Content warning:

Hangover/sick feelings. mild discussions of slave things. Bathing.

I would have stumbled with how much this Dreamer Blighted drink is messing up my balance, but the watcher grips my arm tight and stops me from falling.

A second passes, gives me time to… to spot the strange place Tretion has taken us.

We’re in a dimly lit cavern. It’s dark, and… and a bit damp. With dripping sounds I can’t find the source of. There is a single big door with no handles, but it does seem to glow with a large strange rune that stings when my eyes roll over them.

Tretion lets out a relieved sigh, then moves toward the door. I’m slow and still unsure of my balance, but I let her lead me without too many issues. She holds out a hand to hover a few inches from the rune, murmurs a few words that also hurt.

But then the door shimmers and vanishes, and we are bathed in warm light.

Beyond are lush carpets, winding staircases, and comfortable warmth that smells of freshly cracking embers of a hearth. As she moves us inside, there is a pop, and I don’t need to look back to know that the doorway closed behind us.

“Lady Tretion?” Comes a call from a side passage. Then a short, fairly thin and spindly woman peeks her head into the room. Hooved feet clip-clop and big floopy ears bob about as she rushes into the room. I carefully activate my Amwella sight. Her soul is small and… kinda fluffy. No tendrils. Just… very very little hair looking things all over it.

The shorter woman seems very relieved as she approaches. Worry melting away, “I’d feared the worst.”

Tretion chuckles. “I’m back three days before I’d expected, was your worry truly such a horrid thing to bear?”

The woman huffs. “Well, yes, actually. Theradas is not safe…” But her voice trails off as her eyes settle on me. “Did… is this her?”

If it wasn’t for brain numbing drink, I would have jerked at her words. Her? Implying she–

Tretion carefully releases my hand, turns to face me. “Yes, Lenelope. This is her.”

A long pause.

“I… well. I can’t argue with their results!” Lenelope shuffles. “Expected them to just… take the initial payment and run!”

Them?

“I didn’t even have the chance to speak with the two a second time!” Tretion supplies with a surprised chuckle. “The Reaver just… gave her to me after I refused her first gift.”

Images of the two red siblings dances in my mind for a moment.

That makes the smaller woman balk. “Wh– M’lady! Are… are you sure she’s what the Reaver claimed? Are you sure she’s the Fae?”

I see the watcher’s little wiggling blue soul focus on me. I… wait. How can I see its color? And… and… what are they talking about? Are… is she… Ughhh… Thinking hurts. I can’t stop shuddering a bit at the pain of it.

“–is shrouded in… something. I can’t tell what.” Tretion has been explaining while I recover. “And her songs are… well Thendra had a curse of command laid on her to seal her magic.”

The smaller woman hisses. “That… Can it be rewoven? Made to be bound to your commands instead or removed entirely?”

That does make the right talon twitch three times as I begin to waver back and forth. I… I almost turn a glare down at it to force it to stop. But neither of them notice the break in my control.

Tretion sighs. “I don’t know. It’s… Somehow Thendra got this Fae to curse herself. It’s…”

A long pause.

“But that can all wait. Help Lyra here get washed, and fed?” Her voice changes, almost… not a magical thing but… shifts from conversation to a command. “Be patient with her. No physical encouragement, if you please.”

“Should I eh… well I’m sorry I didn’t get it sooner M’lady, I didn’t expect you back today.” Lenelope shifts, uncomfortable. “But… um… would you like me to fetch you a collar for her?”

I do react to that. It’s… it’s a small thing. Just a sudden stilling of my body. A tension curling around my core muscles.

“They will probably seek to place some kind of binding on you.” My dark goddess had explained. “Such a thing can come in many forms. From simple enchantments to keep it nearly unbreakable and easily traceable to one holding its sister coin, all the way to bindings to bring great pain to the enslaved if they reach for magics or disobey simple and direct commands.”

Then she smiled, “But they are simply physical pains, and wouldn't stop your Naranggas when it is time. Your songs might also dance around its bite, but even if they don't, you’ve endured worse pains to return to me.”

“No, Lenelope. That… Of course not.” She huffs. “That won’t be necessary. She’s quite… calm. And with her magic bound, not a threat. The worst she might do is run and hide somewhere in the manor.”

I visibly relax, and Lenelope’s Amwella seems a little more comfortable as she approaches me. Holds out a hand.

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“Lyra, is it?” She murmurs, carefully and softly. “Such a pretty name. Would you like a bath? Wash off the ucky sand and grime?”

I don’t reply. Mind still… still trying to work out things in the fog. These two… or at least Tretion, wanted me. Specifically. And… and apparently hired two people in the city to try and get me before Thendra just gave me to her? Why?

