A/N: Back to the present...Magnus and Rachel return to Magnus's estate

Magnus

It was late by the time they arrived home and Magnus was exhausted. The young human had remained entirely despondent for the length of their journey, barely touched the food he had offered her, refusing to utter a word or even meet his gaze, in spite of his continued attempts at kindness. Magnus greatly lamented the mistake of leaving her with the slaver for any longer than necessary. 

The bruises she'd clearly sustained since purchase were disturbing, and she looked so pale and weak. He certainly hoped she wasn't ill. Of course, Alice would be far more equipped to judge her physical state, though he was not sure how she might react to his newest purchase. The woman had never before raised complaint with his business in the human trade, but he knew instinctively that such a young animal would not be to her liking.

As Magnus drove down the path to the main house he was not surprised to see Alice already there awaiting his return. The small human woman wore a smile on her face as she always did at his return. Her graying hair was tied back in a bun, kitchen apron hung around her neck, Alice was always a welcome sight after days away from home. She must have been working when she'd heard the sound of the car. He was impressed at her hearing. It never seemed to have dulled with age.

"Welcome home, Master," she said as he climbed from the vehicle.

"Thank you, Alice," Magnus answered with his own jovial smile. "It is good to be back. Those inns in the main town must find new mattresses. My back has pained me the whole ride home. I will be grateful for the comfort of my own bed."

"Well come inside then," Alice returned. "I have dinner nearly prepared, and I will have one of the girls draw a bath for you to relax your tired muscles."

"That would be greatly appreciated," he answered with a nod. Magnus turned back to the car to see the child had not emerged. Not surprising, he supposed. She was most likely awaiting his command. He was certain that in the short time she'd been with the slavers the girl must have learned well enough how most sibla treated humans that did anything beyond what they were ordered to do. Or perhaps she was merely too frightened, convinced that some new horror must now await her.

Magnus walked back to the vehicle to see the human child still sitting in her seat. Her legs curled up to her chest, arms wrapping herself in a tight ball. Even without touching her he could sense the tension in her body. He opened the door to the passenger side and bent his head in.

"Rachel," he said gently. "We are here now. Come out of the car and see your new home."

"Yes, Master," she answered quietly, the tremble in her voice undisguised. Magnus wished desperately there was something he might do to lessen the poor creature's fear. He hated seeing any animal suffer so. But it was likely she would do better once she was away from his presence. The company of other humans would no doubt relieve her terror in a way he was unlikely to accomplish, no matter how gentle he might be. As Magnus reached out and touched her arm, coaxing her to leave the vehicle he could feel her shaking.

"Come, child," he said, guiding her towards the house. "There is someone I would like you to meet. Alice!" he called out. "Come and greet the newest member of your flock." But as soon as the older human woman caught sight of the child the warm smile of welcome she had worn moments before began to morph into a scowl.

"What is that?" Alice asked, doing nothing to hide her contempt.

"You knew my purpose in town," Magnus answered calmly, though he was disheartened by her response. "I was there to purchase human stock."

"You never said you were bringing back a new slave," the woman answered, clearly trying to hold back her judgment without success. "Warning would have been appreciated."

"Forgive me," Magnus answered. "The girl was an unexpected purchase but perhaps I should have called ahead."

Alice eyed Rachel looking her up and down with clear disapproval. "Might I have a word with you in private, Master," she said. It was not a question and Magnus nodded, knowing he could hardly deny her.

"Of course, Alice," he answered. "But might I request we do so in my study? It has been a long day already and I am eager to settle in and relax." He put a hand on Rachel's shoulder guiding her towards the house. "Come, Rachel," he said. Alice and I must speak, but I'd hate to leave you out here in the cold. Let's all go inside."

As he ushered the human child up the steps of the estate house and guided her towards his study, Magnus could feel Alice's glare following close behind and a discomfort growing in the pit of his stomach.

"Wait here a moment," he told the girl when they arrived at the study door. "This shouldn't take long." Magnus gestured towards a bench in the hall. "You can sit and rest in the meantime. I'm certain you must be tired from our journey." He cast a glance at Alice. "I certainly know I am."

Alice's scowl did not respond to the implied plea in his words. He was far too weary to fight with her, but it appeared it would not matter. He'd seen the sour expression on the older human's face when she had caught sight of the young female and knew well enough he would not enjoy this conversation. 

