Tale of Four

After waiting outside one of the manors for a while, Seth and Isis were finally allowed in, waiting for them at the door, a plump woman in her late forties in a long dress holding a glass of wine. Leaning against the wall, she smiled, seeing Seth, and walked over with a charming smile.

”Seth.” Calling out to him, Isis noticed a slight annoyance in her tone as she stood before him with a thin smirk, looking him up and down before looking at Isis, ”I remember losing you to Tyrak, but now you bring another woman to my house.” Grabbing her chin, she tilted her head and frowned, ”When did this happen?”

Seth placed a hand on his chest and bowed before grabbing her hand and kissing the back of it. ”Cecile. You’re as beautiful as I remember.” Seth looked up and flashed a white smile, making Cecile roll her eyes. ”As for bringing another woman.” Standing up, Seth thought for a moment and clapped his hands together, ”My heart is too large for a single woman alone.”

Rolling her eyes, Isis stepped forward and bowed the way she would to nobles of Veston and looked at Cecile, ”Isis. A pleasure to meet you.” After two weeks of constant lessons, she had gotten the hang of the language Seth had taught her, one that was commonly used for ease of trade between the different places. Although her pronunciation was weird, her intent was clear.

”A lovely name.” Cecile said with a kind smile and turned around, ”Come. I am sure you wish to rest.” The two followed behind with Seth catching up to walk side by side with the plumb lady.

”Tell me how you have been, Cecile. I know it must have been hard without me, but you still look fine.”

”Bored. This city lacks entertainment. Tea parties and banquets aren’t the same without you here, Seth. I no longer can boast to my friends about the standard of my treats without you making them.” Cecile regretfully said, ”What do you say about returning to my service. I believe I was pretty fair when you worked for me.”

”Unfortunately, I will decline. I hate this city after all.”

”Still? I truly do not understand you.” Her words trailed, ”Then tell me. Is she your new master? How did you end up serving her? Tyrak lost you in a game, or did you have enough of that strange man?” Seth chuckled and shook his head.

”I think Tyrak had had enough of me flirting with his wife. It was all in good fun, though.” Cecile scoffed and shook her head, ”In reality, he wanted to scam gold from a big trading partner he has in Veston. Helping her was a way he could.”

”It’s always money with that man.” Ceicile chcukled, ”As for me.” Looking deep into his eyes, she smiled, ”I know what you’re good at. You can stay for as long as you want, but make me soemthing.”

”I had already planned to. If you give me a room, I can begin right away. In the meantime, why don’t you get to know your other guest? I’m sure you might find her entertaining.” Cecile finally looked at Isis again and nodded.

”Does she hate this city like you?” Seth nodded, making the woman chuckle, ”Wonderful. Then she should be fun.” Using the opportunity, Seth walked off, already knowing what room would be provided for him. Cecile stepped back and interlocked her arm with Isis, slowly leading her along. ”Tell me, my dear, you hate Danmor. Why?”

”I, I don’t hate it...” Cecile rolled her eyes and groaned.

”Spare the lies. I have enough people in this city who can smile and spew poison for me; I don’t wish for my guest to do so as well.” Isis thinly smiled and nodded.

”Then, it’s simple.” Without hesitation, Isis laid bare her beliefs, ”No man should own another. Now I know in Veston we are all under a king, but every man and woman has the freedom to choose what to do with their life, well, for the most part.”

”But I don’t see why you have an issue. The lesser are happy with their position. They are fed, housed, grateful, even. After all, without us, what could they do?” Casually replying, the plump woman led her into a side room, where a man in a collar and butler outfit stood holding a tray of tea and three mugs. Placing them down, he poured a drink for the two and stood waiting. Cecile smiled and thanked him before leaning back, taking a sip. ”You never answered.”

”They have no choice.” Her reply was short but enough. Sharing a smile, Cecile sighed and shrugged.

”Sometimes it’s better if others can decide what you should do. Some people love having a guide, and others can’t make the right choices for themselves.” Isis shook her head and looked at the slave standing by the side, ready to please.

