He shifted the topic easily and flipped her hand over as if emphasizing the point.
"We would get up, go to a job in worse conditions than this most likely. Struggle every day to earn our wages so that we could get the best food we could. We would have to try and find adequate shelter which probably wouldn't be in the best parts of town depending on our wages. There would be no security, clothing would be what we could get and hopefully enough to keep us warm in the winter. The struggle to survive would wear what spirits we have down and the misery isn't worth it."
She was absolutely quiet as she digested that thought. She always knew Kane was deep but never thought of the power behind the man's thoughts. She shivered involuntarily and pulled the covers up around them.
"As for Keowen? Remember last month when you were running through the house and hit your shin?"
The ebony curls nodded against his chest slowly.
"You cried and we were all there to help you and comfort you. When Erowayne called you ugly and fat and you were so livid when you came back, we were there to comfort you and soothe your nerves. You don't have to make any decisions, you don't have to worry about the food, if there's going to be enough, or is security enough to protect your investments.. Now, picture Mistress Keowen. She cannot show any emotion. She cannot cry and be comforted. She cannot show her full anger or any form of losing control."
He was watching her reactions as he talked and began petting through her hair. At least she was realizing he was being serious. He hated expressing himself and people blowing it off as if it were not his own feelings.
"There's constant worry about the crops and if she's going to feed us and if something goes wrong, can she support all of us through her funds that she has saved up. Is security tight enough? How can she protect all of us, especially in situations like the two breeders the other night."
He felt her shiver against his side and just used his arm to hold her.
"Well she should have her hands like.. something.. so she doesn't do that finger thing!!" She was serious still but he was just laughing heartily now.
"Ah, that. That's just a mind game of hers." Once again Alayne looked up to him confused.
"Imagine this.. you're standing in line with a bunch of other slaves in the training hall. You've been told how you need to act, the simple rules and what's expected. You will always have one or more in the bunch that are still defiant or just stubborn. Then -she- comes in. An act of defiance is shown and you see her finger notch downward and the slave down the line suddenly drop and scream. That produces a powerful effect. Now imagine seeing both of her hands drop and the whole of your group including you go down in pain. Suddenly you want nothing but to obey to avoid having her finger point towards you. Obedience is your first priority. She doesn't need to use her hands at all, it's more out of habit and years of doing so. It's also a way of warning others, you disobey, this is what you'll find. At the same time, it's letting others know when she's rewarding as well."
"What's that like?" Her voice filled with wonder now, she'd heard of the pleasure Keowen gave.
His whole body shivered a moment beneath her and her brows shot up.
"Remember how you felt earlier? The release, the sensation?" Ebony curls rubbed against his chest in a nod.
"Try ten times that powerful, even with just the slightest touch of her mind to yours. It takes over your whole body so much that you almost want to cry. It's amazing and more than you can ever get with me or anyone else."
"She still seems overly cruel and horrible." She pondered what he'd said for a moment as they both got quiet.
"Did you know she walks the fields?" She looked up at him to see if he was serious about that.
"On Mondays," he began into her schedule if nothing else but to broaden Alayne's knowledge past her own little circle, "she visits the farm and the fields. She makes sure no worker has more than they can handle. Twice a week because of the heavy lifting, they are sent to the massage rooms. Tuesdays, she visits the breeding house. She makes sure every new mother is getting plenty of water and fruits and that the babies are being well taken care of. Wednesdays, she visits the common room and makes sure the houses are well taken care of, that there's no leaks and that it's kept clean. Thursdays through Sundays are her own for business and whatnot, but even though she won't show us that she cares - she does."
"She has a ton of things to worry and stress over. She is a woman who's worked her way to the top and still gets scorn from her fellow male slavers who feel that she doesn't deserve her position."
"But she was born into it! She's so spoiled!" The raven haired one finally interrupted him and he laughed.
"Yes, she was born into it, yes, she's spoiled beyond belief and is a pain in the rear sometimes. However she still has to struggle. She still has to earn the respect of her colleagues who feel she can't cut it. And never would I want to be her or in her position. I prefer to be a spoiled slave who has nothing better to worry about than if my clothes are perfect and how best to please the one who protects me."
She sighed and lay there against him for a long time taking into consideration everything he had said. She knew he had a point and for now the need for flight was satiated and she would spend longer moments pondering that.
"Kane?"
"Hmm?" She loved the way he sounded like he was purring when he did that.
"Still my thoughts again?" She also loved the sly little grin he wore sometimes.
"Yes, Mistress." He said playfully and turned his body to atop of hers but paused as the door opened.
"Kane?" The voice that filtered over the quietness was his son's and he sat up to look over.
"Tristan?" The bright light of the hall had momentarily blinded him and he tried to adjust his eyes.
"There's trouble and mother is angry." It was the only time he really used that term for her but it produced the desired effect as the man stood and pulled on his white pants quickly leaving Alayne there to follow his son.
Other than to annoy his sister Tristan really did have good intentions with interrupting Kane. The night had been pretty annoying for him and much more frustrating to his mother. Heads -would- roll now he was certain and Kane would be a soothing presence for her.
Seyondra came around the corner and her eyes narrowed as she saw the two.
"How dare you!" She was absolutely livid but since Keowen wasn't around Tristan just smirked at her.
"Keep it up Sey, I'll get mother a breeder for Christmas and maybe she'll sire a.. nicer heir." Since Keowen wasn't around technically Tristan was the higher entity and so Kane had followed behind and to the right of his son and was therefor stopped as the siblings squabbled.
Seyondra was shaking with rage now as that had been twice she'd been sufficiently knocked off her high horse. While Keowen's threat really didn't pose one, Tristan's threat very well could happen. She spun on heel and stormed off to her room with only a snapped reply over her shoulder.
"I do not wish to be disturbed the rest of the evening." With that, she slammed the door Kane and Tristan had just exited leaving her brother smirking in amusement.
"I hope she grows out of it." Kane said quietly as they made their way towards the front of the house.
"I hope you bear another child with Keowen and that it's another boy and I get my heir." He said bitterly.
Kane snickered slightly. "You know that she would set you up with your own Estate." Tristan's head nodded and realized that's probably where his deep loyalty came into play save for his innate loyalty that his father passed down to him. Keowen -would- take care of him as long as he was within traditions. He certainly didn't want to end up as Seyondra's accountant, not with the way she acted. If Keowen had another girl he would act for her otherwise he'd make his own heir and be her support.
That train of thought was stopped as they arrived at the front door to find Keowen and two other slaves. With the latter cleaning up Tristan arrived at his mother's side and Kane stepped into his place.
"Why are there only two maids here to help you, Keowen?" Her son asked and looked around increduously quite aware now with his proximity that she was extremely tense with anger.
"The others have been sent out to be executed." Kane flinched a bit, this was definitely not a good night.
"They spilled a whole barrel and a half of the olive oil." It was Tristans turn to flinch now as he did the calculations. There was no way to get that back so they would end up short this year and without some of their favorite dinners and without proper food for the parties Keowen generally threw.
Emeralds turned to look at him not unkindly before she sighed heavily. Tristan had however, noticed that she looked a little happier when she saw that Kane was with him and the satisfaction came flooding back in. Two points Tristan, Seyondra none.
"I'm going to retire to my room and eat and then turn in for the night." She leaned forward and kissed her son's cheek which caused him to blink. She rarely ever did that and the second surprise was that his annoyance and anger which had built up during dinner just sort of dissolved. He gave her a deeper bow than protocol called for.
"I'll make sure this gets cleaned up, sleep well dear Keowen."
She nodded her head back and headed to her room with Kane in tow.
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