With a new routine and girls under my command, my days were far cheerier than I might have hoped. I realized I'd greatly missed the camaraderie of other humans, in spite of Magnus's proffered friendship.

Getting to know the girls I found all tasks that suited them, from working in the barns mucking animal stalls and socializing the spring lambs and piglets, to cleaning our Master's home and the slave dorms, to working by my side in the kitchens, all fifteen girls soon settled into their roles and began to trust that the kindness I offered was given sincerely.

For his part, Magnus kept his distance from the humans in general. Of course I was the exception.

Though I thought the presence of other humans and the launch of his business in the trade might cause him to realize my true place, it seemed I had underestimated his commitment to the pledge he'd made to treat me as an equal.

As Lexia had long ago, Magnus allowed me access to budgeting and leadership among the flock, but he did far more than that. Magnus continued to invite me into his life as if I were family and not a slave at all.

In spite of Magnus's kindness however, my skepticism would not leave me. He had so far acquiesced to my every request, but I feared greatly finding the point at which he would deny me. I spent the majority of my mental energy in a strange internal struggle, both trying to imagine how I might improve the lives of the girls in my care and also continue to appease the sibla man who owned us all.

Though I was grateful for the immense trust Magnus had put upon me to act alone as overseer, the level of power also put incredible pressure upon me. If anything were to happen to the girls, if they were to step out of line, grow ill, attempt to run...I alone would be culpable. With that in mind, I did my best to keep every one of my requests focused on the goal of keeping all healthy and content.

I asked for little things at first, testing Magnus's willingness to abide by my kindness based leadership over the flock. I explained my desire to use no physical punishment on the humans and instead rely on building a community among them to maintain order. Magnus enthusiastically agreed.

When I surveyed my charges and found most were literate, I asked him for a supply of books to keep their minds engaged. Remarkably, he agreed to this as well, offering no resistance to encouraging his humans with thoughts beyond those of pure servitude.

With each acquiescence to my demands I become somehow both more confident and more wary. At some point, the other shoe would drop, my mind warned. The monstrous sibla that lurked beneath the facade of false friendship. Believing anything less would be foolish. Even Dreda had never allowed herself to actually trust a sibla. It was that caution to which she owed her long life. Now that my new role placed ten innocent souls in my hands, I couldn't afford to let my guard down either. And yet in spite of this caution, I managed to ask my most elaborate request yet just three weeks after the girls arrived.

Magnus and I had taken to meeting in his study every other day now that I was so occupied with my flock. He would ask me for account of each human. Their health, their growth, their work product. And though I expected he might be all business now that my duties were established, his concern for his humans' mental health, including my own, continued to impress me.

"It was my intent to keep animals that were truly contented," he said during one such discussion. "All of the humans seem to be far less nervous than when they arrived and I am heartened to see how well they are clearly eating, but it is important to me that their emotional wellbeing is tended too as well. You must tell me if there is more we might do to accomplish this task."

We

I felt a distinct discomfort as he linked our positions. Did he think of me as one of his own kind now? Imagine that I was fully complicit in his industry? And yet I knew he had every reason to believe so. This was in fact everything I could hope for. If he saw me as fully loyal to his aims he would be less likely to question requests I might make.

I could feel Magnus's eyes upon me more steadily now. Perhaps he had perceived my unease at his words. Or maybe he just thought I was holding back my true thoughts, which of course I was.

"Alice," he said, "please trust I will hear any idea you might have to share. I will never understand the thoughts of my flock as well as you might after all."

"Indeed I had been thinking on this same issue," I said, forcing my unease down and affecting an air of total confidence in my role. "As it stands, your humans have only a place for sleep and work, but what if they also had a space for true relaxation."

It was by far the most outrageous request I had made of him thus far. I watched his lips turn down slighting in a frown of consideration.

"I hadn't thought of it in those terms," he said after a moment. "The horses have a padlock where they might run free and find release when not pulling cart or carrying riders. The sheep wander with no work at all and the pigs are allowed to wallow in the mud pits to their hearts content. Surely the humans should have their own space to gain enjoyment and relaxation."

