As evening came, Zen had ate his evening meal alone in his office, and then went to bed tired from the day, but as he sat down he saw Elina enter and slide in beside him. Zen took hold of Elina and held her tightly as they slipped under the covers together. He knew Elina had good intentions, and he was alright with that. They held each other for a while and then made love before they fell asleep in each other’s arms. Zen woke up when he felt Elina slipping out of bed and putting on her clothes, and he knew she was going to her room to change before working.

This was the mind set of those in this world, and he felt he was slowly adjusting to it. He also got up, but since Elina was gone, he immediately went in to his sanctuary and started working on the plans for the village. He initially had thought about not developing this location, but instead he decided on giving the bare necessities for an outpost here.

Outposts were about the same size as villages, but with fortifications. This made them great places for travels and caravans to stop on their trips. This was income and new items for his people, so it was a good thing, and he smiled and thought about setting up a trading center near the fortification. It was the middle of nowhere now, but maybe not in the future if he did things right.

Coral Heights was currently still a small village with better defenses, and his problem was still lack of living spaces. He brought up the menu and saw that over the last few days the villagers had completed making over 50 mud and grass blocks. There were over 150 still in the drying mode waiting to be completely dry so they weren’t thought of as resources yet. Many of the villager’s help take part in this because he was trading work for food rations, and the rations were better than they were getting on their own.

Zen brought up the timer and he looked at the ETA of the arrival of the slaves and other resources, and smiled because it was less than 7 hours away. He had to prepare for them and get the word out that there was help on the way here. The villagers probably wouldn’t like it but when it was known they were here to help with rebuilding and fortifying the village they would accept it. He entered his Avatar and quickly finished breakfast and went to the training area for spear practice. There he went through his routine, but after it he had one of the boys that trained with them ring the bell and bring everybody to the town square.

The villagers all gathered in the square and Zen stood near the altar with two of his body guards there as a token protection. The villagers were all in a better situation than they were before, so they were moderately happy. There only true complaints were the lack of housing, which were supplemented by a small tent city that was growing near the center of the village.

“Thank you for coming so promptly.” Zen said as he smiled at the slowly growing crowd. “I know everybody is worried about the issue with lack of housing, but later today we will be getting some aid. There is a large group of new arrivals that will help with the processing and construction of new homes, and with them comes more supplies for the village as well.”

The villagers heard of the people coming to build stronger homes, and were happy, but there were still some that had nervous expressions at the mention of more people coming. They were living good now, but more people meant more food as well. Supplies could only last so long so how could they not be a little worried. Zen noticed the anxious looks and smiled broadly and needed to calm them down.

“With the new arrivals there will also be coming a large supply of food to help supplement them and the rest of the villagers. The arrivals are here to help and in no way threaten our way of life, and I give you my word on this.” Zen said as his Lord’s Aura flared around him. “I will not let anybody harm my people, but on that same note I can not allow anybody to harm those that serve me as well. The new arrivals pose no threat to any of you, and that is because they are all bonded slaves.”

The voices of different villagers started to panic, but soon other voices in the crowd calmed them down letting them know that bonded slaves are forced to follow commands of there master. They also knew if Lord Martell wanted to kill them he could have done it long ago just with his body guards alone. Zen had talked to Banick the day he came back and asked him to let the village leaders know in advance, and it was them that just calmed down the rest of the villagers.

“I know you are worried, but they are truly here to help, and I have paid quite an expense to bring them here.” Zen said loudly. “Your lives will be better because of this, and when they are done here they will have another task away from the village. I only warn you that while you are free, and they are not. I don’t want to see anybody order them around or unfairly treat them, because if you do then I will be greatly disappointed.”

Zen looked at the crowd sternly and then softened his expression before finally saying. “We have a tough life here, and I want to make it better. They will help us with that goal, and I only ask you to heed my rules that will be posted. This is all I have to say so I will let all of you get back to your work now.”

