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He gives me a rueful glance. ‘But, good news, you have two weeks to show me that you can treat her properly within the confines of the law.’
‘And what are these laws?’ Grey grinds out menacingly.
The healer ignores his tone. ‘Feed her, keep her safe and secure, keep her happy. A happy human is a hearty human, after all,’ he recites, smiling a little. He ponders for a moment. ‘Discipline her when needed, release her when needed, take care of any ailments … actually, I may have my …’ He delves into the side pocket of the bag he brought and comes out with a small book. ‘Yes. Here. This will tell you everything the novice human master needs to know. You may borrow my copy.’
I glance at it. ‘The Care and Keeping of Human Females and Bulls?’
He nods. ‘I will also say that the use of a cane or a switch to discipline human females is actively discouraged. They simply aren’t as robust as the bulls. A good, strong hand is more than enough,’ he chuckles, ‘as my own human female, Gwennie, will tell you. In fact, I may bring her with me when I come back in a day or two so you can see what a healthy, happy human female looks like.’
He goes back in his bag and brings out a glass jar full of what looks like coffee grounds. ‘Frena, or Dark Realm Root. Make it into a honey-like paste and give her a spoonful of this twice a day for three days. After that, she will be awake, and it should be made into a tea three times a day for another week. Be prepared for the fever to cause delusions and upset over the next day or so. There shouldn’t be any more seizing if you begin the root today.’
He puts a finger up and wags it. ‘She won’t be in control of herself, so no disciplining her until she’s well. If she flails about and is a danger to herself, you may tie her arms and legs gently to the bed.’
He frowns. ‘I also understand some like to use their humans for bed play. I don’t agree with the practice myself, and especially not with a breeding female, but on the off-chance you do, don’t. She needs rest.’
With that, he turns and leaves. We stare after him, and I glance down at the book.
‘When did humans become precious pets?’ I mutter, sinking to the bed in the wake of the whirlwind healer. ‘How long were we in Alcana?’
‘Boil water,’ I hear Grey say to Kal in an equally stunned tone.
Grey sits down heavily next to me and looks at the unconscious Harbinger. ‘She may not truly be our slave, but we need to read the book, or he won’t let us leave with her.’
I give a tiny nod, looking down at the volume Reyn gave us.
Glancing at me and then down at the book as well, Grey lets out a long breath. ‘Did either of you get the feeling that the good healer thought he’d do a much better job of seeing to our human commodity than we can?’
‘Aye,’ I say quietly. ‘I did get that impression. I suggest we find out what we’ve missed while in Alcana and ensure that we abide by the human laws, both here and in other places, until we get home.’
I give the book to him to read first as I make the root Reyn left into a paste with the boiled water.
I let Kallum sit her up, and I drizzle the syrup into her mouth, watching as her tongue moves and she swallows.
‘Good girl,’ Kallum coos and I scowl.
‘Make sure you learn the laws and follow them where she’s concerned,’ I hiss at him. ‘Do you understand, Kallum? We are leaving with her. If you jeopardize that, I’ll fucking kill you.’
He smirks. ‘I think the healer would tell you that positive reinforcement is key when training precious pets.’
I roll my eyes. ‘I dare you to call the Harbinger that when she wakes.’
He grins.
* * *
The day rolls into evening slowly. I sit in a chair beside the bed. Kallum has gone out to get supplies and to find out more about the human laws that seem to exist now. I let out a long breath. I didn’t regard our seven years in Alcana being cut off from everything as all that long, but it appears that things have changed, a large one being that humans aren’t easily brought to the Dark Realms anymore.
I turn the page in the book on how to care for our human, and my eyes widen at an etching of a naked female bent over a table while a large orc does something between her legs with his hand. I read the words under the picture.
‘Manual stimulation of the human female to aid in release.’
‘Gods,’ I breathe.
‘What is it?’ Grey asks from the table where he’s repairing a hole in his tunic.
‘This book the healer gave us. Did you read it?’
‘Not all of it.’
