Slave Trade - Conflicted
Slave Trade Conflicted copyright 2013 comidacomida
Sidney had fallen asleep amidst the scented sheets and pillows of the posh bed. The aromas of hops, chamomile, lavender, and other herbs he couldn't place filled his nose and his dreams, and he slept more fully than he recalled in any other case... save perhaps when he was at Lord Levid's estate in the embrace of his Master. His awakening was just as aromatic.
The fox stirred as the soft, mellow aura of herbs still present in his nose were supplemented and ultimately overpowered by a new, much more powerful but no less pleasant smelling odor. Sidney slowly sat up, taking in a deep breath as he tried to identify the sweet, nutty-caramel scent mixed with just the faintest hint of sulfur. He started the moment he saw Lord Talvin seated next to the bed on a chair, a ceramic mug cupped between his paws with its contents steaming faintly.
"Good morning, Sidney." the wolf offered amiably.
"Good morning, Lord Talvin." Sidney responded immediately, sitting up straight, at attention; he didn't miss the fact that Lord Talvin was still naked.
"Calm yourself." the wolf smiled faintly, lifting his mug to his muzzle and sipping lightly at the steaming liquid, "It is still early, and I do not expect you to be at my beck and call before the sun is even up." Sidney flicked an ear, cocking his head to the side at Lord Talvin's casual disregard for his station as a rented slave. He was just about to speak up with his host continued, "Would you care for some coffee, my dear fox?" and he held his mug out across the bed to the slave.
Sidney looked down at the black fluid in the mug, ears up, "Cough-ee?"
Lord Talvin drew the drink away from him when the fox showed no indication of accepting. "Mmm." the wolf acknowledged with an affirmative sound, sipping at the brew again, "A Tenvierian drink... I am not surprised that you are unfamiliar with it... Tea is much more commonplace here in Pross."
"I have had tea before." Sidney volunteered, "But not coffee."
"Of course." the wolf inclined his head before taking another sip, "I would suppose that water would be the drink of choice for most slaves."
Nodding, the fox acknowledged the statement. Several moments of silence passed between them before Sidney spoke up, unable to keep the words from escaping his muzzle, "You were really a slave?"
"Yes." Lord Talvin stated simply, eyes peering at the fox over the rim of his mug as he took another sip.
"And..." Sidney swallowed as his throat rebelled against his next question, apprehension fueling his submissive tone, "...you were an assassin?"
"Yes." the wolf smiled, setting the mug down on the night stand next to the bed; his tail wagged languidly from side to side.
"So..." the fox's ears fell slightly, "You... killed people?"
Lord Talvin nodded, "I did." the admission was casual, and without any indication of the wolf's pleasure or displeasure of the fact. "My master at the time ordered me to kill four people during the time he owned me." He stood and moved to the door, "Come."
Sidney stood immediately and followed, "So, you... you killed four people?"
"Far more than that, my fine fox." again, the words were matter-of-fact, without any hint of pride or revulsion, "Although I may be an assassin no longer, the training is still with me and... quite frankly, I do not always have the luxury of leaving..." the wolf took several steps before finding the right word, "...loose ends."
"Like Lady Fody." it was as much a question as a statement.
"She died far more cleanly than she deserved." Lord Talvin's words were accompanied by a faint growl, but he came to a stop, still looking away from Sidney, and amended his statement, "Yes, Sidney... like Lady Fody."
"Then, you DID kill her..."
"Not in any manner I would ever admit to." the wolf noted, pointedly dancing around Sidney's question, "Let us talk no further of her." he continued walking as he addressed the topic with a tone that bade no disobedience.
Sidney followed Lord Talvin past an intersection in the hall-- the one that led to the main door. "Who were the people your master had you kill?" he asked, glancing once down the side passage to the manor's front windows; it was still dark outside.
Lord Talvin went through the list of people as if he were recounting a list of things to purchase at the market, "My first master, who was a political rival. Another Lord who had an interest in some of my Master's business dealings, and the wife of my Master's best friend."
The fox, astounded by the list, didn't really know where to begin with his follow-up question; his attention to detail, however, brought him to the most prominent one, "What about the fourth person your master had you kill?"
"He ordered me to kill four," Lord Talvin stated, finally stopping as he came to a door on the left wall of the hallway. He turned to face Sidney, stating calmly, "I did not kill my fourth target."
"Why not?" the fox inquired.
