So, Magnus is ill and just had a pretty big fall. It's really not good for any of the humans on the estate...but before we continue in the present, let's go back to the past ;-) When last we left Magnus 30 years earlier, he had just convinced his brother to help him get Alice back...

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30 Years Earlier ~

Magnus

Following Alice's incarceration, Magnus spent the better part of two days at the station answering questions and filling out affidavits and swearing to the truth of his story, followed by another three weeks waiting for follow-up investigation.

It seemed the officers were exceedingly reluctant to part with one of Dulane's escapees. But Torvald's reputation added clout to Magnus's tale. Eventually, the inspector in charge of the investigation agreed that, if Alice had been purchased before the attack, she was indeed Magnus's property and could be released to him. Filled with both relief and worry Magnus found himself anxiously awaiting the prescribed moment he would receive authorization to retrieve Alice from her incarceration.

"She will be processed out of the system any minute now," an officer told them when they arrived the morning of Alice's release, ushering them to a waiting room from where they might view the human as she left the prison. "The final paperwork has all been completed." Magnus looked through the one-way glass panel separating them from the holding facility, watching anxiously for Alice to emerge.

The woman they brought forth a moment later was almost unrecognizable. Her clothes were filthy now, her skin sallow, cheeks sunken, with deep bags beneath her eyes. She seemed so weak she could barely stand under the weight of the chains still secured around her neck and ankles. Had they removed them at all? Magnus wondered.

"That is the animal you have gone to so much trouble for?" Torvald asked with disdain. "Hardly seems worth the effort."

"What have they done to her?" Magnus asked, trying to fight back pain he felt in seeing Alice so reduced in such a short period of time. It had been not yet been four weeks since they were parted.

"I was assured she was barely questioned," Torvald answered. "Largely she was just kept in her cell. You should be grateful she was not interrogated further. It seems one of the escapees named an 'Alice,' as a key instigator of the attack on the Dulane estate. Your testimony, however, was judged to outweigh that of vengeful slaves."

Magnus nodded, a sick feeling creeping into his stomach as he realized how close he'd been to losing her. Even now he prayed that she was not seriously injured.

"Straighten up," Torvald said, nudging Magnus in the ribs as he continued to stare dumbfounded at Alice's frail form. "The head inspector is coming."

Magnus forced himself to turn away, facing the man who joined them.

"Mr. Kendrick," the inspector said, addressing Magnus. "We greatly appreciate your aid in this investigation as well as your patience in waiting for the return of your property." The man handed Magnus an envelope. "Here are her papers. The slave known as Alice of Dulane is now officially of the Kendrick estate."

Magnus felt the weight of the documents in his hand. He thought of the fleeting hope he'd had of somehow freeing Alice from slavery. Now he owned her completely.

"I will load the animal into your trailer if you wish."

It had been at Torvald's insistence. He refused to allow Magnus's new purchase to ride in his car.

"You must put them in their place immediately," he'd explained. She is an animal and must be treated as such. Promise me you will rule your new flock with a strong hand, particularly this woman. I still worry for you, brother."

Of course Magnus had no fear of Alice. She had saved his life. She had proven herself beyond a shadow of a doubt to his mind. All that remained was for him to prove to her that he was a man of his word.

"Yes," Torvald replied, answering the officer's question. "Secure her in the trailer. We wish to be on our way as soon as possible." But as Torvald began to turn towards the door, Magnus stopped him, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder and stepping forward towards the inspector.

"Wait," Magnus said. "I wish to look her over first."

Torvald frowned slightly and cleared his throat in annoyance.

"This is the human you purchased from Mr. Dulane is it not?" The officer asked, his tone sharpening. "I don't see why you need to inspect her."

"I ask that you gentleman indulge me," Magnus answered as calmly as he could manage. He had to see her. He had to make certain she was not horribly injured before allowing these men to stuff her into a hot, enclosed, trailer for the three hours it would take to return to his home.

The officer sighed. "Very well," he said. "Follow me."

As the inspector opened the door to the holding facility Alice looked up slightly, her eyes shifting from the ground so she could see the approaching figure. Magnus could see her whole body tense in anticipation of some new horror. Had they not even told her she was to be set free?

"You, slave," the inspector said brusquely. "Your master has returned to take you to your new home but he wishes to inspect you first."

Magnus could see the confusion in her expression.

"Alice."

Her eyes went to Magnus instantly at the sound of his voice, opening wide in disbelief as they fell upon his face.

"Mag..." she began, but quickly corrected herself. "Master. You've."

"Come to retrieve you, yes," Magnus said, cutting her off in a clipped tone.

