"You're late."

Torvald's harsh rebuke greeted me the moment I walked into the parlor and set down the plate of chopped liver and crackers. Of course the clock in the corner showed me to be exactly on time, but I certainly would not argue.

    "Forgive me, Master," I answered.

    "Pour us some refreshment, Alice," he said, ignoring my contrition entirely as the two continued their conversation.

    "This is quite delicious," I heard his guest remark. I caught a glimpse of him tasting the liver. "I must say I do not typically favor chopped liver much but this, I like." I heard Torvald laugh in response.

    "The human might be old and far too ornery, but Alice is an excellent cook."

    They spoke as if I were not there at all.

    I poured both men a glass of wine and stood waiting for their command.

    "You brought no one else to aid you, Alice?" Torvald asked casually, after they had nearly finished their hors d'oeuvres. "Not even to bring our dinner so it might remain warm?"

    "I have kept your meal fresh in warming trays I assure you, Master," I answered. "I needed no aid."

    "She is trying to keep her companions from me, Edgar," Torvald said to his guest with a small smirk. "She warned them all away as soon as she found out I was having company. Did I not tell you she was a stubborn old creature?"

    But though my Master's brother was of an easy joking spirit, Torvald's guest frowned as he stared at me like I was something entirely distasteful.

    "I can't see why your brother keeps her at all," he said. "An elderly, rebellious, slave? I cannot imagine how she might not have learned better by now. You should teach the animal a lesson."

    I kept my head down and stayed off to the side, holding my breath. I truly had no idea how Torvald might respond to his guest's provocation. But to my relief, he only laughed.

    "That one is Magnus's beloved pet. While I may not agree with the lack of discipline he has employed in training her, it is not my place to intervene. She is obedient enough when I am here and the animal knows well that I am her Master until my brother returns. She knows too that there will be consequences if she steps out of line. Don't you, Alice?"

    "Yes, Master," I answered dutifully. My heart rate slowed slightly at his response. Given his guest's clear position on humans, I was glad that the others were safely away. It seemed that Torvald was willing to concede to me on this one minor act of disobedience. He had not asked that any one in particular serve him after all. I had broken no command.

    "Shall we move into the dining room, Mr. Franks?" Torvald said, rising from his seat.

    Mr. Franks, as the older sibla man was apparently called, cast one more glare in my direction as he stood and followed Torvald. I took in a deep breath and went to join them.

    The meal was luckily to both Torvald and his guest's liking, Mr. Franks proclaiming that he had never tasted better loin chops in his life.

    "The meat my brother rises here is indeed exceptional," Torvald agreed. "The animal was slaughtered fresh today in your honor. Of course I confess I was only waiting for a good excuse to harvest at least one from Magnus's flock," he conceded. "Entertaining such a worthy guest seemed an appropriate cause." Both men chuckled and I felt my cheeks flush with frustration as I thought of Torvald's cruelty in forcing me to play a part in the ending of Olivia's life.

    "I know meat from your brother's estate is quite a premium product," Franks acknowledged. "Now I see why. It is indeed worth the prices he charges it seems. I have never tasted mature human meat quite this tender."

    "It is impressive that he gets such results from cast off wild humans," Torvald said. "Of course I know the cost of achieving his gains is exorbitant. I can only imagine his profit margins are minimal."

    Anger burned in me all the more at the comment. He knew what he said was not true. Magnus had had excellent success and profits. I had seen to that. While it was true my Master put more effort into his animals than most, his self-sustaining farm model and my ability to keep his initial purchase price low, more than offset the excess care each animal was given. His profits had always been impressive. Magnus was a humble man who did not wish to flaunt his wealth, but it had grown over the years to nearly rival the holdings of Torvald himself.

    "That is a shame," Franks commented in response as he took another bite of his meal. "Of course I'd imagine almost anything would be delicious in this sauce!"

    "I will admit that in spite of her flaws none can rival Alice's skill in the kitchen."

Torvald gave me what I assumed he intended me to believe was a smile of true warmth, but I could not quite trust it. I remained entirely on guard, waiting for him to try and catch me in a trap. To goad me into disobedience.

    The meal continued with no further comments on my cooking, though both men finished everything on their plates down to the last drop of sauce, mopped up with the fresh bread Kathryn had baked. I merely stood by, trying to listen to their conversation without appearing to do so, filling their water and wine glasses each time they came close to draining them, and clearing their dishes when Torvald instructed me to do so.

    "We are ready for dessert now, Alice," my temporary Master said.

