An Unexpected Visitor [Whisper]

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In the fields just outside of the capital Kosov, the sun was setting.

The clatter and clang of Cruori-drawn carts bearing full loads of harvested crop rumbled through the fields, the sound of sweat and tiring day-long work in the farm plantations of Kosov. A horn blew to signal the close of the working day, and tenant farmers grunted as they struggled to drag plows and carts away. In the distance, one could see the confident feline stride of the Master Landlord, slinking and sly with satisfied greed—his serfs had worked well, and there would be many bales of Maurigras ready to be sold the next morning. There was profit to be had. All for him, and none for anyone else!

As the mismatch collection of various Cruori, many equine, deer, and ungulate indentured servants disappeared towards their adobes, only one figure was left in the fields alone.

This was Kabocha, a doe who stood still, eyes shut, sweating, still casting terra-magic encouraging another plot of Maurigras crop to grow. It was a largely hopeless endeavor, because terra magic depended on sunlight, and sunlight was soon to disappear over the horizon. However she had no choice—the Master was angry at her and had commanded her to harvest extra bales since her entire living family had been drafted into fighting the War, and thus the Fuyu family had fallen short this fortnight with the amount crop they were supposed to turn over. If she didn’t, the Landlord would find more drastic ways to punish her.

The last droplets of light disappeared beyond the horizon, and the doe let out a huge sigh and collapsed to the ground, unbearably exhausted by the hours of continuous magic with little rest. She couldn’t imagine where she would find the energy to stand up again, but there was still Maurigras to cut, dry, and bound into bales. Two dozen had to be ready by morning, and Kabocha already felt as if she couldn’t go on. The blacksmith kept the forge running through the night, so drying the crop was not a problem, but Kabocha would need to load and pull a cart herself. She hadn’t eaten, and there wouldn’t be time to graze at all.

It felt impossible.

No one should be allowed to live like this.

The doe laid there in the grass for several moments, breathing heavily and sore to the bone. She wanted to give up, and just sleep there on the spot. But Kabocha pulled herself up, wincing at the tenderness of flesh that seemed to be everywhere.

There was still work to be done, and the night continued on.

[<<WHISper>>]

[bg=white][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0,true] regular, speech, thoughts, other(s) The sun was setting, casting its brilliant rays across the face of the earth for the last time as it sank into the horizon, setting the sky on fire in brilliant hues of red and orange. On the opposite side of the horizon darkness was slowly creeping across the land, gaining ground with every icy claw it laid down. Despite the encroaching darkness and the icy gaze it directed upon the earth the weather was surprisingly moderate. A cool wind was blowing, carrying scents across the expanse of the Great East-West Road. Many of these scents were misleading and Arias paid them no heed. He walked with purpose and pride, carrying his head high, horn blazing in the last dying rays of the sun. The feathering about his cloven hooves swished with every step but his footfalls were silent. His gazelle themed coloring blended in well with the dusty road and as darkness overtook the land it became harder and harder to discern his outline. Arias had one purpose in coming here, following the road towards the Peasant Farmlands and that purpose was to search for a new slave. The Vikare slave drivers were often found here among the serfs who worked in the fields. Essentially every Serf who worked these fields was for sale. Arias glanced at the horizon and noted that darkness was almost complete. All Serfs left the Farmlands at sunset, returning for their homes which meant that the trip might be in vain. Arias picked up his pace to a steady trot and soon the Maurigras fields flanked the road. To his right Arias saw the pens that housed the domesticated Haerla and a sudden hunger pang hit him straight in the gut. He shrugged it off and neared the Master Landlord, speaking to him in a hushed tone, “Greetings, sir. I am in need of a slave. What do you have for sale?” Suddenly a horn resounded and many Serf’s retreated. Arias became slightly impatient and gazed down at the feline. The lazy leopard grunted and rolled his shoulders, nodding his head in the direction of a fallen deer, a Chital Deer. His gruff voice was sharp and to the point, “This one has not been carrying her weight around here. You can take her for 5000 Talcs.” Arias lifted his head stubbornly and a fire ignited in his eyes. Did this official dare to rip him off? “She has clearly been overworked and you expect such a high payment from me? I will give you 4000 and not a Talc more.” The official seemed uninterested and shrugged his shoulders to a more comfortable position, “Sure, you got a deal.” After finalizing the transaction Arias neared the fallen doe and lowered his head, noting her distinct beauty. She was breathing heavily and a sliver of sympathy sneaked into Arias’s heart. He immediately shrugged it off, replacing it with his known ruthless nature and bumped her forcefully. “Get up! You now belong to me and it will do you well to obey immediately.” //Yes, she will be a perfect addition to my new home in Kosov.// A slight concentration and a shift of his tail and wind flowed through his flute, creating a mesmerizing melody that was enough to hypnotize this deer to forget about her pain.

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Kabocha sprang up to the rude forceful shove in her sides. It hurt, even though most others might have considered it a fairly light bump. The tender soreness of her flesh clearly magnified the pain wherever others touched her. Everything felt enflamed.

‘Get up! You now belong to me and it will do you well to obey immediately.’

A voice commanded her—strange to Kabocha’s ears and unfamiliar. It was not the Master’s voice.

A sudden pang and flood of mixed fear and anxiety overtook the doe. What was this? Had she been sold? To whom? When?! No one had even suggested she was for sale! Her family depended on her to continue working in the Fuyu family debt while the rest of them were away on the Barbarian Front. Was this a cruel scheme by the Master Landlord to ruin their family with impossible debt? If Kabocha was sold, her family would not be able to provide any dues for months, and their chances of near-freedom would be ruined.

Kabocha wanted to protest, nearly opening her delicate muzzle to do so, but the harshness in the stranger’s voice stopped her.

What if he was worse than the Master Landlord?

Suddenly an enchanting music flowed through the air. It was like nothing Kabocha had ever heard before, and it struck her light-headed. In truth, it sounded milky and soft like silk. The melody confused the little doe, because it made her feel eerily giddy and light-footed—things Kabocha knew she was not. It was an enchantment, Kabocha realized—but by then it was the sensation was too irresistible to protest. This was magic.

For some reason the fanged Shadhavar who acquired her looked beautiful beyond belief. Kabocha was not sure whether this was the product of the magical flute song or not, but his long muscled neck and proud shoulders were stunning. Even his small movements—the shifting of his feathered hooves and the motions of his pulsating breath and heart was mesmerizing. It was even difficult to look away for an instant, or even take a breath.

The doe became very self-conscious about her present state.

This was the person who purchased her! It must have been a trick! No Vikare (as her new owner was clearly so) would ever care for a mere Cruori servant. A Vikare lord would only do such a softening act to make her docile, silent, and obedient—cultured to act exactly as a Vikare lord would want her to. Kabocha was a farm doe, and by no means did she mean to lose her voice to the over-privileged Vikare!

But the moment Kabocha decided she wanted to resist, she found herself unable to control her legs and hooves. Already, her body was attracted to her new master, and it didn’t want to move any further away that it already was.

What kind of evil sorcery was this?!

[<<WHISper>>]

[bg=white][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0,true] regular, speech, thoughts, other(s) The doe sprang up fast, almost too fast as Arias poked her in the sides. Her skin had felt warm to the touch, almost too warm and a sliver of sympathy struggled to claim right within his stone cold heart. This doe had been forced to work all day, she hadn’t rested for even a moment and her hot skin proved it, but Arias forced the sympathy away and his eyes returned to their former fire and he gazed sternly down at her. The doe seemed somewhat taken aback by his voice and command and she looked confused. Arias barked another command at her, “At least pretend you are not Haerla!” She looked as if she would protest but the smart doe closed her mouth, extinguishing the fire that had almost begun to blaze within the Shadhavar. Finally the incantation formed within his hollow horn and music permeated the air. It even calmed Arias, its caster, as well with its soothing tones. The effect on the doe was splendid and a smile formed upon his maw. She tried to deny it for a small moment but the lull of the music was relentless. For a moment Arias gazed back at the doe as she gazed at him. Was that wonder in her eyes? Strangely enough Arias felt as if he had been put on the spot and he stamped his cloven front hoof in disregard and turned from her, expecting her to follow thanks to the enchanting song his hollow horn was still playing. Somewhere deep within him the sympathy still lingered and he felt better about making most of her pain go away for the time being. He gazed over his shoulder at the doe, who was beautiful despite her tired state and a sliver of emotion flickered within his golden mirrors but he flicked his head away. “Try to keep up.” The harshness in his voice wasn’t there anymore, replaced by an emotionless thrum. //She’s just a servant!! I cannot possibly care for her in any way!// Arias tried deftly to make himself believe this but as he checked over his shoulder if she were following his heart skipped. A loud snort came from his nares as he jerked his head forward and set off at an infuriated march, stomping his hooves and soon accelerating into a trot. He knew she would follow, his song would make sure of that… OOC: I was thinking we could play out a little part of the journey still and then move this thread to his house?