The rebellious elf jerked awake as a bucket of ice-cold water splashed onto his head. The fading star's light illuminated his weak, half-naked body as he knelt, shirtless, with his hands tied to a wooden pole.

“Not again.” A cool breeze blew against his exposed skin. “Though the wind here feels... refreshing.”

"You're awake. Good," said Lord Derreick, standing before him.

"Hey... how was the day?"

His eyes locked onto Lord Derreick's hand, gripping a whip.

"It’s a beautiful day to get crazy... and whip an innocent elf, don't you think?" The elf smiled, relishing the star’s rays caressing his face.

"Hah..." Lord Derreick's fists tightened around the whip. He moved out of the elf’s sight and addressed the assembled group, "Members of House Liame, Lords and Ladies, servants and slaves, I've gathered you here as witnesses.” He paused, searching for the right words. “You all know that House Liame takes care of all of you, including our slaves. We show patience that other Houses do not. We don’t torture you for pleasure nor use you for relief of any kind. And all we ask for is respect, obedience, and the grace fitting of House Liame. Do we understand?"

Every slave and servant answered in unison, "Yes, my Lord!"

"And now, a duel has been set up between a slave from our House and a member of the Adventurer's Guild!"

“Huh? You’re talking about me?” asked the elf.

[Where conflict is concerned...]

Show yourself, you creep.

"I thought it was because you're new to being a slave," sneered Lord Derreick before landing a lash on the elf's back.

"Mhmm!" groaned the elf.

[That's going to leave a mark.]

Oh, I'm going to mark him alright.

Another lash, then another, as blood dripped down the elf's back.

“Mhmmm!”

None of the slaves looked away. In other circumstances, they would be boiling with anger at the injustice committed against them. However, this strange elf went out of his way to start a fight, putting all the other slaves at the Auction House in danger.

The elf winced as several lashes rained down on his back, slicing open new wounds and spilling fresh blood.

"Please... stop..." he panted.

Lord Derreick raised an eyebrow. "You repent your doings?"

"You’re ruining my new and beautiful body!"

Another lash tore into his skin.

“Ah!”

"Your personality is rotten," remarked Lord Derreick.

The lashes continued, each one a searing blow.

“Mmmm!” The elf steeled himself.

Pain does accumulate!

"And refer to me with respect," commanded the Lord, sounding weary. "Answer with 'yes Lord' and 'no Lord.'"

"We're still deciding whether to kill you now or make you suffer a lot more, then kill you," added the Lord's wife.

"In my defense... Lords," the elf gasped for air. “Good and merciful Lords. I stood up for the House of.... Lime!”

How was it again?

“This elf—”

“Wait, father! What do you mean elf?” questioned the young Lord.

“Speak.” Lord Derreick conceded to his son.

"We slaves are your property," replied the elf, as the whole family nodded in agreement. "If anyone else touches us, it's an affront against this House."

"An offense against this House, indeed, took place," exclaimed Lord Derreick. "And you slaves get this inside your little heads, the mistake after mistake this slave made, who went so far as to insult a human to his face, affects the whole House, especially you slaves.”

So, I can spew insults at their backs?

[You do both regardless.]

Heh...

Silence, no creature had a different view about what had transpired, no matter how anyone tried to spin it.

"Oh dear, I did wrong to buy this slave," said the Lady. "Let's just kill him and spare our House the shame."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Tension rose, as it always did, amongst the non-humans whenever the Lords spoke about murdering slaves.

"You can't kill me," the elf broke the silence.

“What?” exclaimed the Lady.

“Ladyship, look at your husband’s face, he knows as much,” replied the elf.

The Lady turned to her husband. Lord Derreick's expression confirmed the truth of the elf's words. All eyes and ears focused on the abnormal conversation, an unprecedented discussion, not fit between masters and slaves.

"Because if you do kill me now," the elf continued, "it'll all come out. Who’ll believe the lies about an accident or mysterious circumstances under which I died?"

“You—” Lord Derreick poised to strike him again.

“Lamies’ name will suffer!” spoke the elf, almost biting his tongue.

“It’s Liame,” replied the young Lord.

“Oh sure... I knew that. And this is why you can’t kill me. Otherwise, you'll be the cowards who couldn't resist killing me right away instead of facing whatever’s to come, with your head held high."

The mere mention of those words, strung together in such a manner, shocked the audience.

"Ah! Kill him already!" yelled the Lady.

