The sword fell from his limp fingers. His empty stomach heaved. Spasms of agony radiated out from his chest.

“It takes no effort on my part to relax the binding, and the effects are instantaneous,” said Valerius in a conversational tone.

“Enough,” Ulrik said. The pain stopped instantly. He lay there for long moments, regaining his strength.

“I can see you are a man who likes to test things for himself. I can’t say I blame you. Empirical proofs are always the best sort. However, I would advise you not to provoke me too often. I say this not because I am a vindictive man but because each time the demon is wakened it grows a little in power, strength and size. This might have unpredictable side effects.”

Ulrik glared at him with barely concealed hate. Valerius smiled. “Come now. Given the fact that I am employing you because you are a far more dangerous man than myself, you can hardly resent these small precautions.”

“I find that I can.”

“Then I would respectfully suggest that you relinquish those feelings, as they are hardly going to be conducive to a productive working relationship between us.”

Once more Ulrik heard the powerful compulsions laced within the mage’s voice, products of some sort of hypnotic magic. He felt himself relax as he considered the suggestions. There was not after all a lot he could do under the circumstances. He would have to test the limits of what the mage was capable of if he was ever going to escape from his clutches.

“Why did you buy me, if you felt I could not be trusted?” he asked, slumping down on one of the chairs. Without being asked Valerius stretched himself out on the other. “It does not seem like a very sensible thing to do.”

“Precisely.”

“I do not follow you.”

“In my world, being predictable is fatal, and hiring your services was not, as far as I can compute, a predictable act. It was a spur of the moment decision, and if any enemy could have anticipated it, then they know me better than I know myself.”

“I am still none the wiser.”

“With my family, suspicion is a constant. You learn to suspect anybody-- even your childhood friends and teachers can be turned into enemies.” Valerius smiled sourly as if recalling unpleasant memories. “Put yourself in my position. The House guards are not to be trusted, and any outside help, mercenary help, can be as easily subverted by the means used to hire them.”

“You mean someone could offer them more money.”

“In a nutshell, yes.”

“Could you not use the same means as you have used against me to make them loyal?”

“My dear fellow that would be illegal. Since, though it pains me to say it, and unfair as it must seem to you, you are my property I can legally do anything I like to you. It is not illegal to make improvements to one’s slaves any more than it is illegal to repaint the outside of one’s tower.

“You are physically enormously formidable. The reputation you acquired from your days in the arena, will discourage many opportunistic attacks. You are clever and no doubt resourceful. Despite your mannerisms and your appearance you are no mere brute.