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Setting: The present day compound, training area.

Summary: Jhovam's first training session with Katrina. Her intent is to see what Jhovam knows and place him accordingly.


Katrina dismounted the beautiful horse she had ridden into the compound and up to the building where she spent the majority of her time on the job.The building consisted of three parts: A large stable for ridden animals, a huge section of small cells for exotic and untamable creatures and a large room for training slaves in obidience and general duties. Directly outside this building was a large wooden pen for training horses and a set of cages to let the other animals out in for their exercise. There was also a large square of flagstone set for outdoor slave training, again for training of a general nature. Most of the more specific training was done where ever the duties of that particular position would be carried out, this room was more for the newer slaves.

And to speak of newer slaves, Katrina was to meet one of the newest additions any moment now. It would not be a very pleasent beggining for either of them if he were late.

Katrina removed her riding gloves and shoved them into the belt that held her white trousers up. Her upper half was modestly covered by a blue dress shirt and a leather vest that matched the lower half of the outfit. Her gloves and riding boots were black leather as was the belt and pouches that she wore about her waist. The dark leather contrasted with delicate skin and shocking white hair.

Placing her hand on the magestic beast of burden beside her, Katrina sent a wave of soothing calm to the already quiet beast, accenting that touch with a bit of her gender's metaphysical ability. She then left the beast in the hands of the stable hands and headed off into the building to see if the new slave was waiting there for her. Jhovam, she recalled his name with ease. She new his bloodline, but she cared less for that then most others in her position. She knew he was already trained by a previous compound and probably by that heartless slave driver that sold him to Isabel. She wanted to see exactly what he knew. That was what was important to her. Opening the door to the large slave training room she looked about, fully expecting to see her new charge.

Katrina nodded in approval at the man's reaction. He was indeed well trained. Katrina would just have to find what he was best in. Undoubtably he would have his own suggestion as where to be put and while other women would think it arrogant for a man to be placed based on his opinion, Katrina had no qualms putting a slave where he was happiest as long as he was capable.

"And you would be Jhovam, the new purchase." Katrina said sweetly. "Based on your introduction I am sure you will fit in here. Isabel likes her men to be well-mannered." Katrina openly inspected the man, taking in his light brown hair and small stature. Normally, it was obvious what Isabel had in mind when she purchased a slave. Those who were not the children of Cedric were hired either for their strength, or because a particular position had been opened. But Katrina was not aware of any place she may put this man, and she was uncertain as to how he would far in the harder laboured tasks.

"I am pleased that you adress a woman as ma'am. If you are required to refer to me by name, you may do so ads you would any other woman, by her last name. In that case, you would call me Miss Preace. If you hear my first name, which is Katrina, you may acknowledge it, but you can not use it." Having cleared that, she launched into a few more basics on etiquette to make sure she could tell Isabel that she had covered.

She turned to Jhovam and smiled. "Now that I have the lecture out of the way, its time for a little chat." She beckoned him to follow her as she went and sat in a chair by a small table, usually meant for women observing a training session. She folded her legs neatly and looked up at Jhovam. "Tell me, what chores have you been familiariszed with and which do you think you are most strong in? I have what your last mistress wrote about you, but I like to double check. Think of it as a test of honesty as much as a query of your knoweldge."

Katrina nodded as she went over the transaction sheet. He was indeed a healer. To utilise his skills best, Katrina could suggest having a shop opened in the city, a herb shop. That is if they could get a woman capable of over-seeing it. The gardens on the compound where largely ornamental, which meant that much of the skills Jhovam had would be wasted. Katrina liked the compounds slaves to be used as efficiently as possible.

"I am also interested to know your skills with animals and your skills in battle. If I posted you with the main body of the guard, proimarily as a healer of course, would you be able to participate during a crisis beyond your ability as a healer?"

Katrina shook her head. If Isabel was interested in this slave as a personal slave, she would have to tell Katrina, for now, Jhovam was either going in the stables, the guard post or the gardens. unless some new information arised.

