“You stay in a nice ce?” I asked instead. “The bed is made like it was at home, Masters?”


    “Yes, it is a mice ce in that regard. Our furnishings are veryfortable,” Master Bane said looking


    at the other men for agreement, which they gave.


    “Do you clean it yourselves, Masters?” I asked, hoping they did not.


    “No, other men have that job,” Master Damien told me.


    “You have days off from your work, Masters?” I pushed.


    “Of course,” Master Bane said motioning. “We are here are we not?”


    “Do they pay you?” I asked next and held my breath for the answer.


    That was the crux of this argument and I wasn’t sure. I thought they must be, because Master Damien


    and his Brothers still seemed to have funds.


    ninjanovel


    Master Damien huffed and the other men made disgruntled sounds.


    “You seem to still have money, Masters. I assumed you must get something,” I pushed feeling my


    argument falling apart.


    “It is worthless,” Master Christof exined, “the shiny stones we use to trade are the cast off from what


    the women mine. They found we Liked it and would use it to barter with one another. It has no inherent


    use.


    “So they give it to you still, Master?” I asked.


    “Nu-reeh always gives it to us. Once she found we still wanted it, she brings us pieces regrly,”


    Master Kein said staring at the long rock walls beside us.


    “Then you are paid, Masters. You are servants or courtesans, you are not ves,” I said decisively.


    “It doesn’t matter,” Master Evan said. “We do not want to be there.”


    “Well, tough luck, Masters,” I blurted out, taking a breath I continued. “You are servants. You may not


    Like your job, but you must continue to do it well. It is dishonorable the way you are acting, Masters.”


    I felt the cool wind blow between the stone walls and for a moment I wanted it to take me away. My


    owners stood and faced me with mixed ‘looks of anger and shock.


    It was pure selfishness on my part. They protected me. Even more than that, I loved them and I wasn’t


    willing to lose them. They had to change their mindset. No going back now, I decided.


    “You are well paid for your services, even if Nu-reeh does not understand the value of what she gives


    you. To talk of rebellion when you are so finelypensated is dishonorable. Would it be better to be


    without a job and be worthless to your Mistress? I think not, Masters, I believe it is better to be like you


    are now,” I finished and held my breath.


    “It is better,” Master Damien said slowly, “to be a ve?”


    “They pay you, Master, you are not a ve,” I argued holding my ground.


    “They do not wish to pay us,” Bane said irritably, “Nu-reeh told us we would not need it, but we Liked


    the stones so much she continues to bring them.”


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    “Because you are not ves,” I told Bane, “you are servants. Servants can demand things like payment


    or days off, Masters.”