Chapter 5: 5 – Lashing

Our rebellious elf waked up after a cold bucket of water fell on his head. The dusk sunrays shined over his half naked, weak body. With his shirt removed, he knelt against a piece of wood with his hands tied around it. A cool breeze picked up strength and crashed every now and then against his skin.

“Not again... Though this light breeze feels good.”

“You’re awake. Good,” Lord Derreick spoke as he appeared in the elf’s field of view.

“Hey... How was the day?”

He saw Lord Derreick had a whip in his hands.

“Beautiful day to get crazy... And lash some innocent elf. Ain’t it?” he said smiling towards Lord Derreick as sunrays grazed his face.

“Hah...,” Lord Derreick whispered as he tensed his fists clenching his whip.

He continued.

“I called you all here, members of House Liame,” he moved out of the elf’s sight and addressed everyone at the back. The whole family attended along with the servants and slaves.

“You all know House Liame always looks after each of you, even our slaves. We have patience other Houses do not. We don’t torture you for pleasure nor use you for relief of any kind. And we only ask; respect, obedience and grace befitting House Liame!”

“Yes my Lord!” every slave and servant answered.

“And now... a duel has been set up between a slave of our House and a member of the Adventurer’s Guild!”

“Huh? You speaking about me?”

[Where conflict is concerned...]

Show yourself you creep.

“I thought it was because you are new.”

One lash to his back.

“Mhmm!”

[That’s going to leave a mark.]

Oh I’m going to mark him alright.

Another lash. And another.

“Mhmmmmmm!”

Blood flowed down his back. Not one slave turned its gaze away. In other circumstances they would be boiling in anger for the injustice committed against them but this strange elf went out of his way to pick a fight and put every other slave there in danger.

Several lashes landed on his back producing new wounds and spilling fresh blood.

“Mhnnnnn! Please... stop...” the elf spoke.

“So you repent your doings?” Lord Derreick asked.

“It’s going to leave a mark, my new beautiful body!”

One more lash caused tearing of skin.

“Ouhhh!”

“Your personality is rotten.”

Another and another, the lashes didn’t stop flowing.

“Mhmmmphh...!” He gritted his teeth.

Pain does accumulate!

“And refer to me with respect, answering yes sire, no sire!” said a tired Lord.

“We’re still debating to kill you now or make you suffer a lot more, then kill you!” the Lord’s wife pointed out.

“But in my defense...,” the elf spoke catching his breath. “Good and merciful... Sires. I stood up for the House of.... Lime!”

How was it again?

“This elf-”

“Wait father! What do you mean elf?” the son asked.

“Speak.” Lord Derreick conceded for his son.

“We slaves are your property. Objects you own, at your will.”

The whole family assented.

“If someone else so much as touches us... that becomes an affront against this House!”

“An affront against this House indeed happened, and you slaves get this inside your little heads, because this one here made mistake after mistake going as far as insulting a human to his face,” spoke Lord Derreick.

So I can spew insults at their backs?

[You’d do both regardless.]

Heh...

Everyone knew what had happened no matter how anyone tried to spin it.

“Oh dear, I did wrong buying this slave. Lets kill it and spare House Liame the shame!”

A moment of silence.

“You can’t kill me.”

“What?!”

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

The Lady turned around and looked at her husband. Lord Derreick’s face answered before he could, the elf spoke true. All eyes and ears focused on the conversation before them. It laid outside what a normal conversation between masters and slaves should be.

“Because if you do... charade’s up. Accident, mysterious circumstances, the elf tried to escape... all lies!”

“You-” Lord Derreick was about to strike him again.

“Lamies name will suffer!” said the elf almost biting his tongue.

“It’s Liame,” replied the young Lord.

“Oh sure... I knew it... and this is why you can’t kill me. Or you’ll be the cowards who couldn't resist killing me straight away instead of facing it straight up.”

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At the mere mention of those words strung together in such manners shocked most members of the audience.

“Ahhh! Let’s just kill it already!” shouted the Lady.

“Sorry! Sorry, my bad, let me rephrase.”

A small interlude.

“Don’t be cowards, sires.”

Was the elf mocking them? They could no longer tell. The Lady of the House grabbed a long and sharp hairpin from her hair, which lost its form and walked towards him. Her husband stopped her midway.

“No! Don’t Emelda, we still need it.”

Surprise after surprise, the enthralled audience kept their eyes glued to the performance before them.

With his back on fire, dense sweat drops sliding down his forehead, a soft, cool breeze refreshing his thoughts, his mind gave life to what transpired behind him. A soft smile spread across his face.

“I did say sires. Some people are too sensitive.”

“I agree,” said the blond daughter as she appeared before him. “You are a strange one.”

“Untie me and I’ll show you strange.”

With a smiled she answered back. “Not yet.” And walked away.

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

She bit her lower lip. What a crazy one she thought.

The Lords had stopped arguing after reaching consensus. 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 much want for yourself.”

“So be it your... Lady...ship.”

“Then-”

“Or! You Lords... sires, could help me defeat him. The bug man, it’s obvious he hates your guts.”

“There’s no escaping this, putrajado,” Lady Emelda replied.

“The Head Butler told me a report is expected after any important event. I ask you Sires, to at least listen to my full report.”

Lady Emelda’s mouth slightly opened when her husband interrupted her.

“Be quick.”

“I saw it and so did everyone else. If I know something, it’s about respect. The bug man knows Ruianne is your slave and one you like to show off, I think... She’s pretty and elegant. It confers your House... something extra... She was a good investment and you flaunt her whenever possible.”

They kept listening.

“She was expensive, was she not? A bidding war? A favor? The bug man... he fancies her. I’ve seen those eyes before, obsession, lust and power. Wasn’t he also after her? Does he not harbors ill feelings against this House? Or people above him do?”

[That mouth of yours. It has always gotten you into trouble.]

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

Lord Derreick raised his hand, slaves and servants alike shut up.

“Go on.”

Bingo.

[Lucky.]

“And the gall of that man! He knows your House, 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 sire was there, at the other side of the hall! The f- f-full of himself man could’ve just walked mere steps to you and resolve the matter. In a civilized, private way. Would he not?”

Silence and attentive ears laid their eyes on his bloodied back.

“He wanted to make a scene.”

“And you obliged,” said Lord Derreick.

“Why did that man lashed your female elf? She didn’t do anything. If his disrespect isn’t enough... then what’s there to defend about House Liame Sire?”

The Lords immersed themselves in their own thoughts

“I don’t think I'm in the wrong here, when I merely tried to make him respect the House at which now I reside and proudly serve.”

[What a load of bullshit.]

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

In human and slave’s minds alike, what he said made sense. His report had rattled Head Slave-Butler Gnome; how did he overlook such details? They waited for Lord Derreick to speak.

“Dear?” asked Lady Emelda.

“We’ll see about this matter, in due time. For now, if you haven't noticed slave, you are not wearing your slave collar. We sent it to the capital for a checkup. Which means we’ll be extra careful with you.”

That’s why I felt light... huh.

[You hadn’t noticed.]

“Head Slave-Butler Gnome.”

“Yes my Lord.”

“Leave this slave here until midnight, then take it to the dungeon and look after its back. Oh, and fill it in with the details.”

“Yes my Lord.”

“And I’ll speak with you later.”

“Y-yes... my Lord.”

“Servants and slaves of House Liame, so concludes this day’s affairs. Return to your duties.”

Crisis averted.

[Just to enter another one.]

“Uff... tell me about it...”

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