Working in the gardens had been wonderful but the list had finally tarrowed, she was utterly bored to tears. Tending the crops was boring, painfully so, still, she knew where her food was coming from now, hundreds of long rows of mushrooms and even a field of some wierd version of grain. Once in a while a farmer would come along and rework whatever she had done wrong, all in all the days had become a blurr, not once had she been tasked with serving her master's dinner. For that matter, he was completely absent, her skimpy outfit was gone and replaced by simple but functional every day clothes. Once in a great while she would see the only true horror of the place limp by in the distance: Ruby. It still gave Shadow chills seeing her never mind thinking about it, yes, it was better to be around the regular, mindless, souless servants than the "special" one. Speaking of which, Ruby was walking along the path towards the entrace.

Fish, fish... Hmm, fish had not been on the menu for some time, that might taste good for a change... Also he could not remember if the bat needed the extra protein or not... Better safe than sorry, servants gathered what he needed and had it ready at the door. It was nice getting out and doing some fishing once in a while, stepping out, tackle and rod in hand Valkardian's eyes settles on one of his toys: Ruby. Loping up slowly to deposit her basket for another servant to retrieve, Ruby was forbidden from entering his home, doomed to labor away in the gardens and when he felt particullary spiteful: the fields.

"A wonderful afternoon to you my little cockroach." Beaming down at Ruby her skeletal figure went rigit and those red eyes so full of hate and malice darted up. "Master..." Her jaws were grinding, she was too easy to tease and that made it all the sweeter.

"I see you are being a good slave and staying busy as always, maybe I should assign you to mucking out the fertilizer bins... I have company now and she needs looking after. Wouldnt want my little bat getting so dirty she can not come inside." If there was one thing that always remained true of Ruby over the thousands of years was threatening her with the filthiest jobs.

A dangerous gleam came to the Rubies eyes before worry set in "I have been good master, I beg you not to demean me so." Well that was hardly true. "Good? You tried to attack my little bat just a few days ago. Yes, you will be mucking out the bins, if you ever so much as look at her wrong you will stay IN the bins for a few years." Ruby did not back off however, instead she lurched forward to attack before the magic which bound her halted Ruby just a foot away, clawed hands reaching desperately for his throat. Smiling, which only made her eyes glow with rage Valkardian kicked her away with a quick boot to the chest sending Ruby sprawling and clattering down the steps.

Yes Ruby, you are indeed persistent, had it not been for your undying desire to see me dead you might have become boring. Keeping such thoughts to himself and continuing the treck to the pond Ruby stood and glowered. "Remember cockroach, you are bound like this because it was YOU who broke the deal not I. No one even remembers you nor your hive having ever existed and I still intend to keep you around a few thousand more. Begone." Turning and loping away and letting out a long chain of curses Ruby went on her way, bound to always obey. It was a darn good thing he had put all those bindings on her so long ago, otherwise little Shadow might not have been so lucky. Ruby was the type to kill his only "guest" just to spite him if she found even the SLIGHTEST way around his compulsion and binding spells. The other day she had, but the amulet thwarted that, still a few months mucking the fertilizer bins would solve that AND keep her away from Shadow. Humming to himself at killing two birds with one stone Valkardian was on his way, today there would be fish on the menu.

Shadow had slowed work to an absolute crawl when Valkardian had come out, even slower when Ruby had lunged at him. A farmer began poking her with a hoe but she had an idea and played on it, so long as she APPEARED to be working at an acceptable pace they would leave her alone, another would always come along and take over and "fix" what she had done "wrong." A loophole and as she kept watching, one she prayed to all the holy beings out there that she would NEVER be caught exploiting. Only catching little bits and pieces as their voices rose and fell it was apparent he was goading her on and Ruby was eager to bite. Valkardian kicking Ruby off the porch though had made Shadow jump, it had not been a hard kick but none the less Ruby went sprawling. Never make master so angry he hits you, it might result in broken bones.

