From Londoner To Lord

It was the first time others had heard Kivamus take such a strong stand about something and give them a direct order. But despite any hesitation they may have had, their habit of immediately following the orders of their liege kicked in. Duvas rushed away along with a few other servants who were nearby and started to give them orders to find specific people around the manor and to bring them to the courtyard in front of the manor house.

While Duvas was away to fulfill his command, Kivamus found himself lost in a sea of contemplation. Here, in this world, a seemingly insurmountable chasm separated the privileged few from the desperate many. The common folk toiled endlessly, barely scraping by to fill their bellies, while nobles like himself reveled in a life of relative luxury. It was a stark imbalance, a system that reeked of injustice. By now, he knew very well that this world was a harsh and unforgiving place. Poverty gnawed at the very fabric of society, forcing people to the brink of starvation. It was a constant companion, a suffocating weight that stole the joy from life and left people barely clinging to existence. But as if that wasn't enough, he thought bitterly, the barbaric practice of slavery was stripping people of their freedom and dignity.

The injustice of it all burned within him. The very notion of slavery, so deeply ingrained in this society, filled him with a cold fury. These people, no different from him in their desire for a decent life, were denied basic freedoms, and treated as mere possessions. The fear he had witnessed occasionally in the eyes of some of the servants, their uncertainty about his intentions, was a stark reminder of the cruelty inherent in such a system.

The casual acceptance of human ownership, the complete disregard for the basic rights of another human being - it all left a bitter taste in his mouth. How could an entire society function under such a system? How could these enslaved people have any hope for a better life living like this?

Looking at the servants running around the manor now, some oblivious to what was happening, others betraying worry in their eyes, solidified his turmoil. He couldn't help but wonder which of them were slaves, and what their lives were like, constantly at the beck and call of their masters, their freedom a mere illusion.

He closed his eyes for a moment, willing himself to focus on the task at hand. He yearned for answers, for a solution to the crisis at hand, and perhaps, a way to rectify the injustices he now witnessed firsthand.

He glanced around the courtyard, his eyes landing on the slowly gathering throng of servants and maids around him. Their expressions were a mixture of confusion and unease. Some, unaware of the recent commotion, had gathered out of curiosity, drawn by the flurry of activity. Others, who had overheard his earlier outburst, seemed to shrink back, their expressions laced with a subtle fear.

He let out a heavy sigh, the sound lost in the murmurs of the gathering crowd. He longed for the bustle to subside, for Duvas to return with the slaves, so he could finally address this issue head-on. He had a big decision to make, a choice that would set the tone for his leadership in the future. It would lay the foundation for the kind of ruler he would become in Tiranat and would influence the lives of its people for years to come.

Duvas returned to the courtyard soon after, with five figures trailing behind him. Three were male servants, one of whom Kivamus recognized as a stablehand from earlier. The other two were young women, their eyes downcast and their faces betraying a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. News of the gathering had spread quickly, and by now, a small crowd of servants - cooks, maids, and even a couple of guards, had gathered at the edges of the courtyard, murmuring amongst themselves, their daily tasks forgotten for the moment.

Duvas cleared his throat, his voice carrying across the hushed crowd. "My Lord," he announced, "as requested, these are five of the six slaves currently residing within the manor. There is one other maid, but she has gone on an errand in the village. I will bring her to you once she returns later."

Kivamus observed the group, his gaze lingering on each individual. While they were undeniably thin, their features etched with the same worry lines he'd seen on many others lately, it seemed a consequence of the recent food shortages rather than any deliberate cruelty. Unlike the gaunt, hollow-eyed slaves he'd glimpsed being transported near Cinran, these individuals, while nervous, held a spark of life in their eyes. They huddled together, seeking silent comfort from their shared circumstance.

They were slaves, and his property, according to the law of the kingdom, yet he couldn't reconcile himself to the concept of owning another human being for even a moment, nor would he allow it to happen under his watch. Not anymore. Taking a deep breath to steady his churning emotions, he addressed the group.

"From this moment forward," he declared in a booming voice ringing with authority, "slavery is abolished and forbidden in all the lands falling under my domain. Defying this rule is outlawed from now on, and will have criminal consequences." He looked at the people around him and their varied expressions for a moment. He continued in a loud voice, "We are all human beings, and no one deserves to be owned by another person. Slavery is an abhorrent thing, and it should never have been allowed. But even if it is not in my power to put an end to slavery everywhere, I will never allow it where my word is the law."

Duvas interrupted, "But… but my lord, you can't just do that!"

Kivamus glared at the majordomo. "Why?"

"Because… That is how it is my lord! It has always been like this!"

"Do you think human beings deserve to be owned and traded like animals, then?"

Duvas was indignant. "It does not matter what I think, my lord! His majesty, the King of Reslinor, has allowed it. I don't make the rules here!"

"No, you don't, Duvas. I do. I make the rules in Tiranat, and this is my final decision." He looked at the majordomo for a moment, trying to determine his seriousness about opposing him. "This is not negotiable, Duvas. If you can't accept this and are unable to continue working alongside me to support me in my decisions, you are free to resign from your position. Even though I'm new here, this is far from the last thing that I will do, which may go against the customs of this place. It is entirely up to you to decide whether you are with me in this or not."

The majordomo seemed to be considering his options and it took a minute for him to make his decision. In the end, Duvas sighed and gave a deep bow to Kivamus. "Forgive me, my Lord, if I was overstepping my boundaries. I will accept your decision and would be glad to continue serving you."

"Good," Kivamus replied. "I do value your suggestions, and you can always offer your advice wherever you think it is necessary, but the final decision will be mine."

Duvas nodded in reply, while Gorsazo seemed to have a thoughtful frown on his face.

Kivamus looked at the slaves standing in front of him, who were thoroughly surprised by now. "As of this moment, you all are free from your servitude and are no longer the slaves of anyone. All of you are free to leave this manor and forge your own paths in the world."

A stunned silence descended upon the courtyard. The former slaves stood frozen, the meaning of his words slowly sinking in. Slowly, tentative smiles began to bloom on some faces of the onlookers. Just as Kivamus expected a surge of relief and perhaps even joy, tears welled up in the eyes of some of the newly freed slaves. For a fleeting moment, Kivamus thought his words had brought tears of happiness. However, there was a deeper emotion beneath the surface, a chilling mix of fear and despair. Confusion clouded his features. Weren't they happy?

One of the maids, a young woman, could not contain her emotions and erupted into sobs. "No, my lord! Please!" she cried, her voice thick with desperation. "Don't send us away! Please, I beg you, let us remain as your slaves!"

Kivamus was taken aback by her outburst. This wasn't the reaction he'd anticipated... Freedom, a concept he so deeply believed in, was met with this kind of fear?

"Why?" he asked, his voice full of confusion. "Why wouldn't you want your freedom? I thought this is what you all desired!"

The woman wiped at her tears with her sleeve, her voice trembling. "My lord," she stammered, "what will become of us if we leave the manor? We have no coin, no land, no family to take us in… We would starve on the streets... Here, at least we have food and shelter. Even a single meal a day that we get here is much better than starving outside the manor as free people. Please, my lord, I beg of you, don't cast us out!" she pleaded, dissolving once more into tears.