I excused myself to the pantry to retrieve the cake I had prepared and to run the coffee maker Magnus kept there. But as I went to reenter the room I heard them talking about my Master. I hovered near the door doing my best to listen in while I had the chance.

    "Then he is still very ill?" Franks asked.

    "Unfortunately," Torvald answered. "And I do not know how much longer I can remain here on his lands."

    "If I were you I would simply sell the estate and move your brother to your home," his guest replied.

    My heart nearly stopped. Could Torvald do such a thing? Of course I knew the answer. He was the executor of Magnus's holdings. If he thought it was in his brother's best interest that his estate be sold and the money used to pay for his care, it was Torvald's decision to make. But such a choice would be disastrous for all of us.

    "I am not ready to make such a determination yet," Torvald thankfully replied. "My brother has worked hard to achieve what he has here. I would hate to take that away from him. While we may not always see eye to eye on everything. Magnus is my kin and I care for him greatly."

    "Admirable," Franks replied. "But of course, I know you to be a man of honor."

    Even I could not deny Frank's statement. Torvald was not a bad man and never had been. He had uprooted his life to care for Magnus's estate and holdings for over a month now. He had his own business to run, a family to care for, and still, he had put all that aside to help his brother in his hour of need. I understood why Torvald hated me and felt the need to oppress me with cruelty, but for the protection he was providing the estate I had to acknowledge some level of gratitude.

    "Is there still hope then?" his guest asked.

    "My brother has been showing some signs of waking," Torvald replied.

My body tensed at the words. Could it be true? I hadn't dared to believe it possible. While I was holding on to hope, I was at heart, a pessimist. I had feared the worse from the moment Magnus fell from that tractor.

    "He has been mumbling more. A few coherent words here and there. But if he cannot fully wake soon, there is little chance he will regain full function of his facilities."

    So I had heard correctly. The whispered conversations with the doctors. Magnus might have been improving, but he was running out of time.

    "And what will you do if he does not recover fully?" Franks asked.

    I heard Torvald sigh.

    "I suppose I will have no choice but to sell everything," he answered. "The sheep, the pigs, the humans."

    "I might be interested in a few new slaves," Franks said. "Do you think they might be bred? Clearly your brother keeps an impressive collection of wild creatures of good caliber if this meal is any indication."

    "I suppose you could try to break them in," Torvald answered with a laugh. "Magnus refreshes his stock at the slave auctions every year, so few of the humans here have been with him long. Still, I suspect that after only a few months of the pampered existence they are granted, most of the animals he keeps are spoiled beyond repair."

    "I do love a good challenge," Franks replied with a short chuckle. "I'm certain a firm hand would remind them of their true place." He paused. "But that old thing he maintains," Franks pressed. "What will you do with that one?"

    "Ah yes," Torvald said with a sigh. "Alice. I think the most compassionate thing would be to put her down. Her loyalty to my brother will extend past his death, and no amount of rehabilitation can fix what years of dangerous lack of discipline have wrought."

    "But with her culinary skills I'd think you might want to hang onto her a bit longer," his guest commented. "You wouldn't need to feed her much. Use every animal to the fullest extent I always say."

    "I suppose that is also an option," Torvald agreed, though I could hear a slight hesitation in his words. "I would need to keep her under close supervision at all times of course. It is the only way I could trust her. I might even be forced to employ permenant shackels to keep her from hurting herslef and others and I do not favor such extreem measures. "

    "Oh come now, Mr. Kendrick," Franks laughed. "Humans are animals like all others. I have a few overseers who can break even the most ornery of slaves in only a few days. I would be happy to lend one to you if you wish. They know just how to ensure compliance and bring the animal to the brink of death without causing damage that would hinder their performance. Given her culinary prowess, I myself might be tempted to make an offer and try my luck."

    Silence followed the man's horrifying suggestion and I fought to control my breath. I would never allow it, I vowed. I would kill myself first. If Magnus died I would die with him regardless of Tovald's decision. Perhaps I could help the others to death as well. Surely that would be better than anything they would face under Torvald or whatever cruel master they were sold to.

    "Alice is taking quite some time with our dessert," Torvald said, not answering the man's final suggestion. "Alice!"

    I took a deep breath and waited a moment before rushing into the room, their cake and coffee in hand.

    "Forgive me, Master," I said. I wanted to make sure the coffee was fresh and."

