Sold?

Me and my father stood in his office.

"This is the very place you refused to listen to me and kicked me out." I looked around, "Can't believe it's still the same."

"..."

"Oh well, It's in the past." I went ahead and sat down on the head seat, "It's all mine now."

"What do you plan on doing?"

"Many things."

"And what do you plan to do with us?"

"Nothing much. I'm not as cruel as you were. I won't leave you on the streets." The door opened and a girl came running in.

"Caesar!!"

"And you are?" I asked as she clung onto father.

"It's me," She gulped, "Avery."

"Ahh. You've grown up quite nicely." I looked at father, "Maya would have been the same age as you if she wasn't killed by your mother."

The color on both their faces faded and father felt dizzy, he almost fell to the ground but was supported by Avery.

"What do you mean mother killed Maya?"

"It's exactly as it sounds."

"Is that why you're going to kill mother and Rama too?"

"What?" Father and I both looked at her.

I chuckled, "I don't know where you heard that from Avery. I don't plan on killing anyone."

"But the people are saying that!"

"Saying what?"

"That she deserves to die…"

"She does." I say it quite strongly, "I'll decide what happens to them."

Father fell to the ground, "Caesar!" Avery screamed.

"Hmm?"

"Aren't you going to help him?"

"No"

"No?"

"He'll be fine. Ask a guard to take him to his room."

She bit her lips, "What do you plan to do with me?"

I looked at her.

Honestly she looks like a good girl, "I'll give you a choice since you remind me of Maya. What do you want."

"Just let me stay by father's side! He needs someone to tend to him most of the time."

I smiled.

She really is a good girl.

"Sure."

"Avery…" Father looked at her in despair. He probably realized how in the end his daughter was the only one standing with him while all his life he believed that sons were meant to be the ones to take care of them and make them proud.

The door opened again and Nora entered the room, "Caesar an accident happened."

The three of us looked at her, "Accident?" I asked.

"Yeah, I accidently broke your step-mother's arm when she was trying to run away."

"Oh it's fine. Accidents can happen. I'm sure she can take care of herself."

Father and Avery looked at me in horror.

What?

Me and my mother barely lived when we fell from the cliff. There was no one to tend to her when her head bled and I had to it with my shirt.

She barely lived but lost her sight. A broken arm is nothing, it can even heal completely.

"Yeah," Nora replied, "She's being confined in her room while your brother is in his."

"Good. Tell Hius to come in. It's time I station my guards in this place."

"You brought in your own guards?" Avery asked.

"Of course I did. This place needs to be cleansed. You can take father to his room and don't worry I don't plan to kill anyone."

"Okay…"

As they were about to leave the place father stopped Avery and looked back at me, "Please," He begged, for once, "Tell me what happened to Malika."

"..."

"Did she die with Maya? Please Caesar, just answer me this."

"No, she died a bit later, so I could live."

"I see…"

Those were the only words that slipped his mouth. Avery then took him out.

Nora walked towards me and placed the sword in the case on the shelf between the windows, "It looks good here."

"It's back where it belongs." I smiled while looking at it.

Nora sat on the desk in front of me, "What now?"

I smiled, "We have many things to do."

"What do you plan to do with your family?"

"Step-mother and Rama will be imprisoned in isolation rooms."

"Aren't you giving them too much luxury. That woman had your sister killed and she's basically the murderer of your mom too."

"It's fine. They won't be allowed to meet anyone and won't be given any tech just the basic needs and the guards will watch them 24/7. It's punishment enough for people who think they can do anything they want and be anything they want. Besides, isolation rooms are pretty much like jail, just that they have a better bed and painted walls."

"Are you satisfied with your decision? You suffered a lot because of her."

"She was already exposed in front of everyone and my mother's innocence was brought to light. Today, the whole tribe knows, tomorrow the word will spread everywhere. She's now left with nothing. Besides, I think killing is mercy. Isolation is a very harsh punishment if you think about it."

"Hmmm. Well, it's your decision. What about your father?"

"He's got nowhere to go either besides he's too weak. If anything, he still is my father and I doubt he will stand against me or well I doubt he's ever coming here anyway. Since he's had a woman like step mother in his life, I think he's suffered a lot with just that." I sighed, "I won't be putting too many restrictions on him. If he ever wants to go out or visit a place I'll allow it under strict supervision."

"I see" I chuckled as I looked at her, "Why are you laughing?"

"Just thinking."

"What?"

"Too bad you didn't get to burn the place."

She laughed, "Too bad indeed, but well on par, I get be something like a marquess."

I placed my hands on her thighs, "Well how does it feel?"

"Hmmmm?" She thought about it, "Doesn't quite fit."

I stood up and kissed her, "Everything will fit in soon."

She giggled, "I know it will."

***

Just like that we began to work on things. All the clansmen were assigned their positions and Hius took the role of bringing the previous soldier's of the Hounds to my side.

We worked on making new deals and worked on new reforms.

After months when we settled in completely I decided it was time to introduce rules that empowered women. Surprisingly Avery wanted to be representative for that and I allowed it.

The other tribes were not that happy when I first took the step but the younger generation agreed with me.

They were the future and thought about how their mothers and sisters could live independently if ever needed. How the world could be a better place if the females of the family weren't suppressed.

So slowly they decided to join in the task.

One year later Nora got pregnant and we were blessed with a baby boy, Noah.

All the clansmen stayed with us for two and a half years, then slowly and secretly we decided to send them back in small batches except the ones who decided to stay with us.

Over-time I won the hearts of my people.

Like I had promised I gave them a better life but most importantly I was able to give me and my family the best life.

There was nothing better than coming home to your family and having them happily run into your arms when they see you.

It was a life I didn't think I would have or get but I did and it was a happy, contentful one.

The end