A Slave to the Servants Ch. 13

"Take it out," Master Kein demanded.

"I agree," said Master Damien, "we will ready the slave before we use it each time. This is..." he couldn't think of a word to describe it.

It wasn't always like this, I thought. Before the pregnancy the plug had been almost easy to ignore.

My men were decided and the plug removed. I breathed a sigh of relief at having it gone.

We walked down to the cafeteria and I was elated to have a day without that stupid object invading me. Reaching out I held the hand closest to me and squeezed it. Master Bane squeezed my hand back and didn't let it go. My happiness was infectious.

"You're getting spoiled, Ciara," Master Evan said sighing.

He liked the plug. Seeing it peek between my ass cheeks all day reminded him I was his.

"There are other things I like to have there, Master Evan," I flirted smiling.

Master Evan had ideas and would gladly spend the morning between my legs, but Master Damien made us go to breakfast. He wanted to see what Nu-reeh planned to do with them.

"Are you still to be trained as General?" Master Kein asked absently as we got closer to the hall.

The internal conversation took over. Nu-reeh knew they were bonded to me. Master Damien couldn't be General if he was bonded to a slave. It would never work.

Breakfast was quick. The only thing that took any time was getting me on my kneeling place. I couldn't see it beyond my expanding belly and I nearly lost my balance. My men stopped me from toppling and fed me while laughing at my clumsiness.

After the food and pulling me to a standing position, we walked to the area where the man handed out assignments. Usually it was rote, Master Damien and his Brothers trained to be General in the morning.

"Sorting room, Damien," the man said and then I felt him look at me. "The slave will wait for you in your quarters," he finished.

The men started to disperse, but Master Damien and his Brothers were irritated. Who was going to care for me while they sorted out Nu-reeh's haul of ore?

The man that had been handing out directions approached Master Damien.

"The slave will clean your quarters," he said answering the unspoken question and now Master Damien was livid. The man continued to speak in the face of Master Damien's rage. "It is how it is done here, Damien. Do not cast such angry eyes on me. When the female slaves are brought they must work as we work. What would you prefer? To have the slave alone in your quarters or to have the men who clean in there with her?"

I could clean, I was good at it. The time alone would not be wasted. If they gave me knitting needles and yarn I could even knit a blanket for the child after I was done. I would be fine on my own, just as I had been when I was left alone in the compound.

Master Damien muttered a low curse. He didn't like the talk of me caring for myself. I didn't do a good enough job, in his opinion.

Master Evan's thoughts were as dark as Master Damien's, but Christof saw this as a workable situation. I was not as incapable as they thought I was and they would be near. It was unlikely I could get in that much trouble.

"Thank you," Master Damien said to the man, "you are correct. We will report to the sorting room for our Mistress after we leave the slave in our quarters."

Christof asked me about what I needed to make blankets and said he would speak to someone. He thought he could have those things delivered here. Christof found my industry a healthy thing and was happy to assist me. His opinion slowly started to sway his Brothers.

By the time we made it back to our rooms they were at ease with the decision. As long as I didn't do anything foolish, they would leave me alone for the morning.

"If you misbehave or cause trouble," Master Damien warned, "we will punish you."

I shuddered as he sifted through all the new ways they had learned to punish Earth slaves. The men from the red mountains liked slaves with spirit and knew well how to tame them. Master Damien would have no trouble putting that new knowledge to good use if I made problems.

I rose and kissed his lips. His concern was sweet, even if his way of showing it was bizarre. My Master just didn't want me to do something foolish and injure myself. I was apt to get injured even in the safest of circumstances and the mountains were a dangerous place.

Like some strange sitcom, I kissed each man good bye and wished them all a good day. Christof said good bye last and reminded me to stay in their rooms and out of trouble. I swore to do what they had said.

Once my men were gone I pulled the cleaning supplies out of the closet. It was much like the compound, so I knew how to use all of it. Since I disliked cleaning the bathroom, I went there first, to get it over with.

The work was hot, so I stripped off my outfit and walked around nude. I worked up quite a sweat in fairly short order. The bathroom had not received what I considered an acceptable level of cleaning in a long time. I scrubbed hard to make the surfaces shine.

