Spirit Tether

The house was surrounded by paint-free walls with a hint of crimson from the natural materials of mud or sand. The entrance revealed a spacious front yard with a chicken running around and a little girl chasing after it.

The tall man smiled and commanded Quinn to unlock the slave's chains. The slave seller gave them a key as insurance, he explained, in case the slave had any rebellious inclinations.

So, the slave's chains were unlocked, he first felt his wrists as he soothes them a bit. He looked at Quinn who knelt down to their level and said in the common southerner's tongue :

"Do….not…. run…. or…. death" he said awkwardly as he pulled out a small knife as a threat. The child chuckled a bit and said in his language:

"You spoke well, but the stutter is bit cute, try again"

Quinn arched an eyebrow at him, puzzled, and said:

"Okay that is good, sir, I think he heard me," he said to the tall man, and the nameless boy giggled a little while concealing his mouth with his hands.

'I couldn't understand him; he's lucky I still understand that language,' the nameless child giggled inwardly trying to hold in a language, and when Quinn returned his stare, he concealed his laughter changing back to his stoic expression and hide his hands behind his back.

Quinn then stated:

"Do it right..." "Do... jump... flip."

The nameless slave tilted his head, confused; the discomfort was broken by a loud squeal, followed by a tiny girl racing toward the towering man:

"Daddy… "Daddy is back."

The tall man knelt down and grabbed the speeding girl with both hands. He smiled as he hauled the girl up, adding:

"My little princess" said the tall man, "How was your day when daddy went to work?"

"Daddy a lair; daddy did not go to work. You went to the market to acquire food for Tiny and a present for me, right?"

"You got me; first, let me get you down," he said, putting down the little girl who was bouncing and clasping her hands in joy. "Close your eyes," the tall man said gently, trying to be amusing.

The little girl had to close her eyes and grin as the tall guy motioned for Quinn to hand him over a small box he was keeping. Quinn slipped it out of his inner pocket, which was hidden from the outside, and the tall person added:

"I got you this, little one"

The tiny girl opened her eyes and cautiously got the box, "Good open it"

The small girl opened it and yelled with delight and glee. She bounced up and down as she uttered the word "love" three times before pulling out a small golden necklace with a dolphin design.

"Daddy, put it on me," the girl said politely.

"Shouldn't you thank your father first before he puts it on you?" the calm and beautiful voice asked. A woman with long black hair that reached her hips smiled at the man and the young girl. She gently hugged the man and kissed his cheek.

"How have you been husband?"

"I have been well, thank you for asking as always dear"

"And you young lady what do we say when we get a gift?"

The tiny girl was still smiling, her short black hair pulled back with a golden hairband. She responded with a hug for her father's leg:

"Thanks daddy"

The tall man added:

"You will thank me later when you are get the real present"

"Oh" responded the woman with a little smile. "So the necklace was not the complete present"

"Not really"

The woman looked around and inquired as she seen what was behind Quinn.

"Is the little boy the present, Asterios? We can now afford slaves," replied the wife, looking at the slave with a trace of distaste that was not obvious on her face.

"I got him for cheap"

"Honey he might have disease if he was cheap like you say he is"

"Just scars, with just a bit of clothes he will look the part"

"What is a slave?" inquired the small girl, perplexed.

The pair was at a loss for words while they considered an answer; fortunately, Quinn responded:

"They are like me to your parents, young lady"

"Bodyguards?"

"Yes, my little sweet," Asterios responded, kneeling down to the small girl's level and gesturing for the nameless slave to approach, which he did.

When the nameless slave approached the small child, her nose rose slightly, as if she were sniffing something. She then collected herself and said, with a weak smile:

"Hi, I am Flora and you are?"

The nameless slave glanced at Quinn, and Quinn spoke in the language he was bad at:

"You're…name….is…who?"

The nameless slave suddenly surprised them by saying:

"Tibi quoue salve, nomen meum Monare. Mihi datum est nomen Glove"

(Hello to you too, my name is Monare. My given name is Glove)

The present two man and female were left stunned with their mouths gaping. Monare smirked at Quinn and added just for fun:

"Lingua ista quan locutus es parum difficilis est sed plura ex eo discere debes"

(That language you spoke is a bit difficult, but you need to learn more of it)

Quinn was the most astonished and humiliated, his face becoming crimson as he calmed himself and stuttered in the language before returning to the Arthesian's tongue:

"You can speak, the merchant said you are mute"

Monare grinned slightly and added:

"That man with criminal tastes. I just don't talk very much."

He then turned to face the girl and bowed properly:

"It's a pleasure to meet you, young lady, and I'm Glove, your bodyguard. But you can call me Monare, if you want."

For a moment, the yard was silence as everyone was taken aback by the fact that they had run out of words. Only the chicken ran around, clucking away.