"Bound to Serve, Part II"

[OdileCondacin 0]

(Warning -- does contain some maturish themes.)

 

A quiet sigh of relief escaped the Xenexian's lips. Though she could do without the thought of her planet a smoldering little cinder, at least he wasn't hell-bent on making her life miserable that evening.

 

She crossed to him, refilling the glass of wine before taking a graceful seat on the arm of his chair. "Would you care for a massage?" she ventured, politely, risking a glance to his eyes.

 

"That would be pleasant," he admitted calmly, sipping the wine.

 

The slave quickly rubbed her hands together, warming them before slowly reaching for the back of his neck. If he were any other man, it'd have left him slightly vulnerable. No such luck here.

 

She flinched slightly as her hands met his skin, not letting much conscious thought in her mind as she kneaded the muscle. "A long and tiring day?" she repeated from his earlier comment. "Anything you wish to muse about, even to a lowly servant?

 

"Bungling from the Agincourt, and the governor of this sector. Apparently they feel it unimportant to file reports with me. I suppose I shall have to go remind them personally."

 

"Indeed, a personal appearance would rather quickly set them in their appropriate places."

 

"It's always worked on Xenex." The agreement was mild, lazy almost.

 

She paused in her caresses before continuing, speaking softly. "Yes, Master, it has."

 

"Still," he sighed, "it's tedious. And it takes time away from more important matters."

 

"Something noteworthy on the home front?" she asked, curiously.

 

"The usual political bickering." He reached back to pat her arm patronizingly. "Nothing that should concern you."

 

Her arm stiffened slightly, her voice growing a shard icier. "No, of course not."

 

Smirking, he continued, "I suppose you'll be glad when we return to Elas?"

 

"Why should I be, Sir?" she asked, half-heartedly.

 

"Your work there is much easier."

 

"But," she protested, gently, "the other Elasians... other servants for that matter, are so much less accustomed to a Xenexian."

 

"So you prefer it here?" he probed. "Officers, glassware, and all?"

 

"Most of the time," she admitted. "Both have their high and low points."

 

"Then you should work harder to make yourself useful here." He smiled, closing his eyes. "Next time I might leave you on Elas."

 

Pulling back, O'd'yl looked down, quietly, tempering the small outburst of anger. "As my lord sees best," she submitted, fighting to keep level.

 

He could feel her anger like heat against his own mind. "Temper, temper, slave," Koshic warned. "That won't endear you to me."

 

"No of course not," she replied, quickly. "And you only speak the truth."

 

"Pretty words." His eyes opened; he turned to regard her cooly. "If only they had some meaning."

 

She extended a gentle hand, shaking her head. "They do, but..." Her voice tapered off as her eyes again met his.

 

The amulet glowed softly, but he held back his hand. "But?" he prompted, lifting his brows expectantly.

 

"But, I am simply an unreasonable servant. I seem unable to accept an arrangement which leaves me a virtually privileged Xenexian, and I do apologize."

 

Caught between amusement and irritation, he smiled wryly. "Perhaps you merely need further education," he suggested. "It would hardly surprise me that your nugacious species took longer to learn things than most."

 

"No, Sir, I don't believe it particularly necessary," she said, speaking quickly, frantically. "Unless you are to require it, and I beg you don't."

 

"Prove to me that the lesson is unnecessary," he challenged.

 

Squelching any distaste, she dropped to a knee. "Surely we have been over this many times, Lord?"

 

He caught her chin in his fingers. "You appear to need the reminder."

 

"As you wish, Lord." She sighed, closing her eyes. "I am truly grateful to you for sparing Xenex where other worlds would have been obliterated."

 

"And?" Releasing her, he settled back in his chair.

 

"And for this I offer loyalty, as I always have."

 

His eyes bored into her, mental fingers skimming through her thoughts. "An odd sort of loyalty," he reflected. "Perhaps we had better say 'service' instead, as we both know you would turn on me in an instant, if you thought you would not destroy the rabble on your homeworld in the process."

 

"Service, then, Master," she agreed, lowly. "But I understand your power, and I'd never betray you. Not with Xenex at stake."

 

A smile. "If that is what motivates you, then perhaps..." He trailed off, gazing out one of the large viewports thoughtfully.

 

"Yes, my lord?" A touch of fear crossed her eyes.

 

Idly he stroked her hair as though petting an animal. "Perhaps I should rethink your discipline. Evidently it will be far more effective to punish your fellow Xenexians than your directly."

 

She trembled, both from his words and touch. "I beg you reconsider."

 

"Oh, but consider how much trouble it will save if -- for example -- I were to... stop food shipments to your home city for a week each time you defied me."

 

"You'd punish Condacin just for the crimes of one unruly servant?"

 

"If it worked." He shrugged slightly. The fate of a handful of slaves on that dustball of a planet was meaningless to him.

 

"Surely my service isn't that valuable."

 

"You have it backwards, slave. It is not you that has value, but they that lack it."

 

She nodded with a small sigh. "I see, and even something of little worth is better than that with none."

 

"Precisely." He smiled. "See? You can learn, after all."

 

She smiled back slightly. "Indeed I can."

 

"So, then. What shall we do about today's indiscretions?" He watched her face carefully. "I admit, executions would seem to be a tad overzealous..."

 

"I would concur, Master," she replied, unsure of whether to make a suggestion or not. How does one pick her own punishment, after all? "I would leave it to your best judgment."

 

"Oh, now, don't be so shy." A cruel smirk crossed his face. "You've never had trouble speaking your mind before."

 

"The stakes are higher..."

 

"So they are." He rested his chin in one hand. "But tell me what you think would be fair. Come, slave, how often do I offer you a chance to have your opinions heard?"

 

"Not often at all." She looked up at him warily. "I don't believe it was a major offense -- perhaps extended shifts doing more of the same?"

 

"But we just established that punishing you directly was not particular effective." His voice and face were neutral, but there was a light in his eyes that spoke of pleasure; he was enjoying pressing her this way.

 

"Perhaps some sort of light restrictions on Condacin, then? An early curfew, perhaps? Something trivial -- they would not need to be brutally punished, I'd think."

 

He appeared to give the matter some thought. "Since the question is one of idleness, let us make the punishment fit the crime," he declared. "Condacin's work quotas will be raised... until your productivity is satisfactory."

 

"Yes, Master." Her voice turned pleading. "But spare the children the excess of work. I was not to know of this recent change of 'education' tactics."

 

"Oh, very well." He lifted her chin until her eyes met his. "Then I suppose we know what the punishment for the next infraction of this nature will be."

 

"Yes, I suppose we do." Sincerely, she gave him the slightest smile. "Thank you -- for your kindness." Relative kindness, she corrected, mentally.

 

"Be grateful there was any at all," he replied, catching the thought. "Unless you prefer I change my mind...?"

 

"No!" she replied, hastily. "You decision is wise, and just. I would not want you to alter it."

 

"Already the lessons are sinking in," said Koshic approvingly. "In time you may become a model slave indeed."

 

"Let us pray, great one."