"Because my Master died before I carried out his order." something about the severity of the wolf's tone left Sidney wondering further at the statement, but he was not about to push the issue. "Now..." Lord Talvin's voice immediately changed to one of a more pleasant, casual nature, "I believe we should get you suitably cleaned up before we head back to Lord Hector's estate."
"Yes, Lord Talvin." the fox affirmed, waiting patiently as the wolf opened the door. A wave of warm steam flowed across them both and Sidney shivered faintly at the feel of the herb-infused haze tickling his fur and caressing his nose. The slave master fought back a yip as Lord Talvin's arm wrapped around his waist, and the wolf ushered him forward into the room and through the door.
"Ian will see to you." Lord Talvin announced, standing in the doorway. The wolf motioned Sidney toward the hazy figure awaiting him in the center of the room. The fox complied, moving timidly closer tp indistinct form that was shrouded by the heavy steam. As Sidney drew nearer to Ian, the slave master's eyes grew wide, ears falling to the side of his head as a reptilian snout, scaled limbs, and long, thick tail manifested from within the hot brume.
Sidney found himself unable to formulate a suitable sentence, "It... it... it!!!" Ian extended a talon toward him, four wicked claws outstretched, "Sarvistinian!" the fox practically screeched the warning.
Lord Talvin's paws clamped down on the slave master's shoulders and he stated a single word, "Indeed."
"But--" Sidney began, shying away as the lizard drew even closer; with his back pressed against Lord Talvin's sternum the fox had nowhere to go.
"I know." the wolf responded, a hint of mirth in his voice, "Sarvistinians are to be killed on sight... and he is obviously not dead." Lord Talvin gently extended his arms, pushing Sidney back toward the creature.
Ian was much taller than the fox, but not quite Maern's height. The Sarvistinian's build was slightly broader than Lord Talvin's but the thick plates along his shoulders and the outsides of his arms made him look even bulkier. The ridge of the lizard's tail held the same broad, overlapping, traingular plates as his shoulders, which were in stark contrast to the smooth, band-like scales along his neck, chest, and groin. Sidney's eyes stopped when he realized that the lizard man was completely naked.
Heedless of the fox's observations of the Sarventinian, Lord Talvin had continued talking, " ...and once he has you clean, he will guide you to the breakfast table... it would be unseemly for me to bring you back to Lord Hector without first being fed."
Sidney swallowed apprehensively, tail curling between his legs at the way Ian's dark red, slitted-pupil eyes explored his body, "Lord Talvin?"
"Yes, dear fox?" the wolf's voice was further away, coming to him from beyond the doorway leading to the hall.
There were any of a dozen questions Sidney felt needed to be asked, but all he could manage was a timid "His... his name is... Ian?"
"No, Sidney." Lord Talvin chuckled, "I call him 'Ian' because it is easy to say, unlike his given name."
The fox managed to push one more question out of his still-stunned muzzle, "And... he is a slave?"
"He is not." the wolf answered, "I saved his life and, per their way, this means that he is Lifebound to me." Sidney heard the door swing closed behind him, but not before his host added briefly, "Enjoy your shower."
"Shower?" Sidney turned, glancing back toward the wolf, but the door was already closed. He didn't have time to dwell on the thought, however, as a scaled talon came to rest on his shoulder, palm first, and then each of three fingers slowly curling down into place, one after another until he was fully in Ian's grasp; the fox shuddered.
The lizard man slowly about-faced Sidney and motioned him toward the far end of the room, which was barely visible through the clouds of steam. The fox obediently took the silent direction, moving where Ian led him through gesture alone. The chamber, Sidney realized, was triangular in shape, noticing it only as the side walls began to close in on them as they drew nearer to the back corner.
The fox could see several large cauldrons lining either side of the room, water bubbling away within them. Ian came to a stop, talon still on his shoulder. The lizard man pointed past him to the corner opposite the entry door, which was decidedly different from the rest of the room; from the eight foot ceiling down to the floor it was tiled with cream-colored marble. Four small, metal pipes emerged from the very top of the walls, two per side, pointing down at an angle toward the corner, and a small, circular metal grate was positioned in the middle of the slightly downward-sloping, tiled floor.
Sidney glanced to Ian who, wordlessly, motioned to the tiled corner. Accepting the direction, the fox moved immediately, tentatively placing one paw then the other onto the tile; he was surprised at the warmth in it, but only until he realized that the room was obviously hot enough that there was no reason for the marble to be cold. The fox didn't have any more time to question his surrounding as he was suddenly set on all sides by a vigorous rain... warm, sweet-scented rain.
