The pack of servants had been quite busy moving their supplies into the cavern, and now there were some housekeeping tasks that needed to be done before the sunlight stopped filtering through the cavern mouth. Lighting needed to be set up as quickly as possible, and for the evening they could start delegating the work of setting up the stalls to be filled with wares. Some of the warriors were already out searching for the materials to pen up the less subservient of their captives, which left the bulk of that work for later. The dim light was proving to be an issue already, though he wouldn't show it. If Augustus found him lacking, there would no doubt be a swift blow to follow. Half blind in the shadows of the cavern, the ebony male narrowed his eyes as he sought out the ideal candidate for the task at hand. Among the harried forms that moved through the dappled sunlight near the mouth of the cavern, a flash of colour managed to slide across the view of his good eye. "Miss Idalia, a moment of your time?" he called out, tracking her movement through the opening and out of the mid-afternoon sunlight. He expected her to join him promptly, once she had finished the task at hand. Augustus had ventured off, leaving the dirty work of organizing slaves and cutting up the cave into stalls to his capable servant. This meant that it wasn't as great of a risk when he lowered his slim rump to the stone floor and elegantly curled his tail around his paws. "speech" STEP IN LINE, EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE

Hearing her name sent a dull jolt through a system so accustomed to adrenaline, she barely felt it any more. She raised her eyes from the box she carried, to the feet of the one that had spoken it. Absinthe was strict, but practical. In her current life, she would describe him as kind. He had never laid a hand upon her, nor chased her in the night. But he had helped pick her up and put her to her bed after they had ravished her. Thus he had shown her the greatest kindnesses since she had first be given into service.

She hurriedly put her box down in its assigned place, picking up wearied paws to dart in the direction he had ventured. It wasn't hard to find him, and she dipped her head to him. He was not a Master, but he was not exactly a slave either. He was some some sort of middle ground, a servant. "How can I be of service, Sir?" She asked in tones that should have been gentle and honeyed, but instead were a little raspy and very soft. She kept her head lowered, and her body language servantile. She had learned her lessons well.

Sure enough, Idalia was quick to answer his call. She scurried over on harried paws, gaze lowered respectfully. There was a deep rooted part of him that was pleased by her subservience, the girl's awareness of her place in the world. However, he had seen the harrowing life she led as a slave among these men. They abused her wantonly, and readily hunted her through the hold of the ship while they travelled in search of entertainment. No one deserved to suffer that much, least of all a servant. Their place was supportive, with days spent tending to chores and caring for their masters. Torn and bloodied, they would be useless in this role. "How can I be of service, Sir?" she asked in a soft voice that signalled her desperate need for a drink. He sighed softly, knowing full well he couldn't work her while she was in a sorry state. If she collapsed or messed something up it would be taken out on his hide first. "Come with me." he instructed coolly, rising to his paws again and leading her towards the dark corner of the cavern where he could hear the faintest trickle of water. Facing away from the sunlight that had been streaming into the cavern, he found himself tilting his muzzle ever so slightly so his good eye could find the slight ripple of movement that would mark out the spring. Once they were close enough, he dropped back onto his haunches. "Take a good drink, you'll be working hard this afternoon." he instructed evenly. There was no malice in his tone, but neither did he honey the words that escaped his inky maw. While she drank, he would continue. "The lamps need to be arranged around the main antechamber, and in the cave where the masters will be sleeping at night. The work must be done quickly, so that everyone can find their way around by the time the sun sets. You'll need to be able to set and fill the lamps, which I will carry. Does that sound like something you can do?" he questioned with a quirk of his brow, gazing down at her slightly smaller form. The brilliant ember hues of her pelt made it easier to locate the edges of her form in the shadows, which would make it all the better while they navigated dark corners setting lamps. He didn't want to be hindered by his handicap while they worked. "speech" STEP IN LINE, EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE

His response to her quarry was to sigh, and she gave a minuscule shiver. Displeasure in those that had power over her was never a good thing. Dipping her head lower, the beautiful, broken creature followed his cool command. He lead her to the sound of dripping water, and it didn’t take long for her to see the hidden water source squirreled away in this corner.

She glanced wearily from Absinthe to the water, questioning if this was another of his small kindnesses, or something else entirely. Despite any reservations, she did not hesitate. Dipping her head again in acquiescence she crept forward. Weary about putting herself that close to him, before obediently setting her tongue to the cool water.

A soft sigh escaped her as she drank, quenching a thirst she had learned to dismiss. She tilted an ear towards him, listening as she obeyed his first instruction. He had a job for her, and one that would be done quickly and efficiently. “Yes Absinthe, Sir.” She agreed, pulling her head from the stream of water and turning her attention back to him. Her eyes found the familiar form of his paws. She would do exactly as he asked.

"Speech"

Once she had slaked her thirst, Lia was quick to fall into line. A soft utterance of "Yes Absinthe, Sir." while she dropped her bright gaze to his paws. He dipped his head in acknowledgement, and picked himself up to return to where the rest of the group was busily assembling the supplies. He paid little heed to the small servant girl, who he could only assume was following dutifully behind him, indicated by the gentle click of dull claws on stone. He paused just beyond the group of busy bodies, waiting for an opening to slip through. He glanced back at Lia and gave her a curt nod of his head, muzzle dipping towards the ground to indicate he wanted her to sit there and wait for his return. Svelte form wove through the mountains of supplies, boxed and crated and bagged, until he found the crate he was looking for. It had, thankfully, been left on the soft hide that helped slide its weight easily across the ground. He grabbed hold of one of the ropes binding it shut, and hauled it away from the rest of the supplies. When he returned to Idalia, he paused to slip the lead over his head and across his chest. "Let's get to work, shall we?" he said, and started to pull his load back towards the darkened recesses of the main antechamber. "Your vision is better than mine, Miss Idalia, so if you see a ledge that would fit a lamp, please say so." he murmured, muscles coiling against the weight he pulled. It had been a while since he'd had the chance to perform any strenuous labour, and it felt nice to be working his underutilized strength. There weren't many opportunities to freshen up his battle training, and he worried that soon his skills would wane. "speech" STEP IN LINE, EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE

When Absinthe began to move away, she immediately picked up her paws and followed in his wake. Trailing the taller wolf with her head dipped, and ears a little flat. Her demeanour submissive to a T.

She was grateful that the male seemed content to do much of the heavy lifting. Grabbing the box they needed and slinging it around his shoulders. Strength wasn’t exactly the girl's forte. The job he did give her was easy enough. Eyes like little flames sought out any appropriate nooks and crannies as they walked. “Here, Absinthe, Sir." she directed, hopping up onto the ledge herself, and lowering her belly to the floor. Holding her paws out to take the expected lamp.

"Speech"