Reasons that is why

The staff flicked out and my brother blocked it. He moved but didn't return the attack yet. "Right, if any of the brothers had been caught yelling at one of their wives in the hallway you would have pulled them in here for a work out until they knew they had been in the wrong."

The staves struck each other two times while he talked but he didn't let it distract him. "Of course and if you remember the fight I said I had been wrong."

"I don't understand why, but I am sure what Isa tried to do was wrong. Why didn't it work though? From your expression she said the right words, does it not work on women?"

I increased my speed just a bit but my brother kept up, "The collars work better on women than men normally, and before you ask even though her collar hasn't set at all the commands would normally work."

My brother raised his eyebrows, "So you blocked it, why?"

In response to his question I dropped my staff right as he was going for my head. The staff touched my ear before he could halt the motion. I didn't flinch as I looked into the man's eyes, "Why did you stop, brother?"

"You are unarmed and not defending yourself." I nodded at the man and felt his confusion rise. Then his eyes widened just a bit, "The slave didn't defend her actions to you. She had her reasons for what she did, she did it and learned later that she should not have, but she didn't make an excuse to you or try and use her circumstances as a shield for her choices. Since she chose to be unarmed you unarmed her opponents. You like her already."

I shrugged, "She is strong, you cannot say I don't have a type." I leaned down and picked up the staff again as my brother backed off and settled into a ready stance again.

"I find it hard to believe that would be what you and your lady were fighting about in the entryway. I know the girls can get jealous but not of a slave."

"Speaking from experience, brother?"

The man shrugged and took a step, "I follow your lead, Alfa. My wives work out my nights and I just do as I am told. They are nicer then our sisters anyway. They have two of the slaves help them keep the room clean and do some other things, but they are loyal to the lord so I am not worried about it."

I faked him out and he failed to block a return swing but it only clipped him as he jumped out of the way. "They are not."

The brother frowned and tried to get me back but he was distracted and I stopped him easily. "Yes they are." He misunderstood me and took up a more serious stance. Well at least he trusted his wives. They probably were the most loyal people he had ever met after all.

I sighed, lowering my weapon a bit so that the man knew I wasn't fighting him on what he thought I had meant, "Maybe you should take some time and talk to them like they are brothers and not just fucks, brother. None of the women are loyal to THE lord, and you should know that by now."

The man shifted back but didn't lower his guard, "You always say that like it means something, the lord, our lord, what does it matter?"

I moved faster and my brother had to focus on defending himself for a few minutes, "There are two ways for you to understand, brother. You could ask your ladies tonight, or you could come to service sunday. If you want to find out more about the fight between me and mine you should try and get it out of your ladies, because this match is done." I moved quickly and pinned the brother to the mat, He tried to twist away but I held on, "You want to be an Alfa, brother, work for it."

I let him go, turning my back on him as he stood up. I put the staff back on the wall, "HeyZeus, you are asking questions which gets you halfway there, but remember, knowledge can get you killed just as surely as a blade can." I didn't look back as I left the gym.

He got up as I left, I felt better and more focused. I wasn't mad at Isa, I had been mad at myself she just called me on it. I walked up to the door of their room and knocked.

I raised an eyebrow as Vera answered the door. Apparently Isa had found her some clothes. She was very pretty, but so were Isa and Bella. The outfit Isa had given Vera was almost see through, it had long sleeves that draped from the sides of Vera shoulders. They were loose enough for Vera to move but tight enough not to get in her way while she worked. I wasn't sure how it was staying up at all. Her chest was almost bare just the sides covered by the almost see through robe, until you got to a belt at her waist, which held the robe closed from that point. The remainder of the robe raced down her legs to pool on the floor. How women don't trip on their clothes all the time still eludes me.

My eyes traveled back up to her collar, it wasn't covered and almost seemed an accessory to the robe. It was finally half set, I reached out to the collar without thinking. Vera didn't flinch from my hand. She waited for me to drop it back to my side before speaking though. "Sir, did you want something?"

"Sorry, yes. May I come in?"

Isa appeared over Vera's shoulder, "I don't know, are you still playing the part of an oafish brute?"

"Why does it hurt you so much to know that I can be just as short sighted and corruptible as the next man?"