Chapter 77. Dríade’s deal

"I was distracted. What did I miss?" I asked trying to understand how we'd gone from trying to get rid of Dríade to offering her a place. Granted Zeldi was easily persuaded but even this was a stretch.

"Because she can leave the property if she was bound as her tree is the only thing that needs to stay." Zeldi answered pointing at said tree.

Even Voras seemed confused by that. "I'm lost. I don't want Dríade to be pushed away but could you please explain your reasoning a bit more?"

"We lack a method to trade in town and Tarakona and I refuse to let Master travel there alone. If Dríade stays she can be a mobile trader for us while also advertising our wears so more people come to us." Zeldi answered before pointing at the tree again. "She would also have every reason to make this place safe if her tree was here permanently."

[This would be beneficial as once she becomes a livestock here her tree can be planted in her personal room. With it not on the farm it is both safe from others but also sister Zeldi is safe from accidently touching it.]

Voras straightened. "And if it were that safe she could also give Clovek her fruit."

Dríade looked taken aback. "And why would I help him?"

"Because if you don't, Tarakona here is going to dig up your tree and throw it somewhere in that direction." Zeldi said waving her hand behind her without even looking. "I'm sure those hunting you will find it easily if the Kobolds don't first."

[But you will be banned from actually giving him any fruit in the first place for now.]

That confused me. "Why would she be banned from that? My inventory should tell me if anything is poisonous."

[Because Voras didn't control part of your resurrections until she had given you her silk. If Dríade doesn't give you any of her fruit she won't be part of that deal.]

Ah that makes sense. Wait does it really work like that?

I believe so. The Dragon is correct about the Spider though the methods of my creation and the rules I must follow are a bit blurry.

And let me guess. More quests means more clarity?

You are learning.

Great. Thanks.

[So that is your choice Dríade. Bond with him now or I will remove your tree forcefully.]

"That's not much of a choice. What happens if I pick neither?" The Dryad challenged.

[I will destroy your tree instead of removing it.]

There was an audible sigh in our minds from Tarakona as she turned so that her whole face was directly in front of Dríade.

[You came here for protection. We are offering it for a price. That price is you travel to the nearby town and trade every few days, other than that so long as you don't endanger anyone here you are free to do as you wish. Now decide quickly as I am running out of patience for this childish squabble.]

Dríade glared at me like I had personally insulted her but I just shrugged. "You can leave. No one's stopping you."

She spluttered trying to think of something and when she couldn't she turned her glare to Voras.

The Spider woman glared back. "And what do you expect me to do about this? Because I sure as hell am not going to put myself on their bad side when I'm in the process of trying to join their family and I sure as hell am not fighting a Dragon for your sorry ass."

A blush crept into her cheeks but Voras refused to look away from Dríade as if that would mean no one noticed.

Dríade growled under her breath before looking directly at me. "Fine then mister human. You want a Dryad Livestock you have one! But don't think I'll be as easy to please as Dancing Unicorn Vomit."

Livestock Dríade is requesting to be bound to your land.

Dríade (Dryad)

Status: Annoyed and scared

Position: Free

Product: Fruit (F-)

Harvestable: Yes

I selected yes and no sooner Dríade's tree disappeared causing the roof of the bathroom to cave in. Dríade's body also fell to the ground as if it was a puppet with its strings cut.

"So yay? We have another Livestock." I said unsure how this was supposed to work.

Voras picked up Dríade's body and shook it getting no response. "It could be a good thing but I believe she will do the bare necessity to keep her safety here and nothing more."

[Reminds me of someone.]

Voras sighed and threw the body into the house and left it here. "Okay yes you have me there and I promise I will do more when I can. That being said it's better for all of us if I finish my quest first then start giving Clovek my silk."

"Agreed." Zeldi jumped in as she looped her arm in my own. "While you get to work on that I need to be milked so that we have a stockpile for when we make Dríade go to town. Care to join Tarakona?"

[With pleasure sister Zeldi.]

Voras watched us leave and I swear I saw a bit of yearning cross her face but it was gone before I could confirm.