Zen stepped away from the altar and walked toward the manor knowing that it the villagers were nervous, but to be honest they had to cope. He had given them his reassurance and warning about the slaves and now all he had to do is prepare for them.

He worked over the next few hours going from one spot to another and placing stakes that had different colors on them. These stakes were markers for where certain buildings would be placed. The work would start in earnest tomorrow morning, but it was important that everything was prepared, because the time he had was limited to safely prepare the village.

The fact that he was personally placing the stakes told the villagers of the importance of his words. A lord doesn’t typically do labor, but this one had not only practiced with the recruits but is taking part in the effort to better the village. This fact was something Zen hoped would help build not only trust but also pride in him. It was something small, but sometimes those things are the most important and often overlooked.

The moment the timer for delivery reached zero an alert box popped up letting him know the arrival of the caravan bringing all his resources and slaves. He walked toward his manor and saw the long line of wagons entering the front gate. The first five wagons were covered hiding what was inside of them, and the following 13 wagons were open showing stacked crates and barrels that were lashed on tightly. Eighteen wagons were a huge sight for the villagers, and many had stopped to look at the parade of wagons and horses entering.

The first five wagons slowly made their way behind the manor and disappeared from most people’s sight, but the rest of the wagons stopped in front of the manor and waited. Zen went through the front door and was met by Bena, Banick and Grimsley, and they all went through the manor to the back area. This area was blocked off by a wooden fence that stood about six feet tall.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The leader of the caravan was a native that stood about a head taller than Zen, and he came down and politely nodded to him. The wagons had been lined up with the back doors facing them, and there were several guards standing on both sides of the wagons.

“Your lordship, my name is Verket and I am the delivery master for your resources and slaves.” The big man said. “If you could show me the lot tokens then I can start to unload everything.”

Zen pulled out the two lot tokens and his command token as well. The man looked at them and nodded to his men as they started to open the backs of the wagons. Bena stepped forward with Grimsley and handed a parchment to the man and he looked at it.

“We need the slaves split up according to these lists.” Bena said with authority.

The man only nodded and smiled and walked over and handed the list to another man and talked to him a few moments. The other man nodded and then went to work as they started to bring out the slaves and separating them in to three groups. The first group was predominantly strong looking slaves, and the second group was females and weaker looking males. The last group had two women and a man and after all the slaves had been separated. Bena took the last two groups away and Grimsley took command of the first group to unload goods and put up tents.

There were several different races but all of them had one thing in common. They were all in rags and look like they had been either beaten or starved to near death. Zen left Banick in charge of getting everything organized and the tents to go up in the right places. He had his own job to do, and it wasn’t going to be an easy task.

Bonded slaves were much like retainers, but their skills were locked, and they couldn’t advance them. Though he could control and monitor them from his sanctuary, and that made it simpler to organize and distribute jobs. They were not brain-dead workers, and still had their own personalities. They just had to follow your orders, or they will go through agonizing pain. Many tried to resist, but either they died or started to follow orders.

When Zen reached his sanctuary he sat down and brought up the slave labor tab and in it each bonded slave was listed. The tab had quite a bit of information on them, which included their current levels of emotions. These emotions were like a guide to what the bonded slave was feeling, and if you read them right you can manipulate the circumstances to better use them. Many of them currently were exhausted, depressed and afraid. There was anger in many, and in a few feelings of hate.

Among the supplies that came with the caravan were large tents that could house four slaves each and a large one that can house supplies. After he came back from the capital, Zen had contacted Amelia and had her purchase more that would go on the delivery. She was quick and with the extra tents it gave the slaves a little more respect and privacy than most give them.

He could see all the slaves at work except for 3 of them. The three were special cases because of what they did before they were captured and turned in to bonded slaves. There were two women and a male and they each had unique talents. The talents did them very little good, as bonded slaves all of their skills were locked, but removing the bonded mark would be even more dangerous without some strict restrictions.

