Myrmidon
[mur-mi-don, -dn]
1. Classical Mythology. one of the warlike people of ancient Thessaly who accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War.
2. (lowercase) a person who executes without question or scruple a master's commands.
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“Titia, come here.” Said Lord Hector.
A
slight but very pretty young woman approached him. She wore a fairly standard maid’s uniform,
save for the collar, which was slightly too high. There was something about her eyes
though. They seemed dead somehow.
“Beautiful,
isn’t she?” Hector asked. He held her by
the chin and stroked her skin, like he was petting an animal.
“She
is.” Peter answered. “Where did you find
her?”
“Oh,
some little backwater village. She was
wasting her life as an herbalist’s apprentice.
I’ve put her to much better use, really.”
Peter
thought it was the other way around.
With her soft, gentle features, he could see her doing very well as an
herbalist.
“I’m
sure. But it doesn’t look like she’s
very happy here. Is there anything wrong
with her?”
“Nothing
wrong, no. And she came with me just
fine.”
“I
see. You know, I’ve heard that young
ladies from small villages have problems with obedience when put into positions
of service.”
“Titia
has no such problems, I assure you. She
follows my every command to the letter.”
Peter
would have been impressed with the claim, if it were not for the look in the
young woman’s eyes. There was something
more to this, he felt sure of that.
“Really
now? Such loyalty is impressive,
especially in one so young.”
“Loyalty
has nothing to do with it, I assure you?”
“Than
what is it?”
“Titia,
show him.”
Titia
pulled down the cloth covering her neck.
There was a band of metal around her neck. Intricate runes were deeply etched into the
metal, and the entire thing seemed to be coated by a thin layer of glass, or
some other clear substance.
“Is…is
that what I think it is?” Peter asked in a hushed voice.
“Indeed. A genuine slave collar. Magnificent, isn’t it?”
“Aren’t
those illegal?”
“Technically,
yes. But, my good, sir, such things are
hardly a problem. Laws, you see, are for
the general populous. It makes them feel
safe. Like they matter, and that someone
is taking care of their needs. It has no
bearing on those in our position.”
“I see.”
Peter had to fight to remain in his seat.
There was no part of him that agreed with his heavy-set host. Still, it was best to play the part. For now.
“Aren’t they hard to get?”
“It can
be a bit tricky, yes. Not many want to
risk making them. But once you find
someone, you can get as many as you want as long as you have the coin to pay
for them. Me? I have five more just like Titia here.”
“Six? You really have six of them?”
“Oh
yes. And my wife has three.”
Nine. Nine people forced into slavery by the lord
and his wife. It was unspeakable what
they had done. Peter took a few moments
to compose himself.
“Are
the rumors about the collars true then?”
“Of
course they are. As long as Titia wears
her collar, she’ll do anything I ask without hesitation. I told you where I found her, right? Well, when she was there, she was too…too
nice. Not a wicked bone in her
body. Now she’ll gut a man like a fish
without blinking if I tell her to.”
Peter’s
blood ran cold. “And have you?”
“Have I
what?”
“Had
her kill anyone?”
“No, of
course not. Titia is too frail for
that. Besides, I like to keep one girl
with a bit of innocence. No, I have another
slave that’s much better suited to eliminating those who displease me. She’s an assassin, you know. Used to work for the highest bidder. Now that I’ve collared her, she works only
for me.”
“And
you’ve had that one commit murder?”
“Murder
is what peasants do. I have her
eliminate those who get in my way, that’s all.”
“Will
the courts see it that way I wonder?”
“Who
cares what the courts say, really. I practically
own the courts. I’m sure you’re the same
in your domain. It’s what separates us
from the common folk, you know.”
“Ah,
yes. Of course. I understand completely.”
“I
thought you would. Titia, we’re done
with you now. Leave.”
The
young slave left the room without a word.
Peter watched her leave out of the corner of his eye. Hector continued to talk about things he felt
were important for being a lord. Peter
only half listened and provided a few words here and there. He was actually looking for a chance to leave
the man’s estate. He had been after
Hector for years, and only now did he have enough evidence. Peter, enforcer for the courts, would show
Lord Hector just how much sway the law really had.
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Sorry I didn't use that first definition there. That probably would've been cool. Instead you get this. I hope you can forgive me this transgression.
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