Dulane's words to his guest confirmed what I already had suspected. I would be given one more chance to be alone with Gregory. The test for pregnancy would follow roughly two weeks after and once I was confirmed barren, the call to the butcher would follow. I was eager to share the news with Rebecca. A chance to more firmly set the date we would strike. But though thoughts of rebellion were at the forefront of my mind, as I returned to the kitchen and set about a new list of tasks Madam put upon me, the image of my Master's guest would not leave me.

    Magnus Kendrick, a sibla with human eyes. A farmer, and yet one who cared for human discomfort and fear. Who might have protested my treatment were it not for my Master's status. I could see it in his expression. The urge to say somthing. To speak on my behalf. It was utterly confusing. I thought back to the whispers I'd heard from the other women in the kitchen. Their comments of the guest's "strange" nature. Had they seen it as well?

    With more on my mind than usual, the rest of my day dragged on. Still, I worked as diligently as I could, trying to avoid looking at the clock on the wall as its hands moved at an agonizingly slow pace. The sooner I completed my work, the sooner I might be granted release from the kitchens and relay my new findings to my allies. 

Unfortunately, just as I'd finished my earlier list of chores, another hand-scrawled note was passed to me by one of Rin's favorite assistants. The woman often took advantage of my ability to read by sending others to deal with me, handing off orders by proxy, keeping our direct contact to a minimum.
   
Looking to my new assignments I sighed deeply. Madam wished for me to clean the ovens and fireplace, one of her favorite tasks to put on those who were out of her favor. The work was dirty, unpleasant. It involved filling one's lungs with dark soot, crusting one's hands and skin with grease. The perfect demeaning work. Worse, I would be unable to start until all other kitchen activities were concluded. The day would be far longer than I'd hoped.

    Knowing the work would certainly soil my good clothes, I decided to return to the dorms first so I might replace the garments I'd been loaned with somthing more suitable. But I was barely halfway to the door before Rin's voice stopped me.

    "Where do you think you're going?"

    Madam's harsh tone froze me in place

    "I thought you were through with me in any meal preparation aide, Madam," I answered. "I was hoping to change before I cleaned the ovens and spoiled the clothes my Master so generously offered earlier."

    Madam Rin scowled, hand coming to rest on her wooden baton.

    "Forgive me for presuming," I said quickly, hoping to avoid more bruises. Dulane had already made it clear I would answer for my earlier conduct with Mr. Kendrick. The thought of the strange sibla man took me from myself again, my mind reliving the image of the cold blue eyes that somehow radiated such warmth.

    "Mr. Dulane has another visitor to entertain," Madam said, calling me from my thoughts. "You are already dressed appropriately so you might as well go. The ovens can wait."
   
The news surprised me. Dulane did not typically host guests during the week. Kendrick had been announced but I had heard of no other planned visitors. It would be odd for two to be scheduled in the same day. Moreover, it was late for one to come at all. Well past dinner now. Still, I certainly wouldn't argue.

    "Go to them as you are," Madam said. "They are taking drinks in Mister Dulane's parlor and need someone to serve them."

    She thrust a platter of small cakes and chocolates into my hands and I set off, eager to escape her ill mood and curious to see who might be dropping in on the Dulane Estate after all others had likely retired for the evening.
——
    When I arrived at the parlor the door was locked, but even though they spoke low and the sound was muffled by the heavy door, I could still make out Dulane's voice along with that of another man. It struck me as odd he might have locked the room. I wondered who he might be trying to keep from walking in. I knocked on the door nonetheless, obeying my orders.

    The voices stopped for a moment, soon replaced by the sound of heavy footsteps. My heart pounded strangely in my chest as the key turned in the latch and the door opened with an ominous creak. I could only hope I would not be punished for interrupting when I had specifically done exactly as I was told.

    "Who is it?"

    The voice of my Master called out as I stared at another looming sibla figure blocking my way. I recognized his face. Kessar, the same man who had come weeks before. The one who spoke of my Master's "business endeavors" off of the estate. He stared at me now, frown on his face.

    "Some human at the door," Kessar said, answering my Master. I fought the urge to shrink in on myself, instead, standing straight and tall with the pastries in front of me. The perfect servant.

    "Forgive me, Master," I said, addressing the man as if he were Dulane himself. "I was ordered to bring you and Master Dulane some refreshment and serve you."

    The man continued to eye me strangely but then my true Master's voice rang out."

    "Let her in, Samuel," Dulane called out. "It's alright. I simply thought we might like a late night snack and some drink. Alice knows how to serve and keep her mouth shut."

    His words sent a small shiver dancing along my skin. I heard the warnings laced within them.

    Obey. Serve. Keep quiet. Forget anything you might hear.

