Magnus

Magnus was surprised by the amount of anxiety he felt waiting for her to come. In few weeks since he'd returned home with the girl it was clear that Alice was still angry with him. The woman had barely spoken two words to him since she'd last come to his office. The night she presented him with Sarah's request. Though not overt in her actions, he knew she had been avoiding him ever since.

Even when he'd invited her to join him for dinner multiple times, hoping to mend the rift between them, Alice had remained almost entirely silent at each meal, eating her food without responding to his attempts at small talk with more than a few well placed nods.

It was not the first time the woman had become distant, but this level of aloofness was out of character. She had not acted so towards him since her first month on the estate nearly thirty years ago. She was upset and it was his doing. Magnus was angry with himself for having caused her distress in any way and frustrated that she would not confide in him enough that he might easily remedy the situation. After all, how could he even make amends when he wasn't entirely certain the cause of her anger?

Perhaps he should have given her advanced warning before bringing the child home, he realized. He certainly should not have questioned her so when she swore the other women had guessed at his plans without her having divulged the news of Judith's fate. He should never have grown so angry when she'd asked him to heed Sarah's request. In his guilt, Magnus had decided to give Alice space and time to come back to him willingly when she was ready.

But with three weeks passed and the arrangements now made, he had no choice but to confront Alice with the impending slaughter. One of the animals he would keep for himself he'd decided, the other had already been sold to a buyer who expected to pick up his purchase within the week.

Magnus had even been lucky enough to find one willing to purchase the whole animal at a price higher than expected. Sarah's sale would be more than enough to compensate for the extra month of feeding he'd put into her. Even with the added expenses Rachel had accrued in her addition to the flock, the money would even out easily. As always Alice's advice had proven worth following. All that remained was to give her the news and request that she inform the others.

At the knock, Magnus quickly rose to open the door for her. Alice did not speak as she walked into the room and took a seat across from his desk, waiting for him to come join her. With the door securely closed and locked he did so.

"When?" she asked as soon as he'd taken his seat.

"When?" he replied, caught off-guard by the question.

"The slaughter," she answered. "I assume it is planned already? For both?"

It was uncanny. Magnus had yet to utter a single word and she'd already seemed to guess at his intent. Alice's ability to read others was almost frightening in its accuracy.

"In three days," he said. I will process the animals on Friday and the buyer will come to collect his purchase this weekend."

Alice nodded, accepting the news with the same stoicism she always managed in the wake of business decisions regarding his human stock.

"Then there was no difficulty heeding Sarah's request?" she asked.

"None whatsoever," Magnus replied. "You were correct, given her age, rough weight estimate, and the fact that the prime season for wild stock has passed, the buyer I found was willing to pay quite well."

Another nod. "I will make the news public tomorrow then," she said. "I think none will be very surprised by it. With any luck, there will be no backlash against the child."

"I certainly hope not," Magnus said, trying to hide his concern. She had suggested it before but now that the moment had arrived he did worry. Would the others lash out at Rachel for the death of their friends?

"I have been meaning to ask you for a bit of a report on the child's progress," Magnus said as casually as he could manage.

"What is it you wish to know?" Alice asked. Her face and tone seemed entirely devoid of emotion yet Magnus hesitated to continue. There was still an odd tension between them and it was clear the girl was the cause. He didn't want to do or say anything to upset Alice and drive a greater wedge.

"She is eating well, if that is your concern," Alice said filling the silence. "You may indeed gain a hefty return on your investment if she continues to do so. I suspect the poor thing has rarely had a decent meal. It is not difficult to tempt her with actual food. I imagine that life on a truly hidden human settlement is difficult. They lack many resources and gain no subsidy from the sibla population. From the looks of the girl when she first arrived coupled with what she has mentioned of her life before, it seems the whole village was practically starving."

"I am glad then that she has found more comfort here," he commented, not responding to Alice's clear implication that his interest lay in assuring the girl was gaining weight which was entirely not the case.

"Comfort in slavery," Alice commented under her breath. "A novel concept I must say."

