It didn’t take long for Tish to appear and begin mothering over Zaniyah. She offered every service available. From rag baths to spoon-feeding, Tish was here to help. Zaniyah grinned and flatly rejected Tish’s kindness. If there was one thing she didn’t want, it was to be treated like a cripple.

“Nothing is going to plan,” muttered Tish. “This was only a simple delivery mission. None of you were supposed to get injured.”

Zaniyah tried her best to smile, but it was hard because of how tired she was. “I get that, Tish, but sometimes, not so great things happen. I don’t want people overreacting because I made a mistake. I’d rather just recover quickly so I can go home, you know?”

Luca intervened when Tish made a whimpering noise. “It’s time for her daily examination. You can come back later to check on her.”

Tish pouted. “... Alright.” She bowed at the pair. “I’ll bring by some books later.”

“Thanks, Tish.” Zaniyah faked a grin. “It’ll be fun.”

Both she and Luca let out a sigh when Tish left the room. They both liked her, they did, but Zaniyah’s injury had made Tish so anxious that it was putting all of them on edge. Luca shook his head and went back to sewing together bandages. With so many children and so few clerics, he wanted to be sure that the abbey would be well-stocked with medical supplies by the time Macestar left.

Though they said that Zaniyah could stay in her room, she didn’t mind being stuck in the infirmary. She liked being around people and it made it easier for Luca to check in on her. It also gave her the chance to talk to children whenever they came in. They visited her frequently just to hear her stories.

Luca pulled out a watch as the abbey’s clock began to chime. “Right, it’s about that time.” He walked over to Zaniyah and pulled a ring off his finger. He held out for her to take. “I have to go into town for a few hours. Please wear this while I’m away.”

Zaniyah took it and rolled it about her fingers. It was a simple gold ring with etchings all over it. “What’s this supposed to do?”

“It’s a master’s ring, from Maurice’s time as a slave,” replied Luca. “Maurice is a mind mage. Due to the unpredictability of his magic, we are using this to control him. It works through a slave’s mark that was tattooed on his arm.”

Zaniyah scrunched up her nose. “I ain’t doing that.”

Luca glanced over at Maurice, who was staring out the window. He then lowered his voice. “Please, Zaniyah. Until we know what to do with him, we have to control him for his and our own safety. This isn’t a decision any of us made lightly.” Zaniyah frowned at him. “It’ll just make everything easier. If there is anything you need, you can ask Maurice. He’ll help you.”

“Yeah, but he could do that out of the kindness of his heart and not because I’m forcing him to do it,” sternly replied Zaniyah.

Now Luca was the one frowning.

Zaniyah let out a heavy sigh and looked at the ring again. She glanced at Maurice as she slipped it over her middle finger. He briefly shuddered, but kept his gaze on the window. “There. Happy?”

“Thank you,” replied Luca. “I’ll bring you back some food. You like those sausage wrapped hard-boiled eggs, right?” Zaniyah nodded. “I’ll get you one of those and some sweets.”

“Thanks,” muttered Zaniyah. She waited for Luca to leave the room and immediately took off the ring. It was tossed towards the nightstand where it landed neatly next to a book.

The room filled with awkward silence. Zaniyah looked over to Maurice. He didn’t turn around. This window overlooked the courtyard and he enjoyed watching people more than reading. Tish was constantly offering him religious texts, and Maurice held no love for the gods.

“So, uh…” Zaniyah fumbled her hands together. Maurice turned his head so that one eye was looking her way. “My squad knight, Mama Stonetoe? He says that it’s always better when people talk about what’s troubling them. You know, because bad things happen all the time. We try to swallow it all up, but we won’t learn to come to terms with our troubles if we bury them.”

“Or we can go on minding our own damn business,” he replied in a monotone voice.

“Well, I’m a paladin, you see?” She said with a grin. “And paladins are supposed to be the moral compass of Lustro. We’re supposed to set the laws, but I think that people are too different for one set of laws to work. Even similar problems have different solutions. We gotta figure out what’s best for each and every person. I mean, as long as what’s best for them doesn’t involve hurting anyone.”

“... Right.”

Zaniyah continued. “I was born in the core. I mean, that’s to say, I was born in a cave that is part of a series of caves, and all of that was within a hopefully dead volcano. It was pretty hard growing up there, because I’m a lot taller than most core people.

Luckily, my hair is pretty floofy so it didn’t hurt too much whenever I hit my head against ceilings, which happened literally all the time. That’s not the reason why I left, but I do like being able to stand up straight… Well, not now, ‘cause of the paralyzation, but Iath is gonna fix that right up as soon as I threaten to murder him.”

Maurice turned around and put his back against the wall. He folded his arms and spoke with disdain in his voice. “Horn Island.” Zaniyah bobbled her head like she understood. “It’s off the coast of Runt Mouth Bay.” She nodded again. “... The Coral Kingdom. I was born in the Coral Kingdom.”

“Oh, right...” Zaniyah fumbled her hands together again. “Is it fun living there?”

“Horn Island was one of three islands that were massacred during the Clay Rebellion. The Clay Region retaliated when we chose to side against the north. I was one of four survivors from my family. My parents and siblings died. I was raised by a distant cousin.”

Zaniyah looked down at her hands. “Ah...”

