*Camile* Puabi was brought back by Kudiya. “Make yourself useful and look after my mother!” His eyes glowed red with hatred. Jumping off the bed I ran over to Puabi. “Kudiya, do not be rude to my mate!” Puabi winced once I took her from Kudiya’s hold. “This is all of her fault, if she had not come here, you would never have been punished.” Kudiya spat at me. Puabi exhaled as she sat on the bed, “this is my doing, and a punishment I would gladly take again if it meant that I get to keep Camile in my existence.” Kudiya slammed the door shut as he left Puabi and me alone. “You are hurt!” I let out a sob. “What is a mate?” I remember Puabi saying the word several times. “The pain is nothing to what you would have gone through if you had been sold. So I will take the punishment gladly!” Puabi lay down on her belly. “There is some ointment on the shelf with a pink lid. Get it for me please.” Puabi started to take off her garments, “a mate is like a husband and wife or …” I glared at Puabi with my jaw open, “marriage?” “Yes but without the ceremony that your kind has. It is fate giving us our other half, someone that makes us whole. When one dies, so does the other. Or at least that is what it feels like.” Puabi’s emotions were written all over her face. I grabbed the cream, “What about Merna?” “I have no idea what the Master will do to her. Since she is the one that produced the gold, I am sure she will get the worst of the punishment.” Puabi hissed as I started to massage the ointment over the cuts. “Sorry!” I whispered. “You apologize a lot, you know that!” Puabi chuckled, pointing out a fact. I smiled, “It is a Canadian thing!” Puabi started to chuckle, “if Merna was hated before, she is going to be number one on the list to get rid of now!”“What does that mean?” I was concerned, “I am not worth this much trouble!” “You have no idea how important you are to me.” I grasped Camile’s hand and kissed it. “Now many will go to any length to sabotage Merna. They will try to make it seem that she is at fault for things that she has not done.” Puabi took a large inhale, “the female serfs hate her more than anyone. Some of the pleasures are jealous that some of the hunters have noticed Merna’s natural beauty.” “I overheard a few who said they would cut her face if given the chance, then the hunters will not look her way.” I said in a low tone. “What do things look like for me?” “Keep doing everything that you have been … and … you may have to sleep with the hunters!” Puabi added the part I was not looking forward to. I had managed up to this point to avoid every hunter. I stopped what I was doing, I thought about what that meant. “If I do, does this mean that you and Merna will be out of danger?” Puabi snorted, “It will make things easier for you and I!” With a sad expression, “What does that mean for us?” I inquired. “You have been trained to set aside your feelings to perform, you will do just that. When you are done, you will bathe and come back to me!” Puabi closed her eyes, “I will have to do the same as well! When the Master calls on me … or other males!” *Steve* Anatu was not back yet from the Auction. She had ordered me to remain here until she got back. The reason for her order was that she feared her father would change his mind and sell me at the auction after all. I did not question her motives. The thought of being sold frightened me. I was getting ready for my shift, I had made it a habit of mine to be early, and this shift was not going to be different. I was not going to get on the wrong side of the Master. Anatu has told me several times that even with her favour, it was still not enough to keep me for herself. In the end, her father has the last say, his words are law. Things were going well with Anatu, though we still had the master-serf relationship. I do not have any rights either, Anatu was good to me. Still, I could not help but keep my guard up, waiting for her to crush me without a second thought. I glanced around to make sure that everything was clean, bed made, dirty clothing where they were to be, and that everything was in its right place. Satisfied with the appearance of the room, I headed towards the door. I was less than an arm's length from the door when it slammed into my face. Anatu was fuming, rubbing her head, “what is wrong princess?” Anatu was pacing the room, “I can not believe IT is getting away with her actions once again! What does my father see in IT?” She plopped herself on her bad pouting. “Where are you going?” Anatu yelled at me. Smiling at her I was hoping my soft expression would help her calm down. “Start from the beginning so that I may help you!” Anatu started to scream with anger, “IT has my father under a spell or something!” This was not the first time Merna had upset Anatu. Merna was the least favourite among Anatu’s siblings. Each of them would love the opportunity to scorn. Embracing Anatu, trying to comfort her, “if you would allow me to speak boldly!” “Speak!” Anatu was still pouting. “What did Merna do that has upset you so greatly?” “IT!” Anatu glared up at me with hostility. It is a good thing I am accustomed to such hostility or I would not know what to do in these situations. “IT bought the human born so that mother could keep her little pet. To make matters even worse IT got out of her punishment by telling daddy that she can get more gold for him. And then ITTTTTT,” Anatu screamed at the top of her lungs, “Made the list of workers who will be mining for the gold!” Anatu started to cry, “your name is on the list!” She started to cover her face as she cried. Wrapping my arms around Anatu, “What part of this situation bothers you the most?” “The fact she was able to buy the human born!” Anatu glared down at her hands. “You said that IT bought the human born, who was your mothers pet. Do you think this act would not please your mother?” I paused waiting for a reply that did not come, “Do I not please you?” I paused, “Would you not be upset if your father sold me?” I paused, “do not you want to see your mother happy?” “Yes!” Tears came down Anatu’s face. I used my thumb to wipe her tears away, “And for IT, getting out of being punished, from what you have told me, IT already had this planned. IT knew what your father needed without your father knowing. Could it be that maybe, IT had to do this so that your father would see reason?” Sniffling, “But Father's words are law!” Anatu pouted.“IT followed your fathers law’s.” I started to chuckle, “IT is intelligent, something that has not been seen in a long time. I believe this is what your father sees.” Anatu was starting to give me puppy dog eyes that I could not help but love. “But you are leaving me!” I chuckled, “Would you rather me smell like shit, or dirt?” “You will be gone a lot longer!” Tears rolled down her face. I brought her into my body, holding Anatu as close as possible, “When do I leave?” “IT has to finish setting everything up with the mages. Once they are done, you will have to leave.” “Do you have any tasks that need to be completed?” I sang in her ear. Anatu shook her head no. Lightly pushing Anatu on her back, I started to give her what I knew she needed. Cupping my face with her small hands, “you will not be able to come back until you have dug up one million worth of gold!” I flexed my muscles which made Anatu giggle, “I am a strong worker! I will keep you in mind so that I will work faster and stronger than all of the other workers.” This brought a smile to Anatu’s face, “you would do that? For me?” “Yes!” I said as I gave her a peck on the lips, “less talking! I want to spend what time we have together pleasing you!”