It shocked me to hear him speak so. No sibla could be so naive to the danger of allowing humans too much free time. Of having space to themselves while neither at work or rest. And yet Magnus seemed entirely comfortable entertaining the idea that his humans might need more to keep their spirits high.

"Perhaps a recreational hall," I suggested. "Nothing elaborate. A simple space beside the dormitory where your flock might go after their work is complete to sit with one another. A place to enjoy the gifts of books and games you have so generously granted. A space of their own."

My heart jumped in short bursts within my chest as I awaited his response. What I asked was exceedingly audacious. It would require construction of a whole new building, no small expense, all to chase an elusive, undefinable goal of maintaining his humans' "happiness" as they slowly gained weight, raised like lambs for slaughter as surly as the actual sheep in his fields. Yet remarkably? Kendrick did not balk at the request. His expression was one of true thought. He was considering my outrageous ask.

"I will certainly take it under advisement," he answered diplomatically. "But speaking on construction, have you yet reviewed the plans I gave to you for the home I am already building?"

My stomach squirmed at his words. Kendrick had continued to insist I would have my own domicile and indeed the foundation was laid. I couldn't trust such extravagance. The house would eventually have a sibla inhabitant in the end. The overseer that would replace me the moment he learned my methods of rearing a successful and profitable human flock. And yet Magnus had offered me a copy of the plans to the proposed house. He'd even asked for my thoughts on its structure and amenities.

"It is not my place to speak on your estate affairs, Master," I answered. "Anything you build will certainly be more than I deserve."

I watched his brow furrow and a frown come to his lips, clearly unhappy with my response. I knew he disliked it when I responded with such formality. He was still interested in playing the charade we'd begun when he shook my hand as a "partner". Nonetheless, he only nodded, accepting my distance.

"I will indeed give true consideration to your request," he said.

"If that is all," I said, eager to escape the awkwardness caused by my own refusal to accept the full extent of his kindness, " I should go back to the kitchen. The girls will need my help with dinner."

"Perhaps you might join me for a meal this week?" Magnus asked as I rose from my seat.

"I have been so busy since the other humans arrived," I said, avoiding a direct answer. "I just feel better observing them as much as possible when all are together. To fully understand the flock and ensure any issues are caught early."

A somewhat reasonable excuse, though only a portion of the truth. But it was bad enough that my girls knew I was acting as overseer. Knew I was on friendly terms with our master. If they believed my position so high that I might dine with him, I worried what the ramifications might be. Or perhaps I was merely ashamed.

When I had resided in Magnus's home before, there had been no one to judge my willingness to trust. To engage in friendship with one who ate others of my kind. But now that I lay my head in a dormitory with ten other condemned souls, I felt the divide between us all the more...

"Of course," Magnus said, though I could hear the tinge of disappointment in his tone. "Do as you think its best. Tend to your flock. Care for them as you have been doing so tirelessly. Know that your efforts do not go unnoticed."

I forced myself to don as genuine a smile as I could manage as I bow my head slightly to accept his praise.

——————————

It was over a month after the humans arrived that I saw my new Master's commitment to our wellbeing truly tested.

Though I was indeed the only overseer to care for my flock directly, Magnus employed many sibla workers to tend his other animals. In hopes of protecting my girls I of course advised them to keep in line when engaged with Magnus's employees. I warned them to be wary around Magnus as well. We were all entirely at his mercy after all and that of the other sibla. I was grateful that the women I cared for seemed to have learned well enough in their capture just how horrific sibla masters could be. I knew their obedience came from fear in addition to the kindness I offered and I did nothing to change that. They needed to maintain that fear. Indeed the danger was all around.

Only a few girls worked with me in the kitchens. Others were now assigned to cleaning around the house or assignments in the barns. I knew I could not protect them when they were out of site. Though I did my best to make rounds and check up on them once my kitchen crew was clear on their assignments and hard at work, I knew all were vulnerable when employed outside of my preview.

The day was fair and I had already set the days tasks for those working in the house and kitchen. I decided to visit the barns and observe the three humans who had been assigned there. I worried that too much physical labor could be problematic, though I knew Wendy, Tabitha and Ivon were well suited to it. I could not have them losing weight when Magnus still intended for them to make gains.

