Chapter Text
Murial loved her home. Her few animals kept her company when business was slow, the soil was rich enough to grow all sorts of necessary herbs and plants. The sun always set just so that she could watch it out of her main room's window. The trees seemed to shade her every hour of the day. The stream wasn't more than a four minute walk, and the town was only a twenty minute one. Best of all, were the travelers.
Something about being a cozy stop for wandering people made her life feel all wrapped up. Like a package with a bow on top.
She got to care for the town, some local animals, and anyone who just so happened to stumble upon her little home.
Most were plenty fine to pay in helping her out, and telling their stories, which, was all she really needed. Money was of no object when you helped deliver half of the people in the town to their mothers, and have patched up their wounds for the past thirty years. So she took most payments in food, or services. The light that filled their weary eyes would be enough, but it helped alleviate the guilt of her guests to help around, so she let them.
So when a knock came at her door about an hour before sunset she smiled brightly, and nudged her cat, Tibi, off her lap to get the door.
She swung it open with a smile, "Hello, come in, come in," she said gesturing for the strangers to enter.
There were two people, a man, about forty if she had to guess, and another person, who couldn't be more than twenty two.
The first man looked a tad more rough then her usual guests, but she wasn't one to judge. He could simply have been on the road for too long to properly maintain himself.
He had a scruffy beard and hair that was far too long for it to be fashionable. His clothes were nice enough in quality, but noticeably dirty. He seemed to judge her home as he looked around.
The other person shrunk behind him. They were either a tad short, or shrinking in on themselves, but it was unclear which. Especially since they hadn't even fully left the doorway. They had close cropped brown hair and blue eyes that seemed to carry little raindrops inside. Along with several noticeable scars on the sides of their face.
"Do you host?" the man asked.
"Yes, I do," she said with a smile.
The man nodded and the younger person followed in after him.
"I can make sure you get a nice place to sleep, and some food if you'd like," she said, ignoring the concern for the second person for a short moment.
The man nodded curtly. "They already ate tonight, and are full. But I could use something to fill me up."
Murial didn't like disbelieving people. It didn't usually hurt to think the best of people, and assuming the worst often led to more conflict anyway.
But when it came to health, she was an expert. And the person hanging back in her doorway certainly looked underfed.
But clearly the man had some motive to keep them that way. So she won't argue. It would likely be smarter to simply wait till he was asleep. And speak to them herself.
So she made soup and watched as the man spoke to his companion, and watched as they walked off to the guest bedroom.
People tended to talk during dinner, so she decided as she stirred, that she would try to get some information out during the meal.
And after about an hour of prep dinner was ready.
So when he sat at her table, she began to talk.
"So, tell me, what's your name, dear?"
"Haman."
"I'm Murial, I work as the apothecary for the nearby town. Is that were you're headed?"
"No. I'm on an errand for a Lord from up north."
"And your companion?"
"Hm?" he paused, swallowing a bit of soup, "Oh, they're the errand. The guy said he'll pay for me to bring 'em to his father's fort so they can meet him there."
"Do-… for what purpose?"
The man laughed, understanding flickering in his eyes, "Lemme guess, you're worried about them, yeah? A medical type like you?
Well, you don't gotta dig. They're some kinda servant, I guess. All he said was he'll pay me, that I don't really gotta do anything to make 'em comfortable."
Murial was relived that he was willing to talk, but… clearly something was off. "What kind of servant? Why would he want them to travel ahead of him?"
"Something about meeting his father. They're-, he said they do anything really. Mainly, I think they are just around for him to have something to yell at or hit. Supposedly they're just a personal servant. But even he doesn't treat the servants like that. It sounded like he wanted to show off, give him a try at it."
Murial set down her spoon, letting it clink agent the bowl.
"And you're alright with that?"
Haman shrugged, "I'm getting paid. I don't plan to think about it after I finish."
"How much is he paying?"
"Fifty talents. The man didn't even question my price."
Murial sighed. Of course that's what he cared about.
it didn't take long for her to form a plan. It wasn't a hard choice. But it would be tedious to carry out.
"What could I pay you to take them off your hands?"
"What? And drop the job? What could I possibly say to explain it?"
"Tell him you were robbed or that they got sick. They look sick as is, I'm sure you can convince him."
"Sure, lets say I do that, then what about payment?"
"I can meet your price, so long as its reasonable."
"The least I'll take is eighty. Extra for the hassle of convincing him to get off my back. And last I checked local apothecaries don't have coin like that."
Murial frowned.
"I won't have it in coins, you're right about that. But by tomorrow morning I can get you something worth that."
The man laughed again, "Good luck, lady."
Then he stood and left the table, leaving Murial to search her house for anything of value.
— — —
Ellis was glad to be left alone for a short while. They wouldn't have to worry about pleasing the man. They could just sit in the silence and know they were safe for once.
The man had been undoubtedly kind. He gave them a cloak, and let them use it as a blanket. He fed them each day. And had yet to hit them without reason. But they didn't know how to be good for him.
When Master had passed them off for the journey he'd called them "creepy" and had continued to do so. They tried to be cute instead, like Master's wife liked, but that had made him look at them in disgust.
