207. Practical Experience: Wiremu

Kelda told me where to find slaves in Kirghiz. Slavery is only legal for a specially licensed and trained Mental Healer. They are closely monitored, and their job is to help those with the slave class lead as normal a life as possible. I took a week to set up the appointment.

That week, the Comedic Rhythm had their last show and a farewell party. Each one was going their separate ways, and I think Tabitha was quite sad about it. She never let it show, but I could tell. The comedy was a release valve for her. Tāttā was completely running the legitimate side of the Elemental Traders, and I think Tabitha wanted to get back to making contacts with the criminal side. She had put that to one side with everything else going on.

During the week, Ruku also taught me Interrogate Status. He said I learned it quicker than others he had taught. He thought it had to do with my Tutor and Bond Care Skills. It is hard to level as anyone with Mental Strength over 15 can resist the Novice Skill, and with a Mental Perception of 15, they are likely to detect the attempt. Then there are the Skills that block or confuse it. So, I am only likely to be successful with children or people in their first class until I can raise the level. Mental Perception is the key skill to seeing a status, backed up by Mental Strength and Agility.

We have about another month and a half before Kelda is released from the army, so I have made that my deadline to crack the slave class. It is not looking good. However, we are about to meet Healer Deborah, who manages five slaves. Analysing a slave bond should hopefully give me some insights into what is happening. I had tried to do this in the Quarry years ago, but I didn’t have the Skills or the attributes to be successful.

Deborah was a large lady well past the century mark. She was the sort that would not put up with any nonsense. Ruku and Kelda were with me as Kelda and her military contacts got the appointment, although, without Ruku, I wouldn’t have known to ask. Ruku and Kelda were asking Deborah questions, but mostly Ruku, as he had owned slaves. I sat at the back, sensing her bonds.

The slave bond was very different to a bond with an animal. It wasn’t a partnership. The bond was formed as a result of the class, and once accepting the class, the slave had no further say in the bond. The flavour of the bond was all from the owner. The slave’s flavour, or Spiritual Signature, was suppressed.

The flow was all one way, in a worse way than Otto’s was. Deborah’s flavour was of resilience and competence. I was unsure of how much that influenced the slave. I would expect the bond to influence the slave. Good masters would have better responses than bad masters. It is a Spiritual influence from the spiritual signature of the master. How that showed in the slave, I was unsure.

My thoughts were interrupted by Deborah saying loudly, “And you at the back, why are you here?”

I had missed their entire conversation. Kelda spoke, “Quinn is here …”

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Deborah interrupted and looked at me.

Mental Healers will be practised at seeing through lies. I decided to go with the truth. “I am looking for a way to reverse the Slave Class.”

That surprised her, “You don’t think that’s been tried before?”

“Probably, but I can’t find a record of the attempts in the Lore Society.”

“No, you wouldn’t. Healers keep patient details confidential.”

“Is there a way I can see them? I could then build on them.”

“You are not a sworn healer. You also are having trouble with the meaning of the word confidential. What makes you think you can succeed when some of the best Healers haven’t.”

“I am no healer. I am, however, a Bond Master. Encouraging healthy bonds and breaking unhealthy ones is the class focus. Slave Bonds are unhealthy.”

“I couldn’t agree more, but breaking the bond is not enough.”

“No,” I said, “That's why I need to reverse the class.”

“No,” Deborah said, “That is not all you need to do. Being a slave comes with huge mental trauma and often physical and spiritual trauma. That is all suppressed while the Slave Class suppresses the slave's mental attributes. If you restore those attributes, the trauma alone will drive them to suicide.”

“It’s been done?” I said, excited.

“Of course, it’s been done. 200 years ago, a Journeyman level Slave Taskmaster was paid to reverse the class on ten slaves. Three immediately killed themselves. Four were counselled but committed suicide within a month. The remaining three lasted longer, but the longest was a year. Getting over the trauma is one thing. Adjusting to living a normal life after being a slave for any length of time is almost insurmountable.”

This was a depressing conversation. I’d had visions of setting people free, but it would be a lot harder than I thought. Years of rehabilitation. For those who survive. It was too much.

Deborah seemed to sense my mood. “Reversing the class is a good thing, but it is only a start. I have been working with slaves for fifty years. I have the practical experience. I know what it will take.”

“It seems pointless.”

“No it is not pointless. If you manage this, you will be famous. But it is not as easy as just removing the Class.”

I had a sudden thought, “I was missing the big picture!”

“What?” asked Kelda

“I have been so focused on bonds and the slave class I have been missing the picture of slavery as a whole.”

“I don’t understand,” Kelda said.

“Slavery is more than the Class and the bond. Deborah here has been telling us about the human cost. That is the end part. The middle part is the bond and the class. We have totally skipped the first part.”

“Which is?”

“Stopping new slaves being made.”

“How?” Kelda asked.

“By killing Slave Taskmasters. We could put a bounty on them through the mercenary guild, enough to even tempt rogues in the empire to collect. They are soft targets. They come from administration roles, not combat roles.”

“I don’t think you realise how much that will cost.”

“No, I don’t, but we can find out. That senile king owes us. Maybe we could share the costs.”

I saw Deborah's puzzled frown at that comment. Whoops, I might be getting too excited and letting secrets escape.

“Thank you, Deborah, you have been a big help. If I find a reverse for the class, I will call on you.” We took our leave.

On the way out, I saw a lady sweeping the floor. On a hunch, I used my new Interogate Status on her. She had the Slave Class, and Analyse Bonds recognised Deborah’s flavour. Interrogate Status saw all her Classes as she had no mental defences. We didn’t stop, but I would probably be back. I put a Hunter Mark on her. Then I took it off. Deborah was a Mental Healer. She is bound to sense the mark, and I didn’t want to upset her at this point. She is a potential ally, not an enemy.

I didn’t learn what I thought I would, but I learned enough to start the fight now. I should have started this months ago. Better late than never. I went searching for Tabitha.