Standing in the heat of the day at auction was about to get the best of Lady Arianda, but she'd brought a fan and began to use it more aggressively. Her temper was prone to rise with the temperature and so she started to hum a chant, a calming one that Aaron had taught her. Despite her physical discomfort, she had to smile. The tune soothed her as memory wandered in, reminding her of another day at auction long ago and what turned out to be a priceless find for Double Moon and sometimes for her own spirit...

~~~

The Lady observed the young man curled over at her feet. She could count his ribs along his back. His long arms were drawn back by the shackles. His bony fingers entwined together at the base of his spine. His hair shone darkly, except for the ends brushing into the dust of the dais.

Arianda's slippered toe stretched out to tap the property's shoulder. "Sit up on your feet."

He complied immediately, although his head remained lowered. When he shifted thusly, Lady Arianda reached aside to tap Maxwell's lapel with one finger. She whispered, "Elven," because one tipped ear had been partially revealed.

"Not entirely." Maxwell said.

Of course. He was not the sort of silver-blonde elf, but dark and mixed. He was fair to look upon, but not so refined as pure elven. She looked a while longer then turned away. Her velvet skirts swirled and swept across the property's knees. It was softness he'd long forgotten. He kept his head down, yet wanted to look up at the woman in the soft dress. He assumed she was leaving since she turned away. He was sure that the exchange he'd heard had something to do with it. It wouldn't be the first time he was left on the block for his mixed blood. He was already kept til last, with other less than prized offerings, sold like unmatched dishes or scraps of faded cloth.

The property's sensitive ears tried to follow her voice and that of the man she was with, the one in the fine shoes and trousers. They hadn't left the dais yet.

"Could be a terror but he looks in good health, though thin, and not damaged to speak of. What can be the matter?" Arianda looked over her shoulder at the item in question then back to her quiet conference with Maxwell.

"Mistrust, I think. Not all humans are fond of elven folk but they're considered trustworthy, in general. Yet with such a one as this, there is oft concern of rogue tendencies. It's all rather blatant prejudice and based more on tales than truth."

"This one is a bit subservient for a rogue, don't you think? Resigned even."

"Aye." Maxwell looked over her shoulder at the item. "So it would appear."

"Well then, make an offer. Milksop or rogue, we'll find out soon enough. I'll meet you at the carriage. I have another thing or two to fetch."

"Yes, M'Lady." Maxwell smiled at Arianda then bowed, taking her hand to kiss the back of it.

Eventually, they were both in the carriage on the way back to Double Moon with the new purchase being jostled in his crouch at Arianda's feet.

The acquisition had her quite curious so she ordered him cleaned up immediately, collared, dressed in the usual minimum attire and sent to her room with dinner. He arrived as the sun pushed across her bedchamber floor. She watched while the new property somehow navigated all the doors and still managed the tray with a measure of grace.

"On the table there. Yes, the low one before the settee." She watched him kneel and set down the tray. She appreciated the way he immediately crouched into presentation but then he bent further over, nearly touching his forehead to the floor.

"You needn't do that. No reason to look like a toad. You may sit up and, for now, free your hands to share this repast with me."

He was reluctant to reach for anything so he just looked it over as her hand crossed the tray to select a strip of meat and cheese. The Lady was still in the soft dress. He was fortunately in much better condition than he had been. He was now cleaned and shined for her.

"You may eat. You may also pour each of us a glass of whatever concoction Cook put in the pitcher." She smiled as he deftly filled the glasses, first hers with more liquid than his. It looked to be juice, but what sort, Ari could not guess. Cook loved to experiment with such things. She reached for her glass and Aaron handed it across to her where she was now draped along the settee. After a thoughtful taste, she speculated, "Apple and... something. Could be swamp water, knowing Cook."

Aaron couldn't stifle his laugh. He quickly took a sip to try to cover it but nearly spit it out thinking on her words again.

Arianda's eyes glittered at him yet he was careful never to look directly at her so he could not see it. "Me thinks that such amusement has not been common on that face."

