Chapter 22: Clear chance to understand

Monare opened his eyes and saw the young miss emerge from the home, her short hair wrapped into a ponytail with a little band. She grinned at seeing Monare on top of the wall, her emerald eyes glimmering.

Her mother had the same eyes; her father gave her a slim frame that made her look like a boy at times. She exuded an aristocratic air that caused everyone who saw her to stop and marvel at her, the flower that flourished in the slums they all thought.

Monare took a breath and waved his hand at her, to which she reciprocated. Monare then carefully moved away from the wall and approached the house, bent with a hand on his stomach, and stated:

"Hello my lady, great morning we having today"

Flora pressed her small hand to her mouth to prevent herself from laughing as she continued:

"The morning has just begun, how can you tell that it is great?"

Monare responded without bowing:

"The sun is out, and the weather is neither hot nor cold. So, I look at those as fantastic signals of a nice start."

When a rumble was heard, the mood became awkward; Monare reddened slightly and held out his tummy, adding in embarrassment:

"Sorry for the intrusion from my lovely friend here," he said as he pointed to his stomach.

"I haven't eaten this morning my lady"

Flora raised her eyebrows and asked:

"So, what would you like?"

Monare was confused as he stated:

"My lady, only the cook, chef, or worker may ask such a question. Nobody of your caliber should ask such a question to a...

"Slave" interrupted Flora as she completed Monare's dialogue for him.

"Yes," Monare replied. "A slave can only ask that question not the master or their daughter"

Flora wanted to laugh, but she knew Monare wasn't in the mood to jest since she remembered the chat he had with her mother about the family's safety.

Flora awoke with the intention to help Monare and show him that she does not want to see him as a slave, therefore she had to ask that question before preparing him breakfast as he was about to leave for the fields.

So she asked again.

"What would you like for breakfast?"

Monare was perplexed; he was certain that she had discovered his genuine social standing. So why was she offering to make him breakfast? He shrugged and said,

"Bread is fine, and honey would be lovely if you had any. Also, hot water to go with it.

Flora then asked:

"Why the hot water, to drink?"

Monare answered.

"Yes to drink"

Flora then took a breather and returned to the house.

After approximately a minute, she reappeared with a wooden tray with a cut loaf of bread, a cup of golden viscous liquid, and a cup filled with steaming water. The scent was not enticing enough to make Monare's stomach rumble again, as he knew the bread had been cooked a long time ago.

But he didn't protest; he expected Flora to bring bread and nuts, which Monare had grown accustomed to eating since moving here. So he bowed to Flora in gratitude, but the preparation of his breakfast came with a condition:

"Can we talk while you eat please or I will take away the food?"

Monare grinned and continued:

"Sure come"

Monare nodded with his head, and Flora followed him to the small grass hill near the guard post that Quinn used to look after the farm. Monare ran into the hut and got some tree stomps formed into stools. Flora and Monare sat on them, overlooking the kraals, stable, corn, and veggies. Flora gave Monare the meal and added:

"So can you explain to me what you are to my family?"

Monare took a slice of the bread as he'd soaked it in honey and added:

"I'm a slave. "You still have no idea what we are?"

"Not really; my friends had a strange way of explaining who you are to their families." I heard dreadful and horrific things about your people, that you are prisoners who deserved to be put in their place after losing."

Monare took an additional bite and added:

"To children, we are losers; to adults, we are an abomination to keep as pets to show everyone. Pets that can communicate yet are not intellectual enough to compete on their level. Look at me, I'm still wearing animal skin garments, whereas you guys have magnificent linen clothing that can cover the entire body and garments for the feet that provide thorn-free mobility."

Flora paused for a bit and added in a mournful tone:

"So we took you from your homes and claimed your people as trophies didn't we?"

"Yes," Monare said, as he dipped the bread in honey again.

"We are nothing but trophies to display. Slaves are simply losers who work for the winner, much as in your children's games.

"Children's game, hey aren't a child as well?"

"No I just matured due to circumstance so I don't see myself as a child anymore"

Flora added:

"To be honest, I am still perplexed as to why my parents introduced you as a bodyguard rather than explaining who you are to us. I am aware that I have not yet developed because of my age. Did they not see that I would be taught this by someone who would shun your people for being different and label them barbarians? They should have taught me a lesson about the lives of the defeated and where they go?"

"You would, but they are still adults, and they sometimes want to shield their children from the harsh realities of this life. I wish I had someone to hide me from this fact when I was young, but I didn't have that privilege.

"And I have that luxury?" Flora asked.

"Yes" Monare added as he gazed at Flora with a sorrowful smile,

"Sometimes we think that adults are the obstacles to pass through to learn the truth about the world, but don't see them that way, Mrs. Flora. I regard them as vital persons to assist steer you towards the truth, one step at a time."

Flora added, smiling:

"I hope your right"

"Gosh, I'll be right," Monare said as he finished the loaf, licked the honey in the cup, drank the scorching water, and exhaled hot air.

Monare then asked:

"You know what; let's make this a thing we do sometimes"

"Really?" Flora inquired with gradual joy in her eyes.

Monare got up and added:

"We carry too much pain in our lives that needs to be released to move on, so if you and I have problems we come here with snacks of course and talk it out"

Flora stood up and walked away without responding, making Monare shrug in defeat as he descended the hill to work in the fields. He then heard a quiet voice from behind.

"I'll think about it more, just to be safe. A master's daughter cannot be found having a casual discussion with someone considered a pet, but I wish to breach the rules just for you."

Monare's eyes widened in surprise as a smile spread across his face; when he looked around, he watched the young lady depart and return to the house.

Monare descended with a thought running through his mind:

'Hera, what is your secret? Your treatment of me as a biological child rather than a slave makes me wonder a little'

Monare shrugged the question in his mind and finished his breakfast.