Covering his eyes from the worst of the falling spray, Sidney looked up only to discover that the cascading water was coming from the nozzles. Only after the initial shock wore off did the fox realize that the hot water streaming down onto him felt good... very, very good. "Ooohhh..." he gasped, slowly turning amidst the flow to thoroughly soak himself.
The fox reveled in the feel of the hot water washing all over him, enjoying it like he was able to celebrate the few times he had been graced with a hot bath, and yet, at the same time, it was something completely new and wonderful in its own fashion. He was giddy with joy, lost in the sensations of being caressed by the falling water until, suddenly, it stopped.
The end to the water flow was heralded with a faint, metallic squeak; the shower was done. Ian stepped into Sidney's field of view with a large, plush towel that the fox swore could have been big enough to serve as a blanket and, was without even the slightest warning, engulfed him in it. The fox's first reaction was to struggle, but he overrode it and remained stock still for the lizard, realizing that the blanket was not a net and the Sarventinian was not a slaver.
After a few seconds of vigorous rubbing, Ian released his head, pulling the cloth past it has he continued to dry Sidney off. The slave master was not used to the pampering, and had to fight back a giggle a few times as the lizard's firm talons managed to hint at a ticklish response in him. Even so, the fox remained still and obediently accessible for Ian's task of getting him dry. Sidney tensed only once, and that was as the towel, which would do little to blunt the lizard's dagger-like claws, slid between his legs, nimbly and efficiently drying off his sheath and furred sac.
Ian turned and set the towel on a wall peg, then looked back to the fox. Sidney watched the lizard's pupils expand from slits to diamonds, then back again as Ian inspected him. The fox, who had been relaxed by the shower, began to feel the creeping grasp of unease take hold of him again as the Sarventinian's sard-colored gaze assessed him critically. The slave master's tail was just starting to tuck when, with a definitive nod, Ian turned, and walked back toward the door leading out into the hall. He paused, glanced back over his shoulder, and motioned for Sidney to follow.
The fox padded after him, looking to the left and right at the cauldrons; they were still giving off steam, but, he noticed, the water levels in them had decreased dramatically. He wondered if it had all evaporated that quickly, but had little time to dwell on it as his attentive ears heard the sound of metal squeaking on the far side of the room. Looking in that direction, Sidney saw that Ian had opened a cabinet the fox hadn't noticed when he'd first entered the bathing chamber.
The lizard man drew out a long leather cord that was adorned with countless beads, pausing to wrap it around his waist and affixing it behind himself, tying it off above his broad, reptilian tail. He then reached back into the cabinet and pulled out a long, three-foot bolt of coarse-looking brown cloth. The length of what appeared to be hand-woven fabric was approximately twice as long as it was wide but, when Ian slid it between his groin and the beaded leather and folded it in half over the cord it hung down in front of his crotch, a near-perfect square.
"I..." Sidney jumped at the sound of his own voice, but quickly recovered and started again, "I've never seen a loin cloth like that before." He cleared his throat and started over, "I don't think I've heard of decorating a loin cloth rope... and... uh..." he rubbed the back of his head, uneasy with the one sided conversation, "... just having the... uh... front covered."
If Ian heard him, the lizard made no indication of it. Instead, he continued rummaging around in the cabinet and pulled out Sidney's green vest and loin cloth-- both of which appeared to be freshly laundered. The fox took a half-step back when the Sarventinian's eyes settled on him again, and matched the step anew when the lizard approached him.
Ian, without a word, pressed the clothing into the slave master's grasp, then about-faced and walked out the door, leaving it open behind himself. Sidney quickly got dressed and followed. The lizard waited for him out in the hall, and paused just long enough to close the door once the fox emerged. Sidney shivered faintly as the warmth of the bathing chamber was banished, but he recovered quickly and followed after the Sarventinian, who was already heading off down the hallway toward a new destination.
They stopped at a set of double doors, but only for a moment as the lizard stepped ahead. The aroma of countless foods bombarded Sidney the moment Ian opened the way to the adjoining room. The fox's muzzle began to salivate immediately at the plethora of aromas and his guide had no trouble leading him into the room. "Hello again." Lord Talvin offered in welcome as the two approached; the slave master did not miss the fact that his host was now dressed.
