Chapter fourteen A.

With the slave bands, all merged into my mithril one; the wagon and carriage quickly got us back to the docks. With little to no guidance on my part, Sasha guided my newly acquired slaves down below deck. I nodded to the guards and made my way down into the ship.

The center cabin was large, but I was surprised to find that all forty-two people fit. Granted, the fourteen fairies were all less than two feet in height, and the other four were small elf children. The elves all sat around the booth table with their children, with a few dryads sitting as well. The minobous stood in the gally, and the other dryads were draped over chairs and curled on the floor with some of the nymphs tending to them.

The pots with the ferry’s plants and the dryad trees were lined along the windows and in the other open places. The sunlight was having a marketed effect on their health. Though they still looked like they had all been dragged through the streets.

I was aware of all the eyes on me as I came down and sat on the steps. It was nerve-racking, but I pulled myself together and said, “My first command to you all is to keep my secrets. To nether tell, wright or by any other form of communication convey what I say or do. Is that understood?” I said, letting the slave bond do its work, connecting me to each of them. I could feel the poor state of their bodies, but I knew I could quickly fix that.

A course of “yes masters,” mumbled from everyone, even the little ones.

“Second you may address me as lord Grayson or Master Grayson. You may also inter change that with my first name Eric, I do not mind.” I said, feeling the easing tension in the group as the more permanent commands rooted themselves.

“Yes, Master Grayson.” They all replied. Still not even close to comfortable with using my first name.

The smell they all gave off was that of old sweat and dirt. I felt sorry for them all, and the least I could do was heal their physical state. With Sasha standing to my left, she gave me the smallest of nods as she knew what I was about to do.

I summoned my mana and began casting spells on the bedraggled group. Waves of heal plants and mass healing left my palm. The group visibly recoiled at the magic as if I was about to do something terrible to them.

After a moment, they all realized that I was actually healing them all. Small cuts a bruise that had accumulated disappeared. The dryads perked up and soaked in the healing energy. The faeries that looked like they were on the verge of death relaxed as their small plants turned vibrant and health rushed into them all.

“My lord. What?” Timothy gasped; his face showed that he could not believe I had just used so much magic on them.

“It’s OK Timothy. I don’t think I will be like any other master you have ever had. Now I would like to meet every one and get things settled so that we can depart.” I said.

“Yes, my lord. How may I be of service.” Timothy said, falling easily back into his previous role.

“Why don’t we go around the room and everyone say their name and what they did or were responsible for.” I said this and indicated the to the first dryad sitting at the booth.

“My name is Anya and I was responsible for all of the citrine trees at the farm.” The dryad said. She did not look close to death now, and she had a soft glow to her skin. Her once dull hair now had a glossy, vibrant orange glow.

A nervous-looking plump elf with bright pink hair and a wonderful girlish voice said next, “I’m May, master Grayson; I was the cook and helped Milly with her Dairy maid tasks.” She said, pointing to the bovine demi-human girl.

“I’m Tamara my Lord Grayson, thank you from the bottom of my heart for healing me and my child. My little girl is Maestra. I was responsible for general maid duties.” Tamara said the next elf at the table, who had deep tan skin and long brown hair, was done in a ponytail.

Ray’mea was the next elf, and she was the only other one besides May to not have a child attached to her. She had raven black hair and a refined face. She looked young and had just a hint of girlishness about her, were the other elves did not. She spoke timidly and quietly, but her voice was cute. “I’m Ray’mea, my… master Grayson, I helped everyone out with their duties.”

The next to speak was a tired-looking green-haired elf. She held two children in each of her arms, and they still looked frightened despite the tension relaxing in the atmosphere. “Hello my lord master Grayson I am Amber; these are my children Tera and Trix’s. I was responsible for looking after the children of the house.” Her tired voice still carried sweet tones and played at being seductive; if only she could get a good night’s rest.

The last elf to speak had bright blue hair, and though she looked exhausted, the brilliance of youth shone through her. “I’m Candace, master Grayson. This little bundle her is Brin. I was a maid in the house.”

