Side story Zeldi

Zeldi watched the two Dragons fly off without a hint of jealousy. If anything she was hoping Tarakona was fertile right now so that her child would have a sibling to grow up with.

Oh that would be a statement when she visited her family again.

"Hey mother Helayt so I did what you asked and got a herd for myself, just one thing their not all Centaurs."

She could almost picture her family's faces as they had to look up at Tarakona. Her birth mother might even faint.

Mother Helayt however would be proud. She valued the protection of her herd above everything else so having a Dragon would be a blessing to her. Zeldi would not be mentioning Clovek being killed however. That wouldn't go down well.

Her father... Might be happy. She couldn't tell with him sometimes but he at least wouldn't refuse them. Not like he had a choice.

There was just one problem. Her family would not approve of her indecisiveness around Tilty. They would hold her to Centaur traditions and have her banished for her crimes. That would be no different to selling her back to Dallas as the Deed owner would probably force her to be his livestock in similar methods that she would have used on Zeldi herself.

While poetic, Clovek had gone through all the trouble of getting Tilty on his farm so that Zeldi could punish her personally. Selling the Fawn on just seemed like a waste.

Zeldi ummed and aaahed as she went inside to pick up her Masters duel ended spear. It felt heavy in her hands largely because it was made for a stallion to use but that wouldn't stop her from trying.

She caught Dríade watching her from a tree as she made her way back outside and in Tilty's direction, and as she did a plan started to form in her mind. It wasn't perfect but it would do.

The Fawn was still hanging upside down in Voras's silk but easily heard Zeldi's hoof steps as she approached.

"Come to gloat?"

"No." Zeldi responded aiming the spear and cutting Tilty down but not releasing her from the web. "I've come to make a decision about you."

The Fawn hit the ground hard enough that one of her antlers broke.

Zeldi jumped in surprise because she should have been invincible as they all were.

"It's my resource. They grow and fall out, sometimes they break." Tilty gave as an explanation. "And before you ask no it doesn't hurt."

"And why would I care about that?"

"Because you're too kind for your own good." Tilty said wriggling so that she could look at Zeldi.

Zeldi let out a sigh. Kindness was a vertue she knew that and it was how her mothers had raised her. Now though? She wished she could embody any of the other girls currently bonded to Clovek. They would all be able to punish Tilty in a way she deserves.

Zeldi however couldn't bring herself to do anything like that. Her worst punishment she could think of was making her into a breeding servant but even then she stopped herself because it was just unfairly bringing more creatures into the world that didn't deserve what was happening to Tilty.

Instead she would do it her way.

"Well let's see if you want my kindness because I have a choice for you." Zeldi tried to bring herself up tall. She hoped this made her look more confident in herself.

From the way Tilty looked at her she knew the mare was shaking internally.

"Your first option is we sell you back to Dallas." Zeldi said and was immediately met with Tilty shaking her head.

"I'll take the second option. I don't care what it is."

Zeldi smiled at that. "Then all you have to do is become a proper Livestock to my Master. No being coy or hesitant. I mean doing whatever is needed and providing him with your antlers."

"How?" Tilty had managed to get herself up against a tree so she was somewhat sitting down looking at Zeldi. "I can't leave remember? And even if I could I drank a suppressant to stop my whole Livestock issues."

"And that is your problem. I'm sure you have noticed the new Dryad. She is a Alchemist. Get her to reverse whatever you originally used to stop your antlers from growing. Remember if you don't we will be selling you." Zeldi answered with cold calculation.

Every part of her disliked this except for the memories of the past four years.

"Whatever items are required you must also source yourself. I will not have you draining our limited supplies for this." Zeldi added.

"But how am I supposed to do that? It's not like I can leave?" Tilty complained, the fear of Dallas clear in her eyes.

"Your loyal Lamia. They have yet to build the barn so make them do that instead. If that doesn't work then call in some favors, if you have any." Zeldi answered as she began to cut Tilty out of her threaded bindings.

"They have been trying to get the supplies for the barn, it's just they keep running into problems with the Kobolds stealing everything." Tilty tried to find an excuse but Zeldi just laughed.