I felt my men in my mind. They had been in the sorting room before and knew what to do. Nu-reeh and her sisters would drop of their haul there and the men cleaned and separated it for sale.

The ore had many uses, mainly as a fuel source. The transports used by the compounds had originally run on the ore. Solar energy was preferred now because it was not something the planet could run out of.

As I cleaned my men communicated with me and with each other. They enjoyed telling me what they knew about the ore and how it was used. I was more interested in their use of solar energy.

I was most impressed with the use of solar power. As I scrubbed the bath down I thought about how solar power was only just catching on on Earth. We were still using fossil fuels we were rapidly devouring.

"We are a far superior race," Master Evan told me cockily. "Those in charge of our planet knew we would have to use methods we could not deplete. The ones in charge of your world must not think ahead."

I couldn't hide the amusement in my thoughts. As though Master Evan had ever even given the notion any consideration before he was brought here. The women thought ahead, that didn't mean the men ever had. His indignation was completely unjustified.

Christof thought my opinion was funny, Master Kein wanted to see what Master Damien would do, and Master Evan was incensed. Punishment would await me when they got home, that much was decided. I was far too cocky and spoiled for my own good.

Their irritation at the situation was funny and they were awfully far away. As I cleaned the counters in the main room, I continued to harass Master Evan.

"You're lucky to be on a planet controlled by women," I told him. "Women are smarter than men and much better at running things."

I felt his anger course through the bond and laughed out loud. It would be disrespectful to the men running the sorting room to leave in the middle of the work day, so Master Evan was stuck. Despite his desire to punish me he would wait.

Master Damien's thoughts were suddenly forefront in my mind. The men from the red mountains had told him how to punish a human slave. He was eager to try out their methods on me.

Unlike the men from the blue mountains, they had learned how to discipline a slave without leaving lasting scars. The whip was excessive. Smaller, less harsh items could be used for day to day training. Human skin was not as frail as the men believed it to be.

In his mind's eye he thought about a thin flexible strap. It wouldn't permanently mar my skin, it wouldn't leave bruises, and it hurt like hell. He was calculating how many switches I could take before I apologized to Master Evan.

"You can whip my ass raw and I'll still hold the same opinion," I laughed out loud.

"You won't hold any opinion when we are done with you," Master Damien said going over all the new ways he had to punish me.

Master Kein's thoughts on the matter were suddenly forefront. Men from the red mountain also tied their slaves. The slaves could be bound and teased for hours. Friendly cousins in the mountains had taught my owners how to do it. It had sounded like such fun to Master Kein. Now it sounded fun to all of them.

Once they had me bound in a position, they could do as they liked. No one would have to hold me down and make me behave. They could just relax and do as they wished.

"I apologize, Master Evan," I said honestly. "I'm very sorry for goading you."

"Not yet, you're not," he growled threateningly into my mind.

My men stopped paying attention to me as a new load was delivered to the sorting room. I concentrated on cleaning. Occasionally I would explain to my men how sorry I was or remind them how brilliant they were.

Even Christof was ignoring me now. His Brothers were too excited by my punishment. My friend couldn't deny their joined longing.

"You will be safe with us," Christof soothed and I knew he was right, no matter what they chose to do.

Their excitement over punishing me was as infectious as their other thoughts. I found myself looking forward to my punishment with a weird sense of glee. It was definitely not a thought that had originated in my head.

I had the apartment spotless in fairly short order. I felt sleepy with all the hard work and looked longingly at the bed. Since it wouldn't get me in trouble, my men agreed with my plan.

I dreamed of the sorting room. It was heavy labor and you had to be very detail oriented to be good. Damien and his Brothers knew what to look for, what made the ore more valuable. Through their waking thoughts I learned all about it.

Clattering talons woke me up quite suddenly. My heart thundered in my chest and I sat upright on the bed.

"Human slave," the voice growled out, "come out here."

I recognized Nu-reeh's voice and smoothed my hair as I ran out of the apartment. She seemed irritated to see me and looked me up and down.

