7
Ianto was in his garden, Zane on a blanket trying to crawl away as his brother laughed too much to stop him "Zanny, stop!"
Jax was excitedly pulling on the onesie as his brother growled and struggled harder to get to the border of bright flowers and Ianto rose from his seat to help "Zander you stink pot."
"He is strong"
Ianto looked back to find a couple of slaves who had ventured out to look at the garden and he smiled as he settled back to place the baby in the middle of the blanket, his little face showing his glee in the game, wriggling again as Jax giggled.
"He is about to finish the first cycle, his party will be disgustingly cute" he agreed.
"Ah, you celebrate the first one?" one asked, the custom not to celebrate until the third cycle common amongst slaves as many die so young due to disease or punishment.
"Ah I celebrate everything" Ianto sighed happily, then the other slave seized Jax to look closer and Ianto rose with alarm. Jax yelped as he was unaccustomed to being manhandled which alerted the H 4.0 and before Ianto could stop them, some filed into the garden seeking.
"He is fine, just a start" Ianto assured them, "She is not ours, she does not know that she oversteps"
"All this fuss" she snorted as Jax yanked at his arm, then Ianto sighed as a whip appeared.
"There is a problem? Jella you were told not to leave the vessel" the Slave Master snarled, the whip unfurling on the ground as Jax looked down then up at the slave who was paling with fear.
"Taddy? Is he going to hurt her?"
"No Cariad" Ianto said calmly, "If he raises that whip I will have his hand for the pigs for no one is allowed to use a whip within these walls."
"Says who" the man sneered.
"Me."
He laughed leaning back to regard the obvious H 4.0s bristling around him, "And you think you lot can control me?"
"There are over three hundred H 4.0s in this castle alone" Ianto sighed, "How many do your vessels contain? Anger me and my family will respond with anger, this will spread to all in the area including yours. Can you control them all at once?"
"And why would they all revolt for you?" the man asked.
Because I am free" Ianto said simply as those around him echoed it, all servants holding their heads high, only two slaves present with their handler and one was releasing the child with confusion.
"We are all Free" a young man explained to the Slave Master "We are purchased and freed, given work and lodgings. A future with choices."
"Are they mad?" the Slave Master spluttered, "You cannot be controlled without a heavy hand."
"No, that's not true" Ianto rose and scooped up his baby, Jax trusting a nearby servant to pick him up as well, "A family is not ruled with fear, but led with love. These are my brothers and sisters. They can leave if they wish, stay if they wish. All are of worth and all are cherished. To cause harm is not proof of a heavy hand, only the creating of a heavy heart."
"Well said" the quiet slave nodded, "And what is your name?"
"Ianto."
"My Lord" Gretta entered with a look of concern, "Is all well?"
"Yes, I do not require the guards" Ianto told one of his head guards and she nodded, looking around.
"She called you Lord? A H 4.0?"
"I am the future Barron's soul mate. These are his children, the one you just startled will one day sit at the table and rule this Realm" Ianto said calmly, "I believe on your planet I would be called a Prince, as are my sons. My …husband? ..mate is the equivalent to the Prince Regent."
Silence.
"I was saved from the Meat Man, I am now going to rule this land with my love, our children will carry the DNA of our past, there will never be slaves here again" Ianto said happily, "all here are free."
"All?"
"All are welcome to join my family, slaves no more" he said as he headed inside, his heart still thudding as he knew he had just opened a can of worms and his beloved may be more than slightly pissed when the Delegation started losing slaves.
But none would be denied sanctuary.
No matter the ripples it might cause, Ianto was free.
And sharing his free will.