Sidney was surprised at the dining hall. In all his years, the fox had seen a few different Lords' manors, and all had amazingly luxurious arrangements, as if each strove to outdo the other with the opulence of their entertaining areas. Lord Talvin's eatery, however, was austere in comparison; economical, and unpretentious... yet somehow elegant in its simplicity. A single rectangular table, just large enough to seat perhaps six took up the center of the small room; four chairs were spaced evenly along the length.
Aside from three empty plates in front of three of the chairs, there were also several platters containing numerous prepared dishes. Sidney saw eggs, bread, diced potatoes, some kinds of cakes and pastries, fresh fruit, and-- he paused, fighting back his gag reflex, "Pork?" he inquired, hoping he didn't look greenish at the thought.
"Ham steak... bacon... sausage..." Lord Talvin motioned to each dish as he identified it, "and a Tenvierian specialty..." he pointed to another dish, "It is called Yuung. It is a cut not often found in Pross.. most often fed to pets because the chefs here do not know how to correctly prepare it."
"Th-thank you... Lord Talvin." Sidney noted, holding his stomach with a paw as he was guided to his seat by Ian. The lizard circled the table and took the chair beside the wolf.
"Is something wrong, Sidney?" his host inquired, collecting small helpings from each dish on the table, creating what appeared to be a veritable work of art on his plate.
"I..." the fox swallowed the bile that was starting to build, "...do not eat meat... Lord Talvin." he admitted.
"Ah." the wolf nodded, motioning to the collection of platters, "Ian... if you please?"
The lizard nodded his head and stood, gathering up the meat dishes once Lord Talvin had taken his helping. At first, Sidney thought the Sarventinian was going to leave the room with them but, much to the fox's surprise, Ian tilted his head back as he raised the first platter to his snout, jaws distending as he slid the entirety of the contents down his throat. Despite the initial performance, Sidney was just as shocked as the lizard repeated the action, completely consuming each platter in succession until only the empty serving dishes remained.
Lord Talvin smiled, watching Sidney's reactions, "Ian, if you have not yet realized it, has many uses." he chuckled good-naturedly, "Interesting, is it not?"
The fox's response was spoken directly as a train of thought comment, completely uncensored, "If he eats THAT easily Why does he even have TEETH?!?" In response, Lord Talvin laughed that much harder.
* * * * * *
Maern didn't join the procession until they were outside. Lord Talvin gave Ian directions and orders to complete during his absence, and let the Sarventinian know that he anticipated being home early afternoon or that evening; the lizard nodded in response, and walked off further into the house, out of view. Sidney couldn't help but question an observation he made, "He doesn't go outside?"
"It would be foolish and risky." Lord Talvin stated, "It would put us both at risk considering what the laws have to say about his people. So... no..." the wolf glanced over at the fox before climbing up into the carriage, "... no, he does not go outside."
Sidney stepped up into the transport after the wolf and, at Lord Talvin's direction, closed the door. Maern walked around to the wolf's window, and the two exchanged a few words in Vensian, ending with the stallion nodding his head and stating definitively, "Iya, Lord Tal-vin." at which point, the lord closed the blind and turned back, looking to the fox.
Lord Talvin did not miss the slave master's inquisitive expression, "Yes?" at which point, the wolf reached over and rubbed one of Sidney's erect ears.
The fox lowered them. "Why do you have Ian here if it's forbidden?" his ears raised again as his curiosity won control of them, "Aren't you always supposed to do what Lord Levid commands of you?"
The wolf smirked at that, still toying with the fox's ear as the transport began to move. "We are all thinking men, my dear Bane. We have within us the capacity to do good or ill, and it is ultimately up to each and every one of us to determine whether it is better to do ill as we are told, or to disobey for the sake of doing good."
"I don't understand." Sidney's ears fell slightly, "Slaves don't decide on good or bad... that's what our Masters do." he cocked his head to the side, "Lord Hector told me that Lord Levid is his master like he is mine."
Lord Talvin chuckled and patted him on the heed, withdrawing to his side of the carriage, "Yes, and no, my fine vulpine... it is fair to say that the relationship Lords share with Lord Levid is SIMILAR in many ways to a slave and his master, but it is not identical." the wolf reached into his traveling jacket and pulled out a small piece of triangular leather adorned with several small loops of woven cloth, "As free men, Lords enjoy a greater latitude in the choices we make, regardless of how much Lord Levid would prefer otherwise." the wolf scowled.