"Damien and his Brothers provide you with warm clothes because you are not suited to this cold. Why aren't you wearing them?" she asked.

I was stunned. It wasn't clear to my why she was taking a personal interest in my well being.

"I was cleaning and hot, Mistress," I managed to stutter out.

"Dress now," she growled.

I bolted back into the apartment and threw my clothes and foot covers on. My Masters were unsure why she was there. Everyone wanted me to do exactly as she said.

My feet carried me back outside and she was waiting.

"Follow me," she commanded.

We walked through the caves toward a large exit. It was much like the one Master Kein had nearly fallen from. She picked me up and she jumped.

I screamed as we fell, but her wings opened and we soared up.

"You humans make the worst sounds of any creature we allow the men to play with," she commented. "Now pay attention."

We flew into the mountains. She pointed out caves and crevices hidden in the rocks. Nu-reeh explained which ones would be good to rest in and which ones would not be. Certain creatures would eat me if I slept in the lower caves. The higher caves were safer but good places were contested.

Nu-reeh swooped into a cave she could fit into and caught a thing that resembled a huge spider, she called it a Scar. I was revolted by the appearance, but stood stoically as she talked about it. Nu-reeh explained how it would sting and paralyze me. It had razor sharp pincers it would use to take me apart and store for later.

Nu-reeh killed it and one other like it that had been hiding. She then showed me where all the dangerous parts of this creature were.

"You can kill one like I just did with your claws," she said. "If you don't have claws a large stick will suffice, the men kill them with their swords. You must anticipate where the creature will jump. If you can destroy the eyes on the front, you will easily kill it after that."

Nu-reeh demonstrated with a large stick how to jab out the eyes.

"They often attack in packs of two or three," she continued to explain. "You never want to turn your back on one."

Once she was done we were off again.

As we flew, my men remembered killing those creatures several times. Scars were a real nuisance. The Warriors did the "pest control" whenever they suspected these things had gotten anywhere near the Warrior compound or shopkeepers' village.

We stopped in a smaller set of hills and Nu-reeh hunted with me on her shoulders. She showed me how to kill and eat the flesh of the small animal she'd caught. It was tough, but not inedible and we ate it raw. Certain organs had to be avoided, they contained poison. I was made to point them out on the next one she killed.

After lunch she spent hours in the windy hills with me. I soon knew the names of all the creatures that lived here. She told me which ones I could eat and which ones would eat me. Should I need to find shelter, I also knew where to look. It was a lesson in survival.

Through the bond I knew my men were confused. Some of the animals she showed me would make a human violently ill if they ate it and I'd never be able to overpower others. The places she talked about resting were all at the top of steep slopes that even they would be hard pressed to reach. None of this made any sense.

The prevailing opinion was not to question her, though. Nu-reeh was showing me this for some purpose, so just go with it. The big woman hated to answer questions.

My men left the sorting room at lunch and were assigned to mate with a group of females. Dinah threatened them and warned them to preform well today for this group. In true male form they rose to the occasion without difficulty, a good fight would be fun.

I rode back with Nu-reeh toward the end of the afternoon. We flew into the caves and she took us to where my men were mating.

The prescribed matings took place in what was essentially an amphitheater. The participants took each other on in the center and any interested parties could look on. Nu-reeh and her sisters were watching.

"Do you see," Nu-reeh pointed out to me, "how that woman did not inject venom in the man when she bit him."

I saw the woman sink her teeth into Master Evan and he grunted. I felt the tearing pain in my own arm and winced.

"Yes, Mistress, the venom is toxic to the men," I said quietly.

"Even a drop is deadly to them, slave. They do not do well without the whole family. I know you have met Ronal. He and his Brothers are special to live like that. Most men that lose a Brother would pass on. It is a waste to use venom on them during mating. Men must be protected."

"Yes, Mistress," I said watching Master Damien pushed to the ground by a large woman. "I heard from my owners about the woman who killed a man with venom."

Dinah hissed and Nu-reeh growled.

"She is no more," Nu-reeh told me. "A woman without control is not tolerated. We dealt her justice swiftly."

