The Den quickly filled with workers. There were mostly housekeepers and a few farmers but there were also specialists like individuals to build things and to maintain magic levels and things run by magic like the internal temperature of the Den and how water continuously flowed into the Den.
Abigail was happy, sad, and scared all at the same time. She wanted both the company and the help but she was not sure if this meant that she was no longer needed in the Den. Her six months probation was not quite complete but Michele still held the right to eat her at anytime. She shivered at thought.
She was in one of the orchards with the farmers. They were discussing what she wanted done and what she expected of them. Abigail did not know it but all workers had been informed that they would answer to Abigail and if she was not happy the serpent lord would not be happy.
He had given her a enchanted quill just before they arrived. All she needed to do was think about what she wanted to say while holding it and the words were written in the air for her. She had been warned, as she laid across his dark serpent form, that this did not mean that he would go easy on her I she did not meet her speaking deadline. She had gulped rather hard at this and he smiled when he heard it.
"So you want Malarn, shorn, smeller, and cranifer?'
"Yes but the master said that he wants to get the malarn and shorn."
One of the farmers in the back leaned into his friend and whispered.
"I hope he allows us to find these things in our first forms. Being human itches."
"How can you itches. Are you saying that you are allergic to yourself."
Abigail caught a part of the conversation. She had learned to read lips a long time ago. Fore warning helped her to withstand many punishments. They were just easier when you knew they were coming.
Word lit up before the first farmer in the back who had spoken. "What do you mean your first form? You are not human."
She had to admit that she had been surprised that so many humans were suddenly working in the Den. She now looked at all of them with narrowed eyes. This time the words formed above the entire group.
"Show me your first forms now." The original speaker got dirty looks from the others. If they were all going to be killed after this they would make sure that he would be the first to go.
They all shifted and Abigail's eyes went wide. They were all beastkin.
"I have no problem with you working like this. Work in your first forms."
Many side in relief while others nervously shook their heads and shifted back into human forms. She looked at these with a frown and a question. One female, who had just been a very pretty red fox explained.
"His Lord has commanded this My Lady. We can not go against his command."
Abigail looked confused for a moment as if unable to understand the words then surprise and then confusion ran across her face in that order.
"I will speak to him. Do not worry. Work in the form that is most comfortable for you."
She didn't say anymore and began explaining what else she needed.
Words lit up before Michele and he raised an eyebrow.
"Why would you tell the beastkin that they needed to sift into humans to work. For some it is rather uncomfortable. I told them it is not necessary please inform them that this is okay with you."
He looked at her for a long moment. The serious expression etched into her face causing him to smirk. Just as he was about to tease her his first advisor spoke to him telepathically. He stood abruptly, causing Abigail to take an involuntary step back. Michele frowned when he felt something twist oddly in his chest at the sight. Abigail thought the frown meant anger and she was about to leave when she saw an injured guard she frequently saw in the Den being brought in. She rushed to him and words began light up above the men.
Michele froze in confusion and a strange feeling that bloomed in his stomach.
"Put him down here. Let me look at him."
The men looked to Michele in confusion and he slowly nodded as he moved to stand behind Abigail. They lowered the beastkin and she immediately began an examination. She always helped with illness when she was with her family and she had many bestkin friends that could not afford to go to the hospital.
She was efficient and knowledgeable.
"I need to get some herbs and make a poultice." She looked to Michele. "Can he please be brought to my rooms so I can watch him as he recovers?
Michele frowned. "No he may not." Abigail did not back down. He sighed and looked to his men. "Take him to the guest rooms closest to Lady Abigail."
"Wait. Let me get the poultice applied first I will be right back.'
Abigail was in her laboratory when she froze. 'Had he really said Lady Abigail?'
Michele looked at the man half Jackal. "What happened?"
The beastkin had a deep gash on his throat, Abigail had already stitched it shut but the beastkin couldn't talk.
'It was the Allora Dark Lord. I had just found out that Lady Abigail had been touched by the Lady of Fate and the Allor suddenly attacked.'
Michele nodded. As he listened he had also watched what had happened form the beastkin's point of view.
Abigail returned and Michele watched her tend to his subordinate with great tenderness and care.
"Are you okay My Lord?"
Michele looked at his second, Kaon, curiously. Only then did he realize that both his fists were clinched.
"Of course I am. I will leave tomorrow and hunt down these Allora."
Ka raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything the other subordinates glanced at each other in confusion.
Then a throat was cleared and words appeared above them all.
"Okay. He is stable now. Please take him to his rooms."
Everyone in the room looked down from the words to Abigail's bright innocent face. Suddenly they all understood and everyone forced themselves not to look at Michele.
"I will return with your meal now Master."
As the words faded he found himself wondering why she kept calling him master.
Abigail frowned when Michele said he wanted her to sleep with him in his rooms. They usually did not sleep together two days in a row. She was confused but she did not question it.
She gave instructions to someone who worked in the kitchen who said they wanted to be a healer. The injured beastkin would need medicine and his bandages changed at least twice in the night and Abigail did not want to risk not being able to leave Michele's side.
When she arrived she could sense his anger.
'Is everything okay Dark Master?'
'Why do you always call me that? '
Abigail frowned as Michele gently wrapped his tail around her and brought her up to lay on his inner coils. She settled in as she thought about his question. She frowned when she saw some broken scales. She touched one gently and it crumbled. This was a sigh of stressed, she began using a salve she made just for this. She massaged it in gently and Michele almost forgot he had asked a question.
'That is your title My Lord. Would you like me to call you something else?'
He wanted to yell yes, but what should she call him? He willed his stomach to calm down as he enjoyed his massage.
Michele found himself upset because he woke up and Abigail was not there. He focused on their telepathic link and knew that she was in the kitchen cooking for him. He smiled at the thought of her cooking only for him.
When she arrived with the food he spoke.
'I am going to hunt down the creatures that hurt my subordinate.' He frowned when she did not reply. But then he realized that she did not know what to call him.
For some reason he became enraged and began to shove food violently in his mouth. Abigail's eyes opened wide as she saw him fade from substance.
'I will be back in time for first breakfast.'
'Yes sir.'
She paused in the middle of turning on her heel to leave as she felt his intense anger. Through their link. She made a mental note not to say things from magazines.