As much as I wished to avoid thinking on it, I had no illusions as to what my new Master intended to do with his human flock when fall came to the estate. When he would harvest from his animals...Having given instructions that the girls be forced into no difficult tasks I hoped to find them happily engaged with the barn animals, allowed to go about their work with minimal interference from the sibla men Magnus had hired for the heavier duties associated with keeping such a large quantity of livestock.

But as I grew close to the barn that day, my eyes were immediately drawn to a commotion near the horse paddock. Two figures struggling. One was sibla, tall grey form looming. The other was decidedly human. A startled cry of pain rang out as the human was thrown to the ground.

"Get up!" I heard the sibla man snarl.

Drawing closer I identified the human as Wendy. On the ground in front of him she cowered though she was quick to follow the overseer's command. No soon her had she done so however than a hand came up to send her to the ground again. I cringed at the squeal of pain.

"Forgive me, Master," the girl stammered. I watched Wendy attempt to shakily gain her feet again but noticed she seemed to hesitate in putting weight on her right foot, tumbling back to the ground. The poor thing was injured but it was clear the sibla man had no sympathy. "I didn't mean to upset the pail. I can fetch more water."

"You are useless," he raged, ignoring her tears. "All morning you have made mistake after mistake. You need to be taught better, girl. Humans that fail to obey their masters have no place other than the dinner plate."

I stood frozen, uncertain what I could possibly do to help the innocent girl. This was a sibla man. He was an employee and I was a mere human slave. I knew I had no power to stop him. If I were to speak out he would turn on me as well. Magnus's care would certainly not be enough to keep this man's fists from raining down upon me.

And what effect would that have on my perceived power among my girls. Already Tabitha and Ivon had appeared at the barn door, alerted to their friend's cry. I could see them cowering back, afraid to take action just as I was.

I bit my lip as I watched the farmhand's hand rise again, ready to strike. As Wendy curled in on herself attempting to shield her face from the next blow. But though I braced myself for the sound of a slap, the cry of more suffering, it did not come.

In my focus on the commotion before me, I hadn't noticed the approach of another sibla figure. I blinked in surprise to see Magnus materialized behind his employee, hand caught around the man's wrist to prevent his attack.

"Can I ask what it is you are doing, Mr. Dudley?" Magnus's voice was hard. Perhaps more harsh than I had ever heard.

"Mr. Kendrick," Dudley said in surprise, pulling his arm free. "That one there is in need of discipline," the worker answered, casting a nasty glare at Wendy. "Been careless all morning. I asked her to bring me water for the horses and the fool as managed to spill it all."

"I see," Magnus said, looking to the terrified human cowering before them.

I stood entirely still, watching the exchange tensely. It was clear Magnus was angry. Would this be the moment I might finally see the true sibla farmer lurking just beneath the facade of kindness? What would Magnus do to a human who had been identified as clumsy or lazy? He was still a sibla. The accusation had come from one of his own kind.

I only hoped he would not be too cruel. That a verbal lashing was all the unfortunate girl might receive. But then, as he had a consistent habit of doing, Magnus surprised me entirely.

Ignoring the overseer's words I watched in awe as Magnus crouched down and addressed Wendy instead.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, expression softening, true concern on his features.

The cowering human girl was just as surprised as myself. Her body uncurled slightly, cautiously looking up, clearly confused by the sudden change of tone of the sibla standing over her.

"Here, let me help you," Magnus said, standing and offering her his hand.

The confusion and fear in the girl's face remained but she nonetheless took his help, climbing slowly from the ground. Again I noticed her wince of pain as her right foot made contact with the earth. Magnus seemed to notice as well.

"Your ankle, can you walk?" he asked her, ignoring the look of incredulity forming on his employee's face. Wendy nodded her head, no doubt looking to hide her injury, but it was clear he was not satisfied with her lie. It was quite obvious girl could barely stand.

"Alice." He called out to me and I entered the odd scene in confusion, surprised to be joining it as more than a spectator. It took me a moment to even register my own name from his lips. This was a matter of sibla concern. Surely I had no authority. I'd failed to protect my girls and clearly he would hear the accusations of a sibla employee over myself. But here he was, calling me over...