Tarakona transformed as we got close to the house and we all piled in, making our way over to the pit to get comfortable. Zeldi popped into her room to get the new jugs as well.

[Master you seem oddly quite through all of that. Do you have any objections to what happened?]

Tarakona lay in the pit as she had made a small section for herself out of the extra pillows and blankets we'd purchased.

"No I don't have any objections I'm just... Confused I guess." I answered just as Zeldi came back.

My little mare immediately set about getting comfortable and stripping out of her top. She did lie down on her belly so she may not want her back teats milked today.

[Then may I ask what confuses you?]

Zeldi's ears perked up and she froze halfway through stripping.

"I think it's the whole Deeds and Livestock thing in general. Like the Deeds are really strong. I get invincibility, I don't age and then everything else that I've gained from completing quests. And I've been able to get these things because I've helped Zeldi mainly and you to some extent Tarakona. So why is it that anytime another Deed owner is mentioned it's always in the context of them being a monster? It doesn't make sense to me."

"That's an easy answer." Zeldi said resuming her stripping. "Because those that get Deeds are given their first quest to get a Livestock. Most try to do it by force or buy them from the market. Remember we must join a Deed willingly."

"That still doesn't explain why they don't treat you guys with some respect. I mean this in the nicest way but I get so much more from you both by treating you like human beings. Well like living thinking beings." I corrected myself as I looked at Zeldi's lower half.

[There can be multiple reasons for this. The primary one is species-isem. Most species are compatible with each other like humans and elves and to some extent the beast-foke, but without the blessing of the land you would not be compatible with Zeldi. Then there is children themselves. This one's a little different as most species, while they can mate with each other are incapable of conceving a child. The land allows you to bypass this but most species would be turned off by another of her stature, add on any social indoctrination and if you had friends that suddenly started to shame you because your Livestock is now pregnant and you have a recipe for treating them like, well animals.]

"That still doesn't explain Voras's situation." I hummed thinking it all through. Voras had a very different situation there. "So everyone's just species-est then? That's why Livestock are treated badly? What about if the Deed owner is female?"

"Social clout and freedom." Zeldi answered grabbing my hands and putting them on her chest in a silent request to start milking. "Tilty's family has been in charge of this land for quite a while and if they had known there was a deed both where she had her's and this one here, her great grandfather would probably still be alive now as it's owner. You said it yourself, you are immortal to a point so as a Baron what's more important. The single farm or your whole land?"

"My immortality is from you guys though." I counted.

Zeldi cooed as I began to massage her boobs as Tarakona came with an answer.

[And before you died did you know that?]

I momentarily stopped as I thought about it. The first time I'd died I had only heard Tilty's guard mention it. Only after it had happened did I know they controlled if I came back.

"No. I didn't."

Tarakona hummed.

[I believe that it isn't common knowledge as until Voras killed you I was unaware of that fact as well.]

"So people just believe their immortal and don't question it?" I asked. Zeldi's nipple began to leak so I held a jug up for her to hold.

"You didn't." Zeldi countered.

I hesitated with my answer before nodding my agreement. "Okay so the Deeds themselves are what everyone wants so they just put up with the Livestock as a byproduct?"

There seemed to be a bit of a discrepancy between all of this. That being said if I cared enough I could go ask Tilty or Voras their thoughts but I felt like they would be different. It seemed no one had a good reason only that it was the outcome.

"When you put it like that..." Zeldi drew out her ears going flat. "I don't know. My village knew nothing of Deeds or Livestock and they all treated me right so maybe?"

[I think the original purpose of both have been lost to the generations. I'm sure there are some out there hidden that act in the way they should and Voras herself has contributed towards giving other Livestock control. Then again the known ones are the problematic ones.]

I gave another nod to Tarakona as I lost myself in thought.

Even if Tarakona was wrong and there were no safe havens out there I'd still like to offer some hope to other Livestock. Some hope that not everyone was bad.

The conditions for Trespassing came to mind.

Even if they don't want to bond themselves they can still come here. I don't think any of he girls will mind so long as they're not a threat in some way.