"You do not like Lord Levid?" Sidney asked, able to tell the answer without Lord Talvin even needing to say it.
"No one would openly admit disliking their king, Sidney..." the wolf smiled, giving him a wink, "It would be like you saying that you hated Lord Hector."
"I don't!" the slave master noted emphatically, "Lord Hector is the best master possible... he's-"
Lord Talvin raised a paw and Sidney fell silent, "Say no more... my own experience with Lord Hector can speak volumes..." Despite himself, the fox felt a smile spread across his muzzle at the genuine feeling the wolf put into the words. "A bad reference, I suppose..." Lord Talvin continued, "Regardless, speaking poorly of one's king is simply not done."
"And you're disobeying him too...?"
The wolf chuckled at the question and began fitting the strange leather piece to his palm, tying it off around his thumb and pinkie to hold it in place, "The term is 'civil disobedience', my dear Bane... it means to purposefully ignore rules that you believe to be wrong."
Sidney blinked, "You do not think that Sarvistinians should be killed on sight?"
Lord Talvin casually replaced the question with one of his own, "Why should they?"
"Everything I've ever heard about them says that they're barbarians... and vicious... and blood-thirsty, and... and... uh... evil..." the fox explained.
"I see..." the wolf nodded thoughtfully, then glanced at Sidney out of the corner of his eyes, "And you would now say from personal experience that Ian was all of these things?"
"Uh..." Sidney paused.
"Tell me, my most astute and observant fox..." Lord Talvin began to run his fingers through the fur of the slave master's plush tail, "If I were to describe Lord Levid as vicious and blood-thirsty, would that not be more accurate than to say the same for Ian?"
"I--" the fox paused.
"It would... would it not?" the wolf pressed, "You saw the glee he derived from pitting slaves against one another in a fight to the death. He never bothered to spare a life when he had a chance to take it." Lord Talvin, having tightened the bindings down, flexed his paw several times, clenching it then relaxing it, as if feeling the give and resistance it provided. "Do you think he would have spared Maern if it had been Olnyr that had won in the arena?"
Sidney shook his head, "No."
"I believe you are correct." the wolf nodded, and he started loosening the bindings from his fingers. Lord Talvin glanced to the fox, "So that does make one wonder... if Lord Levid expects his subjects to kill the vicious and blood-thirsty, why then should he be able to exhibit those same, undesirable traits without being put down himself?"
The slave master froze, eyes widening as he read into what the would was implying, "A-are you saying that... that someone should kill Lord Levid?!?"
Lord Talvin shrugged, "I SAID no such thing..." he flicked an ear, "But what you think I was IMPLYING... well..." he leaned back against the bench as he let out a content sigh, folding the lacing across the scrap of leather, "ah... such a fine morning... a wonderful day for traveling, don't you think, Sidney?"
The fox felt less inclined to follow through with small chat, preferring the opportunity to ask questions, but he also knew it wasn't his place to run the conversation, "It is beautiful, Lord Talvin." he confirmed neutrally, then pressed his luck by following up with a candid question, "Are you concerned about getting in trouble for everything you've done?"
A faint smile spread across the wolf's muzzle and he turned to regard the fox with a raised eyebrow, "Am I concerned?" he nodded faintly, "Of course the fear is there, my dear Sidney, but men cannot be ruled by fear if they wish to make a difference." Lord Talvin sat up straighter, "Besides..." his smile widened, "In order to get in trouble, you must first get caught... and THAT, my friend, is something I certainly do not plan on letting happen."
"Lord Hector might order me to tell him what happened when I visited." Sidney explained, feeling a faint flutter in his chest when he realized admitting it might make the dangerous wolf see him as a threat.
Lord Talvin smirked, "You could always omit certain details if you chose to."
"If he asked me then I will answer." the fox responded without even a moment's hesitation, fighting to keep his voice steady.
"Your master knows enough of what I do that he can approve of me as an ally." the wolf's smile disappeared, "The more he knows the more endangered he becomes." Lord Talvin was staring critically, "I will say this once, and only once, Sidney..." they locked gazes and the slave master was immediate cowed, "He is NOT to know about Ian."
Sidney fidgeted, finding it hard to breathe as he was pinned in place by the predatory gaze, "If.. if he a-asks, I... WILL tell him."
"Hmm..." Lord Talvin answered, and broke the gaze, "...a pity." and they shared not another word for the entirety of the carriage ride. After what felt like forever, the transport finally rolled into Lord Hector's courtyard.