The shorter woman doesn’t get annoyed or angry at my silence. Simply reaches out and gently takes up my left talon. “C’mon. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

I consider not moving at all. Wonder at testing their patience with me and… and Dreamer’s Tits it’ll be easier to do things later if they hurt me now. But… even after Tretion has left, the smaller woman just… waits. Gently holds my hand and every now and again will tug at it. Maybe even murmur another encouragement after a few seconds.

“It is best you rely on silence and a meek nature to sell your role to them.” Thendra had suggested. “Become as you might have been if I had sold you. Distraught without your songs, Closed off to the outside world to protect your mind, waiting for death.”

I latch onto Thendra’s words as my head starts to hurt, gurgling wobbles turned to a slowly growing throb of pain. I might just… fall over if I don’t find a place to sit. So I take a step. Then two. And now she’s leading me through this warm estate.

While her back is to me, I try to map things out. Count the rooms and my paces. Listen for other servants or guards or… anyone. But… I don’t hear anything. Just the two of them then? This… huh… this might be easier than–

Thendra’s words crack like a whip in my mind.

“Her manor is an enchanted place. It will have wards and waystones and unseen protections. Do not underestimate it. Do not let any soft exterior weaken your senses. Watch for cracks in the magic, listen for odd things that should not be there. Any may warn you of danger and opportunity.”

So I continue to listen for odd things while trying to keep my mind steady.

But then we’re at a doorway, and Lenelope is drawing out a big ring of keys, unlocks the door, then retakes my hand and leads me inside. Within is… well it’s kinda a big room with a fluffy bed, a dresser or cabinet, and an empty bookshelf and desk, and a single passageway leading into what looks to be a tiled washroom.

As Lenelope shuts and locks the door I… Ugh… I almost just… stumble to the bed. Soft darkness sounds wonderful compared to this warbling pain. But the short woman pulls me gently but firmly toward the promised bath. Inside is a tub that goes down into the floor.

Lenelope drops my hand to touch a nob and starts filling the thing with steaming water.

She turns back to me. “Now, let’s get those old rags off. We’ll find something better when you're nice and clean.”

I hesitate. Even though my clothes are sparse and easy to just… kinda… yank off or out of the way, the idea of this woman touching me is… well it's unsettling for some reason. Honestly the idea of anyone touching me beyond the talon while my mind is such a flux of pain and unfamiliar sensations is revolting.

So I let out what must be a deep breath, and begin to undress. Lenelope seems… well not surprised but a little pleased when I obey without needing endless prodding. The bath is… well a little warmer than I normally like, especially after time spent in the scorching heat of Theradas. But it does help my mind stop throbbing so hard as I lean my head against the chilly far wall and just…

“Would you like me to clean you, or are you willing to do that yourself?” Lenelope interrupts what would have been the beginning of a nap.

Eyes flutter open, the idea of foreign touches sending a gurgling throb through my attempts at relaxing. So I look about, find a squishy thing and a goo in a jar that I think is soap, and start slowly scrubbing away. Thendra basically has me bathe every day, which is… well it was odd to get accustomed to at first. But the promise of warmth and soothing waters sure made it easier.

Lenelope nods, rises, and leaves the room. She takes my old rags with her, which… I can’t help but pause and just… take that in for a second. They weren’t my first pair of slave attire, but… if I do this all well, they will be my last.

But eventually I’m happy enough with my work, and since the little woman isn’t back, I decide to use my time well. And a nap sounds wonderful right now. So… I just lean my head against the wall, and try to still the wurple of gurples in my head.

How is my head getting worse!?! I almost whimper as I press my forehead harder against the cold stone wall. What did Thendra make me drink? How am… am I supposed to even do anything!?!

“Lyra.” Lenelope calls.

I grumpily open my eyes and stare down at the water.

She’s kneeling beside the tub again, a folding of clothes in her arms. “C’mon, I have food for after we get you dressed.”

I almost let out such a deep and whimpering sigh, but rise in silence. Lenelope offers me a towel, and I dry myself. The clothes she has me dress in… well they’re little better than my slave attire. Thin sparse shorts and a big shirt/gown thing that falls just past my butt.

Then we’re back in the main room, and I instantly spot a tray of food waiting on the desk. A platter of oddly shaped fruits and a few steaming vegetables. I take a second to just… stand over the meal. Let… let my nose and ears and…

“Be wary of what you eat, little Reaver.” Thendra had tilted my chin up to regard her serious jade eyes. “They may wish to… test your form's ability to handle certain mind-altering potions or foods. Things that will dull the mind and weaken your muscles. The Fae form you’ve woven is durable, but not adapted to even a small number of these things. Avoid them at all costs.”

