Seridae looked at his master. “I don’t know.” He answered in a whisper. Kindness from a master was foreign to him; only one had been kind. He didn’t have a clue as to what to do.

“I will be good to you.” Rolf would handle this slave gently.

“Would you like to see my garden?” The only thing Seridae could think of to do was change the subject.

Rolf smiled. “Yes, please, if you don’t mind.”

Seridae was reluctant, but he led Rolf out to his garden. He was proud of his garden, but it was more than that. The garden had always been Seridae’s refuge, his special place. He tended it himself. The garden was made up of two parts. One part had flowers, herbs, and a few trees. The other had veggies and soft fruits. Roses of all colours were in beautiful bloom. Lilies, delphiniums, azaleas, and camellias. Violets and sweet Williams; jasmine and honeysuckle. There was a lemon tree as well as an orange tree. Lavender, rosemary, mints, parsley, comfrey, chamomile, and verbena mingled with the flowers to create a wonderful fragrance. The heat of the last days of summer acted like a candle under an incense burner.

The other side was beautiful with colour as well. The zucchini plant had beautiful yellow blossoms. Tomatoes grew happily in planters, and beans grew up a vine trellis. Carrots and lettuces grew in raised beds. Soft fruits, like berries, were also in raised beds. Birds chirped while butterflies fluttered about the garden. Rolf stood admiring the beauty and serenity of the garden. He was reminded of his grandmother’s gardens. Her roses always won awards, as did her jams.

“Beautiful.” Rolf viewed the visual display. His eyes fell on some stray leaves and petals. Concentrating, he spoke a Latin spell and slowly raised his arms.

A small breeze moved in over the leaves and petals and began to swirl them up into a swirling circle. Rolf kept the circle swirling around for a few moments before setting them back gently on the ground.

A smile played at the corners of Seridae’s mouth. “That was beautiful. What else can you do?”

“Well, let’s see now.” Rolf looked around. He saw a nearly dead seedling in a seedling pot. “That seed pot.”

Seridae brought the small pot to him. “It’s basil. The others did well. I tried to help it, but it didn’t thrive.”

Rolf held his hands to the sides of the small pot and uttered another spell. At first it looked as if nothing was happening. Then, the seedling seemed to slowly perk up. Rolf kept concentrating, but he was able to give Seridae instructions. “keep it inside for a week or two, and keep the moisture level constant. Talk to it every day.”

“Yes, Master.” Seridae followed Rolf back inside.

Rolf placed the little pot on a small table where the room was at an even temperature with adequate light. “This little one needs encouragement ”

“How do you know that?”

“It is a living thing. Just because it isn’t humanoid doesn’t mean that it can’t communicate or experience emotions.”

“That is very true.”

“If there is still life, my gifts can usually help, but I cannot restore life. Luckily, this seedling is strong. It wants to live and grow ” Rolf sat down on the couch.

Seridae sat down next to Rolf. He sat a bit stiffly, but he wasn’t afraid. “Master, is it possible to have books on plant care?”

“Of course.” Rolf smiled. “I’ll see that you get them.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“You needn’t call me Master. If you are uncomfortable calling me by name, than call me Sir. I have enough slaves who call me Master, but you are more than that. You will be more companion than slave.”

“Yes, Sir.” Seridae twirled a lock of silver hair around a slender pointer finger.

“Are you good at massages.”

“I don’t know.” Seridae hesitated a little. “I have never given one.”

Former masters had never asked for that. They only wanted his body or his magickal gifts. Seridae wasn’t even sure what a massage was.

“I realize that you don’t like touch, but I will get you a book on massage and I will show you myself. Maybe the touch of gentleness and respect will help you.”

“I don’t know, Sir.” Seridae had been shown only abuse and belittlement until now, save for that one kindly master who taught him to read. Seridae was literally terrified of touch.

“Touch isn’t so bad when it is done with love, gentleness, and respect. Touch does not have to inflict pain. If you were suddenly free and on your own, you will have to learn to trust and to accept trust. People need touch that’s how we connect to each other. In one day, you would encounter others. You shake hands, hug, pet an animal, cuddle, make love. Fear cuts you off from truly living.”

Rolf made sense and Seridae understood intellectually. It was on the emotional level that he had a difficult time

“Nobody would blame you. It isn’t unusual for victims of abuse to be afraid of touch. If the only touch one experiences inflicts pain, then one would equate touch with pain. The same would be true of one’s emotions. If someone is only treated with cruelty and abuse, then that person would be afraid to let anyone close to them or to trust.”

Seridae nodded. He looked sad, and Rolf resisted the urge to stroke the slave’s cheek. How could he get through to Seridae?

“We could start out simple. Let me touch your hand.” Rolf extended his own hand.

Seridae looked at Rolf’s hand. It was open, not in a fist or ready to grab. Seridae slowly moved his hand closer to .Rolf’s. It took a long time but Seridae finally touched Rolf’s hand with his fingertips. He lightly let his fingertips explore the surface of Rolf’s palm and fingers. Rolf’s hand was soft and warm to the touch. Seridae pulled his hand away a few times before relaxing enough to explore more. Rolf’s hand remained open. Seridae touched Rolf’s fingers. Again, soft and gentle. Seridae withdrew his hand again, but then he laid his hand in Rolf’s hand.

“How was that?” Rolf did not take hold of Seridae’s hand.

“Seridae looked at Rolf. “I don’t know.” He felt like crying. But he wouldn’t. That was a weakness

“That’s okay.” Rolf was encouraged by the fact that Seridae’s hand was still on his. “It will get easier.”

Seridae nodded. This experience had been okay. He let his hand lightly wrap around Rolf’s..