As the elf had taken turns speaking, I noticed that most of the dryads had succumbed to sleep as well as the fairies. The only dryad left awake spoke from a seat on the floor, “I am Arial my Lord Grayson. I am bonded to an elder apple. The last time I was planted was over sixth months ago and I have watched over groves of many types of trees, I am very skilled at plant magic also.”

I found it odd that she had been for sale for so long but decided to talk to her later about it. Next, the minobous spoke. In a deep sultry voice, the black minobous spoke, “my name is Zora master Grayson. I produce three excellent gallons of milk per day.”

Next, the beautiful white-furred minobous spoke, her crystal blue eyes paring with her sweet high rumbling voice. “Master Grayson, I’m Holly. I produced two gallons a day of exquisite milk.” She said as I noticed milk was still leaking from the three women.

“Hi master Grayson my name is Milly. I started producing just over three years ago, I make anywhere from one to two gallons of exquisite milk a day. It’s been as high as legendary before but only on a few occasions. I help May with the milk, making cheese and butter and all sorts of stuff.” Milly spoke in the high chipper tones of a bubbly girl that, by the force of will alone, allowed nothing to get her down.

“Brith, Master Grayson. I am a mistress of soil and ensure crops do well.” The only Nymph awake said. Her tone spoke volumes as to how she did not like being where she was but was redesigned to a fate she could not change.

That left the only still awake member of the group, the small blue-haired fairy that apparently was a queen. She spoke in a voice laced with so much fear I was taken aback as I looked at her, “master Grayson, I… I am Thera of the blue lotus and…and… I tend magical herbs that are rich in mana, my flower if the pedals are consumed can increase the regeneration of mana two-fold for a time.” She finished looking for all the world like she was going to burst into a terror-filled sob.

I looked at Sasha to see if she could help, but all I got was a confused shrug.

“Thera, are you OK? You sound very frightened.”

“No… No… my lord please…” she started, still holding back tears.

“OK, I command you take five deep breaths and calm your mind. Then tell me exactly why you are so panicked.” The command was so forceful I felt it shoot across the cabin and slam into the small fairy, like a train.

She stiffened, then took five slow deep breaths; her body calmed, and in a clear and almost robotic voice, she said, “I was lucky enough to become with child and my seedlings will begin to form soon. I am scared that you will take their developing bodies and crush them up and use them as a powerful potion ingredient. That you will then consume so much of my soul plant and my flesh in order to permanently increase your mana regeneration that you kill me. I can feel by how much power you wield that you are a very powerful mage.” When she finished, she clapped her hands over her mouth as though she just signed her death warrant and that of her children.

“Mother fucking! … What fucking shit, you god fucked damn serious… Who in their right fucking mind would fucking…” my momentary tirade had all the slaves staring at me in fear; “You will be fine. I have no need of your power. Your children will grow up safe, I have no need of them for fucking potions. I promise you.” I started looking directly at her. I knew the best thing I could do was bluntly put her fears to bed.

She started to begin to sob once more, then my words hit her like another train, and she stopped, tilted her head at me, and said, “really? My lord? Why? Ummm….” She trailed off rather dumbly.

“We can get to all of that later for now rest and know all is well.” I said as I turned back toward Timothy. “Sasha, Timothy help May get set up in the gally and every one situated. Then Sasha if you would be so kind as to put those textiles we got to good use.” I said.

I turned toward the minobous and said, “Zora, Holly and Milly if you would go back to the captain’s room with me.” I said, indicating to the stern of the ship.

They nodded and turned to head into the back. I followed behind the bubbly round ass of Milly. I walked through the door and looked at the three standing in the room. I was somewhat weirded out by what I was about to do, but it had been on the back of my mind since the merchant house.

When I had drunk their milk, I had felt my body change; I had felt power seep into my body. It was time to get the full dose of it. It had not changed my body stat number, but I could feel the milk strengthening me all the same. It became apparent why the nobility drank the best kin and demi-human milk, it was good, and I could imagine after drinking this every day for years, one’s body would be greatly enhanced.