Owerd sat inside his study. He was an old man with gray hair and a neatly shaved beard. The study itself was entirely wooden, and he was busy arranging some papers in front of him with monotonous care.
He had recently purchased several slaves from a trading caravan, and today they had finally arrived at his plantation. The papers pertained to the new slaves; he was editing them, writing each one's name on a separate sheet with the practiced precision of someone who was accustomed to this task.
He was completely absorbed in what he was doing until he heard a knock on his study door. He looked up quickly and said,
"Who's there..."
He opened the door, and a man of medium height entered, with messy black hair and one eye, while the other bore a clearly visible crooked scar.
It was Leward Cashin.
He closed the door behind him, then strode steadily until he stood perfectly upright in front of the desk.
"Leward, you've been late seeing your sheep..."
Overd whispered, then turned his gaze back to the papers in his hands.
Leeward glared at him, his expression very grim.
"Yes, I had some trouble with the wolves on my way back... I had to take a valley road to get here..."
"Hmm, well, what do you want?"
"I'll get straight to the point, free my neck..."
The sentence was shocking, but Overd had been expecting it for some time. In fact, he'd been thinking about this request all these past few days.
"I've been thinking about this too. You, as a person, have become a burden to me, to be honest with you... Working with you or ordering you around has become impossible... But I won't give you your freedom for free. I paid money to buy you... WhatYou will pay for that...
Aa
He raised his head and stared confidently at Leeward, arguing with him in perfect calm.
Leeward was silent for a short while, then sighed deeply.
"All my sheep and I can work on your farms for several months until I have a full sum."
This was a decision he had already considered.
For now, he had hidden a fortune capable of raising him directly into the nobility, but that fortune was mysterious; its source and true owner were unknown, and possessing it openly was dangerous for him at this stage.
So he decided to live quietly for a while, just like an ordinary person. When things calmed down around him, he would take that fortune and leave the country altogether.
Deep down, he had one other obvious option:
If Owerd refused to grant him his freedom...
He would kill him.
And he would take it by forging his papers, then flee immediately. But after that fortune was in his possession, this option became an added burden. However, the decision to kill Overd never weighed heavily on his heart.
However, other problems would arise from it. Killing Overd would anger the entire Monoth Kantem clan, as Overd was a prominent member of the Kantem Monoth family.
And this would make him a hunted man for the rest of his life.
Therefore, he kept this decision aside... but did not rule it out if he had to.
"So, all you own are nine sheep, your neck is worth about 30 sheep, so you decide to work for me for several months until you complete the sum and take your freedom... This is something that will harm me even more, as I brought many new slaves because I was planning to start a new project... and I have already started it. Quite simply, I will open the Danic Arena..."
A sincere expression appeared on Orvid's face, devoid of
Manipulation.
He was a practical man who couldn't bear to lose. Despite his hidden fear of Leeward, because of his mentality and arrogance, negotiating with him was tough.
Leeward was a strong, powerful slave, but the rigidity of his mind and mentality made him clearly useless. So he decided to let him go, because his presence no longer served him, but releasing him would mean losing a large sum of money he had previously paid.
Danik Arena, do you want to start the Danik sport? That's something I didn't expect from someone like you, haha... I'll be under your command for the duration of my employment and I won't refuse a single order... Just grant me my freedom..."
The Danik sport was a blood sport, in which two or three warriors were pitted against a monster stronger than them by a level or the same level. A brutal fight would break out between them, while the crowds watched from the stands.
At the same time, bets were placed on who would win, who would last the longest, and who would be able to kill the monster. Whoever succeeded in doing so received the largest sum.
It was very popular in the lands of the Charmin clan, and everyone loved watching it, to the point that it had become almost a cultural ritual for them.
"Well, look, I've bought land on the edge of a village. I want to set up the Danic Arena there. You can work there and become a warrior, but on the condition that you win every fight, after you've paid the full price for your neck. I can make a contract with you about staying there if you become famous and attract more spectators."
He began to present the matter to him directly, without beating around the bush.
Leeward raised his hand and extended it towards Overd. He showed complete satisfaction with this offer, even though he was aware of the risk involved. Many warriors had died inside the Danic Arena; it was a merciless sport, and never suitable for beginners.
