Chapter 30. Rebirth

I died.

Dam. I mean I did die protecting someone so I guess it wasn't a complete waste but I screwed up miserably. I mean who gets killed with dam invulnerability?

Bloody stupid of me. Should have just left them alone.

So what does the afterlife look like?

Well for starters I was no longer in a body, instead I was just a soul? Or something.

I was just a light within a vast emptiness. An empty mess that as I looked became more and more visible with things.

Above my soul the land from my farm existed and I could even make out Tarakona's giant dragon form. Zeldi was also running about but I felt her more than saw her. It was also interesting to know that my land wasn't a complete circle like I had originally thought, instead it held chunks that looked like broken off rocks around its edges. Kind of like country lines now that I think about it.

Beneath me was a long tube of silver light that went on for so long that I couldn't make out either end.

Was that the ley line? Because if so Zeldi was correct. A thin part of that silver line was being pulled from its path and sent through my soul before continuing up and dispersing through the land.

I really was connecting the ley line to the land.

Zeldi has chosen resurrection for the deed owner.

Rebuilding body please wait....

Done.

Sending body and consciousness back to farm.

The feeling of falling down the well again returned as I was pulled from whatever that place was and unceremoniously dumped against the hard ground with a thud.

Keep her happy deed owner. Few livestock have ever chosen resurrection for their owners.

That didn't seem to come from the system. Who the hell...

I couldn't get that thought out before Tarakona's mind voice interrupted.

[Zeldi I have found him! He's by the edge near the big tree!]

I pulled myself into a sitting position, I was thankful for the pants I was wearing. They seemed to be the same ones that Helayt bought me so whatever resurrected me didn't get ride of my only item of clothing.

"Master!" I could hear Zeldi yell from far away.

Turning to find her was easy as she was underneath Tarakona's bulk galloping as fast as she could towards me. However due to certain size issues she was having to hold her breasts in place as she ran.

It was also very much morning or mid afternoon by the position of the sun, so I must have been dead for a while.

I rose to my feet anchoring myself as it didn't look like she was slowing down.

"Master! You're alive!" Zeldi cried out just before running into me and taking us both off our feet and onto the ground.

I let out a gasp as I hit the ground, the gentlemanly part of me making sure to take as much of the grounds impact as I could so Zeldi didn't have to even though neither of us would have been injured.

"Stupid, stupid Master." My little mare growled as she alternated between trying to hug me and raining fists into my stomach.

"Sorry about that." I tried to say as a way of pacifying her.

"You're sorry? Master you died. Like really died. The farm told me and then gave me the choice to bring you back." She cried out.

I raised my hand and patted her head. "Thank you for that."

Zeldi cooed and pushed herself against my hand affectionately. "Of course I would bring you back Master that shouldn't even be a question. After all who else will be the father of my fouls?"

I chuckled. "A task I will gladly take on in the future."

Zeldi's ears twitched and the way her body shook made me question her. "Zeldi. You, I mean we didn't do it when you were fertile, right?"

"That is what I said yes back then." She said back unconvincingly.

"Zeldi."

"Oh Master I forgot to mention. Tilty is waiting for you at the gate. Sounds important, you should go there like, right now." Zeldi got off me and made a dash away like she was trying to run away from her responsibilities.

I just shook my head. If she really was pregnant there was nothing more I could do about it right now, though I was going to force her to tell me later.

Tarakona stood above me having been patiently waiting.

"Any chance you can smell if Zeldi is pregnant?" I asked.

Tarakona's nose flared.

[If she is it is too early for me to tell. Would you like me to keep an eye on her?]

"Yes please."

[Are you against children Master Clovek?]

I was getting use to the master name. Still made me want to do certain things every time I heard it but getting there.

"I'm against raising children I can't provide for. My hope was that we could get this farm to a livable condition then have kids but if Zeldi has ignored me then I just have to work harder." I answered while waving my hands at the barn and empty land.

I started to make my way towards the front gate as Tarakona thought about what I'd said. She didn't really have to walk beside me as a single step her her was the equivalent of about thirty of my own.

[I see. That is good to know.]

"Want children yourself then?" I asked looking up at her.

[I have always wanted hatchlings Master Clovek. But the chance of abandoning them to join a farm as the feeling grew was too much of a risk. It is good to know you are happy to provide.]

She let out a small laugh that blew frost flakes into the air.

[Don't be too alarmed my dear Master. While I have never bedded a male of any species before I am still well into my adult life, and have many more cycles to produce both eggs and hatchlings for you.]

I wanted to ask more about that but I could see Tilty now and really didn't want her to know anything. So I shelved the thought of dragon hatchlings and a potential MILF dragon currently not so subtly hinting that I should do something about her condition. Can you consider someone a MILF if they've never had kids?