Magnus ignored her clear sarcasm. He knew well how Alice felt about the enslavement of truly free humans, but she knew his business as well. She even aided in it. She hardly had right to speak with such disdain.

"Is she integrating with the others?" he asked.

"As well as can be expected considering her age and the fact that she still resides in my home," Alice answered. "Kathryn has taken an interest in her care and that seems to be helping. That girl has always been popular with all and now that she has taken Rachel under her wing, the others are unlikely to act against the child. And of course it is clear Rachel has my protection. That earns her no friends but does ensure her safety."

"I'm glad to hear it," Magnus said with a smile that Alice did not return.

"And the mattress you requested for her? It's working out?"

"Yes, though I still must tolerate her crying out in the night at least her restless sleep is now in her own bed."

Magnus's smile morphed into a frown of concern. "Does this happen often?" he asked. "I had thought she was doing better." Alice only snorted.

"Better?" she answered, replying to his question with incredulity. "Magnus, the girl witnessed her parents' murder. She watched her companions slaughtered before her very eyes. She is traumatized in a way like no other you have ever dealt with. I am doing my best. I comfort her when her screams wake me. I lie beside her until she manages to rest again. But she must learn boundaries."

"Boundaries?"

"I still dream of going back having my own home again after all," Alice replied. "I hope she will be able to move out and sleep on her own with the others before too much longer."

As he had been with her reaction to the girl when first she'd come to the estate, Magnus was surprised at the level of hostility Alice seemed to still hold towards the youngest member of his flock. From what he had seen thus far the child was quiet and obedient. She even seemed to have begun integrating herself among the others. Why then was Alice still so cold towards her? It seemed to go beyond her resentment towards him for having purchased such a young slave.

"Perhaps there is something I might do to help the child?" Magnus suggested. "Something to mitigate the fear she still holds towards me? Towards the business I run?"

Maybe Alice was only angry that he had not done more to help her with a more problematic animal. She'd been right in her assessment of Rachel that first day. The child was a poor investment. Any gains she was making now were entirely due to Alice's formidable skill at human rehabilitation but if he could help in any way, it was his responsibility to do so. In spite of his attempt to offer aide however, her cold demeanor did not change.

"Do as you wish, Magnus," Alice answered, rising from her seat. "You are Master here after all. Are we through? I have some paperwork I wish to complete before bed. You asked for an account of our kitchen supplies and I have not yet completed it."

"Alice," Magnus said, in an attempt to stop her hasty retreat from his presence, "you know you can talk to me, don't you? If there is something that upsets you must tell me. I cannot read your mind as you always seem to do mine." He attempted another small smile in hopes of seeing her reciprocate the gesture. Alice's expression remained unchanged.

"Of course," she said. "I will bring you my report tomorrow and make sure the animals are prepared by Friday to face their end."

Magnus could do nothing but nod. If she wouldn't talk to him about whatever was still bothering her he could not force her to do so. They had been friends for a long time and he knew Alice well enough to know that she would come to him when she was ready, if at all. He could only hope that it would not be too long. Already he missed her camaraderie greatly. The strange working relationship that they had managed to evolve over the years was one he relied on and without it there was an unease settled over him that he could not shake. Alice turned to the door.

"Perhaps you will join me for dinner again this week?" Magnus said, trying to end their discourse on a positive note.

"Perhaps," she parroted back before unlocking the door and leaving, closing him in his study alone again.

So things between Alice and Magnus still seem rather rough at the moment...Magnus seems uncertain why. Any thoughts from readers about Alice's chilly demeanor? And what about the conversation topic? Sarah and Judith are set to die. Though that may not be surprising I would love to know what people think of the relationship Alice and Magnus seem to have given that this sort of news is part of a pretty normal exchange between them. I also wonder how readers feel about Magnus at this point of the story. Friday's chapter will be from his POV as well, but will be another addition to the 30 years in the past plot line. Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and had a wonderful time celebrating with fam and friends. Now New Years is coming up fast! 0-o