Her expression remained incredulous as she stared up at him, eyes blinking in confusion as if she could not possibly imagine his having returned.

Magnus walked authoritatively towards the human and the guards around her moved aside to give him space. Up close, Alice appeared to be in even worse shape than she had seemed from a distance. She winced as he touched the skin on her neck, rubbed raw from the heavy metal shackles.

"Remove these bonds," Magnus ordered. "The hand restraints are more than enough. The creature can barely move."

The officers looked uncertain for a moment, but then the inspector's voice followed.

"Do as Mr. Kendrick asks," he said.

Free of her shackles, Alice stood taller again almost immediately. Magnus could see the gratitude in her face.

You will be safe soon, he wanted to tell her, but he didn't dare speak the words of comfort aloud. Instead, he inspected her as he might any other animal, feeling her body for girth and any broken bones, though he did so as gently as possible. Aside from the sores and a somewhat disturbing amount of weight loss, he was grateful to see she seemed relatively unharmed.

"You can look her over more thoroughly when we return home," Torvald said impatiently. "Unless you have changed your mind and wish to leave her here after all? I have other things to do today."

Magnus glared at him.

"I only wished to assess her state before transport," Magnus answered.

"And now you have," Torvald replied, no less annoyed.

"Handel her with care," Magnus said to the guards, ignoring Torvald's tone. "And give her some clean water. We have a long ride ahead of us. I have gone to considerable effort to retrieve her and cannot have the animal expiring on the way home after all that."

The men nodded.

Turning back to Alice, Magnus took her hand for a brief moment and as their eyes met he squeezed it reassuringly. Though neither of them dared to speak, he was certain she could feel his concern. The slightest shadow of a smile appeared at the edge of her lips even as the guards came around Alice once again, roughly grabbing her arms and leading her away.

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By the time they reached his estate it was already late in the day and Magnus was anxious to release Alice from the trailer in which she'd been forced to ride. Opening the doors to the stuffy metal box, he found her asleep on a pile of hay, her hands still bound. She looked so helpless and weak. Magnus knew better.

"I must return home, Magnus," Torvald called out when he did not emerge with the human immediately. "If you wish to take the animal do so now."

Magnus ignored his brother's impatience, approaching Alice slowly, not wishing to startle her.

"Alice," he whispered, touching her shoulder lightly. "Are you awake?" Her eyes fluttered open slowly.

"Magnus...." she murmured sleepily. "Is this real? Did they...Did they really let me go?"

"I made a promise," he said with a small smile. "I swore I would not abandon you."

Alice tried to smile back, but the effort seemed too much for her. Magnus could not help but worry that she somehow appeared even weaker now than she had at the holding facility. Perhaps she was just tired? He refused to imagine anything was seriously wrong. Not when he'd worked so hard to gain her release.

"Hold still for just a moment," he said.

Crouching beside her, Magnus helped Alice to a seated position before gently taking her hands in one of his own. Retrieving his pocket knife he carefully cut the ropes still wound so tightly around her wrists.

"Thank you," she said, separating her arms and examining the damage. Magnus himself was horrified to see the deep red grooves carved into her flesh where her bonds had been.

"Your wrists!" he exclaimed. They looked so cracked and raw. But Alice herself appeared unfazed.

"They will heal," she answered, her tone deadened. Magnus took a deep breath to suppress his panic and nodded. He would see to her wounds. He would make certain she was cared for. He had no wish to let her see his concern and worry herself.

"Can you stand?" he asked.

Alice tried to rise in response but winced in pain as soon as she put pressure on her leg. He could see the lesions on her ankles from the metal chains she had worn for so many days. They looked even more horrific than those on her arms. Guilt flooded him to imagine how much she had suffered in the time it had taken to secure her release, though he knew he had done everything he could to rescue her as soon as possible.

"I'm sorry," she said, biting her lip and casting her eyes down in shame. "I'm certain I can. I just need to..."

But Magnus scooped her up before she could protest, instructing her to wrap her arms around his neck as he lifted her from the ground. In his arms she laid her head against his shoulder, tears dripping down her cheeks.

"I will repay you for your kindness," she said. "I swear it. I will be loyal and serve you as long as you permit."

"And I will protect you," he vowed. "As I swore to. I will never forget what you did for me. No one will ever harm you again, Alice. That I promise."

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Anyone feeling a bit more sympathetic to Magnus right now? He really is a good guy. Look at the effort he put into help Alice! ( more on that to come;-)). Any more regret/sorrow that he seems to be quite ill? On Friday we will see the world from Rachel's pov again. She was there by Alice's side when Magnus fell after all...