So they had settled on trying to be as unobtrusive as possible.
But even still, they could tell he found their presence a burden. Which, was the opposite of their goal. Master had trained them to be useful. They were always doing something for him, it was their purpose. But this man seemed irritated at them attempting to work.
So they spent their limited alone time pondering how to please him for the rest of the two weeks left on the journey.
When he came into the room, a wide grin on his face, Ellis immediately felt their heart drop.
People didn't smile at them like that. When Master smiled like that it meant pain.
They whimpered and crouched down a little from where they lay on the floor. They knew he hated when they made those "pathetic noises" but they couldn't help it.
The man just laughed this time, "You're a goddamn cash cow, kid."
Kid was good. Kid was far kinder then anything Master called them. Kid meant he wasn't mad. He called them freak when he was upset.
"S-," stammering was bad. Master didn't like it. And this man didn't seem to either. "Sir?"
He all but ignored their attempt to communicate. "Eighty talents? On top of the thirty he already gave me? What could you possibly be worth that much for?"
Ellis fought the urge to shrink in further. They knew they weren't worth much. Master had made that clear a hundred times over.
Had he said eighty? And…for what?
They could feel their throat begin to close in.
"The lady who owns the place is bribing me to keep you? Can you believe that?!"
Bribe him? What- what about Master? Would the woman be their new owner? What- what would Master say about that? Did he- did he not want them anymore?
Ellis wasn't sure whether or not to respond. Words felt impossible as their throat closed up more and more. So they just shook their head, no, sir.
That was not the right response.
His face immediately fell. A look of annoyance painting his features. He grabbed the front of the worn cloak he had lent them, pulling them to meet his gaze.
"Don't ruin this for me, freak. Don't even say a word. If you mess this up for me I swear I'll beat you for real this time."
They nodded vehemently. They hadn't meant to imply anything! They were just trying to be good!
The man had certainly hit them before, but nothing more then a quick kick or swift hand gripping their hair. He had always stopped before doing anything really painful. Usually while muttering about: "fucking freak. Doesn't even move away," Or "Creepy."
But they knew he certainly wouldn't stop this time.
"Tomorrow she'll give me however much she can conjure up overnight and you're gonna stay silent and do everything we tell you. A moment of hesitation, one word, and I beat you till you pass out. Got that?"
Ellis nodded again bowing their head in submission. They were good! They were! They just had to prove it.
But… they gave him a look, hoping that it would be clear that they wanted to speak.
"What? Going to complain?"
No!! That was entirely the wrong idea! They- they just needed more information! What about Master?! What about the trip to see his father? Were they being given away? Why?
They tired to show horror at the thought, and it must've worked since he didn't hit them. But he also didn't give them permission to speak. So they remained silent as they spiraled.
"Whatever. Just, go to sleep or whatever, freak. Just don't mess this up or I swear-"
Ellis nodded. The head movement was beginning to make them a bit dizzy, but it wasn't like they could speak instead.
"Whatever."
Ellis pulled the cloak around themselves tightly, desperate for warmth. Hopefully permission to use it as a blanket was still valid. They could use the comfort tonight of all nights.
They were still awake after the man had begun to snore.
The door cracked open a few minutes after the soft noise had begun.
It was the woman hosting them. Her face lit by a small candle's light, she smiled when she saw them. The low light meant that they couldn't get the best look at her, but when they'd first seen her they'd been busy looking at the ground.
she has long curly brown hair, that puffed up around her head, making it look shorter than it likely was. She was clearly getting older, with the smile lines and crows feet that were etched onto her face. Maybe in her fifties, they would say. She was a little on the short side, and a bit plump.
They sat up, and shifted their weight to be on their knees, if this woman was taking them… they couldn't risk disrespect.
"I brought you some soup from dinner, love."
Their eyes widened. But… They had already eaten. More food was… was a reward. But they hadn't even interacted with the woman yet, what could she be rewarding them for?
Nevertheless, they reached out shaky hands and took the bowl.
They were shocked to find it was warm. They looked up at her eyes wide.
She smiled. A warm smile they recognized somewhere in their soul, but couldn't say from where.
"I wasn't going to just leave you with cold soup! Half the joy of it is the warmth."
They nodded, not understanding, but needing to show that they are listening.
The woman smiled further, "I don't know if he told you, but you'll be staying here from here on out, alright?"
They nodded again. So… was she their new master? Were they to call her that? What did she even want them for?
— — —
Murial felt bad for the poor person in front of her. They must've been too scared to speak and wake up Haman. She couldn't imagine how afraid they must be. Even her statement alone would likely cause anxiety.
"I promise it will be alright okay? I can get you situated tomorrow, but right now you should focus on getting some rest, alright?"
They nodded, still looking warily at her.
She looked down at their lap, where the bowl was still resting untouched. She'd expected they'd be hungry enough to eat it immediately, but they hadn't looked at it since taking it.
"Go ahead and eat up, you'll want the strength, hon."
— — —
Ellis tired to not pale at that last statement. What would they need it for? Was she going to have them do something painful? Did she just need help around the house?
But they just dipped their head and began to eat. She was right. They wanted any strength they could get.