Gabby’s story

Gabby’s eyes become distant, as if looking into the past as she speaks. “Like a lot of slaves, I don’t know my parents. Honestly, I barely remember my childhood. Lots of classes.”

“Apparently there were high hopes for me, though. Supposedly my parents were prized breeders. I dunno. Didn’t work out though. I grew up big and strong, but that’s about it. Never really took to books and learning and all that. Eventually they just kinda gave up on me. Sent me to work on the farm.”

There’s a small smile on her face as she continues. “Didn’t mind that so much. Hard work, yeah, but I'm built for that.”

She chuckles quietly. “Of course, it wasn’t exactly paradise. Masters on the farm didn’t allow much rest. Wake up at dawn, work till dusk, eat whatever slop they throw at us, sleep, and do it again. Whip ya if you’re slow, or make a mistake, or if they’re just in a mood.”

Gabby shrugs. “At night they’d usually grab a couple of the prettier girls and bring them in with them. Didn’t happen too often with me, outside of some groping.”

She gestures towards her large breasts. “They liked these, but not too keen on the rest of me. Can’t really say I’m upset by that. Never wanted that kind of attention. Not from them, anyway.”

Shaking her head, she sighs. “Of course, me being so big drew other attention eventually. They gave me to some prize fighter ****. Probably figured I could breed them a champ. Honestly…I didn’t mind. Erin, that was his name. Big guy, horns like mine but bigger.”

A genuine smile spreads across her face. “I liked Erin. Not very smart, and from me that’s saying something, but he was a sweetheart to me. Always kind and gentle. Apparently a vicious fighter. In another world, another life…I could do worse than someone like him.”

Gabby’s smile fades. “It wasn’t to be, though. After a few months, they noticed that I never got pregnant. Not for lack of trying, it just never happened. So they sent me back to the farm. Dunno what happened to him. That was a couple years ago now.”

She looks over at Kael. “A couple of days ago, they came to the farm. Pointed me out, along with a couple others, all strong ones like me. Told us we were going to be useful. Then they put those collars on us.”

She shivers. “I’ve never felt so helpless. Trapped in my own mind. There were so many of us, too. I could hear the soldiers laughing, talking about us as ‘cannon fodder’ because apparently the enemy had a soft heart.”

Her voice grows softer. “And then they gave the order. When we came out of the mist, I’ve never been so scared. I thought I was gonna die. I saw you fight, I saw you kill one of us. I saw your face. The horror I felt was all over you. And then I understood. You had to fight, or you would die, but you didn’t actually want us dead.”

Kael shakes his head. “I never want to kill. And I’ve never killed an innocent before.”

Gabby puts a hand on Kael’s shoulder. “And then, you did…something. You shattered the collars. You truly are a hero, no matter what you were **** to do.”

Kael looks at the holstaur in surprise. After everything she’s been through, she ends up trying to comfort him? “So…why didn’t you run off with the rest?”

She shrugs. “Well, at first, I was going to, after I brought you here. But as I carried you, I thought about it. What kinda life would I have, hiding in the forest? I don’t know the first thing about surviving like that. So I waited here. Eventually, the red haired lady came in, and spoke with me.”

Kael nods. “Ria.”

Gabby smiles. “Yes, sir. She was so grateful, and so kind…and then she hugged me.”

She blinks, and Kael sees a tear trickle down her cheek. “I’ve never…no human has ever hugged me before, sir. A-anyways…she told me a bit about you. And suggested I ask you about staying with you, sir.”

Kael chuckles. “I should have known it was her idea. Gabby, how much did she tell you about me?”

Gabby blushes a little. “Well, sir, she explained the…relationship you have with her, and told me about…Evie, her name was?”

Kael nods. “Yes, that’s her. Evie is an elven woman.”

Gabby smiles. “So…I don’t know if I’m ready for that kind of relationship just yet, but if that’s what it takes, I’ll do it.”

Kael shakes his head. “I wouldn’t **** someone to do anything they don’t want to do.”

She sighs, seeming relieved. “That’s what Ria said to me, sir. She told me you don’t really agree with slavery.”

Kael chuckles. “That’s one way of putting it, yes.”

Gabby takes a deep breath, and looks at Kael, her blue eyes wide and hopeful. “That was my hope. I wanted a chance to try and live a little bit more normal. So what do you say, sir? Can I come live with you? I promise I won’t be a burden…”