Their parting was short and simple. Lord Talvin stated calmly, "Get out." the fox opened the door, climbing out of the carriage and onto the ground. The wolf's head appeared momentarially in the window as he added, "Tell him whatever you wish... but do not cross me, Sidney... not a WORD about Ian." and, with that, the carriage started back up, moving off down the road and out of the estate.
Maern, who had been standing on the other side of the carriage, was suddenly within view. The stallion trotted over and rested a hand on the distracted fox's shoulder, "Hi, Sid-ney."
"Hi, Maern." the slave master responded, letting out a sigh.
The horse's ears raised as he gazed at the fox, "Sid-ney gud?"
"Yea... I guess it's just..." he glanced to to the stallion, then sighed, "Yea, Maern... I just--" but he fell to silence as he saw Finneas approaching.
He hurried up to them and, without pleasantries, announced, "Lord 'ector's waiting for yeh at th' garden."
Sidney offered Finneas a brief nod, but the slave was already on his way to whatever was next on his list; the fox wondered how Finneas had managed to survive with an injured leg long enough for it to heal. Maern gave his shoulder a faint squeeze, "Lord Heck-ter... gar-din." and the stallion motioned toward the side of the house.
"Right." the slave master nodded, "Thank you, Maern." and he headed toward the meeting place, smiling faintly at the large stallion's simple 'wel-come'.
The two passed by within view of the stables and, despite the faint rain cloud over Sidney's thoughts, the fox still managed to smile a little as he watched the gladiators working within the training circle. Dorias was leading the group in morning exercises, managing to ignore Choel's constant talking; due to the distance, Sidney wasn't sure what was being said but, based on the tiger's enormous grin, the fox had a few possible ideas. The slave master's smile faded quickly however as his attention returned to the garden; Lord Hector was seated on a bench and was already looking his way.
The stag spoke up first, "Welcome back, Sidney... you still appear to be in fine condition." Lord Hector smiled warmly, "I am glad to see you have returned to me in one piece." He then glanced to stallion, "Moa Dun, Maern."
"Moa Don, Lord Heck-tur." the horse bowed his head.
The stag's attention once more turned to Sidney, "You were well cared for?"
"Yes, Master." the fox bowed, "Thank you, Master."
"Excellent." Lord Hector smiled warmly and motioned to a decent sized rock, "Sit..." he invited, and Sidney moved obediently to it, "Now... tell me what you learned..."
Sidney didn't know if the stag realized just how big of a question he had just asked, but the fox knew for certain that the answer would not be a short one. He took a seat, and Maern sat down on the ground beside him; the stallion was still the taller of the two despite their difference in altitude.
It took nearly an hour and a half for the slave master to provide a full report to Lord Hector. Sidney left no detail out, explaining that Lord Talvin had spoken about his association with the stag. The fox described the bedroom where he had been along with the scents of both it and the bathing chamber. He went into specifics about his experience with the shower, and, despite the unspoken threat from Lord Talvin, also told the stag everything he had learned about the Sarvistinian.
Throughout the entire report Lord Hector remained stoic and attentive. Only once Sidney came to the end of his narration, stumbling over Lord Talvin's suggestion that he not discuss specifics with the stag did the fox's master show any indication that he had any input to provide. "And then he left, and Finneas told me to come to you, Master." Sidney finished his tale simply, and with little flourish.
The stag's first question was not exactly what the slave master had expected, "Did you not say that Talvin asked that you NOT tell me about his Sarvistinian?"
"Yes, Master." the fox nodded kurtly.
"And yet you told me anyway?" Lord Hector motioned to Maern, who understood the gesture and immediately stood from his place seated by Sidney's rock, patted the fox on the shoulder, and headed off back to the stable.
Sidney nodded again to the stag once the stallion had left, "Yes, Master."
"Lord Talvin is a very dangerous man, Sidney..." Lord Hector stated calmly, "Why did you not do as he ordered?"
"Because you are my Master, Lord Hector... he is not."
"Ah..." the stag nodded thoughtfully, "And what of the fourth target?"
The fox paused at the change in discussion, "Master?" he questioned.
"You said that Talvin's second master sent him against four targets... but you only told me about three."
Sidney flicked an ear, wondering for a moment if he forgot to explain, "He said his Master died before he carried out the order."
