Bad Things Happening to Elves
Hunting Her Own Kind
I was not surprised when the Masters told me that Iliria had run. She was used to her lot in life by now, but still futilely bucked against it whenever she thought she could. It had caused her no small amount of unnecessary hardship over the years with the Masters. All of that would now pale in comparison to what awaited her when I brought her back, however.
I was in my cell when the news came, having just received my daily rations from Master Vald, one of the slave keepers. It had been a while since one of the other slaves had tried to escape, and so I had not been on a hunt in quite some time. Master Vald, aware of this, made me work for my meal today in other ways to keep me from growing complacent in my position with the other slaves. He told me as he held me down that it was important I not forget what I was really worth to the Masters.
I agreed with him, and when he was finished with me, I thanked him for his personal attention in this lesson. Unlike many of the rest of my kind, I was under no illusions of importance. I knew my place.
Master Vald left me alone with my meal afterward, his semen still dripping down the brown skin of my thighs and breasts as it cooled. I had no sooner taken my first bite when my cell door opened again to show the tall and imposing countenance of Master Harken, flanked on either side by two of his handpicked guard with their hands on the hilts of their swords.
I dropped immediately to my knees before him, pressing my forehead to the cold stone floor of my cell in supplication, my lavender hair making a fallen curtain on the flagstones to hide my face from his gaze. Master Harken was above even most of the other Masters in their organization. He commanded the slave keepers as they commanded us, and he was one of few whom they acknowledged as having any authority over them. If he were visiting me personally, it was a great honor indeed.
"Rise, elf," the Master commanded me, his voice deep and regal in tone, brooking no argument.
I did as I was bid, keeping my eyes cast down and my head bowed. "I am not worthy, Master," I spoke truthfully.
"No, but this is a delicate matter, and one for which your special talents are demanded. Leave us," he added with a gesture to his guards. They bowed quickly and stepped away as Master Harken closed my cell door behind him, leaving the two of us alone in the small room together.
I said nothing and made no movement, waiting obediently for his next words. Master Vald's seed still ran slowly down my legs as I stood. I hoped silently that my untidiness would not offend Master Harken.
If he noticed or cared, he made no show of it. Instead he simply said, "One of you has escaped. We found her cell empty this morning when we went to collect her for the group show, her participation in which was specifically requested by one of our clients." He took a step toward me, towering a full head over me. "We managed to replace her, but the client was not pleased."
"I am deeply sorry, Master," I said quietly, my face burning in shame for my misguided slave sister.
"As you should be," the Master gruffly replied. "Our treatment of you elves is no less than what you deserve, and yet so many of your kind persist in thinking and acting above your station. I cannot fathom what leads so many of you to such brazen displays of disobedience."
As he had not asked for my opinion, I did not give it. But silently to myself, I believed I had a better understanding than he of what caused this occasional insurrection amongst my slave sisters.
Master Harken stepped back then, sizing me up with his gaze. "Finish your meal without delay," he commanded. "I will leave a guard here with you to escort you to the courtyard when you are finished, where your gear shall be returned to you. Master Faron will then describe the missing property to you, as she was his charge before her disobedience. You are then to head out at once. Do you understand, elf?"
I bowed my head yet deeper. "I do, Master. I am your humble servant."
He nodded. "See that it remains that way. And remind our young runaway of the dangers of behaving otherwise."
With that he left, sending one of his guards back in afterward to oversee me as I readied myself for another hunt.
***
I am unique amongst my slave sisters in the responsibilities that I am given by the Masters. I alone among my kind am granted the honored position of slave huntress. I alone among my sisters am responsible for finding them when they run away and bringing them back where they belong for their punishment.
I cannot remember a time when I was otherwise. I cannot remember a life before being a servant of the Masters. I am not sure that I ever had one. If I did, it has long since been washed away.
The Masters have a special liquid, bright pink and crystal clear, which they sometimes make some of my slave sisters drink. As I understand it, the potion is meant to soothe rebelliousness and disobedience in the slaves that require such. Some of my sisters whisper fearfully that this is mind control, a way to brainwash all of the free will out of the elven slaves whose spirits are otherwise too unbroken.
I, who remember having consumed much of the liquid at a vague time earlier in my life, disagree with them. I view it instead as a kindness on the part of the Masters, an aid to realizing the truth. After all, what use is free will and rebellious thinking in us elven women, we who were born specifically to serve our betters though too many of us sadly do not realize it?
These thoughts passed through my head as I slipped into my hunting attire and Master Faron described my runaway slave sister and confirmed my hunch. Straight, neck-length hair of golden blonde, azure blue eyes, petite and slender, with high cheekbones and long, tapering ears even for an elf -- it is Iliria, no doubt. All of my other sisters who might fit such a description are more mindful of their station than poor Iliria, who feels for some reason as if she is being grievously wronged through her service here. As if she could have any better purpose. As if she were not an elf.
I slipped my knee-length hunting boots on over my legs as Master Faron described her escape. She had disrespected him last night by arguing against his commands, so he had taken her harshly in her cell, as was his right. It was not until she was found missing in the morning that he had realized that the key to her cell door was missing from his key ring. Either it had fallen off during their time together the night before, or else Iliria knowingly stole from one of her Masters.
As I strapped my belt on over the black thong bottom of my hunting outfit, I silently hoped for her sake that it was the former. A sudden act of foolish disobedience born from an unwise opportunity was less serious of a crime than premeditating such a rebellious and disrespectful act.
My hunting outfit, which was crafted to my exact measurements as a most generous gift from my Masters, consisted mostly of light and flexible leather, all of it dyed black. The top was a series of leather straps that attached to my slave collar and held my breasts in place during vigorous movement. The bottom was a simple leather thong, leaving my upper legs free from knee to thigh for more range of movement. Knee-high boots and elbow-length gloves guarded my lower arms and legs, and the belt strapped about my waist was sturdy and versatile enough to hold all of my necessary gear.
Master Faron handed me this gear now as he inspected my outfit. To my belt I affixed my whip, my bolas, a length of sturdy rope, and a small dagger. In a small sack slung over my back, I carried my provisions for the road, which mostly consist of simple yet durable foodstuffs to keep me going. As an elf, I have no need or expectation of luxuries such as a tent or a sleeping roll. I can make my bed as comfortably on the naked grass or in the branches of a forest as anywhere else.
One more item I carried with me, a small pouch hanging at my side on my belt. In it are a lock of Iliria's golden hair and an artist's likeness of her body and face. We all have such talismans secreted away by our Masters for occasions such as this, for when a slave forgets her place and decides to run. None know of them except those who have made the attempt and failed, however. And myself, of course, who have carried many such small packages out into the world before.