Payment Owed and Protection

Londra was now standing before a simple looking, buttercream, three story house being told this was the Slave Trader’s. It bogged her mind, but she just followed Henry in with the others. Another thing she didn’t expect, a wide waiting room full of people. A man just a bit over five feet tall came towards them with a smile on his round, brown face. His light grey eyes looked around the room. For some reason, the thing that surprised her was his golden blond, short, layered hair. “Welcome, Londra. I am Yevhen, a pleasure to meet you.”

She took his hand; sure, her mouth fell to the floor. Before she could find any words a tall, female Elf came up behind him. Her long, silver face showed no emotions, but her dark violet eyes revealed she was curious. She had long, black hair that was perfectly displayed behind her long Elven ears that were from her head. “This vision is my, Martine.”

Londra recovered finally, “I am pleased to meet you both. Such an uniquely beautiful pair…”

This caused much laughter as the group from the living room stood up and made their way over. Seven Elves that looked almost the same, so much so, she was searching for one feature to put with the names they were now giving. They were all a bit taller than seven feet, their bodies looked toned, their ears were all long and far from their heads, their braided hair was all shades of platinum, and their faces were oval in shape and light in tone. Yes that little bit of difference in tone with the different colored eyes would be what she would need to remember. She frowned slightly; she hadn’t heard all of their names so now her search was for nothing. “I am truly sorry; I wasn’t ready to listen for your names. You all look similar I was trying to find a way to distinguish you from each other… I am going to stop there before I say something more regrettable.”

The first one laughed a bit, stepping forward. “I can understand that this is all overwhelming. I am Zeon, Zeona’s brother and the head Monetarist for Archduke Dristen at the capital. I was summoned late Tuesday evening. How is the… amnesia?” He asked watching his sister’s ears and body language.

“Well, I didn’t know anything that I was given to eat today,” Leona grumbled. “I had a strawberry tart and éclair to test Darcy and Deven’s medicines or potions. Then I had a delicious soup which everyone said was bland with turkey…”

“Chicken,” Kailea provided with a motion to go on.

“Chicken, carrots, peas, potatoes, corn, and something green I did not like,” Leona continued. “Oh, it was celery. Also, I am wearing underwear for the first time in three years,” she finished with a big smile.

Her three guards did their best not to laugh at the faces the Monetarists made. It was the second, the one with silver eyes that recovered first. “I am Finn, easy name for you to remember. I serve Duke Eldwin, not an easy task anymore. I will be the one you deal with the most. The others serve the Lords’ families. Zeon, shall you begin?”

Zeon cleared his throat, blinking his blue eyes to get his composure. “Yes, no need for the… Lords to be present for the beginning. Take a look at your Lacrama…” he started and watched her face as she touched the crystal. He frowned, “I have never seen so many question marks. It doesn’t even know your birth continent?”

Londra looked down and was surprised when Zeona said, “No, but we have it narrowed down to five, none of which we have ties with. It could be one, nine, thirteen, nineteen, or thirty. They write and speak differently so that is one barrier she is working on overcoming. I suggest you help her fill in things or the contracts might not be finalized.”

“Interesting,” Zeon smiled back watching Londra open the contract tab without being prompted. He could tell she didn’t like being the center of everyone’s attention. She quickly accepted the two contracts that had to do with the rules of the Adventures’ Guild and the Slave Trader’s Guild. “You are not going to read them?”

“Why,” Londra asked honestly, opening the new menu that contained information about her Slave Trader’s Guild profile. “If I said no, we couldn’t go forward. Besides, I will be lazy for the next few days according to everyone. No better time to read. I assumed the contracts don’t disappear from the Lacrama?”

“No, not those kinds. Sale contracts, like if you buy a potion, stay in for twenty days but you don’t really need them. Nobody really ever looks at them, but I understand,” Zeon said. “Master Yevhen, I believe she is ready for you.”

He stepped forward, his round, brown face showing kindness even with his title. Londra returned the smile and started, “Okay, it says that I have eight gold. I assume six are from each of the six I saved and the other two are from the Archduke?”

“That is correct,” Master Yevhen nodded.

Before he could say anything Londra’s hazel eyes were fluttering as she quickly read over the information. “Four gold are to buy this special slave who has a curse on him. I will need a strong master crest if I am going to keep him stable. Would my left or right hand be better?”

“Placing the Master Crest on your hand is very painful. Your right forearm would work just as well. You simply place your left wrist over the crest to give it a boost, which will calm him down,” he explained quickly, his light grey eyes searching the room to see their reactions.

“Good to know, my thanks,” Londra said with a bigger smile, carefully filling out the form that was before her with her thoughts, accepting it all. Her total went down so it must have been finalized.

Master Yevhen was looking around, but everyone just shrugged. “You want the crest on your right hand? Are you sure…”

“I know pain thanks to these six,” Londra said simply. “Have you ever been bitten by a platter size, Demon Spider four times within an hour? Have you ever jumped into a bed thinking it was real only to have the springs dig into your body?”