Though Alice had no right to so question his actions Magnus still hoped he might be able to placate her in some way. The woman was a human, but she was also his closest friend and companion. He relied on her completely to keep his animals happy and healthy. As such, he greatly disliked fighting with her. But as soon as the door to the study closed, he knew an argument was inevitable. Alice's scowl had not abated, her arms crossed firmly over her chest. She was angry. Magnus rubbed at his temples to fight against the mounting pain growing in his head as he collapsed in his favorite chair.

"Speak your mind, Alice," he sighed. "I can tell I will get no rest until you do."

"She's young," the woman commented.

"Yes."

"You have never acquired one so young."

He could tell she was doing her best to avoid launching into an all out lecture, but only barely.

"I was in town to purchase veal," he replied. "You knew that."

"Meat, not a child. And to complete an order. I never thought I would see the day  you would make a practice of raising such victims. You dislike slaughtering young ones yourself do you not?" she asked. "Is it your intention to keep her then? Do you know how much care a human child requires to raise to adulthood?"

Magnus frowned, irritated by her tone and accusations. "She is not a victim," he answered. "She is an animal. And I never keep any of my human stock for much more than a few years. You know that."

Alice shook her head. "Why would you do this to yourself Magnus?" she asked. You will grow attached to her and the others will be jealous."

Magnus pursed his lips together in an attempt to control his frustration. He was hardly in the mood for her judgment.

"Do not presume to know me, Alice," he answered sharply, "and do not patronize me. The child was included in the lot with the boys I purchased for my client. She was too thin to slaughter and obtain a reasonable yield of meat considering the price, so I brought her back alive. That's all there is to it. I have not made any final decisions but I imagine I will keep her six months, perhaps a year for fattening, nothing more."

Alice raised a skeptical eyebrow in response. "How compassionate," she commented.

He stared at her in her surprise. How had she known? It was true that the girl's suffering had motivated him to spend the extra money he'd brought to town. But it had been a business decision as well. The slaver had given him a better price on the males for his willingness to take the girl, and wild veal was valuable.

"Compassion has nothing to do with anything," he answered, hoping Alice could not detect the hint of defensiveness in his tone. "It was an economically sound investment."

"Ha," she snorted. "That scrawny, sickly creature? Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

He didn't answer.

"And how much was this 'sound' investment?" Alice asked.

"250."

"Gold?" she gasped, incredulous.

"It was a bargain. Two males and the female. The whole lot for 850."

She shook her head. "You ought to know better Magnus. You'll be lucky if the child even survives given the shape she's in."

"It's your job to make sure she does!" he shot back, patience wearing thinner by the moment. But Alice remained undeterred by his anger.

"It is hardly my job to fix your ill planned investments," she scoffed. "I tell you right now I cannot guarantee the results you might desire. Unless you wish to contact your brother? Perhaps you should ask him for the loan of a cage to keep your new purchase. Cage feeding is how most of your kind accomplish their aims quickly is it not?"

"You know I would never do such a thing," Magnus answered, his anger growing at her continued berating. Alice didn't stop.

"But why not?" she asked in challenge. "You have never raised a human child here before but is appears there is a first time for everything. A cage will protect her from the others as well. I can assure you the report will quickly spread that you brought home a new slave. That her age and size will ensure that at least one from their ranks will likely die. Do you think they will take that news well I wonder?"

Magnus scowled at her. "Go to your flock Alice and do not test me further. Tell any that take issue with, or bother the child in any way, that I will cull each and every one of them tomorrow if I am pushed to it. I can always buy new slaves."

"Myself included perhaps?" she asked defiantly, refusing to look away as she met his gaze with equal anger.

Magnus sighed deeply and put a hand to his head. "Please Alice, I have had a long day and in no mood. Care for the girl. She is terrified. I promised she would be safe and happy here. Find her warmer clothing, a bed, and see if she will eat something. She would take no food from me. At least make sure she is given water. I worry she might be ill."

"If she survives I'm certain she'll adjust," the woman replied, without compassion. "They always do. And once they have, you take their lives."

"Make sure my dinner is prepared within the hour,"  he said irritably, ignoring her comment. "I wish to sleep as soon as possible."

