laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Sunlight caressed the large patio as Maggewetok stepped out onto polished marble that framed the oval shaped pool. Large, comfortable chairs lined the transparisteel doors which led back into the immense living room behind her. One of them contained the man she was summoned to stand before. His typical silk robes and pants cleaned even for the lightest hint of errant strings or lint shone in the daylight as he read the day's newsfeed from the smaller holoscreen perched across his view by a thin, metal framed support from the chair's arm. Blue eyes scanned the daily stories as he sipped, unmoved as she walked and stopped before him.

Moments lingered as she patiently waited. "Morning, Ilana," his deep, mature voice broke the silence and she glanced behind her to see who he may be talking to, then found no one. "Your name is now Ilana," he continued and she looked back, brow furrowed. "I bought you, that means I now own you and can name you whatever I wish."

Hazel brown eyes studied his unemotional face as he sipped from his coffee cup, then replaced it to the saucer on the table beside him.

"You have some fight in you," he finally looked at her as a manicured left hand brushed the holoscreen away. "Interesting. Giles says you tried to fight the synoptic teacher. Be hard for you to follow direction if you can't understand the language," he eyed her quietly. "I've arranged for you to be taught properly, but that won't commence for another two weeks," he stated as hands clasped before his chest, elbows supported by armrests. "Until such time, you'll work with Giles and do everything he tells you without debate or hesitation. Understood?" She only nodded. "Good." He motioned to the large mansion behind him, "This is now your home. There is no backwoods village anymore. No skins to clean and you will not walk around this house dirty or stinking like you're used to. You will bathe every day, not once a month. I cannot have my guests complaining of the reek that you once found to be the norm. You will be a proper lady and servant. Giles will instruct you on protocols and such and I expect you to learn all of them well, and promptly." Blue eyes scanned her and she imagined him staked to a drying frame where the hides were left. "Your disdain will be tamed, or you'll find yourself in the worst hellhole I can find. Now get out of my sight."

Maggewetok turned and left him there. She would never forget her name or where she came from, no matter what kind of devices they stuck on her head. Once inside, she found the older man in the kitchen preparing breakfast and he quickly got her started on learning where everything was and where it belonged on the table. Hours of cleaning, straightening and polishing became the norm for the next two weeks. Her only escape was the bathtub and her room.
Moonlight poured through the curtains of her only window to the outside world and she recited poems that her mother taught her, songs that she sung and finished them with the prayers to the Great Father before she slept.

No amount of training could take those things from her, she determined.

* * *

"Ilana," Giles called. "Let's go. Now!"

She hustled from the broom closet and closed the door, then quickly walked to the foyer where Arioald - her master - waited with another thinly built, strong man in uniform. His tanned face, narrow gaze and short haircut gave her a moment of pause as she stopped a few feet from them.

"Here she is," the senator motioned, his silk robe and pants starched and creased perfectly, as normal. "I expect a perfect specimen when this is over," he continued as the soldier just eyed her. "I can't have the Emperor's gift equate to any less."

"I'll do what I can with what I'm given." He motioned towards the door, "Move," he told her and she complied. At least she wasn't going to have to clean another toilet, she thought to herself. Hopefully.

Once outside, she climbed up into the back of a speeder truck and sat down on the long bench seat with a few others her age. Male and female. Some eyed her quizzically for a moment, most ignored her and she repaid in kind as the soldier disappeared into the passenger side of the cab and slammed the door shut. Once in, the vehicle sped from her 'home' and took them to the outskirts of the city.
Other vehicles passed them or followed on the four lane road and she scanned every face, every window or doorway for one of her cousins or brothers. They had to be here somewhere for her mind wouldn't allow herself to think the worst. They were alive.