“Okay, that is good,” Master Yevhen mumbled, producing a quilled pen from thin air. He took her right hand and began his work. She watched the intricate spell being carved into her skin that was circular in shape. Such small symbols… she moved closer but never made a sound. He released her hand and started to apologize when he noticed she really didn’t feel much. “You have strong magic,” he started. “According to your body, even as confused as it is, you can control thirty slaves with little effect on you. That is impressive.”

“Alden is in the first room,” Martine said since Yevhen was still a bit speechless. “The curse on him is a blood curse. They are illegal everywhere on this planet but obviously whomever placed it has a way to hide their presence or a very powerful friend. It takes at least eight sacrificed lives to create a simple blood spell. From what we can tell, twenty eight were killed so this male would kill any female beside the one that casted the spell. Not only that, he has lost the ability to speak.”

“That is horrible,” Londra said following the couple to the simple looking room. Master Yevhen unlocked it, and the male Elf came forward as if he was a puppet. Nine drops of blood were collected from him and exchanged with nine drops of blood from Londra. The crest on her hand glowed in every color she could think of before returning to simple black.

He was now standing before her showing his toned body was more than a foot taller than her fragile body. His long, accented, beige face and marbled blue-green eyes showed his distain for being attached to a human, while his long Elven ears that were far from his head went ridged slightly moving his long, braided, brown hair. He was trying to scare Londra but all she could think was that he was beautiful. She placed her left wrist over her right hand and he sighed slightly while relaxing slightly. “Hello, Alden. I am sorry about this, but I need to be protected. I know I am not much to look at and you can’t speak to me, but I will try my best to interpret your body language. Like now, you think it is horrible that you must serve a stupid human female. I somewhat agree,” she finished with a smile. “Master Yevhen, I hear Lord Aslin and know that at least three of them will not have the correct amount. While the others are verifying, can I sneak out to ask you some questions?”

Master Yevhen looked at Zeona who nodded, “I won’t mind at all,” he finished with a smile.

Londra smiled back, following Finn into the room that she had paid for. The six lords sat across from her while their Monetarists stood for the moment. Zeon sat next to her while Alden stood behind his new mistress. Strangely, her three guards were also in the room on her side of the table. “First, I give you this. I know it looks like a simple bag, but it is a blood bag. It will poke you, thus connecting to you until a year after your death.”

Londa reached for it without hesitation, never making a sound when the bag poked her like so many did. “Oh, that is why he took and gave more blood than the contract requires. So, I can store my blood bag in Alden’s vault and still have access to it.”

Zeon’s long ears wiggled slightly, “that is correct. Not only that, as his master all you need to do is think of the coin and it will be in your hand. Also, he can deposit and take things out of the bag with your orders. Now, as the six take out their money to be verified I will explain a bit more.” He paused as the other Monetarist began to motion the six Lords to begin. “They will be paying you six gold coins each, or the equivalent of that.”

“Oh, a new contract just appeared,” Londra mumbled looking at the transparent screen before her eyes. It still amazed her in ways she didn’t totally understand.

“That is correct,” Zeon continued. “One gold coin was deposited into your Slave Trader Account while another was deposited into your Adventurers’ Guild Account. Duke Eldwin also deposited four gold coins to your Adventurers’ Guild Account. With this it is hoped that the life curse will lift. I know that you don’t have much to do with it, the mana determines…”

“I accept the contract if the following can be added,” Londra interrupted. “The six of them with their families, slaves, and servants will stay away from me and my friends. If anyone needs to contact me, I only trust the Archduke and his Knights.”

Zeon nodded, touching her screen to rewrite the agreement. When he was finished, she verified it. “Now, we can talk about the Adventurers’ Guild registration. We can get it all filled out now so on Monday you just have to introduce yourself to the receptionist and she will take some readings.”

Londra smiled back at him then looked across the table with a sigh. The Lords now had the piles of money before them waiting for their Monetarist to verify the amounts. The two gold coins couldn’t be fakes but the pile of silver and bronze could, or at least that is what three of them were thinking. She looked across the table, “Lord Othniel’s piles are all correct. Lord Vulkan has mixed up a few coins, but he is only off by forty silvers. Lord Landulf also mixed a few coins up and is off by ninety bronzes. Lord Gurgen is off by one hundred and seventeen silvers and three hundred and eight bronzes, such a unique number I can’t wait to see if I am right. Lord Jecrad is off by six hundred and eighty two bronzes while Lord Aslin is off by one hundred and fifty five silvers and two hundred bronzes.”

“How could you know that!” Lord Jecrad spit, his green eyes practically bulging from his head. “Don’t listen to her, she is just trying to get more. She is greedy!”

His Monetarist sighed, “upon first look I would agree with her. Let us use magic to make sure the coins you have are real. Counterfeit coins are making their rounds.”

