The Acuminous Trinity of Winds

<picture coming soon>

His name is The Acuminous Trinity of Winds. I think that may be the second time I've ever said it all in full. I call him Winds. He is one of my two slaves. I purchased him and his younger sister, The Pensive River...or just River, from a man I killed in a duel. We'd been drinking heavily and playing at cards. He accused me of cheating, which I was, but he didn't have any proof. Well he challenged me to a duel. Stupid fucker. And so I killed him. Fair and square. Well, at his estate sale that followed a few days later they were selling a great many things, including his impressively large collection of slaves. These two caught my eye, largely because they actually looked into my eyes. The others, meek and without a will of their own, bruised and battered, obviously mistreated by the deceased moron stared at the ground. But these two stood tall. They were beaten and bruised, worse than most of the others. But they were proud. Quite possibly newly acquired slaves, they're often rebellious and cling to the illusion of equality. The man was a good decade older than I am, handsome, tall, broad and dark skinned with short gold hair and beard and the woman at his side was about my age, equally dark but with hair that was white as snow, though crudely chopped off short, probably as some form of punishment. It's quite lovely now that she's grown it back out. I asked his name and he gave it and hers to me. I looked to her and she gave me a curt nod. He explained that she was unable to speak. Their late master had taken offense to something she had said to him and had her tongue cut out.

I may believe in slavery, it's an important part of the world and trade and humanity and just the way of things. But only a fool treats them so poorly. I believe that if you treat a slave well, give them kindness, give them allowances and some freedoms to enjoy, then they will serve you much better than if you do not. Take care of your weapons and not only will they last longer but they will be sharper and better serve to cleave you enemies in half, slaves are the same way. Well...they may not cleave enemies in half, but they will keep your home clean, cook you unpoisoned food and prove to be reliable assets. They're an investment and will give back to you only however much you give to them.

Winds rambled off a long list of their skills and experience and stated that they were soon to be sold and would obviously be snatched up immediately by anyone with any sense at all. Well, I had a new home and I'd never had a slave of my own, so I spent the winnings I'd claimed from their late master and I purchased them and took them home.

They both proved to be valuable beyond my expectations. River was an amazing cook and she kept the house spotless and Winds was organized and very good with money. They were both surprisingly educated, having been owned before their last master by a professor in an academy and he had felt it necessary that they learn to read & write in order to properly do the things he needed, such as scribing, cataloging and pulling reference materials for his work. He had died an old man and they had been passed along to his spoiled and useless nephew who I had recently relieved of his mortal duties.

Winds quickly became sort of my majordomo and took care of my home, my income, finances and everything else that needs to be done. River takes care of the cleaning and cooking. I like to spoil them. They have proven to be terribly loyal and dedicated to me. They have their own rooms, though when I'm home Winds usually sleeps with me unless I have guests I don't wish to share, I give them an allowance and so long as everything gets done properly, which it always does, I allow them to spend their time however they wish.

Winds is courteous, though impatient and easily annoyed by anyone other than myself who is obviously wasting his time. He is fond of fine clothes, good food, art and tea. I've always felt he makes a better aristocrat than a slave and he would agree and disagree. He prefers to be an aristocrat's slave. When he had first said that I laughed and asked why in Creation he was with me. He responded, "Because it is Creation's bidding and I have faith in it."

It was with their help that I had started the small scribing business I have on the side in addition to the Guild work I do, ironic that it's owned by someone who can't read or write. It's a little extra income and they were both eager to help and River seems to enjoy the work. Winds had told me one of the things she loved most about scribing and copying books when they served the professor was that she was able to read so much. So if people want to pay me to let her read their books and all she has to do is use ink and paper to make them a copy while enjoying herself, I'm game for it. It's a win-win-win deal.

One day after I'd joined the Guild and had been sent to take care of some "unofficial" dirty business I'd come home late and Winds was still up. He took my dirt and bloodied clothes from me to be cleaned and as he recited some small business matters and updated me on my finances, including the small bits of income from a few Guildsmen I was blackmailing at the time and other slightly less than legal activities. I realized suddenly how vulnerable I was to this man. This slave...with the power to topple my world over..or even end it really. He knew my secrets, he controlled my home and finances, his sister prepared my meals... I felt a need to address this situation and my sudden wariness with him. We'd always been frank with one another and I respected him. After I spoke my mind, he smiled at me as he began to turn down the blankets on the bed. He said, "I understand the situation clearly Master Aapo. I would never betray you because I know you would kill me without a second thought and quite possibly my sister as well. You do not love me, but you are fond of us both and you do love yourself, your estate being clean & orderly, good food being prepared for you & your needs and whims being met with as little effort as you can personally muster. So I work to prove myself to be more than just useful, I shall make myself necessary to your household and I shall run it flawlessly. I will be available to you & your needs whenever you require and I shall always be loyal to you because I feel Creation rightfully delivered me to you. Yes, I may have the power to do you and/or your estate great harm given my knowledge and the authority you have entrusted to me, but your wellbeing is my wellbeing and I not only want to live, as you know, I want to live like a king. And to do that, I will do whatever is in my power to see that you live like a god."

So...well. How do you respond to that? I threw him down to his dismay as the bed had not been properly turned down yet and gave him my appreciation. Several times. Yeah. I am quite fond of them both. They serve me very well. And now that Winds prophecy has been fulfilled, I shall see that they do live like royalty as shall all who serve me loyally when the world is rightfully mine again.