After the two had long gone Shadow was once again back to work, a small smile was on her face though, master was too used to being ALONE. So used to it that he never bothered to control his voice, she had clearly caught the threat to Rubies well being should she make any attempt on Shadows person. Having been down here so long her already acute batpony hearing was even sharper. Yet, master left with a fishing pole? Strange, she figured he had servants tend to everything, yet he was clearly going fishing, maybe he LIKED to get his hands dirty unlike the other stuck up nobility. He certainly fit the bill, to pull all this off he had to be smart, even acting like a stuck up noble at times the way he just gestured at her to go away. Later she spied him going back in with a few fish, guess that meant she would be on serving detail again, if there was anything Shadow learned from their "dinners" was that he called her out on "fancier" nights and apparently greatly enjoyed hearing her talk. Fish was fancy, a fish actually so odds were good she would be donning "that" again tonight.

If he was going to eat fancy then he was certainly going to have her serve the food, fine food served by a pretty slave made the food taste all the better. Still, she would need washing up after being in the fields, a new schedule for her was quickly sent out, bathe her first, dress up then to the kitchen to serve. This would also solve ANOTHER of his problems: one bathroom meant they both bathed in the same place, a slave should NEVER be allowed to bathe in their masters bathroom but still... It was that or have buckets taken outside all the time, too much bother. Since she would bathe first, he could bathe in peace later without having to concern himself with her and also she would smell less like a mushroom field and more like a good, proper, CLEAN servant.

Nailed it, not long after going in a servant came out and collecter her, ushering her into the bathroom first as always. Instead of the "slave harem" outfit as she dubbed it there was a much fancier dress waiting for her. Tight fighting, red, gold trim and went to her ankles, if this was her new serving dress she liked it, nowhere near as embarrasing, simple though, guess the servants had a hard time going from "stallion" to "mare" clothing on short notice. Off to the kitchens then, retrieve the tray, serve him, talk, eat, sleep.

Valkardian had to admit she looked quite charming in the dress, tonight though he felt like conversing, it was a good day, it had been... A century? Since he had last jabbed at Ruby let alone gotten such a reaction, usually Ruby held it in. It was a fun day. "Tell me Shadow, how are you faring in the fields?"

Well this was ockward, he never asked anything like that before. "Fine Master Valkardian, very boring compared to the garden, how was your day?" That had come out all wrong, like a serving pony at some fast food chain when asked the same question, then again, she WAS a serving pony now.

Questions went back and forth, most of it simple, pointless banter but the longer it went on the more concerned she got, was he getting bored of her already? No, he had this dress made... Did he really just want to... Talk? This might be her chance... As the banter went on the opportunity presented itself finally: "Master, why is Ruby different? Is that my fate or...?" Without missing a beat Valkardian gave off a small, twisted laugh.

"No, she is indeed special, one of the precious, precious few. Long ago we had a deal and she broke it, not only broke it but even tried to kill me, for her insolance and betrayal I harvested her hire for servants and soldiers. Ruby on the other hand... She I made an undead thrall, bound to me, doomed to forever serve me and call me her lord and liege so that she never forgets her place." Damn, he was doing it again, explaining himself to someone, a SLAVE no less! When someones curiosity became greater than their fear he had always been happy to explain things to the simple minded or just plain curious.

Such thoughts were quickly banished however, his little slave had apparently figured that out, this was not the first time she had done this and that she had slipped it in... Well, she was either daring or very concerned, probably both. That she WOULD slip it in rather than just confront him though... "Tell me, are you worried about yourself or Ruby? Or are you trying to find out if you can slip your own questions in my conversation to get answers?"

Shadow flinched, he figured it out, then again considering how ancient he was, there was really no surprise. A bigger problem loomed, now that he knew and threw it in her face, was he going to be angry or dismissive? Looking to her fasters face Shadows heart sank, if he had been angry... So be it, dismissive? Outstanding. Completely BLANK? That was bad, best err on the side of caution. "Concerned for my own soul master should I ever anger you or become useless."

"Liar."

Up a creek without a paddle. Doomed. In very, very deep shit. Run? No, nowhere to run too. Grovel? Maybe, he always seemed amused by whatever she did or said. That or stand here and just sweat and fidget until he says something else? No, he was still staring at her blankly. "You are correct master, I want to know more about Ruby, am concerned with my own fate and I also slipped the question in to get those answers and hoping you would answer them without being angry..."