“My bad! Let me rephrase.” The elf inhaled deeply, addressing the House Liame family members with concern in his face. “Don’t be cowards, Lords.”

Was the elf mocking them? Or did he truly mean to protect House Liame’s name? They could no longer tell. The elf’s gritty acting left the spectators wondering about his real intentions. Not waiting for a confirmation of his words, the Lady of the House took a long and sharp hairpin from her hair, which lost its form, and strode towards the slave-elf. However, her husband barred her way.

"No, Emelda! We still need him."

Surprise after surprise kept the audience enthralled by the performance being carried out. With his back on fire, beads of sweat sliding down his forehead, and a cool breeze providing a momentary respite, the elf’s mind gave life to what transpired behind him. A soft smile appeared on his face.

“I did say ‘Lords.’ Some people are too sensitive,” muttered the elf, with indifference on his face.

“I agree.” The blond daughter appeared before him, her voice tinged with amusement. "You're a strange one," she said.

"Untie me and I'll show you strange."

The daughter shook her head, a playful smile on her lips. "Not yet," she said, before walking away.

“Don’t keep me waiting, or I’ll find someone else to untie me, you know.”

She bit her lower lip at the thought of the wild elf now in her family’s possession.

The Lords reached a decision. Lady Emelda spoke first. “Given the circumstances, we’ll keep you alive until the day of your duel, when you’ll walk into the death you so eagerly seek.”

“So be it, your... Ladyship,” stated the elf.

“Then—”

"Or!” The mischievous elf interrupted her. “The Lords of this House could help me defeat the bug man. It’s obvious he hates your guts.”

Lady Emelda's expression was cold. "There's no escape from this, putrajado."

The elf pressed on. "I have yet to give my full report to you, Lords. The Head Butler told me a report is expected after any significant event."

Lady Emelda opened her mouth to object, but her husband interrupted.

“Be quick.”

"I observed, as did everyone else, the bug man's disrespectful actions. He knows Ruianne is your slave and one you like to flaunt. Uff... and how does she do it? Pretty and elegant, she confers your House... something extra. She was a good investment, and you show her off whenever possible.” The elf’s speculations grew legs of their own. “She was an expensive acquisition, was she not? A bidding war or a favor? The bug man has an obsession, lust, and thirst for power, and I've seen those eyes before. Wasn’t he also after her? Does he, or those above him, not hold ill feelings towards this House?"

[That mouth of yours. It's always gotten you in trouble.]

And out of it, fifty-fifty. I might as well spit into the air, maybe something sticks.

Lord Derreick's hand rose, silencing the slaves and servants. “Go on,” he said.

Bingo.

[Lucky.]

“And the gall of that man! He knows your House, he knows she’s your slave, and despite this, he decided to act on his own instead of talking to you first! And it’s not like you had gone half a world away. My Lord was there, on the other side of the hall! The fu- fu-full of himself man could’ve just walked mere steps to you and resolved the matter in a civilized, private way. Why did he not?"

Silence descended as everyone fixed their gaze on the elf’s bloodied back.

“He wanted to make a scene,” concluded the elf.

“And you obliged,” retorted Lord Derreick.

"Why did that man lash your female elf?” questioned the elf. “She didn’t do anything. If his disrespect isn’t enough to strike back at him, then what’s there to defend about House Liame, Lord?"

The Lords immersed themselves in their own thoughts.

"I stand by my actions. This weak elf simply attempted to make him respect the House I now reside in and proudly serve.”

[What a load of bullshit.]

Wait! How come you can swear!? They took the small joys of life away!

His words resonated with both humans and slaves alike, rattling Head Slave-Butler Gnome, who questioned how he could have missed such details. All eyes stared at Lord Derreick, waiting for his response.

"Dear?" queried Lady Emelda.

"We'll follow up on this matter, in due time. But for now, slave, if you haven't noticed, you are not wearing your slave collar. We've sent it to the capital for inspection. That means we’ll be extra cautious with you," informed Lord Derreick.

That’s why I felt lighter... huh.

[You didn’t even notice.]

"Head Slave-Butler Gnome," called Lord Derreick.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Leave this slave here until midnight, then bring him to the dungeon and look after his back. And fill him in on the details."

"Yes, my Lord."

“And I’ll speak with you later.”

"Y-yes... my Lord," stammered the gnome.

"Servants and slaves of House Liame, that concludes today's affairs. Return to your duties," announced Lord Derreick.

Uff... crisis averted.

[Just in time for another to begin.]

"Ugh... tell me about it."