Tilty stood up a little straighter as I approached and even the snake man besides her seemed to cower as Tarakona stood behind me. I was definitely enjoying the addition support on my side and the reaction it has on others.

Zeldi was off to the side hiding behind Tarakona's tail. I wasn't going to force her to come closer especially when I noticed the five heads positioned on the ground in front of the fawn all on spikes.

"Tilty." I grunted out a greeting. "Please tell me you are not here to try and buy Zeldi again."

Tilty swallowed audibly as Tarakona stared down at her.

"No." She managed to get out without flinching. "I have decided to change tactics."

"Oh?"

"I have gathered the hunters that were harassing you last night." Tilty said pointing at the heads lying at her feet.

Or hooves? She didn't really have feet but the weren't the same as Zeldi's either. Kinda wish I knew more about deer or whatever animal she shared similarities with.

Tarakona gave the heads a sniff from as close as she could get.

[These are indeed the dragon hunters that have been following me.]

I let out a hum to signal I heard her before addressing Tilty. "Okay you have my attention but know it won't be for long."

"I would like for you to buy me."

Zeldi squeaked and came forward while Tarakona let out a confused sound.

"Buy her. What does she mean?" My mare asked looking between the fawn and myself.

I stayed quiet about that. I was still within the time frame for the deed owners deal.

"What happens if someone breaks a deed owners deal?" I asked instead.

"They lose the ability to ever make deals in the future and it becomes known when they brake it instantly by the other party." Tilty answered my question before she turned to Zeldi. "I am a livestock Zeldi. Originally gaining you would have saved me from this fate but Clovek has made that impossible."

[What does she mean Master?]

"I have been sworn to secrecy." I said to both Tarakona and Zeldi as an answer.

"That's what you were referring to when you said you would tell me later Master." Zeldi finally put the pieces together. "But if you were a livestock Tilty why not just tell me?"

"That's the million dollar question isn't it?" I whispered more to myself.

"I couldn't let it get out. My life would be over if it did. Is over now." Tilty corrected.

[I'm missing something?]

"I'll explain later." I said to Tarakona. Now wasn't the time to go over all of Tilty's crimes.

"I want to apologize for everything..."

"YOU DON'T GET TO!" Zeldi screamed at Tilty taking us all by surprise. "You think that after these last four years we'll just forgive you? That I'll forget everything you have done like it never happened? What you did to me!"

I was honestly a little shocked. Was it deserved? Yes, but Zeldi wasn't holding back.

Tilty hung her head. "Zeldi please. I can't...."

"CAN'T WHAT! Can't live like a livestock? Can't sit there on some land you may never leave being pestered by someone that only cares about what you can do for them not who you are?! To be used as a fucking breeding hole by whoever the farmer wants? Or was it the fact you are a Baron's daughter? Think that makes you better than every other livestock out there?"

I didn't even need to say anything. This made my conversation with her seem tame.

"Well? Better start talking you waste of a good pussy."

That one made me turn to her. Maybe Zeldi was a little more on the bisexual side than I thought. Not the time Clovek.

"I know." Tilty sighed to the ground. "I know I have nothing to offer or deserve any kind of redemption but... I'm desperate Zeldi. The man who will take over my farm..."

"Will use you like a common whore." Zeldi finished. "Think your father finally found a use for you since he can't marry you off?"

That one seemed to hurt the fawn as she bit back a sob. "Zeldi please."

"Oh because you expect me to have sympathy? I think I remember you threatening me with a nest of goblins that could use me however they wanted to so long as I was pregnant when they finished." Zeldi spat. "No you deserve everything that's coming for you and just because I found some happiness doesn't mean you can take it as well."

Zeldi didn't bother waiting for a reply and marched off on a huff that looked so adorable I almost lost my composer.

"If I may." The snake man offered. "We owe Mistress Tilty a great deal. Would there be anything we can offer for you to accept her?"

"Not unless you can rebuild the barn and build us a house that can fit Zeldi comfortably. Oh and a shelter for Tarakona." I said as a joke.

"Possible. Time would be needed and if memory serves more than Mistress Tilty has. Could we build those items after she is accepted?" The snake man asked while bowing his head.

I wanted to say no but I hesitated. It could be worth it. Well if Zeldi was okay with Tilty being here... Maybe I could persuade her if she is the one punishing her?

There was no way Tilty would live in luxury here and she knew that. Made me wonder what her other option was if she was willingly asking us.

[Master? Why are you hesitant? Wouldn't this be exactly what we need? A house and another producer?]

I looked back at Zeldi who had returned to hiding behind Tarakona's back legs.

"Difficult to explain sorry Tarakona. I don't think it would be worth it for Zeldi." I shrugged then answered the snake man. "If you don't mind waiting I need to discuss this with my producers."

"Asssss you wish."