We’ve wandered a fair way from the original starting point of this conversation, but I feel like I have a much better sense of the stakes of everything. This competition is clearly a game-changer, even for those who aren’t taking part. My decision becomes more and more complicated the more information I gain.

  Nicholas said that his House depends on this competition to survive, and it appears he wasn’t exaggerating. His position appears both strong and precarious at the same time – his words about being loved and feared make a lot of sense in this context.

  Do I really want to embroil myself and my companions in politics which rival the warring states of Italy? But would refusing Nicholas’ offer actually free me of them or just make me an easier target? After all, he’s given me the same Class as the rest of his House, and if I leave, I’ll probably face people who are envious or hateful about that, only without the resources of the House or the protections of being a noble heir. Unless I can keep it hidden, and hide all other connections between me and Nicholas…but that seems a thin protection – I know how useful Inspect is to me; what if there are other versions out there which detail someone’s Class?

  More to think about. My head hurts in a way that even Flesh-Shaping won’t be able to heal.

  “I know we’re due to eat together in the not-too-distant future, but do you mind if I have dinner in these rooms instead? I have a lot to think about,” I tell Nicholas honestly. Frankly, I can’t face more overload right now.

  “Of course,” Nicholas answers easily, not seeming offended by the request. “You can send your manservant,” he means ‘slave’, of course, “to the kitchens to ask for whatever you need. I believe they’re making a delicious suckling lisagh for tonight which they will not want to go to waste, even if we are not having the feast that was anticipated.” Now I feel bad about not going to eat with Nicholas. But at the same time, I’m even more relieved that I asked – a ‘feast’ sounds like a long and drawn-out affair which I definitely don’t have the energy to deal with. “That is,” adds Nicholas, his gaze shifts beyond my shoulder. I turn slightly and am reminded that Loran’s been standing there silently for the last few minutes, “if you wish to keep him.”

  His tone is mild, not indicating any sense of offence or threat. I choose to take it at face-value for now. Loran, on the other hand shifts slightly – since my head is still slightly turned towards him, I see the movement. I wonder what he’s thinking – which outcome he would prefer.

  “I wish to talk to him before making a decision,” I say finally. A slight shadow passes across Nicholas’ face – disapproval? Concern? I don’t know him well enough to say for sure.

  “Very well,” Nicholas says a moment later, his tone just as mild as before. He stands up gracefully. “I shall bid you goodnight then. If you choose not to keep the slave, Bound or not, please send him down to the kitchens and they will assign you another servant more to your preferences.” At least he realises that when I said that I wanted to speak to Loran, I meant without him present.

  I stand up too – it just seems polite to do so, for all that Bastet grumbles quietly about being disturbed.

  “Thank you. Oh, is there anywhere my Bound can hunt without causing any problems?” I ask, remembering Kalanthia’s request.

  “The woodland is where I allow my Bonded to go if they feel the need to hunt while we’re here. I ask them to tell me what they have hunted so that I can ensure the gameskeeper replenishes stocks if they’re getting low. But only allow those of your Bonded who are capable of distinguishing between humans and prey, please – villagers sometimes enter the woods to forage.” He gives a thin smile. “Though if they find anyone attempting to poach my game, they deserve a good fright.”

  “I’ll bear that in mind,” I say, not smiling at something I think is only half a joke. “Thanks. Goodnight to you as well, I guess,” I continue, feeling a little awkward. He pauses as if waiting for something. Is he checking to see if I have any other questions? I realise that I do have one. “Actually, tomorrow morning, are we having breakfast together or separately?” Hopefully after a good sleep, I’ll be more up for it.

  “It is entirely your choice.” Nicholas answers neutrally. “I break my fast at the seventh candlemark. If you are awake at that time and wish to eat together, come to the small dining room. If you wish to sleep longer, merely have food brought to your rooms here. In that case, please ask a servant to direct you to the library after you have eaten.”

  “Alright, I’ll do that,” I agree. It sounds fair enough. Nicholas waits for a beat more, and then turns and leaves without another word, leaving the door open behind him.

  I walk over to the doorway and close it. It opens inwards, I note with a degree of displeasure – that makes it easier for intruders to burst in. On the other hand, it does have a lock on the inside which I immediately click into place. I suppose that the windows make a good escape route if one is needed – and Kalanthia will be sleeping there tonight so I shouldn’t need to worry about anyone creeping in via that way. On that note, I quickly send her the information Nicholas gave me about where she can hunt. She departs immediately which I’m glad about – that should mean she’s back by the time we’re going to bed.