”Tell me. What happens when they decide they don’t wish to be a slave anymore?”

”A lesser.” Cecile quickly corrected her, ”Slave is such a disgusting word.”

”And lesser is better?” Isis half-smiled and took a sip of tea, ”You never answered.” It was her time to throw the statement out, and the plump lady chuckled.

”They must be corrected. As a child is corrected by their parent after all. Why is that so strange?” Clicking her fingers, the man to the side walked forward. Patting her lap, the man knelt down and rested his head on her leg as she petted him like a dog. ”Does he truly look unhappy to you. Do you think giving him a choice would make him feel better?”

Clicking her fingers again, the man rose and stood up. Without sparing a glance, she waved her hand and sent him away. ”And what is correction?”

”Well, it depends on how ungrateful they are.” Grabbing her cheek, Ceicile replied with a soft voice, looking into the distance, ”Sometimes, they are simply scolded, but in most cases, we must make them repent before their fellow lessers. Do they have schools in Veston?” Asking a sudden question, Isis raised an eyebrow.

”Most churches have a single class after prayer day to teach the children to count. Why?”

”Well, here, in school, if a student misbehaves, the teacher brings them to the front of the class and punishes them before the rest of the students. This both embarrasses the misbehaving student and teaches the rest of the class what happens when they misbehave. Tell me. Is that any different to what we do with the lessers?”

”Well, it depends on how these punishments are carried out on the lesser and the students.”

”As I said, it depends on how ungrateful they are. If they steal from their Master, you cut a finger off with a dull blade. If they murder, you flay them. If they rape a master, you castrate or blind them. It’s rather simple. Of course, we don’t do this to children. Just a cane to the back of the hand if they misbehave.” Isis stared at her in disbelief. The way she spoke was so normalised that even now, she didn’t seem to understand what was barbaric about it. In Veston, Ceicile would be like any lady, elegant, a socialite, an older member of high society who would likely have a small collection around her. Even now, Isis could see that aspect in her, but alongside it was a cruelty that didn’t even register.

”And do you do these things yourself?” Almost offended, the plump lady rested a hand on her chest and took a swift drink of tea to calm herself down.

”Heavens no. I hate blood. It’s a disgusting, vile thing. But the city has people to do these things for you, if a master is unable to do so themself.”

”There is a story in the holy book of the Creator in Veston.” Isis said with a deep voice, ”About the rebellion of the Heretical Gods. Long story short, the point of it was that, as the Heretical Gods were the Lord of Creation’s own creations, it was their fault they rebelled. Due to this, when it came time to punish, the Lord of Creation was willing to carry them all out themself. The lesson being, the issue and punishment are at fault with the leader and must be resolved by the leader.”

Ceicile smiled, ”Good thing this isn’t Veston.” Isis frowned, ”I understand it is hard to understand such a thing when you come from a strange land, but Danmor has thrived thanks to our beliefs. Lessers have homes, full bellies, jobs, and a purpose. Is it so wrong? In return, we control their choices and lives.”

”Becuase you shouldn’t control that.”

”So what’s worse here or Cras? Becuase to me, Cras is truly an awful place. What they do to their slaves.” Her voice was venomous as she spoke, something that perplexed Isis even more, ”A person isn’t an object. To turn them into that is wrong. They can be allowed to make mistakes, and like a good master, I will punish and correct them. I shouldn’t strip that option from them. See, they still have a choice, just one is incorrect.”

”Both are terrible. Isis said, ”But here is worse, becuase you make them believe it is a good thing. At least Cras doesn’t make them believe soemthing terrible. They just don’t believe anymore.” Ceicile smiled.

”A difference of opinion, and one you are hypocritical about. You say choice to determine their life matters, yet our way still provides that. Cras takes the ability. The simplest choice is to be grateful for what they are.” Isis scoffed.

”Maybe it is, but even still, both are terrible.”