"Yours Is An Unusual Situation"

"Status?" Changying asked taken aback by his answer. No locks on the doors, no threats of what the consequences might be if she decided to come and go as she pleased, it felt like she was checking herself into rehab only she didn't have an addiction. She had expected a prison in her wild imaginings and while this place looked the part she wasn't as sure about it being that way now.

"Let me see if I can explain in terms you would understand," Francesco said condescendingly and seemed to think about the word. "Imagine a middle-class woman from an average family with a drug dependency who comes here to get clean and offer a year of service to the Twelve as a Kept. She is smart, attractive and understands she had choices. A woman like that has a higher status than say a drug addicted prostitute who accidently overdosed and has very few options to have a better life, who may take the opportunity to come here and get clean and give a year of their life in servitude as a Kept. She is not clever or attractive after years of abusing her body and mind. One woman would make an attractive, intelligent companion to spend time with, the other a warm and welcoming body to lay with only. There is a different expectation on both of these women, and they are given a different status accordingly. Those that come of their volition and ask for the opportunity to serve have a different expectation and status again as do family members who are here to rehabilitate or to heal."

"How does that work for Me?" Changying asked. "I came here of my own free will but were it not for my intention to marry a family member I would not have come. I have no wish to enter a life of servitude to anyone but my future husband."

"Yours is an unusual situation to be sure, but I believe we will lean towards the idea that you have come here for the opportunities that we offer you within all the Twelve Tables not just your preferred Donati Table," Francesco said with an edge of uncertainty to his voice. "You should expect to be treated as an intelligent and loyal companion. Though the proof of those traits has yet to be seen." He seemed to have ignored her mention of marrying Wang.

"That makes me sound like a dog," Changying laughed. "Dogs are often described as intelligent and loyal," she explained as he frowned at her. In truth she had died a little inside at the description, he obviously did not find her the least bit attractive, or he would have used the same words he had in his explanation of status.

"As I said you have yet to prove those traits, as yet whether you have the value of a loyal hound or anything else remains to be seen," his tone turned hard, and he looked over her shoulder. She turned noting the other two men had arrived in the dining hall.

"I have one last question," Changying said turning back to Francesco. "When may I see the library?"

"You may see it now," Francesco led the way to one of the side doors midway along the right-hand side wall.

Followed by the other men, Changying walked with Francesco through the door and down a short corridor to a room that obviously ran behind the kitchen and took up the other half of the building. She was overawed by its immenseness but was grateful to find a computer system available to help her search for what she wanted.

"May I?" she asked indicating the computer that was displaying a search screen. Francesco nodded then seeing her take a seat he and the other men all took a seat at one of the long tables that ran down the centre of the room.

"Excuse me for interrupting," Changying lowered her head as she had seen them do with the commander as a mark of respect. "I was wondering if I can request a few books from the Athenaeum?" She paused as they all stared at her wide-eyed as if she had grown two heads. "It's just that I would very much like to read about the origins of the Battaglia Table and the warrior nobles who sat at it and those books seem to be in the other library."

"Show me your search," Nero said rising. "To his knowledge, no one had ever inquired about a book that was held in the Commanders personal collection, and he was interested in what the girl had found.

"I will see the commander about your request until then you might start with these books," he typed rapidly bringing up a list of books. "They will give you insight into the location and era of our earliest forbearers."

"Thank you," Changying jotted down some of the numbers and went in search of the books and Nero went back to the table.

"I don't believe she will have any problems with an intelligence test," he said taking his seat.

"That's a shame the dumb ones are always easier to break. She's a bit awkward looking too," Francesco followed her as she climbed a ladder to seek out the books she was after. "I was expecting another Donati Princess like the one we got in a few weeks ago. This one doesn't look or act the part."

"I can see the appeal of a woman with curves," Nero said absently. "Besides, we only have to teach her the basics. It's two weeks. No one expects miracles."

"I do," Marco said quietly. "What we do here during these two weeks can make or break our reputations. No one has ever done this before, and it's tricky. She's not a naughty girl who did the wrong thing and were being sent here as punishment by her father. Neither is she some misguided masochist who has a fantasy idea of what slavery is about or a frightened girl looking to escape all her problems in the anonymity we offer. The Donati love her, and she's doing this because the Twelve have demanded it from her because she's an outsider not because she chose to come here. If we go too easy we risk our reputations if we go to hard we risk retribution. It's not going to be an easy thing we do." He reiterated.

"There are three of us because we each have specific skills but also to counterbalance each other. To be sure we find the right medium it is important we constantly check-in with each other and report to the commander. I suggest evening meetings after she has gone to her cell for the night," Nero said.

"Yeah alright, that way we can update the schedule as needed but you both should remember this is supposed to be intensive training. I won't be going lightly and tip-toeing my way around this girl," Francesco agreed to meet each evening, despite the frown he got from his companions. "I'll let her poke around here and take her books back to her cell. She can have a little downtime, and I'll meet you in the dining room for lunch, and you can take her from there," He said to Nero.

"Sure, then Marco can have the afternoon session after tea," Nero nodded and got to his feet.