"Tell me. Who's fault is it that they knew about me in the first place? Because if they were never told they wouldn't be here to cause problems."

Tilty remained quiet so Zeldi continued.

"That's my punishment for you. If you don't do it exactly right then you will be Dallas's problem not ours. If you feel I'm being to mean then get one of the other Livestock here to back you up."

With the Fawn now released Zeldi picked herself up and left before her composer broke.

She made it out of the treeline before she broke out in a cold sweat.

She'd done it.

She had made a decision and followed it through. None of this hesitation she had been going through ever since Tilty had arrived. For once Zeldi had acted like a head mare.

Completely at odds with what she'd just done Zeldi broke into a silent happy dance to celebrate only stopping when a twig snapped close to her.

Dríade looked like she'd been caught in front of some headlights. "I thought I was being quiet."

Zeldi froze mid dance as her mind seemed to stop then reset. With a cough she returned to walking as if she hadn't just been spotted and was trying to hide the embarrassment that was running through her face.

"Hey. I wanted to say something to you." The Dryad called out running to catch up with the Centaur.

"And what is that? Going to say I should have done something different?" Zeldi asked over her shoulder but didn't slow down.

"No. Well yes but I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I really didn't know you were pregnant and was just protecting my tree." Dríade gasped. Her body wasn't designed to keep pace with a Centaur's trot even when she was flying.

"You didn't try to feed me so I understand." Zeldi said slowing down only now that she could feel her embarrassment fading.

"Good. Good." Dríade breathed a sigh of relief. "With that over are you sure about the Fawn? I mean Voras has said she did some nasty things to you?"

Zeldi stopped and Dríade did as well, thankful that she no longer had to move at that pace.

"Everything she did, she did so to avoid the fate of becoming a Livestock. I think it's quite fitting that she now has to act like one of she wishes to continue her life. And if that's not a good reason then I'm just thinking about the future." Zeldi tried to hold her head up high again. Hoping it pushed what she was saying to be more believable.

"How does that mean you're thinking about the future? I'd have thought strapping her to some type of torture device would have been more fitting." The Dryad argued, flapping her wings as if that helped her point.

"Because I'm pregnant." Zeldi reasoned looking down at Dríade. "And I refuse to have my child raised in a way that makes them think that's acceptable. I know she deserves worse but this is what I've decided because if I don't I will set a bad precedent."

"You could just stop once the child is born. You don't need to be this nice now." Dríade tried to defend her point but Zeldi just let out a single chuckle.

"True and while I did think of that the main reason for my decision was that Master needs his Farm Points or whatever he sells our products for. Between Voras and myself we gather a decent amount but with Tarakona hopefully getting impregnated as we speak we need more." Zeldi's hands went her her equine belly. "The house and now the automatic butcher. There's so much he can do with it but we've always been the limiting factor. If I make her start producing for him now it will be better for the future."

"I can't tell if I agree or not with that." Dríade grumbled. "It seems like she's getting of easy."

"Perhaps she is and I'm okay with that. I have a future to look at right now and the only way I can see it being the best it can be is if I let go of the past. Then again if I feel she's not pulling her weight we can always sell her. I may be opposed to it for other Livestock but I can make an exception for her." Zeldi visibly relaxed.

"I could offer my fruit if that helps?" Dríade offered, her own thoughts going back to what Voras had said.

"I don't trust you to bring him back." Zeldi stated with a certainty that surprised the Dryad. "So if you have some, sell them in town when you go."

Dríade was at a loss. She couldn't predict Zeldi at all. One moment she was being nice the next she flipped around completely.

"But what about Tilty? Do you trust her?"

"I trust she knows what's best for herself. If she chooses not to bring Master back? Her life is forfeit. By my hand or Tarakona's."

Zeldi trotted past Dríade as the Dryad blinked in confusion.

Zeldi hadn't just ment that Tilty would be killed. She intended to remove anyone that sided against her and her Masters revival.

Again the Dryad was at a loss. She just didn't understand the Centaur at all.