    Dulane had no idea he was letting in his most dangerous foe. I was filled with exhilaration at the idea I might be privy to conversations my Master wished to keep private. But I would have to make it past Kessar's suspicion as well.
    
I lowered my head fully for a moment, bowing in absolute submission to the guest and when I rose, I did so with my gaze lowered as much as I could while still reading his face.
   
Let him see me as weak, I thought to myself. A non-threat. A true slave. After an awkward moment, I was rewarded for my supplication.
   
Kessar gave me one final frown of assessment before stepping aside and allowing me passage. I felt a hitch in my stomach as I heard the door close behind me followed by the click of the lock. A mix of anticipation and fear filling me and making it hard to keep my hands from shaking.

    "Don't just stand there, Alice," Dulane snapped. Come and serve us."

    "Yes, Master," I said, coming to attention. I went to set the tray on the coffee table in front of Dulane. His guest took a seat across from him.

    "And pour us another drink."

    Looking to the center of the table beside where I had placed the treats, I saw a crystal decanter filled with amber liquid. I quickly went to fill Mr. Kessar's empty glass, hoping that my Master would be pleased that I was correcting my earlier mistake in not serving his guest first. Daring to raise my gaze I was relieved to see Dulane smile slightly and nod his head in acknowledgment of my improved behavior. Perhaps it would be enough to spare me a beating.

    "So you have met him in person?" Kessar asked, clearly continuing the conversation I had interrupted.

    I wondered who Kesar was talking about but the way he said "him," the word was laced with disdain, was enough to gain my attention. Of course, I could not let on my eavesdropping. I stood entirely silent, blank-faced and waiting at attention to serve.

    "The elder Mr. Kendrick was here earlier, yes," Dulane replied, taking a sip of his brandy.

    "And?"

    "He has absolutely no suspicion," my Master said with a small laugh. "I have promised to engage in business with him. The man is already commissioning slave quarters. Of course, when he next comes here he will meet with quite a surprise."
   
I watched Kesar's mouth curve into a nasty smile. "Well after what he did, the man certainly has it coming to him."

    "Indeed," Dulane agreed. "He cost me a substantial sum in closing those trade posts and I am grateful for your aid in having ferreted out his duplicitous actions. It is still astounding to me that a descendant of the Kendrick legacy might do so much to interfere with the human trade. A true betrayal to his family name.

    "I have spoken to the man's younger brother and found him quite agreeable. A mogul in the industry like his father and grandfather before him, but Magnus? That vile, human loving excuse for a sibla." He shook his head, a look of disgust morphing his face into somthing truly monstrous. " He deserves to die for his crimes against his own kind."

    My heart beat quickly as their words registered in my mind.

    Magnus Kendrick

    The kind man who had had thanked me for my service. Who had treated me with dignity. Now Kesar and Dulane were speaking of murder! My Master intended to end the life of the man whose eyes met mine with such compassion. And what was his crime? It seemed Kendrick had somehow interfered with Dulane's business trafficking in human misery.

    "And how do you intend to ensure he is properly handled?" Kesar asked, clearly eager to hear what gruesome detail he could. I wondered myself. Kendrick was clearly a man of status. How could Dulane expect to simply "do away" with him.

    "Magnus Kendrick will return to the estate in three weeks time. I will host an elaborate dinner for him to celebrate our new collaboration. By the end of the evening, he will have an unfortunate cardiac event. Nothing to be done. So tragic."

    I watched as the two monsters laughed, downing their drinks in good humor. They were so certain of success. Of their authority to act as executioner to any who stood in their way. I seethed at the level of their villainy, not only horrific in their acts against my kind, but their own as well.

    Three weeks... that was all Magnus Kendrick had left. I had four at most myself. The clock was ticking and we would have to act soon if there was to be any chance of success. Perhaps my Master had just given me the perfect opportunity to act. I decided in that moment that Dulane would not kill this man. The day of death he prescribed for Magnus Kendrick would serve as the perfect date of his own execution. His end at our hands.

———
    It was after 1:00am by the time I returned to the dorms, but the moment I opened the door I felt eyes trained upon me. Gental snores surrounded, but the wild woman was sitting on her bed, crossed legged, back sraight, bright red hair in a halo surounding her rounded race, sitting in vigil for my return. She must have known already of the visitors.
   
Exhausted as I was, I was briming with engery. I nodded my head and Rebecca rose, walking silently across the room to join me.

    The night air was cold, but Rebecca wore nothing but a thin shift, her olive toned arms bare. I wondered if the fire of her hair kept her warm. Maybe it was just her rage that heated her from within. I found myself less and less aware of the cold as the burning embers of hate and vengance stoked a constant warmth in my belly.

    "Well," she said, "I assume there is news?"

    The timeline is set," I said. "We will strike in three weeks time."