I was shocked as I watched my men and the women before me. Damien and his Brothers hadn't told me killing one of them was a death sentence. From the feelings I got from them, they hadn't known.

The woman over Master Damien held him down and forced herself over his cock. He luxuriated in the feeling, but still fought. He'd make the woman earn his seed. Master Damien struggled to rise and she backhanding him. I saw and felt the large man falter from the blow.

"Another hit like that and she'll knock him out," Nu-reeh told me. "If she wishes to hit him in that manner again, I will stop her. He is valuable to me and not to be harmed permanently."

Feeling grateful to Nu-reeh for her protection I politely agreed with her. When the woman went to strike Master Damien again, Nu-reeh swooped down.

I stood with Dinah and the other sister as Nu-reeh disciplined the woman still riding Master Damien.

"It is more difficult at the mating with the free Warriors to stop abuse," Tosu said. "The men become confused when we fight amongst ourselves. The women feel freer here to push the limits. Damien and his Brothers make it easier by fighting back in earnest."

"Yes, Mistress," I answered politely as Nu-reeh returned.

"Damien and his Brothers are popular for their fight and their strengths," Tosu informed me. "They are a valuable asset to Nu-reeh. She will do almost anything to keep them well."

The violent mating continued and I was made to watch the entire thing. They were only interested in Master Kein, Master Damien, and Master Evan though. They seemed to beat Master Bane and Master Christof just for fun. The three women in the ring absolutely dominated the men.

"Those three women are sisters?" I asked quietly. "The women live in groups of three?"

Nu-reeh cursed and I dropped my head. She hated questions and I had just asked one.

"You do not know anything of being a women, do you slave?" she asked.

"No, Mistress," I answered honestly.

Nu-reeh cursed for several moments. Most of it seemed to be about my ignorance.

"Do you read?" she asked.

"On Earth I knew how to read and write, Mistress-" I started to say and she cut me off.

"I don't care about Earth!" she roared.

My men had stopped fighting and were all watching us carefully. She sighed and told me to relax. Nu-reeh said she would not hurt me and she wanted the men to continue to preform below us.

"You will learn to read and write," she told me brusquely, "and you will do it quickly."

We stood and watched my men finish the mating in the ring. Nu-reeh explained women lived in groups of two or three. Sisters were found when one was young and were depended on wholeheartedly.

"The sisters will grow together and learn together. They will form a bond, but not like the one you have with my men. That is not done anymore. Eventually, if they prove themselves they will be taken under the care of an elder female group. The elder females will train them. I share my mines and my men with my young females, for instance," Nu-reeh said

Dinah continued the story as Nu-reeh had to sweep down and stop a woman from choking Master Kein.

"The elder female is often a relative of the younger ones. It is not necessary that she be, though. The young ones will grow into the roles of the elder females, take over their responsibilities as the women age. The stronger the young ones the more interest the elder females will show in them."

"Thank you for the information, Mistress," I said politely.

My mind was worn down. I was being presented with so much to learn, much of it seemingly both random and important. It was killing me not to be able to ask questions, but my men's opinion on that was paramount: never question the females, ever.

The mating finally ended and the three women from the ring flew up to Nu-reeh. My inclination was to drop my head, but my new instincts told me to watch the women carefully.

"This is the female?" one of them asked Nu-reeh crouching in front of me to look in my eyes.

"Yes," Nu-reeh answered.

"Whose child do you carry, slave?" the woman asked me.

I had no idea whose it was and that stammered out of my mouth.

The woman cursed about the ineptitude of humans for several moments before she stalked away. Evidently, I had offended her.

"I apologize, Mistress," I said to Nu-reeh, "for upsetting that woman."

"You are weak," Dinah informed me, "to see one as great as us develop from such insignificance is insulting. Your child must take strongly after her male breeder."

My eyes shot wide open and I stared between the women. My hand went to my stomach and my little girl turned. She, my child was a she.

Nu-reeh and Dinah were discussing which male breeder it probably was. Christof usually made girls, but it seemed this off spring would be powerful. It must be Damien or Bane, they said. Evan's line had been known to create fearsome girls, but it was so rare. They were undecided.