Lord Hector raised an eyebrow, "He didn't tell you HOW his Master died, or who his fourth target was?"
An uneasy feeling settled into Sidney's gut at his master's question, "No, Master."
The stag smiled, "His fourth target was me." The reveal was a surprise, causing the fox to reel where he was seated as he tried to connect the dots within his mind. The process suddenly became that much harder when Lord Hector calmly added, "And his Master died because Talvin killed him instead of me."
Sidney tried several times to speak, but failed each time. His muzzle remained dropped, chin wagging faintly each time he attempted to make a sound. Lord Hector smiled, leaning forward before speaking softly, "You are welcome to ask a question, Sidney." he chuckled faintly as he said the words, obviously realizing that the slave master needed a moment to compose himself, not just permission.
The fox finally succeeded, "Why?" Sidney almost tripped over the single syllable, but, once it was out, he managed better following it, "Why would he do that?"
A rustle from the undergrowth of the garden caught the fox's attention, and Lord Talvin emerged from behind a short wall of arborvitae, his tail swaying from side to side, "Because, my dear Bane... Hector did not deserve death. I understood that it was not my Master's decision whether he would die... it was mine." the wolf turned to regard the stag before glancing back to the fox, "I would have regretted letting someone else decide for me, but I do not regret having made the decision for myself."
"When Talvin's master died his estate was put up for sale." Lord Hector explained simply; the wolf sat on the ground by his side, and Sidney was astounded when the stag placed a hand on Lord Talvin's head, not unlike a hunter and his feral hound, "and so I purchased him."
Sidney, still in shock, still somehow managed to ask, "Did you know he was an assassin?"
Lord Hector nodded, "I knew he was a slave that was taught to kill."
Lord Talvin glanced up at the stag, "But he purchased me so no one else would make me kill for them again... then changed my name back to what it had once been... and taught me how to be something else..." the wolf's voice cracked for a moment before he regained control, "...he saved me."
Lord Hector glanced down to the wolf with a smile, "You would not have succeeded without being willing to be saved."
Sidney felt a momentary grasp of jealousy, but he quickly tossed it aside, "And you made him a Lord?"
"In one form or another I have always been a tool." Lord Talvin explained, "This is just another way I can be of use... and a way that I prefer to any other." he gazed up at the stag in adoration, and Sidney suddenly felt an eerie sense of camaraderie with the wolf.
"And..." the fox paused, reliving for a moment the intimidation within the carriage, "...telling Lord Hector about--"
"A test." Lord Talvin answered, "I had to know you were loyal to Lord Hector above anything else... even at your own risk."
"Always." Sidney attested without hesitation.
"There are other, less stressful ways, it could have been Talvin." the stag offered with a hint of a frown.
"Actions speak louder than words, Lord Hector." the wolf slowly pulled away, getting to his feet, "And, on that note... I am afraid I must take my leave, as I am due at a luncheon, and I still have a part to play in this fine production." With that, Lord Talvin offered a theatrical bow and started off down the garden path.
Sidney pressed his luck, "Lord Talvin?" he called.
The wolf came to a pause and about-faced, inclining his head courteously with a keen grin on his muzzle, "Yes, oh worthy fox?"
"You said Lord Hector changed your name BACK to Talvin?" the slave master cocked his head to the side.
"Indeed he did." Lord Talvin nodded casually, "I was nearly a teenager when I was taken as a slave. The slavers numbered me 'Oh-Nine' and my first master named me 'Owen'... my second master changed my name again, and Lord Hector then restored my true name to me."
"You've had that many names?" the fox spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Names are just that... names." the wolf responded, "What you are called does not make you who you are." he offered a smile. Unable to contribute anything in response to the philosophical comment, Sidney simply nodded. Lord Talvin about-faced, and trotted off down the garden path, raising a paw and offering a quick flick at the wrist in a casual farewell gesture.
Sidney looked back to Lord Hector as the elk chuckled. When his master noticed his gaze, the stag smiled, "He did not always believe those words."
"Master?"
Lord Hector nodded sagely, "For the longest time he let his second master's name for him define him... it was not easy, and progress was slow, but I'm pleased how far he's come."
The fox cocked his head to the side, ears up as he addressed the stag. The question was out of his muzzle before he'd even realized he'd asked it, "What was his name?"
His master's eyes settled on him, a strange emotion hiding behind them as Lord Hector spoke a name that sent the fox's fur to standing on end, "Bane."