Confused and scared I was presented to Khenti, the only brown hyena in the Royal Guard. My Queen had grown tired of me services and like others before me was to serve a man I had previously only seen in passing. All I knew of him was that he was the adopted son of the Captain, not very outspoken and admittedly quite handsome. My head was always lowered when passing him on the palace grounds, as I did not want to be seen staring at him. Occasionally he greeted me in polite passing. Out of loyalty, he always did the King and Queen bidding with little argument. It was out of this loyalty the Queen had favored him with me to serve him. I do not know what it will be like to be in serve to him and my heart was filled with dread and apprehension.

My younger sister had been given away to a Prince in a far off land not more than six months ago. She left with the same expression I had now as I looked at the man I now serve. Not knowing how my sister fared, my imagination lead down into darkness and wondered what my fate might be. Will I be held in a position of respect or just be used as one of his bed time play things producing any number of pups to be his future workforce. At best I could hope for would be to serve him well and earn my freedom. It wasn’t common to be awarded freedom as good help can be difficult to find.

As I stared into his eyes, he stared back into mine, an expression of loving concern and confusion racing across his muzzle as he held onto the rope around my neck. I gazed into his clear blue eyes, noticing the concern he had in them before he finally said something.

“Adara,” he said, in a shy, wavering tone, “Please don’t be frightened. You're in no danger.” Khenti paused, his free paw moving to scratch the back of his head, “I didn’t ask the Queen to give you to me. She learned that I favored you.” A small bit of dark gray popped up on his cheek in embarrassment, “Occasionally I would see you looking my way, when I was admiring you. I hope you will feel right at home in your new household and you can have the run of it. I am not good with domestic life.”

My heart relaxed and settled quickly for my new owner. There was always something compassionate about this man in his obedient way. “I apologize for saying so little to you over the years. Proper decorum prevented me from saying much. You were their property, and I was afraid if I spoke to you, I would upset some palace unspoken rule.” His cheeks were so dark gray now that they looked almost black, “I know, the Royal Guards can do whatever they want, but that is not always exactly the case. It’s ridiculous the amount of stuff we can’t do without getting orders first. In a away we are more alike then you think.” Khenti’s big chest heaved up and down as he started to move back to me as I sat on my legs, “I adore you, and I have for a long time. The Queen coaxed it out of me in front of her husband and your mother. She asked me if I wanted you, and I am sworn to tell the truth; I did want you. I mean, I do want you. They decided to give you to me, all three of them.” The muscular brown hyena stared into my eyes as I sat on my knees. He reached down to take my hands, “I plan to free you, and I hope you will honor this gift by staying with me because it is in your will to do so.”

I blinked at him. This is not how things generally worked. To be given your freedom is a great honor. It is earned by years of service and not granted on a mere whim. Having a servant is a measurement of power and not a thing to be dispense with so readily. To hear the man before me wish to grant my freedom in exchange for my willingness to stay with him says more about his character than I could ever hoped to be blessed with. He was going to set me free. He wants me to willingly stay with him. He wanted me by his side. He truly wanted ME. It was not the first time I had ever heard a male say that to me. Many of the guards would say that when I walked passed them, and I knew exactly what they meant. They had no interest in keeping me longer than what they needed to satisfy their needs, and when they were done, they would cast me aside like a goblet of cheap wine. But this, this was the first time anyone had said it and meant it. It was charming and confusing.

He looked at me, finally bringing up the courage to speak once more. “I know you think I am crazy, Adara, but I do very much adore you. I have heard you speak and sing when you bring back the laundry from the river. .I have seen you work hard and know your are a dedicated worker. I seen you play and tease the others around you, making a room just come to life. I have caught you reading, but I never said anything. I am not sure who educated you as not many servants are blessed with that knowledge. You are a bright, intelligent woman. You deserve more than the life of a slave. I only wish I could offer you more than being the companion of a Lieutenant in the Guards, that is, if you will have me. I hope instead of a master, you could think of me as a potential husband. I want you to choose me, not be forced onto me.”

Speechless, I could say nothing but stare blanky at my paws. I knew didn’t want to marry him, not this quickly. but to be offered a chance to be married rather then owned made my heart leap for joy. I stared back into Khenti’s eyes. “Master,” I started to speak, but he hushed me.

“No, not master. Khenti. That is my name. I don’t want you to call me ‘Master’.”

I nodded, “Khenti, I know you have the power to do with me as you wish, and yet you offer me every slaves dream, my freedom. I do not want to rush into marriage to you, but please take me to your household and let me see what my new life will be like. Let us know one another fully first.”

He stared into my eyes, a small bit of pain running through them, but he consented. “Yes. I suppose I should give you time to get to know me and my ways. I trust you will let me know your decision when the time is right.” He paused for a brief second, “When we get to my villa, you are freed. All I ask is that you stay with me because you want to. Otherwise you are free to run away as far as possible if that is what you want. My home is your home.”

I nodded in return, “Your home is my home.”

Finally, I stood up, my paws in his paw. I knew it was time for us to go, for me to leave my old life and set out into the unknown with this man who unselfishly granted my freedom.

Art by  betsy
Story by me and  hollyfox