"Mmmmhmmm" Katrina replied absently. "Well then. Your healer skills can come in handy here, in the training halls. I will ask Isabel if she wants me to give you a basic training course in combat, though I think that is hardly necessary. We have no need of you there. So, you will be assigned to the head gardner in the mornings and spend your time cultivating the herbs you are able to, freeing their time up to work on beautifying the gardens. After noon, you will come to the training hall and bandage up any mishaps that may have occured. At that time you will report to who ever is overseeing the combat training, which will on occasion be me. That way I can assess the skills you have in both and focus on training what you are needed for."

Katrina had a hand in almost all areas a slave needed to know, on top of more womenly duties. "Another question, which does not appear on the transaction sheet, are you able to read?"

"Well since you are at least able to read, I will make it so that you are brought a very small selection of books from our library. You are only allowed those books relating to the subject of medicinal herbs and practices. You are not to read anything else, do you understand?" Katrina stressed this point with a hint of menace in it. She knew how difficult it would be to train men if she was not thier primary source of knowledge. They would depend on her alone to learn the necessary skills to survive as a slave with few exceptions like this one.

"Our best healers are women, but the head gardener is a male. I will have one of the other slave appointed to help you learn your way about the compound for the first to days. After that, you are on your own. Ignorance is not an excuse for tardiness of negligence. Especially among the other women." Katrina's voice had already returned to normal. She was glad this went as quickly as it did. Had he possessed a specific skill, she would have tested him immidiately, but with the compound in such wealth, Katrina could afford to play with such varying skill sets.

"If you have any questions about anything you have seen or heard, or if there is anything troubling you, you had best tell me now. Its so much easier to arrange for a slaves requirements at the begining."

"That won't be too much of a problem. We will keep you busy with training and honing the skills you are best suited for. Don't worry, as long as you enjoy your work and behave yourself, I'll try not to put you anywhere that you cant be proud of the work you do." Katrina was of the belief that a good slave was a happy slave, so she liked to play to their preferences when she had the leeway to do so.

"The free time you do have allows you to use the training hall, under supervision, which is usually provided at all hours of the day. You are free to use any room in the Servant's quarters, though by what I can gather, it is generally looked down upon by the slaves to enter a room that is not designated as your sleeping area without express permission. Women generally dont care what happens there unless a criminal offence. However, I do care, as the animals and slaves of this compound are my responsiblity. If anyone gives you trouble, tell me about it." She was very stern with bullies and a hint of concern was in her voice when she let Jhovam know she would look after anything that troubled him.

"You also have the mess hall as a general room. Food is served three times a day, be there or miss it. Although, the cooks generally save a bit for late-comers. That is, as a new slave, the extent of your freedom. However, if you do a particularly good job, you will be given more freedoms."katrina ran through the mental list, sure that she forgot much of it, but she could not think of anything else to add except for the don't list.

"Do not, ever, enter the Family Mansion or anywhere that isn't a labour site without being supervised. Never leave the compound without supervision. Never walk the gardens, especially when there are guests in the compound. There is an outdoor area away from the servant's quarters where you may spend some free time. You are not to be found out of your room one hour before or after dark without permission. As you can probably guess, permission is very hard to obtain in general, so I suggest you get the attention of a mistress and keep her happy, or stay off the radar all together. The older men know more about the loop-holes and over-sights of the system. Just dont push it too hard, or I will have to come down on you." Katrina allowed many of the slaves their little indulgences so long as Isabel either did not notice, or did not say anything. Katrina had already demonstrated how wrathful she can be when she started, just to let the slaves know she was business.

"I just ask that you respect the fact that my job depends on the discipline of the creatures I am training. You don't seem like one to step beyond the clear lines, but I dont want you to loose yourself in the small freedoms that you can get away with. So, please, do be very careful." Katrina liked to have the respect of the compound's labour force.

"I think that is everything Jhovam. I am glad that this was quick and easy." Katrina placed the files into a folder and tucked them under her arm.
"You are right to go to the medical tent first, you can start your gardener's training tomorrow. If you need anything, there are proper prodcedures to follow, take them. That is all, you are dismissed." With that, Katrina left the room with the same grace and air that she had entered it.