Kon, Yel, Lord Zeph and the lesser Lord, Tubolt, sat down at a table together. Conversing business over supper had become quite a norm for them. A table, some chairs and food—need they more?
There were other people seated at various places in the same room, all having late-evening supper. Lord Tubolt's family summed up to be the majority of the guests per usual. They all knew he'd never fail to make a feast a staggeringly unnecessary surplus. And so, they'd never missed one for the world.
There was dancing and singing, and most importantly, minstrels making loud music with their instruments.
Whenever Kon and Lord Zeph were on Tubolt's manor estate, they never spoke of trivial matters but, instead, rather urgent, secretive affairs. This was why Tubolt had always hired the minstrels and the acrobats when he held feasts: to curb anyone from hearing his conversations.
Lord Zeph peered at Yel as he sat opposite him. "Why, who is the man sitting next to you, Tubolt?"
"A good acquaintance of mine," Tubolt said, smiling.
"I'm Yel from the south," Yel said, bowing his head to Lord Zeph.
Lord Zeph looked his nose down at him. "Hmmm—" he raised his brows "state your calibre … kind Yel."
"Freeman," Yel said, "that's all I—"
"He's a talisman," Tubolt interjected, "from the south … ambassador of himself."
"I see," Lord Zeph scratched his beard, "interesting."
Tubolt crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. "He's here to lease a piece of land from me. He's been making quite a bit from slave-trade."
"Ahh," Lord Zeph nodded, "you know, I've been thinking of purchasing new slaves myself." He glimpsed at the person next to him. "Hopefully more like Kon here."
Kon had not reacted upon hearing his name called. He retained apathetic eyes, around which black ash was patted, a significant scar running down his left eye.
Yel noticed what Kon was immediately. A human man playing the role of a slave—he must be a bodyguard but why of such a frightening faith, he thought. He dithered upon recognition and passed his eyes to Lord Zeph again. "I own two remaining slaves alone and they're both used for …. peronal pleasure."
"A cultured man I see," Lord Zeph nodded again. "When you gather more Ulfons, I implore you to come to Tubolt again. He'd purchase them with his debt money and transfer them to me."
Udith stopped next to their table and placed a tray atop it deftly. "More fine dishes modestly prepared by those in the kitchen." He bowed.
Lord Zeph rubbed his hands together. "Looks … succulent." He then paused, peering up at Udith thoughtfully. "Y'know, I like this slave of yours, Tubolt."
Udith bowed again.
Tubolt frowned partially. "Yes, yes," he looked up at Udith, "out of all the slaves I know, this one stands out most … but frankly, that's not all there is to him."
"I might just consider taking him off your hands," Lord Zeph said, picking up a fork. "I suppose you're all wondering why I wholeheartedly take so much interest in slaves. To tell you the truth, they're good business—that's why. Ulfons are simply amazing creatures."
Yel sighed. "Unfortunately they're not always easy to manage though," he looked down at his food. "The one I sold to an Innkeeper was nothing short of trouble. You should have seen him. The pointiest ears I've seen on a little Ulfon and an accent like no normal Ulfon child."
"What color were his eyes?" Udith asked, desperate.
Everyone looked at him.
"How overly rude are you?" Lord Zeph furrowed his brows at Udith. "Speak when you're spoken to, slave. Why are you even still here?"
"I made it clear to him … especially him …" Tubolt said, "that he shouldn't dare walk away unless he is dismissed. I enforced this behavior upon all my slaves. But I had to hold my ass to force him into following the simple order."
Lord Zeph peered at Udith, narrowing his eyes.
Udith sighed and bowed. "I apologize for my behavior but may I please have a word with your acquaintance." He looked at Yel.
Lord Zeph furrowed his brows. "This slave of yours is poorly mannered, Tubolt. His level of discipline has failed to satisfy me twice now."
Tubolt furrowed his brows, and finally peered right into Udith's immensely light eyes. "Udith … could you please make your departure now? You are dismissed." Usually he'd shout, but not when Udith was in his presence.
"Please?" Lord Zeph raised a brow at Tubolt. "I'm convinced I am being fooled here. It is April first after all. A lord using the word 'please' in a comand to a but a slave? It's a first to me. I refuse to believe this." And yet, he smirked.
"Light light eyes—the lightest I've ever seen on a living being. Light, light eyes," Yel looked up at Udith, "ligtht, light eyes like … yours."
Udith's eyes widened and his lips parted. Could it be? He thought. He froze awhile thence quickly bowed and walked away.
"He finally listens," Lord Zeph chuckled. "Quite a handful indeed. From the very first time I saw him, I noticed a … difference in him. The way he walked—the confidence that had been radically eliminated in his enslaved peers. His facial expressions were simply too 'alive' for a typically stoic Ulfon. Tubolt, that slave of yours still has the soul of a freeman."
"I'll have him beaten later tonight," Tubolt said with a frown, "but once the feast reaches end. I wish not to interrupt it."
Lord Zeph glimpsed at Kon, clearing his throat. Kon glimpsed right back at his master, and nodded. He'd seen it too. The look in that Ulfon's eyes, the sith burning within him at the verge of expulsion. Too much sith for an ordinary slave.
Tubolt and Yel noticed Lord Zeph's little gestures and heeded them well. But even if they were to understand their body language, they'd never understand the esoteric views. The fact that they were hinting at things they couldn't possibly understand.
Tubolt took his gaze off Yel and directed it to Lord Zeph. "I'll have him mannered soon. You needn't worry. I am a lord who knows what order is too after all."
"Understood," Lord Zeph said. "Now, could you pass me that bottle of ale next to you?"