The first one he was going to see was a priestess named Narata, and she was the exact person that Bena had pointed out while he was in the Capital. She had elvish and Kerin blood in her, and was a rarity among her race. She was a priestess of the Goddess of Nature, which were both worshiped heavily by many elf and beast kin alike. She currently was exhausted and because of the slave mark she was cut off from her goddess. The information was that she had a gentle nature, but the fear and depression levels with her were high.

Zen looked to see where his Avatar was, and he was heading in to his office, and he took a deep breath and then returned. He returned to his avatar just as he was sitting down waiting for them to bring in the Kerin priestess for him to talk too. Bena entered the office a moment later followed by a downcast woman with long silver hair. The woman wore rags that hardly covered her body, and only seemed to be staying on her because the dried mud that was that was smeared across her skin.

“Please sit down.” Zen asked Narata and she immediately obeyed.

“Can you tell me how you were captured and bonded?” Zen inquired.

“The temple I was at was assaulted by a country near the borders and they were part of a purist order. Many of my temple were butchered and only a few of us remained. I am half blood, so they told me I wasn’t suited for there blood ritual, but because of my looks they sold me to slave traders which bonded me. I was then purchased by you and was sent here.”

Zen nodded and was surprised there wasn’t any special story behind her capture, but then again if there was she would have never been sold in the slave market.  He smiled to her as Bena set some water and cheese on the table.

“Please have some.” Zen said.

Narata reached out with a shaky hand and took the water and drank. She then ate some cheese and it looked as if she was pained for eating it. Zen knew that this Kerin had a good heart and couldn’t help but let out a sigh. The slaves were truly treated awful, but with him some of them had a chance to be at least partially freed.

“Can you give me your name?” Zen asked.

“I am called Narata Dezrinnate.” Narata said plainly with out refusal of any sort.

“Narata you were a priestess of the Goddess of Nature Remuen correct?” Zen asked.

He saw Narata’s eyes widened as she looked at the him and a sense of dread came across her face. Zen had an idea what she was thinking, but he tried to put on a comforting smile and continued. “I have no animosity towards those of Remuen. In fact, I see her as a benevolent goddess. That makes things difficult for me, because even though I want to remove your bonded mark. I don’t think it is a wise thing for me to do, because it would only cause chaos with all the other slaves. I have an option to do what is right with out putting my people in danger, but it is something that I will not order you to do. You have to do it of your own free will and with your heart’s blessing.”

“And that is?” Narata asked meekly.

“I can remove your mark, but you will not truly gain freedom. You must choose to be my retainer, but unlike many retainers you must swear a heart pledge in the name of your goddess. Only then I will remove your bond mark. This will allow you to once again communicate with your goddess and do good in her name. Is this something your goddess would approve of?”

Narata sat there and remained quiet and closed her eyes. Zen didn’t know what she was thinking but her face became pale as she sat there seemingly in meditation. It was almost ten minutes before she reopened her eyes and then said. “You ask much, but you also give much as well. Remuen allows us to become concubines or wives of others if we are acknowledged as such. Her domain extends to the family as well as nature, and she does not forbid us for seeking either. You also have given me a flame to hope in such a miserable darkness. I cannot guarantee I will give you my heart, but my body can be yours and I will follow your wishes in all things. It is the price I pay for being able to once again share the word of my goddess, and it is something I am willing to pay.”

You have proposed a contract with Narata Dezrinate where she is willing to be your retainer and concubine under the oath of her deity, in exchange for her freedom from the bond mark and the ability to commune with her goddess once more. You have offered, and she has counter offered. Do you accept these terms? Yes or No.

Zen had no reason to refuse the terms so with a thought he accepted the contract terms. Suddenly Zen and Narata were bathed in a golden light. A line of gold connected the two and Narata’s bonded slave mark disappeared. A warm feeling flowed through Zen as he heard a musical voice in his head saying. “I have blessed this oath and thank you for returning my child.”