"Agreed. I want first that you grant me my freedom, and I will make a contract with you that you owe me the remaining money. This will bind me to pay you so that you can be sure I won't run away."
Leeward really wanted his freedom.
Immediately afterward, he would work at Danic Arena for several weeks until things calmed down, then he would finish the rest of his fortune and leave for good.
There was a long silence in the office.
O'Fard was only thinking of the worst possible scenarios.
Finally, he raised his hand and shook Leeward's firmly.
"Dealt it... You start work tomorrow..."
O'Fard opened one of his desk drawers, then pulled out a sheet of paper.
"Your name is Leeward Keshin, isn't it... Age 28... Where were you born?"
He began to jot down some information.
"I was born in Crosbo on the 93rd day of Winter Territory... in the year 1396 after an alliance..."
The years stood for the number of years that had passed sinceThe establishment of the alliance between the clans, which took place 1424 years ago.
There were no months, but four regions:
Winter Region, Summer Region, Autumn Region, and Spring Region.
Each region had 96 days, making a total of 390 days in the year.
The remaining six days did not fall under any region and were called transition days, days separating each region from the next.
Ovid carefully recorded this information, then took a small knife and cut his thumb, imprinted the paper, and signed his name, guaranteeing his freedom.
Before handing over the paper that granted him his freedom, he took another sheet and wrote that he now owed him three kilograms of silver until he paid the full price of his neck.
Well, since I've prepared your papers, to be honest"I don't trust you even though you've been my slave for five years. The only thing that made me write this note before you paid the full amount is your character... You don't like being indebted to anyone..."
O'Fard showed a measure of respect.
Leeward took the note that granted him his freedom, but it wasn't over yet; he still had to go to the village headquarters and present this note, and then get papers to prove his identity as a commoner.
As for the debt note, which was another obstacle for Leeward, O'Fard put it in the drawer.
"This will give me some relief for now... Is there anything I can sign or fingerprint so you can take the sheep..."
He folded the note carefully and put his hands behind his back.
He thought to himself that what had happened was completely unexpected. He had thought O'Fard would refuse, but he was beginning to realize that he was nothing but a burden on the farm.
He himself didn't take orders from anyone, not even from
O'Verd, who lived almost for free on the farm, and if he worked, he was taken by force.
This made him realize that he had become a real liability to Overd, increasing his losses rather than helping him. Even if he wanted to sell him, he wasn't a weakling who could be easily bound.
Even if he brought in strong men, no one would buy him in the end because of his bad reputation. He was known as a miserably vain criminal, and this made his reputation even worse.
So this solution was in the best interests of both parties.
I still owe 3 kg of silver, that's not too much trouble...
"No, those sheep are already mine, but they're in your name... but I'll charge you for them..."
O'Verd whispered with a strange impulse, as if he were somewhat pleased.
"That's it, then. I'll leave..."
He turned to Leeward, opened the study door, and then went out.
As Owerd burst out laughing in place.
Finally, I'm done with him... Damn it, he was just a nuisance within this plantation anyway...
Then he quickly returned to sorting the papers of the other slaves.
That night passed quickly.
And the next day came.
Leeward walked out of the village headquarters early in the morning. The building was huge, white, and made of wood.
He stepped out, now a free and official citizen. He walked down the street, watching the card that proved his new identity and on which his name was signed.
A silver metal card, on which was written his place of birth, the name of the empire to which he belonged, his name and title, and even his height. A simple drawing of his features was engraved on the side.
At that moment, he heard a sharp scream.Leeward stepped out of the village headquarters early one morning. The building was huge, white, and made of wood.
He stepped out, now a free and official citizen. He walked down the street, eyeing the card that proved his new identity and on which his name was signed.
A silver metal card, on which was written his place of birth, the name of the empire he belonged to, his name and title, and even his height. A simple sketch of his features was engraved on the side.
At that moment, he heard a sharp scream.
A woman with blond hair was running frantically, fear etched on her face.
Leeward looked up and recognized her immediately.
That was Owerd's wife. What's wrong with her...?
Then he heard her terrified scream
My husband is dead... My husband is dead, oh God...