This was indeed amusing, her ears were splayed back, wings twitching as if she wanted to bolt, downcast eyes. Shadow had told him the TRUTH though but not instantly either, she had thought about it a bit, he had almost opened his mouth again before finally speaking the truth. Others would have run, most lied further, precious FEW ever dared to think then speak the truth. The little bat had thought it through some and given a straight answer, smart girl.

Shadow did not know whether to be relived or worried as a smile graced his lips at first. "Very wise of you. I am going to retire for the night, you can go and eat your own dinner." Standing and leaving Shadow to her own thoughts she could not help but sigh in relief. Not only was her master not mad he had even smiles, amused apparently. "Shadow, you really should not flirt with death like that" she mumbled to herself while helping to clear the table. Dinner tonight was lavish, roast fish, sauce, "bread" and all manner of tasty treats. Her nerves however,did not calm, too scared to drink touch much wine less she become drunk which would only make matters worse... Trying to calm herself she accidentaly breathed while swalling food and wound up having a coughing fit. Grabbing her goblet to wash it down only made things go from bad to worse when the servant touched her back. No doubt it was trying to help but having a skeletal hand touch her resulted in a yelp, more coughing and one failed attempt to stand. Wine and food went everywhere, most of it however wound up on her.

"My little slave is not entirely truthful but cannot be blamed when the threat of death hangs overhead. Told the truth in the end though... Clever too, testing the water like that or perhaps extordinarily brave? Foolish?" Valkardian's thoughts rambled on as he slipped in the hot water to soak for a while. "Maybe she has more potential that as a simple slave... A test, yes that might work, give her a test, a book will do..." One spell later his head slipped under the water, air would not be a problem now.

At least he would not see her like this, especially the new dress which was now ruined, maybe a servant would clean it quickly before it stained so he would never know. Stripping off the dress and handing it off to a passing servant Shadow slipped into the bathroom and just realized her master might be there... No, it was empty, good! She needed another bath, her fur was soaked with wine, sauce and other bits and pieces of food. Washing off only took a minute but her nerves... Shadows stomach was still flipping back and forth, tonight had been too close, now with shot nerves a hot soak sounded wonderful. Stepping into the water she failed to notice the large shadow in the water.

Valkardian's eyes snapped open in an instant, the sound of something thudding on the marble so close snapped him from his thoughts. Water distorted whatever the sound was, a foot? Had a servant glitched and entered the bath? Turning his head and sitting upright quickly all was answered quickly as his eyes fell on a very naked, scared, no terrified bat that was also very naked.

When the water parted and something surged up from it Shadow's wings had shot out and now she stood there stiffly, when realization of WHO was in the bath with her sunk in well...

A deer in the headlights, that description was most apt for the situation, the bat just stood there, wings out, eyes bugging out, mouth slightly open. Millions of questions surged back and forth but none had a chance to escape his mouth before she started to babble and stutter widly. Not one word of it was intelligable though, instead his eyes wandered, yes, he could accept having a slave with a figure like her and with hips like that childbearing will never be an issue. Letting her shapely form sink in her babbling came to an end. "Please dont kill me."

Watching Shadow plop down into the water after her near whisper of a last request and begin sobbing was too much. She didnt even try to hide herself, instead letting him continue to stare.

Was a quick death her fate? If this kept up a heart attack would get her first. Shadow simply hoped that the punishment would be swift and relatively painless. Instead what filtered into her ears was laughter. Looking up Valkardian just sat there looking at her while laughing his ass off. Standing to take his leave she caught a glimpse of something else but that laughter drowned out all other thoughts. He simply left her there, sitting drooped over expecting the worst which would never come.

Closing the door behind him Valkardian decided it best to hide himself from her with distance, he could not stop laughing and he did not want to see his slave to see him in this state any further. Walking down the hall a simple spell dried him off and clothes would instead be delivered to his study. As he walked his eyes moved down his body, he had to admit, she was quite attractive and no others had caused this bodily reaction. It was a grand day indeed and continuing his walk he began humming to himself.