    "Just serve us," Torvald said, cutting me off. Our eyes met for the briefest of moments. With the expression on his face I wondered if he suspected I'd been listening to their discourse. Had he known I might be able to hear him? I looked way, not really wishing to find the answer. If he was not going to say anything I certainly wasn't. I simply went back to the corner to watch as they finished their meal.

    I thought about what I had heard. The momentary hope I had felt hearing the news that Magnus had been making strides in his recovery. The terror of listening to the horrible possibilities for my fate. The fate of the others. I determined that I would begin to make plans for death. Not just for myself, but for as many as I could. I knew plants well enough. I could make a lethal poison. I only hoped I could concoct something that might bring death as painlessly as possible.

    When I was certain Franks and Torvald were happily enjoying their dessert and after-dinner cordials, I made my way back towards the kitchen to help clean, but in a moment of daring, I changed directions.

    Magnus's room. I knew it would be empty of caretakers and servants at this time of night. Just for a moment. I had to see him. It had been days since I had been given the chance.

    I opened the door carefully, quietly, as if fearing to disturb him, though I knew the sleep that had him now was impenetrable. It was unnaturally quiet in the room, the sound of my Master's shallow breath all that was audible. I could see Magnus's body rise and fall softly with the soft noise of inhalation. The only sign of life within him. I set down my tray of used dishes and went to his side.

    Magnus's eyes were decidedly closed, as they had been for weeks now, his gray skin seemed pale. Far paler than it should have been, his body wasting with only an iv drip to provide him nutrients. As I watched each breath rattle in his chest I found it difficult not to hold my own in fear until he breathed once more.

    "Magnus," I said, taking one of his limp hands in my own. "Please wake up."

    It was a silly, simplistic request I knew, but I was desperate. He was ill. I could do nothing to help him. He needed me and Torvald kept me away. In that moment, standing beside the man responsible for saving my life, I felt entirely helpless.

    "I'm so sorry," I said, feeling the tears forming in my eyes and dripping down my cheeks. "I should have done more. I should not have let you go to the field. I..."

    Of course Magnus didn't answer me. I knelt on the floor by his side and stroked his hair. I realized how much I had come to care for him over the years. He was a good man. He had always been a good man. But at some point, as much as I tried to prevent it, I knew I had come to consider him a friend as well.

I had always promised myself I would maintain my distance. That I would not allow myself to be taken in by his words. He was a sibla. I was his slave. Nothing would ever change those realities. But somewhere along the way I had forgotten. At least with him. And then Rachel had come, and things had grown more complicated again...

    "They all miss you," I told him, "You were right. It is not just fear. They care for you, Magnus. We all do. We need you to come back to us!"

    And it was the truth. Without him we were lost. In the end, I knew that whatever friendship I had with him was meaningless. My assessment had always been correct. I belonged to him. I was his property. Now that he was gone, I belonged to Torvald, an object to be passed along to a new owner.

     I thought of the words I had overheard. Torvald had implied that he would release me to death if Magnus should not recover. I certainly hoped he would make good on that pledge. That he could not possibly be cruel enough to follow the advice of his guest...

    As the clock in the room chimed I knew I could stay no longer. It was already 11:30. Franks would likely leave within the next half an hour and the girls had to be safely away before that. I leaned over the bed and placed a kiss on Magnus's hot brow. He must still have a fever. I hoped they were giving him the proper care. That the doctors Torvald had found were indeed the best money might buy. At least I knew the man cared about his brother. I didn't doubt he was doing everything he could.

    "I will come back as soon as I can, Magnus," I said, taking a washcloth from the table by his bed and soaking it in cold water before applying it to his forehead, hoping to help cool him. "Please try to come back.... For me."

    For a moment I was certain I saw his eyelids flutter slightly and my heart nearly stopped. Could it be? Were my words reaching him? But though I stared and stared, I did not see the movement again. I sighed and with one more final glance, I picked up my tray and slipped out of the room to rejoin Rachel And Kathryn.

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So...any new thoughts on Torvald? I mean he isn't quite the true monster it might seem from Rachel's pov. From Alice's observations, its clear he really does are about Magnus and it trying his best to keep things on the estate as normal as possible for all in preparation for his brother's return. That has to mean something right? How about Alice's private moment with Magnus? i personaly find it intersting to see that it wasnt really until she had almost lost him and she was willing to admit she cared for him as a real friend. And yet its SO complicated. As she says in these scenes, even in a coma Magnus has more power than she every might :-/ Their relationship can never even begin to be equal...anyhoo. Hope you are still enjoying. There are still 2 more segments to post!