I stood for some time in the throne room before the queen arrived. With me was the brown-haired guard and several servants who all chatted amongst themselves. While they talked, I learned from their conversation that forest girls were incapable of conceiving boys. Every child born to them was a girl. This is why male slaves were so sought after. Further, I learned that it is difficult for forest girls to become pregnant. Thus, when one becomes pregnant it is a big affair, especially when it involves the maternal line.

When the queen arrived she was followed with an array of guards and servants, most of whom were chattering excitedly. Adrelia was with them as well. As the queen entered, I once again was made to kneel, but there was little attention on me. Everyone who was already in the room became focused on the queen, sharing hugs and tears. If I didn't already know she was seen as a motherly figure I would have after witnessing the way they interacted.

The queen sat on her throne and the noise started to die down. "Before we attend the celebration we have one other matter to deal with", she said, her eyes turning and narrowing as they met me. Silence fell on the room again, and all eyes were on me. Adrelia stood in the corner, her hands folded in front of her.

"When you first came here", the queen began, gazing down at me intensely, "You were naked, had nothing, and could not even speak".

I looked up at her meeting her eyes. They bored into me, causing me to look down. I stayed silent, not knowing what to say.

"It was my opinion that you were simply stupid. Stupid slaves are of no use to me, and are more trouble than they are worth."

I gazed at the floor, wondering what her point was. I didn't like the way she was talking to me, or the attention. "Yes, High One", I responded respectfully. Men were not to address her as mother. She was mother to daughters only. Inside I was stewing. As an academic with a Ph.D. I did not like being called stupid. Perhaps my pride was too easily wounded. I tried my best to focus on a dark colored part of the wooden floor.

“We were going to simply kill you, but then someone suggested you might be nelak”, the queen continued. Turning, she fixing her gaze upon Adrelia, who shifted a bit uncomfortably. “We had only heard of them in legends and then it was suggested that they may be real. How is it that you came to suspect it Adrelia?”

Adrelia stood a bit straighter, shifting slightly before answering, “He seemed to speak another language, and did not seem to know of us our ways. I had read before about nelak in books, and he fit the description. I wondered if maybe there were truth to the legends.”

The queen squinted a moment. Satisfied with the answer, she looked back at me. "Then we learned you were indeed nelak. Being nelak meant you were rare and exotic, which gave you value. You still seemed stupid and more trouble than I wanted to deal with, so I decided to sell you rather than kill you."

There was a pause. I swallowed hard as I felt her eyes piercing through me. She continued, "Then sweet Adrelia here, somehow discovered that you were not so stupid after all”. The queen looked again at Adrelia. Adrelia smiled back, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her robe. I had been here and known Adrelia for six months. I could tell she was not acting herself. “Tell me, Adrelia, how did you know he was not so stupid?”

Adrelia blushed, looking at me and then at the queen, “I did not know, Mother”, she said, “but I figured there was no harm in trying to teach him.”

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The queen watched Adrelia appraisingly for a few moments and then leaned back in her chair. “I see”, she said, her voice trailing off thoughtfully. Fixing her gaze again on me, she continued, "Since then you have learned to speak, worked, and now you are not so fat". The women in the room laughed. Adrelia smiled gracefully, unmoving. "I have therefore decided you are of worthy breeding stock. Obviously you are of no use to me now that I have a child. You will be given to one of the community present in the room."

There was a murmur of excitement in the room. I felt as if it was spinning around me. Adrelia’s mouth opened in shock, but she quickly closed it and regained her composure.

“Does anyone wish to have him?”, The queen asked.

The guard with the brown hair who had been leading me around spoke up, “I wish to take him Mother.”

The queen nodded, turning to her, “Very well. I-”

She was interrupted, “With great respect Mother”, came a voice behind me, “I would like him”. I could not see who it was and I did not recognize the voice.

The queen looked over my shoulder, smiling, “I thought you might, Klaia”.

“Mother!”, exclaimed the guard with the brown hair. “You can’t possibly let her have him over me. I am your head guard and I have served you faithfully for years. I deserve a daughter.”

Klaia snapped, “You know very well that I found him, and that gives me the right to him!”

“I have watched over him months! Where have you been the whole time?”, the brown haired guard shot back.

“Guarding our northern border!” Klaia was now shouting.

The queen held up her hands calmly, and instantly the argument stopped. I could sense the tension in the room. I looked over at Adrelia. She was keeping her composure, standing patiently as she watched the exchange.

The queen looked at me, “And what about you nelak? Perhaps you should decide.”

I looked at the woman behind me. Klaia was indeed the woman who had first found me. I looked at her and the woman with the brown hair and then spoke, “Well, I guess I would choose-“

The queen cut me off, “You are just a man! What makes you think you would have a say in this? I see Adrelia is wrong and that you are still stupid.” The room filled with laughter. I must have turned very red because my face was burning. I kept my face down.

The queen then turned to Klaia. “You are right that according to tradition the man would go to you since you discovered him. You must see, however, that Midelia has been in charge of him since he arrived. Surely that provides her a claim, does it not?”

Midelia smiled, folding her arms in front of her with a look of satisfaction.

“Mother!”, the woman behind me begged, “Please! Midelia is your most trusted guard and we all love her. We know that she will receive a man one day because of her position, but this is likely my only chance to have a daughter.”

The queen looked thoughtfully at Klaia. There was a moment of silence. “You both have good points to make. However, I must decide. I choose that the nelak shall go to Klaia.”

Midelia opened her mouth in protest, “but Mother!”

The queen lifted a finger in the air and instantly Midelia became silent. “I also recognize that you have served me well Midelia, as well as all of our people. Therefore, as they are no longer needed, I will allow to pick any one of my slaves as your own, after we find out who the father is.”

The expression on Midelia’s face instantly changed. The deal must have been more than acceptable to her. “Thank you Mother!” she exclaimed.

The queen nodded gently. “Now, Klaia”, she said, “You will take your new toy home with you. I will see you all at the feast”. My head swirled as my stomach tightened. I did not like being treated like an object, and this experience had made it very clear to me that was how I should expect to be treated from now on.

Klaia spoke up, “Mother”, she said, “I thank you so much. Please though, permit me one day to ready my house before I take him. I did not expect to have a slave and I have no place for him.”

The queen nodded. “You shall have your day. Midelia, take him back to his room.”

Midelia nodded, “Yes Mother”, she said as she begin to depart. As she walked in front of me, she hit the side of my head with the butt of her spear, raising giggles from the room. I followed her out, feeling humiliated.