MASTER THAEDON KREE
I was tired of hearing the same issue over and over, especially from Consulate Dalik Moscurn. I much preferred the company of his cousin, General Rendor Moscurn at the Belvenreed Outpost. Here the consulate was in my council chambers once more telling me that I could not be with Ella.
“Ella Capricio. You have had your fun with the human female. But it is time for you to keep her in a captive slave state and nothing else. You should find a Kalazaron female to make you a proper mate. It is expected of you.”
“So you have said before, and I heard you the first time you said it loud and clear. Don’t you know that I know that I cannot be with a human because I’m the master?”
“No, you do not seem to know it.”
“Because I don’t expect it. I have my advisor Huine Srit scouring the rules, and so far there is nothing that says a master cannot make a human female his true mate,” I said in response. I was so tired of hearing this from him. This hypocrite was in love with a human female and everyone knew the story of how hard it was for them to be together, but they prevailed. Now, he was trying to keep me from mine, simply on the grounds that I was the master. I would not have it.
“It is not about the known rules. It is simply about what it right. What kind of model do you make to the female Kalazaron that you perhaps find them not to be as good as the human females? At least take a Kalazaron as a wife and keep the human slave as a lover. That is accepted.”
“I won’t do that to Ella. I am disappointed with you, Consulate Moscurn. Must I have your human taken from you to remind you that you will do anything to keep her?”
His face went stone cold. “Over my dead body,” he said in restrained anger.
“That is what I thought. Now, if you have nothing else to discuss about matters of the day, then you are dismissed and I will hear no more of my personal life. That is my decision, and my decision only. If you have not realized by now, I do things like no other master has done in the past. Perhaps it is time for a change.”
He walked out and I felt complete anger that my word as master was not being taken seriously when it came to Ella. What more would I have to do? I had proven myself in battles of intellect in the Stanis Trials. I had proven myself on the battlefield at the Belvenreed Outpost. Of course what I said would be done, but it was under scrutiny. I didn’t want to subject Ella to that. She deserved better. I deserved better.
I made my way back to the living quarters. I’d had enough of being the master for the day. I walked in and found Ella sitting at the vast wall of windows, staring off in the distance with distinct sadness on her face.
“What is it? You seem very upset,” I said as I put my hand on her shoulder.
“What do you think I would be doing if I were at the Outpost still? I was actually happy there. Being here is very… complex.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying you don’t want to be here? Where is this coming from?” I was confused. Where the hell was this coming from? First I had to get it from the Consulate, now I was getting it from Ella herself.
“It was just something I was thinking about.”
“No, I’m not going to take that for an answer. Something else is happening. Tell me,” I said, squatting down next to her. Tears fell from her eyes and she was silent.
“Tell me. I can’t help if you don’t tell me,” I said in anger. She got up and ran to the bedroom and shut me out. I was frustrated.
“Master Kree,” the intercom radio buzzed in.
I walked to the panel and answered, “Yes this is Master Kree.”
“Fraon Loki is requesting an audience with you.”
“Send him to my council chamber.”
I pulled on my cloak and left the living quarters. What the hell did the ass want? He had been the cause of Ella’s mistreatment and I had a mind to punish him for it, but I could not. Being cruel to a human was not grounds for punishment. I walked in and he had a smug look on his face.
“What is it, Loki?” I asked.
“I have news. I am going to appeal the transfer of ownership over the human female.”
“What?!” I roared.
“Appeal. I have grounds to do it. My brother and I had not exactly settled the transfer yet when you took her from him. So he had no right to give her to you. The transfer should have been with me.”
“Fine, then I will have new documents marked up for transfer of ownership from you to me. I am able to do this as master; you do understand that?” I narrowed my eyes at him. Anyone threatening to take Ella from me would get my complete wrath.
“Yes, I am aware. Are you aware that an appeal can take years, mixed up in the courts? While that appeal is in progress, it is customary for the property to be in the custody of the original owner while it is sorted out. That could be a couple of years of Ella with us while it is sorted.”
I did not know if this was true. I would have to have Huine Srit look into it that very second. But Fraon Loki was there because he wanted something.
“What do you want Loki?”
“I will give you ownership of the human girl in trade,” he responded.
“In trade for what?”
“I do not think I got what this human female is really valued at. You seem to place a very high value on her.”
“How much do you want? Tell me and get out.”
“It is not how much, but WHAT I want. You have taken my slave and you can have her if you will marry one of my daughters as your true Kalazaron mate. Otherwise I will appeal and the slave will be given back into my ownership until it is decided. The courts are slow especially when they are run by my friends.”
“But I’m the master!”
“Yes, a master that is already being questioned for your rogue ways. You wouldn’t want to do more to have the public question your grasp on the position.”
“Get out!” I shouted. He left with a huge grin on his face.
“Send Huine Srit up here, now!” I yelled into the communication radio.