"Of course, Master." Her words dripped with disdain.

"Thank you."

"And which of them must die to feed your new purchase?" she asked.

Magnus rubbed at his temples. It seemed she was not yet done berating him. Alice meant everything to him, but she was an obstinate creature at times.

"That young thing you have brought here is hardly more than a skeleton," she continued. "Unless perhaps I was wrong and you wish to increase rations for all of your humans? The budget you have given me to feed them is tight as it is, but perhaps this new purchase heralds a new age of frivolously spent money on your estate?"

"Judith," he said, cutting her off sharply. "She is twenty-two years old now, almost past her prime, and she has been here nearly three years.  I haven't enjoyed meat from my own  stock in some time and I had always intended to slaughter one when I returned. The child has nothing to do with it. You will make that clear."

Alice seemed momentarily surprised by his quick response, her anger dissipating as she registered his words.

"Then I will tell Judith to be prepared and make her goodbyes," she answered, her voice softened. "The others will not be happy. She is well liked."

"That is your problem to deal with," he answered sharply, still irritated. "It is your job to keep the humans on my lands calm and obedient."

She nodded, dropping her disapproving frown slightly. "Forgive me Magnus. I will do as you ask."

"Thank you," he said. "And I give you leave to do whatever you deem necessary to comfort the others. I wish to avoid any unrest stemming from the girl."

Alice nodded. "I will give Judith the evening to herself. I assume you will take her within the week?"

"Yes," he answered without thinking, eager to be alone and free of her judgment. She turned to leave.

"No, wait." In the moment he'd collected his thoughts he realized there was no way he might complete the task immediately. He had other business to attend having been away so long. Preparing for a slaughter took a certain amount planning and he had done none of it yet. Moreover, if there was any chance the others might accept the girl to their ranks he could not allow her to appear as the direct harbinger of death. Particularly if Judith was as well liked as Alice seemed to think. He'd been pushed to his statement out of anger. He could take on any financial burden the child might present for a week or so without ending the life of another. Alice turned back to him.

"Was there something else?" she asked.

"I have other more pressing affairs to tend to at present. Keep this to yourself for a few days more and give your flock time to adjust to the child. I will give you warning."

Alice scowled at him and shook her head in frustration. "Now I will have to deal with their speculations. I do wish you would not force me to keep such secrets."

"But you will," he affirmed.

"Of course I will," she answered irritably. "What choice do I have? But all will speculate they might be the one to die. I will have to suffer their questions and their fear."

"Then they will be all the more relieved when they learn they will be spared," he answered. "I will only take one after all. I have had no pressing orders of late. The rest needn't worry for some time."

But though he had intended his comment to placate, Alice's frown only deepened at his words.

"You are impossible," she said. "To say such a thing implies you know nothing of what I must do to maintain order among them."

Magnus took a deep breath, attempting to weigh his words before speaking again. He hated fighting with her, particularly  around such a sensitive issue.

"It is not my intent to cause you difficulties," he answered, "but I'm certain you will handle the situation."

"Dinner will be ready within the hour as requested," Alice replied, without acknowledging his words. "I will have Judith draw a bath for you when you are finished.

"Thank you," he said, ignoring her small but clear act of rebellion. She wanted to make him feel remorse, forced into the presence of the one he had already condemned while she remained entirely unaware. But he had no guilt when he chose animals from among his own flock. They belonged to him after all. He ran a self-sustaining business and he could not afford to keep any of his humans for the full duration of their lives. Eventually, their fates would all be the same.

Alice gave him a curt nod, no doubt angry he had not taken her bait. But as he followed her out the door he sighed deeply. Alice had been more than a human to him for so long it was sometimes hard to remember that, in the end, she was just that. Human. And of course she was right. The girl had not been a wise decision financially or emotionally. But seeing that poor frightened creature cowering in front of him, knowing how much more she would suffer if he refused the slaver's offer... He simply couldn't leave her there. 

 Still, Magnus also knew he could not allow himself to get too close to any of his animals. He had been moved by the child's plight, but he'd already done what he could for her. He had spared Rachel from continued pain and now could give her a good life until the end. Alice would accept it eventually. He was certain of it. 

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So opinions on Magnus now? On Rachel's new situation? And what about Alice? Who the heck is this woman? I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts!