Sister Lora's shoulders slumped when the tension drained, "Thanks to Gaia. I started to believe you wouldn't approach us."

The woman lounged, with her legs stretched out and ankles crossed, on top of the barn's trusses. When she visited, Sister Lora equipped her darkly-stained armor. A hood obscured her eyes, and when Elin thought it about, she never recalled a time Sister Lora's face was fully visible.

Laira played nearby, under Sister Lora's supervision. Walter stared, with a creeping unease, as the child clacked together a pair of skeleton femurs for entertainment. Neither woman in his presence seemed bothered, so he overlooked the morbid playtime.

"I guess it's an invitation-only thing," Walter looked up, "Aren't you Priestess Evelyn's bondservant, though?"

"I'm her handmaiden, that is true, and I will not bond-break. My conditions require I continue in her service, among other things. You may need to negotiate with her and pay differences. Furthermore, Priestess Evelyn will not waive Laria's parental rights, I assure you."

Walter glanced at Elin. "Bond-break? Parental rights?"

Elin said, "When a bondservant wants to leave before the terms are fulfilled, they have to repay the investment put upon them. Parents generally choose the training and career of their children and their marriage prospects. Lifelong contracts often stipulate arranged marriages, since that affects--"

"Lifelong?" The pitch of Walter's voice jumped up. "Does this mean I have to arrange a husband for Sister Lora?"

Sister Lora chuckled, "Not a chance. If I eventually become your lifelong bondservant, and I'm not saying I will, that's not a condition I can agree to. Priestess Evelyn retains that prerogative. I trust her with it, and I can't imagine her relinquishing it. I can still veto her. At best, she can prevent a marriage, but not force one. This arrangement is for Laira's safety, and a sinecure--"

Elin shook her head.

Sister Lora shrugged, "Well, I expected that. To eat, we work, I suppose."

"You had conditions?" Walter asked.

Sister Lora listed her prepared demands, fingers lifted as she made her points. "First, I require permission to exit the premises, as I see fit. If I can't travel under my own volition, to serve Priestess Evelyn, then negotiations are pointless. Second, I need an exemption from general and seasonal labor for the same reason. Third, I want a secure cottage, furnished, for myself and Laira, privacy guaranteed, and provided a modest allowance."

Walter nodded as Sister Lora talked. When she finished, he opened his mouth to agree.

"All denied," Elin said, "Walter, what Sister Lora defined is essentially a sinecure, but much more insidious. Notice how she offered no obligations but demanded luxury. When traveling, she represents us, and we are accountable for her behavior. An official sinecure would release us from liability."

Sister Lora clicked her tongue.

"Did you try to scam me?" Walter snorted. "I thought you were a nun."

"I see no contradiction," Sister Lora said, "Nuns in the Temple of Gaia vow to serve the oracles and celebrants, and care for children. If I can snare a heroine and her wizard into the task with me, all the better. Besides," she lifted her chin towards Elin, "I thought you would do whatever Sir Walter wanted. He seemed agreeable."

Elin narrowed her eyes. "If he wished to offer sinecure or agreed to your sly version of it, then I will happily accept his decision, and I shall not complain. Provided, he is counseled to announce a reasonable decision."

Sister Lora rolled off the beam and landed, with a squat, before she dusted herself off. "Sir Walter, what are your plans for religious services? Many of your future bondservants will require their spiritual needs met. My certifications include non-denominational rites, midwifery, and mundane treatments."

When Walter looked and sought askance from Elin, she nodded, "What Sister Lora offers is valuable."

"Then let us negotiate," Sister Lora said.

Sister Lora attempted to retain her demands, but Walter slowly eroded them. Traveling freedom and personal cottage with income were unusually rare rewards, for low-ranking religious attendants, so Elin urged Walter not to pay them. However, Walter agreed privacy would benefit Laira.

The nun ensured the housing, sans allowance, when she agreed to perform housekeeping in the main house. She stood firm against general and seasonal labor.

The law divided bondservants by classification: seasonal, general, house, skilled, and sinecure. Each type expected different work and care, though conditions are arbitrarily decided by agreement.

Seasonal workers signed on, by verbal contract, between a few days or a month and slept in tents or the barn. They performed menial farming tasks during busy times. The city reserved that work for the poor, charity to limit further poverty. General workers mirrored seasonal workers, but they performed the other plantation chores, signed up for a year or more, and slept in a permanent bunkhouse. House workers worked indoors, as butlers, maids, or cooks. Skilled workers, as the name implied, performed tasks impossible by untrained, or uncertified, hands. Many argued for increased payments, as Sister Lora attempted. Finally, a sinecure lacked the burden of responsibilities, did not limit the rights of the holder, and enjoyed the most privilege. These particular cases applied to the elderly relinquishing land to others, lifelong servants a master cared for, or someone who earned honorable recognition.

"Keep in mind, Walter," Elin said, "That's one less family we can host. Skilled bondservants are often married with children, and their wives will not tolerate a bunkhouse as a living arrangement. Sister Lora yet received the advantage."

"See?" Laira giggled, "I told you he would give us one."

Sister Lora tried and failed to shush the child. "Sir Walter, she knows not what she is saying--"

"You're the actual scam artist? You little mastermind!" Walter picked up a piece of straw and tangled it in Laira's hair. She laughed and wiggled it like a bug antenna.

"I should have leveraged the child more," Sister Lora muttered, relieved the benefits she earned were not retracted. "And travel?"

"No," Elin said, "As per law, you'll be released for weekly church attendance, holiday, and during the period Priestess Evelyn is responsible for you. Since Walter is the land's steward, I don't want him suffering for your mistakes. Unless you have more to offer?"

"Let's call it a case-by-case basis," Walter said.

"That will do, Sir Walter," Sister Lora said, "Next, you will need to negotiate with Priestess Evelyn."

"Great."