He went solemn, though not sad precisely. "Infrequent, M'Lady." He finally gave in to eating as she tapped on the tray and told him once more to eat. He took seemingly the smallest piece of bread and meat and ate as though trying to hide the activity.

His hand froze in the process, for the lady rose from the settee. He started to rise as well.

"No. Be still." She stepped around the table and descended to the floor very close to him. "The floor looks comfortable this evening." She sipped and watched him as he slowly took his bite. She had one leg curled up next to her but the other stretched out behind him. Her velvet wrapped along his bare thigh and around his hip.

He chewed and looked to the contact with this softness. He had his tiny bit of food in one hand and the other hand lay in his lap but Arianda saw his fist flexing.

"I can feel you... and I don't mean your skin."

"Yes, M'Lady."

He was only giving her what he thought she wanted to hear. This annoyed her but made her wonder of him too.

"How old are you?"

He swallowed the last morsel quickly and took a short sip before answering. "By your reckoning, not yet a score, M'Lady."

"And by elven reckoning?"

He stiffened then answered. "I do not know."

"Continue eating. You're too thin. Have you had no contact with your obvious heritage?" Her hand rose and fingertips brushed his dark silken hair away from his ear. She traced the edge of it. He found it difficult to swallow his next bite.

"Some. An elder here and there, M'Lady, also in service."

"Tell me of your past and service, boy. Start with your name."

"Aaron, M'Lady." He dipped his head respectfully and still would not even glance at her face.

"And your service?"

"Nearly as long as memory, M'Lady.

"Have you enjoyed any part of it?"

He swallowed the last bite and took a drink then set the glass down and both hands went to his lap, fists tightening, while he stared at the velvet running along his thigh. "My place is to serve, M'Lady."

"Aaron, have you known no pleasure in your service? None? In nearly a score of years..." Her hand pressed across his shoulder. She rested her wrist there and let her fingers toy in his hair. "... has nothing given you pleasure?"

Aaron shivered and his knuckles went white but he remained silent.

"Answer me. Speak truth, ill or well. I have wish to know what I own."

He didn't blink as he continued to stare at the rolled edge of the velvet. "As... As properties go, M'Lady, surely there are some you value more than others. Surely there are some which serve in prime capacity and others..."

"I wish to hear of you, boy, not others."

Arianda watched his white knuckled fingers relax. He was forcing control. She felt him draw a wall between the emotion of it and the facts. Aaron read her too and slowly his gaze lifted to share the blue gray compassion in her eyes. He said nothing for a moment as they exchanged glimpses in those windows.

"M'Lady, I beg not to speak more of it than this..." He drew his gaze away again, lowering his head. "I have served as required, sometimes as forced. It is all I know. I feel I know the worst of it..." He shook his head once, wanting to stop his blather, but he continued. "It has been rumored that here one may find the best and I do not say so to flatter, only to report... that this day alone has been more pleasant than any in my memory."

Aaron could not help it then, he had to touch the velvet. He felt her compassion strongly enough that he chanced it. His fingers drifted over toward the fabric against his thigh. He was ever so careful not to touch more than the rolled edge, lest he touch the lady herself. His fingertips traced along the cloth, barely disturbing the fibers but the sensation warmed him.

Lady Arianda's fingers traced as well, along Aaron's ear then down his flexing jaw line. "Pity you have missed the training of your fine blood, but you seem well spoken. You've had an education somewhere, in more than the whims of owners."

He shivered beneath her touch and withdrew his hands to his lap again. "One lord was a schoolmaster as well. I was kept in his classroom to fetch and such for he and the other boys." Aaron actually grinned. "With these ears, I heard much. I learned."

Arianda slipped her hand beneath his chin and raised his face so she could look into the dark brown depths of his eyes again. "And what did you learn from the elders?"

She had a knowing look. Aaron dared not deny his gift. "I sense people. The elders have each helped me with that, told me tales, taught me chants."

The Lady arched a brow and released him, "Chants? Do tell."