I obeyed of course, going to him without hesitation though inside, I felt the same fear I could see so clearly plastered across Wendy's face.

"Please see to any injuries the girl might have. She is to be allowed to rest for the remainder of the day. Longer if need be. Make sure the ankle is not too badly affected."

"Really, I'm fine," Wendy stuttered, bravely daring to speak, no doubt terrified that Magnus now considered her damaged. I had the same concern myself. But Magnus did not seem angry or agitated in any way. In fact, I could perceive only genuine concern in his affect.

"If she has any special needs, you will let me know," Magnus said, addressing me directly and ignoring Wendy's protests. "Crutches could be arranged if the ankle is sprained."

I nodded, still stunned by the scene unfurling before my eyes. I dared to glance at Mr. Dudley and shuddered to see the anger now threatening to explode. The man was apoplectic.

"Of course," I answered.

As Magnus released his grasp on the girl I quickly gathered her to myself, both helping her remain erect and attempting to shield her from the irate overseer. I could practically feel the anger of the man burning as he focused on Wendy, threatening to lash out in attack even with Magnus standing between us.

"Mr. Dudley," Magnus said, turning his attention back to his sibla employee. "Your services are no longer needed on this estate. You will collect your things and leave immediately."

My eyes opened wide. I could see Dudley was just as surprised.

"You can't be serious," he answered, confusion morphing into a new rage, this time directed at Magnus himself. "The animal was entirely unruly. You can't expect me to ignore that."

Magnus was unmoved by his words.

"Did I not make it clear when you signed onto employment here that you were not to raise a hand in anger to any of my animals?"

"But she is a human!" the man protested.

"Indeed," Magnus answered. "You are in violation of your contract and as stated in the papers that you executed of your own free will. Any transgression against the rules of this establishment will result in immediate termination of employment."

The sibla man's anger was immeasurable, staring at Wendy and Magnus with pure fury. My Master was unconcerned.

"Do I need to call the authorities?" Magnus prompted, undeterred by the man's anger he stepped between us and the raging worker. "I would prefer not to do so."

"I wouldn't stay in the employ of human lovin' filth like you anyway," Dudley spat. "Good luck with whatever the hell business you think you're runnin. Humans that aren't disciplined properly will rise up and kill. When they do, don't say you weren't warned."

The man stormed away as I watched in disbelief.

"Forgive me," Magnus said, bringing my attention back. "I'd hoped that my work in vetting those I employed and ensuring they had signed my papers would have been enough, but I suppose there will always be a few who manage to hide their true nature.

"You will be certain to tell me if such a thing happens again, Alice," he said. "You too, Wendy."

I couldn't believe he remembered her name. I'd thought he had little interest in knowing the girls in my care aside from the minimum details of their health and weights. Perhaps I had misjudged.

"You will make it clear to the others as well," he said, addressing me again. "If any of the sibla man or woman I employ do anything to harm you or any of my animals here it must be reported so I can take care of the problem."

"Yes, Master," I answered, still awestruck. He would listen to our voices. He would truly protect us. I couldn't imagine it. A sibla who would hear the cries of his flock before the vitriol of his own kind.

"I hope you feel better soon, Wendy," he said, placing a gentle hand on the girl's arm. Amazingly she did not shrink from him. But why should she? He had proven without a doubt that he had her best interest at heart. All of our interests at heart.

The girl nodded in response.

"Come," I said. "Let's get you some ice."

"Alice."

Magnus's voice called out to me just as we turned to leave. "Will you join me this evening for dinner?"

The smile that came to my lips was entirely genuine as I nodded.

"Nothing would please me more," I answered.
———

So the experiment in "the "ethical" farming of humans" has begun! Thoughts? On Alice? On Magnus? To fully understand the Alice of AH I did feel the need to go a bit beyond the scene of the pact we saw made in the 30years earlier section of the last book. Only one chapter left!!! 😳 It will be posted on Friday. As always, thank you so much for reading! ❤️🤗❤️🤗❤️