The Winglies of Hellena
Chapter Five: Work Plans
Disclaimer: You know the Characters from LoD aren't mine, but all the others are. No stealy. .
"We won't be making any money at the rate this is going. The slaves sit around all day eating and sleeping. We spend money to keep them fed but we just don't have enough buyers that can afford the high prices of the Winglies." A tall man spoke this while he paced in front of the people gathered around the table. He was very round, but also very muscular, with a thick black beard and beady gray eyes. Amongst the occupants of the table were Lily, the two men that picked Lloyd up, several other men and women, and a sole Wingly that didn't sit, but leaned back against the wall, arms folded over his chest. The Traitor, as he was known amongst the slaves, wore long black robes that were belted around his middle, intricate silver markings spiraling down the material. His eyes were a startling shade of green - a rare color amongst Winglies - and his platinum hair was tied back in a pony tail with thin bangs hanging down past his chin.
"Isn't there supposed to be a mine beneath Hellena?" the sole Wingly asked while regarding the others. His sea green eyes were met with nervous glances, except for the standing man, who nodded to him.
"Yes... Your point?" he asked rather testily.
"What did the mine supposedly have in it?" the Wingly asked in return. The large man was silent as he shifted his gaze to Nathaniel, who cleared his throat and stood up.
"Gold, sir. Not in very large amounts, though. That's why all work on the mine was halted. It took too much work to get to the little gold that was there."
"Well, there's your solution," the Wingly replied smoothly. "Put the slaves to work in the mines. Work them hard and you will soon be raking in gold. Take perhaps a day off every week to wash up the slaves and rest them while the buyers come in to check them out. Slaves that have been badly beaten or are sick can work on cleaning out the cells while the others work in the mines."
The large man nodded in approval while Nathaniel sat back down. "That's a good idea, Dominic. How many hours a day do you propose the slaves will work in the mines?"
The Wingly shrugged. "Fifteen hours a day, perhaps, with two water breaks in between, once every five hours. Food and water can be served after the work is done and they can sleep until itís time to work again."
The man nodded again. "Good, good. We'll put that plan into work, but now we must sort out which of the slaves will do what." With that, the men set to work sorting out where each of the slaves would work, while Lily sat back and listened. She knew life was about to become much more difficult for the Winglies of Hellena.