"My lord, you wished to see me?" Slavemaster Noan stood in front of his ruler Corrinus in the darkened dining hall of the castle. A breeze from an open window brushed his face and a shiver ran down his spine.

Corrinus nodded once. "Yes, but we'll talk later, Noan. You have brought me Helena, yes?"

"My lord. She is here." Noan reached back into the shadows and pulled Helena forwards. He tripped her with his scabbard and forced her to stay on bended knee, his hand on her shoulder.

"Let her stand," said Corrinus. "Leave us, Noan, wait for me outside."

He was hesitant to leave his master alone with an Elani but Corrinus laughed. "She will not harm me. Go now."

"As you wish, my lord." He inclined his head and left, going to stand in the corridor outside the room, ready if Corrinus needed him.

Corrinus waited for Noan to close the door behind him before walking over to the long table. He sat down and beckoned Helena to join him, watching her with interest.

"What do you want?" she demanded, choosing a chair as far away from him as possible.

He sighed and opened his arms wide towards her. "I know you are a healer," he said. "I simply ask for your help."

Helena's eyes narrowed with suspicion. It almost made him smile to see that look on an Elani's face. He leaned towards her and folded his arms on the tabletop. "My life has been... difficult, shall we say. I have fought my way to the top and I intend to stay here." He smiled at her then, but his pink eyes remained cold. "My people fear me mostly, I admit it is so. But they will love me soon enough, yes? The Lamya need a strong ruler. Powerful and healthy."

The healer continued to stare at him in silence. "I need to sleep," he said, narrowing his eyes. "But each time I try, she's there."

Helena frowned. "Who?" she asked.

"It does not concern you!" he snapped, banging his fists on the table. He calmed himself and forced a smile in Helena's direction. "You must help me sleep, or you and every one of your kind shall suffer more for it. I'll see to that. The Kingdom of Malinas is hard, Elani, especially for a child with no parents. Now, you'll help me, yes?"

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"You leave me no choice," said Helena. "I can probably mix you some herbs, if you have any here. But I will not help you if you threaten me again."

Corrinus's face twisted and then he laughed. "A brave woman! Don't worry, my dear, I have someone who will watch over you here and uh, make sure that you come to no harm." He smiled again, his eyes flicked towards the door as it opened and then quickly back to Helena to see her reaction.

A tall, blonde woman wearing a slim fitting blue silk dress glided into the room and put her hand on his shoulder. There was no smile in her voice as she spoke.

"I am Millicent," she said. She had cruel sharp features and eyes as grey as ice. "You can mix herbs in the kitchen. Come with me."

Millicent led Helena away and the Elani healer looked back at him, a plea in her eyes for him to send her back to the fields, away from Millicent and the castle.

He ignored the look. "Oh and Millicent," he called. "Send in Noan."

He waited just a moment before Noan entered the dining hall and stood before him, he kept his head level and eyes straight, avoiding his master's gaze at all costs.

Corrinus rose from the table, collected his sceptre, and walked over to the window. Keeping his back turned to Noan, he closed his eyes and smiled. "We are a great people, Noan, strong, powerful, yes?"

"Yes, my lord," Noan replied, a hint of pride in his voice.

"We will have all we want and more." Corrinus turned to the Slavemaster. "Do you have Elani to spare in the fields?"

Noan nodded. "We have more than enough, my lord, I can spare you as many as you wish."

Corrinus shielded his eyes with his hand as a bright flame from outside lit up the room briefly, and then he smiled. "Good, Noan, it is good! Send some to work in the towns, allocate every Lamya family with their own Elani slave if it is possible. Stronger families, loyal to me, get preference. It will show my people that I reward them well."

Noan's eyes lit up and he nodded. "You are too generous, my lord. I will put Sundi and a couple others to the task right away."

Corrinus sighed. He was tired now. He waved his hand dismissively. "That is all."

Noan turned to leave; he stopped in the doorway and turned back. "My lord, we have the beginnings of fresh shoots out on the fields, it is a sign things are taking a turn for the better. The cattle are filling out – the sick ones recovering."

"And could this have been achieved without me?" Corrinus whispered, gazing at the Slavemaster.

"No, my lord," said Noan. Corrinus smiled at his Slavemaster almost fondly. A smile just as brief touched Noan's lips before the man nodded once and left.

Corrinus returned to the table and pulled a large book close. He flicked through the yellowed pages and found his mark. As he read, the words started to blur. His head nodded forward and his eyes closed. He couldn't fight sleep any longer.

Alone outside the castle, wreathed in cold grey mist, he felt good, all-powerful. A voice drifted towards him through the fog.

"I am coming," it said, trembling and passionate, echoing like a dream. "I will find you. The Kingdom of Malinas will be great again, but it won't be you who makes it so."

A dark figure started to emerge before him and Corrinus, almighty ruler of Lamya, screamed and fled in terror.