Zeon took a moment to look at the piles then did his best not to laugh, exchanging looks with his sister. Zeon worked with Londra to fill in her registration and a registration for her new party, Twilight Star. She told him and the others all about her six friends and how they had decided on the name soon after Fenten was added to their group. Zeon let the three Lords that had paid correctly leave but kept their Monetarist to help with the other three that were still trying to swindle Londra out of her money. Londra put the established coins in her blood bag. Kailea touched her hand before handing her all the items they had purchased. With a smile she added them to the bag. Touching her left wrist to her right hand, “Alden, I order you to hold my blood bag in your vault. I order you to stay out of it unless directed to do so. I order you to let me have free access to it at all times. Do you understand, please nod.”

Alden nodded so she handed him the bag. He was able to place it in his vault, and it was verified by Zeona. “Sorry, but I am going to go talk with Master Yevhen now. Alden please stay here. Once the coins are verified and turned over, I order you to place them in my blood bag.” He nodded again. She gave a look of apology to the others as she left. Kailea followed since they were on guard duty until the money was hers.

Kailea stood back, listening and watching as Londra was instructed by Master Yevhen on how to create and neutralize slavery bonds. He even tested her ability on the cows he had out back. Kailea was quite amazed that Londra understood everything that he had taught her and was able to do it without any real memories. They were now talking about other things so she took a few steps back, still in range to protect Londra but far enough to give them both space. She touched her Lacrama, waiting to be connected to Archduke Dristen.

“Kailea,” he started with a smile but then frowned, “why are you still at the Slave Traders?”

Kailea rolled her golden brown eyes while her wolf like ears on the top of her head twitched, “Oh, let me think, the time was pushed back three times and now three of the Lords are trying to explain to the Monetarist that the ten piece is actually a fifty piece. I was the lucky one that won the job of watching Londra. She left her new slave in with Zeon and is now talking about slave bonds with the master who is laughing and enjoying himself. Actually, I heard Martine laugh a few minutes ago, so pretty.”

“How much do you think I should give her for the folly of the three,” he sighed, rubbing his temples. “There is so much here that is… well you understand. The King is more supportive than I thought he would be, but Londra’s information did help with that.”

“Actually, I think a different payment would be more to her liking,” Kailea said watching Londra pet the cows. “She added six friends to her Adventurer’s Party, with her as the captain. If we could move them all together tonight and see that they are at least able to walk… then when Alden brings her to see them tomorrow, we can transport them to Darcy and Deven. Right now she is talking about renting the group room at Davie’s Den.”

“That is actually a good idea,” Archduke Dristen nodded. “Getting them healthy, while using them to find out the best combinations of potions will be beneficial to us. Darcy actually asked me to facilitate such. Yes, oh, also show her how to connect to them through the Lacrama. I am sure she doesn’t know how. Send me the details and I will gather them in the biggest room together. I know one is the Warrior Goblin Zeke and the other is Fenten the Fairy, but I don’t remember where they are exactly.”

“Sounds like a plan. I will let her know, she is heading my way. I haven’t seen anyone leave the privacy room yet so I hope the Monetarist will be forceful soon.” He nodded and the conversation ended. Kailea quickly input the information that Londra had told them about her friends so the Archduke would have it.

After a few more minutes of Kailea explaining how to use the Lacrama to communicate with friends, Londra opened the door just in time for the three Lords to storm out. She simply waved good-bye while they said some rather horrible things. The Monetarists looked beyond exhausted while Zeona was having a private conversation with her brother, and Henry was rubbing his temples with his eyes closed. “Sorry, I knew it was going to be… annoying,” Londra said breaking the silence.

“Alden has all your money,” Zeon started, “the total is now correct after… well anyway, did you find out what you needed to?”

Londra gave him a big smile, “I did! Master Yevhen and Martine were so helpful. It is the strangest thing,” she began moving a bit closer. “I hear a word and sometimes the vision of what I think it should be from my other life becomes clear but then I see it here… wow what a difference. For example, chickens are white in my old word but here… any color. But it took so long for any of it to enter my thoughts…”

“A white chicken would just be boring,” Finn smiled, beginning to stand with the others.

“Oh, before you go, Finn,” Londra started quickly. “What days to you collect from Davie’s Den? I want to rent out the group room for a month with full amenities. What a fun word,” she paused with a little giggle. “Also, three meals a day, whether we eat lunch there or two dinners.” Then a thought crossed her mind, and they all seen her hazel eyes change. She pursed her lips and pushed the through away with a fake smile.

“That is a big expense, but I understand,” Finn stated simply. “My children collect the deposits in that section of town on Friday morning. I will let them know. They can also verify the coins and finalize the contract.”

“Thanks, I look forward to meeting them,” she added, trying so hard to keep her smile in place. “Well, we are heading there now. I hope you all have a good day!” With that she motioned to Alden, and he began to follow her. She felt so silly, walking like a little old lady with a toned, gorgeous Elf following behind her. She would make conversation, but he couldn’t speak back and walking backwards to see his responses didn’t seem safe.