The food is… weird. The smell is wonderful and makes me almost… I almost shove all the things in my mouth. And… my nose doesn’t pick up any of the things Thendra had shared with me to recognise. So I let my eyes flutter shut, and listen. Listen for the subtle weaving of odd things mixed and brewed and added to this meal like–

Eyes open, dart to a trio of reddish long things amidst the pile. A… a soft melody of calm and… peace… and other mind numbing things. A call to just… listen and let others handle the stresses of life.

Magical in nature? I... think?

“All freshly grown, no meat or anything like that.” Lenelope babbles as she steps past me. “A few were steamed or boiled though.”

A pause. Then I carefully reach out and take a cluster of little berries I recognise from Thendra’s own meal room. Clutch them in my good talon for a moment, just… looking off at nothing while I feel their texture and… ugh. Something is wrong here too. No weird smells or songs of potions or some such. But… something's weird. And my muddled brain just can’t place it.

“Oh those are nice ones.” Lenelope nods, “Sweet, but not overly so.”

I almost want to… to just… Ugh. Dreamer’s Tits! My stomach will growl any second now, but… I can’t risk this!

So I carefully place the berries back down onto the tray, and take a small step back.

Lenelope purses her lips, the first sign of annoyance at me. “Are you not hungry?”

I take a few seconds, then slowly shake my head. Keep my eyes locked on far off nothings.

“Alright. I’ll leave the tray here for when you change your mind.” She sighs, shrugs, then pulls out that ring of keys. “I’ll come fetch you when Lady Tretion is ready.”

And then she leaves, and I hear the definitive snick-crack of a heavy lock being turned into place.

“Even when alone, assume the manor has eyes. Continue to play your role up until the final moments.” Bulderii had added near the end.

Well… a mind-shattered slave would probably be tired right now. So… Sleep time. Should help clear my head and… and help me figure things out.

I turn and move to the bed, nearly just collapsing down atop it and… and…

Senses scream that something is wrong. The smells and songs… even the texture of the quilts seem off. I take a step back, let my eyes cast about the room. For the first time. Take in the… the weirdness I’m feeling.

It’s… I… I almost feel like…

Eyes drift closed, and I take in a deep breath, hold it. And focus through the gurgling nonsense. But… nothing. There is a soft thrum of magic from this place. But… nothing I could even begin to understand. And…

I open my eyes to glare at the bed. Why do you have to be so weird? Why…

Dreamer’s Tit’s! WHY!?!

So I huff and move to the far corner, find it… less off-putting. So I settle with my back between the two walls, pull legs up, and lean my head back while closing my eyes. Just… listen and rest. Nothing can sneak up on my Naranggas. Like plants tilting toward the sun they’ll strike out at any soul that comes within their reach, maybe… maybe even tied. Should wake me up in a snap of hunger and fury if something tries to grab or hurt me.

I don’t know how long I’m able to sleep, obviously not long enough to feel better, in fact… I feel so much Dreamer Blighted worse! Amwella sight won’t settle, and the entire room seems to… to… bubble with weird shapes and little soul muck things now!!!

My stomach, despite being empty, gurgles like it’ll still try to make me vomit just as a latch sounds from the doorway. I don’t move, don’t… don’t even open my eyes. Just… hope that they’ll see me sleeping and go away!!!

I feel the light wash over me, and a mumble of stupid voices. Then feel that little green fuzzy soul approach, kneel before me.

“Lyra, dear?” She murmurs. A bit of… well not confusion. She isn’t surprised by this. But…

I crack my eyes open, and while keeping them aimed up I try to read her and this room from the corner of my vision while seeming distant. It’s not hard, because I am still in so much uncomfortable pain!

“Come with me, you can sleep later.” She murmurs, carefully reaching out to take up my talon.

I don’t shift, but… ugh… consider making her… her have to force me to move. My eyes begin to flutter shut again.

“M’lady would very much like to see you.” She encourages softly while tugging on me a little. “C’mon.”

But… the faster I deal with this… the sooner I’ll be back in Thendra’s arms. So I crack my eyes open, and shift to struggle and rise. Fight to shove all the weird bubbling Amwella things this house is covered out of my mind. Ugh… I think that drink is… is making me see things that aren’t there.

But I jerk to a halt when we get to the door. Beyond is… it’s not the hallway! It’s… it’s another bedroom? This one is large and bright! With a big desk and more bookshelves and… and…

Did… did they move me? Did… is… What in Dreamer Tit Cunt Blighted things is going on!?!