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  Of course, I’m probably being paranoid – Nicholas needs me and so far has shown no indication that he intends to force the matter despite clearly having the means to do so. Nor would he want to send an assassin or anyone like that since he wants me alive.

  Though if the politics here are like those of Machiavelli, that might be something I have to face in the future from other Houses, I think to myself grimly. If I become Nicholas’ heir and the potential salvation of his House, I can quite imagine that his enemies would want to remove me – one way or another.

  Turning around, I see that Loran is still standing where he was before, his expression a little troubled.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask him as I walk back towards the sofa and sit down with Bastet in my lap again. “And why don’t you sit down now? Nicholas isn’t here and I promise I won’t mind.” Loran hesitates where he is.

  “It’s not my place,” he replies quietly, bitterness tingeing his words. “I’m a slave. A convicted criminal. You’re the heir to a Great House.” He says it all so easily despite the bite that underlies their apparent mildness. The words which taste like ash in my mouth roll out of his as if they are everyday language. And maybe for him, they are. I eye him for a moment, thinking it over.

  “Well,” I say slowly, “It occurs to me that if I’m the heir, then my word goes, right? So if I say that I want you to sit down if you would be more comfortable doing so, then no one else’s expectations should interfere with that.”

  Loran hesitates again, and I can practically see the cogs turning in his mind. Then he slowly walks over to the other couch. He perches on the edge of it, clearly not comfortable, and I wonder whether I pushed too hard there. But I feel a little better – I don’t want to have this conversation with him standing while I’m seated, and I’m far too comfortable here with Bastet to get up again. Selfish of me, perhaps. I push that thought aside.

  “So, what’s wrong?” I ask him again.

  “Sir, are you…would you…are you planning on rejecting me?” he finally blurts out.

  “Do you want that?” I ask him impassively. I don’t want my own emotions to impact his reactions.

  “No, sir!” he answers immediately.

  “Why not?”

  Loran hesitates again.

  “It is good here, sir,” he replies a little reluctantly. “Better than the other places I’ve been.” I hear the unspoken ‘and probably better than the other places I will go if sold’.

  I consider that. Nicholas mentioned ‘relisting’ – clearly a euphemism for selling Loran – if I choose not to keep him. And his clear desire to stay backs up what Nicholas told me – that he makes sure the conditions in his house for slaves are decent ones. Quite possibly, the fact that this is one of the ‘better’ places keeps those present in line – as Loran is demonstrating, those who know what other places are like are keen not to do anything that would lead them to being sold. And perhaps Nicholas hasn’t chosen to buy the ‘service contracts’ of any of the too-hardened criminals. Or perhaps all of the others are Bound. Maybe that’s why he had to buy someone else for me. I swallow down my nausea.

  I push the thoughts to one side – there’s no point in me musing too much about people I haven’t even met when I have to deal with the one sitting in front of me. I know myself well enough to know that I’m procrastinating.

  If I really don’t want to have Loran…serve me, I suppose I could talk to Nicholas and see if he could find another place for the man to work, but Nicholas indicated that he bought Loran specifically for his heir, for me, so that’s not a guarantee. And if Loran ends up being superfluous at a later stage, I expect he’ll end up on the chopping block again. Nicholas doesn’t strike me as a man who keeps people around just for the sake of having them – he was surprised by how much affection I show my Bound which implies that he’s more emotionally reserved from his own and probably from everyone else too. Perhaps he’s like a corporation who is determined to keep expenses to the absolute minimum and cares little for who has poured their heart and soul into the organisation.

  I can wash my hands of this matter, declare loudly that I will not have any slaves around me, and work to change the system. But that means that someone who I could help now is left at the mercies of whoever buys him next.

  I could possibly free him. I don’t know what the currency is here or how much the resources I brought with me are worth, but it’s possible that I have enough with me to free him. But is that the right thing to do either? My Bound and I might need those resources. If gold and uncut gems aren’t very valuable here, I would have to sell my Cores, which my Bound and I might need to use for their Energy – the ambient Energy here is a lot weaker than we’re used to. Nicholas’ words about it being easier to despise a gift also play on my mind, as do his words about Loran being a thief. The man himself has admitted to being a convicted criminal. Would freeing him right now be the right thing to do?

  Or I can keep him and treat him in a way I deem to be appropriate. He hasn’t done anything to me, but he committed crimes against someone else and the state has recompensed them at the expense of the person who initially bought his service contract. Or rather, at the expense of Loran.

  It’s quite frankly more than I wanted to deal with right now – I’m tired enough as it is. But Loran is a person who deserves to know where his future lies. And it seems like I’m the one who has to make the decision about that.

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