“I left last year so I wouldn’t be a financial burden on them. My plan was to travel to the Sky Region, because I had heard that there was plenty of work available. No harbors exist in the Sky Region, and it’s hard to get off at a port on the Gold Coast. I had no choice but to land in Herring and take a caravan to Carapace.

Unfortunately, that caravan had a child who was flaunting a lot of wealth everywhere he went and it ended up getting us attacked. I attempted to use my abilities to get them to leave us alone, but was knocked unconscious by their elementalist. They had already converted me into their servant by the time I woke up.”

“... But you’re free now,” replied Zaniyah. “You can go anywhere you want.”

“My magic is illegal in Lustro and the Sky Region is blocked off by monsters,” argued Maurice. “The only reason I am being kept in the infirmary is because no one knows what to do with me. If I am handed over to a proper authority, I’d be executed.”

Zaniyah shook her head. “None of us are going to let you die. You’re a victim, not a meanie, so we’re going to find a way to protect you… And don’t worry about that ring. I’m not going to put it on again.”

“I would prefer it if you did wear it.”

“No,” quickly replied Zaniyah.

Maurice crossed the room and sat in the chair next to Zaniyah’s bed. “Do you know much about addiction to Eatha’s magic?”

Zaniyah shook her head. “I know that it’s illegal for priestesses to use mood-altering magic all willy nilly. I haven’t really been told why.”

“Because it’s wonderful,” replied Maurice. “They took the blood of a priestess and put it inside of me. That’s how slaves are made.” He held his hand to his chest. “That ring allows me to sense every whim of my master. It forces me to obey their thoughts and floods me with ecstasy when I do. Better than any wine or woman.

The bond I feel with my master is... Indescribable. Any other part of my existence is colorless without them... Yet I chose to steal that ring and run away because this was my one chance to become my own master, before I slipped any further into darkness. I needed my freedom but I never imagined that they would have a second ring… I don’t know what will happen if they come after me again.”

“I swear, we are going to find a way to protect you,” said Zaniyah.

Maurice snatched up the ring from the nightstand and shook it at her. “You can help me by putting this on.”

“Or, different idea,” replied Zaniyah, “I don’t put that on and we find a new way to help you.”

“I’m going to simplify how my mind works so that someone like you can understand it,” said Maurice slowly. “I know that there is someone out there who is willing to wear that ring and I will do anything I can to get to him.”

“Well, it just sounds like you have some issues that you need help with. Luckily, you’re in a place that can do that.” She flashed him a big grin.

“Just put on the damn ring,” spat back Maurice.

Zaniyah scowled at him. She wasn’t in any condition to stop him if he ran, nor did she think that anyone at the abbey would try to get in his way. With a huff, she held out her hand, and Maurice placed the ring on in her palm. The ring was quickly slipped on her finger. Maurice shuddered again, he bent over in his chair and covered his face with his hands.

The sudden change in disposition scared Zaniyah. “Whoa, uh, you alright?”

“It takes a minute to adjust,” hissed out Maurice. He tried to control his breathing for a minute before letting out a long sigh.

“... Better?”

He nodded. “Yeah… It’s more comfortable if a woman wears it.”

“... Gross,” replied Zaniyah.

Maurice let out a weak laugh. “I’m more used to a woman wearing it. My… Oppressor, Claire, spent a long time testing the ring’s limits.” He let out another sigh. “... You and that cleric have much kinder hearts than her.”

Zaniyah studied the ring on her hand. “So this is a lot different from how your magic works, huh?”

“Pinch your cheek.”

Zaniyah felt an intense pain as her own fingers firmly pinched her cheek. She didn’t even realize that her arm had moved. “Ow… Owwie ow.”

“... You can let go now.” He frowned at her. She didn’t have to pinch herself so hard.

Zaniyah began to rub the sore spot. “Wow, that is so weird.”

Maurice narrowed his eyes at her before shaking his head. “When I give an order, I have to use my words. I have to concentrate. That ring transmits commands by thought. I, in return, feel great joy in granting your desires, or pain if I attempt to refuse them. It’s not unlike a voice in my mind telling me to do something because it’s right or wrong, but there is no moral compass.”

Zaniyah scrunched up her nose. That was too much for her to wrap her head around.

Maurice smirked. He stood up, poured Zaniyah a glass of water, and offered it to her. “Once, by the great blue sea-”

“What are you doing?”

“You wished me to get you something to drink and to spend hours upon hours telling you folk stories from the Coral Kingdom.” He laughed when she frowned. “Don’t feel guilty. I didn’t talk much before because that cleric was more comfortable when I kept silent. Telling stories is something I take pride in.”

Zaniyah frowned. She did like stories, but she didn’t want to force Maurice to tell her one. The inner conflict that she felt at that moment was twisting her up.

“It’s alright.” Maurice put his hand on top of hers. “Nothing you would ask me is going to make me uncomfortable.”

“It doesn’t stop you from not having a choice,” replied Zaniyah with a pout.

“Nothing you could ask is anything is wretched and cruel than my other masters have put me through,” he said reassuringly. “So relax and let me tell you about Simon and his ship, the Green Gale. A prince among pirates.”

Zaniyah pouted again. He was bribing her with the most tantalizing of adventures, and maybe… Well, maybe, it wouldn’t be so bad to keep the ring on for a little while. That is, as long as Maurice was truthful about being a legendary storyteller.